BRUSSELS, Oct 15 (The African Portal) – NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels after Russian drones and aircraft violated member states’ airspace. Meanwhile, the WHO says one of its teams came under attack in Ukraine.
US, allies to ‘impose costs on Russia’ if war doesn’t end, Hegseth says
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Moscow on Wednesday that Washington and its allies were ready to “impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression” if the Ukraine war doesn’t end.
“If we must take this step, the US War Department stands ready to do our part in ways that only the United States can do,” Hegseth said at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group — a coalition of over 50 countries focused on streamlining the delivery of military equipment to Ukraine — at NATO headquarters.
NATO defense ministers are meeting to look at ways to boost the alliance’s ability to defend against airspace violations by Russia and bolster support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a news conference that the US was ready to impose tariffs on China over its Russian oil purchase but only if European allies were willing to take part in such a measure.
“It is the purchase of Russian oil by China that fuels the Russian war machines. China buys 60%, six zero percent, of Russian energy. They buy 90% of Iranian energy,” he said.
The Trump administration has reignited its trade war with Beijing, with Trump threatening a new whopping 100% additional tariffs in reaction to China’s restrictions on rare earths export.
Berlin, Turkey to hold talks over potential Eurofighter jet delivery
Germany and Turkey will hold talks over the potential deliveries of Eurofighter jets, a Berlin Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday, confirming Berlin has agreed to the negotiations.
“The German government has responded positively to a preliminary request from Airbus to negotiate the delivery of Eurofighters to Turkey,” the spokesperson said, adding that the aircraft would be used for “collective defence within the NATO framework.”
German top diplomat Johann Wadephul is due in the Turkish capital Ankara on Friday to go over the issue with his Turkish counterpart, the spokesperson added.
The discussion comes as European members of the NATO alliance scramble to firm up air defenses against Russia, amid a string of drone sightings across various European airports.
UK sanctions Russian oil and tankers linked to Russian ‘shadow fleet’
The UK has issued a fresh round of sanctions targeting Russia’s oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil as well as 44 tankers from the so-called “shadow fleet.”
In a statement on Wednesday, the UK Foreign Office said the 90 new sanctions reflect London’s determination to cut off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s revenue streams.
Rosneft and Lukoil export 3.1 million barrels of oil per day, the Foreign Office said, adding that the former alone is responsible for nearly half of all Russian oil production.
“At this critical moment for Ukraine, Europe is stepping up. Together, the UK and our allies are piling the pressure on Putin – going after his oil, gas and shadow fleet — and we will not relent until he abandons his failed war of conquest and gets serious about peace,” British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said.
Since Western countries sanctioned Russia’s oil exports, the Kremlin has relied on a group of aging oil tankers to transport oil to buyers across the world.
“We are sending a clear signal: Russian oil is off the market,” British Chancellor Rachel Reeves said.
Credit: DW
