Iraqi security forces take part in a convoy in Baghdad to celebrate the official US withdrawal from Iraq. Photo: Hadi Mizban/AP/TT
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard hails the news that the last US troops are leaving Iraq as a victory.
The Revolutionary Guard "congratulates the proud nation of Iraq, the united front of Islamic resistance, and the revolutionary warriors of the Islamic world on this historic victory," a statement reads.
"Two decades of occupation show that the US presence did not contribute to security; rather, it was a source of insecurity, terrorism, and instability in Western Asia," the statement continues.
On Wednesday, the mission of the US-led coalition—established in 2014 to combat IS in Iraq and Syria—was formally concluded.
According to Iraq, this means that Iran-backed militia groups in the country no longer have a reason to refuse to surrender their weapons. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has now given them a new deadline of June 30 to do so.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt is en route to the Middle East. File photo. Photo: Nicholas V Huynh/US Navy via AP/TT
The US military is sending approximately 9,000 troops aboard a group of ships to the Middle East, a US official told the AP.
On board the vessels are more than 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines.
Among the vessels en route are the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the cruiser USS Chosin, and the amphibious ships USS Makin, USS John P. Murtha, and USS Anchorage.
This could mean that three aircraft carriers will be present in the region by the end of October, according to the AP's anonymous official source.
The aircraft carriers USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington are already in the region, along with the amphibious ship USS Boxer.
Russian President Vladimir Putin during his speech. Photo: Pavel Bednyakov/AP/TT
Global tensions will subside as the hegemony of Western nations declines. This is the claim made by Vladimir Putin in a speech.
"Globally, the situation will change for the better with a more stable and democratic world order," the Russian president said.
In a long and sweeping speech at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow, Vladimir Putin warned the West against attacking the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad—stating that Russia would respond if they did.
"It is inevitable," he said.
The warning followed NATO military exercises along the border with Kaliningrad—exercises Moscow has labeled "provocative."
"We have no intention of attacking anyone, whether in 2029, 2030, or 2050. But if we face aggression, we will have to respond. The citizens of European countries need to clearly understand what this entails," he said.
"Ridiculous" ceasefire proposal
In the same vein, he rejected a proposal for a ceasefire regarding long-range strikes in the war in Ukraine.
"It has been suggested that they stop attacking our refineries and we stop attacking their ships. Frankly, it is ridiculous," he said, adding a curt "no"—according to the news agency AFP—when asked for his response to the proposal.
In a rambling speech that touched on a wide range of topics, Putin also warned of the dangers of AI—"digital totalitarianism"—and criticized the UN for failing to reflect the realities of the modern world.
Naive Soviet leaders
However, the focus remained on Russia and the nation's place in the world.
Modern-day Russia is the product of Soviet leadership that was "naive and reckless" when, at the time of the Union's dissolution, it trusted the West's promises, the president said.
"The collapse of the Soviet Union was a genuine tragedy for tens of millions who found themselves on the wrong side of the border overnight," he asserted, yet—according to Tass—he still extended an olive branch to the West: "Let us live in harmony."
However, shortly thereafter came a warning against attacking Kaliningrad; citing the state news agency Tass, he stated:
"Escalation is never one-sided, and a point of no return can be reached very quickly and unexpectedly for everyone."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in Copenhagen last year. File photo. Photo: Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix/AP/TT
The European Commission and Ukraine have agreed to "move quickly" on the disbursement of the EU's multi-billion euro loan.
Thursday's announcement comes at a time when Ukrainian politicians and analysts have warned of an increasingly urgent need for funds. The EU has pledged a loan of 90 billion euros to Ukraine over two years but has so far only disbursed a small portion of this year's funds, partly due to delays in Ukrainian reforms.
However, improvements are promised.
"We have identified the funds to cover Ukraine's budgetary and defense needs for 2026. We have also confirmed what is required to ensure the funds are released in a timely manner. For 2027, we have agreed to move quickly with the allocation," a joint statement reads.
