International
EU countries agree to a new military support fund for Ukraine of 5 billion euros
The countries of the European Union (EU) reached a political agreement on Wednesday to promote a specific fund of military support to Ukraine endowed with 5 billion euros for this year.
The ambassadors of the Twenty-seven reached an agreement in principle to reform the European Peace Support Fund (FEAP), through which they have been co-financing the delivery of lethal and non-lethal equipment to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion and that will have the aforementioned item, specific to Kiev.
“The EU remains determined to provide lasting support to Ukraine and to ensure that the country receives the military equipment it needs to defend itself,” the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU said through social network X.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Josep Borrell, welcomed the political agreement and assured that the fund will increase European military support to Ukraine with another 5 billion euros.
“The message is clear: we will support Ukraine with whatever is necessary for it to prevail,” he said.
The EU countries have reached an agreement on this 5 billion euro EAFF supplement after extensive negotiations, although the details of the pact are not yet known.
Germany asked that the 8 billion it will dedicate to support Ukraine this year when establishing the compensations in the fund be taken into account, so that its contribution – which the countries make based on their Gross Domestic Product – takes into account the bilateral support already granted.
Berlin also wanted the fund to be used to encourage joint purchases of weapons and new ammunition for Ukraine, rather than to finance the delivery of existing material in the arsenals of the countries, in much of the Soviet era.
Countries such as France, Greece and Cyprus, in addition, insisted that the fund should privilege the acquisition of material in Europe.
In addition to the difficulties faced by the reform of the FEAP, Hungary had stated that it did not want to continue participating in that fund.
In addition to the difficulties faced by the reform of the FEAP, Hungary had stated that it did not want to continue participating in that fund.
To solve the issue of the a posteriori compensation raised by Germany, it has been agreed to maintain a contribution amount from each Member State but allowing it to integrate already agreed reimbursements, Community sources said.
Thus, a country can subtract from its contribution the amount that the fund has agreed to reimburse you, and this can mean that the figure is zero if the contribution and the reimbursement are equal, or if the expected reimbursement is higher.
On the other hand, on the question of the origin of the acquisition of the equipment, the proposal made by the Belgian presidency tried to balance the request of some Member States that the fund be used exclusively to finance purchases in the European defense industry and Norway, and the position of others who advocated greater flexibility.
In this way, the possibility of making joint acquisitions outside the European and Norwegian industry has been introduced in cases where its technological and military industrial base cannot supply material in time for Ukraine, while part of the fund would be reserved for joint acquisitions to the EU industry (and Norway), the sources specified.
The text of the agreement agreed today is expected to officially receive the green light at the Foreign Affairs Council to be held next Monday in Brussels.
At the beginning of the year, the military assistance provided to Ukraine by the EU and its member states since the beginning of the war was estimated at about 28 billion euros.
International
German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz
The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.
Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.
“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”
The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.
The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.
Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.
“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”
Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”
International
Mexico security chief meets DEA director in Washington to boost anti-drug cooperation
Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, met in Washington with the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Terrance Cole, to discuss cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal arms flows.
The Mexican official said Monday on social media that he attended the meeting in representation of the Mexican government’s Security Cabinet.
“In Washington, D.C., I represented the Security Cabinet to hold talks with DEA Director Terrance Cole on the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation to combat drug trafficking, curb the flow of weapons into our country, and reduce violence in Mexico through significant arrests,” García Harfuch wrote.
He added that, following instructions from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, the government will continue strengthening international cooperation on security matters.
For his part, Cole said the meeting focused on cross-border collaboration to tackle drug trafficking and to build safer communities on both sides of the border.
The meeting comes as Mexico and the United States begin a new round of dialogue on economic and security issues.
Earlier Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum said she will look for the “best moment” to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, adding that maintaining a good relationship with Washington is a priority for her administration.
International
Venezuela’s foreign minister accuses UN rights chief of “immoral bias”
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil criticized the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, accusing him of having an “immoral bias” and acting as an “echo chamber for falsehoods” regarding the situation in Venezuela.
Gil’s remarks came after Türk stated that his office had not received an official list from Venezuelan authorities detailing the release of political prisoners, nor authorization to carry out visits related to the issue.
“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights insists on a narrative biased against our country, repeating unfounded accusations while deliberately omitting the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the rights of the Venezuelan people,” Gil said in a message posted on his Telegram channel.
Without directly addressing the question of prisoner releases, the Venezuelan foreign minister also accused Türk of aligning with what he described as the “agenda of extremism in Venezuela.”
Gil added that, despite serious human rights violations occurring in other parts of the world, the UN official has chosen to maintain what he described as an “immoral bias” against Venezuela.
The criticism is part of a broader dispute between the Venezuelan government and the UN human rights office over reports and investigations concerning the human rights situation in the country.
German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz
Mexico security chief meets DEA director in Washington to boost anti-drug cooperation
Venezuela’s foreign minister accuses UN rights chief of “immoral bias”
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