Populist leader suggests ahead of NATO summit that Slovakia might be better off neutral
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested Tuesday that his country might be better off neutral as he and other officials prepared for a NATO summit next week.
Fico made the remarks before heading into a meeting with political party leaders and President Peter Pellegrini to discuss proposals to increase defense spending to meet targets that the alliance is moving toward. Fico accused Western leaders of being 'warmongers' who enable weapons profiteering in their support of Ukraine.
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Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Europe and Iran will try diplomacy as US weighs joining fight with Israel
VIENNA, Austria — Iran's foreign minister will meet in Geneva on Friday with counterparts from Germany, France and the United Kingdom, Iranian state media and European diplomats said, as Israeli airstrikes target his country's nuclear and military sites and Iran fires back . Europe's push for diplomacy is in sharp contrast to messages from Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump openly weighing bombing Iran and calling for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian leadership. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Geneva for the meetings Friday, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. European diplomats, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential talks, confirmed the meetings. 'All sides must show restraint, refrain from taking steps which lead to further escalation in the region, and return to diplomacy,' read a joint statement issued Wednesday by France, Germany, the U.K. and the EU. The three European countries, commonly referred to as the E3, played an important role in the negotiations over the original 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. But they have repeatedly threatened to reinstate sanctions that were lifted under the deal if Iran does not improve its cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. The meeting in Geneva could also provide the three European nations with a unique opportunity to reach out to Iran in what is going to be the first face-to-face meeting between Western officials and Tehran since the start of the conflict a week ago. Lammy is flying to Washington on Thursday to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The U.S. may want to use the U.K.-controlled base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in a potential strike on Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo but is not believed to have requested to do so yet. 'The EU will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and to find a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, which can only be through a negotiated deal,' said Anouar El Anouni, a spokesperson for the European Commission. 'This is why, an intense outreach activity involving all relevant sides is currently underway to preserve room for diplomacy and create the conditions for a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.' Germany's foreign minister has underlined European countries' willingness to talk to Iran about a solution to its nuclear program, but says there needs to be movement from Tehran. Johann Wadephul said Wednesday that the three European countries, which were part of Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement, 'still stand ready to negotiate on a solution.' But he added: 'Iran must now move urgently. Iran must take confidence-building and verifiable measures – for example, in that the leadership in Tehran makes it credible that it is not striving for a nuclear weapon.' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Thursday that France and Europeans partners are ready to 'resume negotiations' with Iran. Barrot did not confirm the Geneva meeting. Iranian authorities' message was 'relatively clear: there is a willingness to resume talks, including with the United States, provided that a ceasefire can be reached,' Barrot said in a news conference in Paris. 'On our side, there is a willingness to resume negotiations, provided that these negotiations can lead to lasting, substantial steps backward by Iran regarding its nuclear program, its ballistic program and its activities to destabilize the region,' Barrot said. Trump has given increasingly pointed warnings about the U.S. joining Israel in striking at Tehran's nuclear program even as Iran's leader warned anew that the United States would be greeted with stiff retaliation if it attacks. A U.S. official said Wednesday there no plans for U.S. involvement in nuclear talks set between senior European diplomats and Iran in Geneva, although that could change. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic communications, also noted that the Europeans have been wanting to play a role in the negotiations for months but have been held back by the U.S. That position, the official said, may be changing as the hostilities intensify. Israel asserts it launched its airstrike campaign last week to stop Iran from getting closer to being able to build a nuclear weapon. It came as Iran and the United States had been negotiating over the possibility of a new diplomatic deal over Tehran's program, though Trump has said Israel's campaign came after a 60-day window he set for the talks. Iran's supreme leader rejectedU.S. calls for surrender in the face of more Israeli strikes Wednesday and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause 'irreparable damage to them.' Iran long has insisted its nuclear program was peaceful, though it was the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, was still conducting inspections, though limited, in the country. U.S. intelligence agencies as well have said they did not believe Iran was actively pursuing the bomb. ___ McNeil contributed from Barcelona. Associated Press writets Jill Lawless in London, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Matt Lee in Washington and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Europe and Iran will try diplomacy as US weighs joining fight with Israel
VIENNA, Austria (AP) — Iran's foreign minister will meet in Geneva on Friday with counterparts from Germany, France and the United Kingdom, Iranian state media and European diplomats said, as Israeli airstrikes target his country's nuclear and military sites and Iran fires back. Europe's push for diplomacy is in sharp contrast to messages from Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump openly weighing bombing Iran and calling for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian leadership. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Geneva for the meetings Friday, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. European diplomats, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential talks, confirmed the meetings. 'All sides must show restraint, refrain from taking steps which lead to further escalation in the region, and return to diplomacy,' read a joint statement issued Wednesday by France, Germany, the U.K. and the EU. The three European countries, commonly referred to as the E3, played an important role in the negotiations over the original 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. But they have repeatedly threatened to reinstate sanctions that were lifted under the deal if Iran does not improve its cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. The meeting in Geneva could also provide the three European nations with a unique opportunity to reach out to Iran in what is going to be the first face-to-face meeting between Western officials and Tehran since the start of the conflict a week ago. Lammy is flying to Washington on Thursday to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The U.S. may want to use the U.K.-controlled base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in a potential strike on Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo but is not believed to have requested to do so yet. 'The EU will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and to find a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, which can only be through a negotiated deal,' said Anouar El Anouni, a spokesperson for the European Commission. 'This is why, an intense outreach activity involving all relevant sides is currently underway to preserve room for diplomacy and create the conditions for a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.' Germany says there must be movement from Iran Germany's foreign minister has underlined European countries' willingness to talk to Iran about a solution to its nuclear program, but says there needs to be movement from Tehran. Johann Wadephul said Wednesday that the three European countries, which were part of Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement, 'still stand ready to negotiate on a solution.' But he added: 'Iran must now move urgently. Iran must take confidence-building and verifiable measures – for example, in that the leadership in Tehran makes it credible that it is not striving for a nuclear weapon.' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Thursday that France and Europeans partners are ready to 'resume negotiations' with Iran. Barrot did not confirm the Geneva meeting. Iranian authorities' message was 'relatively clear: there is a willingness to resume talks, including with the United States, provided that a ceasefire can be reached,' Barrot said in a news conference in Paris. 'On our side, there is a willingness to resume negotiations, provided that these negotiations can lead to lasting, substantial steps backward by Iran regarding its nuclear program, its ballistic program and its activities to destabilize the region,' Barrot said. No US delegates at the Geneva talks on Friday Trump has given increasingly pointed warnings about the U.S. joining Israel in striking at Tehran's nuclear program even as Iran's leader warned anew that the United States would be greeted with stiff retaliation if it attacks. A U.S. official said Wednesday there no plans for U.S. involvement in nuclear talks set between senior European diplomats and Iran in Geneva, although that could change. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic communications, also noted that the Europeans have been wanting to play a role in the negotiations for months but have been held back by the U.S. That position, the official said, may be changing as the hostilities intensify. Israel asserts it launched its airstrike campaign last week to stop Iran from getting closer to being able to build a nuclear weapon. It came as Iran and the United States had been negotiating over the possibility of a new diplomatic deal over Tehran's program, though Trump has said Israel's campaign came after a 60-day window he set for the talks. Iran's supreme leader rejectedU.S. calls for surrender in the face of more Israeli strikes Wednesday and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause 'irreparable damage to them.' Iran long has insisted its nuclear program was peaceful, though it was the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, was still conducting inspections, though limited, in the country. U.S. intelligence agencies as well have said they did not believe Iran was actively pursuing the bomb. ___ McNeil contributed from Barcelona. Associated Press writets Jill Lawless in London, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Matt Lee in Washington and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
CS Global Partners 2025 World Citizenship Report Probes Global Change, Humanity
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - June 19, 2025) - CS Global Partners releases the fourth edition of its annual World Citizenship Report (WCR ). This year's edition takes stock of the human condition in a tumultuous geopolitical period, considering the reverberating effects of elections, economic instability and rising safety concerns globally. [ This image cannot be displayed. Please visit the source: ] The CS Global Partners World Citizenship Report remains the flagship analysis of the most pressing issues facing global citizens. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: The report's theme, the human condition as a catalyst of change, takes a theoretically grounded approach to report data and probes citizenship through a human lens. The report considers the reasons people leave their home countries and the reasons that people stay, especially in a world where countries previously considered safe and prosperous are more dangerous, while many developing countries improve their security and economic credentials. The electoral changes in the United States and ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have created a novel environment through which to understand the power of citizenship and mobility. The backdrop of the rise of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) adds an intriguing dimension to the geopolitical environment. The World Citizenship Report provides commentary and analysis from scholars and researchers, including an initiative from the World Economic Forum and the University of Cambridge, on these vital developments. The report also features in-depth analysis on urbanisation, green geopolitics, investor migration and electoral strategies. The World Citizenship Report is the world's first-ever endeavour to investigate the value of citizenship through the lens of the global citizen. Favouring a multifaceted approach, the World Citizenship Report employs the World Citizenship Index (WCI). The World Citizenship Index is an innovative tool that takes a holistic approach to ranking the world's citizenships across multiple dimensions. Moving beyond typical concepts of passport strength, the World Citizenship Index acknowledges the many reasons that people leave their countries, and the many reasons that people stay. This report is distinguished by placing a greater emphasis on the diverse attitudes regarding key facets of citizenship. The World Citizenship Report measures 188 countries across five motivators that global citizens care most about - Safety and Security, Quality of Life, Economic Opportunity, Global Mobility and Financial Freedom. Micha Emmett, CEO of CS Global Partners, states, 'At its core, this report underscores a simple but profound truth: the human condition remains at the heart of all global shifts. The desire for safety, mobility, economic opportunity, financial certainty and quality of life transcends borders. While there may be no perfect country, the World Citizenship Index provides a strategic roadmap for families seeking to optimise their futures amidst the uncertainty.' For overall rankings in the World Citizenship Report, Switzerland took first place. Switzerland stood out for its liveability, dynamic economy with high levels of Financial Freedom, and safe society. Known as a haven for luxury, stunning mountains and lakes, and political neutrality, the country enjoys a strong reputation across the globe. Last year's top scorer, Ireland, (ranked seventh in this year's WCR), also received high marks for Quality of Life, Financial Freedom, and Safety and Security, though the country fell from being ranked first in the Economic Opportunity motivator in 2024 to #59 in this year's report. The United Kingdom scored highly but fell when compared to last year. It ranked 12 th among all nations, compared to its sixth place ranking last year. The United States was ranked 19 th in this year's report, which is a slight improvement from last year's ranking of 22. Last year's edition of the World Citizenship Report noted that the Quality of Life pillar was ranked most important among the five pillars, according to our survey of HNWIs. Safety and Security followed closely, indicating that HNWIs are focussed not only on finding the most secure countries for living and working, but also in finding the countries with the highest standard of living for themselves and their families. The Quality of Life pillar considers a nation's ability to give its citizens the things necessary for a high standard of living, including environmental quality, educational quality and healthcare quality. Norway, Germany, and Switzerland took the top three spots in the Quality of Life pillar. In the 2025 report, Somalia, Chad and South Sudan took the worst rankings in Quality of Life. Yemen and Afghanistan were also in the bottom ten, which is a key difference from last year's rankings, in which African countries took all 10 bottom positions for Quality of Life. As with this year, Somalia, Chad and South Sudan rounded out the worst-ranked countries in 2024. The Safety and Security motivator assesses a country's social safety and security metrics, from governance to crime and beyond, considering the safety net the country provides against instability and disorder. Iceland took first place in the Safety and Security motivator, Switzerland came in second place and Denmark took third place. Venezuela scored the lowest in this pillar, reflecting the political and economic turmoil in the country. Safety and Security is of fundamental importance, particularly to HNWIs. As war between Russia and Ukraine continues, and Israel and Palestine dip in and out of ceasefires, and recently the current escalation between Israel and Iran, instability is characterising global geopolitics. The World Citizenship Report provides a guide to the safest and most secure countries, also highlighting those that are most prone to warfare and discord. Reflecting the toll of the conflicts within which their countries are embroiled, Russia was ranked #161 in the report, and Ukraine was ranked #154. The Financial Freedom motivator measures the ability of a country to provide a favourable and stable regulatory climate for the establishment and functioning of businesses, as well as the holding of personal and business assets. Denmark, Singapore, and Finland took the first three spots in this pillar. Venezuela took the bottom spot. The World Citizenship Report survey of HNWIs last year found that in Europe and other economically more developed regions, HNWIs place greater emphasis on investments, portfolio diversification and wealth planning when considering second citizenship. 45.4 per cent of Europeans noted this as a priority. In contrast, regions such as Latin America which feature less robust economies emphasise work opportunities more than investments. Only 24.1 per cent of Latin Americans noted investments, portfolio diversification and wealth planning as a priority. Each edition of the World Citizenship Report maintains a rigorous data methodology but brings about a new thematic innovation. This year's theme, with its deep philosophical and theoretical grounding, provides a necessary update to the report's offering. To download the 2025 World Citizenship Report visit: Contact: CS Global Partners +44 20 7318 4343 [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit
