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Euronews
2 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
What does the Washington summit on Ukraine mean for the EU?
Seated around the same table at the White House, five European leaders, the President of the European Commission and the Secretary General of NATO rallied around the Ukrainian President to support his demands for peace in the presence of US President Donald Trump. The EU is back at the negotiating table on a possible peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, according to this expert. "I dare say that the EU is back but now we have to stand firm and show determination. And that also means a willingness to accept the risk, especially by giving Ukraine a security guarantee with troops on the ground," Sven Biscop, director of the Egmont Institute, a Brussels-based think tank, told Euronews. The priority for the Europeans was to push for security guarantees in Kyiv to be an integral part of any possible future peace agreement, to protect Ukraine from another Russian attack in the future. Security guarantees In a U-turn, the US President hinted for the first time that the US might provide Ukraine with security guarantees. "Trump said this time that the Europeans should provide a security guarantee coordinated by the United States," Biscop explained. "This is really a change of viewpoint because initially he was saying that this was the job of the Europeans and that the United States or NATO would not be involved. So it's a move in the right direction, but it's still not very detailed." An agreement has yet to be reached on what security guarantees the United States and the EU are prepared to provide to Ukraine. Article 5 The best would be one that comes closest to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, according to the director of the Egmont Institute. "A security guarantee means promising to go to war if your security is threatened. Anything less than that is support, but it is not a security guarantee. The best way to make this credible is to deploy troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire or peace agreement," says the researcher. Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Western allies would formalise security guarantees for Ukraine within the next ten days.
NBC News
25-06-2025
- Business
- NBC News
NATO chief's comments betray reality of military alliance's take on Trump
Most governments and people in Europe agree with Trump's stated premise that they need to spend more on their militaries — and stop their historical, postwar reliance on the United States. But Trump's perceived unpredictability still causes great anxiety on the continent, particularly the president's repeated questioning of the mutual defense promise at the heart of NATO, which was established after World War II to counter the Soviet Union. This summit is expected to see most of NATO's 32 allies agree to Trump's demand to more than double their defense spending targets to 5% of gross domestic product. This caused disquiet when Trump first suggested it in January, but has been accepted without too much open protest now. However, some defense-industry analysts say that even such lofty targets may not satisfy Trump — a man who has repeatedly treated the European members of the alliance with open hostility, and upended decades of U.S. policy by initiating a rapprochement with the leader of Russia, President Vladimir Putin. Sven Biscop, a director at the Egmont Institute think tank in Brussels, agrees with raising European defense spending. But he believes 'the focus on the 5% target is the wrong tactic' because Trump appears to have 'plucked this number out of thin air.' 'If it's meant to keep Trump happy, I don't think it will keep him happy for very long,' Biscop said. He warned European countries they may find themselves in a 'catch-22.' If they don't raise spending, 'Trump will say, 'Well, if you don't even want to defend yourself, why should I do it for you?'' he said. 'But if we do strengthen our defense, Trump will say, 'You can clearly do it by yourself, so I will reduce my commitment anyway.'' The previous NATO leader, Jens Stoltenberg, became known as a 'Trump whisperer' for his deft handling of a president who reportedly wanted to quit the alliance altogether. But Rutte has gone even further in his praise of the American president. Rutte's text message was 'so subservient and obsequious,' Biscop said. 'It's also counterproductive. I think he will lose respect from other leaders and it won't buy respect from Trump.' NATO declined to comment when NBC News asked about the criticism of Rutte's language. Europe's central dilemma remains: how to placate a president who has openly stated his opposition to multilateral organizations and unabashedly referred to Europe as a 'foe'? Since Trump's first term, many European leaders have accepted they can no longer rely on the level of commitment offered by Atlanticist presidents such as Joe Biden. The calculus of Biden and his predecessors was that America underwrites European security, and in return has a huge influence over political, diplomatic and even cultural happenings on the continent and beyond. With Trump doubling down on his rejection of this model, European powers have this year committed hundreds of billions more to their defense industries, vowing to ramp up production and purchasing of military equipment. That still leaves another 'pretty critical question for European leaders,' said Brett Bruen, the director of global engagement for President Barack Obama and a career American diplomat. What does European military independence 'truly mean?' he said. Trump has for years suggested that he would not honor Article 5 — NATO's central clause that suggests allies would come to each other's aid if attacked. Though he tried to allay these fears Wednesday — saying 'We are with them all the way' when asked about the clause — many officials and experts say occasional notes of support do not undo the damage of previous comments undermining an alliance built on trust. In answer to a question about concerns in Europe over Trump's commitment to NATO, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told NBC News: 'President Trump secured a massive win by delivering a historic 5% spending pledge, and America's place as the leader of the free world has been restored. This President has done more than anyone to advance global stability, and now, Europe and the entire world can benefit from peace through strength.' If Europe does trust the U.S. to honor its Article 5 commitments, then it might only need to augment the gaps in American military presence on the continent, said Bruen, now president of the Global Situation Room, a communications firm based in Virginia. But if the uncertainty persists, then European forces would need to be a 'backstop to American capabilities, which is both duplicative and dumb,' he said. 'The whole security architecture of Europe has been predicated on the notion that we're doing this together,' he added. But 'Trump hasn't yet said whether or not the U.S. will remain a steadfast partner of Europe, or whether he's intent on pulling back.' The 'biggest problem going forward is: What does Article 5 mean to Donald Trump,' Bruen added.
Express Tribune
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Water cutoff could spark war: Bilawal
Listen to article The head of a high-level parliamentary delegation and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday urged the European Union (EU) to guide the South Asian region back to a diplomatic path, calling for a comprehensive dialogue that included Kashmir, water disputes, and trade. The delegation members addressed a roundtable titled "South Asia at a Crossroads: Navigating Security Dynamics in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape" at the prestigious Egmont Institute in Brussels, as they arrived in EU headquarters in the third leg of their visit. The delegation reached Brussels on Wednesday, following their successful visits to the United Nations, Washington, and London. The visit is aimed at highlighting Pakistan's stance and countering Indian propaganda in the wake of recent tensions between the two countries. Bilawal, also the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), delivered a compelling overview of the evolving strategic balance in South Asia, highlighting the region's growing fragility in the face of an increasingly assertive power with revisionist ambitions. He said that India's recent acts of military provocation based on unsubstantiated allegations, unprovoked strikes on civilian targets, and a troubling disregard for international law, were aimed at reshaping the regional order through unilateralism and coercion. The delegation members also raised concern over the weaponisation of water, condemning the move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). They stressed that this step endangered ecosystems and livelihoods across the region. They said that India's unilateral action undermined one of the world's most successful water sharing frameworks, warning that manipulating the shared natural resources for political leverage set a dangerous precedent and eroded principles of international cooperation. Underscoring the imperative of peace, the delegation reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to regional stability, constructive dialogue, and multilateralism. They emphasised that lasting peace in South Asia required a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Meanwhile, in a meeting with Vice Chair of the Belgian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Katleen Depoorter, Bilawal shared Pakistan's grave concerns over India's attitude and stressed that dialogue remained the only path forward to regional stability. We have a ceasefire, but not peace. India's threats to weaponise water, its rejection of dialogue, and refusal to uphold UNSC resolutions have dangerously lowered the threshold for nuclear conflict in South Asia," he said. "Peace must not be partisan," he said, acknowledging the EU's stance on diplomacy. Earlier, speaking to the media in Brussels, after a meeting with Bernd Lange, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, Bilawal highlighted the importance of dialogue in addressing these longstanding conflicts. He conveyed Pakistan's deep concerns over Indian aggression, including threats to weaponise wateran act violation of the UN Charter that risked war. "War cannot be a solution to any issue. All matters, including Kashmir and water, must be resolved through dialogue," he said. Earlier, in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Bilawal warned that any attempt by India to block Pakistan's water supply would lead to war. India has made a major announcement regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, and if they follow through, there will be war," said Bilawal. "If India stops our water supply, it will lead to war," he continued. He warned that actions like the use of water as a weapon in the international relations would set a dangerous precedent. "If you allow water to be used as a weapon in the context of Pakistan, then tomorrow it can be used against anyone else." He also pointed to Pakistan's successful efforts in getting off the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List. "We completed the entire FATF process, and the US was part of it. They saw first-hand how Pakistan acted against these [terrorist] groups," he said. The PPP leader also spoke about his recent diplomatic visits to the US and the UK, calling them a success. "Our position is based on truth, and we have come with a message of peace. We want to engage in dialogue, especially considering the looming nuclear risk. (APP WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
NBC News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Ukraine's massive drone attack deep inside Russia lays bare Putin's vulnerability
It was a stunning, audacious attack whose widespread effects are only just becoming clear. Ukraine managed to smuggle 117 aerial drones on the backs of trucks that deposited them at the perimeter of four Russian air bases — one of them deep inside Siberia some 2,500 miles from Ukraine's borders, according to Ukrainian officials. While there are differing accounts on the extent of the ensuing damage of Sunday's 'Spiderweb' operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 40 Russian aircraft — 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers — were hit. Ukraine's security service, the SBU, put the estimated cost to the Kremlin at $7 billion. Some military commentators and pro-Russian bloggers have called it the country's "Pearl Harbor" — a reference to Japanese attack in 1941 that saw the United States enter World War II. It came Sunday, a day before the latest round of direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on Monday. There was little optimism for diplomatic progress even before the strike, with Ukraine sending its defense minister, Rustem Umerov, but Russia only dispatching the far more junior Putin aide, Vladimir Medinsky, to the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul. The talks were set to begin at 1 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET). A far more likely outcome is Russia continuing to bomb Ukrainian civilians — this time under the pretext of retaliation, "even though in reality these strikes are planned long in advance,' said Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow with the London-based think-tank Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia program. Less hard to quantify will be the huge blow to Vladimir Putin's pride, with Western analysts in agreement that this was a humiliation for the Russian president. 'At a time when Putin seems to think that he is winning on the battlefield, this demonstrates that his forces are in fact very vulnerable,' said Sven Biscop, a director at the Egmont Institute, a think tank in Brussels. 'This may not change the course of the war, but it does mean that every gain Russia makes will be at high cost.' He added it was 'quite amazing' that 'a significant part of their bomber force' could 'be destroyed like that.' The strike took a year and a half to plan, according to Zelenskyy, and played out on the eve of the latest round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, Turkey. It's still unclear what impact the surgical strike will have on Monday's negotiations, hopes for which were already dim thanks to the deep divisions between the positions of Kyiv and Moscow. Ukraine says it is ready to sign an unconditional 30-day ceasefire; Russia is essentially demanding Ukraine's surrender. Brokering the talks, President Donald Trump has shifted from the unambiguously pro-Ukrainian stance of his predecessor, President Joe Biden, and offered concessions to the Kremlin that have outraged many in the West. At the same time, he accused Putin last week of going 'absolutely crazy' by continuing to launch regular attacks on Ukraine civilians. Ultimately he has threatened to walk away from the peace talks if they do not yield the results he once promised he would achieve in just 24 hours. Indeed, overnight into Sunday Russia launched some 500 attack drones into Ukraine, Zelenskyy said. The night next came 84 more, with at least 10 people killed and dozens more injured across the country, Ukraine's Air Force said. Other pro-Russia observers are calling for even more drastic measures. 'We hope that the response will be the same as the U.S. response to the attack on Pearl Harbor, or even tougher,' said one Russian military blogger, Roman Alekhin, on the messaging app Telegram. Another pro-war Telegram channel, Dva Mayora, added that it was 'a reason to launch nuclear strikes on Ukraine" — a threat often made by Putin since launching the invasion three years ago. 'We can expect a great deal of sound and fury from Moscow,' Giles said. Russia 'will be working hard on convincing the United States to attempt to rein Ukraine in, in order to prevent any further damage to Russia's means of bombarding Ukrainian cities with long range missiles,' he added. 'In a way, the more important question is how the United States reacts, and how eager it is to take Moscow's side and constrain Ukraine,' he said.
Euronews
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
France's military forced out of Sahel region as it closes base in Chad
France has finally ended its 60-year military presence in Chad by closing its last military base there. Kosseï camp in the capital N'Djamena was also the last of its bases in the Sahel, which were themselves a legacy of France's domination of the region as the main colonial power there. On Friday the last of nearly 1,000 French soldiers left. Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby's decided last November to terminate defence cooperation agreements with its former coloniser, after a tide of anti-French sentiment. This decision was part of an historic regional trend: since 2022 with the French army withdrawing from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The withdrawals could also continue; in recent weeks, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire have announced they want French forces to leave their countries too. "The countries of the region are seeking to establish new links, forge new alliances and chart their own course," explains Euronews journalist Jeremiah Fisayo Bambi. These countries "want to guarantee their own sovereignty and be able to make their own choices, make their own decisions." While the military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that came to power after a coup d'état sought a break with France, Chad does not seem to be seeking to cut all ties, with N'Djamena referring to it as matter of "sovereignty". The tone in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire towards Paris appears identical. This "sends a strong signal that they no longer want the presence of French troops", stresses Nina Wilén, director of the Africa programme at the Egmont Institute. "Afterwards, we saw that the French embassy in Mali is staying. There is still cooperation with France, so that doesn't mean we're cutting all ties," the French analyst added. The impact on the European Union Chad's withdrawal was a blow to the French authorities but it also means a loss of influence in West Africa for the European Union. "I think that many European Union leaders have been hiding behind France (...) for the last ten years. France has led the biggest operation against terrorism in the Sahel, which has helped many European countries that did not want to invest to put troops on the ground themselves", Nina Wilén said. But Wilén says Europe is also to blame. "On the one hand, France made a mistake in how it dealt with the various countries and their leaders, and above all, in its attitude towards them. But there is also a European willingness, or more generally a European unwillingness, to invest in these countries". France and the EU must maintain their influence, as the departure of the French forces opens the door to other international players. All eyes are on Russia. The Russian paramilitary group Wagner, renamed Africa Corps after the death of its leader, is said to have 5,000 fighters on the African continent.
