The UK cuts military ties with Russia, the US calls on China to comply with the PCA ruling on the East Sea, China conducts joint military exercises with Russia, 3 EU citizens are arrested at a Russian spaceport... are some of the notable international events in the past 24 hours.
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| Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and former US President Donald Trump met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on July 11. (Source: X) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.
Asia-Pacific
*China conducts joint military exercises with Russia: China's Defense Ministry confirmed on July 12 that the country is conducting joint military exercises with Russia along China's southern coast.
The two militaries began the Joint Sea-2024 exercise in “early July” and will last until the middle of this month, according to China’s Ministry of National Defense. The exercise will take place in the waters and airspace around Zhanjiang, a city in southern China’s Guangdong Province. (THX)
*Japan strengthens military capabilities in 7 priority areas: Japan's 2024 Defense White Paper released on July 12 said that in order to respond to the challenges of the modern world and effectively implement the 2022 Defense Strategy, Tokyo will significantly strengthen its military capabilities in 7 priority areas.
These areas include: enhancing the ability to neutralize enemy units from a safe distance; countering missiles and airborne threats; developing unmanned reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft; enhancing command and communications capabilities; enhancing transportation capabilities; protecting civilian evacuations; and providing the military with necessary equipment.
Japan's total defense budget for 2023-2027 is expected to reach 43 trillion yen (equivalent to 267 billion USD). Japan's defense budget for the current fiscal year (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025) is 7,730 billion yen. (Sputniknews)
*China is trying to move closer to NATO's borders: Speaking at the NATO Summit in Washington, outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the joint exercise between Belarus and China shows that China is moving closer to NATO in Europe, Africa, the Arctic and other regions.
On July 8, China and Belarus began a joint anti-terrorism exercise called “Attacking Falcon-2024”. The exercise will last until July 19. (Sputniknews)
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 | French Ambassador to the Philippines: PCA 2016 Ruling on the East Sea is an important precedent for stability in the region |
*US calls on China to comply with PCA ruling on the East Sea: On the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) of the United Nations in The Hague (Netherlands) issuing a ruling rejecting China's claim to almost the entire East Sea, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 12 called on China to "comply with this ruling".
The landmark ruling by the PCA on July 12, 2016 concluded that key elements of China's claim, including the so-called nine-dash line and extensive land reclamation activities within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, were illegal under international law. (Politiko.com)
*China urges Philippines to withdraw ships from disputed areas in the South China Sea: China's Defense Ministry on July 12 urged the Philippines to immediately withdraw personnel and ships "illegally" stationed at Sabin Shoal in the South China Sea. A representative of the Chinese Defense Ministry also called on Manila to stop "following the wrong path". (Reuters)
Europe
*Russia confiscates 2 factories of US corporation: On July 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order to temporarily hand over management of 2 metal packaging factories owned by the US corporation Silgan Metal Packaging to the Federal Property Management Agency Rosimushchestvo.
According to observers, Russia is taking retaliatory measures against unfriendly countries that are engaged in illegal seizure of property from Russian owners.
Earlier, President Putin signed a decree on the procedure for compensation of Russia and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation for the unfriendly actions of the United States. It is reported that the G7 countries may lose $83 billion after seizing Russian assets. (Sputniknews)
*Three EU citizens detained at Russian spaceport: On July 11, local authorities announced that three European Union (EU) citizens were detained for illegally entering the Russian-controlled Baikonur Cosmodrome in central Kazakhstan.
The three foreigners, including two Dutch citizens and a Belgian, were arrested, a spokesman for the Russian military court said.
The Baikonur Cosmodrome is the world's largest and most active spaceport. Opened by the Soviet Union in 1955, the spaceport became part of independent Kazakhstan when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 but remains under Moscow's control under a lease that expires in 2050. (TASS)
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*Countries negotiate the possibility of using F-16s to attack Russian territory: The British Telegraph quoted Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans as saying that countries supplying F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine are negotiating the possibility of using them to attack Russian territory.
According to the Telegraph, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schof told Ukrainian President Zelensky at the NATO summit that he would not impose any restrictions on the use of F-16s. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she did not rule out the possibility of F-16 fighter jets attacking outside Ukraine.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden said that the US government decides every day how deep into Russia it can carry out attacks with US weapons. (Telegraph)
*Ukraine, Romania sign security agreement: Ukrainian and Romanian officials signed a 10-year security agreement on July 11, the Ukrainian presidential office said.
The agreement brings the total number of long-term bilateral cooperation agreements that Kiev has signed with partners such as the UK, Germany, France and the US to 23.
Under the newly signed agreement, Romania will assist Ukraine in mine clearance operations in the Black Sea, as well as contribute to the training of Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets. (Reuters)
*It will take the West 10-15 years to restore its arsenal: The Frankfurter Allgemeine (Germany) quoted Armin Papperger - CEO of the German defense giant Rheinmetall, saying that the US and EU countries will have to replenish their arsenals in 10 to 15 years after meeting Ukraine's ammunition needs. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany is the second largest military donor to Kiev, after the US.
Western countries have provided massive military and financial aid to Ukraine since Russia began its military operation in February 2022. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned countries not to supply weapons to Ukraine, as it would further escalate the conflict. (Sputniknews)
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| Japan's 2024 Defense White Paper: Strengthening Cooperation with NATO, Warning about the Indo-Pacific Situation, What Does It Say About South Korea? |
*US expert warns against Washington's plan to deploy missiles in Germany: The plan announced by Washington and Berlin to deploy new US weapons in Germany is an "extremely serious" escalation by the US regarding Russia's nuclear threats, Theodore Postol, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, warned on July 11.
Washington and Berlin said earlier in a joint statement that the US would begin deploying long-range firepower capabilities in Germany in 2026 that would have “significantly longer ranges than existing ground-based firepower in Europe.” (Politico)
*UK cuts military contacts with Russia: The UK has decided to cut off one of the last remaining channels of communication with Russia, ending cooperation between the two defence ministries. This decision significantly reduces the chances of restoring such contacts between the two countries in the near future.
The military communications cut comes amid heightened tensions between the West and Russia. Britain, along with other NATO countries, has backed Ukraine in its standoff with Russia, leading to increased sanctions and restrictions on cooperation with Russia. (Reuters)
Middle East-Africa
*Israel retaliates against Syria: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it attacked a military post in the Tasil area, southern Syria, in response to a shell fired from Syria into northern Israeli territory in the Golan Heights on July 12.
A day earlier, the Israeli military reported attacks on Syrian military infrastructure, accusing Damascus of violating the border established as part of a 1974 agreement dividing forces between Israel and Syria in a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. (Al Jazeera)
*Turkey opposes cooperation between Israel and NATO: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country will not support any cooperation between Israel and NATO while the Jewish State continues its military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking after the conclusion of the NATO Summit in Washington on July 11 (local time), President Erdogan accused Israel of "trampling on the fundamental values" of the US-led military bloc, and affirmed that NATO's cooperation with Tel Aviv is "unacceptable" and that "until there is a comprehensive and lasting peace in Palestine, efforts to cooperate with Israel within the NATO framework will not be accepted by Ankara."
Although not a member of the US-led military bloc, Israel maintains relations with Washington as a major non-NATO ally. (RT)
America – Latin America
*Hungarian Prime Minister meets with former US President Donald Trump: Posting on social network X, after meeting with former US President Donald Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Mr. Trump will find a solution to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Earlier, on July 2, Prime Minister Orban held talks in Kiev with President Zelensky. A few days later, Mr. Orban flew to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing how to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. On July 8, he went to Beijing and declared that Budapest represents cooperation between the European Union (EU) and China. After China, Prime Minister Orban attended the NATO summit in Washington. (Reuters)
*Brazil invites Russian President to attend G20 summit: The Brazilian Foreign Ministry said the government will soon send invitations to heads of state to attend the G20 summit, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The G20 summit will be held on November 18-19 in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian President Lula da Silva has twice invited Russian leader Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit.
In September 2023, the Brazilian leader promised not to allow the Russian president to be arrested. President da Silva affirmed: “(Mr.) Putin can safely come to Brazil.”
President Putin has not come to South Africa in 2023 to attend the BRICS summit in Johannesburg from August 22-24. (AFP)
*US President meets with leaders of IP-4 countries: On the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Washington, on July 11, US President Joe Biden met with the President of South Korea, the Prime Minister of Japan, the Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Australia, a group of NATO partner countries known as the "Indo-Pacific Quad" (IP-4).
President Biden welcomed the growing contribution of the Indo-Pacific IP-4 to global security, including defense investments, support for Ukraine, and strong leadership in the Indo-Pacific. (AFP)
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