International Relations

Diplomatic relations now appear to be fully restored after the ongoing tense situation between Israel and Turkey.

On Tuesday, December 27, 2022, Israel's ambassador to Turkey, Irit Lilian, handed over her letter of confidence to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Ardoan. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have resumed after many years.

Irit Lilian was appointed as Deputy Ambassador to Turkey from January 2021, but now after giving the letter of confidence, she has been formally given the status of Ambassador to Israel.

Irit Lillian said, “This occasion fills the heart with hope. We all hope that the process of political rapprochement between Israel and Turkey will accelerate and expand to many areas.''

In December 2022, the new Turkish Ambassador to Israel, Sakir Ozkan, handed over his letter of confidence.

There was talk between Benjamin Netanyahu and Ardoan, nominated for the post of Prime Minister in Israel, after the November 1, 2022 election.

In this, both the leaders had agreed to work together while respecting mutual interests.

Relations between Israel and Turkey, once regional allies, have been strained for nearly a decade.

Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador in 2010 after a raid on a ship carrying aid to the Gaza Strip. 10 Turkish citizens were killed in this incident.

Diplomatic relations were restored in 2016, but two years ago, Turkey recalled its ambassador from Israel.

The decision was taken due to Israeli firing on Palestinian protests in the Gaza Strip. Since then both the countries have been trying to improve relations with each other.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned Russia of dire consequences for the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

"The rhetoric about nuclear weapons is dangerous and it is gross negligence and the use of nuclear weapons of any kind can change the course of Ukraine's war," he said on Sunday, 2 October 2022.

The NATO secretary general said, "A nuclear war should never be fought or won. These messages are clearly what NATO and its allies want to convey to Russia.''

Stoltenberg's statement comes at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated to use nuclear weapons after mounting pressure on his army in Ukraine and defeat in many areas.

The people of Russia are criticizing their army

Western leaders and governments recognize that the threat has increased since Friday, September 30, 2022, when President Putin officially declared four regions in Ukraine's eastern and southern regions as part of Russia.

On the other hand, Ukraine claims that its forces have recaptured the Lyman area of ​​the Donetsk province in the east. Lyman is known as a railway hub.

The Russian military leadership has been criticized for its defeat at Lyman. After this, some close to Putin have started demanding a stronger attack on Ukraine. Some hardline nationalists are also advocating the use of low-impact nuclear weapons.

Warning to Russia

Russian leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Saturday, October 1, 2022, that Russia's strategy in war needed a change. Russia needs to "enforce martial law in border areas and use nuclear weapons of little effect on Ukraine."

Tactical nuclear weapons are less effective. They have an effect of only 10 percent compared to conventional nuclear weapons.

Stoltenberg has also warned Russia about the attack on the infrastructure of NATO countries. He has indicated that the Nord Stream pipeline leak has also happened under some conspiracy.

He said that the way the Russian army had to retreat in Lyman shows the courage and bravery of Ukraine. He also considered the weapons being given by America and other countries of NATO as the reason for this.

What is NATO?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 after the Second World War. Its creators were America, Canada and other western countries. It was built by him for protection from the Soviet Union. Then the world was two polar. One superpower was America and the other was the Soviet Union.

NATO initially had 12 member states. After the formation of NATO, it was announced that if any one of these countries of North America or Europe is attacked, then all the countries involved in the organization will consider it as an attack on themselves. Every country in NATO will help each other.

But after the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991, many things changed. One of the main reasons NATO was created was the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The world had become one polar. America was the only superpower left. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia was formed and Russia was economically broken.

US President Joe Biden has strongly criticized the announcement of the merger of four regions of Ukraine with Russia. President Biden said, "The United States condemns the fraudulent attempt to annex the sovereign territories of Ukraine with Russia.

Russia is violating international law, crushing the Charter of the United Nations and disrespecting peaceful countries.''

"Such acts have no validity. The United States will always respect Ukraine's international borders. We will continue to extend our support to Ukraine's efforts to regain these areas. For this, diplomatically and militarily, we will continue to strengthen the hands of Ukraine.''

President Biden said the US this week announced $1.1 billion in additional security aid to Ukraine.

Announcing the new sanctions on Russia, President Biden said, "In response to the claims of occupation of Ukraine's territories, the United States along with its allies today announces new sanctions. These sanctions will apply to individuals and organizations providing political and economic support to illegal attempts to change the status of Ukraine's borders, both inside and outside Russia.''

“We will try to mobilize the international community to hold Russia accountable. I hope that a law proposing an additional $12 billion in aid to Ukraine will be approved by Congress.''

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, 30 September 2022 announced that four regions of Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia – are now part of Russia.

He said, “People from four regions of Ukraine have made their decision. The results of the referendum are well known. The people have made the choice. The only decision.''

Referendums in these four regions of Ukraine controlled by Russia have been declared illegal by Western countries and legal experts. Putin was speaking from the Kremlin in Moscow.

"I have full confidence that the Federal Assembly will support these four new regions of Russia because it is the will of millions of people," he said.

He said the referendum results reflect the "natural right" of those who have cast their vote in it. Putin also mentioned history in his address.

He claimed that generations of Russian people have fought for these areas. He appealed for a minute's silence in the memory of the soldiers killed in this war. Putin said that these soldiers were the heroes of Russia.

Putin said he wanted the people of Kiev and the West to hear that the people of the Donbass region would now become citizens of Russia forever.

He said that "Russia will defend its land in every way possible so that our people can live in a safe way. Russia will rebuild villages and cities in these regions and develop health and education infrastructure.''

The US State Department said on Monday, 26 September 2022 that both India and Pakistan are its partners and both have their own importance.

This statement of the US came a day after Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar's visit in which he questioned the US decision to provide security assistance to Pakistan in F-16 fighter jets.

The US had argued that this aid is being given to Pakistan to fight terrorism, in response to which S Jaishankar said that everyone knows where and against whom the F-16 fighter jets are used.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said, "We have different relations with India and Pakistan. We do not look at our relations with one country as another. Both are our partners and they have their own importance.''

In early September 2022, the US promised Pakistan $450 million in aid for the maintenance of F-16 fighter jets. By doing so, the Biden administration overturned the decision of former President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration had banned any military aid to Pakistan because of allegations of aiding the Taliban and the Haqqani network.

"We want these neighbors to have as good a relationship with each other as possible," Price said.

Citing an example, he said that violence and instability in Afghanistan is not good for neighboring Pakistan.

Ned Price told that America has given millions of dollars to help flood-hit Pakistan.

Former Russian Prime Minister and former President Dmitry Medvedev has said that Russia will have the right to use nuclear weapons if necessary.

Medvedev is currently the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization in Russia. Now there are reports that a large number of people are being drafted into the army in Russia.

Medvedev's latest statement could become a new headache for the West in the midst of Russia's bitterness.

Medvedev said in his statement, "If we are pushed by the borders, we will use nuclear weapons. And it's not just a threat.''

He said that Russia has the right to give a befitting reply to the attack on itself without any advice.

There has been a war between Russia and Ukraine since this 24 February 2022. Now he is holding a referendum in the areas of eastern Ukraine that Russia has occupied.

Considered a liberal at the beginning of his political career, Medvedev is becoming increasingly aggressive.

Medvedev was the President of Russia from 2008 to 2012. After that he was also the Prime Minister of Russia for many years.

Israeli Prime Minister Yer Lepid meets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York.

It is considered an important meeting in terms of bilateral relations between the two countries.

After 2008, there was no one-to-one meeting between the top leadership of the two countries.

At this meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lepid has asked Erdoan to help bring back two Israeli citizens captured by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Simultaneously, Lepid has asked the Turkish president to help bring back the bodies of two soldiers who are believed to have died in 2014.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office has said that the two leaders also discussed cooperation in the economic and energy sector.

Lepid thanked Erdoan for sharing the intelligence in early 2022.

Diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey were once again restored in August 2022.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since 2010, when ten civilians were killed in an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship carrying relief supplies to break the siege of the Gaza Strip.

Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar has said that China still poses a formidable challenge to India on the frontiers.

He said that the changing nature of terrorism is also a threat to the security of the country.

Admiral R Hari Kumar was speaking at a function of the All India Management Association.

He said that China is strengthening its presence not only on the land borders but also on the maritime borders.

"China is still a formidable challenge," he said. It has made its presence not only on our land frontiers but also on the maritime frontiers. At sea, it has strengthened its naval presence in the Indian Ocean by shielding anti-piracy operations.

He said that China has been increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean region since 2008 by making anti-piracy operations a shield.

In support of his argument, Admiral Hari Kumar said, "At any given time, five to eight Chinese Navy units - including warships and research vessels - are stationed in the Indian Ocean. We keep an eye on them."

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization for the war in Ukraine on Wednesday, 21 September 2022. This means that Russia will add more resources and troops in the Ukraine war.

Putin said in his televised speech addressed to the country that "this was an important step to uphold the territorial integrity of Russia".

He said that 'the Western world wanted the end of Russia just as it did the Soviet Union.'

What Putin said in the speech -

- Putin has announced to send additional troops to the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine. This means that people who have served in the Russian army will be called back.
- The departure of these troops will start from Wednesday, 21 September 2022.
- Putin has accused Western countries of blackmailing Russia in the name of nuclear attack.
- Putin has said that he has enough weapons to respond to threats from Western countries.
- He has said that all possible means will be mobilized for the safety of loved ones in Donbass.
- He has ordered funding to increase the production of weapons in Russia.

Yevgeny Popov, a member of the Russian Parliament Duma, told the BBC that 'as I understand, some experienced soldiers will be deployed and those who have just retired from the army may be called in. It is not about sending common people to the battlefield.

Will Putin's massive mobilization now worsen relations with the West?

According to BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg, until today Russia has been claiming that its military operation in Ukraine is going according to plan.

But now it is not so.

Vladimir Putin has admitted that he needs additional troops on the battlefield by announcing the withdrawal of the Russian army reserve troops.

Listening to the Russian president doesn't seem to have the slightest regret for attacking Ukraine seven months ago.

Putin has said that Western countries are responsible for Russia's problems. Saying this, he has accused the Western countries of wanting to break Russia.

"If Russia's territorial integrity is threatened, we will use all available means," he said.

A referendum is being held in the coming days in the areas of Ukraine that Russia has recently occupied.

This is a direct message to Ukraine and to the West - do not try to take back the land we have occupied and which we will claim.

To clarify this, he has threatened.

He said, "Those who try to threaten us with nuclear weapons should know that the wind can also blow towards them."

At the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that our world is in crisis and the world system has become helpless.

Cooperation and dialogue is the only way forward. No power or group alone can solve a major global challenge. We need the solidarity of the world.

In a stern warning to the General Assembly, Guterres said the international community was not prepared or willing to deal with the dramatic challenges of our era.

“The UN Charter and its ideals are in danger. It is our duty to take action. We need to take concrete action everywhere in relation to international law and the protection of human rights.''

Guterres also accused social media platforms of spreading hatred and negativity.

Leaders of 193 countries from around the world have arrived in New York to participate in the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. But the Presidents of China and Russia are not attending the meeting this time.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also reached New York.

This time the agenda of the General Assembly includes important issues like climate crisis to change in the education system.