
Poland extends border controls with Germany, Lithuania until October 4 over migration concerns
The decision follows a high-level security meeting with provincial governors and border service officials. Kierwinski said the regulation has been submitted to the European Commission for formal notification.
He noted mounting pressure on Poland's eastern frontier, saying that measures to block migration routes through Belarus and Russia have shifted migrant movement toward other parts of the European Union.
'The 98% tightness of our barrier means that the Belarusian and Russian services and illegal migration are moving to other sections,' Kierwinski said.
'Today, the main task, not only for us but also for our partners in the European Union, is to close, if I may use that word, the route to Lithuania and Latvia.'
Poland reinstated checks at its internal Schengen borders last year over migration and security concerns. The latest extension will keep the controls in place for another two months. — Agencies
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Saudi Gazette
6 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Tariff showdown shatters once robust populist alliance between Trump and Modi
DELHI — The men shared bear hugs, showered praise on each other, and made appearances side by side at stadium rallies — a big optics boost for two populist leaders with many ideological similarities. Each called the other a good friend. In India, the bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump was seen as a relationship like no other. That is, until a series of events gummed up the works. From Trump's tariffs and India's purchase of oil from Russia to a US tilt towards Pakistan, friction between New Delhi and Washington has been hard to miss. And much of it has happened far from the corridors of power and, unsurprisingly, through Trump's posts on social media. It has left policy experts wondering whether the camaraderie the two leaders shared may be a thing of the past, even though Trump has stopped short of referring to Modi directly on social media. The dip in rapport, some say, puts a strategic bilateral relationship built over decades at risk. 'This is a testing time for the relationship,' said Ashok Malik, a former policy adviser in India's Foreign Ministry. The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The latest hiccup between India and the US emerged last week when Trump announced that he was slapping 25% tariffs on India as well as an unspecified penalty because of India's purchase of Russian oil. For New Delhi, such a move from its largest trading partner is expected to be felt across sectors, but it also led to a sense of unease in India — even more so when Trump, on social media, called India's economy 'dead'. Trump's recent statements reflect his frustration with the pace of trade talks with India, according to a White House official who was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal administration thinking. The Republican president has not been pursuing any strategic realignment with Pakistan, according to the official, but is instead trying to play hardball in negotiations. Trump doubled down on the pressure Monday with a fresh post on Truth Social, in which he accused India of buying 'massive amounts' of oil from Russia and then 'selling it on the Open Market for big profits". 'They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA,' he said. The messaging appears to have stung Modi's administration, which has been hard-selling negotiations with Trump's team over a trade deal by balancing between India's protectionist system while also opening up the country's market to more American goods. 'Strenuous, uninterrupted and bipartisan efforts in both capitals over the past 25 years are being put at risk by not just the tariffs but by fast and loose statements and social media posts,' said Malik, who heads the India chapter of The Asia Group, a US advisory firm. Malik also said the trade deal the Indian side has offered to the US is the 'most expansive in this country's history,' referring to reports that India was willing to open up to some American agricultural products. That is a politically sensitive issue for Modi, who faced a yearlong farmers' protest a few years ago. The unravelling may have gained momentum over tariffs, but the tensions have been palpable for a while. Much of it has to do with Trump growing closer to Pakistan, India's nuclear rival in the neighbourhood. In May, India and Pakistan traded a series of military strikes over a gun massacre in the disputed Kashmir region that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan denied the accusations. The four-day conflict made the possibility of a nuclear conflagration between the two sides seem real and the fighting only stopped when global powers intervened. But it was Trump's claims of mediation and an offer to work to provide a 'solution' regarding the dispute over Kashmir that made Modi's administration uneasy. Since then, Trump has repeated nearly two dozen times that he brokered peace between India and Pakistan. For Modi, that is a risky — even nervy — territory. Domestically, he has positioned himself as a leader who is tough on Pakistan. Internationally, he has made huge diplomatic efforts to isolate the country. So Trump's claims cut a deep wound, prompting a sense in India that the US may no longer be its strategic partner. India insists that Kashmir is India's internal issue and had opposed any third-party intervention. Last week Modi appeared to dismiss Trump's claims after India's opposition began demanding answers from him. Modi said that 'no country in the world stopped' the fighting between India and Pakistan, but he did not name Trump. Trump has also appeared to be warming up to Pakistan, even praising its counterterrorism efforts. Hours after levying tariffs on India, Trump announced a 'massive' oil exploration deal with Pakistan, saying that one day, India might have to buy oil from Islamabad. Earlier, he also hosted one of Pakistan's top military officials at a private lunch. Sreeram Sundar Chaulia, an expert at New Delhi's Jindal School of International Affairs, said Trump's sudden admiration for Pakistan as a great partner in counterterrorism has 'definitely soured' the mood in India. Chaulia said 'the best-case scenario is that this is just a passing Trump whim', but he also warned that 'if financial and energy deals are indeed being struck between the US and Pakistan, it will dent the US-India strategic partnership and lead to loss of confidence in the US in Indian eyes". India had faced strong pressure from the Biden administration to cut back its oil purchases from Moscow during the early months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Instead, India bought more, making it the second-biggest buyer of Russian oil after China. That pressure sputtered over time and the US focused more on building strategic ties with India, which is seen as a bulwark against a rising China. Trump's threat to penalise India over oil, however, brought back those issues. On Sunday, the Trump administration made its frustrations over ties between India and Russia ever more public. Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff at the White House, accused India of financing Russia's war in Ukraine by purchasing oil from Moscow, saying it was "not acceptable". Miller's remarks were followed by another Trump social media post on Monday in which he again threatened to raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases. 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump wrote. Some experts, though, suspect Trump's remarks are mere pressure tactics. 'Given the wild fluctuations in Trump's policies,' Chaulia said, 'it may return to high fives and hugs again.' Many expected India to react strongly over Trump's tariff threats considering Modi's carefully crafted reputation of strength. Instead, the announcement prompted a rather careful response from India's commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, who said the two countries are working toward a "fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement". Initially, India's Foreign Ministry also played down suggestions of any strain. But in a statement late Monday, it called Trump's criticism 'unjustified and unreasonable' and said it will take 'all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security". It said India began importing oil from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, calling it a 'necessity compelled by global market situation". The statement also noted US trade with Russia. 'It is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,' the statement said. — Euronews


Saudi Gazette
6 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
The Netherlands announces weapons package for Ukraine under new Trump-NATO initiative
AMSTERDAM — The Netherlands said on Monday that it will contribute €500 million to purchase US military equipment to be sent to Ukraine, becoming the first NATO country to forge a new protocol to provide Kyiv with American weaponry after US President Donald Trump tightened crucial military aid following his re-election. Last month, Trump announced that the US will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine, which would be paid for by Kyiv's European allies, but did not provide information on how this new system was designed to operate. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that 'As the first NATO Ally, the Netherlands will deliver a €500 million package of US weapon systems (including Patriot parts and missiles).' The Dutch defence chief noted that these weapons are of significant importance to Ukrainian soldiers fending off Russian attacks on the frontline and are needed to 'defend itself and the rest of Europe against Russian aggression.' NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the announcement on X, saying 'Great to see the Netherlands taking the lead and funding the first package of US military equipment for Ukraine under NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List initiative.' The NATO boss, who is also the former prime minister of the Netherlands, thanked allies for ensuring Ukraine remains equipped to continue to defend against the Kremlin's attacks and protect its skies and people. He also added that he hopes other NATO allies will make similar 'significant announcements' soon. The Dutch move comes a few weeks after several European countries including Germany and Norway purchased Patriot air defence systems from the US for Ukraine in a deal facilitated by NATO. On Friday, Berlin announced that it was providing a further two Patriot systems to Kyiv to further enhance its defence capabilities. US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker also welcomed the Dutch announcement, asserting that it fulfils Trump's initiative of 'allies buying American weapons to help Ukraine defend itself, pressure Russia and boost US jobs'. Whitaker noted that he expects more NATO allies to follow suit and supply Ukraine through this new mechanism. NATO said previously that it will coordinate this new initiative, funded by European allies and Canada, and broken up in packages worth roughly €500 million. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X to express his gratitude for Amsterdam leading the way in this new effort. 'Ukraine, and thus the whole of Europe, will be better protected from Russian terror. I am sincerely grateful to the Netherlands for their substantial contribution to strengthening Ukraine's air shield,' wrote Zelensky. 'The package is worth 500 million euros and includes American weapons, including missiles for the Patriots. The first such step among NATO countries and at a time when Russia is trying to scale up its strikes. This will definitely help protect the lives of our people.' Zelensky said this initiative is a result of the most recent NATO summit in The Hague in June. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said the weapons package will help Ukraine continue to fight for its own freedom as well as all of Europe's. — Euronews


Saudi Gazette
6 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Ukraine strikes five Russian fighter jets at the airfield in annexed Crimea
KYIV — Five Russian fighter jets have been hit in an overnight drone attack by Ukraine's security service at an airfield in Saky in Russia-annexed Crimea. SBU stated that its Special Operations Centre "A" mission's drones destroyed one SU-30SM aircraft, damaged another and hit three Su-24s while also striking the aviation weapons depot. "The successful special operation carried out by the SBU in Saky marks another step toward weakening the enemy's capacity to wage its war of aggression against Ukraine," security service said. Su-30SM is a twin-engine, two-seat multirole fighter aircraft developed by Russia, with production beginning in the early 2010s. This fighter jet is priced between €30 and €43 million. The Su-24 is a strike bomber developed by the Soviet Union, with production starting in the early 1970s. The Saky airbase plays a critical role in Russia's military operations in the Black Sea and its regular attacks on Ukraine, as well as patrolling, radar surveillance, target guidance and escorting long-range aircraft. Kyiv has heavily degraded the Russian Black Sea Fleet and Moscow's military capabilities in the area. Ukrainian drones destroyed several Russian vessels, including the Caesar Kunikov landing ship, the Sergei Kotov patrol ship and the Ivanovets missile corvette, forcing Moscow to relocate its ships away from Crimea. Ukraine has also recently intensified its efforts in targeting Russian airfields and warplanes used to regularly bomb Ukraine. On 1 June Ukraine carried out an unprecedented Operation Spiderweb. In a mass drone attack, Kyiv targeted four Russian air bases in the deep rear of Russia. During the attack, Ukrainian forces reportedly damaged 41 aircraft, using drones concealed in trucks at multiple locations across Russia. — Euronews