Latest news with #Baltic
Newsweek
an hour ago
- General
- Newsweek
NATO Scrambles Fighter Jets To Intercept Russia Spy Planes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Germany scrambled its fighter jets to intercept a Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea, it has been reported, in the latest incident involving Moscow's forces over the body of water dubbed a "NATO Lake." The German newspaper Bild reported that a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M reconnaissance plane flew over the area with its transponder switched off and without a flight plan filed before the German Air Force scrambled its aircraft. Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry and the German Air Force for comment. This image from June 6, 2024 shows a Eurofighter Typhoon at Ramstein Air Base during a in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany. This image from June 6, 2024 shows a Eurofighter Typhoon at Ramstein Air Base during a in Ramstein-Miesenbach, It Matters NATO members have reported in the region a spike in incidents of Russian belligerence of which Friday's is the latest. Since the accession of Sweden and Finland to the alliance, the Baltic Sea is called a "NATO Lake" and given the location within it, of the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, an area of strategic military significance as tensions with Moscow continue to increase. What To Know Bild reported that the Russian Il-20M took off from Kaliningrad with its transponder switched off and without a flight plan filed around 9 a.m. Friday. It was heading towards international airspace near Poland and Germany but was detected by NATO radar which alerted Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, which scrambled two Eurofighter jets from Laage Air Base near Rostock. The Eurofighter jets established visual contact with the Russian plane about 60 miles from the German coast before changing course north 25 miles from the island of Usedom, thus remaining in international airspace. The German Eurofighters returned to base just after 11 a.m. in an incident that comes only weeks after British fighter jets based in Poland intercepted two Russian reconnaissance aircraft. Also this month, fighter jets from Lithuania conducting NATO's air policing mission in the Baltic region were scrambled three times within a week to identify and escort Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM aircraft violating flight regulations. In May, NATO jets were scrambled four times to identify and escort Russian aircraft violating flight rules in the Baltic and it was reported that Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber in international airspace over the region. What People Are Saying German newspaper Bild, according to a translation, said the Russian Ilyushin plane "was detected by NATO radar systems and flew without radio contact from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, coming directly towards international airspace near Poland and Germany." What Happens Next Russia is likely to continue with hybrid activities in Europe, and in the Baltic region, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) which analyzes conflict trends. In a report given to Newsweek this month, ACLED that suspected Russian destabilization activities are increasing again across Europe following a lull at the start of 2025. These include arson and foiled sabotage plots, "in addition to increased tensions in the Baltic Sea."
Japan Today
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Kremlin says Estonia's readiness to host nuclear-capable NATO jets threatens Russia
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the Kremlin on the bank of the Moskva River in central Moscow, Russia, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/ File Photo The Kremlin said on Friday that Estonia's stated readiness to host NATO allies' U.S.-made F-35A stealth jets, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, posed a direct threat to Moscow. Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur told the Postimees news outlet on Thursday that Estonia - which borders Russia and is a rotating base for NATO jets tasked with protecting Baltic airspace - was ready to host nuclear-capable jets if necessary. "If some of them, regardless of their country of origin, have a dual-use capability to carry nuclear weapons it doesn't affect our position on hosting F-35s in any way," the outlet cited him as saying. "Of course we are ready to host our allies." Pevkur was speaking after Britain, a NATO member, announced it would buy at least 12 F-35A jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads and that they would join NATO's airborne nuclear mission. Asked about Pevkur's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such a move would be an obvious threat to Russia. "Of course it would be an immediate danger," Peskov told a journalist from Russia's Life news outlet. He said the statement was one of many "absurd thoughts" voiced by politicians in the Baltic region, which comprises Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. "We have practically no relations with the Baltic republics because it is very difficult to make them worse," he said. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
France 24
21 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Hungary's Pride march ban a 'serious breach' of EU values: Sweden's EU minister
On the main thrust of the EU and NATO summits, Rosencrantz says: "It's been a historic week. Leaders have agreed on a very ambitious 5 percent (of GDP spending on defence) target at the NATO summit and at the European Council. Sweden has full focus on this, and we have an eight-party agreement, so all the parties in the Swedish parliament agree to reach this target." Rosencrantz elaborates: "In Sweden, we say that the support to Ukraine is our most important foreign policy priority. And we can also see now that Europe has actually surpassed the US when it comes to military support to Ukraine. We have a crucial role to play and we really have to maintain our focus, but not just by talking, but also by delivering concrete support. And that is something that the Nordic and Baltic countries are taking a lead in." While talks on the latest potential round of sanctions stalled at the EU summit, Rosencrantz stresses that "Sweden has been pushing for the 18th sanctions package. We think it's really important to put further pressure on Russia alongside our direct support to Ukraine. Different countries have different views, but so far we have managed to agree on the previous 17 sanctions packages. So I have good faith." Turning to the Hungarian governments controversial ban on the June 28 Pride march, Rosencrantz opines: "To me, it's really important to say that the EU is not just a geographical union. We're a union based on values. And as a member state, you have signed up to respecting fundamental values such as rule of law, anti-corruption, independent judiciary and for allowing people to be who they are and love who they are. So implementing legislation in Hungary, that basically means forbidding Pride parades, but also actually means imposing restrictions on people's possibility to meet or to express their opinions – that's a serious breach. So I think it's important to use all the tools in the toolbox." Asked what concrete action could follow, she replies: "You know, we have different tools. One thing is, going into the upcoming negotiations on the [EU] budget, not a single euro should go to a country that does not respect rule of law or our basic common principles, and that's something that Sweden will be really pushing for in this multiannual framework. The second is to intervene, legally, in different court processes in the European Court of Justice. Right now, Sweden is intervening in many cases, including on the LGBT law. And also last but not least, we have Article Seven, which is sort of the ultimate tool in the toolbox. I think we should be prepared there to take the next step in discussing what we can do." We also discuss the Middle East, and what leverage – if any – the EU has when it comes to Gaza. "The situation in Gaza is terrible. We are always standing up for Israel 's right to defend itself against Hamas. But the way that Israel is conducting its warfare at the moment is unacceptable," Rosencrantz states, adding: "Sweden is actually the second-largest donor of humanitarian support to Gaza in the EU. And this humanitarian aid does not reach the people that need it. So we need to put pressure on Israel to make sure that humanitarian aid gets into Gaza. We have welcomed the review of the [Israel-EU] Association Agreement. And there are clear indications that Israel is not living up to all the standards that it should. What we want as a next step is to have clear recommendations on how we can take this process further. We're also pushing for sanctions against some of the ministers in the Israeli government who are not seeking a two-state solution and are hindering the way forward."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Putin's mouthpiece issues WW3 threat after promise over UK's nuke-capable jets
Vladimir Putin's top spokesman has reacted furiously after Estonia said it was open to hosting RAF warplanes with nuclear capability - while one Kremlin mouthpiece said the move would 'end badly' Russia has issued a new threat to NATO after one of Britain's allies said it was 'ready' to host RAF warplanes capable of carrying tactical nuclear bombs. In the security defence review unveiled this week by Keir Starmer, it was announced the RAF will be equipped with twelve new F-35A fifth-generation aircraft by 2030, which will be "available to fly NATO's nuclear mission in a crisis". Estonia's defence minister Hanno Pevkur said today that his country would "naturally" be prepared to host some of the jets - sparking a furious reaction from Vladimir Putin 's spokesman, who was asked by Russian media if such a move would be perceived as a threat to Moscow. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's top press secretary, said: "A direct one. Of course… a direct danger." Estonia is a NATO member and shares a 183-mile land border with Russia, and around 1,000 British troops are permanently based in the Baltic state. Peskov added: 'The leaders of the Baltic countries express a lot of absurd ideas. One can only express regret, that's all.' Russia's extensive propaganda operation has also honed in on the Estonian minister's comments, and even appeared to threaten the country with invasion. One presenter from Kremlin-linked Tsargrad TV warned: 'It's strange that Tallinn doesn't grasp the obvious. 'Such moves near Russia's borders end very badly. And there's no need to look far for an example — just look at where such 'games' have led Ukraine.' Pro-Kremlin military blogger Aleksei Zhivov warned an F‑35A deployment could trigger war, accusing Estonia and NATO of inciting Putin. He said: 'Given that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are located uncomfortably close to Russia's most important regions, this poses an existential threat to our country' 'This should be viewed appropriately — as part of Europe's preparations for a major war with Russia. At some point, the Baltics' task will be to provoke Russia into launching a military operation in the region.' Peskov was speaking in Belarus, a Russian ally which borders Baltic states Lithuania and Latvia, and also another NATO state Poland. Belarus has been supplied with nuclear weapons by Putin. A dozen new RAF F‑35A fighters capable of carrying US B61‑12 nuclear gravity bombs are scheduled to enter service by 2030 at RAF Marham in Norfolk - but there has been no suggestion that they would be based in Estonia. Britain's existing F-35 jets have previously been sent on short rotational deployments to Estonia for "NATO enhanced Vigilance Activity", but are not based there permanently. Suggesting today that he would be open to hosting newer versions of the planes with enhanced nuclear capability, Estonia's Hanno Pevkur said: 'F-35s have already been in Estonia, and will soon return as part of the rotational mission. 'If some of them, regardless of the country, also have dual-use nuclear weapons capability, this does not change our position on hosting the F-35. Of course, we are ready to host allies.'
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Czech Intelligence Reveals China Plan to Crash Into Taiwan Vice President-Elect
Chinese agents operating out of Beijing's embassy in Prague planned to stage a car collision targeting Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim during her visit to the Czech capital last year, according to an explosive report. The Czech Republic's military intelligence chief condemned the plot to intimidate Hsiao, which was ultimately not carried out, describing it as "unprecedented" by China in Europe. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese embassy in Prague via emailed request for comment. China claims Taiwan—formally known as the Republic of China—as its territory, though the island has never been governed by the Chinese Communist Party. Taiwan functions as a de facto sovereign state, with its own legal system, military and international relations. China has frequently pressured other countries not to engage with Taiwanese officials. In 2022, China temporarily blocked trade with Lithuania after the Baltic nation allowed Taiwan to open a representative office using the name "Taiwan," a move Beijing viewed as a challenge to its "One China" policy. Chinese agents plotted a "demonstrative kinetic action" targeting Hsiao during her March 2024 visit to Prague, her first trip abroad since she and President Lai Ching-te's election victory, according to Czech military intelligence cited by public broadcaster Czech Radio. Agency director Petr Bartovský told Czech Radio that the plan involved staging a collision with the car carrying Hsiao, though he confirmed the attempt "did not go beyond the planning stage." However, a Chinese diplomat ran a red light in central Prague while trying to maintain surveillance of the Taiwanese delegation. Military intelligence spokesperson Jan Pejšek said China's actions were bordering on endangering Hsiao and that Chinese officials had been "gathering information about her schedule, and attempting to document her meetings with prominent figures from the Czech political and public spheres." The vice president was not considered to be in real danger, however, as Czech security forces were present and ready to intervene if necessary, per the report. Czech Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mariana Wernerová declined to provide details, citing the sensitivity of the case, but confirmed the ministry had communicated with Beijing about the events. Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo condemned China's actions, thanked Czech authorities and said Taiwanese security was aware of the intelligence at the time, Focus Taiwan reported. Jan Pejšek, spokesperson for the Czech Military Intelligence Service, told Czech Radio: "These activities, which flagrantly violate the obligations arising from the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, were carried out, among other things, by persons legalized in diplomatic positions at the Chinese Embassy in Prague." Kuang-ting Chen, a lawmaker in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "Hiding behind diplomatic immunity to interfere with another nation's sovereignty and endanger personal safety is a flagrant violation of international law. This incident once again exposes Beijing's export of authoritarianism and pattern of transnational repression." The intelligence report is likely to boost pro-Taiwan sentiment in Prague, already strong in light of Chinese pressure campaigns in recent years. Asked to comment on the report Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the Czech Republic had seriously violated the One China Principle by allowing "Taiwan independence hardliners" such as Hsiao to visit. "I want to emphasize that Chinese diplomatic personnel have always adhered to the laws and regulations of the host country. China urges the relevant parties not to be provoked or manipulated by Taiwan independence separatist forces, and not to create unnecessary trouble or malicious hype that undermines bilateral relations," he added. President Lai's Beijing-skeptic administration is expected to continue sending Taiwanese delegations overseas to shore up ties with friendly countries. Related Articles China Issues Update After Trump Reveals Trade DealChina Sends Stark Warning to US AllyChinese Satellite Image Shows Destruction of Iran Drone FactoryChina to Hegseth: US on Path to 'Fire and Suffering' 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
