Nuclear tensions: In an interview with Euronews, NATO Secretary General Marc Rutte asked Russia to stop issuing nuclear threats, after Moscow sent a letter to the alliance saying it was ready to deploy its nuclear arsenal if its territory – including the Kaliningrad enclave – was attacked.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
‘Stop’: “We are a defensive alliance. Stop nuclear threats. This is absolutely neither necessary nor useful,” Rutte said exclusively at the Euronews Defense and Space Summit on Wednesday, at a time of heightened tension between Russia and the West.
Rutte, however, dismissed the immediate threat to alliance members, saying “we will defend every square inch of NATO territory.”
“This threat does not exist and if something happens, we are ready to counter it,” he explained.
Reuters first reported that Russia had warned NATO in a document that it could resort to nuclear weapons if the alliance tried to annex the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, while threatening to strike the “decision centers” of NATO member states at the start of a conflict.
“Worst case scenario”: Earlier on Wednesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev – also speaking at the Euronews summit – called for European dialogue with Russia to avoid a nuclear attack. While rejecting the Kremlin’s escalatory rhetoric, Radev reminded his European counterparts of the “nuclear card”, stressing that Russia would be inclined to play it if weakened or cornered.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there are nuclear weapons on our continent, that there are nuclear weapons in the Russian arsenal. And that is part of the game,” Radev said.
Make Putin feel that “war is coming”: The European Defense Commissioner, Andrei Kubilius, rejectedRadev’s call for diplomatic engagement, warning it could embolden President Putin and weaken Ukraine.
“The Russians have a very clear position: Ukraine must surrender – this is their diplomatic position,” Kubilius told Euronews, adding that Putin must “feel that war is coming to Russia itself.”
“Made in Europe” criticized: Brussels’ desire to give priority to European national companies in defense contracts was also at the center of Wednesday’s debate. NATO chief Rutte called the debate a “luxury”, warning that the initiative ignores a fundamental problem: Europe’s defense industry cannot produce enough.
Earlier on Wednesday, the US Ambassador to the EU, Andrew Puzdercalled Europe’s arms buying campaign “self-interest”, saying it could disrupt the transatlantic defense industrial base and benefit Europe’s “enemies”.
“An attack by a powerful adversary against a member state, and we will all be glad we focused on military superiority rather than the regional economy,” Puzder told the summit audience.
My colleagues and I have other takeaways from the summit for you:this debriefing.
Migration Discussions: Interior ministers meet in Luxembourg with migration at the top of the agenda. Ministers are expected to discuss proposed measures to tackle irregular arrivals under the European Emergency Response Framework, which is expected to be unveiled by the Commission next month.
European sources tell my colleague Vincenzo Genovese that the proposal should include a temporary suspension of the right to asylum.
Italy extends border controls: The meeting comes as tensions between Italy and Spain escalate again, after Rome extended air and sea controls at the borders with Spain for another 15 days in response to the situation in the enclave of Ceuta, where 80,000 migrants entered in unprecedented masses in July.
Furthermore, a delegation of MEPs visited the Spanish enclave on Wednesday, denouncing attacks and defamation campaigns directed against activists and organizations working on the ground by far-right groups.
French and Spanish leaders welcome Andy Burnham’s suggestion that UK could go ‘all the way’ and join the EU
French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez welcomed the Prime Minister Andy BurnhamMacron’s suggestion that the UK could consider joining the EU, Macron responded “welcome back” when asked about the prospect at a press conference in Madrid.
“If the British want to come back and if the prime minister goes in that direction, I think it’s very good news, both for his country and for the Europeans,” Macron said, alongside Spaniard Pedro Sánchez, who also said the UK would be welcome back in the bloc.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday proposed going “all the way” and rejoining the EU, as he pledged to explore options for future EU-UK relations.
“We could stay as is. We could look at what George Osborne said about a customs union, we could look at what the Liberal Democrats said about the (EU) single market, or we could go all the way,” Burnham said.
The British leader also said the EU-UK summit, postponed from July due to Starmer’s resignation, would be held in November.
Burnham has so far been seen as far less focused on international and European affairs than his predecessor Keir Starmer, leaving European officials doubtful of his intentions to reset relations with the bloc. But his statements now offer the clearest indication that his government is prepared to consider a much more ambitious overhaul of post-Brexit relations with Brussels. More.
Learn more about our editorial staff
Methane is responsible for 30% of global warming – so why is the EU trying to delay rules to reduce it? The EU has proposed delaying the adoption of new rules aimed at reducing methane emissions that contribute to global warming, saying a delay would “relieve” pressure on energy markets and therefore reduce oil and gas prices. But will the new regulations actually drive up oil and gas prices, and how harmful are methane emissions? Ruth Wright explain.
Hundreds of people have been detained and dozens injured as protests against conditions in French schools intensify. French security forces arrested more than 600 people while dozens of police and gendarmes were injured during protests that saw blockades of high schools and violent clashes intensify, the interior minister said on Wednesday. Christina Molle and Gavin Blackburn havethe details.
Israel says a pilot attempted to crash a Tel Aviv-bound plane during a cockpit fight before making a safe emergency landing. Israel-bound Flydubai flight FZ1073 made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia as passengers describe harrowing scenes of a fight between pilots, with one stabbed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a pilot “tried to crash the plane” as Israeli security services investigated.More.
We also monitor
- President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen continues its tour in the Western Balkans in Kosovo and Montenegro.
- European Commissioner for the Economy Valdis Dombrovskis travels to Chișinău, Moldova, and delivers a keynote speech at the annual conference of the National Bank of Moldova.
- EU interior ministers meet in Luxembourg.
- European health ministers gather for an informal meeting in Dublin, Ireland.
That’s all for today. Vincenzo Genovese contributed to this newsletter.
Gn world
