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 […]
NATO
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 […]
Turkey opposes NATO membership for Finland, Sweden
Istanbul: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said Turkey did not have a “positive opinion” on Finland and Sweden joining NATO and accused Scandinavian countries of harbouring outlawed Kurdish militants. “We do not have a positive opinion. Scandinavian countries are like a guesthouse for terror organisations,” Erdogan told journalists after Friday prayers in Istanbul. Erdogan […]
Ukraine tells NATO allies: send arms before it’s ‘too late’
Brussels: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Thursday he expected NATO members to send Kyiv the weapons it needs but insisted they had to act quickly before Russia launches another major offensive. “Either you help us now — and I’m speaking about days, not weeks, or your help will come too late, and many people […]
Washington and London ready to resume trade talks in Baltimore
Washington: Washington and London have chosen the port city of Baltimore — just an hour’s drive from the US capital — as the site of Monday’s talks on deepening their economic relationship. The United States is Britain’s biggest trade partner, and the two countries are particularly interconnected when it comes to services trade and direct […]
Four US troops killed in military plane crash in Norway
Oslo: A US military plane taking part in NATO exercises has crashed in Norway, killing all four American troops on board, the Scandinavian country’s army said Saturday. The four were taking part in the Cold Response military exercises involving 30,000 troops from NATO and partner countries. About 200 planes and some 50 ships are taking […]
Baltic countries expel 10 Russian diplomats
Riga: Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on Friday announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting Russia to say it would respond in kind. Latvia expels three Russian Embassy employees in connection with activities that are contrary to their diplomatic status and taking into account ongoing Russian aggression in […]
Zelensky urges Germany to tear down new Russian ‘Wall’ in Europe
“It’s not a Berlin Wall — it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb” dropped on Ukraine, Zelensky told MPs. Appearing on a screen in his now trademark khaki T-shirt with dark rings under his eyes, Zelensky was welcomed by MPs in the […]
NATO foreign ministers reiterates support for Ukraine
ANKARA: Turkiye’s foreign minister on Friday attended the extraordinary meeting of NATO foreign ministers, as allies reiterated their support for Ukraine. Mevlut Cavusoglu on Twitter said the foreign ministers of the alliance have “exchanged views on the developments in Ukraine.” “As Allies, we support the political unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” he added. […]