En dépit de l’opposition du Congrès américain et d’Israël, Donald Trump a annoncé qu’il était temps de revenir sur l’interdiction de la vente des chasseurs F-35 à la Turquie. Car le président des États-Unis veut faire plaisir à Recep Tayyip Erdogan, qu’il considère comme l’un de ses « alliés les plus loyaux ».

Recep Tayyip Erdogan et la Turquie méritent-ils les F-35, fleurons de l’aviation militaire américaine ? Donald Trump semble penser que oui… sept ans après avoir assuré que non. Le président américain a confirmé mardi 7 juillet, lors de son arrivée à Ankara pour le sommet du G7, qu’il comptait lever l’interdiction de vendre ces avions de chasse à la Turquie.

« Pourquoi ne le ferions-nous pas ? Nous entretenons de meilleures relations avec la Turquie, et la Turquie a été, à bien des égards, bien plus loyale que d’autres pays », a affirmé Donald Trump peu après avoir été accueilli sur le tarmac par le président turc. C’est le premier déplacement officiel d’un président américain en Turquie depuis 11 ans.

Promesses de Trump contre menaces russes

« Nous ne voulons pas sanctionner des amis », a ajouté le président américain. De quoi remplir d’aise son homologue turc, qui s’est empressé de préciser « avoir reçu la promesse d’un contrat pour cinq F-35 et Donald Trump tient toujours ses promesses ».

Mais les promesses sont une chose, et la loi américaine en est une autre. En 2019, le Congrès américain a adopté un texte interdisant aux États-Unis de vendre des F-35 à la Turquie pour des raisons de sécurité nationale.

Le nœud du problème s’appelait alors S-400. Il s’agit de systèmes de défense antiaérienne acquis par la Turquie auprès de Moscou. Hors de question pour les Américains de fournir leur avion militaire le plus perfectionné à un pays qui utilise par ailleurs un dispositif russe. « Un système comme le S-400 nécessite l’intervention régulière de spécialistes russes en Turquie, ce qui entraîne un risque de collecte d’information sur les F-35 s’ils se trouvent à proximité », explique Patrick Nicchiarelli, spécialiste des questions d’aviation militaire à l’International Team for the Study of Security (ITSS) Verona.

En 2019, les États-Unis n’avaient aucune envie qu’un éventuel transfert d’informations vers Moscou permette à la Russie d’améliorer ses propres défenses antiaériennes contre les capacités du F-35.

Ce risque a-t-il disparu en 2026 ? Absolument pas. Recep Tayyip Erdogan tient plus que jamais à ses précieux S-400, qui ont toujours « représenté un signal de mécontentement adressé à l’Occident », souligne Toni Alaranta, spécialiste de la Turquie à l’Institut finlandais des affaires internationales (FIIA). Pour cet expert, le pouvoir turc avait peu goûté la réaction américaine, jugée trop timide, à la suite de la tentative ratée de coup d’État de 2016. Surtout, il tenait à protester contre le soutien logistique apporté à l’époque par Washington aux forces kurdes en Syrie.

« C’est aussi une question de fierté nationale turque. Ankara veut faire savoir à Washington que la Turquie n’est pas un pays qui peut se faire intimider par les Américains sur le choix de ses systèmes de défense », ajoute Andrew Gawthorpe, spécialiste de la politique étrangère américaine à l’université de Leyde aux Pays-Bas.

Récompenser la loyauté d’Erdogan

La loi américaine de 2019 demeure donc toujours d’actualité. D’autant plus dans le contexte des relations russo-occidentales qui n’en finissent plus de s’envenimer à la faveur de la guerre en Ukraine. « Le Congrès américain ne semble pas, pour l’instant, enclin à revenir sur cette interdiction, rendant la promesse de Donald Trump très incertaine », constate Toni Alaranta.

Le président américain semble cependant très déterminé. Il a même précisé que Marco Rubio, son secrétaire d’État, et Scott Bessent, son secrétaire au Trésor, travaillent déjà à lever cette sanction, car « il est temps de le faire ». Une des pistes envisagées par l’administration Trump pour satisfaire tout le monde « serait que la Turquie promette d’envoyer ses systèmes S-400 vers un pays tiers », note Andrew Gawthorpe.

Pourquoi Donald Trump tient-il tant à revenir sur sa propre décision de 2019 ? D’abord « parce qu’en réalité, il n’était déjà pas un fervent partisan de cette interdiction à l’époque. Il avait cédé aux pressions de conseillers », souligne Andrew Gawthorpe. Mais en 2026, plus question pour Donald Trump de supporter qu’on remette ses choix en cause.

Et le président américain « veut vraiment faire plaisir à un dirigeant qu’il admire et qu’il considère comme l’un des plus loyaux envers lui », souligne Jack Clayton, spécialiste de la politique étrangère américaine associé à l’université de Cambridge.

Nul doute que Recep Tayyip Erdogan serait ravi de pouvoir ajouter des F-35 à son arsenal. D’abord parce que cette interdiction est vécue en Turquie comme une sorte d’injustice puisque « le pays a participé à la conception du F-35 dès 2002 », souligne Toni Alaranta.

Disposer de F-35 permettrait aussi à Ankara de rétablir une sorte d’équilibre régional. « La Turquie avait pris du retard par rapport à certains pays de la région, comme la Grèce, censée obtenir des F-35 dès 2030 », souligne Dimitar Bechev, spécialiste des Balkans et de la Turquie à l’université d’Oxford. Ce déséquilibre militaire déplaît fortement à la Turquie, qui considère la Grèce comme un rival en mer Méditerranée et au sujet du statut de Chypre.

Nouveau camouflet infligé à Netanyahu

Pour le président turc, obtenir le droit d’acheter ces avions de combat reviendrait aussi à franchir une étape diplomatique avec les États-Unis. « Washington utilise un peu les F-35 comme la Chine les pandas. En proposant ses F-35, les États-Unis font savoir qu’ils considèrent leur interlocuteur comme un pays allié », explique Patrick Nicchiarelli.

Donald Trump ne veut pas simplement faire plaisir à un « ami ». Il veut s’acheter le soutien d’une « Turquie – deuxième plus importante armée de l’Otan en termes d’effectifs – qui apparaît de plus en plus comme la puissance qui compte dans la région, avec l’Iran militairement affaibli et la Syrie toujours instable », résume Patrick Nicchiarelli.

Aux yeux du président américain, « la région a besoin de leaders forts pour retrouver un peu de stabilité et Recep Tayyip Erdogan incarne cette image », souligne Toni Alaranta. Même si pour les opposants au président turc, cette « force » s’exprime surtout au travers d’une dérive de plus en plus autoritaire du pouvoir.

C’est enfin pour Donald Trump une « manière d’infliger un nouveau camouflet à son allié historique dans la région : Israël », assure Jack Clayton. Ce n’est pas un hasard si le Premier ministre israélien Benjamin Netanyahu a mis en garde contre la tentation de lever l’interdiction de vendre des F-35 à la Turquie.

Israël détient des F-35 alors que la Turquie n’en a pas encore, ce qui assure à l’État hébreu un avantage en termes de projection de puissance sur ce rival régional, souligne Dimitar Bechev. « Si la Turquie en achète, cela permettrait de rétablir un certain équilibre », confirme l’expert.

Avant la guerre en Iran, Donald Trump n’aurait probablement pas pris le risque de froisser son allié israélien, confirment les experts interrogés. Mais les désaccords à répétition entre le président américain et Benjamin Netanyahu ont ébranlé leur relation. Et en remettant la question des F-35 sur le tapis, Donald Trump est aussi en train de dire au Premier ministre israélien qu’il peut très bien se laisser séduire par un autre « homme fort » dans la région.

World Opinion + Agences

L’article Pourquoi Donald Trump s’entête à vouloir vendre des F-35 à la Turquie? est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

Throughout his two terms in office, Donald Trump hasn’t been shy to criticise – even to attack – Washington’s Nato allies.

But his latest suggestion – that failing to secure the Strait of Hormuz would be « very bad for the future of Nato » – implies an understanding of the alliance’s purpose that has already raised eyebrows.

« Nato was created as a…defensive alliance, » Gen Sir Nick Carter, former Chief of the Defence Staff, told the BBC on Monday.

« It was not an alliance that was designed for one of the allies to go on a war of choice and then oblige everybody else to follow, » he said. « I’m not sure that’s the sort of Nato that any of us wanted to belong to. »

Coming from a president who only two months ago was making strident claims to Greenland, the sovereign territory of a fellow Nato member, there’s more than a little irony in his latest remarks.

This perhaps helps to explain why some responses have been fairly blunt.

In Germany, a government spokesman said the war with Iran « has nothing to do with Nato », while the Defence Minister Boris Pistorius seemed to pour scorn on the idea that Europe’s modest navies could make a difference.

« What does Trump expect from a handful of European frigates that the powerful US navy cannot do? » he asked.

« This is not our war. We have not started it. »

But none of this should hide the fact that there’s now an urgent, and growing, need for a solution to the crisis in the Gulf. Iran’s effective blocking of the Strait of Hormuz – except for a handful of vessels carrying its own oil to allies like India and China – has left western governments scrambling to find a solution.

It may be a crisis triggered by Donald Trump’s decision to go to war, but it’s one that needs to be fixed quickly, before the impacts on the global economy get any worse.

But it’s already clear that there is no quick fix.

At his news conference on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer said conversations aimed at working out a « viable plan » were ongoing with the US, European and Gulf partners, but that we’re « not at the point of decisions yet. »

The prime minister referred to autonomous mine hunting systems which he said were already in the region.

With HMS Middleton, a mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV) back in Portsmouth for major maintenance, this is the first time in decades when no British mine-clearing ship is in the region.

Instead, the Royal Navy is expected to offer newly developed seaborne drones, designed to detect and neutralise mines without putting crews at risk.

But one of the problems Donald Trump is wrestling with is that minesweeping, once a core function of almost all navies, has long since ceased to be a top priority.

Tom Sharpe, a former Royal Navy commander, said the latest British technologies had yet to be tested in combat.

« We’re probably going to find out in the next few weeks whether or not it works, » he told the BBC.

Gen Carter said the last time western nations carried out a major de-mining operation at sea was in 1991, after Iraq mined the waters off Kuwait to prevent an amphibious landing in the first Gulf War.

« It took us fifty-one days to clear the mines », he told the BBC.

« No navy has invested in this at the scale that they should have done, least of all the Americans, » he added.

The US navy’s own Avenger-class specialised minesweepers, built with wooden hulls to avoid triggering magnetic naval mines, are all being withdrawn from service, replaced by Independence-class littoral combat ships which also use a variety of unmanned systems.

But it’s not just about minesweeping. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is also capable of using armed fast boats, naval « suicide » drones and shore-based missiles to disrupt shipping.

Recent pictures, released by Iran’s Fars News Agency, appeared to show large numbers of boats and drones being stored in underground tunnels, suggesting that Tehran has long been preparing for just such a moment.

President Trump has suggested that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open – which he last night described as « a very small endeavour » – might involve attacks on the Iranian coastline.

He said he was looking for « people who are going to knock out some bad actors that are along the shore. »

The US has already targeted mine-laying boats at berth in Iranian ports, but it’s hard to see many of Washington’s allies being willing to follow suit, especially if this involves putting boots on the ground.

In an environment so full of possible dangers, it’s not surprising that countries are hesitating to get involved, preferring instead to call, as the UK government has, for de-escalation as the surest way of unlocking the Strait of Hormuz.

But with American and Israeli officials talking about a campaign that could last several more weeks, that doesn’t look like an immediate prospect.

In the meantime, could allies be persuaded to send ships to escort merchant vessels through the vital waterway?

« Germany will not participate with its military in securing the Strait of Hormuz, » Pistorius said on Monday.

EU foreign ministers are meeting on Monday, with a proposal to extend an existing EU naval mission in the Red Sea on the table.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says changing the mandate of Operation Aspides would be the « fastest » for the EU to improve security in the Gulf.

The operation was launched in 2024 to help meet the threats to shipping posed by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

It’s a modest mission, currently involving just three warships, and there does not appear to be a huge appetite among EU members to expand it. The Spanish and Italian foreign ministers have both expressed doubts.

Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said his government wanted to hear from Israel and the United States « when they believe they will have achieved their military objectives in Iran, » before discussing new security arrangements.

Of the major European allies, France’s Emmanuel Macron is perhaps the keenest to get involved, saying a week ago that he was trying to put together a coalition to escort vessels and guarantee freedom of navigation.

But he said this could only happen once the « hottest phase » of the conflict was over and a few days later, his defence minister, Catherine Vautrin said there were no immediate plans to send vessels into the Strait of Hormuz.

Former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe said a potential escort operation would be much more complex than Operation Aspides, with threats coming from three directions: the air, surface and underwater.

« Unlike with the Houthis, where it was only an air threat, with Iran, you have all three and you want to try and shoot these things before they’re fired, » he said. « That’s not always possible. »

At the moment, President Trump’s somewhat shellshocked allies are hesitating outside the door marked « Iran involvement, » looking nervously at each other but conscious that inaction is not really an option.

Sir Keir Starmer said the solution needed to involve « as many partners as possible », but said British military personnel needed important reassurances before being deployed on a potentially dangerous mission.

« The very least they deserve is to know that they do so on a legal basis and with a proper thought through plan. »

As things stand, that plan does not exist.

World Opinion + Agencies

L’article Wary allies show there’s no quick fix to Trump’s Iran crisis est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

Europe and the US need each other and are « stronger together », the secretary-general of Nato has said.

Jens Stoltenberg was speaking at a ceremony marking the alliance’s 75th anniversary.

While the US provided Europe with security, he said it also needed the militaries, intelligence and diplomatic leverage of its European allies.

« I don’t believe in America alone just as I don’t believe in Europe alone, » Mr Stoltenberg said.

« I believe in America and Europe together in Nato, because we are stronger and safer together. »

The Nato chief’s remarks came as the alliance considered a €100bn (£86bn) five-year fund to provide long-term military support for Ukraine, so aid to Kyiv is not jeopardised by political changes either in the US or other Nato states.

A US package worth $60bn (£47bn) has been stalled in Congress for months because of resistance from Republican lawmakers, as well as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has spoken of ending the war « in one day ».

During his speech, Mr Stoltenberg said Nato must be « doing something right », as it had grown from 12 countries at its inception to 32. Its newest members Sweden and Finland abandoned their neutrality and joined the alliance as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to the speech that relations between Russia and Nato had « slid to the level of direct confrontation » as the alliance was already « involved » in the conflict around Ukraine.

The Nato chief’s remarks came as the alliance considered a €100bn (£86bn) five-year fund to provide long-term military support for Ukraine, so aid to Kyiv is not jeopardised by political changes either in the US or other Nato states.

A US package worth $60bn (£47bn) has been stalled in Congress for months because of resistance from Republican lawmakers, as well as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has spoken of ending the war « in one day ».

During his speech, Mr Stoltenberg said Nato must be « doing something right », as it had grown from 12 countries at its inception to 32. Its newest members Sweden and Finland abandoned their neutrality and joined the alliance as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to the speech that relations between Russia and Nato had « slid to the level of direct confrontation » as the alliance was already « involved » in the conflict around Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters support for Ukraine within the alliance is « rock solid » and that he believes Ukraine will eventually become a member of Nato, Reuters reported.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters at Nato headquarters that while he did not want to « spoil [Nato]’s birthday party », his country needed help in improving its air defences – specifically Patriot missiles.

« Saving Ukrainian lives, saving the Ukrainian economy and saving Ukrainian cities depends on the availability of Patriots and other air defence systems, » Mr Kuleba said.

Lacking air superiority and faced with formidable Russian defences, Ukraine’s counter-offensive ground to a halt last year and is now at risk of being outgunned on the front line in the east.

The US has given Ukraine more financial aid than any other Nato state- more than $44bn (£34bn) since the 2022 invasion, according to the White House in December. However, its aid has now become caught up in a political row months before the presidential election.

Republican candidate Donald Trump has often criticised the level of spending. He has also long complained that the US has shouldered a greater financial burden than the rest of the alliance.

Fewer than two-thirds of Nato members are on course to reach their 2% funding goal.

Highlighting the importance of Nato’s European allies to the US, Mr Stoltenberg noted it was America’s allies that came to its help after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. That was the only occasion that a key principle of the alliance has been invoked, in which an attack on one ally is seen as an attack on all.

Nato allies closest to Russia have stepped up efforts to boost their armed forces.

Norway is increasing its number of conscripted soldiers, while Denmark says it intends to extend conscription to women and increase the duration of service. Latvia and Sweden recently restarted military service, while Lithuania brought it back after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Norway is increasing the number of conscripted soldiers, while Denmark says it intends to extend conscription to women and increase the duration of service. Latvia and Sweden recently restarted military service, while Lithuania brought it back after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

By Laura Gozzi – BBC News

L’article Analysis. Europe and US need each other, Nato chief Stoltenberg says est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

China foreign ministry says US is ‘biggest threat to world peace, stability and development’ after spying accusations.

China has accused the United States of being “the biggest threat to world peace, stability and development”, in response to accusations by the heads of security services in Washington and London that Chinese spying is a global threat and China is threatening international order.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian’s comments on Thursday came a day after the head of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the leader of Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, raised fresh alarms about the Chinese government, warning business leaders that Beijing is determined to steal their technology for competitive gain.

The heightened tone from Beijing also comes ahead of a meeting on Saturday between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Group of 20 (G20) leading rich and developing nations’ ministers summit in Bali, Indonesia.

“The relevant US politician has been playing up the so-called China threat to smear and attack China,” Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing when asked about FBI Director Christopher Wray’s comments denouncing economic espionage and hacking operations by China and the Chinese government’s efforts to stifle dissent abroad.

“Facts have fully proven that the US is the biggest threat to world peace, stability and development,” Zhao said.

“We urge this US official to have the right perspective, see China’s developments in an objective and reasonable manner and stop spreading lies and stop making irresponsible remarks,” he said.

‘Covert pressure across the globe’

Wray’s speech was particularly notable because it took place at MI5’s London headquarters and alongside the British agency’s director-general, Ken McCallum, in an intended show of Western solidarity.

“We consistently see that it’s the Chinese government that poses the biggest long-term threat to our economic and national security, and by ‘our,’ I mean both of our nations, along with our allies in Europe and elsewhere,” Wray told attendees on Wednesday at the meeting of business leaders and officials.

MI5’s McCallum said the Chinese government and its “covert pressure across the globe” amounts to “the most game-changing challenge we face”.

In his response, Zhao said British intelligence was “simply projecting their own dishonourable behaviour onto China”.

“The head of the British intelligence service should cast away [his] evil in mind, come out of the dark room and see the sunshine, and not always hold on to the zero-sum thinking or set up so-called imaginary enemies,” he said.

Zhao on Wednesday slammed Blinken’s comments at last week’s NATO summit in Spain, in which the US secretary of state accused China of “seeking to undermine the rules-based international order”.

Under President Xi Jinping, head of the ruling Communist Party, China has assumed an increasingly aggressive foreign policy, joining with Russia in seeking to undermine the influence of the US and its allies.

Beijing has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – which is expected to dominate the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting – while condemning Western sanctions against Moscow and accusing Washington and NATO of provoking the conflict.

World Opinions – Aljazeera – Agencies

L’article Debate. China blasts US, British intelligence services over spying claims est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

The Finnish government officially announced its intention to join NATO on Sunday, as Sweden’s ruling party was to hold a decisive meeting that could pave the way for a joint application.

Less than three months after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the move is a stunning reversal of Finland’s policy on military non-alignment dating back more than 75 years.

Sweden, which has been militarily non-aligned for more than two centuries, is expected to follow suit with a similar announcement, possibly on Monday.

« Today, the President of the Republic and the Government’s Foreign Policy Committee have jointly agreed that Finland will apply for NATO membership, after consulting parliament, » Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told reporters at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Sunday.

« This is a historic day. A new era is opening », Niinisto said.

Despite last-minute objections by Turkey, NATO members are on « good track » in their discussions on welcoming Sweden and Finland into the Western military alliance, Croatia’s foreign minister, Gordan Grlic Radman, said as he arrived for talks with NATO counterparts in Berlin.

Finland’s parliament will convene to debate the membership proposal on Monday.

« We hope the parliament will confirm the decision to apply for NATO membership during the coming days. It will be based on a strong mandate », premier Marin said.

An overwhelming majority of Finnish MPs back the decision after Marin’s Social Democratic Party on Saturday said it was in favour of joining.

« Hopefully, we can send our applications next week together with Sweden, » Marin had said on Saturday.

The two Nordic countries broke their strict neutralities after the end of the Cold War by joining the EU and becoming partners to NATO in the 1990s, solidifying their affiliation with the West.

But the concept of full NATO membership was a non-starter in the countries until the war in Ukraine saw public and political support for joining the alliance soar.

Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border with Russia, has been leading the charge, while Sweden appears anxious at being the only non-NATO country around the Baltic Sea.

Finland is also Sweden’s closest defence cooperation partner.

Many Swedish politicians have said their support is conditional on Finland joining.

On Saturday, the Finnish head of state phoned his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin to inform him of his country’s desire to join NATO, in a conversation described as « direct and straightforward ».

« Avoiding tensions was considered important, » Niinisto said in a statement after the call.

But Putin responded by warning that joining NATO « would be a mistake since there is no threat to Finland’s security », according to a Kremlin statement.

Moscow has repeatedly warned both countries of consequences if they join NATO.

Niinisto said Sunday that while Helsinki expects Russia to respond to its decision, « little by little, I’m beginning to think that we’re not going to face actual military operations. »

« After the phone call with Putin, I think so even more. »

No other choice

According to recent polls, the number of Finns who want to join the alliance has risen to over three-quarters, almost triple the level seen before the war in Ukraine.

In Sweden, support has also risen dramatically, to around 50 percent — with about 20 percent against.

Sweden’s Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, were meeting Sunday to decide whether the party should abandon its historic stance against joining, last reaffirmed at the party’s annual congress in November.

A green light from the party would secure a firm parliamentary majority in favour of joining.

While the party’s leading politicians have seemed ready to reverse the decision, critical voices within have denounced the change in policy as rushed.

But analysts say it is unlikely that the party will oppose the move.

NATO membership needs to be approved and ratified by all 30 members of the alliance.

While Finland and Sweden claim to have received favourable signals from Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday expressed hostility to the idea.

Turkey’s objections, directed in particular at Stockholm, focus on what it considers to be the countries’ leniency towards the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is on the EU’s list of terrorist organisations.

Niinisto said Sunday he was « prepared to have a new discussion with President Erdogan about the problems he has raised ».

At NATO’s meeting in Berlin, Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok said he was « absolutely certain that we will find a solution », while Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said « the signs don’t look bad » for Sweden and Finland.

World Opinions+ Agencies

L’article Finland announces ‘historic’ NATO bid, Sweden expected to follow suit est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

President Putin says Russia is ready for talks on confidence-building measures, but the West needs to heed its main demands.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is “ready to work further” with the West on security issues to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine, but emphasised the need for the West to heed Russia’s main demands.

He spoke on Tuesday during a news conference following talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Moscow.

Scholz said at the briefing that he agrees with Russia’s assessment that there is still a chance to avert war over Ukraine and that “diplomatic options are far from exhausted”.

Meanwhile, some troops in Russia’s military districts adjacent to Ukraine returned to their bases after completing drills, Russia’s defence ministry was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying, a move that could de-escalate friction between Moscow and the West.

Blinken told Lavrov US needs to see credible de-escalation: State Department

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov the US has ongoing concerns about Russia’s ability to launch an invasion of Ukraine and needs to see “verifiable, credible, meaningful de-escalation.”

“While further Russian aggression against Ukraine would result in a swift, severe, and united Transatlantic response, we remain committed to the diplomatic path and believe that a window remains to resolve the crisis peacefully,” Blinken told Lavrov, according to the statement.

World Opinions + Agencies

L’article Putin says ready for talks on security, NATO concerns est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

Nato leaders meeting for a summit in Brussels have warned of the military threat posed by China, saying its behaviour is a « systemic challenge ».

China, they said, was rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, was « opaque » about its military modernisation and was co-operating militarily with Russia.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg warned China was « coming closer » to Nato in military and technological terms.

But he stressed the alliance did not want a new Cold War with China.

Nato is a powerful political and military alliance between 30 European and North American countries. It was established after World War Two in response to the threat of communist expansion.

In recent years, the alliance came under strain as leaders debated its purpose and funding.

Tensions grew during the presidency of Donald Trump, who complained about his country’s financial contributions to the alliance and questioned the US commitment to defend European partners.

It is his successor Joe Biden’s first Nato meeting since taking office, and the new president has sought to reassert American backing for the 72-year-old alliance.

Mr Biden said Nato was critically important for « US interests » and the alliance had a « sacred obligation » to observe Article 5 of its founding treaty, which commits members to defend each other from attack.

Asked about his forthcoming summit with Vladimir Putin in Geneva on Wednesday, he described the Russian president as a « worthy adversary ».

In another development, the Nato leaders also agreed to pay to keep Kabul airport running as the US and its allies withdraw troops from Afghanistan.

Why is Nato focusing on China?

According to the summit’s communiqué (concluding statement), China’s « stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to Alliance security ».

« We remain concerned with China’s frequent lack of transparency and use of disinformation, » it says.

Mr Stoltenberg told reporters: « We’re not entering a new Cold War and China is not our adversary, not our enemy. »

But, he added, « we need to address together, as the alliance, the challenges that the rise of China poses to our security ».

China is one of the world’s leading military and economic powers, whose ruling Communist Party has a tight grip on politics, daily life and much of society.

Nato has become increasingly concerned about the growing military capabilities of China, which it sees as a threat to the security and democratic values of its members.

In recent years, the alliance has also grown wary of China’s activities in Africa, where it has set up army bases.

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L’article Nato warns of military challenge posed by China est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

US President Joe Biden has launched his first official overseas trip with a warning to Russia that it faces « robust and meaningful » consequences if it engages in « harmful activities ».

Mr Biden made clear his intention to strengthen ties with US allies, following strained relations under the Trump administration.

President Biden arrived in the UK on Wednesday.

He will meet PM Boris Johnson to agree a new « Atlantic Charter ».

The pact will be a modern version of the one agreed between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt in 1941, with a focus on challenges including climate change and security.

The BBC’s political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, says the two are aiming to refresh a vital relationship, after the turbulence of the Trump years and the pressures of the pandemic.

During a packed eight-day European visit Mr Biden will meet the Queen at Windsor Castle, attend a G7 leaders’ meeting, and join his first Nato summit as president.

At the end of his trip Mr Biden is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva.

The White House has indicated that he intends to cover a « full range of pressing issues » with his Russian counterpart, including arms control, climate change, Russian military involvement in Ukraine, Russia’s cyber-hacking activities and the jailing of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.

Three organisations linked to Mr Navalny were outlawed by a Moscow court on Wednesday for being « extremist ».

Addressing US troops and their families at the RAF Mildenhall airbase in Suffolk on Wednesday, where he landed before travelling on to Cornwall, Mr Biden said he would deliver a clear message to Mr Putin.

« We’re not seeking conflict with Russia, » he said. « We want a stable and predictable relationship … but I’ve been clear: The United States will respond in a robust and meaningful way if the Russian government engages in harmful activities. »

Ties between Washington and Moscow are at a low point over a variety of issues. In April, Mr Putin accused Western powers of trying to « pick on » Russia and warned them not to cross a « red line ».

Mr Biden said that « at every point » during his first overseas trip as president he wanted to make it clear that « the United States is back and democracies of the world are standing together to tackle the toughest challenges, and the issues that matter most to our future ».

Other leaders of the G7 (Group of Seven) will arrive in Cornwall, south-west England, on Friday and meetings will take place over the weekend.

The G7 is made up of the world’s seven largest so-called advanced economies – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US – plus the EU.

The main topic of conversation will be Covid recovery, including « a stronger global health system that can protect us all from future pandemics ».

In an article for the Times, Boris Johnson said the G7 would « begin the framing of a new global treaty on pandemic preparedness so the world is never caught out in the same way again ».

The Biden administration has said it plans to provide 500 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to about 100 countries over the next two years.

The G7 agenda also includes climate change and trade.

Mr Biden is expected to warn that the UK-EU trade row could endanger peace in Northern Ireland. He will call on fellow leaders to protect the gains of the Good Friday agreement.

At the end of the summit, the UK – as the host nation – will publish a document outlining what has been agreed by the leaders.

After the G7, Mr Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will meet the Queen at Windsor Castle before flying to Brussels for talks with Nato on Monday and the EU on Tuesday.

US ties with Nato were strained under Donald Trump, but Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg – visiting the White House on Monday – hailed Mr Biden’s « powerful commitment » to America’s allies.

World Opinions – bbc

L’article Analysis. Biden warns Russia against ‘harmful activities’ at start of first official trip est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.