Switzerland is taking steps toward deeper defence cooperation with the European Union, launching talks on a non-binding arms partnership while maintaining its neutral stance.
Plans for exploratory talks with the EU, for a non-binding partnership that would allow the country to participate in EU arms procurement projects, were announced by the Swiss government on Wednesday.
While Switzerland is not a member of the EU, it expressed strong interest in strengthening security ties and defence capabilities through cooperation that remains compatible with its long-standing neutrality.
Such a partnership would improve the chances for Swiss defence companies to join the EU’s €150 billion ($174 billion) arms fund and negotiate better terms for participation. Similar agreements have already been signed with other non-EU countries, and more are expected.
In a separate move, the Swiss government also approved a draft agreement with Ukraine aimed at facilitating Swiss private sector involvement in the war-torn country’s reconstruction efforts.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, calling for greater international pressure to push Moscow toward peace negotiations.
The European Union will provide €20 million in humanitarian aid to support vulnerable refugees in Türkiye. This funding will be directed to humanitarian partners working closely with Turkish authorities to address refugees’ essential needs, including protection, health, water and sanitation, etc.
The European Union’s Commissioner for Industrial Strategy urged European countries to establish joint reserves of rare earth materials to reduce dependence on China and protect against supply disruptions.
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Monday he will ask the EU Council to suspend the bloc’s agreement with Israel and back an arms embargo in response to human rights violations in Gaza.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will continue to defend itself unless Israeli strikes stop, following high-level talks in Geneva with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union’s top diplomat.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, calling for greater international pressure to push Moscow toward peace negotiations.
Russia has expressed its readiness to support the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia to ensure regional stability and security.
Greek authorities have arrested a Georgian woman suspected of accidentally causing one of the wildfires devastating the island of Chios by discarding a cigarette, amid ongoing efforts to control the fires.
NATO has confirmed that its 2026 summit will be hosted by Türkiye, with Albania set to host the following summit in 2027, according to the final declaration from the summit in The Hague.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague to discuss key regional and global issues.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Norway is stepping up military support for Ukraine with a $640 million package aimed at boosting the country's drone capabilities, both on the battlefield and for infrastructure protection.
Afghan farmers are shifting away from opium cultivation as the interim government ramps up efforts to eliminate the drug trade, offering alternative crops and local support.
U.S. mortgage interest rates saw slight changes last week as applications for refinancing increased, even though home purchase applications dipped.
Victor Arthein, a senior figure in the Guadeloupe Communist Party, has urged the territory to pursue political and economic independence from France, citing deep-rooted structural dependence and declining sovereignty.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, calling for greater international pressure to push Moscow toward peace negotiations.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, calling for greater international pressure to push Moscow toward peace negotiations.
Russia has expressed its readiness to support the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia to ensure regional stability and security.
Greek authorities have arrested a Georgian woman suspected of accidentally causing one of the wildfires devastating the island of Chios by discarding a cigarette, amid ongoing efforts to control the fires.
NATO has confirmed that its 2026 summit will be hosted by Türkiye, with Albania set to host the following summit in 2027, according to the final declaration from the summit in The Hague.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague to discuss key regional and global issues.
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