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torillatavataan · 7 months

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Extensive damage to an undersea gas pipeline and communications cable connecting Finland and Estonia “could not have occurred by accident” and appears to be the result of a “deliberate … external act”, Finnish authorities have said.

“It is likely that the damage to both the gas pipeline and the communication cable is the result of external activity,” the Finnish president, Sauli Niinistö, said on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, adding that the cause of the damage was not yet clear.

Local media cited unnamed government sources as saying Russian sabotage was suspected, while regional security experts said a Russian survey vessel had recently been observed making repeated visits to the vicinity of the Balticconnector pipeline.

Niinistö said the government was “in contact with our allies and partners” and that Finland was “prepared, and our readiness is good”, adding that the incident, uncovered early on Sunday morning, had “no effect on our energy supply security”.

Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said the transatlantic military alliance was “ready to share information about the destruction of Finnish and Estonian underwater infrastructure” and to “support its allies”.

Markku Hassinen, of the Finnish border guard, said no seismic activity had been recorded in the Gulf of Finland before the discovery of the Balticconnector damage, but “vessels from several different countries” had been monitored in the area. But seismologists at Norsar, Norway’s national datacentre for the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty (CTBT), confirmed late on Tuesday that they had registered a “probable explosion” at 1.20 am on Sunday.

Both countries’ gas network operators on Sunday reported an unusual drop in pressure in the bi-directional, 48-mile (77km) pipeline, which runs across the seabed of the Gulf of Finland from Inkoo in Finland to Paldiski in Estonia. The state-owned Finnish operator, Gasgrid, said the pipeline had been shut down immediately because of a suspected leak, adding that the country’s gas system was stable, with supply secured through a floating liquefied fossil gas terminal.

Read full article by The Guardian

#suomi #finland #eesti #estonia #russia #viro #*

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tomorrowusa · 2 months

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Sweden officially joined NATO on Thursday. It had been neutral since 1814.

One of Putin's pretexts for his illegal invasion of Ukraine was to prevent NATO expansion. What the invasion really did was to cause NATO to become reinvigorated and expanded.

With Finland and Sweden joining NATO, the land border between Russia and NATO has doubled in length. And the Baltic is now a Sea of NATO with Russia holding only a couple of relatively short strips of coastline near Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg. This represents a spectacular strategic failure for Putin.

Sweden on Thursday formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality as concerns about Russian aggression in Europe have spiked following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Secretary of State Antony Blinken presided at a ceremony in which Sweden's "instrument of accession" to the alliance was officially deposited at the State Department. "This is a historic moment for Sweden. It's historic for alliance. It's history for the transatlantic relationship," Blinken said. "Our NATO alliance is now stronger, larger than it's ever been." Kristersson wrote in a social media post that "we are therefore a safer country." Later Thursday. Kristersson will visit the White House and then be a guest of honor at President Joe Biden's State of the Union address to Congress.

Ukraine will eventually join NATO but it probably won't happen while active hostilities continue. Expect to hear Sweden mentioned at the State of the Union address.

Biden, in his speech to Congress, is expected to cite Sweden's accession to NATO as evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin's intent to divide and weaken the alliance has failed as a direct result of the Ukraine invasion. And, the Democratic president is expected to use Sweden's decision to join to step up calls for reluctant Republicans to approved stalled military assistance to Ukraine as the war enters its third year. Biden and his NATO counterparts have vowed that Ukraine will join one day, too.

Russian imperialism of the past 300 years has caused its neighbors to seek more protection against it. Few people in Eastern Europe have fond memories of being Russian or Soviet colonies. With Putin acting like a хуйло for the past 20 years, the only safe option is NATO membership.

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mariacallous · 3 months

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sordidamok · 3 months

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I'm not crazy about Biden and the Dems, but when people say the GOP is worse - this is what "worse" looks like.

Trump would continue US support for Israel while aiding Russia in Ukraine and anywhere else Putin wants, while attacking marginalized people in the US.

Voting for the Dems mean democracy continues. We can keep pushing the center left.

#vote democrat #vote biden #vote blue #please vote #democracy #democrats #democratic socialism #blue wave #social democracy #socialism #social justice #democrats now socialism later

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usafphantom2 · 6 months

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IMAGES: B-1B bombers conduct mission with Gripens from three countries during deployment in Europe

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 10/27/2023 - 4:00 p.m. in Military

U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers from Dyess Air Base, Texas, currently deployed to RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, undertook a comprehensive Bomber Task Force mission in Eastern Europe and also flew alongside Gripens fighters from three nations.

The bombers have been collaborating closely with fighters of NATO allies, the Czech Republic and Hungary, over Eastern Europe since October 26, 2023.

A B-1 also carried out a flight over Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu "MK" Air Base, meaning unwavering support. The overflight is a powerful demonstration of shared values and mutual alliance, contributing to the strengthening of NATO unity.

"The current mission of the Bomber Task Force serves as another testimony of our unwavering dedication to Allies and partners, showing our collective ability to strategize, execute and synchronize perfectly together," said General James Hecker's commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Air Forces in Africa and NATO's Allied Air Command.

The B-1 Lancers successfully carried out the long-planned mission, showing the broad global capabilities of these aircraft. The collaborative mission with NATO countries and partners highlights the collective unity of the Alliance, while underlining its commitment to maintaining peace in the region.

The missions of the bomber task force show the ability of the U.S. to efficiently lead and supervise its fleet of bombers for global missions, further solidifying the commitment to the NATO and U.S. National Defense Strategy.

Tags: Military AviationB-1B LancerFlygvapnet - Swedish Air ForceJAS39 GripenUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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hb-writes · 1 year

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Ada Shelby & Clara Shelby

✵ The Walk-In Appointment: May 1909. Clara learns to walk a bit later than her twin, but once she does there’s no stopping her from following her big brother around wherever he goes.

✵ Tired of the Wait: 1912. When Tommy brings his sisters downtown with him to run an errand and Ada decides to run one of her own, Tommy and Clara both grow tired of waiting on their sister.

✵ The Devil’s Footsteps: 1913. Tommy’s taken on quite a bit of responsibility in caring for his younger siblings. He never expected that responsibility would require him explaining the inappropriateness of tossing erasers at people.

✵ For Old and Young Alike: Set in 1913 and 1922. All Clara Shelby wants for Christmas is a little quality time with her favorite people.

✵ The Road that Leads to Trouble: 1914. The Shelby dinner table is rarely a thing one would call quiet or calm, and it’s no different on the night the family learns their youngest has been kissing boys out on the lane.

✵ Things They Left Behind: 1918. John, Arthur, and Tommy have just returned from France to rediscover the things they’ve left behind: Ada, a set of twins, the business, and a few treasures their youngest sister has been keeping safe for them. *COMPLETED*

✵ Little Lady Blinder Series: 1919. Clara Shelby is a kind girl, a smart girl, a well-behaved little sister in a town full of gangsters and ruffians. With the girl’s raising thus far being such a simple task, the Shelby family is left unprepared for all that accompanies a perfectly respectable little girl growing up and becoming a lady among Peaky Blinders.

✵ The Shelby Women’s Alliance: 1920. Clara navigates the first milestone of puberty on her own in a house full of clueless brothers, keeping it all to herself until Ada comes at the weekend and takes over, managing their brother and formally inducting her sister into the Shelby Woman’s Alliance.

✵ Remember, Before?: 1921. Clara is whisked away to London for the weekend to stay with Ada and Freddie while Tommy deals with one of Arthur’s unpredictable moods. Unbeknownst to the rest of the family, Clara had witnessed the altercation between Tommy and Arthur that had prompted Tommy to send his sister away. With a bit of time and space set between Clara and what she’s seen (and with Ada’s prompting) Clara starts to confide in her sister only to realize that perhaps it’s better to keep some things to herself. Better for the rest of them, at least.

✵ You’re A Terrible Liar: 1921. Ada’s just returned to Birmingham for Freddie’s funeral and Ada convinces her sister that they’ll be alright.

✵ Pretty in Pink: 1923. While dress shopping, Ada offers her self-conscious little sister a bit of reassurance.

✵ Thank you. You didn’t have to do that: 1924. Michael helps his little cousin out when she gets caught trying to sneak out of her sister’s London house.

✵ Transatlantic Connection: 1925. With Arthur, John, Polly, and Michael saved from the noose, Ada’s been comfortably situated in America, leaving Clara in Birmingham. When things become too much, Clara longs for the comfort of her sister and Ada does her best to soothe the girl even though she’s halfway across the globe.

✵ LITTLE LADY BLINDER MASTERLIST ✵

#peaky blinders #peaky blinders fanfiction #peaky blinders fanfic #ada shelby #ada thorne #ada shelby fanfic #shelby sister #shelby!sister #little lady blinder #clara shelby #ada & clara

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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 6 months

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[mike luckovich]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

October 31, 2023 (Tuesday)

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

NOV 1, 2023

Today, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee about the need to fund military aid to both Ukraine and Israel, along with humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza and increased U.S. border security, rather than accept the new measure from extremist House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Johnson wants to split off funding for Israel into its own bill and couple it with cuts to the Internal Revenue Service. Those cuts would dramatically decrease tax audits of those with the highest income and thus decrease revenue for the U.S. Treasury; they are popular with Republicans.

Johnson and other extremist Republicans have made it clear they are not interested in continuing to help Ukraine fight off Russia’s invasion.

Blinken and Austin got strong support not only from Senate Democrats, but also from many Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who explained why it is important for the United States to “help Ukraine win the war” in a speech at the University of Louisville where he introduced Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova.

“If Russia prevails, there’s no question that Putin’s appetite for empire will extend to NATO [the North Atlantic Treaty Organization], raising the threat to the U.S. transatlantic alliance and the risk of war for America. Such an outcome would demand greater permanent deployment of our military force in Europe, a much greater cost than the support we have provided to Ukraine. And of course, Russian victory would embolden Putin’s growing alliance with fellow authoritarian regimes in Iran and China.”

“So this is not just a test for Ukraine,” McConnell said. “It’s a test for the United States and the free world.”

But at the Senate hearing, protesters from CodePink, the group that describes itself as “a feminist grassroots organization working to end U.S. warfare and imperialism,” had a different agenda. They held up their hands, covered in red paint, with the word “GAZA” written on their forearms, repeatedly interrupting Blinken and calling for an end to funding for Israel, citing what the organization calls “Israel's genocide of Palestine.”

Over the weekend, as Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets into Israel and skirmish with Israeli troops, Israel began to push into northern Gaza in a ground operation U.S. officials said had been changed from the originally planned massive Israeli ground offensive to “surgical” strikes that would hit high-value Hamas targets but spare Palestinian civilians.

That advance was accompanied by even fiercer airstrikes than previous ones, and today an attack on a Palestinian refugee camp appears to have caused significant civilian loss. The Israeli military said the attack “eliminated many terrorists and destroyed terror infrastructure,” with underground Hamas installations collapsing and taking adjacent buildings down with them.

From the time of Hamas’s initial strike against Israel on October 7, the Biden administration has been keen to stop the crisis from spreading. President Joe Biden was firm in his repeated declarations that the U.S would stand firmly behind Israel, warning “any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: Don’t. Don’t.”

To deter militants backed by Iran, the U.S. moved two American aircraft carrier strike groups into the region. After repeated drone strikes against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, on Wednesday, October 25, Biden warned Iran that the U.S. would respond if Iran continued to move against U.S. troops. On October 27 the U.S. carried out airstrikes against munitions stockpiles stored at two facilities in eastern Syria linked to militants backed by Iran. Secretary of Defense Austin emphasized that the U.S. actions were “precision self-defense strikes” and were separate from the conflict in Gaza.

Drone attacks on U.S. troops in the area have increased, and the Institute for the Study of War assessed today that Iranian-backed militants, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, “are creating the expectation in the information environment that Hezbollah will escalate against Israel on or around November 3.” The U.S. today announced it is sending 300 additional troops to U.S. Central Command, whose responsibility includes the Middle East, Central Asia and parts of South Asia, to protect U.S. troops from drone attacks by Iran-backed militant groups. Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters the troops are not going to Israel.

In addition to trying to hold off Iran from expanding the conflict, the U.S. has been trying to support Israel’s right to respond while also demanding that Israel follow the rules of war. The U.S. has firmly condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians as “an act of sheer evil.” That evil included the taking of hostages—which is a war crime—including U.S. citizens.

But, all along, the administration has warned Israel that it must not violate international law in its retaliation for the attack. On October 18, in a remarkable admission, Biden advised Israelis not to be consumed by their rage. “After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. And while we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes.”

Responding to the October 7 massacre, he said, “requires being deliberate. It requires asking very hard questions. It requires clarity about the objectives and an honest assessment about whether the path you are on will achieve those objectives.”

Despite the administration's warnings, while international eyes are on Gaza, according to the United Nations, settlers in the West Bank encouraged by the policies of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu have killed at least 115 Palestinians, injured more than 2,000 more, and forcibly displaced almost 1,000. The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross are concerned that Israel’s pursuit of Hamas militants has led it to commit war crimes of its own, enacting collective punishment on the civilians of Gaza by denying them food, water, and electricity as well as instructing them to leave their homes, displacing well over a million people.

While the U.S. says it does not trust the numbers of casualties asserted by Hamas, it believes from other sources that there have been “many thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza thus far in the conflict…. Way too many.” Today the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, John Kirby, reminded reporters: “We aren’t on the ground fighting in this war. There’s no intent to do that…. [T]hese are Israeli military operations. They get to decide what their aims and strategy are. They get to decide what their tactics are. They get to decide how they’re going to decide to go after Hamas.

“We’re doing everything we can to support them—including providing our perspectives, including asking them hard questions about their aims and their strategy and—the kind of questions we’d ask ourselves.”

The administration appears to be trying to defend Israel’s right to self-defense in the face of a massacre that took the lives of 1,400 Israelis, while also trying to recover the hostages, get humanitarian aid into Gaza, and prevent U.S. ally Israel from committing war crimes in retaliation for the attack. It is also insisting there must be a long-term plan for Israel and the Palestinians. To that end, it is throwing its weight behind the long-neglected two-state solution.

On October 27, U.S. Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield echoed Biden’s statement that “there is no going back to the status quo as it stood on October 6th. We must not go back to the status quo where Hamas terrorizes Israel and uses Palestinian civilians as human shields,” she said. “And we must not go back to the status quo where extremist settlers can attack and terrorize Palestinians in the West Bank. The status quo is untenable and it is unacceptable.”

“[W]hen this crisis is over,” she said, “there has to be a vision of what comes next. In our view, that vision must be centered around a two-state solution. Getting there will require concerted efforts by all of us—Israelis, Palestinians, regional partners, and global leaders—to put us on a path for peace. To integrate Israel with the region, while insisting that the aspirations of the Palestinian people be part of a more hopeful future.”

The current crisis might have made that two-state solution more possible than it has been for a generation. Neither Hamas nor Netanyahu’s government supports a two-state solution, but other leaders in the region, including Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, say they do.

Hamas has little support outside of Iran, and up to 80% of Israelis blame Prime Minister Netanyahu for the October 7 attack. His leadership of a right-wing coalition has shielded him from corruption charges even as his attempts to gain more control over Israeli society sparked the largest protests in Israeli history, and there is no doubt the attack and his response to it have weakened him dramatically. At a news conference yesterday, a reporter asked if he would resign.

The recent peace talks in Egypt excluded Hamas, Iran, and Israel. Instead, the organizers invited Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority that oversees the West Bank. President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have been meeting with officials from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. On Friday, Blinken will travel back to Israel to meet with officials there, after which he will make other stops in the region.

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#Heather Cox Richardson #Letters From American #War #Israel Hamas war #Gaza #Blinken #diplomacy

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klbmsw · 2 months

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defensenow · 3 months

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head-post · 3 months

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NATO Secretary-General: Ukraine is a “good deal” for the US

Ukraine is a “good deal” for the United States, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

Stoltenberg, in an exclusive interview with the Washington Examiner, claimed:

Ukraine is a good deal for the United States. And most of the money the United States is providing to Ukraine is actually invested here in the US — buying American equipment which we are sending to Ukraine. So this is making us all safer, and, [making] the US defence industry stronger.

Stoltenberg arrived in the United States to discuss preparations for the next summit of NATO leaders, who will visit Washington in July to mark the 75th anniversary of the transatlantic alliance. His itinerary includes a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a long-standing conservative think tank that has become a bastion of policy proposals in recent years amid the war in Ukraine.

Read more HERE

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bbnewsin125 · 30 days

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Secretary Blinken will travel to France and Belgium next week to underscore our commitment to the NATO Alliance, strengthen transatlantic partnerships, and address global challenges.

#bbnewsinternational #corp #trendingnews #newsoftheday #newsupdates #newsmedia #newsdaily #newsroom #internationaleditor www.bbnewsin.com

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mariacallous · 5 months

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Allies of Hungary’s far-right prime minister Viktor Orbán will hold a closed-door meeting with Republicans in Washington to push for an end to US military support for Ukraine, the Guardian has learned.

Members of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs and staff from the Hungarian embassy in Washington will on Monday begin a two-day event hosted by the conservative Heritage Foundation thinktank.

The first day includes panel speeches about the Ukraine war as well as topics such as Transatlantic Culture Wars. It is expected to feature guests including Magor Ernyei, the international director of the Centre for Fundamental Rights, the institute that organized CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) Hungary. Kelley Currie, a former ambassador under then president Donald Trump, said she was invited “but declined”.

According to a Republican source, some of the attendees, including Republican members of Congress, have been invited to join closed-door talks the next day.

The meeting will take place against a backdrop of tense debate in Washington over Ukraine’s future. Last week the White House warned that, without congressional action, money to buy more weapons and equipment for Kyiv will run out by the end of the year. On Wednesday Senate Republicans blocked an emergency spending bill to fund the war in Ukraine.

A diplomatic source close to the Hungarian embassy said: “Orbán is confident that the Ukraine aid will not pass in Congress. That is why he is trying to block assistance from the EU as well.”

Orbán is a frequent critic of aid to help Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Seen as Vladimir Putin’s closest ally inside the EU for the past few years, he was photographed smiling and shaking hands with the Russian president two months ago in Beijing.

Orbán recently demanded that Ukraine’s European Union (EU) membership be taken off the European Council’s agenda in December. The Hungarian leader posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: “It is clear that the proposal of the European Commission on Ukraine’s EU accession is unfounded and poorly prepared.”

The Heritage Foundation is leading Project 2025, a coalition preparing for the next conservative presidential administration, and has in recent months hosted speeches by leading British Conservative party members Liz Truss and Iain Duncan Smith.

The thinktank has also been a vocal opponent of US assistance to Ukraine. Last year Jessica Anderson, the executive director of its lobbying operation, released a statement under the headline: “Ukraine Aid Package Puts America Last.” In August, Victoria Coates, Heritage’s vice-president, posted on social media: “It’s time to end the blank, undated checks for Ukraine.”

When Heritage celebrated its 50th anniversary last April, Orbán’s political director, Balázs Orbán (no relation), was invited as a speaker for the event. Heritage’s president, Kevin Roberts, repeatedly praised the Hungarian leader on X: “One thing is clear from visiting Hungary and from being involved in current policy and cultural debates in America: the world needs a movement that fights for Truth, for tradition, for families, and for the average person.”

In recent years Orbán has championed a transatlantic far-right alliance with a hardline stance against immigration and “gender ideology”, staunch Christian nationalism and scorn for those who warn of a slide into authoritarianism.

Hungary has been portrayed by conservative media as an anti-“woke” paradise and model for the United States. Some far-right Republicans, such as Kari Lake and Paul Gosar, said they would like to see the “Hungarian model” transplanted to the US, especially when it comes to immigration and family policies. CPAC went to Hungary for the second time this year, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson shot multiple episodes in Hungary touting Orbán policies.

Orbán has returned the favour by lavishing praise on Trump. During this year’s CPAC, where Roberts was also featured as a speaker, he claimed that if Trump were president, “there would be no war in Ukraine and Europe”. The Hungarian prime minister has criticised the multiple federal indictments against the former US president and called the judicial procedure a “very communist methodology” in a recent interview with Carlson.

Dalibor Rohac, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute thinktank in Washington, said: “The Hungarian embassy in DC has been very active lately, trying to repair ties with the Republicans and strengthen them where it’s appropriate.

“It is also not surprising that Heritage is the venue of these talks because they are different from other thinktanks in DC; they are more partisan, and their funding model heavily overlaps with the Trump base.”

But, Rohac said, despite his good relations with some Republicans it was “unlikely” that Orbán would have any leverage over US funding for Ukraine.

Supporters of Ukraine have also been making their case to Republicans in Congress. This week David Cameron, the British foreign secretary, held meetings on Capitol Hill. He told a press conference: “I am sure that goodwill will prevail and the money will be voted through, and it will have a huge effect not just on morale in Ukraine but also making sure that European countries keep asking themselves what more can they do.”

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aviaposter · 1 year

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Aérospatiale / BAC Concorde Air France

Registration: F-BVFC Type: Concorde 101 Engines: 4 × Olympus 593 Mk 610 Serial Number: 209 First flight: Jul 9, 1976

Air France, stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the flag carrier of France headquartered in Tremblay-en-France. It is a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. The airline's global hub is at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Air France's corporate headquarters, previously in Montparnasse, Paris, are located on the grounds of Charles de Gaulle Airport, north of Paris. Air France was formed on 7 October 1933. On 21 January 1976, Air France operated its inaugural supersonic transport (SST) service on the Paris to Rio (via Dakar) route. Supersonic services from Paris to Washington Dulles International Airport began on 24 May 1976. Service to New York (JFK) – the only remaining Concorde service until its end – commenced on 22 November 1977. Paris to New York was flown in 3 hours 23 minutes, at about twice the speed of sound. Air France became one of only two airlines to regularly operate supersonic services, and continued daily transatlantic Concorde service until late May 2003.

Poster for Aviators. aviaposter.com

#aviation #avgeek #plane #aircraft #airplane #posterjetavia #aviaposter #aviationlovers #concorde101 #supersonicplane #supersonicaircraft #pilot

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beardedmrbean · 4 months

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Finnish security was front and centre of Sauli Niinistö's last New Year's speech as president.

He said Finland's security now was "even more firmly established," noting the country's entry into Nato last spring.

"The Russian demand to prevent Finland and Sweden from joining Nato was an indication of her efforts to change the status quo and to create a grey sphere of interest within Europe," he said, adding that Sweden's accession to the alliance seemed to be moving forward.

Niinistö appeared to want to reassure Finnish viewers, saying, "Finland's security is now sealed behind multiple locks."

He referenced a new defence pact (DCA) with the United States as well as membership in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) led by the United Kingdom.

"Wake up"

He also called on Europe to "wake up" and invest in defence not only to aid Ukraine but to deter Russia, which he said was "regaining some of her self-esteem."

"Russia is never as strong as she looks; Russia is never as weak as she looks. This phrase, presented in many forms over time, holds a grain of truth," he told viewers.

The past few months have seen speculation swirling around whether a second Donald Trump presidency would signify a US retreat from Europe and Nato.

"It is also clear that, in the transatlantic relationship, the Europeans are expected to bear much more responsibility," Niinistö said.

Although tasked with overseeing Finland's foreign policy, Niinistö also highlighted everyday matters and the Finnish economy. As a former finance minister, he once again warned about Finland's increasing public debt, the weak development of the economy and people's struggles to make ends meet.

To tackle these problems, Niinistö suggested the establishment of committees working over several electoral terms. This would help build perspectives carrying from one parliamentary period to the next, he said.

Only at the end of his speech did Niinistö acknowledge his 12 years in office coming to an end.

"I now greet you officially for the last time. I do that with deep gratitude for having had the opportunity to present my views — be they more or less accurate."

#nunyas news #updates from up north

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