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☆ Russia's war in Ukraine is igniting an old debate in Brussels over debt
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Munich, GERMANY — Should we borrow from global markets as one combined entity and raise new debt together? That's the question hanging on the shoulders of EU officials as they promise to spend more on defense amid Russia's onslaught in Ukraine. However, in 2020, the 27 members of the European Union decided that the best way to deal with the financial and extraordinary impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was to jointly raise debt. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said in an interview with Bloomberg that joint bonds would be a good way to boost the bloc's defense capacities. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was also very clear he would not support joint debt at the EU level.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Olaf Scholz, GERMANY —, Alexander de Croo, Kaja Kallas, Christian Lindner, Lindner, Mark Rutte Organizations: European Union, CNBC, Munich Security Conference, Estonian, Bloomberg, Munich Security, Dutch, EU, MSC Locations: Paris, France, Munich, GERMANY, Ukraine, Belgium, Brussels, Russia

☆ Deep-sea mining 'seems to be inevitable,' UN regulator says, as fight for critical minerals heats up
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Sam Meredith | Www.Linkedin.Com In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

It's likely only a matter of time before scraping the ocean floor for valuable metals becomes a reality, according to the head of the International Seabed Authority, the U.N. regulator that oversees deep-sea mining. "That's the commercial driver and certainly there is vast resource potential in seabed minerals. "But the resource potential is absolutely there. His comments come as the ISA prepares to recommence talks on deep-sea mining in Kingston, Jamaica next month. The seabed watchdog's forthcoming session will seek to iron out a regulatory framework that, if adopted, would give the go-ahead to deep-sea mining on a commercial scale.

Persons: It's, Michael Lodge, recommence Organizations: Authority, ISA, CNBC, Lodge, European Union, The Locations: Brussels, Kingston , Jamaica, The U.S

Many world leaders blamed President Vladimir Putin and his government for Navalny’s death Friday at age 47. Navalny’s team said he was “murdered,” and charged that officials' refusal to hand over his body was part of a cover-up. Yarmysh said that Navalny's mother and his lawyers weren't allowed into the morgue in Salekhard on Monday morning. The U.S. and British ambassadors also mourned Navalny's death at a memorial in Moscow. Over 50,000 people have submitted requests to the Russian government asking for Navalny's remains to be handed over to his relatives, OVD-Info said.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Kira Yarmysh, Lyudmila Navalnaya, ” Yarmysh, Vladimir Putin, Navalny’s, “, ”, Yarmysh, weren't, Ivan Zhdanov, “ lackeys, Navalny's, Navalny, ” Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya Organizations: Investigative, Kremlin, Authorities, Russia’s Federal, Service, European Union Locations: Salekhard, Russia, U.S, Moscow, Russia’s, Kharp, Germany, Brussels

☆ Navalny's Widow Joins EU Foreign Ministers as Ukraine War Nears Two-Year Mark
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Gabriela BaczynskaBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The widow of Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin's nemesis who died in an Arctic prison last week, joins EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, days before the two-year mark of Russia's war on Ukraine. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesNavalny, a 47-year-old former lawyer, rose to prominence campaigning against corruption in Putin's Russia. The ministers are due to discuss military support for Ukraine and what would be the European Union's 13th package of sanctions against Moscow since it unleashed a full-scale invasion of its neighbour on Feb.24, 2022. Inside the EU, Germany has blocked replenishing a military fund used to supply Ukraine saying Berlin was contributing too much compared to other members. One senior EU diplomat said they believed it "will be able to make it in time" and agree the new punitive measures for Feb.24.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin's, Yulia Navalnaya, Putin, Josep Borrell, Navalnaya's, Donald Trump, Viktor Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Ukraine, Moscow, NATO, Kremlin, EU, Washington Locations: Russian, Brussels, Ukraine, Munich, Israel, Gaza, Russia, Putin's Russia, Siberia, United States, Europe, U.S, EU, Germany, Berlin, Hungary, Budapest, Kyiv, London, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania

☆ EU reportedly set to fine Apple 500 million euros amid antitrust crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The European Commission is set to fine Apple about 500 million euros ($539 million) over alleged breaches of EU competition law, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter. Brussels first launched an investigation into allegations that Apple hindered third-party music services on its devices and favored its own Apple Music service, after Spotify filed a formal complaint to regulators in 2019. In most regions, Apple's App Store rules prohibit companies such as Spotify from billing users for subscriptions directly within the app, making them instead use Apple's App Store billing service, which takes a cut of up to 30%. The latest version of the probe focused on whether Apple had restricted apps from informing users about cheaper subscription alternatives outside of its native App Store and thus violated EU competition laws. If imposed, the fine would be one of the most substantial financial penalties the EU has imposed on a major technology company.

Persons: Apple Organizations: European, Apple, Financial Times, Apple Music, Spotify, EU, Google Locations: Brussels, France

☆ Child abuse scandal rattles Orban’s image as defender of ‘family values’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Orban has long posed as a globetrotting defender of Christian values and an enemy of liberalism. But Orban’s critics say his carefully constructed image is a thin guise for a plutocratic mode of governance designed to enrich a small group of oligarchs. The scandal could also weaken Hungary’s bid to gain more influence in Brussels in the upcoming European elections. Since the scandal was revealed last weekend by Hungarian news site 444.hu, “Orban has not made an appearance or said anything. Critics argue that Orban’s proposed constitutional solution to the scandal is a symptom of his autocratic mode of governance.

Persons: CNN —, Viktor Orban, Katalin Novak, Orban’s, ”, Judit Varga, Fidesz party’s, Varga, Orban, Hungary’s, “ Orban, Kim Lane Scheppele, Attila Kisbendek, Peter Magyar, “, ” Magyar, Magyar, Hungary ”, ” Orban, Critics, ” Scheppele, Hungary –, Bernadett Szabo, Scheppele, ‘, illiberal, ’ ”, Pope Francis, Eva Fodor, Fodor, Attila Kisbenedek, Zoltan Balog, Balog, hasn’t, Mark Rutte, Europe’s, he’s Organizations: CNN, CNN — Hungary’s, Fidesz, European Union, Princeton University, Partizan, State of, Reuters, Survey, Christian, Central European University, Getty Locations: Washington, Moscow, Brussels, Budapest, AFP, Varga’s, Hungary, State, Christian Europe, China, Venezuela, ”, Netherlands

☆ Belgian PM Backs EU Bonds to Boost Defence Spending
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Andrew GrayBRUSSELS (Reuters) - Joint European Union borrowing could help fund higher defence spending but governments would still have to make tough political choices to sustain it, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. To succeed, proponents will need to convince those traditionally sceptical of EU joint borrowing such as Germany, the Netherlands and Nordic nations. European defence spending has been on an upward curve since Russia first invaded Ukraine and seized Crimea in 2014. NATO said on Wednesday it expected defence spending by its European members would grow by $33 billion this year to $380 billion. Last year, NATO estimated Belgium would spend 1.13 % of GDP on defence in 2023, second lowest among NATO members.

Persons: Andrew Gray BRUSSELS, Alexander De Croo, Donald Trump, Kaja Kallas, Emmanuel Macron, Charles Michel, De Croo, Croo, Thierry Breton, Andrew Gray, John Irish, Alex Richardson Organizations: European Union, Belgian, NATO, Estonian, European, Reuters, Munich Security Conference, Nordic, European Defence Fund, EU Locations: European, Ukraine, Munich, Germany, Netherlands, EU, Russia, Crimea, Belgium, Europe, France, Paris

“I’ll pay for travel and accommodation.”A resident of Avdiivka, Ukraine, near destroyed buildings on February 14. Other footage collected by Ukrainian units shows scenes of devastation, with high-rise buildings covered in holes from the constant Russian barrages. Ukrainian servicemen of the 47th Mechanized Brigade prepare for combat in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, near to Avdiivka, on February 11, 2024. CNN cannot independently verify the claim, though recent combat footage geolocated to the town suggests Russia continues to suffer heavy losses even while it makes territorial gains there. “Our soldiers are demonstrating unprecedented heroism.”Vasco Cotovio wrote in London, Olga Voitovych and Svietlana Vlasova reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.

Persons: ”, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Rustem, ” Syrskyi, “, Syrskyi, He’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Maksym Zhorin, It’s, Zhorin, ‘ I’m, “ I’m, Kostiantyn, there’s, Avdiivka, Trump, Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, ” Stoltenberg, Genya Savilov, Andrii, ” Vasco Cotovio, Olga Voitovych, Svietlana Vlasova Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s Defense, Separate, Brigade, —, Russian, Kyiv falters, United, NATO, 47th Mechanized Brigade, Bradley, Getty, 3rd Brigade Locations: Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Ukraine, Moscow, Donetsk city, Bakhmut, Russia, Kherson, Donetsk, Brussels, Hungary, Washington, Kyiv, United States, AFP, ”, London

☆ Von Der Leyen Says European Commission Will Seek to Boost Defence Production - FT
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) - Brussels should incentivise Europe's defence industry to ramp up production and promote consolidation, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the Financial Times in an interview on Thursday, warning that the "world has got rougher". Proposals in the commission's plan include using the EU budget to increase financing to supplement joint contracts for weapons signed by member states, as well as guaranteeing that production will be bought, EU officials told FT."We have a very fragmented defence market and that needs to change," FT quoted von der Leyen as saying. "What is the competence of the commission? It's industry. (Reporting by Disha Mishra in Bengaluru)Photos You Should See View All 22 Images

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, der Leyen, Disha Mishra Organizations: Reuters, Financial Times, EU Locations: Brussels, Bengaluru

It does not participate in NATO’s nuclear planning group. Talk of a European nuclear umbrella has come from, among others, German members of the European Parliament. But Chancellor OIaf Scholz and other top security policy officials believe there is no alternative to NATO’s nuclear umbrella. NATO’s nuclear deterrence relies in part on U.S. warheads deployed in Europe using local infrastructure. NATO conducts a major nuclear exercise every year to ensure its readiness and to act as a deterrent to any would-be aggressor, primarily Russia.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jens Stoltenberg, that’s, ”, United Kingdom –, ” Stoltenberg, “, Emmanuel Macron, OIaf Scholz, Boris Pistorius, shouldn’t, who’s, Trump, Joe Biden, Stoltenberg, ” Pistorius, Robert Habeck, ___ Moulson, Sylvie Corbet Organizations: NATO, German, Republican, Welt, Washington, Associated Locations: BRUSSELS, United States, Europe, Ukraine, U.S, Brussels, North America, France, United Kingdom, Russia, European, Berlin

☆ Austin, Speaking by Video, Reiterates U.S. Support for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | More About Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, speaking by video, told defense ministers meeting in Brussels that the United States would maintain its support for Ukraine, but he made no mention of a multibillion-dollar aid package that has yet to gain Congressional approval. Mr. Austin delivered his remarks in a five-minute address via video link to a meeting of some 50 countries from the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which marshals military aid for the country. “We will continue to dig deep to provide Ukraine with both short-term and long-term support,” said Mr. Austin, who had canceled his trip to Brussels because of health issues. Seated behind a desk with the flags of the United States and Ukraine behind him, he added: “The countries of this coalition, including the United States, support Ukraine because it’s the right thing to do and because it is in our core national security interests.”Almost two years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine faces what military analysts say is likely to be a difficult year, with Moscow attempting advances on the battlefield and without an immediate infusion of aid from Washington, its biggest donor.

Persons: Lloyd J, Austin III, Austin, ” Organizations: Ukraine Defense Contact Locations: Brussels, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Moscow, Washington

☆ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is released from hospital and resumes duties
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Zoë Richards | Mosheh Gains | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin takes questions during a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 1, 2024. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from the hospital Tuesday after he was admitted to a critical care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center this week following hospitalization for a bladder issue. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from the hospital Tuesday after he was admitted to a critical care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center this week following hospitalization for a bladder issue. The Defense Department said in a news release that Austin was released from the hospital in Washington in consultation with medical staff members at about 3:30 p.m. Austin had transferred his duties to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks on Sunday, the day he was hospitalized.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Sabrina Singh, John Maddox, Walter Reed's, Gregory Chesnut, Kathleen Hicks, Hicks Organizations: US, Pentagon, Washington , D.C, Walter Reed National Military Medical, The Defense Department, NATO, Ukraine Defense Contact, Joint Chiefs, Staff, White, American, Armed Locations: Washington ,, Washington, Brussels, Ukraine

☆ NATO: Record 18 states expected to meet 2% defense spending threshold this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( James Frater | Joshua Berlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Eighteen of NATO’s 31 members are expected to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense this year, the treaty organization’s leader said on Wednesday. “That is another record number and a six-fold increase from 2014 when only three allies met their target,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday ahead of a meeting between the alliance’s defense ministers in Brussels. Former US President Donald Trump, who is running for reelection in November, brought renewed scrutiny to the issue of defense spending among NATO members last weekend, when he said at a rally he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member country that doesn’t meet spending guidelines on defense – effectively undercutting the collective defense clause at the heart of the treaty. The German Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its 2024 budget will see its defense spending meet the 2% threshold for the first time since the early 1990s. NATO as a whole is expected to reach the 2% threshold for the first time this year.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Donald Trump, –, Stoltenberg, ” Stoltenberg, ” Organizations: CNN, NATO, Allies, German Defense Ministry Locations: Brussels, Russia, Canada, Germany

☆ US, EU Discuss Russia Sanctions Ahead of Ukraine War's Second Anniversary
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

"Many of us are prepared to roll out quite robust anniversary packages," the official told Reuters, but declined to provide details. The new sanctions would come as the U.S. and its allies look to maintain pressure on Russia with U.S. military aid to Ukraine increasingly in doubt. "All delegations expressed their support to the proposed package, except one who requested a bit more time to analyze the content of the proposals," said an EU official, pointing to Hungary. The official said, however, the new EU sanctions would blacklist almost 200 people and entities. "The Russia sanctions program is both an extraordinary success and an extraordinary failure, depending upon one's point of view," said Smith.

Persons: Daphne Psaledakis, Gabriela Baczynska WASHINGTON, Joe Biden's, John Smith, Smith, Gabriela Baczynska, Don Durfee Organizations: Reuters, Kyiv, Republican, Representatives, Washington, EU, Wednesday, Russia, U.S . Treasury Department’s, Foreign Assets Control Locations: BRUSSELS, U.S, Russia, Brussels, Ukraine, Washington, EU, Hungary, Moscow, Lincoln

The best air fryers and best air fryer toaster ovens cook food quickly, make great gifts, are easy and safe to use, and so much more. Our top picks for air fryers Insider Reviews has tested over 40 air fryers to find the best ones on the market. Jen Gushue/Business Insider Best overall: Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven - See at AmazonInstant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven - See at Amazon Best value: Beautiful Touchscreen Air Fryer - See at WalmartBeautiful Touchscreen Air Fryer - See at Walmart Best toaster oven: Oster Digital Air Fryer Oven with RapidCrisp - See at AmazonHow does an air fryer work? In practice, what this means is achieving the Maillard reaction from hot air rather than hot oil. Plus, food also cooks faster in the air fryer thanks to the compact size and hot air circulation.

Persons: You've, fryer, Jen Gushue, Maillard, Dan Zuccarello, James Brains, Hardy veggies, Jason Lloyd, Laura Miner, Cook, Sandy Younan Brikho, they're Organizations: Business, Walmart, Oster Digital, Fryer, MDA Locations: Cavan, Brussels

☆ Germany Hits 2% NATO Target for First Time Since 1992, Reports Dpa
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The German government is allocating the equivalent of $73.41 billion for defence spending in the current year, dpa reported. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had this week stated that Germany would meet the NATO target, but the government has not divulged precise figures so far. NATO defence ministers are due to meet in Brussels on Thursday. A separate meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, hosted by the United States, takes place on Wednesday. Scholz's government has spotlighted its rising defence spending at an uncertain time for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Donald Trump, Boris Pistorius, Trump, Pistorius, Trump's, Alex Ratz, Matthias Williams, Miranda Murray, Ros Russell Organizations: BERLIN, NATO, dpa, Ukraine Defence Contact, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Former, WELT, German, America Locations: Germany, Ukraine, Brussels, United States

As outgunned Ukrainian soldiers struggle to hold back bloody Russian assaults on land, Ukraine said on Wednesday that its forces had struck yet another powerful blow against the Russians at sea, sinking a large Russian landing ship off the coast of Crimea before dawn. The Ukrainian military released footage of the strike, which it said had resulted in the sinking of the 360-foot-long landing ship Caesar Kunikov, its fourth-largest landing ship taken out of action in the war, possibly complicating Russia’s logistical efforts in southern Ukraine. The Ukrainian claims could not be immediately confirmed, but when NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, was asked about the attack, he called Ukraine’s campaign on the Black Sea a “great achievement.”“The Ukrainians have been able to inflict heavy losses on the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” he said at a news conference in Brussels. Russia has lost more than a third of its fleet since the war began, according to Ukrainian officials and military analysts.

Persons: Caesar Kunikov, Jens Stoltenberg, ” “, ” Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Crimea, Russian, Brussels, Russia

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that European allies and Canada have ramped up defense spending to record levels, as he warned that former U.S. President Donald Trump was undermining their security by calling into question the U.S. commitment to its allies. In 2014, NATO leaders committed to move toward spending 2% of their gross domestic product on defense within a decade. It has mostly been slow going, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago focused minds. “This year I expect 18 allies to spend 2% of the GDP on defense. That is another record number and a six-fold increase from 2014 when only three allies met the target,” Stoltenberg said.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Donald Trump, Stoltenberg, “, ” Stoltenberg, Joe Biden, ” Organizations: — NATO, NATO, Trump, Republican Locations: BRUSSELS, Canada, Crimean, Ukraine, Brussels, U.S, Russia

☆ Fact check: Debunking five false Trump claims about NATO
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

And Trump has for years made a variety of other false claims about spending by NATO and its members. As of 2023, 11 of 30 NATO members were meeting the 2% target, NATO estimates show. NATO members’ spending before Trump took officeAs president, Trump claimed that NATO members’ spending had declined “every single year” until he took office in 2017. Facts First: Trump’s claims that NATO members’ spending had declined every year until he took office are false. After referring to NATO members Trump said he pressured himself, he continued: “And then I hear that they like Obama better.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Russia “, didn’t, –, Stephen Saideman, ” Saideman, Erwan, George Washington University’s, ” Lagadec, “, recommitted, Jens Stoltenberg, Saideman, “ Putin, Joe Biden, Lagadec, Barack Obama, Obama, George W, Bush, we’ve, ” Bush Organizations: Washington CNN, Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, CNN, Trump, International Affairs, Carleton University, Elliott School of International Affairs, Transatlantic, Ukraine ”, NATO –, “, ”, EU Locations: Russia, Wales, Canada, Brussels, Ukraine’s Crimea, –, Crimea, Europe, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Romania

☆ Calls grow in Europe to halt arms exports to Israel as US Senate passes aid package
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The concern around continuing arms exports to Israel comes after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month ordered Israel to “take all measures” to comply with international laws on genocide. “In the government’s view, the distribution of American F-35 parts is not unlawful. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte met Israeli cabinet minister Benny Gantz at the Knesset in Jerusalem, February 12, 2024. Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told local media in late January that Italy had stopped all arms shipments to Israel since October 7. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Albares too said in late January that his country had also halted arms sales to Israel in October.

Persons: “, Josep Borrell, ” Borrell, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Mark Rutte, Benny Gantz, Gantz, Abir, Justin Bronk, ” Bronk, Bronk, Lockheed Martin, ”, ‘, ’ ”, Antonio Tajani, Jose Albares Organizations: CNN, United States Senate, Israel, Monday, Oxfam, Hague, International Court of Justice, Israeli, Hamas, US, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, State, Dutch, Royal United Services Institute, Israeli Air Forces, Lockheed, Netherlands Air Force, Pagella, Spanish, El, Amnesty International Locations: Israel, Gaza, Netherlands, Belgium, Brussels, Ukraine, Stockholm, Dutch, Jerusalem, Abir Sultan, Israeli, London, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Italy, Spain

☆ Secretary Austin cancels Brussels trip for Ukraine, NATO meetings after hospitalization
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin canceled a trip to Brussels this week where he was set to attend meetings related to Ukraine's defense and NATO, after his emergency hospitalization over the weekend. Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday afternoon due to "emergent bladder issues." The Defense secretary has been fighting prostate cancer and recuperating from surgery over the past few months. President Joe Biden is "not at all" concerned with Austin's ability to continue serving as Defense secretary, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday. Austin later transferred his duties to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks on Sunday evening.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Aden Duale, Donald Trump, Austin, Walter, Walter Reed doctors, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Kirby, Biden, Doctors, Kathleen Hicks Organizations: Defense, Kenyan Defense, Pentagon, NATO, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, National Security Locations: Arlington , Virginia, Brussels, Ukraine, Austin

☆ Trump’s NATO comments stir up a political storm as Russia keeps quiet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Sam Meredith | Www.Linkedin.Com In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Former U.S. president Donald Trump pictured during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at Winfield House, London on Dec. 3, 2019. She added that the NATO alliance "allows us to prevent war." The defense spending target is not a requirement and many countries have sought to ramp up their military spending since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. NATO's so-called Article 5 mutual defense clause means that an attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against all allies. "NATO cannot be an 'a la carte' military alliance ... depending on the humor of the president of the U.S.," Borrell said when asked to respond to Trump's comments, Reuters reported.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jens Stoltenberg, NICHOLAS KAMM, Trump, …, Vladimir, Dmitry Peskov, Trump's, Joe Biden, Biden, Nikki Haley, Haley, Chris Christie, I've, Jake Sullivan, Dursun, Stoltenberg, NATO Ally, Josep Borrell, Borrell Organizations: U.S, NATO, Winfield House, AFP, Getty, Former, Statista, Russia, Reuters, Top, Democratic, Republican, South Carolina Gov, CBS, NBC News, US National Security, North Atlantic Council, Anadolu Locations: London, Former U.S, South Carolina, Russia, U.S, United States, Brussels, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Turkey, Ukraine, NATO's

☆ ‘US will be out of NATO’ in second Trump term, former senior adviser warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Jim Sciutto | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“The point is, he saw absolutely no point in NATO,” Kelly said in the book. “President Trump got our allies to increase their NATO spending by demanding they pay up, but Joe Biden went back to letting them take advantage of the American taxpayer. Kelly said he tried to explain the importance of NATO to Trump in terms he believed the president would understand. In the case of withdrawing from NATO, Kelly tried to convey to Trump that both applied. “US support for Ukraine would end,” said the senior US official who served under Trump and Biden.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Powers, Joe Biden, ” John Bolton, “, ”, John Kelly, ” Kelly, Vladimir, Putin, Kim, Jong, Putin wouldn’t, ’ ”, Trump, Obama, Biden, ” Trump, Jason Miller, can’t, Kelly, Mark Milley, Mark Esper, Bolton, I’d, what’s, ’ Organizations: CNN, NATO, Trump, US, Biden, ”, South, White, Russia, “, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Joint Chiefs, Fox News Locations: Russia, South Korea, Japan, North Korea, Europe, Brussels, “, Ukraine, Taiwan, China, Bolton

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized Sunday following symptoms pointing to an “emergent bladder issue,” the Pentagon said. In a statement, the Pentagon said Austin was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center around 2:20 p.m. Austin remained at Walter Reed until Jan. 15. He then continued to recover and work from home, and he returned to the Pentagon Jan. 29. Austin did not tell President Joe Biden, Congress or his deputy secretary of defense, Kathleen Hicks, of his cancer diagnosis or initial hospitalization for weeks.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Walter, Pat Ryder, Ryder, Walter Reed, Jan, Joe Biden, Kathleen Hicks Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Pentagon, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Joint Chiefs, Staff, White, Kyiv, NATO Locations: Brussels, Ukraine

You gotta pay your bills.’”NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the 31 allies are committed to defending each other. Photos You Should See View All 21 Images“NATO remains ready and able to defend all allies. Under NATO’s mutual defense clause, Article 5 of its founding treaty, all allies commit help of any member who comes under attack. Article 5 has only ever been activated once – by the U.S. in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. NATO has undertaken its biggest military buildup since the Cold War since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Persons: Donald Trump, Władysław Kosiniak, Kamysz, “, Trump, ”, ’ ” Trump, Jens Stoltenberg, ” Stoltenberg, Putin, ___ Cook, Kirsten Grieshaber Organizations: NATO, Republican, . Defense, ”, ’, Foreign Ministry, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Trump, Associated Press Locations: WARSAW, Poland, U.S, Russia, Europe, Conway , South Carolina, ” Russia, NATO, Anchorage, Erzurum, Baltic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moscow, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Ukraine’s Crimean, Brussels, Berlin

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