May 17, 2024 02:03 PM
(This post was last modified: May 17, 2024 02:06 PM by C C.)
Lammy: Trump has the ‘right concern’ about European defence spending
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/...34282.html
EXCERPTS: Donald Trump has “the right concern” about European defence spending, David Lammy said as he resisted calls from Labour’s London Mayor Sadiq Khan to challenge the Republican presidential candidate on his views.
The shadow foreign secretary said some countries are not committing enough money and that the UK could share a “common cause” with the US in pushing for that to “improve”.
Mr Trump prompted alarm in western capitals earlier this year when he suggested he would encourage Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to Nato allies failing to meet their financial obligations.
Mr Lammy has sought to build diplomatic relationships with both Democrats and Republicans ahead of the US election this year, promising that Labour would work with whoever returns to the White House to preserve the transatlantic “special relationship”.
[...] “I take very seriously the responsibility of being on the front bench and the responsibility of finding common cause on behalf of the national interests of this country.”
Mr Lammy also expanded on recent remarks in which he described the former president’s approach to Nato as “misunderstood”, saying he had been referring specifically to European defence spending.
“He (Mr Trump) in his own unique way, I think, is concerned about burden-sharing across Europe – that is a concern shared by my friend Barack Obama, it is a concern that has been echoed since Kennedy, and it is the right concern because it is still the case that there are European countries not spending as much as they should on defence and that needs to improve, and that is something where the United Kingdom can join common cause with the United States,” the shadow minister said.
It marks a shift in tone from 2017 when the Labour frontbencher described Mr Trump as “racist” and a “Nazi sympathiser,” saying he would protest on the streets if the then-president visited the UK... (MORE - missing details)
Rishi Sunak urges China to 'encourage Russia' to end the war in Ukraine as officials grow concerned over military partnership
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sun...r-BB1mwXOO
PRESS RELEASE: Rishi Sunak has called on China to use its influence over Russia to end the war in Ukraine. But as President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin put on a show of unity in Beijing yesterday, there seemed scant chance of No 10's request being passed on.
The pair greeted each other warmly to discuss plans to boost their anti-West alliance.
Unbowed, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said yesterday: 'We would urge China to encourage Russia to cease the illegal war against Ukraine. China has previously spoken out about the importance of protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ukraine - something we have engaged China in at all levels.'
Western officials are increasingly concerned over China's support for Russia, which has let Putin boost production of military hardware. Superficially, China presents itself as a neutral observer of the conflict in Ukraine. But while it has stopped short of providing weapons to its ally, Western officials say China has provided drone and missile technologies and shared satellite images.
Putin's visit to Beijing came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to the north-east region of Kharkiv, where Moscow's forces have seized more than 100 square miles in only a week
Russia has also received Chinese turbojet engines, machine tools, microelectronics and optical components, dismissing back-corridor pleas by the US, the UK and France to stop these supplies.
On the first state visit of his new term in office, President Putin will spend two days in the Chinese capital. Yesterday, Putin thanked Xi for his role in Ukraine and its 'peace plan', which includes Russia retaining territory it has seized.
Speaking in Tiananmen Square, Putin said: 'We are grateful to our Chinese friends and colleagues for the initiatives they are putting forward to resolve the problem.' In turn, Xi thanked Putin for his support, saying: 'China is willing to jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world.'
Putin's visit to Beijing came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to the north-east region of Kharkiv, where Moscow's forces have seized more than 100 square miles in only a week.
He described the situation there as 'extremely difficult' but 'still under control'.
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/...34282.html
EXCERPTS: Donald Trump has “the right concern” about European defence spending, David Lammy said as he resisted calls from Labour’s London Mayor Sadiq Khan to challenge the Republican presidential candidate on his views.
The shadow foreign secretary said some countries are not committing enough money and that the UK could share a “common cause” with the US in pushing for that to “improve”.
Mr Trump prompted alarm in western capitals earlier this year when he suggested he would encourage Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to Nato allies failing to meet their financial obligations.
Mr Lammy has sought to build diplomatic relationships with both Democrats and Republicans ahead of the US election this year, promising that Labour would work with whoever returns to the White House to preserve the transatlantic “special relationship”.
[...] “I take very seriously the responsibility of being on the front bench and the responsibility of finding common cause on behalf of the national interests of this country.”
Mr Lammy also expanded on recent remarks in which he described the former president’s approach to Nato as “misunderstood”, saying he had been referring specifically to European defence spending.
“He (Mr Trump) in his own unique way, I think, is concerned about burden-sharing across Europe – that is a concern shared by my friend Barack Obama, it is a concern that has been echoed since Kennedy, and it is the right concern because it is still the case that there are European countries not spending as much as they should on defence and that needs to improve, and that is something where the United Kingdom can join common cause with the United States,” the shadow minister said.
It marks a shift in tone from 2017 when the Labour frontbencher described Mr Trump as “racist” and a “Nazi sympathiser,” saying he would protest on the streets if the then-president visited the UK... (MORE - missing details)
Rishi Sunak urges China to 'encourage Russia' to end the war in Ukraine as officials grow concerned over military partnership
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sun...r-BB1mwXOO
PRESS RELEASE: Rishi Sunak has called on China to use its influence over Russia to end the war in Ukraine. But as President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin put on a show of unity in Beijing yesterday, there seemed scant chance of No 10's request being passed on.
The pair greeted each other warmly to discuss plans to boost their anti-West alliance.
Unbowed, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said yesterday: 'We would urge China to encourage Russia to cease the illegal war against Ukraine. China has previously spoken out about the importance of protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ukraine - something we have engaged China in at all levels.'
Western officials are increasingly concerned over China's support for Russia, which has let Putin boost production of military hardware. Superficially, China presents itself as a neutral observer of the conflict in Ukraine. But while it has stopped short of providing weapons to its ally, Western officials say China has provided drone and missile technologies and shared satellite images.
Putin's visit to Beijing came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to the north-east region of Kharkiv, where Moscow's forces have seized more than 100 square miles in only a week
Russia has also received Chinese turbojet engines, machine tools, microelectronics and optical components, dismissing back-corridor pleas by the US, the UK and France to stop these supplies.
On the first state visit of his new term in office, President Putin will spend two days in the Chinese capital. Yesterday, Putin thanked Xi for his role in Ukraine and its 'peace plan', which includes Russia retaining territory it has seized.
Speaking in Tiananmen Square, Putin said: 'We are grateful to our Chinese friends and colleagues for the initiatives they are putting forward to resolve the problem.' In turn, Xi thanked Putin for his support, saying: 'China is willing to jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world.'
Putin's visit to Beijing came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to the north-east region of Kharkiv, where Moscow's forces have seized more than 100 square miles in only a week.
He described the situation there as 'extremely difficult' but 'still under control'.