International

Blinken asks China not to “help” Russia with the supply of Defense components

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, asked Beijing this Friday not to “help Russia” and not to provide it with components that could be used in its war against Ukraine.

“I have made it clear in the meetings that China cannot help Russia by providing electronic, mechanical, electromechanical components and other types of Defense technology,” Blinken said at a press conference at the end of his visit to the Asian country, during which he met today with his counterpart, Wang Yi, and with the country’s president, Xi Jinping.

The diplomat told Russia “it will be difficult for him to maintain his military effort without the help of China and did not rule out with sanctions Chinese companies that provide equipment to Moscow.

Since the outset of the war in Ukraine, China has maintained an ambiguous position within which it has asked for respect for “the territorial integrity of all countries,” including Ukraine, and attention to the “legitimate concerns of all countries,” in reference to Russia.

Likewise, Beijing has denied that it has sold weapons to Russia and assures that it maintains a “normal” trade relationship with Moscow.

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However, US officials have warned in recent weeks that Chinese companies are helping the Russian arms industry by selling equipment that could be used for the production of ballistic missiles.

“It’s about defending the security of Ukraine but also that of the whole of Europe,” Blinken said when referring to this issue, which threatens to tarnish relations between Washington and Beijing despite the fact that, according to the American, “relations have made progress in recent months.”

Thus, Blinken welcomed the re-establishment of communications between the military or in the fight against narcotics, and indicated that, in their meetings with Wang, both bet on “strengthening the lines of communication” to “address differences responsibly and thus avoid misperceptions or miscalculation.”

The American diplomat also pointed out that both countries will hold their first talks on Artificial Intelligence in the coming weeks “because of the security risks it entails” and that the two countries are willing to increase exchanges “to improve understanding.”

Blinken also referred to the South China Sea, and assured that the United States has to “guarantee freedom of navigation,” something that “is not only critical for countries such as the Philippines but for any other nation in the Pacific and the world.”

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“We have shown our concern about China’s maneuvers in that sea. The United States seeks a de-escalation, but will maintain its security commitments,” he said in reference to the mutual defense treaty between Washington and Manila.

Blinken also said that he transferred Wang Yi that he hopes that China can “use its influence” in countries such as Iran or North Korea so that they show a willingness to dialogue on regional issues.

International

Trump urges Putin to reach peace deal

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his desire for Russian President Vladimir Putin to “reach a deal” to end the war in Ukraine, while also reaffirming his willingness to impose sanctions on Russia.

“I want to see him reach an agreement to prevent Russian, Ukrainian, and other people from dying,” Trump stated during a press conference in the Oval Office at the White House.

“I think he will. I don’t want to have to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil,” the Republican leader added, recalling that he had already taken similar measures against Venezuela by sanctioning buyers of the South American country’s crude oil.

Trump also reiterated his frustration over Ukraine’s resistance to an agreement that would allow the United States to exploit natural resources in the country—a condition he set in negotiations to end the war.

International

Deportation flight lands in Venezuela; government denies criminal gang links

A flight carrying 175 Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States arrived in Caracas on Sunday. This marks the third group to return since repatriation flights resumed a week ago, and among them is an alleged member of a criminal organization, according to Venezuelan authorities.

Unlike previous flights operated by the Venezuelan state airline Conviasa, this time, an aircraft from the U.S. airline Eastern landed at Maiquetía Airport, on the outskirts of Caracas, shortly after 2:00 p.m. with the deportees.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who welcomed the returnees at the airport, stated that the 175 repatriated individuals were coming back “after being subjected, like all Venezuelans, to persecution” and dismissed claims that they belonged to the criminal organization El Tren de Aragua.

However, Cabello confirmed that “for the first time in these flights we have been carrying out, someone of significance wanted by Venezuelan justice has arrived, and he is not from El Tren de Aragua.” Instead, he belongs to a gang operating in the state of Trujillo. The minister did not disclose the individual’s identity or provide details on where he would be taken.

International

Son of journalist José Rubén Zamora condemns father’s return to prison as “illegal”

Guatemalan court decides Wednesday whether to convict journalist José Rubén Zamora

The son of renowned journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín, José Carlos Zamora, has denounced as “illegal” the court order that sent his father back to a Guatemalan prison on March 3, after already spending 819 days behind barsover a highly irregular money laundering case.

“My father’s return to prison was based on an arbitrary and illegal ruling. It is also alarming that the judge who had granted him house arrest received threats,” José Carlos Zamora told EFE in an interview on Saturday.

The 67-year-old journalist was sent back to prison inside the Mariscal Zavala military barracks on March 3, when Judge Erick García upheld a Court of Appeals ruling that overturned the house arrest granted to him in October. Zamora had already spent 819 days in prison over an alleged money laundering case.

His son condemned the situation as “unacceptable”, stating that the judge handling the case “cannot do his job in accordance with the law due to threats against his life.”