Author: Admin

by Admin Feb 26, 2025 Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to push for European defense “independence” from the United States following his center-right alliance’s victory in parliamentary elections. His remarks come amid growing concerns over the U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to Europe’s security. Speaking on Sunday, Merz emphasized that strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities would be his “absolute priority,” asserting that the continent must no longer depend on Washington for its security. “I never thought I would have to say something like that on a TV program, but after Donald Trump’s latest comments last week, it is clear that the Americans at least this government care very little about the fate of Europe,” Merz said during a televised discussion with political leaders. Merz expressed uncertainty over NATO’s long-term stability, warning that the alliance may not exist in its “current form” by the time of its next summit in June.  He suggested that Europe must accelerate efforts to develop an independent defense strategy. “That is my absolute priority,” he stated. “I have no illusions at all about what will come out of America.” Merz also aimed billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of President Trump and head of the newly created U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, for his involvement in Germany’s election campaign. The tech billionaire Musk had publicly supported the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which secured its strongest-ever result in a national election. “The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic and impertinent than the interventions we have seen from Moscow,” Merz said. “We are under massive pressure from two sides.” Preliminary results from Sunday’s election showed Merz’s Christian Democratic Union-Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) alliance winning 208 seats with 28.6% of the vote. The far-right AfD surged to second place with 152 seats and 20.8%, doubling its previous performance. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), which led an unpopular three-party coalition, suffered a historic defeat, securing just 120 seats its worst result since World War II. Merz now faces the complex task of coalition negotiations, having ruled out partnering with the AfD. His most likely option is a deal with the SPD, despite their long-standing rivalry. His victory signals a shift in German politics, with growing divisions over the country’s transatlantic ties and its role in European security.

by Admin Feb 25, 2025 Britain has announced a significant boost in military spending, aiming to demonstrate stronger burden-sharing ahead of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, the British Prime Minister confirmed that the UK will increase defense spending to 2.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, with plans to further raise it to 3% by the end of the next government’s term, which would be by 2034 at the latest. The additional expenditure will be financed by scaling back development aid. The Labour government had previously pledged to raise defense spending from the current 2.3% of GDP to 2.5% but had not established a timeline.  The new commitment now translates to an additional £13.4 billion ($17 billion) per year on defense over the next three years. “We must change our national security posture because a generational challenge demands a generational response,” Starmer said.  He further acknowledged that the increase would be funded by reducing overseas development aid from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3%, a move he described as regrettable but necessary. “At times like this, the defense and security of the British people must always come first,” he added. For years, Trump has pressured European allies to shoulder a larger share of defense costs, particularly within NATO.  The move by the UK aligns with calls from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who recently urged member states to allocate “considerably more” than 3% of their GDP to defense. Starmer also reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to NATO and the transatlantic alliance, emphasizing its crucial role in Europe’s security. His stance contrasts with that of Germany’s likely new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who recently suggested that Europe should establish an independent security strategy separate from the United States following his party’s election victory on Sunday. The UK’s defense spending increase signals not only a strategic response to evolving global security challenges but also an effort to solidify its position as a key NATO contributor ahead of high-level discussions in Washington.

by Admin Feb 25, 2025 Germany has firmly opposed U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to readmit Russia into the Group of Seven (G7) nations, citing a lack of unanimity among member states. German Finance Minister Joerg Kukies emphasized the G7’s unified condemnation of Russia’s ongoing aggression, particularly as the world marks the third anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “The G7’s position on Russia’s war of aggression is very clear,” Kukies stated, dismissing any possibility of consensus on President Trump’s suggestion. The German finance minister is scheduled to attend the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Cape Town on Tuesday, while U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be absent due to a scheduling conflict. “We need to re-embark on a path of economic growth. Germany has a lot of homework to do,” Kukies noted, underscoring economic priorities. Kukies, who was appointed finance minister in November by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after the collapse of Scholz’s governing coalition, will remain in office until a new government is formed following Sunday’s election. The election was won by Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc. Kukies also warned that the European Union could face significant economic repercussions from Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariff plan, which seeks to raise U.S. import tariffs to match those imposed by other countries. While the EU currently runs a goods trade surplus with the U.S., Kukies pointed out that this is nearly balanced by a U.S. surplus in services exported to Europe. Kukies reiterated that G7 leaders could revisit discussions on using $300 billion in frozen Russian sovereign assets held in Europe to support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. However, he cautioned that these talks remain in the early stages. Germany’s firm stance against Russia’s return to the G7 reflects continued geopolitical tensions and reinforces the bloc’s commitment to holding Moscow accountable for its actions in Ukraine.

by Admin Feb 25, 2025 Ukraine has reached an agreement with the United States on a significant minerals deal. A senior official of the Ukrainian government said, “We have indeed agreed on it with several good amendments and see it as a positive outcome. ” The official did not disclose further details. According to media reports, Washington has backed away from its initial demand for a $500 billion (£395bn) stake in potential revenues from Ukraine’s natural resources.  However, the deal reportedly lacks firm security guarantees for Ukraine, a key issue for the war-torn nation. United States President Donald Trump announced that he expects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit Washington this week to sign the agreement. The deal follows a period of tense exchanges between the two leaders. While not confirming the finalized deal, Trump stated on Tuesday that Ukraine would gain “the right to fight on” in return. “They’re fearless,” he told reporters, but added, “Without the United States and its money and military equipment, this war would have been over in a very short period.” When asked whether U.S. military aid and ammunition supplies to Ukraine would continue, Trump responded, “Maybe until we have a deal with Russia… We need to have a deal, otherwise, it’s going to continue.”  He further suggested that any future peace deal would require “some form of peacekeeping” in Ukraine that would need to be “acceptable to everyone.” The minerals deal comes amid heightened tensions between Trump and Zelensky. Last week, Trump referred to Zelensky as a “dictator” and appeared to blame Ukraine rather than Russia for initiating the war.  The Ukrainian president, in turn, accused Trump of operating within a “disinformation space” shaped by Russia. President Trump has long pushed for U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources in return for the substantial military and financial aid provided since Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago. However, Zelensky has argued that U.S. aid does not amount to the $500 billion initially requested by Washington, stating, “I can’t sell our state.” However, President Trump claimed the U.S. had provided between $300 billion and $350 billion in aid to Ukraine. “We want to get that money back,” he said. “We’re helping the country through a very, very big problem… but the American taxpayer now is going to get their money back plus.” Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, who led the negotiations, disclosed in the first report that the agreement was “only part of the picture.” “We have heard multiple times from the U.S. administration that it’s part of a bigger picture,” she said. According to Ukrainian sources, while Washington has softened some of its initial demands, many details of the agreement still require further negotiation. The lack of concrete security guarantees remains a pressing concern for Kyiv as the country continues its fight against Russian aggression. According to Prodesq, political analyst Temitope Oladeji revealed that the mineral resources agreement will further question the United States’ future intention to support military aid for countries like Ukraine.  President Trump’s decision has sent a clear message to all its allies, especially NATO partners, who have looked up to the United States for defense against external aggression. Germany, Britain, and Poland have seen how the United States under President Trump will recover every military aid and fund sent to its allies, and this has prompted these countries to announce an increase in their military budget like never before since the end of the Second World War. However, a question keeps lingering: will the United States also demand access to Israel’s mineral resources as Israel has also been a recipient of the United States military aid during its war with Hamas and Hezbollah?