Latest news with #Rutte
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Why France and Italy Are Snubbing Trump's NATO Weapon Plan
"It's a very big deal we've made," President Donald Trump remarked in front of the world's cameras on Monday, sitting next to NATO's chief, Mark Rutte, in the Oval Office. "Mr. President, dear Donald, this is really big," Rutte said. Trump on Monday said the United States would ship "billions of dollars' worth" of military equipment to NATO members, paid for by the alliance, to be handed over to Ukrainian forces battling grinding Russian advances. Trump had earlier this month suggested NATO would "100 percent" pay for U.S. weapons, which would be sent to Ukraine. Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada will be involved, Rutte said, as well as the Nordic nations of Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The agreement was a fresh indicator of Trump's growing irritation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and stalled progress toward the ceasefire Trump had pledged to secure in Eastern Europe. It was also a marker of underlying, unsolved tensions in Europe as the alliance attempts to paint itself as more united than ever. The French government will not join the initiative because of its emphasis on piecing together Europe's defense industrial base, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing two French officials. Italy will also refrain from participating, according to the Italian daily newspaper La Stampa. Newsweek reached out to the French and Italian governments for comment via email. Paris has been at the forefront of pushing for investment in the European defense industry, particularly in French manufacturing, Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow for European security at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a prominent U.K.-based defense think tank, told Newsweek. Italy, meanwhile, does not feel as alarmed by Russia as other NATO nations, and is "just not choosing to buy European or American in large quantities," said Arnold. France and Italy had hoped for a similar deal to the one lauded in the Oval Office, which would have involved orders of the Franco-Italian SAMP-T ground-based air defense system, rather than Patriots, according to a French industry source. But the capacity to produce significant numbers of SAMP-Ts quickly just isn't there yet, and France's air force wants to ensure it has held back enough air defense systems to shield its airborne nuclear deterrent, the source told Newsweek. It's "extremely raw" as an issue, but there is an understanding that there are some capabilities that Europe's defense industry can't currently produce, a NATO official from a Baltic state told Newsweek. Trump's return to the White House sparked anxiety in Europe, a continent that has historically relied heavily on Washington to support its militaries. However, the Trump administration's long-held and publicly expressed frustration with Europe's scant defense spending successfully led to a major pledge at last month's NATO summit, where the alliance promised to reach 5 percent of GDP on defense. Such a commitment was deemed entirely unrealistic at the start of the year. Europe and Canada walk a tightrope between wanting to keep the U.S. engaged in the continent's security and weaning NATO's non-U.S. members off a dependence on the country's equipment. While NATO broadly agrees Europe needs (and will) surge defense spending, the industrial strategy is less clear, and differences between the priorities of individual countries remain stark. There are pressing questions still to be answered about how rapidly the European defense industry will be able to expand, particularly in the next year or so. Europe will struggle to produce equipment in the short and medium term, meaning governments will have to look to the U.S. and other countries, such as South Korea, for immediate needs, Arnold told Newsweek. "Defense industry is still the stickiest part of NATO unity," he said. Rutte said the deal would put "really massive numbers" of vital supplies, including air defense, in Ukraine's hands. Trump stated that Ukraine would receive an unspecified number of Patriot systems "within days." Patriot systems, manufactured by the U.S. defense company Raytheon, are the most sought-after ground-based air defense systems, capable of intercepting Russia's advanced weapons and ballistic missiles. Ukraine has frequently appealed for more Patriot batteries, which are composed of several components, including radars, launchers, and interceptor missiles, as well as a command and control center. Zelensky said on July 10 that Germany would fund the purchase of two Patriot systems, while Norway would finance a third. U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, who recently took over as NATO's top military commander, said on Thursday that the German Patriot would be transferred "as quickly as possible." Trump said an unnamed nation could provide all or at least the better part of "17 Patriots." It was unclear which parts of the Patriot system the president was referring to. "Seventeen is a huge number if we are talking about batteries," Major General Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency, told the Guardian on Tuesday. "If it's launchers, that's possible." Ukraine has faced intensified Russian aerial attacks in recent months, despite U.S. efforts to bridge the gap between Moscow and Kyiv. Ukraine signed up to an American proposal in March, but the Kremlin has refused to ink its consent, upping its strikes on the war-torn country. The U.S. has also repeatedly paused military aid deliveries to Ukraine, including Patriot interceptors. Trump, who had long held off on criticizing the Russian president, has increasingly made his frustration with Putin known. "I'm disappointed in him, but I'm not done with him," Trump told the BBC earlier this week. Related Articles How to Watch Tour de France 2025 Stage 12: Live Stream Cycling, TV ChannelMan Eats Sandwich, Internet Not Prepared for What Crawls Out of It at EndHow to Watch Tour de France 2025 Stage 11: Live Stream Cycling, TV ChannelIran Makes Nuclear Threat 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
US-Nato's threat to Russian oil buyers masks a bid to check China and corner the arms market
Play ball, our way Nato secretary general Mark Rutte may have thought he would cause jitters in India, China and Russia if he spoke the strident language of Donald Trump. That he caused no disquiet was evident in the stock markets in India, China and the Western 'ordered' India, Brazil and China - all BRICS members - to stop buying Russian oil after Trump threatened to punish them for non-compliance by imposing an additional 100% tariff. Curiously, he omitted mentioning Turkiye, a Nato member, being the third-biggest importer of Russian crude after India and China. It is amazing that some of the best strategists in the Western world would come up with a simplistic solution for resolving the Ukraine crisis: provide Ukraine with top-notch weapons and weaken Russia by blocking oil exports. Choking distribution of Russian oil, which accounts for 15% of global supply, would shoot up international crude prices, possibly by 20-30% from the present level of $68 a barrel. Markets were indifferent because they knew that European countries, and even the US, would not seriously commit themselves to such self-harm. Though the EU has moved away from Russian oil, it still purchases 19% of its natural gas requirements from Russia. Trump, once wary of Ukraine aid and banking on Putin ties, flipped after Rutte dangled big US arms sales So, why should India, which saves more than $11 bn a year by buying discounted Russian oil, accept this 'diktat', which is equal to an additional tariff? Indian officials prefer to wait. An earlier statement by S Jaishankar after US senator Lindsey Graham proposed a 500% tariff on buyers of Russian oil is an indicator of New Delhi's thinking. 'So, we have been in touch with Senator Graham. Our concerns and our interests on energy security have been made conversant to him. So, we'll then have to cross that bridge when we come to it, if we come to it,' Jaishankar said earlier this has protested the move, while Russian leaders are literally joking about it. 'China believes dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis. We categorically oppose all illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday. 'Coercion and pressure cannot resolve fundamental issues.'Trump, who consistently opposed high-spend support for Ukraine, and relied on his 'friendship' with Vladimir Putin to resolve the crisis, made a volte-face, offering top-notch military equipment to Kyiv. Some commentators have credited Rutte for bringing about this change by enticing Trump with promises of higher sales of US-made military there is more to it. Trump, and a section of European leaders, have been looking for ways to keep Beijing under pressure as they find Chinese companies surging ahead of Western businesses in sales and innovation. Cutting off Russian oil supplies could be a good way to force China, the biggest oil buyer, to pay more while weakening a supposed India-Russia-China 'alliance'.They are also hassled by the expansion and rising clout of BRICS, which Trump recently described as an 'anti-American' group. He takes the de-dollarisation threat more seriously than some BRICS members like India. The fact that the Russian economy has survived nearly four years of, in Putin's words, a 'special military operation' is seen by many as a direct affront to the supposed power of economic sanctions and Western plans to weaken the nation. India and China are blamed in some quarters for Russia's is the second-biggest arms buyer in the world after Ukraine. Russia remains the largest arms supplier, meeting 36% of India's arms requirements - though the number has declined from 72% during 2010-14, suggesting major changes in GoI's approach on the issue. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), 'India is shifting its arms supply relations towards Western suppliers, most notably France, Israel and the US.'A key element in the growth of the defence industry is the existence of enemies and threat perception. Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and, to a smaller extent, India help to meet this requirement for Western defence manufacturers. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the third- and fourth-biggest buyers, mainly because of the threat perception from recently said that his success in persuading European countries to spend 5% of their GDP on defence has thrown up a potential market of $1 tn for the sector. It is obvious that American defence companies and politicians do not want China to start bidding for a piece of the new market by offering discounted rates. They don't want to share the fate of US construction and railroad companies, which failed to stop Chinese players from penetrating parts of Europe over the past also want a share of the Indian defence market, even if it's necessary to ensure continued discord between Asian neighbours, India, Pakistan and China. Trump's repeated claims about ending the recent India-Pakistan conflict should be seen in this the goals set out by the Trump-Nato combine cover several aspects other than oil. They include countering China's influence, weakening BRICS and enlarging the market potential of Western arms producers. The question is whether it will succeed in bringing India closer to the West (read: the US). Or, make New Delhi and Beijing strange tactical bedfellows. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. As deposit ground slips under PSU banks' feet, they chase the wealthy If data is the new oil, are data centres the smokestacks of the digital age? Can Grasim's anti-competition charge against Asian Paints stand amid intense war Can Indian IT's 'pyramid' survive the GenAI shake-up? Stock Radar: Igarashi Motors showing signs of momentum after 30% drop from highs; time to buy? These mid-cap stocks with 'Strong Buy' & 'Buy' recos can rally over 25%, according to analysts Multibagger or IBC - Part 15: Strong margins & no loans. Is this the auto sector's dark horse? Get ready for volatility with the big, better & experienced. 7 large-caps from different sectors with an upside potential of up to 39%
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘Guided by what's on offer': India on NATO official's warning on Russian oil
NEW DELHI: India on Thursday responded to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's warning about sanctions on countries buying Russian oil by saying that the country's energy procurement is based on market conditions and national interests. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte looks on during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on July 14 (AFP) In an apparent reference to some European countries still buying Russian energy, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there should be no 'double standards' on the issue. Rutte has warned India, Brazil and China that they could face secondary sanctions if they continue to do business with Russia. 'We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate that securing energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us,' Jaiswal told a weekly media briefing while responding to a question on Rutte's comments. 'In this endeavour, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets, and by the prevailing global circumstances. We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter,' he said. India, China and Brazil have been major buyers of Russian oil after the US and the European Union (EU) imposed sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 'My encouragement to these three countries, particularly, is, if you live now in Beijing, or in Delhi, or you are the president of Brazil, you might want to take a look into this, because this might hit you very hard,' Rutte told reporters in Washington. Rutte also urged the three countries to use their influence with Russia to get President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. 'So please make the phone call to Vladimir Putin and tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks, because otherwise this will slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way,' Rutte said. Rutte's remarks coincided with US President Donald Trump's warning Russia of significant trade restrictions if Putin does not reach a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days. 'We're going to be doing very severe tariffs [on Russia] if we don't have a deal in 50 days,' Trump said on Tuesday. India, China and Brazil, along with Russia, are members of the Brics grouping and Trump has been critical of the bloc for promoting trade in the national currencies of its members. Earlier this month, Trump threatened Brics member states with 10% additional tariffs on exports to the US. India has consistently said that dialogue and diplomacy can lead to a solution for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. New Delhi has also said that no solutions can be found on the battlefield, and negotiations cannot succeed under the shadow of the gun. India also ramped up the purchase of discounted Russian energy in 2022 and Moscow is now one of the top two energy suppliers for New Delhi.
Scroll.in
7 hours ago
- Business
- Scroll.in
‘Caution against double standards': India on NATO chief's warning of sanctions over Russia trade
India's priority is to secure energy needs for its citizens, said the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, responding to a question about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte's warning that countries trading with Russia, particularly in fuel, could face secondary sanctions. On Wednesday, Rutte said countries such as India, China and Brazil might be hit 'very hard' by the sanctions if they continue to trade with Russia amid the war on Ukraine. He also urged the countries to tell Russian President Vladimir Putin that 'he has to get serious about peace talks'. NATO is a military alliance of 32 countries, including the United States and several members of the European Union. Responding to a question about Rutte's remark, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaisal said: 'Securing energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us. In this endeavor, we are guided by what is there on offer in the markets, as also by the prevailing global circumstances.' 'We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter,' added Jaiswal. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, which triggered the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. The United States and its European allies have imposed sanctions on Russian businesses and exports to force Moscow to negotiate a peace deal with Kyiv. India is among the countries whose imports of cheaper fuel from Russia have increased since 2022. This has raised concerns in Washington that high volume purchases are undermining the West's attempts to squeeze the Russian economy and thus, indirectly, helping finance its military operations in Ukraine. The comments by Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, had come a day after US President Donald Trump announced the provision of new weapons for Ukraine and threatened a secondary tariff of 100% on countries purchasing Russian exports unless there was a peace deal within 50 days.
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First Post
7 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
'Double standards': India rejects Nato chief's Russian oil remarks, says 'energy needs an overriding priority'
India has rejected Nato chief Mark Rutte's warning about buying Russian oil and has flagged double standards of the West. For context, European nations that largely make up Nato have paid more money to Russia for energy imports than they have given to Ukraine in aid. read more India has rejected Nato chief Mark Rutte's warning about buying Russian oil and has flagged the double standards of the international community. Earlier this week, Rutte referred to secondary tariffs that US lawmakers have been pushing for countries buying Russian oil and gas and urged countries like India to either convince Russia to stop attacks on Ukraine or be ready to be hit "very hard". Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday said that India will continue to secure energy requirement of its irrespective of whatever anyone might say. He further flagged the double standards of the West in their narrative of the Indian purchase of Russian oil. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Let me reiterate that securing energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us. In this endeavor, we ae guided by what is on offer in the markets, and by the prevailing global circumstances. We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter,' said Jaiswal. For context, European nations that largely make up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) have paid more money to Russia for energy imports than they have given to Ukraine in aid since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. #WATCH | Delhi | On Nato chief Mark Rutte's comment that countries buying Russian oil could face secondary sanctions, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate that securing the energy… — ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2025 Earlier this week, Rutte singled out India and said the failure to stop buying Russian oil could hit it 'in a massive way'. 'My encouragement to these three countries, particularly is, if you live now in Beijing, or in Delhi, or you are the president of Brazil, you might want to take a look into this, because this might hit you very hard. So please make the phone call to Vladimir Putin and tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks, because otherwise this will slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way,' said Rutte. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, India has ramped up the purchase of discounted Russian oil. Officials and commentators in the West have often criticised the Indian purchase of oil as they have accused India and other buyers like China of funding the Russian war. Energy exports, such as oil and gas, make up a huge chunk of Russian revenues that it uses to fund the war on Ukraine. However, these officials and commentators, such as Rutte, ignore the fact that European nations have also continued to buy Russian oil and gas. In fact, European nations have paid Russia more for such imports than they have given to Ukraine in aid. Consider this: Since 2022, the European Union (EU) has been the largest buyer of Russian liquified natural gas (51 per cent) and pipeline gas (37 per cent) and Turkey —a Nato member— has been the largest buyer of Russian oil products (26 per cent), according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So far this year, EU members have bought €21.9 billion ($25.4 billion) of Russian oil and gas compared to €18.7 billion ($21.69 billion) that they have allocated in aid for Ukraine, according to estimates from the CREA. Moreover, since 2022, estimates have said that the EU members have paid $215–235 billion to Russia for oil, gas, and coal, compared to $200 billion that they have allocated and pledged to Ukraine in aid.
