Russia warns US not to be more "reckless", China fears a secret strategy, Ukraine angers 3 African countries

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, three African countries suing Kiev at the Security Council, the US approving a secret nuclear-related plan, Azerbaijan applying to join BRICS... are some of the international news highlights of the day.

China accuses the US of promoting a 'nuclear threat' from Beijing to evade its nuclear disarmament commitments. (Source: The New Yorker)

Europe

* Russia will respond appropriately if the US sends long-range missiles to Ukraine , according to Mikhail Sheremet, a member of the Security and Anti-Corruption Committee of the State Duma (lower house of parliament), amid reports that Kiev wants to receive long-range JASSM cruise missiles from Washington.

"The US administration should remember that Russia does not want an escalation of military tensions globally but is always ready to respond to any aggressive action," Sheremet stressed. (TASS)

* Ukraine attacked the S-300 air defense system in Russia's Rostov region on the night of August 20, according to a statement from the Ukrainian General Staff.

Meanwhile, Rostov Region Governor Vasily Golubev announced that Russian air defense forces destroyed a missile launched by Ukraine in the region.

However, the Russian Defense Ministry did not mention this incident in its daily statement on destroyed aerial weapons, but said that the country's air defense forces shot down a total of 45 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including 11 in the Moscow region while they were on their way to attack the capital. (Reuters, TASS)

* Russia will not negotiate with Ukraine: On August 21, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev announced that Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk province means there will be no more negotiations until Kiev is completely defeated.

Regarding the Kursk situation, Russia announced that it has established three new military units to strengthen security protection for the provinces bordering Ukraine, including Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov will personally make decisions on all security tasks in Russia's three border provinces of Belgorod, Briansk and Kursk when the relevant officials are unable to handle the task. (TASS)

* The European Union (EU) approved a 5 billion Euro subsidy for Germany to support and operate the European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, a new microchip manufacturing plant.

The company, which will be located in the eastern German city of Dresden, is expected to be fully operational by 2029, with an annual output of 480,000 silicon wafers.

The project is part of a plan to double the EU's global semiconductor market share to 20% by 2030, as set out in the European Chip Act. (AFP)

* Azerbaijan applied to join BRICS (Group of Developed Economies) on August 20. Both Russia and China, two key members of the group, supported this aspiration. (News AZ)

Asia-Pacific

* America's secret nuclear strategy worries Beijing: On August 20, the New York Times reported that US President Joe Biden has just approved a secret strategy to deal with the growing nuclear threat from China, North Korea and Russia called "Nuclear Deployment Guidelines".

This is a strategic update conducted every four years, distributed only to a small number of security officials and Pentagon commanders. Washington did not comment on this news.

On August 21, Sputnik quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning as saying that Beijing was "seriously concerned about the above information", and accused the US of promoting "nuclear threats from China" to evade its nuclear disarmament commitments.

* China and Russia will establish a new model of international relations and relations between major neighbors under the strategic guidance of the two countries' heads of state, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said during his visit to Moscow on August 20.

Mr. Ly Cuong emphasized that the relationship between the two countries has overcome the challenges of the changing international situation over the past 75 years, becoming stronger and more innovative.

According to him, China-Russia relations in the new era show new vitality with strong mutual political trust, effective multi-field cooperation and close international coordination.

At a meeting between Li Qiang and his host counterpart Mikhail Mishustin, the Russian Prime Minister stated that Moscow and Beijing should jointly defend their interests and the principles of the multipolar world order amid sanctions pressure from the West. (TASS)

* Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh paid an official visit to the US from August 23-26 at the invitation of his host counterpart Lloyd Austin.

The visit, which comes amid growing bilateral ties and defence engagement at various levels, is expected to further deepen and expand the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, the Indian Ministry of Defence said.

During the visit, Mr. Singh will also chair a high-level roundtable with the US defense industry on current and future defense cooperation activities. (The Hindu)

* Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto visited Papua New Guinea on August 21 and met with his host counterpart James Marape.

At a joint press conference after the meeting, Mr. Prabowo Subianto said: "The truth is, the two countries are very close neighbors. Basically, we are connected to each other as real brothers."

Stressing that countries should cooperate more closely in areas such as defense, education and trade, Indonesia's future leader said the country "wants to solve all problems through compromise and cooperation." (AFP)

* Russia and Mongolia hold annual joint military exercises in Dornod province, eastern Mongolia.

The Selenge-2024 exercise is aimed at strengthening friendly relations between the two countries, enhancing military cooperation, improving the skills and knowledge of servicemen, upgrading weapons and technical readiness, and facilitating mutual exchange of experience.

More than 600 servicemen from both countries participated in field tactical training with combat shooting, including 120 pieces of equipment. (THX)

* Indian Prime Minister calls for restoring peace to Ukraine: On August 21, while on his way to visit Poland before arriving in Ukraine on August 23, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "As a friend and partner, we hope that peace and stability will soon return to the region."

He said he would seek to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Ukraine during the visit and would “share views” on a peaceful solution to the Eastern European country’s conflict with Russia. (Reuters)

Middle East-Africa

* The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is on the brink of collapse but there is currently no alternative agreement in place, Politico quoted US and Israeli officials as saying.

The current proposal, according to officials, "is the strongest form of agreement to date... as it includes provisions that meet the demands of both Hamas and Israel. Israel has signed, but Hamas has publicly stated that it will not accept the deal."

The paper pointed out that if negotiators fail to reach an agreement in Cairo this week, they may have no option left for a ceasefire, which would "increase the risk of further violence between Israel and Hezbollah as well as direct confrontation between Israel and Tehran."

Mediators have agreed to hold another meeting in Cairo, Egypt this week.

* Israel launched an airstrike on a Hezbollah weapons depot in eastern Lebanon on the night of August 20, hours after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that "attacking weapons depots in Lebanon is to prepare for any possible situation".

According to sources, the airstrike targeted a residential area near the city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, an area with a large Shiite Muslim population and Hezbollah supporters, killing at least two people and injuring 19. (Times of Israel)

* Greek oil tanker attacked in Red Sea: On August 21, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that the oil tanker Sounion reported being attacked by two small boats carrying about 15 people and hit by three shells in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen.

There were no reports of casualties among the 25 crew members on board. The incident took place 77 nautical miles west of Yemen's Hodeidah port. (Reuters)

* Three African countries sue Ukraine at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC): In a letter to the UNSC, the permanent missions of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to the UN said the UNSC should take measures against Ukraine because it supports terrorism in the Sahel region.

The letter reads: "Through this joint letter, the Foreign Ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger strongly condemn the Ukrainian authorities' support and glorification of terrorism and call on the Security Council to assume responsibility for Ukraine's deliberate support of terrorism in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region."

Meanwhile, Senegal also held a protest in front of the Ukrainian Embassy in Dakar demanding the expulsion of Ukrainian Ambassador Yuri Pirovarov over accusations that Kiev supports terrorism. (Anadolu)

America

* Ms. Kamala Harris is officially the Democratic Party's presidential candidate after the official voting results took place on the morning of August 21 (Hanoi time) at the party's National Convention.

The US presidential election will take place on November 5. Incumbent Vice President Harris will face Republican candidate, former US President Donald Trump. (PBS News)

* US believes in the strength of alliance with Korea-Japan: Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder affirmed that the alliance between the US, Korea and Japan will become "stronger than ever" regardless of the results of the upcoming US presidential election.

"I'm not making any assumptions other than to say that our alliance with Japan and South Korea is strong today and will be even stronger in the future," Ryder said at a press conference. (Yonhap)

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