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🗣️ NATO criticises China?

🗣️ NATO criticises China?

and North Korean military unit departs for Russia

Ross Crabtree
July 11, 2024

Good evening,

The last 24 hours have seen NATO criticize China for its role as a “decisive enabler” in the war in Ukraine while emphasizing an “irreversible path” for the latter’s membership of the bloc.

The details, as always, are below 👇️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣🇩🇪 Germany: Defence Minister Boris Pistorius expressed frustration over military budget cuts as Germany grapples with strict debt limits. Despite a €53bn allocation, it falls short of the €58bn requested, failing to outpace inflation. The coalition government’s adherence to the “debt brake” faces growing criticism amidst an ageing population and infrastructure challenges.

2️⃣🇨🇳 China: NATO has sharply criticized China as a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war in Ukraine, highlighting concerns over Beijing's nuclear arsenal and space capabilities. NATO leaders urged China to halt support for Russia's defense industry, citing transfers of dual-use materials. Beijing, insisting on its neutrality, condemned NATO's stance as a Cold War mentality, while Chinese troops engage in joint drills with Belarus amid rising regional tensions.

3️⃣🇰🇵 North Korea: An elite military unit from North Korea has departed for Russia, marking the first announced exchange since the Putin-Kim summit. This visit follows the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which includes a mutual defense pact, raising concerns in South Korea and the US. The delegation, led by Kim Kum-chol of Kim Il-sung Military University, underscores deepening military cooperation between the two nations amid the ongoing Ukraine war.

4️⃣🇮🇱 Israel/🇵🇸 Palestine: The Israeli military has ordered all civilians to evacuate Gaza City and move south as it intensifies its offensive. This follows deadly airstrikes, including one on a school shelter, killing at least 31 people. The evacuation marks a significant escalation amid ongoing ceasefire talks led by Egypt, Qatar, and the US.

5️⃣🇺🇸 US/🇬🇧 UK: The US is reportedly pressuring the new Labour government to continue the legal challenge against the ICC's jurisdiction to seek an arrest warrant for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes. This challenge, initiated by the previous Conservative government, questions the ICC's authority over Israeli actions in Gaza. Labour faces a moral dilemma as the ICC awaits the UK's decision by 26 July, with human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson warning that yielding to US pressure would be a significant moral mistake.

Major Story

NATO members have solidified their commitment to Ukraine’s future membership, emphasizing an “irreversible path” despite the absence of a specific timeline during the recent Washington DC summit. The alliance’s 32 members expressed unwavering support for Ukraine’s war effort, integrating further with Ukraine’s military and pledging €40bn ($43.3bn, £33.7bn) in aid over the next year, including F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg underscored that supporting Ukraine is in the alliance’s security interest.

Among the prominent attendees were UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden, both reaffirming their nations’ support for Ukraine. The declaration adopted at the summit labeled Russia as the most significant threat to security. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the transfer of US-built F-16 jets to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands, marking the first delivery of such advanced aircraft to Kyiv, which has long requested them.

The summit also led to the establishment of a new unit aimed at coordinating military aid and training for the Ukrainian army, reinforcing the deepening ties between NATO and Ukraine. The joint statement highlighted Ukraine’s progress on democratic, economic, and security reforms, yet stipulated that a formal membership invitation would only be extended upon meeting certain conditions. This stance reflects a strategic bridge-building approach towards Ukraine’s NATO membership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the summit, engaging with global leaders including Sir Keir Starmer and US politicians from both parties to bolster cross-party support amid earlier delays in military aid packages. Despite the unified front presented by NATO leaders, there remains some disappointment in Kyiv over the lack of a clear timeline for full NATO membership. The summit, marking NATO’s 75th anniversary, occurred against the backdrop of upcoming US elections and political challenges for President Biden, who used the occasion to urge for increased defense investment from alliance members lagging in spending.

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Other News

1️⃣🇹🇼 Taiwan: The government is prioritizing civil defense enhancements amid rising threats from China. Plans include bolstering food and energy reserves, increasing hospital capacity, and improving communication infrastructure. President Lai Ching-te aims for societal resilience during wartime, building on initiatives sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Key reforms involve utilizing school halls as shelters, expanding rice milling, and leveraging convenience stores for food rationing, with additional focus on better disaster management and low Earth orbit satellite communication.

2️⃣🇺🇦 Ukraine: NATO leaders announced at the 75th anniversary summit in Washington, DC, that the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is "happening as we speak." This move is part of increased military support for Ukraine, with discussions on its potential NATO membership.

3️⃣🇫🇷 France: President Emmanuel Macron declared "no one won" the recent snap elections, despite the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition placing first. With no party achieving the 289-seat majority needed, Macron called for a "sincere and loyal dialogue" among political forces to build a majority. The NFP urged Macron to respect the election results and form a new government, reflecting the ongoing political fragmentation in France.

4️⃣🇦🇪 UAE/🇮🇪 Ireland: Tori Towey, an Irish woman charged with attempting suicide in Dubai, can now return home after the case against her was closed. Following an alleged attack, Towey was detained, and her passport was blocked, prompting Irish authorities to intervene. Taoiseach Simon Harris confirmed the lifting of her travel ban, describing her ordeal as "unimaginable" and prioritizing her safe return to Roscommon. Towey and her mother are "over the moon" with the outcome, aided by the advocacy group Detained In Dubai.