VIF News Digest: International Developments (04-10 JUNE, 2018)

The Pacific Fleet’s detachment composed of the major ASW ship Admiral Tributs, Admiral Vinogradov and the middle sea tanker Pechenga completed their call to the port of Cam Ranh (Vietnam) which started on 3 June.

The port authorities conducted a solemn farewell ceremony on this case, which was attended by the Russian diplomats of the RF General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City together with the representatives of the Vietnamese Defence Ministry and the Command of the Naval District.
During the call, the Pacific Fleet officers took part in a protocol meeting with the command of the Vietnamese Navy’s regional unit. The Russian and Vietnamese sailors held a friendly mini-football match in Cam Ranh. The Pacific Fleet seamen toured local historical sites.

After the port call, the ships of the Pacific Fleet and the 4th Naval District of the Vietnamese Navy are to hold a joint signal exercise, joint tactical manoeuvring, as well as search and rescue drills at sea. Click here to read... [13]

India to proceed with purchase of Russian S-400 units despite possible US sanctions
6 June 2018

India will proceed with the purchase of Russia's S-400 surface-to-air missile units despite possible US sanctions, the country's defense minister has confirmed, citing a “time tested” relationship between Delhi and Moscow.

“In all our engagements with the US, we have clearly explained how India and Russia's defense cooperation has been going on for a long time and that it is a time tested relationship. We have mentioned that CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act) cannot impact the India-Russia defense cooperation,” Nirmala Sitharaman said at a press conference. Click here to read... [14]

SCO exerts positive influence on world situation: Vladimir Putin
6 June 2018

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has a positive influence on the world situation, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin made the remarks during an interview with the head of the China Media Group Shen Haixiong in Moscow, Russia at the end of May.
Putin said it is an obvious fact that the SCO has become a global organization, considering its members' contributions to the world's gross domestic product (GDP).

"After India and Pakistan officially joined the organization and formally started their work, it is clear that the SCO has become a global organization. This is an obvious fact. As you can see, the SCO member states account for one-fourth of the world's GDP, 43 per cent of the world's population, and 23 per cent of the global land territory. These are all tremendous resources and very impressive," said Putin. Click here to read... [15]

Russia-China trade to reach record $100bn by year-end as ties grow in all sectors – Putin
8 June 2018

Trade between Moscow and Beijing has grown 31 percent this year and is projected to reach the $100 billion target, said Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Energy is the key sector of cooperation between the two countries, according to Putin. “Russia remains the largest supplier of fuel to the Chinese market. Last year, we supplied more than 50 million tons of oil. By April, this number increased by another 26 percent,” said the Russian president.

Work on the construction of the Eastern Route pipeline from Russia to China is on schedule, and companies from both countries are participating at Russia’s $27 billion LNG plant in Yamal, Putin added. Click here to read... [16]

Austria offers to host Putin-Trump meeting — White House

8 June 2018
Austria has informed the United States that it was ready to host a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump, a source in the National Security Council at the White House told TASS.

"The Austrians have conveyed their willingness to host a meeting between President Trump and President Putin. And, although the two leaders have previously discussed the possibility of arranging a meeting, we have nothing to announce at this time," the source said. Click here to read... [17]

AFRICA

5une, 2018

After decades of conflict and land claims, Ethiopia said it fully accepts the terms of a peace agreement with coastal Eritrea. It has also partially opened its economy to foreign investors. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government said on Tuesday it would fully accept and put into operation the Algiers accord, signed in 2000, that ended its war with Eritrea. A state of emergency has also been lifted two months early. Click here to read... [18]

Liberia Elected as Chair of UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee after 57 Years: Front Page Africa
6 June, 2018

The General Assembly of the United Nations on Tuesday, June 5, elected by acclamation, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency Lewis Garseedah Brown II as Chair of the 4th Committee of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly. Click here to read... [19]

Uhuru pushes for ocean protection, African alignment ahead of G7 Summit: The Star, Kenya
8 June, 2018

President Uhuru Kenyatta has asked African leaders attending the G7 Summit to align their messages on protecting oceans, expanding regional trade and deepening regional stability. Uhuru met Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal and Rwanda's Paul Kagame (African Union chairperson) ahead of the G7 'outreach segment' on Saturday. At the meeting with Sall, he pledged to open a new embassy in Dakar in four months to boost trade and people-to-people relations. Click here to read... [20]

S. Africa to use membership of UNSC to advance African interests: President – Xinhua
8 June, 2018

South Africa will use its membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to advance the interests of Africa, particularly the priorities of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday. He was speaking after the United Nations General Assembly elected South Africa to serve in the UNSC for the term 2019-2020 as a non-permanent member. Click here to read... [21]

US soldier killed in suspected al Shabab attack in Somalia: Africanews
9 June, 2018

A US Special Forces soldier has been killed in an attack by suspected al-Shabab militants in south-western Somalia, officials say. Four other US soldiers and a Somali soldier were wounded in what appears to have been an ambush near the town of Jamaame, US defence officials added. Click here to read... [22]

Meeting on the fight against terrorism in West Africa: Africanews
10 June, 2018

Terrorist attacks and their consequences continue to raise concerns in different African countries. Between January and June 2018 more than one hundred deaths were recorded in various terrorist incidents across Africa. The attacks come at a time when West African countries are increasingly moving towards the effective establishment of an autonomous African force that will essentially invest in the fight against jihadist groups. In order to accelerate its establishment, the France-West Africa Interparliamentary Friendship Group, consisting of 17 African countries, have discussed several strategies that could help in the fight against this phenomenon. During a strategic meeting held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 in Paris, they addressed the various problems impeding the fight against terrorism. Click here to read... [23]

Experts Alarmed at Rise of Jihadi Terrorism in Mozambique: Voice of Africa
11 June, 2018

On Friday, the U.S. embassy in Mozambique issued a security alert, warning all U.S. citizens to avoid visiting the Palma district in Cabo Delgado province, and urging those already there to “consider departing the area immediately.” The embassy issued the warning “in light of information pointing to the likelihood of imminent attacks on government and commercial centers in the area.” In the past two weeks, Mozambique has witnessed at least three brutal attacks by armed militants that police have linked to an Islamic group in the northern part of the country. This alarming rise of terror attacks has caught experts and policy analysts by surprise. Click here to read... [24]