Military alliances

China is not planning on creating a united front with Russia against NATO, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced. Its spokesperson stressed that military ties between the two powers served as a basis for a strategic partnership. However, the sides are sticking to the principle of non-participation in the alliances and do not want any confrontation.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he sent a letter to the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell ahead of a special meeting called at Greece's request, wanting to explain Turkey's position on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to the country's state-run news agency Anadolu.

"Moscow calls on Eastern European partners to weigh the risks and consider the consequences of deploying the US military on a rotating basis on their territory," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

It is now about the emergence of a permanent military contingent of the United States and its allies in Eastern Europe in places they have never been before.

The security situation on NATO's eastern flank was a matter discussed at a videoconference meeting of Romania's Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca and his Estonian counterpart Juri Luik.

President Donald Trump said on June 15 he is ordering a major reduction in U.S. troop strength in Germany, a move widely criticized by members of his own party as a gift to Russia and a threat to U.S. national security.

"We're putting the number down to 25,000 soldiers,'' Trump said at the White House.

The Strategic Partnership with the USA offers a lasting guarantee for national security and prosperity, along with membership in NATO and the European Union, Prime minister Ludovic Orban said on Sunday in a message addressed on the occasion of the 140th anniversary years of diplomatic relations between Romania and the United States of America. "Today [ed.n.

He added that NATO also helps through the Alliance's support for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, under the auspices of the EU.

Turkey is maintaining its presence in the sea area between the island of Crete and Libya, with six frigates and an oil tanker observed in the region on Friday.

The frigates are in international waters secured for naval exercises by four navigational telexes issued by Ankara.

In an interview with Kathimerini, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, one of Europe's leading experts in international affairs and security and the chairman of the prestigious Munich Security Conference, expresses concern that the geopolitical repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic include a crisis of democracy while indicating that NATO remains the backbone of Greece's security and calling for "

Britain once again thanked Turkey on April 15 for sending medical equipment for the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, Defense Minister Ben Wallace "expressed gratitude" for Turkey's delivery last week of 250,000 items of personal protective equipment (PPE), including 50,000 N95 face masks, 100,000 surgical masks, and 100,000
protective suits.