President Trump trusts Mr. Putin more than US intelligence; Germany and France negotiate on arms exports

Maldives issues arrest warrant for former president on money laundering charges

Mr. Abdulla Yameen. Photo: Reuters

On February 18, Maldives authorities issued an arrest warrant for former President Abdulla Yameen on charges of money laundering. The arrest warrant was issued after a court began proceedings against Yameen for allegedly receiving $1.5 million in unidentified funds shortly before he lost the presidential election in September 2018. According to the arrest warrant, Yameen will be taken to the prison island of Dhoonidhoo, near the capital Male.

The court has now ordered the freezing of $6.5 million in deposits in all of Mr. Yameen’s domestic bank accounts. However, Maldives officials believe that millions of dollars have been smuggled out of the country by Mr. Yameen and are currently negotiating with foreign banks to recover them if violations are discovered.

Germany and France actively negotiate arms export agreement

Rafale fighter jets fly in the suburbs of Paris. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

According to Reuters, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on February 18 that Germany and France are negotiating procedures for joint defense export licensing. Speaking to reporters at a regular press conference, Seibert emphasized: "It is true that Germany and France are negotiating on questions related to arms exports." He affirmed that Paris and Berlin are actively negotiating to reach an official agreement on this issue.

Germany's Der Spiegel magazine reported on February 15 that the country and France signed a defense agreement in January, aiming to regulate arms exports to third countries.

Former FBI Director: President Trump trusts Putin instead of US intelligence

President Donald Trump believes his Russian counterpart Putin about North Korean missiles. Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump has dismissed the FBI's information on North Korea's missiles, instead saying he trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin. The information was revealed by former Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe on CBS's 60 Minutes program on February 17.

Mr. McCabe, who was fired in March 2018, said that President Trump “made some harsh criticisms” during a discussion about North Korea’s weapons capabilities with intelligence officials. Although he was not present at the meeting, FBI colleagues later told him what happened, Mr. McCabe said. “One of the criticisms was about the North Korean government’s recent missile launches. The president basically said that he did not believe North Korea had the ability to hit the United States with ballistic missiles. He also did not believe, because his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, had told him so, that North Korea did not actually have such missiles,” Mr. McCabe explained.

South Korea and North Korea adjust the speed of project implementation

Panoramic view of the Gyeongwon railway line at Baengmagoji station in Cheorwon, near the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

On February 18, the South Korean Ministry of Unification said that the country and North Korea are adjusting the pace of implementing projects related to inter-Korean relations, in the context of the second US-North Korea Summit approaching. At a regular press conference the same day, Unification Ministry spokesman Baek Tae-hyun said that the ministry is focusing on the US-North Korea Summit scheduled to take place later this month.

At the same time, the South Korean government will continue to closely discuss with North Korea to smoothly promote inter-Korean cooperation projects that the two sides have agreed on.

EU to decide on new sanctions against Russia in coming weeks

Ms. Federica Mogherini. Photo: European Union

According to TASS, on February 18, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced that the EU will make a consensus decision in the next few weeks on imposing new sanctions against Russia after the incident in the Kerch Strait.

Speaking ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on the same day, Ms. Mogherini stated: "The goal of sanctions is not that they will last forever, but to put pressure to remedy the situation. Therefore, the goal of sanctions is that one day they will be lifted, but we have not seen any positive steps and that is why EU member states have so far reaffirmed their will to maintain sanctions. There may be consensus decisions on new sanctions within the next few weeks."

Thailand reaffirms no need for outside election monitoring

Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

According to THX, on February 18, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai reaffirmed that the country does not need "external" supervision of the election on March 24. The foreign minister's statement was aimed at any international organization that may offer to supervise Thailand's election, because he reaffirmed that the country's government and political sector can handle it themselves.

Mr Don Pramudwinai admitted that "outsiders" may have monitored previous elections in Thailand, but there was no longer a need to play such a role as long as diplomats or embassy officials in Thailand could do so.

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