Boris Johnson arrives in Rwanda for Commonwealth summit
June 23, 2022, 9:47 am

Boris Johnson arrives in Rwanda for Commonwealth summit

Boris Johnson-UK Prime Minister/Official Facebook page

The Anadolu Agency reported, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in the Rwandan capital Kigali for a summit of Commonwealth countries where global challenges will be discussed.

Johnson said on Twitter early on Thursday (June 23): "I've arrived in Rwanda for CHOGM to address global challenges, from hunger to climate change, and to turbocharge trade with some of the world's most dynamic economies."

He added: "With our shared values, history and language -- the Commonwealth is a unique and vital association."

According to the Anadolu Agency, the British premier is expected to develop his country's trade ties with the 54-member club as the country's trade with the EU has shrunk since Brexit and saw its highest inflation rates of the last 40 years.

I’ve arrived in Rwanda for CHOGM to address global challenges, from hunger to climate change, and to turbocharge trade with some of the world’s most dynamic economies.

With our shared values, history and language – the Commonwealth is a unique and vital association.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 23, 2022

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will also include representatives from Australia and Jamaica, two countries that have in recent years been discussing cutting ties with the British monarchy.

Prince Charles is representing Queen Elizabeth II at the meeting that is convening for the first time since 2018 due to the pandemic.

Boris Johnson says he is confident of legality of Rwanda migrant plan

The event coincided with uncertainty over the British government's controversial Rwanda plan, with which it plans to remove thousands of asylum seekers to the East African country.

Its first planned flight was grounded on June 14 after a last minute legal intervention from the European Court of Human Rights.

Following Rwanda, Zambia might be the next destination for the one-way ticket!

Prince Charles has described the plan as "appalling" and said he was "more than disappointed" by the deportation plan, according to The Times.

It should be noted that the Commonwealth summit will continue until Sunday (June 26).

Source: aa

Turkey, Saudi Arabia determined to start new period of cooperation Strikes cripple Britain's railways, unions warn of more to come

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.