Latest news with #EuroAtlantic
Times of Oman
27-06-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says NATO buildup won't have 'any significant effect' on Russia
Moscow: NATO's recent decision to ramp up military spending will not significantly impact Russia's security, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday, according to a report by Russia Today. Speaking at a press conference, Lavrov dismissed the West's claim of a Russian threat as unfounded and reiterated Moscow's openness to peace talks if the core issues behind the Ukraine conflict are addressed. His remarks came after the NATO summit in The Hague, where member states pledged to increase defense expenditure to 5% of GDP by 2035, citing the "long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security." US President Donald Trump described the agreement as a "monumental win," having long urged European allies to contribute more to their defense. Responding to a question on whether Russia views the NATO buildup as a threat, Lavrov stated, "I don't think it will have any significant effect." He added, "We know what goals we are pursuing; we don't hide them, we state them openly, and they are absolutely legitimate in terms of any interpretation of the UN Charter and international law. We know by what means we will always ensure these goals." RT reported that Moscow has consistently denied any plans to attack NATO countries, calling such accusations "nonsense" used by Western officials to justify increased military budgets. Lavrov also said Russia remains willing to engage in dialogue if NATO addresses root concerns, including its expansion toward Russia's borders and continued military support for Ukraine's NATO ambitions. According to RT, the European Commission earlier this month approved the allocation of approximately Euro 335 billion in pandemic recovery funds for military purposes. In May, it introduced a Euro 150 billion debt facility to support defense initiatives. Ukraine is also allowed access to these resources alongside EU member states. Moscow has condemned these developments as evidence of NATO's sustained hostility. RT noted that President Vladimir Putin has accused the alliance of fabricating threats to manipulate public sentiment and escalate an arms race. At the summit, when asked what NATO's warnings of a Russian threat were based on, Secretary General Mark Rutte reportedly failed to cite any specific intelligence assessments, instead pointing to broad concerns.
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Nato fully committed to Ukraine, PM insists, despite no condemnation of Russia
Nato is committed to supporting Ukraine, Sir Keir Starmer has insisted, despite no condemnation of Russia's invasion in a joint statement from the alliance's chiefs. The position among the alliance has 'not changed on Ukraine', the Prime Minister said. A communique released on Wednesday after a meeting of leaders in the Hague refers to Nato's unity 'in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security'. It also reaffirms support for Ukraine, but does not explicitly condemn the Russian invasion. Donald Trump has taken a softer approach towards Russian leader Vladimir Putin than other Western leaders in his fraught attempts to negotiate an end to the war, leading to speculation that is why explicit criticism of the invasion did not feature in the communique. Asked if Mr Trump did not want Nato to condemn his Russian counterpart in the summit's concluding statement, Sir Keir said: 'On the question of Ukraine, the position in Nato has not changed, nor has my position changed. 'In fact, over the last couple of days, I would say in my discussions with leaders, there's been a real resolve that now is the time to push again to get Putin to the table for the unconditional ceasefire.' The communique also referred to every Nato member state's 'ironclad commitment to collective defence', enshrined in Nato's Article 5. This commits all members of the alliance to come to the defence of each other if attacked. Allies have signed up to spend 5% of their economic output on defence, comprising 3.5% spending on core defence by 2035, and 1.5% on security and resilience measures. Sir Keir said the UK was on track to spend 4.1% of GDP on defence by 2027, based on this definition, a figure largely boosted by spending towards the 1.5% commitment. The Government is seeking to characterise the outcome of the summit as positive and purposeful. As he travelled to the summit earlier this week, Mr Trump had appeared to pour cold water on America's commitment to the collective defence of Nato allies. He told reporters on the flight from Washington that it would depend 'on your definition' of Article 5, when asked if he would commit to collective defence. But speaking to broadcasters on the way into the summit, the Prime Minister said allies were 'absolutely committed to the importance of Nato, particularly in a very volatile world'. And before the meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Wednesday, Sir Keir appeared to be in deep conversation with Mr Trump. Sir Keir's message was repeated by Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, who opened the summit meeting with the words: 'Our joint commitment to Article 5, that an attack on one is an attack on all, sends a powerful message.' Standing next to Mr Trump, the secretary-general praised the US president for bringing about a commitment from the alliance to spend 5% of GDP on defence, telling him: 'You made this possible.' Earlier, Mr Rutte had described the US president as 'a man of strength' as well as a 'man of peace', praising him for securing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Mr Trump also compared Israel and Iran to 'two kids in a school yard' fighting. 'They fight like hell. You can't stop them. Let them fight for about two, three minutes. Then it's easier to stop them,' he said. Mr Rutte then appeared to compare Mr Trump to a 'daddy' figure to the warring Middle Eastern parties. 'Then daddy has to sometimes use strong language,' the secretary-general said. Alongside the commitment to increase defence spending, the UK has also announced its intention to purchase 12 new fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Billed as 'the biggest strengthening' of Britain's nuclear posture 'in a generation', the move will see the jets committed to a Nato mission that would see US nuclear bombs fitted to allied aircraft. It follows a recommendation from the strategic defence review, published earlier in June, to begin negotiations with the US and Nato on joining the alliance's nuclear mission.
LBCI
25-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
NATO allies declare Russia 'long-term threat', affirm support for Ukraine
NATO allies on Wednesday declared Russia a "long-term threat" to their collective security in a joint summit statement that also affirmed their "enduring" support for Ukraine. The alliance's 32 countries said they stood "united in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security" in a declaration adopted in The Hague. "Allie reaffirm their enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours," they said. AFP
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump meets Zelensky as row breaks out over Nato's stance on Putin
Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting with Donald Trump after Nato leaders backed a big increase in defence spending. Leaders gathered in The Hague for a Nato summit tailor-made for the US President, endorsed a higher defence spending goal of 5% of GDP by 2035 – a response to a demand by Trump Mr Zelensky and his aides have said they want to talk to Mr Trump about buying US weapons, including Patriot missile defence systems and increasing pressure on Moscow through tougher sanctions. It comes as a row has broken out over the language used in the Nato declaration, with some reports suggesting the alliance has softened its stance on Russia to please Mr Trump. The communique released on Wednesday refers to Nato's unity 'in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security' and reaffirms support for Ukraine, but does not explicitly condemn the Russian invasion. However, Sir Keir Starmer rejected these reports, saying: 'The position in Nato has not changed nor has my position changed.' Nato softens stance on Putin A row has broken out over the language used in the Nato declaration signed today, with some reports suggesting the alliance has softened its stance on Russia to please Mr Trump. The communique released on Wednesday refers to Nato's unity 'in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security' and reaffirms support for Ukraine, but does not explicitly condemn the Russian invasion. However, asked whether Donald Trump did not want Nato to condemn Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the summit's joint communique, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'On the question of Ukraine, the position in Nato has not changed nor has my position changed. 'In fact, over the last couple of days I would say in my discussions with leaders there's been a real resolve that now is the time to push again to get Putin to the table for the unconditional ceasefire.' Jabed Ahmed25 June 2025 14:27 Zelensky and Trump meet on sidelines of Nato summit, presidential spokesman says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has begun a meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of a NATO summit in The Hague, Zelensky's spokesman said. Jabed Ahmed25 June 2025 14:24 Putin will not go to BRICS summit in Brazil due to ICC arrest warrant, Kremlin aide says Russian President Vladimir Putin will not travel to next week's BRICS summit in Brazil because of an outstanding arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said o The ICC issued the warrant in 2023, just over a year after Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, accusing Putin of the war crime of deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Russia denies allegations of war crimes, and the Kremlin, which did not sign the ICC's founding treaty, has dismissed the warrant as null and void. But it means that Putin needs to weigh the risk that he might be arrested if he travels to another country that is a signatory to the ICC treaty. In 2023, he decided against travelling to one such country, South Africa, for a BRICS summit. But last year, he was given a red carpet welcome in Mongolia, even though it is an ICC member state. Ushakov said Putin would take part via video link in the July 6-7 BRICS summit in Brazil. Jabed Ahmed25 June 2025 14:15 Starmer says Nato position on Ukraine has not changed Sir Keir Starmer has said that Nato's position on Ukraine 'has not changed'. Asked whether Donald Trump did not want Nato to condemn Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the summit's joint communique, Sir Keir said: 'On the question of Ukraine, the position in Nato has not changed nor has my position changed. 'In fact, over the last couple of days I would say in my discussions with leaders there's been a real resolve that now is the time to push again to get Putin to the table for the unconditional ceasefire.' The communique released on Wednesday refers to Nato's unity 'in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security' and reaffirms support for Ukraine, but does not explicitly condemn the Russian invasion. Jabed Ahmed25 June 2025 14:06 Starmer: Nato will be 'stronger, fairer and more lethal than ever' Sir Keir Starmer said it was 'the moment to unite, for Europe to make a fundamental shift in its posture'. At a press conference at the Nato summit in The Hague he said the commitment to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defence and security measures by 2045 will make the alliance 'stronger, fairer and more lethal than ever'. 'This includes military spending as well as vital investments in our security and resilience, like protecting our cyber security and our energy networks,' he said. Sir Keir said that under the Nato new definitions 'we estimate that we will reach at least 4.1% of GDP in 2027 keeping the British people safe and strengthening our leadership in Nato even further'. He said the Nato summit had sent a 'decisive message to aggressors'. Jabed Ahmed25 June 2025 13:56 Ukraine on 'irreversible path' to Nato, Rutte Says Nato General Secretary Mark Rutte has said Ukraine is on an 'irreversible path' to Nato. Mr Rutte said the alliance would continue to support Ukraine so it can 'stay in the fight' and secure a 'lasting peace'. Jabed Ahmed25 June 2025 13:48 Nato allies agree to hike defence spending and reaffirm collective defence Nato allies have pledged to increase their annual defence spending to a total of 5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035 and reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence, stating that "an attack on one is an attack on all." In the declaration of their summit in The Hague, Nato leaders said the defence pledge would consist of investments of at least 3.5% of GDP per year in core defence requirements. They also vowed to spend up to 1.5% of GDP on security-related expenditures, including protection of critical infrastructure and strengthening the alliance's defence industrial base. These investments were needed to face "profound security threats", the leaders said, citing in particular the "long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and the persistent threat of terrorism." Progress on the elevated spending targets, up from the current goal of 2% of GDP, will be reviewed in 2029. Allies reaffirmed their "enduring sovereign commitments" to support Ukraine, but left out references to Ukraine's possible future membership of the alliance, which had been included in some previous summit declarations. Jabed Ahmed25 June 2025 13:33 Drone hunters in Ukraine find new sophisticated technology feared to be from Iran Drone hunters in Ukraine find new sophisticated technology feared to be from Iran Drone debris found in Ukraine indicates Russia is using new technology from Iran Jabed Ahmed25 June 2025 12:59 What is Article 5 of Nato? Article 5 is the foundation stone on which the 32-member North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) is built. It states that an armed attack against one or more of the members shall be considered an attack against all members. It also states that if such an armed attack occurs, each member would take, individually and in concert with others, 'such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.'' That security guarantee is the reason previously neutral Finland and Sweden sought to join Nato after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and why Ukraine itself and other countries in Europe also want in. Article 5 has only been invoked once, in the wake of the 11 September 2001 terror attacks on the US, paving the way for Nato's biggest ever operation in Afghanistan. Jabed Ahmed25 June 2025 12:29 UK to provide Ukraine with hundreds of missiles with money from seized Russian assets The UK is set to provide 350 air defence missiles to Ukraine as Sir Keir Starmer pushes for Nato to provide Kyiv with further support. The delivery will be funded by £70 million raised from the interest on seized Russian assets. Sir Keir said: 'Russia, not Ukraine, should pay the price for Putin's barbaric and illegal war, so it is only right we use the proceeds from seized Russian assets to ensure Ukraine has the air defence it needs. 'The security of Ukraine is vital to the security of the UK and the Euro-Atlantic area, and our support will never waiver. 'My message to President Putin is clear: Russia needs to stop its indiscriminate attacks on innocent Ukrainian people and return to the negotiating table.' Jabed Ahmed25 June 2025 12:23
CNN
24-06-2025
- Business
- CNN
UK to buy 12 nuclear-carrying F-35A jets from the United States and join NATO nuclear mission
The United Kingdom is to purchase 12 F-35A jets, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, from the United States. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will make the announcement during Wednesday's NATO summit, as he calls on NATO members to do more to support the alliance. 'The UK's commitment to NATO is unquestionable, as is the alliance's contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure,' Starmer will say, according to Downing Street. 'But we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come.' The announcement follows repeated criticisms by US President Donald Trump that NATO countries are not spending enough on defense. The fifth-generation fighter aircraft, built primarily by US manufacturer Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced fighter jets on the planet – but it is also one of the most expensive. The decision to acquire aircraft with the capacity to carry nuclear weapons also represents a major strengthening of Britain's nuclear posture. It means that in addition of UK's existing sea-borne nuclear deterrent, the country will also now join NATO's dual capable aircraft nuclear mission. 'In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted,' Starmer will say. According to the British government, the decision will support 20,000 jobs in the F35 program in the UK, with 15% of the global supply chain for the jets based in Britain.
