Russian President Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping met in Moscow last week to celebrate Victory Day and issued a joint statement about plans to deepen their countries’ relationship further, while condemning the U.S. and its allies for pushing NATO’s expansion and unipolar hegemony.
Nigel Farage, the head of Britain’s Reform U.K., has set his sights on 10 Downing Street after his party’s recent local gains in districts that were once Tory and Labour strongholds by appealing to the country’s angst with the stagnant economy and immigration that critics say is out of control.
The British military joined the U.S. last week in bombing campaigns on Yemen and said it successfully hit its target that was described as a “cluster of buildings, used by the Houthis to manufacture drones of the type used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.”
Countries increased military spending last year to $2.7 trillion—an increase of 9.4 percent, marking the steepest year-on-year rise since the end of the Cold War as European and Middle Eastern governments splurge in spending amid what they see as growing regional threats, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
The U.S. and Ukraine signed a long-term minerals deal that was seen as an incentive for Washington to stay committed to Kyiv’s war effort against Russia because of future revenue-sharing tied to the country’s natural resources, with one Ukrainian lawmaker stating that the deal hides “indefinite obligations” between Kyiv and the U.S.
Pakistan’s defense minister said in an interview Monday that his country is preparing for an “imminent” incursion by Indian forces after the deadly attack last week in Kashmir that killed 26—mainly Indian tourists and was immediately blamed by New Delhi on Pakistani militants—without evidence.
Countries in the northern reaches of Europe are being looked at as examples of how once peace-loving countries can become militarized amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Russian leadership reiterated last week that European troops in Ukraine tasked with a “peacekeeping” role would be an unacceptable outcome of the war and could lead to a nuclear exchange.
U.S. President Donald Trump has tried to sweeten a peace deal for Russia to end its war in Ukraine by—among other concessions—agreeing to officially recognize Crimea as part of Russia, which is a particularly tough pill to swallow for European leaders who see it as a capitulation by the administration.
India’s inability to provide evidence linking Pakistan to the Kashmir attack last week that killed 26 people—mainly Indian tourists—has left New Delhi vulnerable to claims that it could be trying to use the shooting for political gain.