US President Donald Trump has warned that he will not defend NATO allies who do not pay enough for their own defense. In an Oval Office interview on Thursday, Trump emphasized that it’s “common sense” for NATO members to contribute more. He reiterated his stance from his previous presidency, where he pushed for higher […]
NATO
NATO allies set to provide ‘heavier weapons’ to Ukraine
NATO countries are set to announce new “heavier weapons” for Ukraine, the alliance’s chief said on Wednesday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on his backers to speed up their decision-making. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin will convene a meeting of around 50 countries on Friday at the US-run Ramstein military base in Germany, […]
NATO agrees to provide air defense assistance to Ukraine
BRUSSELS: NATO will provide more air defence assistance to Ukraine, the 30-member military alliance’s secretary general said on Thursday. Jens Stoltenberg spoke at a joint press conference with US defence minister Lloyd Austin before the second day of the NATO defence minister’s reunion in Brussels. Stoltenberg announced that the ministers agreed to “provide more air […]
Russia accused of ‘kidnapping’ head of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Ukraine’s nuclear power provider accused Russia on Saturday of “kidnapping” the head of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, a facility now occupied by Russian troops and located in a region of Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin has moved to annex illegally. Russian forces seized the director-general of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Ihor Murashov, […]
Israeli, Turkish leaders hold first meeting since 2008
Israeli Turkish leaders hold first meeting since 2008. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday for the first face-to-face talks between leaders of the U.S.-allied nations since 2008, Lapid’s office said. Israel-Turkey relations, long-frosty amid feuding over the Palestinian cause, have […]
Albania cuts ties with Iran over ‘cyberattack’: PM
Albania broke diplomatic ties with Iran on Wednesday over an alleged cyberattack against the government this summer, prompting rebuke from Washington, which vowed to hold Tehran accountable for targeting its NATO ally. “The Council of Ministers has decided on the severance of diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran with immediate effect,” said Rama. Rama accused Iran of […]
Joe Biden signs ratification of Finland, Sweden NATO Bids
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden signed US ratification of bids by Finland and Sweden to enter NATO, taking expansion of the Western alliance in response to Russia s Ukraine invasion one step closer. Biden said the two northern European countries would become “strong, reliable highly capable new allies” by making the “sacred commitment” to mutual defense […]
Biden says US ‘should sell’ F-16s to Turkey
MADRID: President Joe Biden on Thursday said the United States should go ahead with the delayed sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey but noted that Congress needs to give approval. “We should sell them the F-16 jets and modernise those jets as well,” Biden said, adding there was “no quid pro quo” linking the sale […]
Turkey’s Erdogan urges Swedish PM to end support to ‘terror’ groups: presidency
Istanbul: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Saturday urged Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to take “concrete steps” to end financial and political support for “terrorist” groups, the presidency said. Erdogan told Andersson in a phone call that “Sweden’s political, financial and weapon support to terrorist organisations must end,” it said. Turkey has threatened to block Sweden […]
China says Finland’s application to NATO brings ‘new factor’ in ties
BEIJING: Referring to Finland, China on Monday urged nations seeking to join NATO to “follow the principle of security indivisibility.” “China hopes all parties will follow the principle of security indivisibility and build a sustainable regional security architecture,” said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry. “Finland’s application to NATO will bring new factor to […]