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Greece questions France over potential missile sale to Türkiye

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Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has asked the French Ambassador to Athens to disclose information about Paris’ willingness to sell METEOR missiles to Ankara.

The issue of the missile sale sparked strong reactions in Athens. ‘I expressed to the French Ambassador Greece’s strong opposition to such a possibility, which is incompatible with the hitherto excellent strategic relations between the two countries,’ Minister Dendias said after meeting with French Ambassador Laurence Auer.

The Greek ministry cited information suggesting that France was open to supplying Türkiye with the long-range METEOR air-to-air missiles used by the Greek air force on Rafale aircraft.

Greece has already purchased 24 Rafale fighter jets from France and is considering buying six more.

Türkiye is moving to fill the air power vacuum in the Aegean Sea due to Greece’s related purchases following its exclusion from the F-35 programme.

Unable to buy Rafale due to a mutual defense clause in the military agreement between Greece and France, Türkiye has turned to Eurofighter jets produced by a consortium of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

However, the main problem for Athens is that METEOR missiles, which can reach a target more than 100 kilometers away, can also be used by Eurofighters.

According to the Greek government, it is ‘contradictory’ for a producing country to sell weapons systems to two countries with which it has differences.

Meanwhile, La Tribune newspaper reported earlier this month that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would buy Eurofighter aircraft on condition that he also buy Meteor missiles to compete with the Greeks.

Sources in Athens stressed that Greece is supporting France in a difficult period by buying Rafale after Australia cancelled a 38 billion euro deal to buy French conventional submarines in 2021 as part of the AUKUS security agreement signed with the US and the UK.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a television interview last night that he had not been informed of France’s decision to supply METEORs to Türkiye.

However, the Greek leader said Ankara may have expressed interest and the defense minister may have acted ‘pre-emptively’ by contacting the French Ambassador.

Elysee had no comment on the matter.

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EU suspends key sanctions against Syria to boost economic recovery

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The European Union (EU) has suspended sanctions against Syria targeting sectors such as banking, energy, and transport. The European Council announced the decisions taken on EU sanctions against Syria at a meeting of member states’ foreign ministers in Brussels. EU countries decided to “suspend” a number of restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria, the statement said, claiming that the decision was part of the EU’s efforts to support an inclusive political transition, economic recovery, reconstruction, and stabilization in Syria. “The EU has suspended restrictive measures in key economic sectors in Syria,” the statement said.

The statement said that transactions in sectors such as energy, transport, finance, and banking will be facilitated, adding that the decision was taken to suspend measures in the energy and transport sectors, including oil, gas, and electricity. It was stated that the Syrian Industrial Bank, Popular Credit Bank, Savings Bank, Agricultural Cooperative Bank, and Syrian Arab Airlines will be removed from the sanctions list, and the Syrian Central Bank will be allowed to provide funds and economic resources.

The statement pointed out that certain exemptions will be made to the ban on establishing banking relations between EU banks and Syrian banks and financial institutions, thus allowing transactions, especially in the energy and transport sectors, and for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes. It was also reported that the application of the humanitarian exemption in the sanctions will be extended indefinitely, and the ban on the export of luxury goods for personal use to Syria will be ended.

It was stated that the EU Council will continue its work on this issue and will evaluate whether more economic sanctions can be suspended in the future, and the situation in the country will be closely monitored. In the statement, it was informed that EU sanctions in various fields such as the Bashar al-Assad administration, chemical weapons, illegal drug trade, and arms trade continue, and the legal regulations regarding the new decisions taken will be published in the EU Official Journal tomorrow and will enter into force.

EU sanctions against Syria started in May 2011. Individual restrictive measures such as travel bans and freezing of assets were taken against individuals linked to the Assad administration and held responsible for human rights violations. Critical figures in the inner circle of the regime, from Bashar al-Assad to ministers, were included in the list. In addition, the EU also imposed sectoral sanctions on Syria, targeting sectors at the heart of the regime’s financial network. In this framework, the import of crude oil and petroleum products, the export of goods that can be used for both military and civilian purposes, and some communication equipment were restricted. These sanctions also covered the financing of certain initiatives and infrastructure projects.

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‘Russian agents’ controversy in Azerbaijan: Why are former ministers under fire?

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Erkin Öncan — Journalist

While not currently a major topic in the Turkish press, a debate concerning alleged “Russian agents” has been ongoing in Azerbaijan for some time. Media outlets close to the government, in particular, have been discussing a supposed group of “Russian agents.” It is even claimed that this “agent group” was the primary reason for the closure of the “Russian House,” which was officially shut down due to “lack of legal registration.”

Notably, this group allegedly includes high-ranking figures such as former Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov; Ramiz Makhdiyev, a close associate of Haydar Aliyev known as the “grey cardinal”; former Head of National Security Eldar Makhmudov; former Minister of Culture Abulfas Garayev; and former Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov. [Note: Grey Cardinal is a term used for people who have great power and influence behind the scenes, but are not very visible in public].

What happened?

Earlier this month, the pro-government Azerbaijani news agency Qafqazinfo reported that “a network serving Moscow’s interests has been identified in the country” and that “the activities of Rossotrudnichestvo (Russian House) in Baku have been suspended.”

Other pro-government media outlets quickly disseminated the news, asserting that the individuals in question received instructions from Russian intelligence and attempted to influence socio-political processes in Azerbaijan through a network of agents.

Although Qafqazinfo presented the news with the caveat, “However, the information reaching Qafqazinfo leaves no doubt that such a structure really exists,” there has been no official statement confirming the launch of any investigation into the matter.

Another press organization, however, reported the veracity of the “spy group” allegations with these statements:

“The fact that these people are no longer on duty does not mean that the relations have disappeared. There are still those who go to the representative of Russian intelligence and receive instructions, send false messages to our society, and try to create division.”

Political scientist Natig Miri, speaking to Crossmedia.az, claimed that Russia’s “spy network” strategy is not unique to Azerbaijan but is employed in “almost all embassies and consulates”:

Natig Miri said, “However, it is not limited to political elites. There are also such people among the leaders of non-governmental organizations, media outlets and political scientists. In a sense, they are trying to ‘wash Russia’s hands’. In Azerbaijan, it is imperative to identify, expose and remove such persons from their positions in the government and society.”

“The man who writes has no mind”

The accused individuals have vehemently denied the allegations. Mammadyarov responded to the claims by stating, “Some people have a stomach ache. The man who writes has no mouth.” Mammadyarov further questioned, “I was educated in Ukraine, Russia and the US. Does this mean that they should call me an agent of these countries?”

The crash of AZAL’s Embraer 190 aircraft on December 25 near Aktau, Kazakhstan, during a Baku-Grozni flight, reignited tensions between the two countries.

Azerbaijani officials had confirmed the claim that the plane was attacked by the Russian “Pantsir-S” air defense system in the incident, which resulted in the deaths of 38 people. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev for the incident, it highlighted how relations, which have fluctuated in the post-Soviet period, could escalate into open tension.

Due to historical ties and geopolitical dynamics, Azerbaijan’s relationship with Russia is constantly evolving, sometimes strained but difficult to sever completely. Relations between the two countries are founded on pragmatism and a balance of interests.

However, two significant issues distinguish Azerbaijan, a former Soviet country, from its peers: Russia’s position in the Karabakh Crisis and relations with Israel.

In certain respects, the same alignment found in every former Soviet country also applies to Azerbaijan. A significant portion of the nationalist and liberal sectors in Azerbaijan, similar to Georgia and Ukraine, are inclined to shed the Soviet past and establish closer ties with the West. This makes it easier for these forces to align with Western-backed political groups.

On the other hand, the Karabakh crisis, which has persisted since the 1990s and was “recently” resolved in Azerbaijan’s favor, has resulted in a prolonged Russian military presence in the region. Although the Azerbaijani government has not voiced any serious objections to Russia’s political and military presence, this presence has consistently been a source of unease for the government’s electoral base, namely the nationalist/conservative segments of the country.

In other words, regarding Russian relations, the Azerbaijani government has consistently allowed its electorate and affiliated media outlets to express sentiments that it cannot officially voice due to its current balancing strategy. This serves the dual purpose of appeasing domestic politics and sending an unofficial message. This dichotomy is often observable in Turkey’s foreign policy as well.

Relations with Israel

Azerbaijan’s strategic partnership with Israel, or rather, Israel’s interest in Azerbaijan, is naturally linked to Azerbaijan’s geographical location in the South Caucasus, its proximity to Russia and Iran, and its oil reserves.

The fact that Azerbaijan represents, to put it mildly, “an alternative” to Russia and Iran in the region is a well-known fact, even if it is not often explicitly stated.

However, this relationship does not entirely sever Baku’s dependence on Russia, even though it irritates Moscow and Tehran. In the first six months of 2024, the volume of trade between the two countries more than doubled, increasing 2.5 times to exceed $8.3 billion.

Azerbaijan’s share in foreign trade volume with Russia in 2024 is 10.1%, its share in exports is 4.4%, its share in exports of non-oil/gas products is 34.6%, and its share in imports is 17.2%.

While the media discussed “Russian agents” in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev, on February 11, approved an agreement signed in late 2024 to expand the North-South corridor linking Iran and Russia through Azerbaijan. The 2024 bilateral agreement provides for the modernization of road and rail infrastructure to accommodate growing trade volumes.

In another meeting held three days ago in the Iranian capital, Tehran, Azerbaijani, Russian, and Iranian officials reportedly agreed on a plan to construct the Rasht-Astara railway on Iranian territory.

Russian companies remain active in Azerbaijan’s energy and infrastructure projects, while Baku provides Moscow with a transit corridor for the transportation of gas and oil. Simultaneously, however, Azerbaijan aims to reduce its dependence on Russia by developing alternative routes through projects such as the Southern Gas Corridor and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline.

From the perspective of both Russia and Azerbaijan, the current relationship is characterized by a partnership of interests. Considering the figures, it can be inferred that the discussions regarding “Russian influence” in Azerbaijan are primarily directed at domestic public opinion rather than Russia for the time being, and that the “Russian agent” accusations against senior officials reflect internal political calculations.

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Musk’s Starlink faces growing competition from China’s SpaceSail in satellite internet race

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Elon Musk’s Starlink communications network is facing increasingly stiff challenges to its dominance of high-speed satellite internet, including a Chinese state-backed rival and another service funded by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos.

Shanghai-based SpaceSail signed a deal to enter Brazil in November and announced it was in talks with more than 30 countries. It started operations in Kazakhstan two months later, according to the Kazakh embassy in Beijing.

Brazil is also in talks with Bezos’ Project Kuiper internet service and Canada’s Telesat, according to a Brazilian official involved in the negotiations who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. News of these talks is being reported for the first time.

Since 2020, Starlink has launched more satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) — an altitude of less than 2,000 kilometers — than all its competitors combined. Satellites operating at such low altitudes transmit data extremely efficiently, providing high-speed internet for remote communities, maritime vessels, and armies at war.

Musk’s superiority in space creates serious competition for Beijing, which is heavily investing in this race and funding extensive research. According to data analyzed by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell and technology consultancy Analysys Mason, China launched a record 263 LEO satellites last year.

Its rival to Starlink, SpaceSail, has been welcomed by the Brazilian government, which wants high-speed internet for communities in remote areas but has previously clashed with Musk over trade and politics.

SpaceSail declined to comment when asked by Reuters about its expansion plans. Last year, a newspaper controlled by China’s telecoms regulator praised SpaceSail as “a strategic capability that can transcend national borders, penetrate sovereignty, and cover the whole world unconditionally … a strategic capability that our country must master.”

Kuiper, Telesat, Starlink, and the Brazilian communications ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Few of Musk’s international competitors have the same ambition as SpaceSail, which is controlled by the Shanghai municipal government. Starlink, which has announced plans to deploy 648 LEO satellites this year and 15,000 by 2030, currently operates about 7,000 satellites and aims to operate 42,000 by the end of the decade, according to McDowell.

The satellites SpaceSail will launch will form the Qianfan or “Thousand Sails” constellation, China’s first international push into satellite broadband. China’s other three constellations are also under development, with Beijing planning to launch 43,000 LEO satellites in the coming decades and investing in rockets capable of carrying multiple satellites.

China’s Foreign Ministry said in response to Reuters questions that it was not aware of details about SpaceSail and China’s deployment of LEO satellites overseas but emphasized that Beijing was continuing space cooperation with other countries for the benefit of their people.

SpaceSail stated that it aims to provide reliable internet to more users, especially in remote areas and during emergencies and natural disaster recovery.

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