Latest news with #maritimelaw
Russia Today
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
African state rejects neighbor's request to join naval drills
Somalia has rejected a request from Ethiopia to participate in joint naval exercises within its territorial waters, citing concerns over potential violations of international maritime law and threats to its sovereignty, local media reported Monday. Ethiopia reportedly expressed interest in the drills at a recent regional meeting in Addis Ababa and submitted a proposal to deploy naval personnel under an African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia. The plan, announced at last week's Eastern Africa Standby Force summit in Mogadishu, has been seen by Somali officials as part of the landlocked country's push to secure a foothold in regional waters. 'We do not accept a landlocked country conducting military operations in our waters,' Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said, according to the Garowe Online news outlet. 'Somalia has full control over its land, air and sea. Any move by Ethiopia to participate in unauthorized naval exercises is contrary to international maritime law and Somalia's national laws,' the minister added. Ethiopia's bid to secure Red Sea access has been a source of regional tensions, including a dispute last year with Somalia over a maritime deal signed with the breakaway region of Somaliland. Mogadishu condemned the agreement, which would allow Ethiopia to build a naval base at the port of Berbera, as an act of 'aggression' and a threat to its sovereignty. Mogadishu considers Somaliland part of its territory, despite the region's declaration of de facto independence in 1991. In response to the January 2024 pact, the Somali government expelled Ethiopia's ambassador, ordered the closure of two consulates, and recalled its representative from Addis Ababa. Relations between the two Horn of Africa nations had only recently begun to improve, following talks mediated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in December. During the Ankara negotiations, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud agreed to restore diplomatic ties. Both leaders exchanged working visits after pledging to reach a deal that would uphold Somalia's territorial integrity while granting Ethiopia access to the sea.
Bloomberg
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Putin Orders FSB to Vet Ships Entering Russia Ports After Blasts
President Vladimir Putin has tightened rules for ships entering Russian sea ports from abroad, giving the nation's main security service a bigger role following a series of mysterious blasts on oil tankers. Starting July 21, the entry of vessels coming from foreign sea terminals is only possible with permission from a port captain, as agreed upon with the Federal Security Service, or FSB, according to a presidential decree published on Monday. The document was signed in accordance with Russia's martial-law regulation.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
France's Macron on a visit to Vietnam urges for greater cooperation in defense and trade
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron called on Monday for closer cooperation between Vietnam and France in an increasingly unstable global landscape as he visited Hanoi as part of a Southeast Asia tour focused on strengthening regional ties. Macron emphasized the need for 'an order based on law' at a time of 'both great imbalance and a return to power-driven rhetoric and intimidation.' He next heads to Indonesia and Singapore. The visit comes amid trade tensions, with the U.S. threatening steep tariffs on goods from Europe. Vietnamese imports to the United States were hit with 46% tariffs — among the highest rates applied to any country — in April. Macron signed more than a dozen agreements on defense, nuclear power and trade, including one with the Vietnamese budget airline company VietJet and Airbus to buy 20 A330-900 planes. He paid tribute at a Hanoi war memorial to those who fought the French colonial rulers and met with his counterpart Luong Cuong, as well as Communist Party general secretary To Lam. Macron also visited the 11th century Temple of Literature in the heart of the Vietnamese capital. France and Vietnam's 'sovereignty partnership' could be the central axis of France's approach in the Indo-Pacific, Macron said. France has demonstrated its 'desire to defend international maritime law' when it deployed the French carrier strike group in the South China Sea in early 2025, Macron said. China and Vietnam have long had a maritime agreement governing the Gulf of Tonkin, but have been locked in competing claims in the South China Sea over the Spratly and Paracel Islands and maritime areas. Macron said France would also support Vietnam in key sectors, including critical minerals, high-speed rail, civil nuclear energy and aerospace, and focus on partnering with the Asian nation to help it transition away from dirty coal power while adding new capacity in renewable energy and civil nuclear power. This is Macron's first trip to Vietnam since he took office in 2017. France and Vietnam share a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam's highest diplomatic status, also held with Russia, China, and the U.S. Aniruddha Ghosal, The Associated Press
Associated Press
26-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
France's Macron on a visit to Vietnam urges for greater cooperation in defense and trade
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron called on Monday for closer cooperation between Vietnam and France in an increasingly unstable global landscape as he visited Hanoi as part of a Southeast Asia tour focused on strengthening regional ties. Macron emphasized the need for 'an order based on law' at a time of 'both great imbalance and a return to power-driven rhetoric and intimidation.' He next heads to Indonesia and Singapore. The visit comes amid trade tensions, with the U.S. threatening steep tariffs on goods from Europe. Vietnamese imports to the United States were hit with 46% tariffs — among the highest rates applied to any country — in April. Macron signed more than a dozen agreements on defense, nuclear power and trade, including one with the Vietnamese budget airline company VietJet and Airbus to buy 20 A330-900 planes. He paid tribute at a Hanoi war memorial to those who fought the French colonial rulers and met with his counterpart Luong Cuong, as well as Communist Party general secretary To Lam. Macron also visited the 11th century Temple of Literature in the heart of the Vietnamese capital. France and Vietnam's 'sovereignty partnership' could be the central axis of France's approach in the Indo-Pacific, Macron said. France has demonstrated its 'desire to defend international maritime law' when it deployed the French carrier strike group in the South China Sea in early 2025, Macron said. China and Vietnam have long had a maritime agreement governing the Gulf of Tonkin, but have been locked in competing claims in the South China Sea over the Spratly and Paracel Islands and maritime areas. Macron said France would also support Vietnam in key sectors, including critical minerals, high-speed rail, civil nuclear energy and aerospace, and focus on partnering with the Asian nation to help it transition away from dirty coal power while adding new capacity in renewable energy and civil nuclear power. This is Macron's first trip to Vietnam since he took office in 2017. France and Vietnam share a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam's highest diplomatic status, also held with Russia, China, and the U.S.
