'European military forces not fit for...': EU military chief drops bombshell amid Ukraine War
Gen. Robert Brieger, the former head of the Austrian Armed Forces, is set to be replaced by Irish Lt. Gen. Seán Clancy for the next three-year term. That will keep a neutral-country general in the EU's four-star military post, even at a time when much of European leadership is focused on the threat posed by Russia and the EU has backed efforts to rebuild military might on the continent. Brieger reiterated the need for cooperation with the NATO alliance, but warned that the United States' shifting focus toward the Indo-Paific region means Europe needs to do more for its own defence.
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First Post
20 minutes ago
- First Post
PM Modi calls for stronger India-Cyprus ties in trade, tech and security
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was looking forward to deepening its friendship with Cyprus as he arrived here for a two day visit during which he will hold talks with President Nikos Christodoulides to expand ties in areas including trade, investment, security and technology. read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that India was looking forward to strengthening its friendship with Cyprus as he began a two-day official visit to the Mediterranean nation. During the trip, Modi is scheduled to meet with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, security and technology. In a special gesture, President Christodoulides personally welcomed Modi at Larnaca International Airport. This marks the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Cyprus in more than 20 years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'India looks forward to deepening friendship with Cyprus,' Modi said in a post on X. Modi arrived here on the first leg of his three-nation tour. 'Landed in Cyprus. My gratitude to the President of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. This visit will add significant momentum to India-Cyprus relations, especially in areas like trade, investment and more,' Modi posted on X. Landed in Cyprus. My gratitude to the President of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. This visit will add significant momentum to India-Cyprus relations, especially in areas like trade, investment and more.@Christodulides — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 15, 2025 The Cypriot president, welcoming PM Modi, said it is a 'historic visit' and a 'new chapter in a strategic partnership that knows no limits'. 'Welcome to Cyprus Prime Minister @narendramodi! Here, at the EU's southeastern frontier and gateway of the Mediterranean. A historic visit. A new chapter in a strategic partnership that knows no limits. We make a promise to advance, transform, prosper more. Together,' he posted on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said that the two sides will hold extensive discussions to further deepen bilateral ties. 'A trusted partnership underpinned by shared values & aspirations. PM @narendramodi has landed in Cyprus. As a special gesture, reflecting deep-rooted historic ties, President @Christodulides and FM @ckombos received PM on arrival at the airport,' Jaiswal said on X. Upon his arrival at the hotel, Prime Minister Modi was greeted by the members of the Indian diaspora who chanted 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. Sharing photos of his meeting with the members of the Indian diaspora on X, Modi said, 'I thank the Indian community for the affection. India will keep working to deepen ties with Cyprus in the times to come.' Modi later attended a business event along with President Christodoulides where ideas about how to strengthen bilateral partnership in new areas were discussed. I thank the Indian community for the affection. India will keep working to deepen ties with Cyprus in the times to come. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 15, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Separately, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos on his arrival at Larnaca International Airport. 'Delighted to meet FM @ckombos of Cyprus on my arrival at Larnaca. Confident that PM @narendramodi's visit to Cyprus will deepen our longstanding bilateral ties and the India-EU partnership,' Jaishankar posted on X. In his departure statement in New Delhi earlier, Modi said Cyprus is a close friend and an important partner in the Mediterranean region and the EU. 'The visit provides an opportunity to build upon the historical bonds and expand our ties in the areas of trade, investment, security, technology and promote people-to-people exchanges,' he said. While in Nicosia, the prime minister will hold talks with President Christodoulides and address business leaders at Limassol, it said. From Cyprus, he will head to Kananaskis in Canada to participate in the G7 Summit at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Following the G7 Summit, Modi will visit Croatia and hold meetings with President Zoran Milanovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Modi said his three-nation tour is also an opportunity to thank partner countries for their steadfast support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism and to galvanise global understanding on tackling terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. With inputs from agencies
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Macron visits Greenland to signal European resolve after Trump annexation threats
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Greenland on Sunday (June 15, 2025), in a show of solidarity with Denmark meant to send a signal of European resolve after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to take over the island. Greenland is a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark with the right to declare independence. Both the Greenland and Danish governments say it is not for sale and only Greenlanders can determine their future. President Donald Trump has said he wants the United States to take over the mineral-rich, strategically located Arctic island, and has not ruled out force. His vice president, JD Vance, visited a U.S. military base there in March. Trump's threat to Greenland Mr. Macron, the first foreign leader to visit Greenland since Trump's explicit threats to "get" the island, was invited by the prime ministers of Greenland and Denmark. He has said his visit is meant to prevent any "preying" on the territory. "France has stood by us since the first statements about taking our land emerged. This support is both necessary and gratifying," Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen wrote on Facebook days ahead of Macron's visit. Asked if Macron would deliver an explicit message to the United States during his visit, an adviser to Macron told reporters: "The trip is a signal in itself," without mentioning Trump. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told RTL radio on Sunday: "Greenland is a European territory and it is normal that Europe and notably France show their interest." According to an IFOP poll for published on Saturday, 77% of the French and 56% of Americans disapprove of an annexation of Greenland by the U.S. and 43% of the French would approve using French military power to prevent a U.S. invasion. Macron will visit the capital Nuuk, as well as a hydropower station funded by the EU and a glacier, and discuss Arctic security and climate change with his hosts. Though Denmark is an EU member, Greenland is outside the bloc. The French adviser said the visit would be an opportunity to discuss how to give Greenland's association partnership with the EU a "new dimension". Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made several visits to Paris after Trump's threats to seek French and European backing, and has placed orders for French-made surface-to-air missiles, in a shift of focus for Copenhagen. Enlisting the EU's only nuclear power is a way for Denmark, long one of Washington's most loyal allies in Europe, to project a form of hard power towards a suddenly more aggressive United States, said Florian Vidal of the Paris-based IFRI think tank. "The Trump administration's more aggressive posture is a shock that makes the French vision of Europe, one that is more autonomous, appear more reasonable for Denmark," he said. "From a Nordic point of view, France is a military power that counts." (Reporting by Michel Rose in Paris and Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen; additional reporting by Andreas Rinke in Berlin and Dominique Vidalon in Paris; editing by Sophie Walker)
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Who's at the 2025 G7 summit? What's on the agenda? Middle East conflict, economy, and more
At the 51st G7 summit to be held on Sunday in the remote town of Kananaskis, Alberta in Canada, leaders of the Group of Seven countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US – will meet for intense discussions on global issues. The three-day summit will end on June 17. At G7 2025 meet, intense debate is likely on the unfolding crisis in the West Asia after Israel launched massive strikes on Iran's military and nuclear sites on Friday, Israel's offensive against Gaza, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, and trade war fuelled by US President Donald Trump's tariffs. The Group of Seven countries represents 44% of global economy but only 10% of the world's population. This year, Canada is hosting G7 summit. Besides G7 leaders, the summit will also see leaders from the European Union (EU) and heads of state from non-G7 members. Leaders from the non-G7 countries, invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, include Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Leaders of Ukraine, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and South Korea are also expected to attend the G7 summit. The G7 summit website lists three core issues on the agenda for this year's discussions. 'Protecting our communities around the world'; 'Building energy security and accelerating the digital transition'; and 'Securing the partnerships of the future'. After a meeting of G7 finance ministers held in Canada in May, the group issued a joint statement saying they would continue to monitor 'nonmarket policies and practices' which create imbalances in world trade. The statement was seen as a swipe at China's trade practices. Peter Boehm, Canada's sherpa of the G7 2018 summit, expects the heads of state to pivot discussion to devote more time to the war, reported news agency AP. 'Leaders can accommodate a discussion, perhaps even a statement,' Boehm said. 'The foreign policy agenda has become much larger with this.'
