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world news Diabierna 17 Juni 2022

France: Nearly 40 jihadis killed in drone strikes in Niger

AP) — French drone Barkhane said in the state- ger has become a more reli-
strikes killed nearly 40 Is- ment. "In close coordination able ally after military coups
lamic extremists earlier with Niger's Armed Forces, overthrew the democratically
this week who were trav- the Barkhane force conduct- elected presidents of neigh-
eling on motorcycles near ed several strikes against the boring Mali and Burkina
Niger's border with Burki- column. Nearly 40 terrorists Faso over the last two years.
na Faso, France's military were neutralized."
announced Thursday. Earlier this year, France an-
Niger's government also is- nounced it was withdrawing
In a statement, the French sued a statement, saying the all its forces from Mali nine
military called the strikes jihadis were killed after an years after the French mili-
a "new tactical success" for attack earlier this week killed tary led an effort that ousted
France's counterterrorism ef- eight security forces in south- Islamic extremists from Tim-
forts in Africa's Sahel region, western Niger. buktu and other centers in
named Operation Barkhane. northern Mali. The decision
The drone strikes in Niger to withdraw from Mali came
"Intelligence obtained from come as France reorganizes amid increasing hostility to-
Nigerien units in contact its military efforts in the ward the French armed pres- France has said that it planned Niger's southwest neighbor,
with the column confirmed broader Sahel region, the vast ence and tensions with the to reposition its forces from Burkina Faso, which is bat-
that the motorcycles be- area south of the Sahara Des- country's leader, who led two Mali to other countries in the tling growing jihadi attacks.
longed to an armed terror- ert where it was once a colo- coups nine months apart to Sahel region including Niger. ___ Associated Press writer
ist group moving between nial power and still maintains consolidate his power. Extremist violence is grow- Krista Larson in Dakar, Sen-
Burkina Faso and Niger," strong economic ties. Ni- ing in the Sahel, including in egal contributed.

India, ASEAN seek to boost ties amid US-China rivalry

on food and energy security, of formal "dialogue partner" ernment have been excluded
prices and supply chains. relations between India and from recent ASEAN meet-
Singapore Foreign Minis- ASEAN. ings because of disagree-
ter Vivian Balakrishnan said ments over their lack of co-
Russia's actions have "upend- It is being attended by the operation in implementing
ed the international system of foreign ministers of Singa- measures agreed upon by the
rules and norms." pore. Brunei, Cambodia, 10-member group last year to
Balakrishnan added that the Indonesia, Malaysia and help ease the country's vio-
rivalry between the U.S. and Vietnam, and by representa- lent political crisis.
China has direct implications tives of the foreign ministers
for all of Asia. of Laos, the Philippines and Trade between India and the
Thailand, India's External Af- ASEAN region surpassed $78
Jaishankar emphasized the fairs Ministry said. billion in 2021.
need for strengthening land It did not explain why there India mainly exports organic
(AP) — A special meet- ed States and China that and sea connectivity among was no representative from chemicals, minerals, ships
ing of foreign ministers threaten peace and stabil- ASEAN member states. An Myanmar, which also be- and boats, iron and steel,
from India and Southeast ity in the region. upgrade of the India-Myan- longs to ASEAN. Ministry pharmaceuticals, cotton and
Asian countries opened mar-Thailand highway is part spokesperson Arindam Bag- tobacco to ASEAN coun-
Thursday with co-chairs Indian External Affairs Min- of the ASEAN-India Con- chi said last week that India tries, according to India's
India and Singapore call- ister S. Jaishankar said India nectivity initiative. had invited Myanmar to the Commerce Ministry. India's
ing for a strengthening of and the Association of South- meeting. top imports from ASEAN
ties amid Russia's war in east Asian Nations face geo- The two-day meeting in New include coal, palm oil, tele-
Ukraine and a heightened political headwinds from the Delhi marks the 30th anni- Representatives of Myan- phones, light vessels and
rivalry between the Unit- war in Ukraine and its impact versary of the establishment mar's military-installed gov- electronic circuits.

Turkish, Greek defense ministers meet amid renewed tensions

(AP) — The defense min- cording to the statement. by Turks — or in the case of any way that would heighten strong rhetoric from Turkey,
isters of Greece and Tur- Turkey and Greece have a Rhodes and Kos, by Italy. the tension in the region." relations are not as low as
key met Thursday on the history of disputes over a Greece counters that the is- Greek Prime Minister Kyria- they were in 2020, when the
sidelines of a NATO meet- range of issues, such as min- lands need defenses given kos Mitsotakis sought to re- neighbors' warships shad-
ing amid renewed tensions eral exploration in the east- threats of war from Turkey, assure his compatriots this owed each other in the east-
between the neighbor- ern Mediterranean and rival which has NATO's second- week. He said that despite ern Mediterranean.
ing countries and allies, claims in the Aegean Sea. biggest military and main-
Turkey's defense ministry Last week, Turkish Presi- tains a large landing fleet on
said. dent Recep Tayyip Erdogan its Aegean coast.
warned Greece to demilita- Greece's state-run television
The discussion in Brussels rize its islands in the Aegean, said Panagiotopoulos spoke
between Turkey's Hulusi saying he was "not joking." briefly with Akar after they
Akar and Nikos Panagioto- He spoke during Turkish stood next to each other for a
poulos of Greece focused on military exercises near the is- photo of the NATO leaders.
the "importance of continu- lands, including an amphibi- It quoted Panagiotopoulos as
ing the dialogue in order to ous landing scenario. telling Akar: "We can't move
reduce tensions," according The government in Ankara forward if you continue with
to a ministry statement. says Athens has built a mili- this rhetoric and these poli-
They discussed the need to tary presence on the Aegean cies."
keep channels of commu- islands in violation of 20th Greek government spokes-
nication open, to focus on a century treaties that ceded man Giannis Oikonomou
positive agenda and bilateral the islands to Greece after a said Thursday: "Greece has
and regional cooperation, ac- long period of occupation no intention of engaging in