World
The European Union is preparing to announce a multi-billion dollar plan to counter Chinese influence
- Jessica Parker
- BBC Reporter – Brussels
China has made major investments in Asia and Africa, worrying Europeans.
The European Union (EU) is preparing to announce details of a global investment plan that could be seen as a reflection of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative.
Those familiar with the project expressed that it presents “practical” ideas in the fields of digitalization, transportation, environment and energy.
The plan is seen as an attempt by Western nations to counter Chinese influence in Africa and the rest of the world.
On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen will present the “Global Gateway” initiative.
The EU is currently looking at how to raise billions from member states, financial institutions and the private sector to fund the project.
“We want to invest in quality infrastructure, transportation, trade routes and services around the world,” Van der Leyen said in a speech to the Commission last September.
The 14-page document, which will be announced on Wednesday, is not a strategic plan to confront China. When asked about its plan on Tuesday, the commission cautiously avoided mentioning China.
But Andor Samuel, a researcher at US-European relations at the German Marshall Center in the United States, believes the link between the two is inevitable: the “Global Gateway” project would not have been possible without it. The so-called “Belt and Road” effort.
He describes the plan as “the first serious European effort to allocate funds to establish alternatives and establish financing mechanisms for countries seeking to borrow from China.”
China has taken the “Belt and Road” initiative as the basis of its foreign policy by improving its trade relations by injecting funds into the construction of roads, ports, railways and bridges.
The strategy extended to Asia, the Indo-Pacific, Africa and even the EU’s neighbors in the Western Balkans.
Some critics accuse China of using “debt trap” diplomacy to dominate poor countries, borrowing from them to complete big projects.
But others say large-scale borrowing is rarely risk-free, and that China has provided these countries with money that other countries do not.
In both cases, China’s economic and geopolitical influence in the world is growing amid growing tensions with the West.
The EU is now trying to mobilize its resources and energy into a conflict, Samol describes as a difficult test.
In his view, the question is whether the EU can move out of this geopolitical space or whether it is a difficult place to get caught up in bureaucratic conflicts. He believes that failure in this endeavor will have dire consequences.
“The EU’s strengthening its influence in the region is a positive sign,” one ambassador told me.
“This is a common interest between us and our friends across the Atlantic in the United States and the United Kingdom,” he added.
But common interests also lead to competition, says Scott Morris, a researcher at the International Development Center.
The United States has its own initiative to “rebuild a better world” as announced at the G7 summit last June. Morrison sees this as “a quiet place where a lot of initiatives collide”.
But he has “hope” that this “global gateway” initiative will succeed. “This is an opportunity to provide a larger amount of funding to Europe than to be a competitor to China, which can do something favorable to developing countries that need capital,” he says.
Van der Leyen will present the plan after it is approved by the European Commission.
The EU has clearly emphasized that its initiative is “based on principles” and “transparency”, and that its purpose is to “build relations, not dependencies”.
But the problem is one of influence. The Commission seeks ways to keep its muscles flexible at the geopolitical stage, and then ensures the strength of these muscles.
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World
Officials reject claims of ‘crack in the wall’ of Western support for Ukraine
After Ukraine filed a complaint at the World Trade Organization against Hungary, Poland and Slovakia over a ban on its agricultural products, there were calls to freeze aid to Kiev, which is facing a war imposed by Russia. A year and a half.
All three countries expressed their anger at Ukraine’s move, with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki responding that “we can no longer transfer any weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming ourselves with the latest weapons.”
Some EU officials have warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “experiencing a new episode of Western antagonism” as Ukrainian forces make slow gains in their counteroffensive against Russian forces still in control of large swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine.
High military spending
From Washington to Warsaw, the military spending and capabilities needed to help Ukraine have sparked controversy, although Western officials have downplayed the prospect of divisions among Kiev’s supporters.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said: “I don’t believe that a political disagreement will lead to a collapse,” and his prime minister only pointed out that the newly ordered weapons were destined for his country.
For his part, Jack Sullivan, the national security adviser in US President Joe Biden’s administration, said on Thursday that he hoped “Poland will continue to support Ukraine”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on a short trip to Washington this week, sought to bolster US support for his country, which has been factored into the political campaign ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Former US President Donald Trump and his main Republican challenger, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, want the US to stop sending weapons to Ukraine, they say.
Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, acknowledged after his meeting with Zelensky on Thursday that the amount of money spent on propping up Kiev was discussed, but he said, “But we are investing in democracy.”
Other GOP presidential candidates support Ukraine, including former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Lithuanian President Kitanas Nausėda, a key supporter of Ukraine against Russia, appealed to his counterparts in Ukraine and Poland to “resolve their differences” on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. ,” and said his country was ready to “facilitate” dialogue between them.
“Polish-Ukrainian relations have become hostages of the Polish election campaign,” said Piotr Boras, a senior fellow at the Warsaw-based European Council on Foreign Relations, referring to the country’s parliamentary elections next month.
However, he cautioned that the damage caused by Morawiecki’s comments is still there.
“It does great harm to the Ukrainian issue because this story echoes and legitimizes voices in Europe (mainly from the right) that question the need to provide arms to Ukraine,” Boras told The Associated Press.
Slovakia’s two-term prime minister, Robert Fico, is a front-runner in parliamentary elections, backs Russia and has pledged to end Slovakia’s military and political support for Ukraine if elected in the September 30 election.
Nicolas Mazohar, a military analyst at the Center for Defense Studies at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, said some political parties could play on nationalism to “favour voters” and avoid the idea of ”unfair solidarity”. Ukraine” at the expense of domestic interests.
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World
Emirates News Agency – Tomorrow… the conclusion of the European stages of the President’s Cup for Arabian horses in the Netherlands
Saturday, September 23, 2023 – 1:19 p.m
THE HAGUE, September 23 / WAM / His Highness’s European leg of the President’s Cup Series for Thoroughbred Arabian Horses will conclude tomorrow, Sunday, in The Hague, Kingdom of the Netherlands, by hosting the 11th leg on the “Dandocht” grass track. A precious trophy in its “30th” edition.
This prestigious cup racing series is held under the patronage and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidency of the United Arab Emirates and His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has a keen interest in promoting the Arabian horse racing industry. Supports owners and breeders of Arabian horses in all countries of the world.
It is conducted based on the UAE’s abiding interest in preserving the Arabian horse journey, as it is a true legacy of the UAE’s national heritage and an extension of the approach of its late founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God be pleased with him. Be kind to him.
Raced over a distance of 2,150 meters for horses 4 years of age and older, the President’s Cup Race for Arabian Horses testifies to a group representing the elite of Arabian horses, stalls and stables on the European continent. The third type.
The list of participating horses includes champions of expensive Cup races at previous stations and a group of stars from major Arabian horse races around the world, such as: the horse “Messi” (Dos x Jeanne d’Arc Pint Dorman) owned by Fido Keersmaekers. Supervised by trainer Timo Keersmaekers and led by jockey William Mungel and horse “Jarf” (Dahes).
There is the horse “Salva” (Galino x Ragia Pint Amer) owned by Vatnan Racing, overseen by trainer Alban de Miol and jockey Stephen Brooks, and “Alegio” (Nishane x Gibellina Pint Darvish) owned by owner and trainer Marion Falk. Weissmeier and Jackie Robin Haydns and “Picasso T.” (Maqadir x Baiba de pint Djendal) owned by SBM Horse Racing, jockey Stephen Haylen under the supervision of trainer Susan Postema and “Faridha Bey” (Al Haniyas) DA bint Majd Al Arab) owned and trained by Peter Dekkers and led by jockey Christoph Dehens, and “Babylon” T (Al Murtajaz x Beba de Pint Jandal) is owned and trained by Jotlef Gerard and ridden by jockey Kobi Vanderbeek.
Faisal Al-Rahmani, General Supervisor of the President’s Cup Series for Thoroughbred Arabian Horses, said: “With the conclusion of the European Stations in the Netherlands, we confirm the unprecedented success of the prestigious European racetracks in expensive Cup races.” After the “30th” edition was held in their respective countries, there is a great and shared interest with the United Arab Emirates in creating strong races for Arabian horses (France, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, etc.) to the highest levels. , Britain, Kazan, Russia and Germany), which embodies the prestigious status of the event and its long-standing leadership throughout its historical journey.
He added: These victories are due to the generous support of the beloved cup series and also reflect the pioneering role of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the UAE. His keen interest in promoting the success of the Arabian horse racing process in the office of the President and globally.
Al-Rahmani stressed the importance and place of the Dutch station race in the agenda of expensive cup races, which succeeded in achieving important achievements at the level of encouraging owners and breeders to show interest in the Arabian horse. Its success, and the strong participation of elite European and Dutch Arabian horses, is witness to the race.
Awad Mukhtar/ Sami Abdel Azim/ Mustafa Badr El-Din
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World
Libyan official: number of victims of cyclone “Daniel” rises to 3,753 in Derna
Muhammad al-Jarh, spokesman for the Libyan government’s Supreme Committee for Emergencies and Rapid Response, appointed by the parliament, announced that the number of victims of Hurricane “Daniel” rose to 3,753 deaths in the city of Derna after 168 bodies. Recently recovered.
At a press conference from the city of Shahad on Friday evening, Al-Zar indicated that a program for psychological care had been created in the storm-affected areas.
Al-Zar said a multi-person advisory committee would be formed to provide support to the Supreme Emergency Committee.
Talking about the issue of establishing an executive committee for the Terna City Council, the speaker emphasized that it will be the voice of the city during the next phase and will replace the sacked City Council.
He pointed out that the government appointed by the House of Representatives announced on Friday that a conference on the reconstruction of Terna will be held on the 10th of October, indicating that “modern and fast” ideas will be presented. For the reconstruction of Terna and other areas affected by “Daniel”.
It is noteworthy that since the disaster occurred on September 10, there have been conflicting reports about the number of people who died due to the flood.
The World Health Organization says 4,014 people have died and more than 8,500 are still missing.
“The scale of this disaster is staggering… and it is no exaggeration to say that rapid and coordinated action is needed,” said Dr. Ahmed Zuidan, WHO representative in Libya. We are working closely with our partners, national authorities and the international community to provide vital assistance.
“Saving lives and restoring essential health services at this very difficult time.”
“Creator. Award-winning problem solver. Music evangelist. Incurable introvert.”
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