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☆ Trump will quit NATO, Hillary Clinton says, as anxiety mounts over U.S. commitment to the alliance
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"He will pull us out of NATO," Clinton told attendees during a lunchtime session. watch nowU.S. Republican Senator Jim Risch, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, on Saturday dismissed talk of the U.S. quitting NATO, saying: "We have answered that question." Clinton said, however, that Trump could actually just refuse to fund the alliance. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte earlier Saturday referenced constant "moaning and whining" at the event about the future of NATO under Trump. Indeed, Germany's defense minister said that his country's commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defense should be just the start, noting that the threshold could rise to 3.5% if necessary.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Raedle, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, doesn't, Jim Risch, Trump, Europe's, Mark Rutte, Olaf Scholz, Mette Frederiksen, Frederiksen, Jens Stoltenberg, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Organizations: U.S, Getty, NATO, Saturday, White, Munich Security Conference, Trump, Congress, Republican, Foreign Relations, United States Senate, CNBC, U.S . House, Representatives, Dutch, Danish Locations: Lago, West Palm Beach , Florida, MUNICH, Germany, U.S, Russia, Munich, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, United States

☆ Navalny death is a pre-election gambit from Putin, anti-Kremlin activist Bill Browder says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Matt Clinch | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Anti-Kremlin activist Bill Browder said he believes Alexei Navalny's death was intended as a message to political opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of elections next month. Dissident Navalny, who died Friday, had been serving a 19-year prison sentence on charges of extremism in Russia, which he vehemently denied. World leaders reacted with dismay and suspicion to the death, with U.S. President Joe Biden saying "Putin is responsible." Russia's Foreign Ministry on Friday said the West's reaction to Navalny's death was "self-exposing," given that no forensic medical examination had been made available at the time. Browder, the CEO and co-founder of Hermitage Capital Management and a friend of Navalny, also accused the Russian leader of being behind the death.

Persons: Bill Browder, Alexei Navalny's, Vladimir Putin, Navalny, Joe Biden, Putin, Browder, Alexei Navalny, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Saturday Organizations: Kremlin, U.S, Hermitage Capital Management, Munich Security Conference Locations: Russia

☆ Ukrainian Foreign Minister Discusses Peace Prospects With Chinese Counterpart
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Saturday he had discussed the prospects for peace in Kyiv's nearly two-year-old war against Russia with his Chinese counterpart, part of a long-running bid to bolster relations with Beijing. "I met with my Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations, trade, and the need to restore a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," Kuleba wrote on X, formerly Twitter, of their talks at the Munich Security Conference. Kuleba said he had discussed Ukraine's plans to hold a global peace summit which Switzerland has agreed to help stage. The two men, he said, "agreed on the need to maintain Ukraine-China contacts at all levels and continue our dialogue". China has attended at least one of the preparatory meetings that have taken place in anticipation of such a summit.

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, Wang Yi, Kuleba, Ron Popeski, Alistair Bell Organizations: Reuters, Ukrainian, Twitter, Munich Security, China, Russia Locations: Kyiv's, Russia, Beijing, Ukraine, Switzerland, China, Moscow, Africa, Soviet

CNN —President Joe Biden, in a call Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, directly tied Ukraine’s withdrawal from the key town of Avdiivka to Congress’ inability to pass further aid for the country’s effort to fend off Russia’s invasion. “This morning, Ukraine’s military was forced to withdraw from Avdiivka after Ukrainian soldiers had to ration ammunition due to dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, resulting in Russia’s first notable gains in months. President Biden emphasized the need for Congress to urgently pass the national security supplemental funding bill to resupply Ukrainian forces,” according to a White House readout of the call. Earlier this week, the Senate passed with bipartisan support a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill, which includes $60 billion to support Ukraine. The withdrawal from Avdiivka marks the biggest gain for Moscow since it captured the city of Bakhmut last year.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia’s, Biden, Alexey Navalny’s, Mike Johnson, Adrienne Watson, Kamala Harris, Zelensky, Harris, ” Harris, ”, ” Zelensky, “ Hatred, ” Biden, it’s, they’re Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, National Security, Munich, Representatives, White, Moscow Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Germany, United States, Russia, Bakhmut

☆ Trump Comments Show Europe Must Spend More on Defence, Latvia Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Trump sparked fierce criticism from top Western officials for saying that, as U.S. president, he had told an unnamed leader he would not protect countries that failed to meet NATO defence spending targets, and would even encourage Russia to attack them. "Many presidents have been saying for many years that in Europe, we - being a generally wealthy society - should invest more in our own defence," Karins said as he walked between events at the annual Munich Security Conference on Friday. Karins said part of Europe's response should be to continue to spend more on defence - a trend fuelled by Russia's seizure of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Karins said Europe would still need the structures and coordination provided by the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization for its forces to operate effectively together, as Europe was not a country with a single army. "We will still need NATO to help coordinate us."

Persons: Andrew Gray MUNICH, Donald Trump's, Krisjanis Karins, Trump, Karins, Andrew Gray, Jan Harvey Organizations: NATO, Latvian, Baltic, Reuters, Security, Treaty Organization Locations: Russia, U.S, Europe, Crimea, Ukraine

☆ Africa has its own crises but alignment is not easy, says Tanzania's defense minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAfrica has its own crises but alignment is not easy, says Tanzania's defense ministerSpeaking at the Munich Security Conference, Tanzania Defense Minister Stergomena Tax discusses issues facing Africa currently, and how they can be addressed.

Organizations: Africa, Munich Security Conference, Tanzania Defense, Stergomena Locations: Africa

☆ What to Know About the Fall of Avdiivka
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Constant Méheut | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In recent months, they had been slowly advancing through relentless assaults, in a pincer movement. “The ability to save our people is the most important task for us,” President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. He added that Ukrainian troops had been hindered by a shortage of ammunition because of declining Western military assistance. Here’s what to know about the fall of Avdiivka. Avdiivka is a suburb of the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, which has been on a front line since a Russian military intervention in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrsky, General Syrsky, ” Avdiivka —, —, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: Munich Security, Russian Army Locations: Avdiivka, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Donetsk

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine called on world leaders not to abandon his country, citing the recent death of a Russian dissident as a reminder that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia would continue to test the international order, and pushing back against the idea of a negotiated resolution to the war. Mr. Zelensky, speaking on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, said that if Ukraine lost the war to Russia, it would be “catastrophic” not only for Kyiv, but for other nations as well. “Please do not ask Ukraine when the war will end,” he said. “Ask yourself why is Putin still able to continue it.”The two topics that have loomed over nearly every discussion at the yearly meeting of world leaders have been Russia and the potential weakening of trans-Atlantic relations, amid an increasingly pessimistic assessment of Kyiv’s ability to beat Moscow.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir V, Putin, ” Organizations: Munich Security, Kyiv, Moscow Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia

☆ Qatar PM Says Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations 'Not Very Promising' in Recent Days
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MUNICH (Reuters) - Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Saturday the pattern of negotiations for a framework ceasefire deal for the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was "not very promising" in recent days. "The pattern in the last few days are not really very promising but, as I always repeat, we will always remain optimistic and will always remain pushing," Sheikh Mohammed said at the Munich Security Conference. War in Israel and Gaza View All 209 Images"I believe in this agreement we are talking at a bigger scale and we still see some difficulties on the humanitarian part of these negotiations," he said. He added that he thought that if negotiations on the humanitarian element of any deal progressed then the obstacle over the numbers of those released would be ultimately tackled. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesTalks involving officials from Qatar, Egypt, Israel and the United States have so far not yielded a deal for a pause in the fighting.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Sheikh Mohammed, Maha El Dahan, Hatem Maher, Frances Kerry Organizations: Qatar's, Munich Security, Hamas Locations: MUNICH, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Egypt, United States

☆ China Foreign Minister Warns Against Decoupling at Munich Security Conference
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi warned the West that it would be making a historical mistake if it sought to decouple from China in the interests of reducing risk. "Whoever tries de-sinicization in the name of de-risking would be making a historical mistake," Wang said in a speech on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. His comments came amid calls over the last year from the United States and the European Union to reduce their dependence on China. During a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the conference on Friday, the Chinese foreign minister also stressed that "making 'de-risking' into 'de-China', and seeking 'decoupling from China'" will only backfire on the U.S. itself". Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesThe plans highlight "de-risking", the EU's policy of reducing economic reliance on China, which the bloc regards with suspicion due to its close ties to Russia.

Persons: Wang Yi, Wang, Antony Blinken, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Giles Elgood Organizations: Munich Security Conference, European Union, U.S, European Commission, China's Chamber, Commerce Locations: BEIJING, China, United States, de, U.S, Russia

☆ US VP Harris: Will Work to Ensure Russia Pays Damages to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said that U.S. President Joe Biden's administration stood ready to support Ukraine in its war with Russia for "as long as it takes" and would push for Russia to pay damages to Ukraine following the end of the war. "We will continue in our efforts to secure a just and lasting peace. We will work to make sure Russia pays damages to Ukraine," she said at a joint news conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the annual Munich Security Conference on Saturday. "President Biden and I will continue to work to secure the resources and weapons you need to succeed," she said. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesPhotos You Should See View All 33 Images(Reporting by Sarah Marsh; Writing by Maria Sheahan)

Persons: Kamala Harris, Joe Biden's, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Biden, Sarah Marsh, Maria Sheahan Organizations: BERLIN, Security, Washington, Ukraine, U.S . Congress Locations: Ukraine, Russia

☆ The Russian advance into the ruins of the city of Avdiivka was a matter of time
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Analysis Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In December, US officials estimated that the Russian military has suffered more than 13,000 casualties along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis in just a few weeks. The Ukrainian military acknowledged in December that the concentration of Russian forces would ultimately prevail. And ISW warns that “Ukrainian forces may have to stabilize the frontline by counter-attacking in the area where Russian forces are trying to close the encirclement of Ukrainian forces in Avdiivka in order to conduct an orderly withdrawal.”Much of Avdiivka now lies in ruins. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via ReutersThere are already indications that not all Ukrainian units were able to escape an ever-tightening noose. The Ukrainians are adapting swiftly to a new stance of active defense that will continue to bleed Russian forces.

Persons: General Valery Zaluzhnyi, Maksym Zhoryn, Ukraine’s, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Nuzhnenko, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Zhorin, laud, Bakhmut, Volodymr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Avdiivka Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade, Institute for, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Reuters, Russian Defense, Munich Locations: Avdiivka, Donetsk, Radio Free Europe, Kharkiv, Mariinka, Russia, Europe

☆ Spending 2% on defense 'can only be the start of it,' says Germany's Boris Pistorius
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSpending 2% on defense 'can only be the start of it,' says Germany's Boris PistoriusSpeaking on a panel hosted by CNBC's Silvia Amaro at the Munich Security Conference, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius discussed NATO's 2% investment target and geopolitical risks around the world.

Persons: Boris Pistorius, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Organizations: Munich Security Conference, German

☆ NATO head says the U.S. won't withdraw from alliance: It makes them 'stronger'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNATO head says the U.S. won't withdraw from alliance: It makes them 'stronger'Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of NATO, tells CNBC's Silvia Amaro that regardless of the outcome of the U.S. election, he expects the country to remain a "staunch" ally of the allaince.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Organizations: NATO, Munich Security Locations: U.S

Munich, Germany CNN —Hamas’s demands for a hostage deal are “delusional” and need to be “close to reality,” Israel’s Coordinator for the Captives and the Missing, Gal Hirsch, told CNN Saturday. But Hamas’s demands are disconnected from reality - delusional,” the former Israel Defense Forces commander said in an interview with CNN’s Alex Marquardt at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. He suggested that, though Israel and Hamas had previously agreed on a deal to supply medication to Israeli hostages, the hostages did not receive this medication. Hamas will be dismantled, but we would like very much to make a deal and to bring our hostages back home. “They wanted very much to break the potential deal just as they did in the previous one,” he suggested.

Persons: Germany CNN —, ”, Gal Hirsch, CNN’s Alex Marquardt, counteroffer, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Hirsch, ” Hirsch, Khan Younis, “, Martin Meissner, Marquardt, Deir al Balah Organizations: Germany CNN, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Munich, Israeli, Minister’s, Hamas, Nasser, IDF, UN Locations: Munich, Germany, Gaza, Israel, Israel’s, Khan, The Hague, Netherlands, Rafah, Deir al

☆ Singapore's defense minister says trade is necessary for peace — and 'China is not Russia'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSingapore's defense minister says trade is necessary for peace — and 'China is not Russia'Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Ng Eng Hen, Singapore's minister for defence, tells CNBC's Silvia Amaro on a panel that trade is crucial when talking about the prevention of conflict.

Persons: —, Ng Eng, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Organizations: Munich Security Locations: China, Russia

☆ Jailed Putin foe Alexei Navalny confirmed dead with family calling for body to be returned
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A photo of Alexei Navalny and candles are seen in front of the Russian consulate in Krakow, Poland on February 16, 2024. A spokesperson for Putin dissident Alexei Navalny confirmed his death on Saturday, after Russian media reported his demise on Friday, citing the prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region where he was imprisoned. On Friday, the IC had said on Telegram that it is organizing a procedural check into Navalny's demise, in a Google-translated post. "We demand that Alexey Navalny's body be handed over to his family immediately," Yarmysh said Saturday. Navalny's demise and Moscow's ongoing full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, soon to observe its second year later this month, have dominated conversations at the Munich Security Conference this weekend.

Persons: Alexei Navalny, Kira Yarmysh, Yarmysh, Alexey Navalny's, Navalny, Vladimir Putin, Putin's, Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Russia, Munich Security, MSC Locations: Russian, Krakow, Poland, Salekhard, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Navalny's Death Leaves Despair and Apathy in Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

"Navalny's death is terrible: hopes have been smashed," Nikitin said. The West, including U.S. President Joe Biden, blamed President Vladimir Putin for the death. "Navalny's death is very beneficial to Putin's opponents," said Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser. WEST 'NOT OUR FRIEND'At "Patriki", or Patriarch's Ponds, the centre of Moscow nightlife, many young Russians revelled away Friday night just hours after news of Navalny's death. "It is sad of course when anybody dies," Olga Kazakova, a Russian, told Reuters in central Moscow on Saturday.

Persons: Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, Alexei Navalny, Navalny, carnations, Vladimir Nikitin, Nikitin, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Putin, Navalny's, Africa's Nelson Mandela, Kira Yarmysh, Yulia, Sergei Markov, revelled, Olga Kazakova, Boris Nemtsov, Guy Faulconbridge, Frances Kerry Organizations: KGB, Reuters, CIA, DEATH, Munich Security Conference, Putin, Kremlin, Ukraine, WEST Locations: Moscow, Russia, Russia's, St Petersburg, Navalny, Avdiivka, West, Ukraine, Kremlin, Basil's

☆ Zelensky pleads for help to plug ‘artificial’ weapons deficit amid signs of Russia seizing advantage
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Maria Kostenko | Manveena Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed partner nations for more military assistance to Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference in Germany Saturday, amid signs of the war turning in Russia’s favour. His plea came soon after Ukrainian forces announced their withdrawal from the key eastern town of Avdiivka. “It is essential to unblock the sky…Where there are air defense systems, Russia immediately withdrew because they were losing aircraft. Real world,” Zelensky said. Last year, Zelensky opened the Munich Security Conference with an impassioned video address pleading for faster weapons to repel Russian forces.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin, ” Zelensky, ”, Zelensky, Jose Colon, Donald Trump, “, Kamala Harris, ” Harris Organizations: CNN, Munich, Ukrainian, Republicans, Wednesday, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Russian Federation, Republican Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Avdiivka, Europe, Donetsk Oblast, Russia, Instagram ., Munich, United States

☆ Germany's Scholz commits to spending 2% on defense 'in the 2020s, in the 2030s and beyond'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz arrives for the weekly federal government cabinet meeting on Oct. 11, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. MUNICH, Germany — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday reaffirmed Berlin's commitment to spend 2% of the national gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, this year and over the longer term. "Germany will invest 2% of its GDP on defense in the 2020s, in the 2030s and beyond," Scholz told the Munich Security Conference. It comes as NATO members across Europe have committed to upping their defense spending. Eighteen of the US-led military alliance's 31 members will meet the 2% spending target this year, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Donald Trump Organizations: Munich Security, Reuters, NATO Locations: Berlin, Germany, MUNICH, Europe, Russia

☆ China's Wang Yi Held 'Constructive' Talks With Blinken in Munich - Chinese Foreign Ministry
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed lifting sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Munich Security Conference, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Saturday. Both sides also discussed facilitating people-to-people exchanges in the meeting held on Friday, the ministry said, adding the exchanges between the two were "frank, substantial and constructive". "Making 'de-risking' into 'de-China', and building 'small yards and high walls' and seeking 'decoupling from China'" will only backfire on the U.S. itself, Wang said, according to a statement from the foreign ministry. Both sides also exchanged views on regional issues including the Ukraine crisis and the Korean Peninsula, the statement said, without giving further details. China and the U.S. have made some progress in bilateral relations since Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President Joe Biden in November, where they reached agreements covering fentanyl, military communications and artificial intelligence on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Persons: Wang Yi, Antony Blinken, Wang, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: China's, U.S, Munich Security Conference, Economic Cooperation, Treasury Locations: BEIJING, de, China, U.S, Ukraine, Asia, Beijing

☆ UK's Cameron Raises Red Sea, Human Rights Issues With Chinese Counterpart
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) - British foreign minister David Cameron met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, the Foreign Office said in a statement. Cameron told his counterpart that China should use its influence on Iran to pressure the Houthi militants over their actions in the Red Sea, the statement on Saturday said. Cameron also set out Britain's position on human rights issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, raised the case of British parliamentarians sanctioned by China, and again called for the release of media tycoon Jimmy Lai. War in Israel and Gaza View All 209 Images(Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)Photos You Should See View All 33 Images

Persons: David Cameron, Wang Yi, Cameron, Jimmy Lai, Rishabh, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, Foreign, Munich, China Locations: China, Iran, Red, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Israel, Gaza, Bengaluru

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Harris offered a broad defense of the Biden administration’s approach to global challenges, especially in leading international support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Her comments came as the Ukraine risks losing U.S. support due to congressional dysfunction and positions taken by Trump and many of his supporters. Harris sounded many of the same concerns and her comments were peppered with blunt criticism of Trump and his allies. Earlier this month, Trump sent shivers through Europe when he said he would not come to the defense of NATO allies that do not meet defense spending commitments. Harris said the Biden administration’s “sacred commitment to NATO remains ironclad.”“Imagine if America turned our back on Ukraine and abandoned our NATO allies and abandoned our treaty commitments.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump’s, Harris, Biden, Alexei Navalny, “, ”, ” Harris, U.N, Antonio Guterres, ” Guterres, Trump, shivers, Vladimir, Putin Organizations: —, NATO, Munich Security, Ukraine, Trump, Hamas, America Locations: MUNICH, Russia, Ukraine, United States, America, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Europe

MUNICH (AP) — Top diplomats from the U.S. and China on Friday held a “candid and constructive” discussion on issues vexing their strained relations over Taiwan, the situation in the South China Sea, Russia’s war against Ukraine and synthetic opioids, the State Department said. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken had emphasized the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait as well as expanding on nascent counternarcotics efforts. Blinken also raised concerns about China's support for Russia’s defense industrial base that Washington sees as helping Moscow’s military operations against Ukraine. “The two sides had a candid and constructive discussion on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage competition in the relationship,” Miller said. Photos You Should See View All 33 Images“Both sides recognized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the United States and (China) across a range of strategic issues, including consultations and high-level meetings in key areas in the coming months,” he said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Matthew Miller, Blinken, ” Miller, Blinken “, ” Organizations: —, State Department, Foreign, Munich, California . State Department, Washington, Ukraine, North Locations: MUNICH, U.S, China, Taiwan, South China, Ukraine, California ., Taiwan Strait, United States, North Korea

☆ Belgium PM says NATO countries need to be 'more united than ever'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailBelgium PM says NATO countries need to be 'more united than ever'Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Alexander De Croo, the prime minister of Belgium, tells CNBC's Silvia Amaro that NATO countries need to be more united than ever. His comments came as he addressed reports that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny had died, describing him as "one of the most courageous people in Russia."

Persons: Alexander De Croo, CNBC's Silvia Amaro, Alexei Navalny Organizations: Belgium, NATO, Munich Security Conference Locations: Belgium, Russia

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