VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

U.S. President Joe Biden pledged more American troops, warplanes and warships for Europe on Wednesday as NATO agreed the biggest strengthening of its deterrents since the Cold War in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Biden's pledge at the Madrid summit "to defend every inch of allied territory" came as the U.S.-led military alliance also set in motion a new plan to reinforce the Baltic states and Poland against any future Russian attack.

With more German, British and other allied troops to be on alert to deploy eastward, the United States is also adding to the 100,000 personnel already in Europe by sending more warships to Spain, planes to Britain, pre-positioned weapons to the Baltics and more soldiers to Romania.

"We mean it when we say an attack against one is an attack against all," Biden said.

The Baltics originally sought permanent NATO bases and as much as a tenfold increase to NATO's troop presence from around 5,000 multinational soldiers prior to the Ukraine invasion, as well as adding air and maritime defences.

While what NATO agreed on Wednesday falls short of that, it means allies will keep more troops in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, send more equipment, weapons and ammunition to the region and set up a system of rapid reinforcements.

NATO leaders agreed to move towards putting more than 300,000 troops at higher readiness.

In the past, the alliance relied on a smaller number - some 40,000 troops - to be first in line to respond to any Russian attack or other crises.

"President Putin's war against Ukraine has shattered peace in Europe and has created the biggest security crisis in Europe since the Second World War," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference. "NATO has responded with strength and unity."

The United States will also create a new permanent army headquarters in Poland, which was immediately welcomed by Polish president Andrzej Duda, as Warsaw long sought a permanent U.S. military base on its soil. "It is a fact that strengthens our safety a lot ... in the difficult situation which we are in," Duda said. 

NATO also agreed a long-term military and financial aid package for Ukraine, vowing to stick with Kyiv in its struggle. In central Madrid, Ukrainian refugees held a demonstration to ask NATO for more arms for their nation, which is now facing a war of attrition against superior Russian artillery in the east of the country.

Ukrainian student Kateryna Darchyk, 20, told Reuters: "We ask for NATO to give us weapons because we have soldiers, we have people ready to fight for Ukraine, men and women who are ready to protect their country."

END OF NORDIC NEUTRALITY

In addition, NATO's 30 leaders invited Finland and Sweden into the alliance, a decision that once ratified would end decades of Nordic neutrality by putting the two countries under the United States' nuclear umbrella. read more

That was made possible after Turkey dropped its veto on the two countries' progress to membership following four hours of talks on Tuesday evening in Madrid, ending weeks of drama that threatened allied unity.

As part of the deal, Sweden and Finland agreed not to support Kurdish militant groups.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had threatened to block their bids over Ankara's accusations the two countries supported a Kurdish militia in northern Syria. Turkey views the militia as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which is also deemed a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union.

Both Finland, which has a 1,300 km (810 mile) border with Russia, and Sweden, home of the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize, are now set to bring well-trained militaries into the alliance, possibly giving NATO Baltic Sea superiority.

"We are not yet covered by NATO's Article 5," Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told Reuters, referring to NATO's collective defence clause. "Our aim is that period should be as short as possible," he said. (Reuters)

Starting his agenda in Ukraine, President Jokowi and a limited entourage visited the Lipky apartment complex in Irpin City, Ukraine, Wednesday (29/6/2022). This apartment was reduced to rubble due to war.

“I was accompanied by the Mayor of Irpin and the Deputy Mayor of Irpin to see the damage that had occurred in the City of Irpin due to the war. It's very sad, many houses were damaged as well as damaged infrastructure," said President Jokowi after the review.

The President hopes that the war can be stopped soon and that no more cities in Ukraine will be damaged by the war.

Also accompanying the President when visiting Irpin City were Mayor Irpin Alexander Grigorovich Markushin, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. (RRI)

This year's G7 Summit was held at Elmau Castle, Garmisch-Partenkierchen region, Germany.

The forum, which is held regularly every year, consists of seven developed industrial countries. The forum members are the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, and France.

This forum discusses the world situation with the aim of reaching decisions and agreements for cooperation in certain fields.

However, the decisions and agreements are only proposals and recommendations, so they are not binding. The results of the summit are usually announced in a joint statement.

However, this year, Germany, as the host of the G7 Summit, did not only invite member countries, but also invited Indonesia, Senegal, Argentina, India, and South Africa. These countries are invited as partners.

Indonesia was also invited as President of the G20, whose peak will take place in October. The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, also attended the two-day summit. This year's G7 summit will take place from Sunday 26 June 2022 and Monday 27 June 2022 local time. (RRI)

President Joko Widodo's call for the G7 and G20 member countries to unite to save developing countries from the food crisis is appreciated, because it was delivered in the right situation.

President Jokowi's statement was conveyed in his view at the G7 Summit session II, with the topic of food security and gender equality taking place in Elmau, Germany, Monday (27/6/2022), this week.

"Currently, extreme hunger threatens people in developing countries," said Professor Hikmahanto Juwana at the University of Indonesia in his statement, Wednesday (29/6/2022).

On the other hand, Hikmahanto assessed that President Jokowi's invitation about the food crisis was also related to the encouragement of peace in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This is because the production of agricultural products, especially wheat, is the largest in the world in these two countries.

Because of that, he continued, President Jokowi's speech did not directly mention the dangers of war in Ukraine, but the intent of the statement also involved efforts to reconcile the two countries in Eastern Europe.

"Yes, that's right, I think this is the approach taken by Mr. Jokowi so that the destination countries do not heat up Ukraine," said the Chancellor of the University, General Achmad Yani.

It is believed that President Jokowi's statement about saving developing countries from this extreme food crisis will surely be followed by G7 and G20 member countries.

"I think this is an appeal from the President and maybe these countries will follow this call to survive the extreme food crisis, because this war has been in Europe for too long, everyone is tired and frankly doesn't know what the goal is," he said.

"In fact, what are affected are developing countries that do not have money financially, which then the President said that millions of people will be affected, will die if this food crisis occurs," he added.

As is known, President Joko Widodo called on the G7 and G20 countries to jointly overcome the food crisis, which currently threatens people in developing countries to fall into extreme hunger and poverty.

“323 million people in 2022, according to the World Food Programme, are at risk of facing acute food insecurity. The G7 and G20 have a big responsibility to overcome this food crisis. Let's fulfill our responsibilities now, and from now on," Jokowi said.

According to Jokowi, food is the most basic human rights issue, while women from poor families will certainly suffer the most when facing food shortages for their children and families.

“We must act quickly to find a concrete solution. Food production must be increased. The global food and fertilizer supply chain must return to normal," he concluded. (RRI)