Latest news with #NorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization
The Mainichi
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Editorial: US and Europe must show solidarity in pressuring Russia over Ukraine
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which had taken a conciliatory approach to Russia regarding its invasion of Ukraine, has shifted to a stance of increased pressure. This should be used to help achieve an early ceasefire. Trump has announced plans to impose a 100% tariff as a sanction on third countries that continue to trade with Russia. The focus is on countries like China and India, which import Russian crude oil. It was initially announced the sanctions would be invoked if Russian President Vladimir Putin did not agree to a ceasefire within 50 days. The United States will also bolster its provision of weapons to Ukraine, supplying the U.S.-made Patriot air defense system through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is of great significance that Washington has clarified its stance of supporting Ukraine, which has been placed on the back foot. Up until now, Trump had been so fixated on his campaign promise from last year's presidential election to bring the war to an early end that he even proposed peace plans favorable to Russia. Military support to Ukraine was temporarily halted, allowing Russia to expand its occupied territories. The latest measure gave a maximum 50-day "grace period" before the sanctions were to come into effect, raising concerns the Putin administration could use this to buy time. Trump announced July 28 he would give Putin 10-12 days, shortening the deadline. In Ukraine, the ground dries in summer, making it easier for the Russian military to move troops amid its offensive in the country, and it is feared the occupied territories could increase further. While the direction of tightening sanctions against Russia is appropriate, questions remain as to the method of imposing sanctions on third countries. If the sanctions are actually implemented, it could reduce the supply of crude oil to the market, leading to price surges that could have an enormous impact on the global economy. China has opposed the U.S. move, saying that problems cannot be solved through coercion and pressure. The U.S. has a history of making concessions, such as lowering its tariff rate after China introduced measures to counter the reciprocal tariffs announced by Washington. Trump's level of seriousness will continue to be tested. The most important thing is for the Trump administration to maintain pressure on Russia. There has been strong resistance in the U.S. toward the new provision of Patriot defense systems to Ukraine. In light of this, a system was created where NATO member countries other than the U.S. would bear the costs. Washington and Europe must be prepared to act on their resolve to cement their solidarity anew and support Ukraine until a ceasefire is achieved.
The Mainichi
4 days ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
Australia, Britain sign 50-yr AUKUS treaty amid US review
SYDNEY (Kyodo) -- Australia and Britain signed a new 50-year treaty on Saturday to cement the existing trilateral AUKUS nuclear submarine program with the United States, reaffirming their commitment to the plan amid a U.S. review of the three-way pact. The treaty will enable comprehensive cooperation on the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of new AUKUS submarines, as well as supporting port visits and the rotational presence of a British Astute-class submarine at a navy base near Perth on Australia's west coast, according to a joint statement. The new bilateral treaty between London and Canberra sits under the existing trilateral AUKUS security agreement involving Washington. Under the plan announced by the three countries in 2021, Australia will purchase nuclear-powered submarines from the United States in the early 2030s and deliver its first domestically built vessels in the early 2040s. The strengthened commitment to the AUKUS submarine program comes after the United States announced a review of the trilateral AUKUS pact in June, seeking to ensure the agreement aligns with President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda. Speaking at the signing ceremony in the southeast Australian city of Geelong on Saturday, British Defense Secretary John Healey said the new treaty will fortify the Indo-Pacific and strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. "This is a treaty that will define the relationship between our two nations and safeguard the securities of our countries for our children and our children's children to come," said Healey. At a press conference in Sydney on Friday, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles stressed that it was "the most natural thing in the world" for a new government to undertake a review, while Healey said that both Australia and Britain welcome it as an opportunity for the Trump administration to renew their commitment to the pact.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
'Western vs Indian': Differing management approaches reflect cultural roots
Western management abhors ambiguity. Indians tolerate and thrive in it R Gopalakrishnan Mumbai Listen to This Article Several Indian thinkers (me included) place an emphasis on an 'Indian' way as compared to a 'Western' way of management. They refer to Swami Vivekananda or the Mahabharata to draw lessons. Is this relevant or valid? There is some degree of validity, but only some, particularly in the equilibrium between efficiency and effectiveness. Our assumptions about life and work are shaped by deep and unmanifest influences of culture, for example, deference to power, authority, and age, as seen in Indian business leaders genuflecting before ministers and bureaucrats. When I saw North Atlantic Treaty Organization chief Mark Rutte, a blunt Dutchman,
![[Wang Son-taek] As NATO falters, the SCO advances](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F07%2F23%2Fnews-p.v1.20250723.aeda4d9065f746e8965f661ef19a7644_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[Wang Son-taek] As NATO falters, the SCO advances](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fkoreaherald.com.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
[Wang Son-taek] As NATO falters, the SCO advances
When the Cold War ended in 1991, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization inevitably faced serious concerns over its continued existence. NATO had been a multilateral alliance ensuring peace and stability against potential invasion by the Soviet-led socialist bloc. But with the collapse of the Soviet Union and other socialist forces, the justification for NATO's existence disappeared. After much deliberation and debate, NATO has sought to redefine its role by emphasizing its function as a supporter of the US-led liberal international order on a global scale. However, NATO now finds itself seriously weakened by the "ally-bashing" policy of US President Donald Trump. In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while NATO member states agree on the need to strengthen military capabilities, they find themselves bewildered and betrayed by the excessively aggressive demands of the United States. While NATO member states are suffering from dizziness, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, led by China and Russia, is displaying a contrasting vitality. Judging by the recent diplomatic movements of the two leading nations, it is clear that the SCO is gaining new momentum. It cannot be ruled out that the SCO may become a meaningful multilateral alliance capable of rivaling NATO. Among those engaged in SCO-related diplomacy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has shown the most dynamic activity. On July 9 and 10, he attended the ASEAN Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and articulated Russia's position. In normal times, his participation would not be particularly noteworthy. But now it holds significance. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the country has borne the stigma of a war criminal state and shown signs of diplomatic isolation for more than three years. This time, by attending the ASEAN forum, Russia signaled a more active diplomatic posture. Following his Kuala Lumpur visit, Lavrov flew to Wonsan, North Korea. He was warmly received by Chairman Kim Jong Un, and they discussed enhancing strategic cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Lavrov demonstrated solidarity with North Korea by actively participating in tourism promotion events celebrating the opening of the Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone, one of Chairman Kim's flagship projects. Lavrov's efforts to manage the relationship with North Korea will likely help Russia escape its diplomatic isolation. Lavrov's next destination after Wonsan was Tianjin, China, to attend the SCO foreign ministers' meeting. He held a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and paid a courtesy visit to President Xi Jinping. During the talks, Lavrov coordinated the schedule for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing. Putin is scheduled to attend the SCO summit in Tianjin at the end of August and then participate in China's Victory Day military parade in early September. This summit, following Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow in May, marks the second summit between the Chinese and Russian leaders in four months. Lavrov also met with India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in China and reaffirmed a commitment to deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries. Notably, he proposed reviving the RIC (Russia-India-China) trilateral cooperation framework. This initiative, aimed at building a multipolar order to replace the US-centered unipolar world, is significant as it seeks to structurally reshape the international system. China has also been exhibiting dynamic diplomacy this year. In April, President Xi Jinping toured three countries — Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia. In May, he paid a state visit to Russia. In June, he visited Kazakhstan to attend the China-Central Asia Summit. While Xi's foreign travels are not unprecedented, in light of rumors suggesting his political downfall, his recent trips symbolize a proactive diplomatic posture. Xi notably met with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar during the SCO foreign ministers' meeting. Despite ongoing tensions over border issues, China's success in improving relations with India could position it as a mediator in the India-Pakistan conflict, thereby expanding its diplomatic influence. This indicates that China is trying to turn the tide diplomatically through the SCO summit. The frantic diplomatic moves by China and Russia are significantly influenced by the bizarre foreign policy of the United States. Since taking office in January, President Trump has imposed absurdly high tariffs on other countries and demanded concessions in return for reducing them. Most notably, he has pressured US allies — key pillars of American hegemony — to increase defense spending and cost-sharing, often behaving like an unpredictable hegemon. Many countries around the world remain anxious and uncertain, unable to find proper responses to the intimidation by the world's sole superpower. The problem is that, while the United States is undermining its own leadership, the next most powerful nation — China — is widely perceived as a bully due to its lack of empathy and rigid leadership style. As a result, it has not been seen as a viable alternative. In particular, China experienced a dark chapter in October 2022, ahead of Xi Jinping's third-term inauguration. During that period, multiple senior Chinese diplomats issued a flurry of threatening messages to certain countries, claiming to showcase the greatness of China. This heavy-handed approach backfired and led to a substantial loss of soft power. However, China now seems to be working to reverse that image, portraying itself as a possible alternative to the US amid American leadership fatigue. If China successfully hosts this year's SCO summit, its image and international standing are likely to improve. While the SCO has 10 full members, it also includes two observer states and 14 dialogue partners, indicating considerable potential as a multilateral cooperation body. If President Trump continues his current foreign policy line, we will soon witness the SCO expanding and gaining weight. Conversely, should the US revise its current course, China and Russia's recent diplomatic momentum may subside, and NATO could find space to recover. Whether the SCO emerges as a genuine counterweight to NATO depends less on China and Russia, and more on the choices made in Washington.
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
S. Korea to attend intl. defense exhibition in Turkey this week
South Korea will participate in a global defense industry fair in Turkey this week to promote homegrown defense products and boost their export bids, the arms procurement agency said Wednesday. The International Defence Industry Fair, which opened Tuesday (local time) in Istanbul for a five-day run, will bring together defense officials from more than 80 countries, including North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states. Six South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises will showcase homegrown defense technologies aimed at entering the European and Middle Eastern markets, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said. DAPA said it plans to operate joint booths at upcoming defense exhibitions in Poland in September and the United States in October. (Yonhap)
