Germany summons Chinese ambassador over use of laser targeting German aircraft
Deborah Cole
Meanwhile, the German foreign ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador in Berlin, reporting that the Chinese military used a laser to target a German aircraft taking part in the EU operation Aspides, which helps protect shipping in the Red Sea.
Logo of the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES mission. Photograph: EUNAVFOR ASPIDES/AFP/Getty Images
“The endangerment of German personnel and disruption of the operation are completely unacceptable,” the ministry said on X, announcing the summons.
The foreign ministry, the Chinese embassy and the Aspides mission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
European officials have repeatedly expressed concern about Chinese influence on critical infrastructure including key shipping routes.
The EU established Aspides, from Ancient Greek meaning “shields”, as a defensive maritime security operation to safeguard navigation during the Red Sea crisis.
Since Israel’s war in Gaza against the Palestinian militant group Hamas began in October 2023, Iran-backed Houthi militants have been attacking Israel and vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.
The German military has been participating in the Aspides operation since February 2024. Its parliamentary mandate sets a maximum deployment of 700 military personnel.
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Key events
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State visit ‘significant’ for Europe as UK, France get closer to face major challenges, Macron says
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Macron begins three-day state visit in Britain
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Macron’s three-day state visit in Britain about to begin
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Clarity needed on US plans for Ukraine, but sending weapons prolongs war, Russia warns
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EU ‘working flat out’ to get deal with US, trade chief Šefčovič insists
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Trump’s offer to EU is ‘really bad,’ Swedish finance minister warns
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Europe ‘falling behind’ rivals and need to reduce burdens to innovate, Danish PM says
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State visit ‘significant’ for Europe as UK, France get closer to face major challenges, Macron says
French president Emmanuel Macron said his state visit in Britain was “an important moment” for both nations, as the two countries want to “explore new means of cooperation” to face “major challenges of our time,” such as AI, defence, migration, nuclear, and security.
Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, are welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales at RAF Northolt, north west London, on day one of the French president’s state visit to the UK. Photograph: Justin Tallis/PA
Here is his post in full:
“I am arriving in the United Kingdom for a State Visit, followed by a Franco-British summit.
An important moment for our two nations.
The United Kingdom is a strategic partner, an ally, a friend. Our bond is longstanding, forged by History and strengthened by trust.
Together, we will address the major challenges of our time: security, defence, nuclear energy, space, innovation, artificial intelligence, migration, and culture. These are all areas in which we seek to act together and deepen our cooperation in a concrete, effective, and lasting way.
This is also a significant moment for our Europe.
The willingness expressed by the United Kingdom to strengthen ties with the European Union is a powerful signal — one that I welcome. It commits us collectively to explore new means of cooperation that respect our mutual interests.
There is so much we can build together: for the stability of our continent, for our shared prosperity and competitiveness, and for the protection of our democracies.
Our joint efforts to support Ukraine — where the security of our continent is at stake — our industrial projects with EDF, our cooperation in space and joint military work are all concrete examples that show how vibrant and forward-looking our partnership is.
French and British: two free and proud peoples who never give up.
That is what unites us, beyond any official texts. That is what binds us.”
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Macron begins three-day state visit in Britain
Aaaand… there he is!
French president Emmanuel Macron has now got off his plane and got into a state Bentley as he moves towards Windsor to formally begin his three-day state visit in Britain.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with delegates as he is greeted upon arrival at RAF Northolt, west of London. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
As my colleagues Peter Walker and Jon Henley explain, the state visit will involve events with royals and other pageantry but is also scheduled to include an Anglo-French summit and other meetings with Starmer.
As part of the visit, France is expected to announce it will allow police to intervene in shallow waters up to 300 metres from shore in order to stop small boats leaving. It would help prevent “taxi-boats”, which pick people up in the water rather than launching from the beach with passengers on board.
And Britain said that French police slashing the boats of people smugglers was not “pleasant” but the right tactic, with a UK cabinet minister saying the government welcomed the new approach from the authorities.
We will closely follow his visit in Britain closely, and bring you the key lines on things that matter.
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Macron’s three-day state visit in Britain about to begin
French president Emmanuel Macron is about to be get off his plan at RAF Northolt in a moment, beginning his three-day state visit in Britain during which he will meet with King Charles, UK prime minister Keir Starmer, and address the UK parliament.
I will bring you lots more on the visit shortly.
Ground staff roll out a red carpet for the disembarkation of France’s President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, at RAF Northolt on July 8, 2025 in Windsor, England. Photograph: WPA/Getty ImagesShare
Clarity needed on US plans for Ukraine, but sending weapons prolongs war, Russia warns
The Kremlin said that it would take time to clarify what weapons the United States is supplying and will supply to Ukraine after president Donald Trump said Washington would have to send more arms to Kyiv (9:39), Reuters reported.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pictured last month Photograph: Pavel Bednyakov/Reuters
But at the same time Russia warned that sending arms to Ukraine only serves to prolong the conflict, AFP added.
“It is obvious of course that these actions probably do not align with attempts to promote a peaceful resolution,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying in a briefing.
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Let’s leave the EU for a moment, as we’re getting the Kremlin’s reaction to the overnight news that the US will offer more defensive weapons to Ukraine to help it fight against the Russian aggression.
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EU ‘working flat out’ to get deal with US, trade chief Šefčovič insists
Jennifer Rankin
in Brussels
The EU is “working flat out” to secure a trade deal with the US, but was ready to retaliate if talks failed, the European official leading talks with Donald Trump’s administration has said.
Maroš Šefčovič speaking at a press conference in Brussels. Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images
The EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič told the European parliament that the EU was continuing “to engage closely with our US counterparts on the tariffs placed on European goods”.
Šefčovič said:
“I want to assure you that we are working flat out to secure a fair and mutually beneficial negotiated solution, but we need to be prepared for all outcomes and be ready to rebalance if necessary.”
EU officials have long said they prefer an agreement, but insist they are ready to “rebalance” with counter-tariffs on US goods if talks break down.
The EU suspended tariffs targeting €21bn US goods to give a chance to current talks.
It is also preparing tariffs on up to €95bn of other US exports to the bloc, although the final total would likely be smaller, if ever agreed.
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Trump’s offer to EU is ‘really bad,’ Swedish finance minister warns
Lisa O’Carroll
Speaking of trade, the Swedish finance minister has said the tariff deal being offered to the EU by Donald Trump’s is “really bad”.
Swedish finance minister Elisabeth Svantesson pictured at a conference last year. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
Elisabeth Svantesson’s remarks on her way into a summit of finance ministers in Brussels underlines divisions in the bloc over how to approach negotiations during the three-week extension period granted last night by Washington.
Asked what she thought of the US offer, which is believed to include some concessions on cars, wines and spirits exports, she was blunt.
“Offer is not a word I would use to describe this,” said Svantesson.
At the same time she seemed resigned to having to accept a basic 10% tariff – five times more than the pre Trump average on EU exports – when the new negotiating period expires on 1 August.
“It is the Commission that is driving this, but now I think we just have to prepare ourselves for at least 10 percent being what we will have. Do I think that’s good? No, it’s really bad. But we have to know what applies.”
She said the uncertainty was holding back the Swedish economy saying that was one reason to have a quick deal, as demanded by the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
But she insisted the EU should not accept a bad deal. Some believe an offer by the US to reduce tariffs to those car manufactures who have plants in the US will result in the deindustrialisation of Europe, with huge job losses in a key sector.
“We support taking a tough stance against the US. We cannot stand with our hats in our hands and thank them for an ‘offer’ of a 10 percent tariff.”
The European Commission said on Monday it was working on “all cylinders” to try to find a solution by tomorrow, the original deadline for talks.
“Exactly how we will respond together is something we will decide together. But I want the Commission to be tougher and more straightforward because that is what is needed. We cannot drag this out indefinitely,” said Svantesson in Brussels.
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Europe ‘falling behind’ rivals and need to reduce burdens to innovate, Danish PM says
Turning to “a competitive and green Europe,” Frederiksen warns Europe is “falling behind” rivals and calls for renewed urgency in “reducing burdens on businesses, citizens and public authorities.”
“We need to boost our ability to innovate, develop and produce the technologies of tomorrow, and we need to do it with urgency and ambition,” she adds.
But she argues this must not come at the cost of long-term climate policies.
She mentions extreme temperatures affecting the continent in recent days, saying Europe still “needs to keep pushing for an ambitious global green transition.”
Moving on to trade, in a thinly veiled swipe at Trump, she says:
“We can use our trade policy to diversify and make supply chains more robust. And while others build tariff walls, we should form new trade partnerships.”
She ends with a direct appeal to EU lawmakers, saying:
Let’s build a stronger Europe together.
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Migration issues are ‘challenging Europe,’ Danish PM says, as she calls for reforms
Danish prime minister Frederiksen also warns about migration “challenging Europe, affecting people’s lives, and the cohesion of our societies.”
Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen delivers her speech in Strasbourg. Photograph: Pascal Bastien/AP
She says Europe needs to “strengthen our external borders” as she says “European citizens have a right to feel safe in their own countries.”
She calls for a reform of EU rules to “make the process of returns easier and … more efficient.”
She also directly accuses Russia of “using migration as a weapon at our eastern border.”
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Cutting Europe’s defence spending in past 30 years was a huge mistake, Danish PM says
Boiling it down to two overriding priorities of the Danish EU presidency, Frederiksen says Denmark’s focus will be on “a secure Europe” and “a competitive and green Europe.”
“First of all, we must take responsibility for our own security.
Cutting our defence spending in the past 30 years was a huge mistake, [that] we shall never repeat.
We cannot take lightly the threat from the East. Russia’s military rearming means that they could, within two to five years, pose a credible military threat to Europe and Nato.
And Russia is no longer working alone. We see it in Ukraine. North Korea providing soldiers and ammunition missiles from Iran and military technology from China.
We must act now to respond to this threat.”
She also says Europe be ready to defend itself from 2030, and learn from Ukraine on how to develop “an impressive defence industry”.
She also makes it clear that Europe “has to continue our support for Ukraine in every way we can, as Europeans, for as long as it takes.”
Danish PM adds:
“Our donations are not a gift and they are not charity. They are a direct defence of Europe, our life and our freedom.”
She calls for “the toughest possible sanctions” on Russia, and calls for support to enlarge the EU with Ukraine, Moldova and western Balkan countries.
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In a strong paragraph outlining her intellectual vision for Europe, Denmark’s Frederiksen says:
“Europe is first and foremost an idea.
It is the way we think.
Our fundamental values, freedom, democracy, the rule of law, our firm belief in progress, science and common sense, that we always seek to move make tomorrow better than today, our social model, that we are free to think as we want, believe what we want, and speak as we see fit.
These are the fundamental ideas on which our continent is built, and they run in the blood of all Europeans.
Europe is cooperation, discussions and difficult compromises.
But above all, Europe is a magnificent, rich and diverse continent that has managed to rise again and again and in a time where fundamental values are being questioned, the response from our side needs to be firm and to be clear, we must in every way possible, be willing to protect our democracies, our freedom and rights and our prosperity.”
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