Donald Trump's "Deputy" is Ukraine's "Nightmare"? Pacific Island Leaders Reunite

The US Republican National Convention to select presidential and vice presidential candidates, speculation about Ukraine's future if Donald Trump becomes the White House boss, the Pacific Islands Leaders' Conference in Japan... are some of the outstanding international events of the day.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and vice presidential candidate JD Vance at the Republican National Convention on July 15. (Source: AP)

America

* The US Republican National Convention is taking place in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) from July 15-18, officially electing Mr. Donald Trump as presidential candidate.

40-year-old Ohio Senator JD Vance (James David Vance) was chosen as Mr. Trump's running mate, becoming the US vice-presidential candidate. Mr. Vance graduated from Ohio University, Yale Law School and served in the US Marine Corps in Iraq.

The Republican National Convention also adopted the 2024 Platform, which includes changes on a number of domestic and foreign issues.

Notably, the platform does not directly mention Russia and Ukraine, but emphasizes the Republican Party's commitment to preventing the risk of World War III, working to restore " peace in Europe and the Middle East," strengthening alliances and "standing with Israel." (AP)

* The attempted assassination of Mr. Trump at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, has raised concerns about the possibility of further acts of violence or retaliation.

Several online communities “threatened, encouraged, or referred to acts of violence” in response to the assassination, according to a report by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. An independent investigation into the incident will begin in the coming days.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas admitted that the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was a “failure” in ensuring security, and affirmed that the administration of President Joe Biden will make public the findings of this assassination attempt.

The U.S. Secret Service will continue to deploy appropriate security measures to protect Donald Trump, JD Vance and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (CBS News)

* Brazil has recalled its ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, for consultations amid "a moment of difference" between the two presidents.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry said that recalling the ambassador was "unusual" but not an action against the Argentine government, but the purpose was to consider "how to develop bilateral relations in the best possible way, with due attention".

According to Ambassador Bitelli, the differences between the two Presidents do not harm the relationship between the two countries and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that the relationship between Brasilia and Buenos Aires remains "important, despite differences in priorities and worldviews". (Merco Press)

Europe

* If Mr. Trump and his running mate JD Vance are elected , the former US President will be "ready to act immediately in the role of a peacemaker" to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, according to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

However, Mr Orban said it would be "impossible to expect any peace initiatives from Mr Trump before the election".

Meanwhile, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance said that if he wins, "Trump will negotiate with Russia to quickly end the conflict in Ukraine" so that the US can focus on the real problem, "which is China", noting that negotiations will avoid the risk of escalation and nuclear war.

Mr. Vance has been known for his comments on the conflict in Ukraine, including calling for talks with Moscow and criticizing Washington’s billions of dollars in military aid to Kiev. He has also insisted that Ukraine’s goal of restoring its 1991 borders is unrealistic and that resolving the conflict requires reinforcing the country’s neutrality and freezing territorial disputes.

With this "background", a senior official of the European Union (EU) commented that Mr. Trump's companion would be a "disaster" for Kiev. (Politico, Fox News, The Kyiv Independent)

* Kiev is “not afraid” of Trump’s re-election and will cooperate with him, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, stressing that the country “has close ties with the Republicans in Congress and the American political class.”

Referring to a meeting with Republican Party members last week in the US, Mr. Zelensky emphasized that the Republican Party “respects the country and the people of Ukraine, our soldiers and me.”

President Zelensky also said that Mr. Trump would be satisfied with the $40 billion aid deal for Kiev because three-quarters of the money would come from Europe, not the United States. (The Kyiv Independent)

* UK launches strategic defense review: On July 16, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched a review of the country's armed forces' performance and strength, with the aim of outlining a roadmap to increase defense spending to 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The move is aimed at underlining Labour's commitment to defence, with the Ministry of Defence due to publish its first report on the issue in the first half of 2025.

The review will ensure that a “NATO First” policy is at the heart of UK defence planning and programmes. Another aim of the review is to modernise and maintain London’s nuclear deterrent.

* An international terrorist group was involved in the attack on the Crocus Theater in Russia, according to the head of Russia's Financial Supervision Service for Combating Extremism Yury Chikhanchin on July 16.

Accordingly, the bloody terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall Theater in the suburbs of Moscow on March 22, 2024 was carried out by a group of citizens of different countries - mainly from Central Asia and Europe, including Russians.

The investigation results have been able to determine that these subjects belong to an international terrorist network. (TASS)

* Switzerland and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) signed an agreement to establish a liaison office of this military alliance in the Central European country's city of Geneva.

Bern said it is working to speed up the process of establishing a NATO office. (Armenpress)

Asia-Pacific

* US deploys Osprey transport aircraft at base in Japan: The Navy's CMV-22 Osprey transport aircraft will be deployed at the Iwakuni base in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan.

This will mark the first deployment of the CMV-22 Osprey at the base in Iwakuni city and the first deployment of the Osprey line in the Northeast Asian country.

CMV-22 Osprey will replace the C-2 transport aircraft currently stationed at Iwakuni base. The US will also deploy advanced F-35C stealth fighter jets operating from aircraft carriers at Iwakuni. (Jiji press)

* The 10th Pacific Islands Leaders' Meeting (PALM) opens in Tokyo, Japan, on July 16. At this three-day conference, leaders will focus on important issues affecting the region, from strengthening security to finding measures to respond to, mitigate the impact of and adapt to climate change.

In addition to Japan, the PALM Conference brings together leaders representing 18 members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), including Australia and New Zealand.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use the event to ease concerns about the discharge of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. In November 2023, PIF leaders issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the issue. (AFP)

* China is providing $20 million in aid to the Solomon Islands , according to the Pacific island nation's government.

Announcing the funding after talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele hailed China’s “transformational” presence in the island nation. Beijing has also agreed to fund the expansion of the Solomon Islands’ only international airport. (SCMP)

* US-Singapore strengthen defense ties: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin met with his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen at the Pentagon in Washington on July 15, during which the two sides reaffirmed their long-standing bilateral defense partnership, rooted in a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

The two officials affirmed the strength of US-Singapore cooperation on emerging technologies, demonstrated by the signing of a Statement of Intent on Bilateral Data, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cooperation between US Director of Digital and AI Radha Iyengar Plumb and Singapore Deputy Minister of Technology Yew Chee Leung.

The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to building on the historic momentum in the bilateral defense partnership. (Defense.gov)

Middle East-Africa

* Azerbaijan reopened its embassy in Iran's capital Tehran after more than a year of suspension, following months of negotiations between the two countries. The embassy headquarters of Azerbaijan has been moved to a new location in Tehran.

Azerbaijani diplomats have returned to Iran after Tehran took appropriate measures "to ensure security in front of the new embassy".

Baku decided to close its embassy in Iran after an armed attack on the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission on January 27, 2023, which left one employee dead and two injured. (ISNA)

* Hamas-Israel conflict: On July 15, the Israeli army launched a series of attacks on the Gaza Strip from the air, sea and land after more than 9 months of conflict.

Witnesses said the Tal Al-Hawa, Sheikh Ajlin and Al-Sabra areas of Gaza City were hit by artillery fire.

The Al-Mughraqa area and the northern suburbs of Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, the eastern area of ​​Khan Younis city and the western area of ​​Rafah urban area in southern Gaza Strip were also hit by attacks.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with two key Israeli officials to discuss ongoing negotiations towards a ceasefire between the Middle Eastern country and Hamas.

At the meeting, Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer affirmed that Israel remains committed to reaching a ceasefire agreement according to the terms outlined in the proposal announced by US President Joe Biden in late May. (Times of Israel)

* A meeting of all Palestinian factions will take place in the Chinese capital Beijing later this month, according to an official from Hamas's political office Basem Naim on July 16.

Mr. Naim also denied information about a separate bilateral meeting between the Fatah and Hamas movements in Beijing. (Sputnik)

* The new Special Envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General in Iraq is Mr. Mohamed al Hassan, from Oman.

Mr. Al Hassan will also head the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), succeeding Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert of the Netherlands.

According to the UN statement, Mr. Al Hassan takes up this position with more than 30 years of experience in conflict prevention diplomacy and peacebuilding. He has been the Permanent Representative of Oman to the UN headquarters in New York since 2019. (THX)

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