British Foreign Minister David Cameron on Wednesday called for NATO allies to bolster defense spending and production in support of Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
“Allies need to step up and spend more on defense in the face of continued Russian aggression and a more dangerous world,” Cameron will say in a speech on the occasion of 75 years of NATO history since its founding April 4, 1949.
The British minister will ask the allies to endorse British-led initiatives to procure NATO standard missiles and munitions for the Ukrainian armed forces. The UK has spent billions of dollars in its support for Ukraine since 2022 when the invasion began.
“With Ukraine closer to NATO than ever, we must sustain the critical support Ukraine needs to win the war,” Cameron said.
Speaking at a meeting of NATO’s foreign ministers, Cameron will also welcome Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom to the NATO alliance.
Sweden officially joined NATO in March, two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced it to rethink its national security policy and conclude that support for the alliance was the Scandinavian nation’s best guarantee of safety.
Cameron also pointed to NATO’s commitment to integrating Ukraine into the alliance, reaffirming all allies’ consensus on Ukraine’s future NATO membership.
In February, Britain had announced a new package of sanctions against Russia and said it was seeking to diminish Russian President Vladimir Putin’s weapons arsenal and war chest.
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UK’s Cameron calls for increased NATO spending amid Ukraine conflict
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UK’s Cameron calls for increased NATO spending amid Ukraine conflict
- The UK has spent billions of dollars in its support for Ukraine since 2022 when the invasion began
Thai PM moves to dissolve parliament, setting stage for elections
- PM Anutin Charnvirakul moves to dissolve parliament, setting stage for elections
- Move comes after dispute with opposition party, government spokesperson says
BANGKOK: Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Thursday that he is “returning power to the people,” moving to dissolve parliament and clear the way for elections earlier than previously anticipated.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat told Reuters the move followed a disagreement with the largest grouping in parliament, the opposition People’s Party.
“This happened because we can’t go forward in parliament,” he told Reuters.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn later endorsed the decree, the official Royal Gazette announced on Friday, making way for early elections, which by law must be held within 45 to 60 days. The political turmoil coincides with a fourth day of a fierce border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia in which at least 20 people have been killed and nearly 200 wounded.
Anutin told reporters on Wednesday that dissolving parliament would not impact Thailand’s military operations along the frontier, where clashes have broken out at more than a dozen locations, some involving exchanges of heavy artillery.
“I am returning power to the people,” Anutin said on social media late on Thursday.
He is Thailand’s third prime minister since August 2023, and political instability is taking a toll on Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, which is grappling with US tariffs, high household debt and weak consumption.
ACCELERATED TIMELINE FOR ELECTIONS
In September, Anutin had said that he planned to dissolve parliament by the end of January, with a general election to be held in March or early April, but this move would accelerate that timeline.
Anutin took power after pulling his Bhumjaithai Party out of a ruling coalition and securing the backing of the People’s Party, which put forward a number of demands — including a referendum on constitutional amendments — as part of a deal to support him.
“When the People’s Party couldn’t get what they want, they said they will submit a no-confidence motion and asked the PM to dissolve parliament immediately,” Siripong said.
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, told reporters late on Thursday that the Bhumjaithai Party did not follow the terms of their agreement.
“We have tried to use the voice of the opposition to push forward amending the constitution,” he said.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat told Reuters the move followed a disagreement with the largest grouping in parliament, the opposition People’s Party.
“This happened because we can’t go forward in parliament,” he told Reuters.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn later endorsed the decree, the official Royal Gazette announced on Friday, making way for early elections, which by law must be held within 45 to 60 days. The political turmoil coincides with a fourth day of a fierce border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia in which at least 20 people have been killed and nearly 200 wounded.
Anutin told reporters on Wednesday that dissolving parliament would not impact Thailand’s military operations along the frontier, where clashes have broken out at more than a dozen locations, some involving exchanges of heavy artillery.
“I am returning power to the people,” Anutin said on social media late on Thursday.
He is Thailand’s third prime minister since August 2023, and political instability is taking a toll on Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, which is grappling with US tariffs, high household debt and weak consumption.
ACCELERATED TIMELINE FOR ELECTIONS
In September, Anutin had said that he planned to dissolve parliament by the end of January, with a general election to be held in March or early April, but this move would accelerate that timeline.
Anutin took power after pulling his Bhumjaithai Party out of a ruling coalition and securing the backing of the People’s Party, which put forward a number of demands — including a referendum on constitutional amendments — as part of a deal to support him.
“When the People’s Party couldn’t get what they want, they said they will submit a no-confidence motion and asked the PM to dissolve parliament immediately,” Siripong said.
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, told reporters late on Thursday that the Bhumjaithai Party did not follow the terms of their agreement.
“We have tried to use the voice of the opposition to push forward amending the constitution,” he said.
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