International
Belgium prevents Ukraine from using the F-16s to attack Russian territory
The Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, warned today that the F-16 fighter jets he will deliver to Ukraine, according to the agreement he signed on Tuesday with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, can only be used in Ukrainian territory and not to directly attack Russia.
“Everything that this agreement covers is very clear: it is for use by the Ukrainian Forces in Ukrainian territory,” De Croo said in an appearance with Zelenski.
The Ukrainian president, on the other hand, insisted on the need to obtain permission from his allies to use the military equipment they deliver against Russian territory.
“They are shooting at you and you can’t respond, because we don’t have the right to use weapons. (…) You receive the satellite images of your intelligence service but you can’t do anything to respond, I think it’s unfair,” Zelenski said.
“But we cannot risk the support of our allies, so we are not using the weapons of our allies to attack Russian territory. That’s why we are asking, please, give us permission to do so,” stressed the Ukrainian leader.
De Croo and Zelenski signed an agreement today with which Belgium undertakes to support Ukraine militarily for the next ten years, with the commitment to deliver 30 F-16 fighter-bombers until 2028 and with the intention that the first ones will arrive before the end of this year.
Belgium is already part of the coalition to train Ukrainian pilots in the handling of the F-16, along with the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway.
The agreement between Belgium and Ukraine also includes a financial package of 977 million euros of military aid, as well as industrial cooperation in defense, support for the Peace Formula of Ukraine, the strengthening of sanctions against Russia, compensation for damages, justice for the aggressor, the use of frozen Russian assets and economic recovery, Zelenski said.
NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenbnerg, is in favor of Ukraine being able to use the weapons donated to it by the West to attack targets within Russia, such as missile launchers, artillery or airfields, in the exercise of its legitimate defense.
“It will be very hard and difficult for Ukrainians to defend themselves if they can’t attack military targets right across the border. It may be missile launchers, artillery or airfields used to attack Ukraine,” Stoltenberg told the press upon his arrival at a meeting of Defense ministers of the European Union.
The Norwegian politician has been defending for days the possibility of the allies allowing Ukraine to use the weapons they have given to him to hit specific targets within Russia, something that countries like Germany have fully rejected.
“Ukraine has, in accordance with international law, the right to defend itself. The right to self-defence includes attacking legitimate military targets within Russia. And this is particularly relevant now, because the strongest fighting is taking place in the Kharkov region, near the border,” he said.
In any case, he made it clear that these are decisions that fall to the countries individually and not to NATO.
So far, the coordination of international military aid for Ukraine is centralized by the United States with a group of fifty countries, known as the “Rammstein group”.
However, at the meeting that the Allied Foreign Ministers held last April, they agreed to work for NATO to play a greater role in coordinating assistance and training for Ukraine’s security.
Central America
U.S. and Regional Allies Back Panama Amid Dispute With China
The United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement in support of Panama’s sovereignty, arguing that China’s recent actions represent an attempt to politicize maritime trade and undermine the sovereignty of nations in the hemisphere.
“We are closely monitoring China’s selective economic pressure and recent actions affecting vessels flying the Panamanian flag,” the statement released Tuesday said. “Panama is a pillar of our maritime trading system and, as such, must remain free from undue external pressure.”
The statement comes amid growing tensions surrounding the Panama Canal and the operation of key ports linked to global trade.
At the end of January, Panama’s Supreme Court invalidated the legal framework supporting the 1997 concession that granted Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison, the right to operate the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals located on the Pacific and Atlantic entrances of the Panama Canal.
The ruling followed mounting pressure from the United States to curb Chinese influence around the strategic waterway, through which roughly 5% of global maritime trade passes.
CK Hutchison, which managed the ports for nearly three decades, rejected the court’s decision and accused Panamanian authorities of illegally confiscating its assets. The company has launched international arbitration proceedings against Panama, seeking more than $2 billion in damages.
Following the court ruling, reports emerged of increased detentions and inspections of Panamanian-flagged vessels in China, actions widely viewed as retaliatory measures.
On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the joint statement as “completely unfounded and misleading,” accusing the United States of politicizing port operations and warning that Beijing would take steps to protect its interests in Panama.
International
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reaffirmed the strength of the British-American relationship on Tuesday during a speech before the United States Congress, describing the alliance between the two nations as “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The address, delivered at the Capitol, marked the first speech by a British monarch before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and comes at a time of political tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is invaluable and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” the king said.
While reflecting on the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, which will be commemorated this year, Charles III stated that the partnership between the two countries “was born out of disagreement, but is no less strong because of it.”
The monarch emphasized the democratic values shared by both nations and noted that major global changes have occurred whenever the two allies found common ground.
“When we have found that way to agree, great changes have taken place not only for the benefit of our peoples, but for all peoples,” he said.
King Charles also quoted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently described the relationship as “an indispensable alliance.”
Concluding his speech, the monarch described the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom as “a story of reconciliation, renewal, and an extraordinary partnership.”
He added that Washington and London have forged “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth, and around the world, and that we ignore calls urging us to become increasingly isolationist,” Charles III stated.
The king ended by urging both nations to “recommit to one another in selfless service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”
International
Trump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
The administration of President Donald Trump is evaluating new immigration guidelines that could deny permanent residency to immigrants based on their political views, according to a report published by The New York Times.
The proposed measures, outlined in internal Department of Homeland Security documents, would instruct immigration officials to take applicants’ public expressions and ideological positions into account when reviewing green card applications.
According to the report, cases involving “possible anti-American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideologies” would need to be referred to higher authorities for additional review.
Even if applicants have not violated any laws, authorities could still reject residency requests if they determine that individuals have “endorsed, promoted, or supported anti-American views.”
Among the factors listed in the guidelines are participation in pro-Palestinian activities, actions considered antisemitic, and the burning of the U.S. flag.
The documents reportedly describe such actions as “heavily negative” factors in immigration evaluations, potentially blocking applicants from obtaining permanent residency and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.
The directives also place particular attention on demonstrations held on university campuses following the 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.
However, flag burning has previously been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a form of protected free speech under the Constitution.
The proposal has sparked criticism from immigrant advocacy organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition.
Its president, Murad Awawdeh, warned that the policies could pose a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms.
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