The West massively "attacks diplomacy" on Russia, Poland-Ukraine border tensions peak; Venezuela talks about "new world"

Western countries are "racing" to summon the Russian ambassador over Mr. Navalny's death, Hungary is "anxious" before the "decisive" day to enter NATO, tensions on the Poland-Ukraine border related to agricultural products... are some of the prominent international events in the past 24 hours.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that his country will join the BRICS group of leading emerging economies in the near future. (Source: Hurriyet Dailynews)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's outstanding international events:

Navalny's death

* Many countries summon Russian ambassadors: In recent days, the governments of many European countries such as Germany, France, England, Sweden, Norway... have summoned Russian diplomats to express their attitudes regarding the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison.

On February 19, Spanish diplomatic sources said that Madrid also made a similar move.

Germany even demanded that Moscow release all those detained for political reasons, while Norway said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's government "must take responsibility for the incident and that creating conditions for a transparent investigation be raised".

Meanwhile, Russia announced that investigations and necessary actions related to Mr. Navalny's death are underway. (AFP, Reuters)

* Sanctions against Russia after Navalny's death: On February 19, US President Joe Biden said he was "considering additional sanctions" against Russia, in addition to existing sanctions.

Meanwhile, on February 20, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Kiev wants the European Union (EU) and Japan to impose new economic sanctions on Russia after the death of Mr. Navalny, such as "reviewing" the decision to increase Russian grain imports.

However, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that imposing further EU sanctions on Russia was "a failed strategy" and would only harm the bloc's economy, but Budapest would not veto them. (AFP, Reuters)

Russia-Ukraine

* Ukraine receives additional aid from Canada and Sweden: On February 19, the Canadian Ministry of National Defense announced that it will send 800 domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Ukraine this spring.

The UAVs are worth more than $95 million CAD and are part of a previously announced $500 million CAD military aid package for Ukraine. The SkyRanger R70 multi-role UAVs are manufactured by Teledyne in Waterloo, Ontario.

Meanwhile, on February 20, the Swedish Ministry of Defense announced that the Nordic country will provide additional military aid to Ukraine of about $682 million, including the transfer of equipment and money to buy new weapons.

The latest aid package includes artillery and ammunition, assault boats and other equipment. It is the 15th and largest aid package Sweden has provided to Ukraine to date.

Europe

* Sweden on the threshold of history joining NATO: On February 20, the ruling Fidesz party in Hungary proposed that the country's parliament vote to ratify Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on February 26.

In a statement, the leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group affirmed that the party will vote in favor of the above ratification.

After a delay, Hungary will be the last member to ratify Sweden's accession to NATO.

Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson welcomed the move, while Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will visit Budapest on February 23. (Reuters)

* About 32,000 NATO troops have been deployed near the Russian-Belarusian border, along with more than 1,000 armored vehicles, about 160 artillery and mortar systems, and 235 planes and helicopters, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 20.

TASS quoted Mr. Lukashenko as emphasizing that the situation "has not become more peaceful" on the European continent, including near the Belarusian border.

In addition, the Belarusian leader also said that Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Georgia and Serbia will also be drawn into NATO like the scenario of the situation in Ukraine.

* Polish farmers dump Ukrainian grain on railway tracks: On February 20, Polish farmers protested across the country, almost completely blocking the border with Ukraine and disrupting traffic nationwide to protest grain from Kiev.

Solidarity Farmers spokesman Adrian Wawrzyniak said that not only trucks, but also passenger and cargo transport across the border will be blocked, with the exception of military aid vehicles. Ports and highways will also be blocked.

The protesters' tractor carried a banner that read: "Grain from Ukraine will bankrupt Polish farmers."

A video clip posted on the messaging app Telegram shows protesters at the Medyka border crossing opening a train car to dump grain onto the tracks.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov condemned the incident as a "political provocation" aimed at driving a wedge between Ukraine and Poland. Ukrainian Ambassador to Warsaw Vasyl Zvarych urged Polish police to intervene in the incident. (AFP)

Asia

* Russia gives North Korean President a luxury car, South Korea reacts: Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a Russian-made Aurus limousine to North Korean President Kim Jong-un.

Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un's sister, said this was clear evidence of the special friendship between the leaders of the two countries. She also conveyed her brother's thanks to the Russian side.

Responding to this move, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Lim Soo-suk emphasized: "All United Nations (UN) member countries have the obligation to fully comply with the Security Council's (UNSC) sanctions resolutions against North Korea."

The sanctions “prohibit the direct and indirect supply, sale or transfer to North Korea of ​​all means of transport, regardless of origin, from HS Codes 86 to 89 under the international trade classification of goods, including luxury automobiles,” the official reiterated.

According to Mr. Lim, the Korean government will continue to coordinate with the international community on implementing the UNSC's sanctions. (Yonhap)

* Israel will maintain full control over security in the West Bank and Gaza Strip "with or without permanent settlements," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on February 19.

Meanwhile, on February 20, Israel ordered a new evacuation from the Zaytoun and Turkoman neighborhoods on the southern edge of Gaza City, a sign that Palestinian militants are still putting up fierce resistance in northern Gaza areas. (AP)

* Arab Group calls on UNSC to take immediate action: On February 19, in a statement, the Arab Group coalition said that the UNSC cannot "ignore" the international community's calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The Arab group also stressed the need for all parties to make efforts to end the ongoing conflict in the territory.

The Arab Group strongly supports the draft resolution proposed by Algeria on a temporary ceasefire and urges all members of the UN Security Council to vote for it, noting that the draft is in line with the priorities of the group as well as those of the international community.

The US has said it is not satisfied with Algeria's proposal and has submitted a new draft resolution. (Arab News)

* Situation in Afghanistan: Afghanistan's Bakhtar news agency reported that public health facilities in the provinces of Kapisa, Parwan, Panjshir, Wardak, Ghazni, Paktika, Logar, Khost, Badakhshan, Paktia and Bamyan have begun accepting women with 12th grade or higher education to work.

Previously, on February 19, at the end of a two-day meeting in the capital Doha of Qatar chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, international representatives reached consensus on a number of key issues related to the situation in Afghanistan, although some obstacles still exist.

The meeting discussed increasing international coordination with Afghanistan, reviewing recommendations in the UN's independent assessment report, including asking the Taliban government to change its policy towards women to have a chance to be recognized by the international community.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the parties wanted peace within Afghanistan and with its neighbors, so that the country could assume its international commitments and obligations as a sovereign state. (UN News)

America

* Venezuela talks about "new world" with BRICS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that his country will join the group of leading emerging economies in the world (BRICS) in the near future.

Mr. Maduro commented that “the old colonial world with wars, interventions, genocides and great complexity” will be replaced by “a new world with BRICS”.

President Maduro stressed: “The trend of the emergence of a new world and the solidarity of BRICS is irreversible. Venezuela will soon become part of BRICS.” (TASS)

* Russia-Cuba strengthen cooperation in many fields: On February 19, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel received Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Revolution Palace in Havana.

The Cuban President expressed satisfaction with the results achieved during Mr. Lavrov's short but effective visit to Havana, as demonstrated by the two sides' agreement to strengthen economic, trade, tourism and investment cooperation, and to review legal aspects supporting this.

Foreign Minister Lavrov said that the two countries share many similar views on issues on the international agenda, protecting the UN Charter and opposing illegal unilateral sanctions.

During talks with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodríguez, Lavrov affirmed that Havana is Moscow's most important partner and ally in Latin America and the Caribbean, and said that Russia has agreed to expand relations with organizations in the region.

Meanwhile, the Cuban Foreign Ministry highlighted the “excellent” relations with Russia and stressed that Foreign Minister Lavrov’s visit is an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest on the regional and international agenda, as well as to promote bilateral cooperation. (TASS)

* British Foreign Secretary visits the disputed Malvinas/Falkland Islands with Argentina: This is the first visit by a British Foreign Secretary to the disputed islands in 30 years.

On February 19, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited the areas where armed conflict between Britain and Argentina took place in 1982 and met with residents living on the archipelago.

Speaking to reporters during his visit on February 20, Mr Cameron said: "As long as the Falklands want to be part of the British family, they are absolutely welcome. And we will support, back and help protect them for as long as they want. And I hope that will last for a very, very long time, possibly forever."

However, the diplomat also affirmed that Britain "wants to have a good relationship with Buenos Aires, with the Argentine government. But everything depends entirely on the wishes of the Falkland Islanders".

The governor of Argentina's southernmost province of Tierra del Fuego, Gustavo Melella, has protested Mr Cameron's visit to the archipelago, which Argentina calls the Malvinas and Britain calls the Falklands. (AP)

Africa

* The UN has warned of a worsening humanitarian disaster caused by the spreading conflict in Sudan, with at least 25 million people across Sudan, South Sudan and Chad facing increasing hunger and malnutrition.

In a statement on February 19, UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that a shortage of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding has forced the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to warn of the looming risk of a humanitarian disaster for the people of Sudan.

Faced with this situation, the UN called on all parties to provide financial aid and necessary means to prevent a “famine disaster” in Sudan. (UN News)

* The military government in Guinea dissolved the government on February 19, but did not give a reason for the move or a deadline for announcing a new government.

Guinea has been under military control since a military government took power in a coup in September 2021.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has put pressure on the country's military government to hold elections within an acceptable timeframe and restore civilian rule. (Al Jazeera)

Oceania

* Australia is spending $7.25 billion to buy six warships “with or without crew” over the next decade and 11 new destroyers, aiming to double the number of Canberra's combat-ready warships.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said the government's plan is to increase the number of surface warships in the Navy from 11 to 26, the largest since the end of World War II.

Large “Crewed or Unmanned” Surface Vessels (LSOVs), which can be operated remotely and are being developed by the US, would significantly enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s long-range strike capability, Minister Marles said, adding that the ships could be operational by the mid-2030s.

Australia will also take steps to accelerate the acquisition of 11 multi-role frigates to replace its aging ANZAC-class vessels, with the first three to be built overseas and expected to enter service before 2030. (Maritime Executive)

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