#GERMANY: Chancellor Approves Tanks For Ukraine

[world politics news]

Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed on Wednesday that Germany would be delivering an initial 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine and allowing partner countries to re-export their own German-made heavy battle tanks to the country.

Speaking at the start of a question-and-answer session in the German Bundestag, Scholz said, "It is right that we act closely with our international partners to support Ukraine — financially, with humanitarian aid, but also with weapons deliveries. Now we can say that, in Europe, it is us and Britain who have made the most weapons available for Ukraine. … Germany will always be at the forefront when it comes to supporting Ukraine."  

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#FINLAND: Foreign Minister Hints At Solo NATO Application If Joint Entry With Sweden Blocked By Turkey

[world politics news]

Finland could consider joining NATO without Sweden if Turkey continues to block their joint bid to enter the military alliance. 

During a morning television interview, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said that both Nordic nations joining NATO together was "absolutely the number one option," but that "we have to be ready to evaluate the situation." 

Both Finland and Sweden abandoned their longstanding neutrality in the face of Russian threats to both countries after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#TURKEY: Vote On Swedish, Finnish NATO Membership Unlikely Until May

[world politics news]

Turkey is unlikely to vote on Sweden and Finland’s accession to Nato before pivotal domestic elections expected in May or June this year, according to a senior Turkish official.

“We are not in a rush here, they are in a rush to join Nato,” İbrahim Kalın, chief adviser to Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, told journalists.

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World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SLOVAKIA: Parliament Votes To Allow Sweden, Finland Into NATO

[world politics news]

Slovakia's parliament last Tuesday ratified the entry of Finland and Sweden to NATO, becoming one of the last countries to back the military alliance's expansion. The vote Follows Portugal's Parliament voting "yes" to the two countries entering on Sept.16th.

Finland and Sweden sought to join NATO this year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

NATO's 30 members have been ratifying their entry since accession protocols were signed in July. With Slovakia's vote, only Hungary and Turkey remain to approve the expansion. Turkey's President, Recep Erdogan Renews Threat to Block the NATO Bids of both Sweden and Finland.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UKRAINE: Zelinsky Calls On NATO To Admit Ukraine To Alliance

[world politics news]

 Ukraine’s president says his country is submitting an “accelerated” application to join the NATO military alliance. But   ascension to NATO would require the unanimous support of the alliance’s members, including Turkey and Hungary, which have both refused military aid to the country.

"De facto, we have already become a NATO ally," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on Sept. 30. "We trust each other, we help each other, and we protect each other. This is the Alliance," 

The comment by Zelenskyy came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties to annex parts of Ukraine in defiance of international law, saying Moscow would protect the newly incorporated regions by “all available means.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#FINLAND: Parliament To Debate NATO Membership

[world politics news]

 
Finnish MPs will debate how to handle a petition calling for a vote on NATO membership on Tuesday as a poll showed a historic change in attitude in the traditionally non-aligned country after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a Twitter post Monday evening that a planned debate in parliament the following day would cover the situation in Ukraine and was not intended as a "wider conversation on Finland's policy regarding military alignment or non-alignment".

But she added that since a citizen's petition requesting a parliament debate on a referendum had reached the necessary 50,000 signatories to trigger a debate in Parliament.

Russia has recently threatened both Finland and Sweden with consequences if it aligned itself with the West following the invasion. Such threats, ironically, have seemingly quickly moved public opinion towards a NATO alliance.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#TAIWAN: US Diplomat Says Defense Ties With Island "Rock Solid"

[world politics news]

Washington’s defence ties with Taiwan are rock solid, the top US diplomat in Taipei said, as Beijing denounced as a political gesture this week’s confirmation that a few  American troops were present on the island nation.

“The United States has a commitment to help Taiwan provide for its self-defence,” said Sandra Oudkirk, the new head of the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. “The value of our partnership and our support for Taiwan is rock solid.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#FRANCE: Submarine Deal Signed Between France And Greece

[world politics news]

Greece and France have signed a $5 billion deal for Athens to buy at least four French-made warships. French and American contractors had been in a bidding war since 2019, when Greece announced it was looking to buy half a dozen naval attack vessels. For French President Emmanuel Macron, it was a much-needed win after the recent AUKUS debacle, when the US froze Paris out of a security pact with Australia and the UK, nixing a contract for Australia to buy French submarines. 

Macron and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis touted the deal as a move towards European "strategic autonomy" (since coming to power in 2017, Macron has been a strong advocate of Europe pursuing a defense strategy independent from the US). 

Greece, for its part, has also been looking to boost its own military capabilities amid deteriorating relations with longtime foe Turkey over competing maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean.

It should be noted that despite the traditional hostility between Greece and Turkey, both are members of NATO, the military alliance that supposedly works together on military matters. This deal is a significant departure from that alliance, and NATO officials have expressed their concern and dismay over the deal.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#LIBYA: Parliament Votes To Allow Egyptian Troops To Help Expel Turkish "Invaders"

[world politics news]

The Libyan parliament has called on the Egyptian army to intervene in Libya to expel Turkish military there to prop up rival militia groups.

Parliament confirmed that Libya is exposed to a blatant Turkish  "interference" in violation of its sovereignty, with the blessing of armed militias controlling the west of the country and the de facto authority subject to them.

There's no word on whether or when Egyptian troops would intervene.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Duterte Terminates Military Agreement With US

[world politics news]

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte will end the Visiting Forces Agreement that underpins U.S. military training exercises with the country's troops.

That choice is another blow to the relationship between the United States and the Philippines, which has suffered for years from disputes over Duterte’s human rights record.

He announced the plan terminate the deal, which provides legal protection to U.S. troops who visit the island for military drills, after the State Department reportedly canceled the visa of a political ally and former police chief who is suspected of involvement in extrajudicial killings, connected  with his War on drugs

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Merkel Endorses Key Planks Of Her Successor's Platform; Including Joint European Union Aircraft Carrier

[world politics news]

Chancellor Angela Merkel has endorsed some of the key European reform ideas put forward by her successor to the Christian Democratic Union leadership Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, including a joint EU aircraft carrier. Kramp-Karrenbauer, who succeeded Merkel as leader of the CDU in December, etched out her vision in a weekend response to French President Emmanuel Macron's proposals for European Union reform. Her essay included a call for a stronger EU border force, a pan-European climate pact and a common market for banking.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#POLAND: Government Wants Permanent Base Of US Troops On Its Soil - And Offers To Pay $2 Billion To Bring Them!

[world politics news]

Poland wants a permanent U.S. military presence — and is willing to pony up as much as $2 billion to get it, according to a defense ministry proposal obtained by Polish news portal Onet. The Polish offer reflects a long-standing desire in Warsaw to build closer security relations with the U.S. and put American boots on the ground. The push dates back to Poland’s entry into NATO in 1999, but has taken on added urgency in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region four years ago and aggressive posture toward the alliance.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#POLAND: Government Wants Permanent Base Of US Troops On Its Soil - And Offers To Pay $2 Billion To Bring Them!

[world politics news]

Poland wants a permanent U.S. military presence — and is willing to pony up as much as $2 billion to get it, according to a defense ministry proposal obtained by Polish news portal Onet. The Polish offer reflects a long-standing desire in Warsaw to build closer security relations with the U.S. and put American boots on the ground. The push dates back to Poland’s entry into NATO in 1999, but has taken on added urgency in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region four years ago and aggressive posture toward the alliance.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UK: Shadow Defense Sec. "Furious" With Labour Ldr. Corbyn Over NATO Remarks

[world politics news]

The Labour Party's Shadow Defense Secretary Nia Griffith is being described as "absolutely furious" and "livid" after Mr Corbyn's spokesman appeared to question a NATO mission designed to deter Russian aggression, say published reports. Corbyn's team suggested Britain's deployment of troops and jets to Estonia was "escalating tensions" with Russia. Source say Griffith's support for NATO is a "red line" but she was not considering resigning her position in the shadow cabinet.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#RUSSIA: Putin Creates Joint Russian-Armenian Military Force

[world politics news]

President Vladimir Putin has approved a government proposal to create a joint Russian and Armenian military group. Putin has ordered the Russian Defense Ministry and the Foreign Ministry to hold talks with Armenia on reaching an agreement, based on a proposal from the Russian government on creating a joint military group consisting of Armenian and Russian forces.

[FULL STORY HERE]