Lavrov speaks out against NATO at UN
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angelburst29
The Living Force
FM: NATO’s Military Build-up Near Russia's Borders Requires Special Attention
Wed Jun 20, 2018 - Farsnews
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that NATO’s military build-up and growing military activities near the Russian and Belarusian borders require special attention.
"The United States and its allies are not reluctant to interfere in the domestic affairs of sovereign states and even use military force," he said at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, TASS reported.
"The deployment of the US global missile defenses causes particular concern as the US doctrines reduce the threshold for the use of nuclear arms. NATO’s military build-up and growing military activities near the Russian and Belarusian borders require special attention," the Russian top diplomat added.
According to Lavrov, "the importance of close foreign policy coordination (between Russia and Belarus) has been growing, given the ongoing global tensions".
The Russian Foreign Minister stressed that "the United States’ withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal shows the US administration’s disregard for its international legal obligations, let alone political statements and promises".
"Under these difficult circumstances, our [the Russian and Belarusian] foreign ministries maintain close contact and develop joint steps," Lavrov underlined.
He welcomed Minsk’s decision to vote "against provocative draft resolutions on Crimea at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly and a session of the UNESCO Executive Board, as well as against the Georgia-drafted resolution exploiting the issue of refugees from Abkhazia and South Ossetia".
Lavrov pointed out that Minsk "unambiguously and strongly condemned missile attacks on Syria that the US, France and Great Britain carried out in April".
"Not many of the global community members were independent enough to adequately respond to this blatant violation of international law," the Russian top diplomat stressed.
Wed Jun 20, 2018 - Farsnews
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that NATO’s military build-up and growing military activities near the Russian and Belarusian borders require special attention.
"The United States and its allies are not reluctant to interfere in the domestic affairs of sovereign states and even use military force," he said at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, TASS reported.
"The deployment of the US global missile defenses causes particular concern as the US doctrines reduce the threshold for the use of nuclear arms. NATO’s military build-up and growing military activities near the Russian and Belarusian borders require special attention," the Russian top diplomat added.
According to Lavrov, "the importance of close foreign policy coordination (between Russia and Belarus) has been growing, given the ongoing global tensions".
The Russian Foreign Minister stressed that "the United States’ withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal shows the US administration’s disregard for its international legal obligations, let alone political statements and promises".
"Under these difficult circumstances, our [the Russian and Belarusian] foreign ministries maintain close contact and develop joint steps," Lavrov underlined.
He welcomed Minsk’s decision to vote "against provocative draft resolutions on Crimea at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly and a session of the UNESCO Executive Board, as well as against the Georgia-drafted resolution exploiting the issue of refugees from Abkhazia and South Ossetia".
Lavrov pointed out that Minsk "unambiguously and strongly condemned missile attacks on Syria that the US, France and Great Britain carried out in April".
"Not many of the global community members were independent enough to adequately respond to this blatant violation of international law," the Russian top diplomat stressed.
angelburst29
The Living Force
21.06.2018 - UK Worried NATO to be Hurt if Trump Meets Putin Before Bloc's Summit - Reports
UK Worried NATO to be Hurt if Trump Meets Putin Before Bloc's Summit – Reports
US President Donald Trump may sit down for talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Europe next month.
However, when asked a corresponding question later in the day, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that it was necessary to engage with the Kremlin.
"To meet President Putin is not in any way contradicting NATO policies, because NATO is in favor of dialogue with Russia. And if you want dialogue, you have to speak to the political leaders. Several NATO leaders have met President Putin," he told journalists after his speech in London.
The NATO chief went on saying that meetings between officials from Russia and the alliance had taken place as part of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC). Stoltenberg further underlined that he had previously met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"The whole message of NATO is that we don’t want a new cold war, we don’t want a new arms race … We want to talk to Russia," Stoltenberg emphasized, noting that a dialogue with Moscow fell within NATO's interests.
The British government fears that the two presidents could meet before NATO's upcoming summit in Brussels and Trump's official visit to London.
"It's unclear if this meeting is after or before the NATO and UK visit. Obviously after would be better for us," the Times quoted a Whitehall source as saying.
"It adds another dynamic to an already colorful week," the official added.
According to the newspaper, London is alarmed that the possible talks between the US and Russian presidents could have an impact on Trump’s commitment to NATO’s “shared goals” and the outcome of his July 13 visit to Britain.
The Times also quoted a Western diplomatic source as saying that if Trump and Putin meet before the July 11 NATO summit in Brussels, this would be viewed as a highly negative development.
On Friday, Donald Trump told reporters that it was possible that he would meet Vladimir Putin this summer.
Trump, who had two meetings with Putin during last year’s G20 summit in Germany, has shown a keen interest in restoring Russia’s place in the international community.
UK Worried NATO to be Hurt if Trump Meets Putin Before Bloc's Summit – Reports
US President Donald Trump may sit down for talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Europe next month.
However, when asked a corresponding question later in the day, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that it was necessary to engage with the Kremlin.
"To meet President Putin is not in any way contradicting NATO policies, because NATO is in favor of dialogue with Russia. And if you want dialogue, you have to speak to the political leaders. Several NATO leaders have met President Putin," he told journalists after his speech in London.
The NATO chief went on saying that meetings between officials from Russia and the alliance had taken place as part of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC). Stoltenberg further underlined that he had previously met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"The whole message of NATO is that we don’t want a new cold war, we don’t want a new arms race … We want to talk to Russia," Stoltenberg emphasized, noting that a dialogue with Moscow fell within NATO's interests.
The British government fears that the two presidents could meet before NATO's upcoming summit in Brussels and Trump's official visit to London.
"It's unclear if this meeting is after or before the NATO and UK visit. Obviously after would be better for us," the Times quoted a Whitehall source as saying.
"It adds another dynamic to an already colorful week," the official added.
According to the newspaper, London is alarmed that the possible talks between the US and Russian presidents could have an impact on Trump’s commitment to NATO’s “shared goals” and the outcome of his July 13 visit to Britain.
The Times also quoted a Western diplomatic source as saying that if Trump and Putin meet before the July 11 NATO summit in Brussels, this would be viewed as a highly negative development.
On Friday, Donald Trump told reporters that it was possible that he would meet Vladimir Putin this summer.
Trump, who had two meetings with Putin during last year’s G20 summit in Germany, has shown a keen interest in restoring Russia’s place in the international community.
Lavrov just had his very own experience with the otherworld just like Jordan Peterson had a while ago. Lavrov was interviewed by Cathy Newman, the woman witch who hasn't learned a thing since she interviewed Peterson and made a fool of herself. Just looking at her glee, mean, nasty and waspy modus operandi, is actually enough to turn ones stomach. And then she starts speaking, which makes it even worse! As expected, Channel 4 hasn't learned a thing either and twists the reality right from the get-go by giving the video the title "We don't like anybody" under Lavrovs face, obviously thinking that their viewers must be really stupid.
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Pretty interesting stuff Lavrov is saying in the above interrogation. He comes very close to just telling it like it is especially about the the cover up of Great Britian in the Skripal case. At times he is also funny as heck (as usual) when Newman starts to put the blame on everything bad happening under the sun directly on Russia/Putin. Lavrov mentions also something quite interesting; that there were about 10 russian citizens killed in London the last couple of years and that this was then "investigated" secretly by the authorities in Great Britain.
angelburst29
The Living Force
As of this Posting, the Video isn't up yet (sigh - 
) but ... "The full interview with Lavrov will be aired at 21:00 GMT on RT America and at 21:30 GMT on RT International.)
13 Jul, 2018 - ‘Highly likely thing’ becomes a rule in West’s Russia policy – Lavrov on Larry King show
‘Highly likely thing’ becomes a rule in West’s Russia policy – Lavrov on Larry King show
The West’s Russia policy is built upon the infamous “highly likely thing,” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Larry King’s ‘Politicking’ show, saying this was epitomised by the alleged Russian ‘meddling’ and the Skripal affair.
Lavrov told the veteran TV host he believes loose assumptions and unfounded claims are now at the core of the Western approach towards dealing with Moscow.
“Highly likely thing and the assertion that there is no other credible explanation, is becoming a rule on which Western friends try to base their policy on Russia,” the top diplomat said, citing allegations around Moscow’s influence on the 2016 US presidential election, as well as the ongoing Skripal poisoning row.
While the US Senate’s investigation failed to establish any proof that Russia has ever interfered in the presidential election, the inquiry into the Salisbury incident “is also going on without any transparent information,” Lavrov noted.
Meanwhile, many in the West are reluctant to engage in fair competition with Russia, Lavrov maintains. Citing Donald Trump’s assertion that President Vladimir Putin could become a friend of his “some day,” Lavrov said: “[Trump] said [Putin] is a competitor, a strong competitor. But speaking of competition, I always believed in free competition because the free market is about fair competition.”
On the US president’s recent claim that Moscow is wielding power over Berlin through the natural gas trade, Lavrov said: “Russian authoritarian gas is supposed to be worse than democratic American gas, then I’m awfully sorry but this is not economy, this is not competition, this is pure ideology.”
On the other side of the Atlantic, France is trying to label RT “as agent of influence,” the minister noted, saying Moscow is worried about the French crackdown on some foreign media: “If it’s not censorship, [then] I don’t understand much in this life.”
King, whose talk show Politicking is aired by RT America, added that “Concerning this program, which is on RT, and other sources, RT has never interfered with this show at all, never edited us, never censored us or anything, so I go on record saying that.”
13.07.2018 - 'Pure Ideology & Unfair Competition': Lavrov Slams US Claims About Nord Stream 2
‘Pure Ideology & Unfair Competition’: Lavrov Slams US Claims About Nord Stream 2
US president harshly criticized Berlin during his breakfast with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg earlier this week, claiming it's inappropriate that Germany was "making massive oil and gas deals with Russia," adding that "Germany is totally controlled" by Moscow.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in the RT interview to Larry King that Trump's threats to impose sanctions on companies participating in the Nord Stream 2 had no economic basis.
"United States Secretary Mr [Rick] Perry said that the North Stream 2 pipeline must be stopped and those European companies participating in this project would be sanctioned by the United States because the United States is for competition, Russian authoritarian gas is supposed to be worse than the democratic American gas, then I am awfully sorry, but this is not economy, this is not competition, this is pure ideology," the minister said.
Trump has previously demanded that the German government drop the project in order to secure a trade deal with Washington, which would not include high aluminum and steel tariffs.
The US has repeatedly urged European countries to not participate in Nord Stream 2, threatening to impose sanctions on European energy companies involved in the project. According to Washington, Nord Stream 2 violates the energy security of the EU and also undermines the interests of Ukraine. The US President even offered to use American liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative to energy imports from other suppliers.
At the moment, Germany, Sweden, and Finland gave their permission to the pipeline's construction in their territorial waters, and the only country, which is still undecided is Denmark.
A 'Highly Likely' Rule
According to Lavrov, the Western countries formed a habit to accuse Moscow without providing any evidence to support their claims, like in Salisbury case last March, when the UK groundlessly stated that Russia was "highly likely" behind the poisoning of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter.
'Highly Likely'… and the assertion that there is no other credible explanation is becoming a rule on which the Western friends try to base their policy on Russia," he said, addressing a question about "unanimous conclusion by the entire American intelligence community" that Russia had influenced the US Presidential election in 2016.
Lavrov also noted that all the conclusions made about Russia's alleged interference were unsubstantiated.
"The investigation of the Salisbury poisoning is also going on without any transparent information," the foreign minister stressed.
Moscow has strongly refuted any involvement in the incident with the Skripals and even offered to collaborate London on the investigation, but the UK refused to share information on the issue.
13.07.2018 - Russian Foreign Ministry: US Clearly Behind Greece's Decision to Expel Diplomats
Russian Foreign Ministry: US Clearly Behind Greece's Decision to Expel Diplomats
The expulsion of two Russian diplomats from Greece is unfounded and could seriously damage bilateral relations, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"It appears that Washington, which openly supported these actions in the statement made by the State Department, is behind this anti-Russian move by the Greek government, timed specifically to coincide with the opening of the NATO summit," the ministry said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the Greek side had provided no justification for the expulsion of the Russian diplomats from Greece, emphasizing that Moscow considers the incident absolutely groundless.
"We consider this action to be absolutely unreasonable, not confirmed by facts from the Greek side, which runs counter to the nature of our bilateral relations and is capable of inflicting serious damage," the ministry said in a statement.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said that it has summoned the Greek envoy to Moscow to protest Athens' expulsion of two Russian diplomats.
Earlier in July, the Greek Kathimerini newspaper reported that Athens had decided to expel two Russian diplomats and ban two more from entering the country over illegal actions that threatened the country's national security.
The publication claimed that the diplomats attempted to intervene in a domestic issue, namely the changing of the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to the Republic of North Macedonia, the agreement for which was brokered by Skopje and Athens last month.
Moscow promised to give a reciprocal response to the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Greece, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on July 11.
11.07.2018 - Moscow Vows Reciprocal Response to Expulsion of Russian Diplomats from Greece
Moscow Vows Reciprocal Response to Expulsion of Russian Diplomats From Greece
27.03.2018 - Athens Yet Undecided on Exoelling Russian Diplomats as Greeks Value Russia Ties
Athens Yet Undecided on Expelling Russian Diplomats as Greeks Value Russia Ties
12.07.2018 - Russian Foreign Ministry Calls NATO 'Useless Military Bloc'
Russian Foreign Ministry Calls NATO 'Useless Military Bloc'
Russia’s Foreign Ministry hit back at NATO on Wednesday, calling the military alliance "useless," after it blamed Moscow for provocative activities near the bloc’s borders.
"While the useless NATO military bloc is accusing us of provocative activities and is gnashing its teeth in Brussels, we are preparing to watch 2018 World Cup," the ministry tweeted.
The one-day summit in Belgium wrapped up on Wednesday with the heads of allied states and governments issuing a declaration in which they slammed Russia for its military posture, including the deployment of modern missiles in its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad and a military buildup in Crimea.
The declaration reads that "Russia’s aggressive actions, including the threat and use of force to attain political goals, challenge the Alliance and are undermining Euro-Atlantic security and the rules-based international order," noting that the bloc remains open to dialogue with Moscow.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged earlier not to isolate Russia because of the problems existing between Moscow and NATO member-states, stressing the necessity of dialogue.
11.07.2018 - NATO Head Stoltenberg Urges Not to Isolate Russia Over Reunification With Crimea
NATO Head Stoltenberg Urges Not to Isolate Russia Over Reunification With Crimea
Thu Jul 12, 2018 - Sources: US President Warned NATO Allies Washington Would Go It Alone If They Did Not Spend
Farsnews
US President Donald Trump told NATO allies in a closed-door meeting on Thursday that governments needed to raise spending to 2 percent of economic output by January next year or the United States would go its own way, two people familiar with the discussions told Reuters.
The ultimatum was delivered in a session at the NATO summit, the sources said, while, one person added that “he said they must raise spending by January 2019 or the United States would go it alone”.
However, he did not directly threaten to withdraw formally from NATO, the people stated.
A White House official had stated on Wednesday that Trump has told NATO countries to increase their defense spending to four percent of their gross domestic product, higher than the group's goal of two percent.
Speaking with journalists at the NATO summit in Brussels, Trump said he "thinks" he can pull out of NATO without congressional approval.
The US President made the statement when asked if he had threatened to pull out of the alliance, and whether he thought he could do so without first consulting Congress. Trump ignored the first question, but on the second question, he said “I think I can”.
According to Politico, Trump warned his allies behind closed doors that they would need to radically increase defense spending or the US “will do our own thing”. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg then reportedly shifted the meeting to an allies-only emergency session, requiring European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to leave the room.
After the emergency session, Trump said that the alliance is “very unified, very strong, no problem”.
Trump also hailed a personal victory at a NATO summit on Thursday, saying allies had sharply increased defense spending commitments after he provoked a crisis session with a tirade at European leaders. “I told people that I would be very unhappy if they didn’t up their commitments,” the US President told reporters after the second day of the Brussels meeting, when NATO leaders huddled with Trump to try to defuse a crisis.
During a press conference, Trump said that the allies had agreed to dramatically increase spending.
“Tremendous progress has been made. Everyone’s agreed to substantially up their commitment. They’re going to up it at levels that they’ve never thought of before,” Trump told reporters after the second day of the Brussels summit. “Commitments were made. The commitment was at 2 percent, ultimately that’ll be going up quite a bit higher than that,” he added.
The US President has been openly critical of his NATO allies since becoming President in January 2017. Ahead of the summit being held in the Belgian capital, Brussels, Trump sent out a tweet about the funding of NATO.
Trump has repeatedly said the US was bearing an unfair burden because it spends many times more of its GDP on defence than other NATO countries.
Thu Jul 12, 2018 - Trump Blames Obama for Russian Annexation of Crimea, Claims He Would Not Have Allowed It to Happen
Farsnews
US President Donald Trump said early Thursday that he would not have allowed Russia to annex Crimea, stressing that it happened on “Barack Obama’s watch”.
“That’s an interesting question,” he stated when asked at the end of a tumultuous NATO summit in Brussels if he would recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, The Hill reported.
“Long before I got here, President Obama allowed that to happen. That was on his watch, not on my watch," he stressed.
“People like to say, ‘Oh, Crimea’, but the fact is they built bridges to Crimea, they just opened a big bridge that was started years ago. They built, I think, a submarine port, substantially added billions of dollars,” the President added. “People like to say, ‘Oh, Crimea’, but the fact is they built bridges to Crimea, they just opened a big bridge that was started years ago. They built, I think, a submarine port, substantially added billions of dollars,” the President added. “That was on Barack Obama’s watch, that was not on Trump’s watch,” he said, noting that “would I have allowed it to happen? No. I would not have allowed it to happen. But he did allow it to happen so that was his determination". “What will happen with Crimea from this point on? That, I can’t tell you. But I’m not happy about Crimea,” he added.
Trump made the comments at a press conference after a contentious summit in which in attacked NATO members over defense spending, calling for it to be raised to 4 percent of nations’ gross domestic product. He also signed a joint document at the summit harshly critical of Moscow.
Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday, while the US President said before the NATO summit that the Putin meeting may be the easiest of his foreign trip.
"We'll see," Trump said on Thursday when asked if he'd raise the annexation of Crimea with Putin.
14 Jun, 2018 - ‘Crimea is Russian because everyone there speaks Russian,’ Trump reportedly tells G7 leaders
‘Crimea is Russian because everyone there speaks Russian,’ Trump reportedly tells G7 leaders
President Donald Trump seems to have demonstrated his trademark nuanced understanding of foreign politics when he reportedly told G7 leaders that “Crimea is Russian because everyone who lives there speaks Russian.”
According to Buzzfeed’s usual anonymous sources, Trump made his remark after wading into a discussion on foreign affairs during a dinner at the G7 summit in Quebec, Canada last Friday.
If true, Trump’s statement will likely have ‘Russiagate’ fans and the #resistance screeching. Russia’s 2014 reunification with Crimea, whose population is almost 60 percent ethnic Russian, is widely viewed in the West as an annexation, despite the fact that Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to join Russia.
During the dinner, Trump reportedly questioned why the other G7 leaders were siding with Ukraine, telling them: “Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.”
) but ... "The full interview with Lavrov will be aired at 21:00 GMT on RT America and at 21:30 GMT on RT International.)13 Jul, 2018 - ‘Highly likely thing’ becomes a rule in West’s Russia policy – Lavrov on Larry King show
‘Highly likely thing’ becomes a rule in West’s Russia policy – Lavrov on Larry King show
The West’s Russia policy is built upon the infamous “highly likely thing,” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Larry King’s ‘Politicking’ show, saying this was epitomised by the alleged Russian ‘meddling’ and the Skripal affair.
Lavrov told the veteran TV host he believes loose assumptions and unfounded claims are now at the core of the Western approach towards dealing with Moscow.
“Highly likely thing and the assertion that there is no other credible explanation, is becoming a rule on which Western friends try to base their policy on Russia,” the top diplomat said, citing allegations around Moscow’s influence on the 2016 US presidential election, as well as the ongoing Skripal poisoning row.
While the US Senate’s investigation failed to establish any proof that Russia has ever interfered in the presidential election, the inquiry into the Salisbury incident “is also going on without any transparent information,” Lavrov noted.
Meanwhile, many in the West are reluctant to engage in fair competition with Russia, Lavrov maintains. Citing Donald Trump’s assertion that President Vladimir Putin could become a friend of his “some day,” Lavrov said: “[Trump] said [Putin] is a competitor, a strong competitor. But speaking of competition, I always believed in free competition because the free market is about fair competition.”
On the US president’s recent claim that Moscow is wielding power over Berlin through the natural gas trade, Lavrov said: “Russian authoritarian gas is supposed to be worse than democratic American gas, then I’m awfully sorry but this is not economy, this is not competition, this is pure ideology.”
On the other side of the Atlantic, France is trying to label RT “as agent of influence,” the minister noted, saying Moscow is worried about the French crackdown on some foreign media: “If it’s not censorship, [then] I don’t understand much in this life.”
King, whose talk show Politicking is aired by RT America, added that “Concerning this program, which is on RT, and other sources, RT has never interfered with this show at all, never edited us, never censored us or anything, so I go on record saying that.”
13.07.2018 - 'Pure Ideology & Unfair Competition': Lavrov Slams US Claims About Nord Stream 2
‘Pure Ideology & Unfair Competition’: Lavrov Slams US Claims About Nord Stream 2
US president harshly criticized Berlin during his breakfast with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg earlier this week, claiming it's inappropriate that Germany was "making massive oil and gas deals with Russia," adding that "Germany is totally controlled" by Moscow.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in the RT interview to Larry King that Trump's threats to impose sanctions on companies participating in the Nord Stream 2 had no economic basis.
"United States Secretary Mr [Rick] Perry said that the North Stream 2 pipeline must be stopped and those European companies participating in this project would be sanctioned by the United States because the United States is for competition, Russian authoritarian gas is supposed to be worse than the democratic American gas, then I am awfully sorry, but this is not economy, this is not competition, this is pure ideology," the minister said.
Trump has previously demanded that the German government drop the project in order to secure a trade deal with Washington, which would not include high aluminum and steel tariffs.
The US has repeatedly urged European countries to not participate in Nord Stream 2, threatening to impose sanctions on European energy companies involved in the project. According to Washington, Nord Stream 2 violates the energy security of the EU and also undermines the interests of Ukraine. The US President even offered to use American liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative to energy imports from other suppliers.
At the moment, Germany, Sweden, and Finland gave their permission to the pipeline's construction in their territorial waters, and the only country, which is still undecided is Denmark.
A 'Highly Likely' Rule
According to Lavrov, the Western countries formed a habit to accuse Moscow without providing any evidence to support their claims, like in Salisbury case last March, when the UK groundlessly stated that Russia was "highly likely" behind the poisoning of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter.
'Highly Likely'… and the assertion that there is no other credible explanation is becoming a rule on which the Western friends try to base their policy on Russia," he said, addressing a question about "unanimous conclusion by the entire American intelligence community" that Russia had influenced the US Presidential election in 2016.
Lavrov also noted that all the conclusions made about Russia's alleged interference were unsubstantiated.
"The investigation of the Salisbury poisoning is also going on without any transparent information," the foreign minister stressed.
Moscow has strongly refuted any involvement in the incident with the Skripals and even offered to collaborate London on the investigation, but the UK refused to share information on the issue.
13.07.2018 - Russian Foreign Ministry: US Clearly Behind Greece's Decision to Expel Diplomats
Russian Foreign Ministry: US Clearly Behind Greece's Decision to Expel Diplomats
The expulsion of two Russian diplomats from Greece is unfounded and could seriously damage bilateral relations, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"It appears that Washington, which openly supported these actions in the statement made by the State Department, is behind this anti-Russian move by the Greek government, timed specifically to coincide with the opening of the NATO summit," the ministry said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the Greek side had provided no justification for the expulsion of the Russian diplomats from Greece, emphasizing that Moscow considers the incident absolutely groundless.
"We consider this action to be absolutely unreasonable, not confirmed by facts from the Greek side, which runs counter to the nature of our bilateral relations and is capable of inflicting serious damage," the ministry said in a statement.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said that it has summoned the Greek envoy to Moscow to protest Athens' expulsion of two Russian diplomats.
Earlier in July, the Greek Kathimerini newspaper reported that Athens had decided to expel two Russian diplomats and ban two more from entering the country over illegal actions that threatened the country's national security.
The publication claimed that the diplomats attempted to intervene in a domestic issue, namely the changing of the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to the Republic of North Macedonia, the agreement for which was brokered by Skopje and Athens last month.
Moscow promised to give a reciprocal response to the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Greece, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on July 11.
11.07.2018 - Moscow Vows Reciprocal Response to Expulsion of Russian Diplomats from Greece
Moscow Vows Reciprocal Response to Expulsion of Russian Diplomats From Greece
27.03.2018 - Athens Yet Undecided on Exoelling Russian Diplomats as Greeks Value Russia Ties
Athens Yet Undecided on Expelling Russian Diplomats as Greeks Value Russia Ties
12.07.2018 - Russian Foreign Ministry Calls NATO 'Useless Military Bloc'
Russian Foreign Ministry Calls NATO 'Useless Military Bloc'
Russia’s Foreign Ministry hit back at NATO on Wednesday, calling the military alliance "useless," after it blamed Moscow for provocative activities near the bloc’s borders.
"While the useless NATO military bloc is accusing us of provocative activities and is gnashing its teeth in Brussels, we are preparing to watch 2018 World Cup," the ministry tweeted.
The one-day summit in Belgium wrapped up on Wednesday with the heads of allied states and governments issuing a declaration in which they slammed Russia for its military posture, including the deployment of modern missiles in its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad and a military buildup in Crimea.
The declaration reads that "Russia’s aggressive actions, including the threat and use of force to attain political goals, challenge the Alliance and are undermining Euro-Atlantic security and the rules-based international order," noting that the bloc remains open to dialogue with Moscow.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged earlier not to isolate Russia because of the problems existing between Moscow and NATO member-states, stressing the necessity of dialogue.
11.07.2018 - NATO Head Stoltenberg Urges Not to Isolate Russia Over Reunification With Crimea
NATO Head Stoltenberg Urges Not to Isolate Russia Over Reunification With Crimea
Thu Jul 12, 2018 - Sources: US President Warned NATO Allies Washington Would Go It Alone If They Did Not Spend
Farsnews
US President Donald Trump told NATO allies in a closed-door meeting on Thursday that governments needed to raise spending to 2 percent of economic output by January next year or the United States would go its own way, two people familiar with the discussions told Reuters.
The ultimatum was delivered in a session at the NATO summit, the sources said, while, one person added that “he said they must raise spending by January 2019 or the United States would go it alone”.
However, he did not directly threaten to withdraw formally from NATO, the people stated.
A White House official had stated on Wednesday that Trump has told NATO countries to increase their defense spending to four percent of their gross domestic product, higher than the group's goal of two percent.
Speaking with journalists at the NATO summit in Brussels, Trump said he "thinks" he can pull out of NATO without congressional approval.
The US President made the statement when asked if he had threatened to pull out of the alliance, and whether he thought he could do so without first consulting Congress. Trump ignored the first question, but on the second question, he said “I think I can”.
According to Politico, Trump warned his allies behind closed doors that they would need to radically increase defense spending or the US “will do our own thing”. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg then reportedly shifted the meeting to an allies-only emergency session, requiring European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to leave the room.
After the emergency session, Trump said that the alliance is “very unified, very strong, no problem”.
Trump also hailed a personal victory at a NATO summit on Thursday, saying allies had sharply increased defense spending commitments after he provoked a crisis session with a tirade at European leaders. “I told people that I would be very unhappy if they didn’t up their commitments,” the US President told reporters after the second day of the Brussels meeting, when NATO leaders huddled with Trump to try to defuse a crisis.
During a press conference, Trump said that the allies had agreed to dramatically increase spending.
“Tremendous progress has been made. Everyone’s agreed to substantially up their commitment. They’re going to up it at levels that they’ve never thought of before,” Trump told reporters after the second day of the Brussels summit. “Commitments were made. The commitment was at 2 percent, ultimately that’ll be going up quite a bit higher than that,” he added.
The US President has been openly critical of his NATO allies since becoming President in January 2017. Ahead of the summit being held in the Belgian capital, Brussels, Trump sent out a tweet about the funding of NATO.
Trump has repeatedly said the US was bearing an unfair burden because it spends many times more of its GDP on defence than other NATO countries.
Thu Jul 12, 2018 - Trump Blames Obama for Russian Annexation of Crimea, Claims He Would Not Have Allowed It to Happen
Farsnews
US President Donald Trump said early Thursday that he would not have allowed Russia to annex Crimea, stressing that it happened on “Barack Obama’s watch”.
“That’s an interesting question,” he stated when asked at the end of a tumultuous NATO summit in Brussels if he would recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, The Hill reported.
“Long before I got here, President Obama allowed that to happen. That was on his watch, not on my watch," he stressed.
“People like to say, ‘Oh, Crimea’, but the fact is they built bridges to Crimea, they just opened a big bridge that was started years ago. They built, I think, a submarine port, substantially added billions of dollars,” the President added. “People like to say, ‘Oh, Crimea’, but the fact is they built bridges to Crimea, they just opened a big bridge that was started years ago. They built, I think, a submarine port, substantially added billions of dollars,” the President added. “That was on Barack Obama’s watch, that was not on Trump’s watch,” he said, noting that “would I have allowed it to happen? No. I would not have allowed it to happen. But he did allow it to happen so that was his determination". “What will happen with Crimea from this point on? That, I can’t tell you. But I’m not happy about Crimea,” he added.
Trump made the comments at a press conference after a contentious summit in which in attacked NATO members over defense spending, calling for it to be raised to 4 percent of nations’ gross domestic product. He also signed a joint document at the summit harshly critical of Moscow.
Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday, while the US President said before the NATO summit that the Putin meeting may be the easiest of his foreign trip.
"We'll see," Trump said on Thursday when asked if he'd raise the annexation of Crimea with Putin.
14 Jun, 2018 - ‘Crimea is Russian because everyone there speaks Russian,’ Trump reportedly tells G7 leaders
‘Crimea is Russian because everyone there speaks Russian,’ Trump reportedly tells G7 leaders
President Donald Trump seems to have demonstrated his trademark nuanced understanding of foreign politics when he reportedly told G7 leaders that “Crimea is Russian because everyone who lives there speaks Russian.”
According to Buzzfeed’s usual anonymous sources, Trump made his remark after wading into a discussion on foreign affairs during a dinner at the G7 summit in Quebec, Canada last Friday.
If true, Trump’s statement will likely have ‘Russiagate’ fans and the #resistance screeching. Russia’s 2014 reunification with Crimea, whose population is almost 60 percent ethnic Russian, is widely viewed in the West as an annexation, despite the fact that Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to join Russia.
During the dinner, Trump reportedly questioned why the other G7 leaders were siding with Ukraine, telling them: “Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.”
angelburst29
The Living Force
As of this Posting, the Video isn't up yet (sigh -
13 Jul, 2018 - ‘Highly likely thing’ becomes a rule in West’s Russia policy – Lavrov on Larry King show
‘Highly likely thing’ becomes a rule in West’s Russia policy – Lavrov on Larry King show
The West’s Russia policy is built upon the infamous “highly likely thing,” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Larry King’s ‘Politicking’ show, saying this was epitomised by the alleged Russian ‘meddling’ and the Skripal affair.
On the eve of the historic summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Larry talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for his take on Robert Mueller's Russia probe, the effort to denuclearize North Korea, and more.
Russia's Sergey Lavrov on Trump-Putin summit, Mueller probe and more
angelburst29
The Living Force
President Trump has come back from last week's NATO summit in Brussels armed with new questions about the possible dangers stemming from the NATO alliance's commitment to mutual defense.
18.07.2018 - Trump Ponders NATO Article 5: Montenegro 'May Get Aggressive & You're in WW111'
Trump Ponders NATO Article 5: Montenegro 'May Get Aggressive & You're in WWIII'
Speaking to Fox News' host Tucker Carlson on Tuesday after returning from his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump was asked the hypothetical question of why American military personnel should go to Montenegro, which joined NATO last year, to defend it if it was attacked.
"I understand what you're saying. I've asked the same question," Trump replied. "Montenegro is a tiny country with very strong people…By the way, they're very strong people. They're very aggressive people. They may get aggressive and congratulations, you're in World War III," the president said.
"Now I understand that, but that's the way it was set up," Trump added. "Don't forget I just got here a little more than a year and a half ago. But I took over the conversation three or four days ago and I said 'you have to pay, you have to pay'. And the secretary general [of NATO] said that because of President Trump, last year we had an additional $44 billion, billion with a 'b', raised for NATO. And this year it's going to be much more than that. It was very unfair; they weren't paying, so not only were we paying for most of it, but they weren't even paying, and we're protecting them. Add that to your little equation on Montenegro."
Trump also challenged the conventional wisdom of Russia being America's eternal adversary, a sentiment put forth by politicians on both sides of the aisle in the United States.
"It's sort of incredible, because if you look at World War I and World War II, that was Germany, and in World War II, Russia lost fifty million people and helped us win the war. I was saying to myself the other day 'you know, Russia really helped us.' I'm not pro-Russia, or pro-anybody. I just want to have this country be safe. I don't want nuclear weapons – even people thinking about it. You know Russia and the United States control 90% of the nuclear weapons in the world, and getting along with Russia, and not only for that reason, that's a good thing, not a bad thing," Trump stressed.
Asked if he agreed with the concept of Russia being America's "chief adversary," the president said he didn't. "They're a strong military, but their economy is much smaller as you know than China, and I don't want to even use the word 'adversary'. We can all work together, we can do great. Everybody can do well and we can all live in peace."
President Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday was panned by numerous Republican and Democratic officials, including former Clinton-era secretary of state Madeleine Albright, former CIA chief John Brennan, Republican Arizona Senator John McCain, former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and others. Trump responded to "haters" by suggesting that his political opponents were just upset that he didn't turn the summit into a "boxing match."
20.07.2018 - NATO Hits Back at Trump: Article 5 was Invoked Once, to Support US
NATO Hits Back at Trump: Article 5 Was Invoked Once, to Support US
The North Atlantic Alliance has issued a response to President Trump following his comments about Montenegrins being "very strong" and "very aggressive people" who could pull the military bloc into a major war.
A NATO official challenged the president's apparent faltering resolve on the alliance's collective defense obligations, saying that Trump made his views on the matter clear during last week's NATO summit in Brussels.
"NATO's collective defense clause, Article 5, is unconditional and iron-clad. It means that an attack on one is an attack on all," an official, asking to remain anonymous, told AFP. "President Trump has made clear that the US is fully committed to NATO and our alliance is strong."
"Article 5 has only been invoked once, in support of the US after the 9/11 attacks. This led to NATO's largest-ever operation, in Afghanistan, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers from Europe, including Montenegro, as well as Canadians, stood shoulder to shoulder with US troops and more than a thousand paid the ultimate price," the official added.
Montenegro announced plans to increase the number of troops it had in Afghanistan from 18 to 26-28 earlier this year. The country joined the NATO alliance in 2017. The country's entry into the alliance was met with mass protests, and approved by the government without a referendum despite a majority of Montenegrins opposed to membership. Part of this opposition stems from the fact that Montenegro was attacked during the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, when it was a Yugoslav republic.
Speaking to Fox News' host Tucker Carlson this week following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said that he's given considerable thought to why American military personnel should go to Montenegro in the event of a war in the Balkan country. "Montenegro is a tiny country with very strong people…By the way, they're very strong people. They're very aggressive people. They may get aggressive and congratulations, you're in World War III," he said.
Trump's Montenegro remarks prompted Montenegrin politicians to call Trump's words "stupid," and to charge him with being the "strangest president in the history of the United States." Podgorica issued a formal response Thursday, saying it "contributes to peace and stability not only on the European continent but worldwide, along with US soldiers in Afghanistan."
18.07.2018 - Trump Ponders NATO Article 5: Montenegro 'May Get Aggressive & You're in WW111'
Trump Ponders NATO Article 5: Montenegro 'May Get Aggressive & You're in WWIII'
Speaking to Fox News' host Tucker Carlson on Tuesday after returning from his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump was asked the hypothetical question of why American military personnel should go to Montenegro, which joined NATO last year, to defend it if it was attacked.
"I understand what you're saying. I've asked the same question," Trump replied. "Montenegro is a tiny country with very strong people…By the way, they're very strong people. They're very aggressive people. They may get aggressive and congratulations, you're in World War III," the president said.
"Now I understand that, but that's the way it was set up," Trump added. "Don't forget I just got here a little more than a year and a half ago. But I took over the conversation three or four days ago and I said 'you have to pay, you have to pay'. And the secretary general [of NATO] said that because of President Trump, last year we had an additional $44 billion, billion with a 'b', raised for NATO. And this year it's going to be much more than that. It was very unfair; they weren't paying, so not only were we paying for most of it, but they weren't even paying, and we're protecting them. Add that to your little equation on Montenegro."
Trump also challenged the conventional wisdom of Russia being America's eternal adversary, a sentiment put forth by politicians on both sides of the aisle in the United States.
"It's sort of incredible, because if you look at World War I and World War II, that was Germany, and in World War II, Russia lost fifty million people and helped us win the war. I was saying to myself the other day 'you know, Russia really helped us.' I'm not pro-Russia, or pro-anybody. I just want to have this country be safe. I don't want nuclear weapons – even people thinking about it. You know Russia and the United States control 90% of the nuclear weapons in the world, and getting along with Russia, and not only for that reason, that's a good thing, not a bad thing," Trump stressed.
Asked if he agreed with the concept of Russia being America's "chief adversary," the president said he didn't. "They're a strong military, but their economy is much smaller as you know than China, and I don't want to even use the word 'adversary'. We can all work together, we can do great. Everybody can do well and we can all live in peace."
President Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday was panned by numerous Republican and Democratic officials, including former Clinton-era secretary of state Madeleine Albright, former CIA chief John Brennan, Republican Arizona Senator John McCain, former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and others. Trump responded to "haters" by suggesting that his political opponents were just upset that he didn't turn the summit into a "boxing match."
20.07.2018 - NATO Hits Back at Trump: Article 5 was Invoked Once, to Support US
NATO Hits Back at Trump: Article 5 Was Invoked Once, to Support US
The North Atlantic Alliance has issued a response to President Trump following his comments about Montenegrins being "very strong" and "very aggressive people" who could pull the military bloc into a major war.
A NATO official challenged the president's apparent faltering resolve on the alliance's collective defense obligations, saying that Trump made his views on the matter clear during last week's NATO summit in Brussels.
"NATO's collective defense clause, Article 5, is unconditional and iron-clad. It means that an attack on one is an attack on all," an official, asking to remain anonymous, told AFP. "President Trump has made clear that the US is fully committed to NATO and our alliance is strong."
"Article 5 has only been invoked once, in support of the US after the 9/11 attacks. This led to NATO's largest-ever operation, in Afghanistan, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers from Europe, including Montenegro, as well as Canadians, stood shoulder to shoulder with US troops and more than a thousand paid the ultimate price," the official added.
Montenegro announced plans to increase the number of troops it had in Afghanistan from 18 to 26-28 earlier this year. The country joined the NATO alliance in 2017. The country's entry into the alliance was met with mass protests, and approved by the government without a referendum despite a majority of Montenegrins opposed to membership. Part of this opposition stems from the fact that Montenegro was attacked during the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, when it was a Yugoslav republic.
Speaking to Fox News' host Tucker Carlson this week following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said that he's given considerable thought to why American military personnel should go to Montenegro in the event of a war in the Balkan country. "Montenegro is a tiny country with very strong people…By the way, they're very strong people. They're very aggressive people. They may get aggressive and congratulations, you're in World War III," he said.
Trump's Montenegro remarks prompted Montenegrin politicians to call Trump's words "stupid," and to charge him with being the "strangest president in the history of the United States." Podgorica issued a formal response Thursday, saying it "contributes to peace and stability not only on the European continent but worldwide, along with US soldiers in Afghanistan."
angelburst29
The Living Force
Russia is concerned about recent NATO moves aimed at involving the Nordic duo of Finland and Sweden into the alliance's activities and structures, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
24.07.2018 - Russia Concerned by Efforts to Draw Finland, Sweden Into NATO - Defense Minister
Russia Concerned by Efforts to Draw Finland, Sweden Into NATO - Defense Minister
"The involvement of Finland and Sweden in NATO activities is worrying. A treaty was signed in May that provides for their full participation in the exercises of the alliance and the possibility of using its command-and-control systems for troops and weapons. In exchange, NATO received unrestricted access to the airspace and territorial waters of these countries," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Defense Ministry's Board.
Such steps by Western colleagues lead to the destruction of the existing system of global security and generate even greater mistrust, forcing us to take response measures," Shoigu stressed.
Moscow hopes that the summit of Russian and US presidents, held on July 16 in Helsinki, will facilitate military cooperation between Russia, the United States and NATO, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"[Moscow expects] the Russia-US summit, held on July 16 in Helsinki, to give impetus to the deepening of our military cooperation with Washington and NATO and will allow for consolidation of our efforts to ensure common security," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry's Board.
NATO is making serious attempts to stop Russia from becoming a strong independent player on the international arena, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday at a meeting with top military commanders.
"This trend clearly indicates that NATO countries "are trying in every possible way to prevent Russia from emerging as a geopolitical competitor, especially with its own allies," Shoigu stressed.
According to Shoigu, "a negative trend has transpired recently, involving the deliberate increase in NATO military activities in eastern Europe.
In recent years, NATO has been building up its military presence in Eastern Europe and the Baltic States saying it is protecting them against an alleged so-called "Russian aggression."
24.07.2018 - Russia Concerned by Efforts to Draw Finland, Sweden Into NATO - Defense Minister
Russia Concerned by Efforts to Draw Finland, Sweden Into NATO - Defense Minister
"The involvement of Finland and Sweden in NATO activities is worrying. A treaty was signed in May that provides for their full participation in the exercises of the alliance and the possibility of using its command-and-control systems for troops and weapons. In exchange, NATO received unrestricted access to the airspace and territorial waters of these countries," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Defense Ministry's Board.
Such steps by Western colleagues lead to the destruction of the existing system of global security and generate even greater mistrust, forcing us to take response measures," Shoigu stressed.
Moscow hopes that the summit of Russian and US presidents, held on July 16 in Helsinki, will facilitate military cooperation between Russia, the United States and NATO, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"[Moscow expects] the Russia-US summit, held on July 16 in Helsinki, to give impetus to the deepening of our military cooperation with Washington and NATO and will allow for consolidation of our efforts to ensure common security," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry's Board.
NATO is making serious attempts to stop Russia from becoming a strong independent player on the international arena, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday at a meeting with top military commanders.
"This trend clearly indicates that NATO countries "are trying in every possible way to prevent Russia from emerging as a geopolitical competitor, especially with its own allies," Shoigu stressed.
According to Shoigu, "a negative trend has transpired recently, involving the deliberate increase in NATO military activities in eastern Europe.
In recent years, NATO has been building up its military presence in Eastern Europe and the Baltic States saying it is protecting them against an alleged so-called "Russian aggression."
angelburst29
The Living Force
Russia’s Defense Ministry has sent out invitations to all NATO member states to participate in the International Army Games, Chief of the Russian Armed Forces’ Main Combat Training Department Lieutenant-General Ivan Buvaltsev said on Friday.
Fri Jul 27, 2018 - Russia Invites NATO Member States to Int'l Army Games
Farsnews
"This year, we have sent out invitations as usual to NATO member states. But only a team from Greece will take part," the general said Rossiya-24 TV Channel.
The International Army Games will run on July 28 - August 12 in Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Troops from various countries will compete in such contests as the Tank Biathlon, Aviadarts, Open Water and others.
Fri Jul 27, 2018 - Russia Invites NATO Member States to Int'l Army Games
Farsnews
"This year, we have sent out invitations as usual to NATO member states. But only a team from Greece will take part," the general said Rossiya-24 TV Channel.
The International Army Games will run on July 28 - August 12 in Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Troops from various countries will compete in such contests as the Tank Biathlon, Aviadarts, Open Water and others.
angelburst29
The Living Force
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that in the Western Military District since 2016, more than 70 formations and military units have been formed. He said this at a meeting of the collegium of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Jul 25, 2018 - SHOIGU FORMS 70 NEW UNITS IN RESPONSE TO NATO BUILDUP ON RUSSIA’S BORDER
SHOIGU FORMS 70 NEW UNITS IN RESPONSE TO NATO BUILDUP ON RUSSIA'S BORDER - Fort Russ
“The situation developing in the western strategic direction requires us to continuously improve the combat strength of the troops and the system of their basing. To this end, since 2016, more than 70 formations and military units have been formed, including two divisions and three brigades, “he said.
In early July, it was reported that the artillery of the tank army of the Western Military District destroyed the mechanized column of the conventional enemy at the Golovenki training ground in the Moscow region. 152 mm “Msta-B” howitzers were used. About 200 servicemen and more than 20 military equipment took part in the exercise.
Earlier, Russia’s ambassador to Warsaw, Sergey Andreev, said that Poland’s plans to deploy an armored division on its territory have the potential to create havoc for international security and will be taken into account when building Russian policy.
This announcement by Shoigu comes at the same time that he also expressed concerns about NATO’s mounting presence and momentum, a troop build-up in Eastern Europe.
Reporting on this, FRN quoted Shoigu earlier today. He expressed that “recently, a negative trend related to the deliberate strengthening of NATO’s military activity has gained momentum in Eastern Europe.”
“In these conditions, we show openness, kindness and lack of aggression towards other countries,” he said.
The NATO statement issued at the bloc summit in Brussels on July 11 and 12 indicated that the Alliance considers Russia a challenge for Euro-Atlantic security and stability. However, this is most likely related to an imbalance of firepower.
Given that numerous analysts including NATO’s own official spokespeople have stated clearly that European combined forces are not capable of effectively combating Russia in the event that the continental giant were to go on the offensive, it is curious what NATO’s buildup is aimed at.
It would be reasonable to look at the relationship between NATO announcements and the rise in stock value of US based military industrial complex firms, and their EU counter-parts.
Jul 25, 2018 - SHOIGU FORMS 70 NEW UNITS IN RESPONSE TO NATO BUILDUP ON RUSSIA’S BORDER
SHOIGU FORMS 70 NEW UNITS IN RESPONSE TO NATO BUILDUP ON RUSSIA'S BORDER - Fort Russ
“The situation developing in the western strategic direction requires us to continuously improve the combat strength of the troops and the system of their basing. To this end, since 2016, more than 70 formations and military units have been formed, including two divisions and three brigades, “he said.
In early July, it was reported that the artillery of the tank army of the Western Military District destroyed the mechanized column of the conventional enemy at the Golovenki training ground in the Moscow region. 152 mm “Msta-B” howitzers were used. About 200 servicemen and more than 20 military equipment took part in the exercise.
Earlier, Russia’s ambassador to Warsaw, Sergey Andreev, said that Poland’s plans to deploy an armored division on its territory have the potential to create havoc for international security and will be taken into account when building Russian policy.
This announcement by Shoigu comes at the same time that he also expressed concerns about NATO’s mounting presence and momentum, a troop build-up in Eastern Europe.
Reporting on this, FRN quoted Shoigu earlier today. He expressed that “recently, a negative trend related to the deliberate strengthening of NATO’s military activity has gained momentum in Eastern Europe.”
“In these conditions, we show openness, kindness and lack of aggression towards other countries,” he said.
The NATO statement issued at the bloc summit in Brussels on July 11 and 12 indicated that the Alliance considers Russia a challenge for Euro-Atlantic security and stability. However, this is most likely related to an imbalance of firepower.
Given that numerous analysts including NATO’s own official spokespeople have stated clearly that European combined forces are not capable of effectively combating Russia in the event that the continental giant were to go on the offensive, it is curious what NATO’s buildup is aimed at.
It would be reasonable to look at the relationship between NATO announcements and the rise in stock value of US based military industrial complex firms, and their EU counter-parts.
angelburst29
The Living Force
A bipartisan group of US Senators may have found a way to prohibit President Donald Trump from leaving NATO without Senate approval.
30.07.2018 - John McCain Backs Bill to Block Trump From Exiting NATO Without Senate's Consent
John McCain Backs Bill to Block Trump From Exiting NATO Without Senate's Consent
According to a new bill introduced by a number of senators, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), the president of the United States will require the support of two-thirds of the Senate to modify or terminate US membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.
Under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the US president “shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur.”
“Just as it was required to join NATO, Senate approval should be required before this President – or any US President – can withdraw,” Senator Tim Kaine, who is a member of the Senate Armed Service and Foreign Relations committees, said in a statement.
The legislation would also authorize the Senate Legal Counsel to challenge any attempt by the president and his administration to pull out of the 29-member bloc without the Senate’s approval in court.
“Regrettably, President Trump’s mistreatment of our closest allies has raised doubts about America’s commitment to the transatlantic alliance and the values of defense. In the future, the Senate must be prepared to defend its constitutional role. This legislation is urgently required to ensure that no president can withdraw the United States from NATO without the constitutionally required advice and consent of the Senate,” Senator John McCain elaborated.
Fair Burden-Sharing
Even though President Trump has not publicly threatened to leave the transatlantic alliance, relations between the US and Europe have hit their lowest point since POTUS blasted other NATO members for not complying with their obligations to increase defense spending.
Trump has on numerous occasions stressed that the other members of the bloc should pay their “fair share” and emphasized that only five of the 29 member-states were spending two percent of their GDP to defense, which was “insufficient to close gaps in modernizing, readiness and the size of forces.”
On the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels earlier this month, the allies agreed to start spending two percent of their GDP by 2024, with Trump pointing out that he was convinced that they would boost defense expenditures in line with their commitments. At the same time, the US president suggested raising the military spending commitment up to four percent of GDP – that proposal, however, didn’t find support.
Mutual Defense Clause
Beyond defense spending, Trump recently seemed to question NATO's Article 5 – the transatlantic bloc’s collective defense clause, stipulating that an attack on one is an attack on all.
During an interview with Fox News, Trump was asked why the US should come to the defense of Montenegro, who joined NATO last year, becoming the alliance’s 29th member.
“I understand what you’re saying. I’ve asked the same question. You know, Montenegro is a tiny country with very strong people. They’re very strong people. They’re very aggressive people. They may get aggressive, and congratulations you’re in World War III. Now I understand that, but that’s the way it was set up,” he said.
His remarks sparked a backlash from NATO, with an official, who asked to remain anonymous, telling AFP that Article 5 is “unconditional and iron-clad,” and pointing out that the mutual defense clause had only been invoked once – to support the US.
“Article 5 has only been invoked once, in support of the US after the 9/11 attacks. This led to NATO’s largest-ever operation, in Afghanistan, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers from Europe, including Montenegro, as well as Canadians, stood shoulder to shoulder with US troops and more than a thousand paid the ultimate price,” the official said.
Despite his comments, Trump signed the NATO communique, which explicitly endorsed Article 5 at the summit earlier this month.
“Any attack against one Ally will be regarded as an attack against us all, as set out in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. We will continue to stand together and act together, on the basis of solidarity, shared purpose, and fair burden-sharing,” the joint communique read.
07/26/18 - Bipartisan bill would require Senate's approval to withdraw from NATO
Bipartisan bill would require Senate's approval to withdraw from NATO
A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation on Thursday to require President Trump to get the Senate's approval before he withdraws the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The bill—from Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.)—would require Trump to get the support of two-thirds of the Senate if he wanted to withdraw from the alliance or modify U.S. membership.
It would also authorize the Senate Legal Counsel to challenge any attempt by the administration to withdraw from NATO without the Senate's consent in court.
"Just as it was required to join NATO, Senate approval should be required before this President – or any U.S. President - can withdraw,” Kaine said in a statement.
McCain added that Trump's "mistreatment of our closest allies" had "raised doubts" about the U.S. commitment to NATO.
"In the future, the Senate must be prepared to defend its constitutional role. This legislation is urgently required to ensure that no president can withdraw the United States from NATO without the constitutionally required advice and consent of the Senate," he said.
Currently, presidents are required to get the consent of the Senate to enter into treaties. Article 13 of the NATO treaty requires a country give a one-year "notice of denunciation" before it can exit NATO.
Trump hasn't publicly threatened to withdraw from NATO but his rhetoric at a summit in Brussels earlier this month rattled long-time allies and stunned lawmakers.
And multiple reports indicated that he privately threatened to withdraw from NATO if other countries did not commit to increasing their defense spending. He did not deny those reporters during a press conference, instead saying he was "very firm" with allies.
“I think I can probably can [pull out of NATO], but that’s unnecessary, and the people have stepped up today like they’ve never stepped up before,” Trump added.
His rhetoric also sparked backlash on Capitol Hill, where the Senate used a non-binding procedural vote to signal their support for NATO.
Two House members introduced separate legislation on Thursday to prevent tax dollars from being used to withdraw the United States from NATO.
30.07.2018 - John McCain Backs Bill to Block Trump From Exiting NATO Without Senate's Consent
John McCain Backs Bill to Block Trump From Exiting NATO Without Senate's Consent
According to a new bill introduced by a number of senators, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), the president of the United States will require the support of two-thirds of the Senate to modify or terminate US membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.
Under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the US president “shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur.”
“Just as it was required to join NATO, Senate approval should be required before this President – or any US President – can withdraw,” Senator Tim Kaine, who is a member of the Senate Armed Service and Foreign Relations committees, said in a statement.
The legislation would also authorize the Senate Legal Counsel to challenge any attempt by the president and his administration to pull out of the 29-member bloc without the Senate’s approval in court.
“Regrettably, President Trump’s mistreatment of our closest allies has raised doubts about America’s commitment to the transatlantic alliance and the values of defense. In the future, the Senate must be prepared to defend its constitutional role. This legislation is urgently required to ensure that no president can withdraw the United States from NATO without the constitutionally required advice and consent of the Senate,” Senator John McCain elaborated.
Fair Burden-Sharing
Even though President Trump has not publicly threatened to leave the transatlantic alliance, relations between the US and Europe have hit their lowest point since POTUS blasted other NATO members for not complying with their obligations to increase defense spending.
Trump has on numerous occasions stressed that the other members of the bloc should pay their “fair share” and emphasized that only five of the 29 member-states were spending two percent of their GDP to defense, which was “insufficient to close gaps in modernizing, readiness and the size of forces.”
On the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels earlier this month, the allies agreed to start spending two percent of their GDP by 2024, with Trump pointing out that he was convinced that they would boost defense expenditures in line with their commitments. At the same time, the US president suggested raising the military spending commitment up to four percent of GDP – that proposal, however, didn’t find support.
Mutual Defense Clause
Beyond defense spending, Trump recently seemed to question NATO's Article 5 – the transatlantic bloc’s collective defense clause, stipulating that an attack on one is an attack on all.
During an interview with Fox News, Trump was asked why the US should come to the defense of Montenegro, who joined NATO last year, becoming the alliance’s 29th member.
“I understand what you’re saying. I’ve asked the same question. You know, Montenegro is a tiny country with very strong people. They’re very strong people. They’re very aggressive people. They may get aggressive, and congratulations you’re in World War III. Now I understand that, but that’s the way it was set up,” he said.
His remarks sparked a backlash from NATO, with an official, who asked to remain anonymous, telling AFP that Article 5 is “unconditional and iron-clad,” and pointing out that the mutual defense clause had only been invoked once – to support the US.
“Article 5 has only been invoked once, in support of the US after the 9/11 attacks. This led to NATO’s largest-ever operation, in Afghanistan, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers from Europe, including Montenegro, as well as Canadians, stood shoulder to shoulder with US troops and more than a thousand paid the ultimate price,” the official said.
Despite his comments, Trump signed the NATO communique, which explicitly endorsed Article 5 at the summit earlier this month.
“Any attack against one Ally will be regarded as an attack against us all, as set out in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. We will continue to stand together and act together, on the basis of solidarity, shared purpose, and fair burden-sharing,” the joint communique read.
07/26/18 - Bipartisan bill would require Senate's approval to withdraw from NATO
Bipartisan bill would require Senate's approval to withdraw from NATO
A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation on Thursday to require President Trump to get the Senate's approval before he withdraws the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The bill—from Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.)—would require Trump to get the support of two-thirds of the Senate if he wanted to withdraw from the alliance or modify U.S. membership.
It would also authorize the Senate Legal Counsel to challenge any attempt by the administration to withdraw from NATO without the Senate's consent in court.
"Just as it was required to join NATO, Senate approval should be required before this President – or any U.S. President - can withdraw,” Kaine said in a statement.
McCain added that Trump's "mistreatment of our closest allies" had "raised doubts" about the U.S. commitment to NATO.
"In the future, the Senate must be prepared to defend its constitutional role. This legislation is urgently required to ensure that no president can withdraw the United States from NATO without the constitutionally required advice and consent of the Senate," he said.
Currently, presidents are required to get the consent of the Senate to enter into treaties. Article 13 of the NATO treaty requires a country give a one-year "notice of denunciation" before it can exit NATO.
Trump hasn't publicly threatened to withdraw from NATO but his rhetoric at a summit in Brussels earlier this month rattled long-time allies and stunned lawmakers.
And multiple reports indicated that he privately threatened to withdraw from NATO if other countries did not commit to increasing their defense spending. He did not deny those reporters during a press conference, instead saying he was "very firm" with allies.
“I think I can probably can [pull out of NATO], but that’s unnecessary, and the people have stepped up today like they’ve never stepped up before,” Trump added.
His rhetoric also sparked backlash on Capitol Hill, where the Senate used a non-binding procedural vote to signal their support for NATO.
Two House members introduced separate legislation on Thursday to prevent tax dollars from being used to withdraw the United States from NATO.
angelburst29
The Living Force
July 31, 2018 - NATO Is a Goldmine for US Weapons’ Industries
https://www.globalresearch.ca/5649188-2/5649188
Countries of the NATO military alliance have been ordered by President Trump to increase their spending on weapons, and the reasons for his insistence they do so are becoming clearer. It’s got nothing to do with any defence rationale, because, after all, the Secretary General of the US-NATO military alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, has admitted that “we don’t see any imminent threat against any NATO ally” and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute recorded in its 2018 World Report that “at $66.3 billion, Russia’s military spending in 2017 was 20 per cent lower than in 2016.”
Even Radio Free Europe, the US government’s anti-Russia broadcaster, records that Russia has reduced its defense spending.
There is demonstrably no threat whatever to any NATO country by Russia, but this is considered irrelevant in the context of US arms’ sales, which are flourishing and being encouraged to increase and multiply.
On July 12, the second and final day of the recent US-NATO meeting, Reuters reported Trump as saying that “the United States makes by far the best military equipment in the world: the best jets, the best missiles, the best guns, the best everything.” He went on “to list the top US arms makers, Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co and Northrop Grumman Corp by name.”
On July 11 the Nasdaq Stock Exchange listed the stock price of Lockheed Martin at $305.68. The day after Trump’s speech, it increased to $318.37.
On July 11 the Nasdaq Stock Exchange listed the stock price of Boeing at $340.50. The day after Trump’s speech, it increased to $350.79.
On July 11 the New York Stock Exchange listed the stock price of Northrop Grumman (it doesn’t appear on Nasdaq) at $311.71. The day after Trump’s speech, it increased to $321.73.
General Dynamics, another major US weapons producer, might not be too pleased, however, because its stock price rose only slightly, from $191.51 to $192.74. Nor might Raytheon, the maker of the Patriot missile system which Washington is selling all over the world, because its stock went up by a modest five dollars, from $194.03 to $199.75. Perhaps they will be named by Trump the next time he makes a speech telling his country’s bemused allies to buy US weapons.
Trump also declared that “We have many wealthy countries with us today [July 12 at the NATO Conference] but we have some that aren’t so wealthy and they did ask me if they could buy the military equipment, and could I help them out, and we will help them out a little bit,” which made it clear that poorer countries that want to buy American weapons will probably not have to put cash down for their purchases. So it wasn’t altogether surprising that the stock prices of the three arms manufacturers named by Trump all rose by over ten dollars.
To further boost this bonanza, the State Department did its best to make US arms sales even easier by enabling weapons manufacturers to avoid the well-constructed checks and balances that had been in place to ensure that at least a few legal, moral and economic constraints would be observed when various disreputable regimes queued up to buy American weapons.
But these regulations no longer apply, because on July 13 the State Department announced new measures to “fast-track government approval of proposals from defense and aerospace companies” which action was warmly welcomed by the President of the US Chamber of Commerce Defence and Aerospace Export Council, Keith Webster, who is “looking forward to continued collaboration with the White House on initiatives that further expand international opportunities for the defense and aerospace industries.”
There was yet more boosting by Lt-General Charles Hooper, Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, who declared at the Farnborough International Air Show on July 18 that “Defense exports are good for our national security, they’re good for our foreign policy. And they’re good for our economic security.” He then proposed that his agency cut the transportation fee charged to foreign military sales clients, which would be a major stimulant for sales of “the best jets, the best missiles, the best guns” so valued by Mr Trump. Obviously a devoted follower of his President, the General followed the Trump line with dedication by reminding the media that “as the administration and our leadership has said, economic security is national security.” This man just might go places in Trump World.
But he won’t go as far as the arms manufacturers, whose future growth and profits are assured under Trump and the Washington Deep State, which is defined as “military, intelligence and government officials who try to secretly manipulate government policy.” US weapons producers have realized, as said so presciently two thousand years ago by the Roman statesman, Cicero, that “the sinews of war are infinite money,” and their contentment will continue to grow in synchrony with their financial dividends.
Voice of America joined the chorus of reportage on July 12 and observed that “with Thursday’s renewed pledge by NATO countries to meet defense spending goals, some of the biggest beneficiaries could be US weapons manufacturers, which annually already export billions of dollars worth of arms across the globe.”
Within European NATO, the biggest spenders on US arms, thus far, are Poland, Romania, Britain and Greece, and the amounts involved are colossal. Poland, whose economy is booming, has signed an agreement to buy Patriot missile systems for $4.75 billion, adding to the purchase of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles for $200 million, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, costing $250 million, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems for the same amount. Delivery of its 48 F-16 multi-role strike aircraft ($4.7 billion) began in 2006, and Warsaw has proved a loyal customer ever since. Who knows what exotic new piece of US hardware will be ordered as a result of Mr Trump’s encouragement?
Romania, a country with only 750 kilometres of motorway (tiny Belgium has 1,700 km), has been seeking World Bank assistance for its road projects but is unlikely to benefit because it is so gravely corrupt. This has not stopped it purchasing US artillery rocket systems for $1.25 billion and Patriot missiles for a colossal $3.9 billion, following-on from construction in May 2016 of a US Aegis missile station, at Washington’s expense. It forms part of the US-NATO encirclement of Russia, and its missiles are to be operational this year.
The message for European NATO is that the US is pulling out all stops to sell weapons, and that although, for example, “about 84% of the UK’s total arms imports come from the United States”, there is room for improvement. Slovakia is buying $150 millions’ worth of helicopters and paying a satisfying $2.91 billion for F-16 fighters, but other NATO countries appear to have been less disposed to purchase more of “the best jets, the best missiles, the best guns” that Mr Trump has on offer.
The mine of NATO gold is there for exploitation, and following Trump’s enthusiastic encouragement of his arms’ manufacturers it seems that extraction will be effective. The US Military-Industrial Complex stands to gain handsomely from its President’s campaign to boost the quantities of weapons in the world.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/5649188-2/5649188
Countries of the NATO military alliance have been ordered by President Trump to increase their spending on weapons, and the reasons for his insistence they do so are becoming clearer. It’s got nothing to do with any defence rationale, because, after all, the Secretary General of the US-NATO military alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, has admitted that “we don’t see any imminent threat against any NATO ally” and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute recorded in its 2018 World Report that “at $66.3 billion, Russia’s military spending in 2017 was 20 per cent lower than in 2016.”
Even Radio Free Europe, the US government’s anti-Russia broadcaster, records that Russia has reduced its defense spending.
There is demonstrably no threat whatever to any NATO country by Russia, but this is considered irrelevant in the context of US arms’ sales, which are flourishing and being encouraged to increase and multiply.
On July 12, the second and final day of the recent US-NATO meeting, Reuters reported Trump as saying that “the United States makes by far the best military equipment in the world: the best jets, the best missiles, the best guns, the best everything.” He went on “to list the top US arms makers, Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co and Northrop Grumman Corp by name.”
On July 11 the Nasdaq Stock Exchange listed the stock price of Lockheed Martin at $305.68. The day after Trump’s speech, it increased to $318.37.
On July 11 the Nasdaq Stock Exchange listed the stock price of Boeing at $340.50. The day after Trump’s speech, it increased to $350.79.
On July 11 the New York Stock Exchange listed the stock price of Northrop Grumman (it doesn’t appear on Nasdaq) at $311.71. The day after Trump’s speech, it increased to $321.73.
General Dynamics, another major US weapons producer, might not be too pleased, however, because its stock price rose only slightly, from $191.51 to $192.74. Nor might Raytheon, the maker of the Patriot missile system which Washington is selling all over the world, because its stock went up by a modest five dollars, from $194.03 to $199.75. Perhaps they will be named by Trump the next time he makes a speech telling his country’s bemused allies to buy US weapons.
Trump also declared that “We have many wealthy countries with us today [July 12 at the NATO Conference] but we have some that aren’t so wealthy and they did ask me if they could buy the military equipment, and could I help them out, and we will help them out a little bit,” which made it clear that poorer countries that want to buy American weapons will probably not have to put cash down for their purchases. So it wasn’t altogether surprising that the stock prices of the three arms manufacturers named by Trump all rose by over ten dollars.
To further boost this bonanza, the State Department did its best to make US arms sales even easier by enabling weapons manufacturers to avoid the well-constructed checks and balances that had been in place to ensure that at least a few legal, moral and economic constraints would be observed when various disreputable regimes queued up to buy American weapons.
But these regulations no longer apply, because on July 13 the State Department announced new measures to “fast-track government approval of proposals from defense and aerospace companies” which action was warmly welcomed by the President of the US Chamber of Commerce Defence and Aerospace Export Council, Keith Webster, who is “looking forward to continued collaboration with the White House on initiatives that further expand international opportunities for the defense and aerospace industries.”
There was yet more boosting by Lt-General Charles Hooper, Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, who declared at the Farnborough International Air Show on July 18 that “Defense exports are good for our national security, they’re good for our foreign policy. And they’re good for our economic security.” He then proposed that his agency cut the transportation fee charged to foreign military sales clients, which would be a major stimulant for sales of “the best jets, the best missiles, the best guns” so valued by Mr Trump. Obviously a devoted follower of his President, the General followed the Trump line with dedication by reminding the media that “as the administration and our leadership has said, economic security is national security.” This man just might go places in Trump World.
But he won’t go as far as the arms manufacturers, whose future growth and profits are assured under Trump and the Washington Deep State, which is defined as “military, intelligence and government officials who try to secretly manipulate government policy.” US weapons producers have realized, as said so presciently two thousand years ago by the Roman statesman, Cicero, that “the sinews of war are infinite money,” and their contentment will continue to grow in synchrony with their financial dividends.
Voice of America joined the chorus of reportage on July 12 and observed that “with Thursday’s renewed pledge by NATO countries to meet defense spending goals, some of the biggest beneficiaries could be US weapons manufacturers, which annually already export billions of dollars worth of arms across the globe.”
Within European NATO, the biggest spenders on US arms, thus far, are Poland, Romania, Britain and Greece, and the amounts involved are colossal. Poland, whose economy is booming, has signed an agreement to buy Patriot missile systems for $4.75 billion, adding to the purchase of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles for $200 million, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, costing $250 million, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems for the same amount. Delivery of its 48 F-16 multi-role strike aircraft ($4.7 billion) began in 2006, and Warsaw has proved a loyal customer ever since. Who knows what exotic new piece of US hardware will be ordered as a result of Mr Trump’s encouragement?
Romania, a country with only 750 kilometres of motorway (tiny Belgium has 1,700 km), has been seeking World Bank assistance for its road projects but is unlikely to benefit because it is so gravely corrupt. This has not stopped it purchasing US artillery rocket systems for $1.25 billion and Patriot missiles for a colossal $3.9 billion, following-on from construction in May 2016 of a US Aegis missile station, at Washington’s expense. It forms part of the US-NATO encirclement of Russia, and its missiles are to be operational this year.
The message for European NATO is that the US is pulling out all stops to sell weapons, and that although, for example, “about 84% of the UK’s total arms imports come from the United States”, there is room for improvement. Slovakia is buying $150 millions’ worth of helicopters and paying a satisfying $2.91 billion for F-16 fighters, but other NATO countries appear to have been less disposed to purchase more of “the best jets, the best missiles, the best guns” that Mr Trump has on offer.
The mine of NATO gold is there for exploitation, and following Trump’s enthusiastic encouragement of his arms’ manufacturers it seems that extraction will be effective. The US Military-Industrial Complex stands to gain handsomely from its President’s campaign to boost the quantities of weapons in the world.
