Moscow accused Norway of blocking transit to Svalbard and threatened reprisals against Oslo.
"The leaders today will also
make the historic decision to invite Finland and Sweden
to become NATO members, based on the agreement reached yesterday between Finland, Sweden and Turkey: it is a positive agreement for Finland, Sweden, Turkey and for all of us ".
This was stated by NATO secretary Jens Stoltenberg arriving at the summit organized on the outskirts of Madrid.
Stoltenberg added that the one starting today will be a "historic and transformative" summit.
Russia poses a "direct threat" to NATO security.
This was underlined by the Secretary General of the Alliance.
During the NATO summit underway in Madrid "we will clearly state that Russia poses a direct threat to our security," said Stoltenberg.
The
US will strengthen its military presence in Europe
, including additional air defensive capabilities in Germany and Italy.
American President Joe Biden said this when opening the NATO summit in Madrid.
"Today we send a message: NATO is strong and united," Biden said.
Vladimir Putin wanted the "
Finland model
" for Europe and instead gets the "NATO model", added the US president about the
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking on video link at the NATO summit in Madrid, asked the Alliance countries for "
modern artillery and financial support
" against Moscow.
REACTIONS OF RUSSIA AND CHINA
- Western arms supplies can threaten security not only in Ukraine but also beyond its borders.
This was stated by the spokeswoman of the Russian foreign ministry Maria Zakharova, quoted by Tass.
"The further enlargement of NATO", with the entry of Sweden and Finland, is a "destabilizing" move, which "will not bring greater security to the members of the Alliance themselves".
This was stated by the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Serghei Ryabkov quoted by the Interfax agency.
China attacks the G7, accusing it of having "once again used the summit communiqué to promote the narrative of 'democracy versus authoritarianism' and to interfere" gravely with its internal affairs, attacking and defaming China and inciting conflicting sentiments. "All of this, noted Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian," shows that the G7 has no intention of conducting dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and respect, but instead adheres to the Cold War mentality, the ideological prejudice and engages in policies on the interests of small circles ".
NATO "has continued to enter the Asia-Pacific region: some member states have sent planes and warships into the waters surrounding China to conduct military maneuvers, creating tensions".
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao LIjian complained that NATO continues to "support the group confrontation and the international community should maintain a high degree of vigilance", commenting on the words of US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, according to which the strategic document approved at the Madrid Alliance Summit will make explicit reference to the multiple challenges posed by China.
ANSA agency
Turkey asks Sweden-Finland to hand over 33 'terrorists' - World
ERDOGAN WITHDRAW THE GLASS
- The NATO summit in Madrid opens under the best auspices.
The mediation at the last minute by the secretary general of the Alliance Jens Stoltenberg has indeed borne good results and Turkey has withdrawn the veto on the entry of Sweden and Finland, after weeks of impasse.
The three countries signed a memorandum of understanding on Turkish requests and Ankara can truly be satisfied: "We had what we asked for, full cooperation" against the PKK Kurds and their allies, the Turkish presidency said.
"With Stockholm and Helsinki joining the Alliance we will all be safer," said Stoltenberg.
Not only.
US President Joe Biden arrived in the Spanish capital with a beautiful gift for Euro-Atlantic security: a "long-term" strengthening of the
US military engagement in the old world, in particular "in the Baltic countries, in the Balkans" and in general "on the eastern flank of the Alliance".
That is the most delicate front of the new cold war.
However, it appears already hot enough.
The precise announcements will come during the summit but it is clear that an important block of those 260 thousand more effective at the disposal of the supreme command will be stars and stripes.
A bitter morsel to swallow for Moscow (and partly for Beijing too).
Unity is the key word these days.
It was at the European Council, it was at the G7 and it will be at the Madrid summit, already defined as "historic" by many leaders, including Biden, because it happens in times of war in Europe and because it will mark a profound transformation of NATO.
OTHER CHINA SANCTIONS
- Joe Biden's US administration has added five Chinese companies to a trade blacklist, accusing them of supporting the Russian military and defense industrial base, following the invasion of Ukraine by Moscow troops .
The move provoked a harsh reaction from China which rejected the accusations and suspicions, claiming that it "did not provide any military assistance to the parties involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict", strongly opposing "unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on our companies. ", according to a note from the Chinese embassy in Washington.
The Chinese embassy note also made it clear that Beijing would take "necessary measures" to protect the rights of its companies, arguing that the sanctions violate international law.
The companies affected, some based in Hong Kong, are Connec Electronic Ltd, World Jetta, Logistics Limited, King Pai Technology Co, Ltd and Winninc Electronic.
The measure, announced by the Department of Commerce, also included 31 other entities from Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Lithuania, Pakistan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, in the registration made on the appropriate federal register.
Of the 36 companies in total, 25 have an operational base in China.
"The action sends a powerful message to entities and individuals around the world that if they seek to support Russia,
Blacklisting means that US suppliers of sanctioned companies need a license from the Department of Commerce before they can ship their products.
While claiming that China generally appeared to abide by restrictions against Russia, the US government promised to closely monitor the situation and strictly enforce the regulations.
Blacklisting means that US suppliers of sanctioned companies need a license from the Department of Commerce before they can ship their products.
While claiming that China generally appeared to abide by restrictions against Russia, the US government promised to closely monitor the situation and strictly enforce the regulations.
