Vladimir Putin has confirmed a “partial” drawdown of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border, in a step that could begin a de-escalation of tensions but has left western officials sceptical that the Kremlin has ruled out an attack in the near future.
The size of the withdrawal remains unclear and it may involve only a fraction of Russia’s forces at the border, which western officials estimate at more than 130,000 troops, at least 60% of the country’s ground forces.
Read more at:
Russia confirms ‘partial’ withdrawal of troops from Ukraine border | Russia | The Guardian
Showing posts with label Withdrawal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Withdrawal. Show all posts
2/15/22
12/6/20
USA: Trump orders a near total withdrawal of American troops from Somalia
President Donald Trump has ordered nearly all American troops to withdraw from Somalia, U.S. officials said on Friday, part of a global pullback by the Republican president before he leaves office next month that will also see him drawdown forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Reads more at: Trump orders a near total withdrawal of American troops from Somalia
Reads more at: Trump orders a near total withdrawal of American troops from Somalia
10/1/20
Paris Climate Accord: Trump calls it a 'disaster'. But what does the Paris Climate Accord mean for the US? - by Louise Boyle
Towards the end of Tuesday night’s fractious presidential debate, moderator Chris Wallace dropped in a surprise question on the climate crisis,
leading both candidates to lay out their opposing stances on the Paris Climate Accord.
“If you look at the Paris Accord, it was a disaster from our standpoint. And people are actually very happy about what’s going on because our businesses are doing well," President Trump said.
Former vice president Joe Biden vowed that, if he wins the election, “the first thing" he would do is rejoin the global agreement.
“I will join the Paris Accord because with us out of it, look what’s happening. It’s all falling apart,” he said, pointing to the rampant destruction of Brazil’s rainforests, happening in the vacuum of US diplomatic leadership.
Read more at:
Trump calls it a 'disaster'. But what does the Paris Climate Accord mean for the US? | The Independent
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7/13/20
Middle East: Iran-Syria Relations:Israeli military sources say Iran withdrawing from Syria
Iran is "gradually" withdrawing from Syria and
arranging for the closure of its military bases in the country,
following a double attack on Monday night attributed to Israel,
said sources at the Israeli defence ministry.
The sources called it a "significant reduction" of forces aimed at decreasing tension in one of the hottest zones in the region, close to Israel's northern border, which is already dealing with the Lebanese Hezbollah. In addition, Israeli sources said they have also seen a reduction in the number of Shiite militants operating in Syria, even though that is more due to the effect of the "natural progression of the civil war" than to actions attributed to Israel.
"We are determined, more determined than Iran, and I can explain why," said Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett.
"For Iran, Syria is an adventure a thousand miles from home.
For us, it's about our lives," Bennett said.
Read More at:
Israeli military sources say Iran withdrawing from Syria - Analysis - ANSAMed.it
The sources called it a "significant reduction" of forces aimed at decreasing tension in one of the hottest zones in the region, close to Israel's northern border, which is already dealing with the Lebanese Hezbollah. In addition, Israeli sources said they have also seen a reduction in the number of Shiite militants operating in Syria, even though that is more due to the effect of the "natural progression of the civil war" than to actions attributed to Israel.
"We are determined, more determined than Iran, and I can explain why," said Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett.
"For Iran, Syria is an adventure a thousand miles from home.
For us, it's about our lives," Bennett said.
Read More at:
Israeli military sources say Iran withdrawing from Syria - Analysis - ANSAMed.it
7/7/20
U.S. notifies UN of withdrawal from World Health Organization | CBC News
The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations
of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, although the
pullout won't take effect until next year, meaning it could be rescinded
under a new administration or if circumstances change. Former U.S.
vice-president Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential
nominee, said he would reverse the decision on his first day in office
if elected.
Read more at:
U.S. notifies UN of withdrawal from World Health Organization | CBC News
Read more at:
U.S. notifies UN of withdrawal from World Health Organization | CBC News
12/26/19
NATO: European Security in Crisis: What to Expect if the United States Withdraws from NATO - by Liana Fix and Bastian Giegerich
t is February 2021. A few months after his re-election as president
of the United States, Donald Trump declares that NATO has become
obsolete and the United States withdraws from the alliance. All U.S.
forces — military personnel and equipment — including nuclear and
missile defense assets will be withdrawn from Europe as soon as
possible.
This nightmare scenario has been on the mind of many security policy officials, and experts, ever since the New York Times reported in January 2019 that Trump discussed several times over the course of 2018 wanting to withdraw from the alliance. Congress has acted and passed the NATO Support Act, which prohibits the use of funds to withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Yet the possibility of such a move cannot entirely be excluded.
A policy game prepared by Körber-Stiftung and the International Institute for Strategic Studies sought to answer these questions this summer in Berlin. Five country teams with experts from France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States addressed a fictional scenario that involved a U.S. withdrawal from NATO, followed by crises in a NATO member state in the western Balkans and across Eastern Europe. How would Europeans react to such a scenario? What are the red lines, interests, and priorities of the respective actors? How might Europeans organize their defense if the United States withdraws from NATO, and what role could the United States play in European security after the withdrawal?
European Security in Crisis: What to Expect if the United States Withdraws from NATO - War on the Rocks
This nightmare scenario has been on the mind of many security policy officials, and experts, ever since the New York Times reported in January 2019 that Trump discussed several times over the course of 2018 wanting to withdraw from the alliance. Congress has acted and passed the NATO Support Act, which prohibits the use of funds to withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Yet the possibility of such a move cannot entirely be excluded.
A policy game prepared by Körber-Stiftung and the International Institute for Strategic Studies sought to answer these questions this summer in Berlin. Five country teams with experts from France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States addressed a fictional scenario that involved a U.S. withdrawal from NATO, followed by crises in a NATO member state in the western Balkans and across Eastern Europe. How would Europeans react to such a scenario? What are the red lines, interests, and priorities of the respective actors? How might Europeans organize their defense if the United States withdraws from NATO, and what role could the United States play in European security after the withdrawal?
European Security in Crisis: What to Expect if the United States Withdraws from NATO - War on the Rocks
2/1/19
USA: Donald Trump confirms US withdrawal from INF Nuclear treaty
Donald Trump confirms US withdrawal from INF nuclear treaty
Read more at:
1/15/19
5/8/18
Iran deal: Donald Trump withdraws US from nuclear agreement – by Amanda Holpuch
President Grump said the US will exit the nuclear agreement in violation
of the landmark deal, describing the move as a ‘withdrawal’
Read more: Iran deal: Donald Trump withdraws US from nuclear agreement – live | World news | The Guardian
Read more: Iran deal: Donald Trump withdraws US from nuclear agreement – live | World news | The Guardian
2/5/18
Turkish-Dutch foreign relations break down; Ambassador recalled - by Janene Pieters
The Netherlands officially withdrew its ambassador in Ankara.
Relations between the Netherlands and Turkey have been tense since the Netherlands refused Turkish ministers access to the country to campaign for a referendum that gave Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan more power.
Turkey responded by comparing the Dutch to Nazis, calling them fascists, imposing a number of sanctions and accusing the Netherlands of mass murder in Srebrenica. The Netherlands refused to congratulate Erdogan when he won the referendum.
Over the past months the two countries have been in talks on repairing the relationship. In December Erdogan called Prime Minister Mark Rutte an 'old friend' and said that he wanted to restore the relationship with the Netherlands.
And in mid-January Rutte said he no longer demanded that Erdogan publicly apologize for calling the Dutch Nazis and fascists, according to RTL Nieuws.
But these talks have been unsuccessful, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday. "For the time being these talks do not offer any view on the normalization of bilateral relations", the Ministry said in a statement. Foreign Affairs Minister Halbe Zijlstra added: "The recent talks provided an opportunity for Turkey and the Netherland to come closer together again, but we did not agree on how normalization should take place."
The government therefore decided to officially withdraw the Dutch ambassador to Ankara. The ambassador hasn't had access to Turkey since March 2017. "As long as the Netherlands does not have an ambassador in Turkey, the Netherlands will also not grant permission for the appointment of a new Turkish ambassador in the Netherlands. This message was conveyed to the Turkish agent in The Hague", the ministry said.
Read more: Turkish-Dutch foreign relations break down; Ambassador recalled | NL Times
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