Georgia and Azerbaijan sign landmark energy and transport agreements in Baku
In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partne...
Türkiye and Finland have signed a Defence Industry Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening collaboration between the two NATO allies through joint production, technology exchange, and the development of defence capabilities.
The agreement was signed by Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries head Haluk Gorgun and Finland's Director General for Resource Policy and National Armaments Director Olli Ruutu, marking a significant step in bilateral defense relations.
Görgün highlighted the strategic significance of the agreement, stating, “The memorandum of understanding we signed with Finland marks the beginning of a new era in joint production, technology sharing, and capability development.”
In a post on his X account, Görgün added that the agreement aims to “enhance and elevate defense industry cooperation between NATO allies Türkiye and Finland to its highest level.”
“Strong partnerships are the foundation of sustainable peace and a shared vision of security. This cooperation, which will bolster NATO’s deterrence, also represents a significant step toward the integration into Europe’s defense industry. We are combining the spirit of alliance with our industrial vision, further deepening our contribution to Euro-Atlantic security,” - he stated.

In 2023, Finland’s Defense Ministry announced the lifting of the military equipment export embargo to Türkiye, which had been in place since 2019, and granted licenses for arms sales. The ministry also issued the first commercial export license for military materials to Türkiye.
Finland had suspended its export licenses in October 2019 in response to Türkiye’s military operation in Syria. The permission for arms sales was among the conditions Türkiye set for approving Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned attack on Iran after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, allowing negotiations to continue over a possible deal to end the conflict.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), warning that the situation poses a significant risk of cross-border spread in Central Africa.
In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partnership set to shape the South Caucasus corridor for decades to come.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for closer security coordination between Central Asia and China, warning that expanding trade and infrastructure links are exposing the region to increasingly sophisticated cross-border threats.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Israeli forces intercepted dozens of Gaza-bound aid vessels in the eastern Mediterranean on Monday (18 May), prompting condemnation from the United Nations and Türkiye, while flotilla organisers said several ships continued sailing toward Gaza despite the operation.
Pakistan has deployed around 8,000 troops, fighter jets and air defence systems to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence agreement, according to security officials and government sources familiar with the arrangement.
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