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☆ Biden leads new drive to cement the West’s Ukraine war effort against Putin – and Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden is leading the world’s richest democracies in sending a beefed-up message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the West will not forsake Ukraine despite political shocks casting doubts over its commitment. A flurry of new Western plans to help UkraineStill, the latest Western plans to help Ukraine send a strong message of intent. The sanctions target foreign financial firms aiding Putin’s war effort, restrict Russian access to some US software and information technology. Russian advances on the battlefieldThese are substantial and credible political, economic and political demonstrations of support for Ukraine. Not surprisingly, Zelensky has always chafed at the self-imposed limits of Western support for his war effort that are a symptom of Biden’s core aim of avoiding a direct NATO confrontation with Russia.

Persons: Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Biden, “, Donald Trump, Trump, lionizes Putin, wobbling, —, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Janet Yellen, ” — Biden, Zelensky, ” Jake Sullivan, Wesley Clark, ” Clark, they’ve, ”, Kamala Harris, Sullivan, John Kirby, Putin Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican Party, Capitol, Republican, CNN, NATO, Big, Union, Ukraine, Trump, Biden, Air Force, Hudson Institute, Kremlin, Kyiv, West, White House National Security Council Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Italy, Normandy, Europe, United States, France, Germany, George H.W ., Russia, Britain, Japan, Canada, NATO, Washington, Kyiv, Cuba, China, Iran, Israel, Ukrainian, Switzerland

☆ G7 leaders huddle in Italy, escaping political peril at home
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Rarely has the yearly gathering of the world’s leading economies been so overshadowed by the political vulnerabilities of nearly all its members. She emerged as the only European G7 leader bolstered by last week’s European Parliament elections. “I am proud that Italy will present itself to the G7, to Europe with the strongest government of all. The leaders of France and Germany are contending with very different sets of political circumstances. Whether it is Trump at the G7 table next year or Biden is among the great unknowable questions hanging over the gathering.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, don’t, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Biden, –, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, “, Josh Lipsky, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Trump, Brothers, ” Meloni, Rishi Sunak, Canada’s Justin Trudeau —, Japan’s Fumio Kishida, who’s Organizations: CNN, Parliamentary, National Assembly, “, Ukraine, GeoEconomics, Atlantic Council, Italian, United, Conservative Political, Conference, Reuters, Trump Locations: Italy, Puglia, France, United Kingdom, United States, Paris, Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, it’s, China, India, Brazil, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Europe, Germany, Britain, Sicily, haggling, Quebec, Biarritz

☆ U.S. economic engagement in Indo-Pacific 'isn't about China,' Commerce Secretary Raimondo says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

watch nowAmerica's economic engagement in Indo-Pacific "isn't about China" but for strengthening U.S. presence in the region, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told CNBC. President Joe Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, involving14 countries, about two years ago, for economic and trade cooperation among the member states. Raimondo underscored the U.S doesn't stop countries in the region from deepening their own economic ties with China. "They all do trade with China, they all trade in EVs with China … that's fine." She added the U.S. was also "massively ramping" up its economic support in the region by providing technology, technical assistance and capital.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Joe Biden, Raimondo, CNBC's Eunice Yoon, Lawrence Wong Organizations: CNBC, Prosperity, Commerce Department, Singapore's, U.S . Commerce Locations: China, U.S, Singapore, United States, Southeast Asia, EVs

☆ Erdogan turns up the heat on Israel as his party’s popularity wanes
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Scott Mclean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Beyond the sputtering Turkish economy – many pundits blamed the electoral setback on his stance on Israel and its war in Gaza. There are no sanctions, no concrete steps taken, trade with Israel still continues,” said New Welfare’s leader Fatih Erbakan in March. For Erdogan, ‘Hamas is Palestine’Experts say the comment made by Erdogan in the presence of the Greek leader may have in fact been intended for an audience closer to home. Chris McGrath/Getty Images“For Erdogan, Hamas is Palestine. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) and state officials in Ankara, Turkey on October 29.

Persons: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, –, Hitler, Erdogan, Erdogan’s, ”, Fatih Erbakan, Israel, Seda, “ Erdogan, Ismail Haniyeh, Handout, Murat Cetinmuhurdar, ” Erdogan, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, ” Mitsotakis, misspoke, Gazans, ‘, Evren Balta, Chris McGrath, ” Balta, Ozgur Ozel, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, “, Ekrem Imamoglu, they’ve, Fabrice Pothier, Jens Stoltenberg, Akif Cagatay Kilic, Haniyeh “, hasn’t, Benjamin, Netanyahu –, isn’t, Hakan Fidan, Fidan, Antony Blinken, Adem Altan, Balta, Turkey isn’t, Pothier, it’s Organizations: Turkey CNN, Palestinian, NATO, New Welfare, New, Isik University, CNN, Welfare, Israel, International Court of Justice, of Independence, Anadolu, Getty, TRT, Greek, “, Turkish Ministry of Health, Ozyegin University, West Bank, CHP, Rasmussen Global, German Press Agency, Hamas, Turkish, Qatar, Turkish Foreign Ministry Locations: Istanbul, Turkey, Gaza, Israel, Turkish, of, Ankara, “, ”, Palestine, NATO, Palestinian, Washington, Tehran, AFP, Iran, Qatar

☆ A US supersonic bomber dropped 500-pound bombs in its first live-fire bombing drill on the Korean peninsula in 7 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewA US supersonic bomber joined South Korea's Air Force for a live-fire training exercise, conducting runs with 500-pound bombs. The bomber, along with the South Korean military aircraft, "successfully released live GBU-38, 500-pound joint direct attack munitions, simultaneously striking multiple simulated targets." U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer from the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron receives a bird bath at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, June 3, 2024, in support of a Bomber Task Force mission. At that time, North Korean weapons testing and provocations prompted US and South Korean forces to regularly fly in the area, conducting training exercises to deter North Korea. A year earlier, North Korea twice tested a nuclear weapon, and then it did so again in 2017.

Persons: —, 17uKEhOJTG, H8KoOFOKks, Guy Plopsky, Christian Hoover, Audree Campbell, Donald Trump, PACOM, 1Bs Organizations: Service, South Korea's Air Force, Business, US Air Force, 37th Expeditionary Bomb, Anderson Air Force Base, South, South Korean, ROK, US Marine Corps, KC, 7th Air Force, . Air Force, 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Andersen Air Force Base, Bomber Task Force, North, US Pacific Command, US, Korean, Lancer Locations: Guam, Republic of Korea, South Korea, North Korea, South Korean, Korean, Japan, South

☆ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits Cambodia as US concerns grow over China’s influence
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Phnom Penh, Cambodia CNN —US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin traveled to Cambodia on Tuesday to meet with the country’s prime minister and defense minister, as Washington becomes increasingly concerned that Phnom Penh may grant China’s military exclusive access to a key naval base. Austin’s trip to the Cambodian capital marks his second visit to the Southeast Asian country as Secretary of Defense but is the first time a United States defense chief has traveled to Cambodia specifically to hold a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, Defense Minister Tea Seiha. The outreach reflects the US’ desire to forge a better relationship with Cambodia, defense officials said, particularly as Beijing’s influence over the country has only continued to grow in recent years. “There are no doubts about where our concerns are,” a Pentagon spokesperson said following Austin’s meetings, when asked about Ream. In a meeting with China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun last week, their first face-to-face, Austin said the US wants to keep military-to-military channels open with the Chinese to avoid misunderstandings and escalation.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Tea, “, ”, Hun Manet, Hun Sen’s, ” Austin, Biden, Austin, Hun Sen, Dong Jun, Dong, Beijing “ Organizations: Cambodia CNN, Defense, United, Cambodian, Ream, Base, South China, Pentagon, State Department, US Military Academy, West, United Nations Peacekeeping, China’s Defense, CNN Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Washington, United States, Thailand, China, South China, ” Beijing, South, Taiwan, Beijing, Ream, Asia, Singapore

Singapore CNN —China’s support to Russia will extend the war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday, as he called on countries across the Asia-Pacific to join an upcoming peace summit he accused Russia of trying to thwart. It comes ahead of the international peace conference on Ukraine slated to be held June 15-16 in Switzerland. “With China’s support to Russia the war will last longer. When asked later about China’s statement it would not attend the peace summit, the Ukrainian leader accused Russia of using Chinese diplomats to disrupt it. “Time is running out” including for Ukrainian children taken by Russia, Zelensky told a packed hall during an address on the closing day of the three-day security meeting.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, China –, ” Zelensky, “, Putin, of National Defense Dong, ” Dong, Lloyd Austin, Dong, Russia ”, Vladimir Putin, ”, Austin, Prabowo Subianto, José Ramos, Pat Ryder, Joe Biden Organizations: Singapore CNN —, of National Defense, CNN, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Criminal, Ministry of Foreign, US Defense, Horta, Ukraine, Pentagon, Twitter Locations: Singapore, Russia, Ukraine, Asia, Pacific, China, Switzerland, Beijing, Kharkiv, The Hague, United States, Timor

☆ Shangri-la Dialogue: Death of a Filipino in South China Sea clashes would be ‘very close’ to act of war, Marcos Jr warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Brad Lendon | Jerome Taylor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Singapore CNN —The death of any Filipino citizen at the hands of another country in the South China Sea would be “very close” to an act of war, Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. warned Friday as his nation faces increasingly fraught clashes with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea. China has increasingly pushed its territorial claims in the South China Sea, and China Coast Guard ships, reinforced by maritime militia boats, have been involved in a series of fraught clashes over the last year that has seen Philippine ships damaged and Filipino sailors injured by water cannon. A China Coast Guard vessel sails close to a Philippines ship during a day of clashes in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024 Rebecca Wright/CNNKey global waterwayChina claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost all of the 1.3 million-square-mile South China Sea – one of the world’s busiest waterways. Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy said it is prepared to protect the rights of Filipinos and would be increasing patrols in the South China Sea, including the areas of contested sovereignty, according to the PNA. “What I want to emphasize is that it is not China but the Philippines that has frequently escalated the situation in the South China Sea,” Ning added.

Persons: Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Marcos, Lloyd Austin, Dong Jun, ”, –, ” Marcos, Rebecca Wright, Mao Ning, ” Ning, “ Organizations: Singapore CNN, US, Coast Guard, China Coast Guard, CNN, West, Philippine Navy, Foreign Ministry Locations: Singapore, South, Philippines, South China, Philippine, Filipino, China, Beijing, Manila, United States, Washington, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Hague, China’s, West Philippine, Asia, Pacific

☆ Why Mexico’s election is more important than ever for the United States
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Sofía Benavides | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But it’s not just the massive scale of the event that makes it so important in the eyes of observers across the border in the United States. Key to facilitating this shift was the creation of the USMCA trade agreement, which came into effect in 2020 between Mexico, the United States and Canada. “Mexico committed to addressing the two main Mexican issues affecting the United States and that will determine the next election: migration and fentanyl. “But the United States also has to dismantle the network of traffickers within (its own borders). There is a significant network of organized crime in the United States that the administration must arrest, bring to trial, and whose activities it must restrict,” she added.

Persons: Mexico’s, it’s, – Claudia Sheinbaum, Xóchitl Gálvez, Xochitl Galvez, Quetzalli, Claudia Sheinbaum, Raquel Cunha, Reuters “, ”, Rafael Fernández de Castro Medina, Lila Abed, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, “, ” Abed, Abed, Ulises Ruiz, Raquel López Portillo Maltos, Jorge Alberto Schiavon Uriegas, López Obrador, Schiavon Uriegas, Carin Zissis, Sheinbaum, Zissis, Lopez Obrador, ¨, Chandan Khanna, “ México, Jose Luis Gonzalez, “ López Obrador Organizations: CNN, Sigamos, Reuters, Center for US, Mexico Studies, University of California, Mexico Institute, Wilson, Workers, AFP, Getty, Mexican Council, Foreign Relations, Center for Studies, Foreign, Trump, Biden, Americas Society, National Guard, Army, ¨ Trump, Border Patrol, Mexican Refugee Aid Commission, Mexican Army, National Security Law, CIA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republican, Democratic Locations: United States, Morena, Mexico City, Mexico, San Diego, China, Canada, Ukraine, Cerritos, Ciudad Guzman, Jalisco, “ Mexico, Americas, Piedras Negras, Eagle, , Texas, Operation Juarez, Ciudad Juarez

☆ China’s Xi Jinping calls for peace conference and ‘justice’ over war in Gaza as Arab leaders visit Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —Chinese leader Xi Jinping decried “tremendous sufferings” in the Middle East and called for an international peace conference as leaders from Arab nations visit Beijing this week amid mounting global concern over Israel’s war in Gaza. Justice should not be absent forever,” Xi said Thursday at the opening of a meeting between top diplomats from China and Arab states, also attended by several leaders from the region. Delegations from 22 Arab states joined that event at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, according to Chinese state media. China has recognized a Palestinian state since 1988. Thursday’s ministerial meeting is the first such gathering since China held its first joint summit with Arab leaders in late 2022 in Saudi Arabia.

Persons: Xi Jinping, ” Xi, Israel, Xi, ”, Abdel, Fattah, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Kais Saied, China “, Yun Sun, Fatah, Joe Biden, Jamal Khashoggi, Egypt’s Sisi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United Arab Emirates, States Cooperation Forum, Diplomats, Stimson, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, of Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Gaza, “, Palestinian, Rafah, United States, Israel, Washington, United, Palestine, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Istanbul

CNN —Ukraine should be allowed to use French weapons, including long-range missiles, against targets inside Russia from which Moscow attacks Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday. The SCALP missiles have a range of up to 155 kilometers (96 miles) and carry a 400-kilogram (881-pound) high-explosive penetration warhead, according to the Missile Threat project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Macron stressed that the French arms are to be used only against targets from which attacks are launched into Ukraine. “We must not allow them to hit other targets in Russia,” including civilian or other military targets, the French leader said. The meeting follows a similar agreement between Ukraine and Spain on Monday, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announcing a $1.08 billion weapons deal for Ukraine.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, “, ” Macron, Olaf Scholz, Guillaume Souvant, David Cameron, Putin, ” Cameron, let’s, Caesar, Viacheslav Ratynskyi, Germany’s Scholz, Macron’s, ” Scholz, Vladimir Putin, ” Putin, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Pedro Sánchez Organizations: CNN, French Defense, Missile, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Getty, British, NATO, Spanish, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Brandenburg, Germany, France, Bourges, AFP, Kyiv, ” France, Avdiivka, Donetsk region, United States, Uzbekistan, Europe, Belgium, Brussels, Spain, United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Canada

☆ US lawmakers vow to bolster Taiwan’s defense with bipartisan visit days after China’s ‘punishment’ military drills
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —US lawmakers vowed to bolster Taiwan’s deterrence against China on Monday during a bipartisan congressional visit to the self-governing democracy just days after Beijing surrounded the island with massive military exercises. US Representative Michael McCaul, Republican-Texas, has vowed to bolster Taiwan's deterrence against China. China’s military drills, he said, were “to express their displeasure with President Lai, a president democratically elected by the people of Taiwan.”But he added they had another objective. The delegation also met with Lai, Taiwan’s new leader, on Monday morning. China responded with a show of military force and later imposed sanctions on McCaul.

Persons: Lai Ching, Michael McCaul, ”, McCaul, Lai, ” McCaul, China’s, Xi Jinping, Xi, “, Mao Ning, Michael Brochstein, Lin Chia, ” “ It’s, ” Lin, Taiwan’s, “ Taiwan’s, ” Lai, Ronald Reagan’s, Tsai Ing, Nancy Pelosi’s Organizations: CNN, China, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Taiwan, US, Party, Republican, Ministry, Taiwan’s Locations: Beijing, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Ukraine, Taiwan Strait, Texas, United States, America, People’s Republic of China

☆ Yellen sees no 'showstoppers' on G7 Ukraine loan backed by Russian asset earnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen attends an interview with Reuters Editor in Chief Alessandra Galloni in Washington, U.S., April 25, 2024. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday that she does not see "any showstoppers" in her discussions with fellow G7 finance ministers about a larger loan to Ukraine backed by the income of frozen Russian sovereign assets. Yellen told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a G7 finance leaders meeting that not all of the technical details of the loan proposal need to be worked out this weekend. G7 leaders are due to meet next month in Puglia, southern Italy. "I think there is a general view that we should express a common set of concerns to China," she said.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Alessandra Galloni, Yellen, I've Organizations: Treasury, Reuters, U.S . Treasury, Ukraine Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, Stresa, U.S, Puglia, Italy, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, China

☆ What Does It Mean to Recognize a Palestinian State?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The decision by three European countries — Ireland, Norway and Spain — to recognize a Palestinian state fits into a long-term goal of Palestinian leaders to secure diplomatic acceptance, but it appears that the immediate practical impact will be limited. Broadly speaking, recognizing a state means declaring that it meets the conditions of statehood under international law. But the European countries appeared to be mostly concerned with expressing support for Palestinians and sending a message to Israel at a time of deepening international concern about its conduct of the war. He gave no date for this change but said it would enable Norway to enter into bilateral agreements. Recognition would also have some “domestic legal effects in Norway in areas where issues related to the state of Palestine arise,” he said.

Persons: Spain —, Espen Barth Eide, ” Organizations: Palestinian Authority, West Bank Locations: Ireland, Norway, Spain, Israel, Palestine

☆ US reaches agreement with Niger to withdraw military forces by September 15
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Oren Liebermann | Anneclaire Stapleton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US has reached an agreement with Niger to withdraw its military forces from the African nation by September 15, according to the US Defense Department and the Nigerien Ministry of National Defense. Niger’s military government announced in March that it had ended an accord with the US that allowed military personnel and civilian staff from the Department of Defense to operate in the country. The US delegation met with Niger’s ruling military junta last week to try to reach an agreement that would allow for the secure withdrawal of US forces and for clearances for military flights. The delegations also established procedures to facilitate the entry and exit of U.S. personnel, including overflight and landing clearances for military flights,” the joint statement said. Rebuffing the calls, the military junta instead began partnering more with Russia, whose forces are now operating at the same base from which US forces are withdrawing.

Persons: Balima, Chris Meier, Mamane Sani Kiaou, Biden, ” Organizations: CNN, US Defense Department, Nigerien Ministry of National Defense, Department of Defense, Getty, Nigerien Locations: Niger, Niamey, Anadolu, Russia, US, United States

☆ In Beijing, Xi and Putin left no question of their close alignment in a divided world
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Putin’s two-day state visit comes as Western leaders have leant on Xi to ensure that soaring exports from his country aren’t propping up the Russian war effort – a claim Beijing denies. Putin also traveled to Beijing with top security officials who the Russian president said Thursday would join informal talks on Ukraine. Beijing, which says it is neutral on the war, has repeatedly defended its trade with Russia as part of normal bilateral relations. Xi, analysts say, is seeking to keep Putin as a close partner, while not stepping over Western red lines. For that reason, she added, “he’s okay with on-going dependency between Russia and China – and with inequality in this relationship.”

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin’s, Xi, Putin, Putin’s, Andrey Belousov, Sergey Shoigu, “ Putin, he’s, Kurt Volker, “, ”, Alexandra Prokopenko Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United, –, Israel, Hamas, Russian, Russian Security, Chinese Communist Party, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Observers, CNN, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, United States, Taiwan, Gaza, Russian, China, ”, Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, China’s Harbin, Siberia, Europe

☆ Xi welcomes Putin to China as both leaders seek to bolster strategic ties
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on May 16, 2024 as both countries seek to bolster their strategic relationship. Seen here is a file photo of the two men when they met in Beijing on Oct. 18, 2023. Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Thursday as both countries seek to bolster their strategic relationship. In an interview with state-media Xinhua published ahead of the visit, Putin said trade volume between the two countries reached $227.8 billion last year from $111 billion in 2019. "The current bilateral trade volume is about 20 trillion rubles, or nearly 1.6 trillion yuan," he noted.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Putin's, Xi, Putin Organizations: Xinhua Locations: Beijing, China, Russian, U.S . China, Ukraine, Washington, Moscow

☆ Neither Russia nor China wants the Ukraine war to end, but for different reasons
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRussian President Vladimir Putin is on a two-day visit to China, and he's bringing along a large trade delegation. But Russia has also become increasingly reliant on China since it started the war in Ukraine. For instance, Russia is now "exporting raw materials to China while China sends finished goods, especially cars, to Russia — the latter at the expense of Russia's indigenous auto industry," she added. However, some analysts say China has more to gain from a continuing war. China and Russia are forging a partnership increasingly reminiscent of a great power alliance," wrote Michta.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, It's, Putin, Xi —, Michta, Russia —, Europe —, China's Organizations: Service, Business, Center for, Bilateral, West, Center, Global Energy, Columbia University, Kyiv —, US Army Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Siberia, Europe, Beijing

☆ Vladimir Putin arrives in China for state visit as Russian troops advance in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing for the start of a two-day state visit underlining close alignment with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as Russian troops advance in Ukraine. Ahead of the trip, Putin hailed the “unprecedented level of strategic partnership” between the countries in an interview with Chinese state media Xinhua. The two leaders – who declared a “no limits” partnership weeks before the February 2022 invasion – have continued to strengthen their countries’ diplomatic, trade and security ties since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Xi hosts Putin in Beijing as the Chinese leader comes under under mounting pressure from the US and Europe to ensure exports from China aren’t propping up Russia’s war effort. This is the fourth in-person meeting between Xi and Putin – known for their personal chemistry – since the invasion and Putin’s second visit to Beijing in that time.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia’s, China’s, –, Xi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, West, Wednesday, Xinhua, ”, Trade, China aren’t, Kremlin Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Gaza, ” Beijing, United States, Europe, China, Moscow, Harbin, China’s, Heilongjiang, Russia’s

This week, Xi is welcoming him to China for a two-day state visit — their fourth in-person meeting since Russia’s onslaught in Ukraine began. China has repeatedly defended its trade with Russia as part of normal bilateral relations. Russia has also become China’s main oil supplier, overtaking Saudi Arabia, according to official Chinese trade data. Governments warn against support for Russia’s war effortThe wartime surge in trade, and growing purchases of oil, have sparked criticism in the West that China was helping to fund Russia’s war. It mirrors Xi’s state visit to Russia in March 2023, which was the Chinese leader’s first overseas trip after starting a norm-shattering third term as president.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Xi, Putin, Antony Blinken, Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der, ’, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United, European Union, International Monetary Fund, —, EU, White, European Commission Locations: China, Hong Kong, Russia, Ukraine, Russian, United States, Saudi Arabia, India, West, Beijing, France, Chinese

☆ The US and Pacific ally Japan are teaming up to defeat new hypersonic missiles that right now are basically unstoppable
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe US and Japan have agreed to work together to develop a defense system to defeat hypersonic missiles, according to the US Department of Defense. Russian navy frigate Admiral Gorshkov launching a Zircon hypersonic missile in White Sea, Russia, on July 19, 2021. Notably, Pyongyang is also attempting to develop what it says are hypersonic missiles. DF-17 medium-range ballistic missiles equipped with a DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle in a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Republic. The allies successfully tested the jointly developed Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IIA interceptor in a February 2017 intercept of a ballistic missile target.

Persons: —, Gorshkov, Zoya Rusinova Organizations: Service, US Department of Defense, Business, Cooperative, US Missile Defense Agency, Japan, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, AP, China's, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, Iran's, Israel Locations: Japan, Russian, Sea, Russia, Pacific, Moscow, Beijing, Pyongyang, Republic, Getty

☆ Putin to meet Xi in China as world convulses from global conflicts
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Pyongyang – which has an economy almost entirely dependent of China – is believed by Western governments to be aiding Russia with war supplies. Xi has ramped up his calls for Europe and other countries to help the world avoid a “Cold War,” suggesting they resist what Beijing sees as US efforts to contain China. They have also criticized Israel and the United States – converging with mounting global backlash, especially across the Global South against Israel’s war. The conflict has also impacted how China and Russia view their relations with countries there, he added. China “wants to use Russia” for its aims, but Russia is making China weak, he said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Putin, –, It’s, China –, Xi, France –, Jens Stoltenberg, Sergei Guneyev, ”, Li Mingjiang, Manoj Kewalramani, Russia doesn’t, Stringer, Gaza —, Sergey Lavrov, presser, Wang Yi, Israel, “, Privately, Shen Dingli, China “, Alexander Dugin, Donald Trump, Li Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, West, NATO, Forum, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, EU, Takshashila, Boys, Getty, United, Global, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Russia, Weibo, Moscow, CNN Locations: Hong Kong, China, Russian, Gaza, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, Iran, North Korea, Pyongyang, Russia, Tehran, Beijing, Europe, France, Serbia, Hungary, Bangalore, Rafah, AFP, Israel, United States, Kewalramani, South, Taiwan, Shanghai, Singapore

☆ Venezuela expands military buildup at Guyana border in ‘dangerous game,’ says report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Venezuela continues to build up military infrastructure and hardware close to the border with Guyana as President Nicolas Maduro and his supporters scale up their threats to annex an oil-rich piece of Guyanese land. Guyana had called the move a step towards annexation and an “existential” threat as the specter of armed conflict loomed over the region. Using satellite imagery and social media, CSIS found that the expansion of Anacoco Island’s military base has continued. Maduro could ‘fall victim to own rhetoric’The threats to Guyana have concerned its partners. “Thus, one of the most concerning possibilities is that Maduro will fall victim to his own rhetoric.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, “, ” Ryan Berg Organizations: CNN, Strategic, International Studies, Venezuelan, US Navy, Americas, CSIS Locations: Venezuela, Guyana, Washington, Venezuelan, Essequibo, Punta Barima, arm’s, Essequibo ”, Guyanese, Georgetown, Idaho

☆ 3 reasons the dollar can't be dethroned as the world's dominant currency, according to Morgan Stanley
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

De-dollarization efforts won't do much to dethrone the dollar, Morgan Stanley said. There are no true alternatives to holding the US dollar at the moment, Morgan Stanley strategists said. AdvertisementThe dollar's status as the top currency of central banks and for international trade probably isn't fading soon, according to Morgan Stanley. "Now, reasonable people can disagree about whether cryptocurrencies are going to appreciate or depreciate, but I'd argue that the best outcome for a dominant currency is neither." Displacing a dominant currency is something that happens over the course of decades, economists previously told Business Insider, as it takes time for people to shift to other currencies once a dominant currency is recognized as "safe."

Persons: Morgan Stanley, —, James Lord, Michael Zezas, That's, Lord, there's, Zezas, Crypto, David Adams, Morgan Stanley's Organizations: Service, Rivals, greenback, Business Locations: Beijing, China

☆ A wargame simulated a 2nd Trump presidency. It concluded NATO would collapse.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

If Donald Trump wins a second term in the White House in November, NATO may fall apart, a recent wargame found. "What Donald Trump can do is just really hollow out what NATO does," Grimble told Business Insider. The UK has traditionally backed a transatlantic, America-Europe alliance rather than a purely European defense bloc. Yet in the game, it could neither persuade Trump to ease his demands, nor the European NATO members to spend more on defense. "Many NATO members — except for France mainly — thought post-Trump it could be salvageable," Grimble said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Finley Grimble, Grimble, John Bolton, —, SACEUR, Jens Stoltenberg, NICHOLAS KAMM, hadn't, I'm, Florian Gaertner, Russia doesn't, God's, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, House, NATO, EU, US, Business, US National Security, Allied, Europe, Washington, Nato, Getty, European Union, Joint Expeditionary Force, Northern, —, European NATO, Trump, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Europe, Russia, NATO, Ukraine, China, American, United States, Finland, Romania, Poland, Baltic, France, Germany, French, America, Italy, Estonia, British, Turkey, Baltic States, Ukraine stalemated, Moscow, Russian, Kyiv . Europe, Beijing, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, European, Forbes

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