Nato military spending 2

Joe Biden President Joe Biden formally welcomed Finland and Sweden joining the Nato alliance Tuesday as he signed the instruments of ratification that delivered the US's formal backing of the Nordic nations entering the mutual defense pact, part of a reshaping of the European security posture after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. “In seeking to join Nato, Finland and Sweden are making a sacred commitment that an attack against one is an attack against all," Biden said at the signing as he called the partnership the “indispensable alliance.” The US became the 23rd ally to approve Nato membership for the two countries. Biden said he spoke with the heads of both nations before signing the ratification and urged the remaining Nato members to finish their own ratification process “as quickly as possible.” The Senate last week approved the two, once-non-aligned nations joining the alliance in a rare 95-1 vote that Biden said shows the world that "the United States of America can … [Read more...] about Joe Biden formalises US support for Finland, Sweden joining NATO

Representative image (Image: AP) Ukraine said Russia had started creating a military strike force aimed at President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, as NATO moved closer to the most significant expansion of the alliance in decades as it responds to the invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. Senate and the Italian parliament both approved onWednesday Finland and Sweden's accession to the 30-member North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Under NATO membership, which must be ratified by all 30 member states, an attack on one member is an attack against all. "This historic vote sends an important signal of thesustained, bipartisan U.S. commitment to NATO, and to ensuringour Alliance is prepared to meet the challenges of today andtomorrow," U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement. Russia, which invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, has repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden against joining NATO. NATO's 30 allies signed the accession protocol last month, allowing them to join … [Read more...] about Ukraine warns of new Russian offensive; Sweden, Finland move closer to joining NATO

Representative Image The Russian military said Thursday that it has deployed warplanes armed with state-of-the-art hypersonic missiles to the country's Kaliningrad region, a move that comes amid soaring tensions with the West over Moscow's action in Ukraine. Russia's Defense Ministry said three MiG-31 fighters with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles arrived at the Chkalovsk airbase in the Baltic Sea enclave as part of additional measures of strategic deterrence. The ministry said the warplanes will be put on round-the-clock alert. A video released by the Defense Ministry showed the fighters arriving at the base but not carrying the missiles, which were apparently delivered separately. The deployment of Kinzhal missiles to Kaliningrad as Russias campaign in Ukraine nears the sixth-month mark appeared intended to showcase the Russian militarys capability to threaten NATO assets. The region borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania. Close Moscow has strongly … [Read more...] about Russia deploys hypersonic missiles to its Baltic exclave

This undated file photo shows Reserve Officers Training Corps, or ROTC, cadets reporting to their officers at the Sunken Garden of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. Philippine Daily Inquirer/Lyn Rillon MANILA, Philippines — There is a “big chance” that the bills seeking the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory for senior high school students will be passed this 19th Congress, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Wednesday. Gatchalian, chairman of the Basic Education, Arts and Culture Committee, said the mandatory ROTC is one of his priority bills. “I think in this Congress malaki ang tiyansa na maipapasa ‘yan(there is a big chance that it will pass),” Gatchalian told reporters in a chance interview after the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum. “That’s part of my priority measures, so we will conduct our hearings siguro (maybe) so within one or two weeks magkakaroon na kami ng hearings (we would conduct our hearings).” This is in line with … [Read more...] about ‘Big chance’ mandatory ROTC bill will pass 19th Congress —Gatchalian