The US has asked Denmark, Finland, and Sweden to join the global fight against the IS. Media sources in each say they’ve each received a request. Finland’s minister of defence was quoted by Finnish state media outlet YLE as saying the request had come from the US embassy. Source: EUobserver
Russia’s sophisticated S-400 anti-ballistic missile defense systems will be delivered to Turkey in 2019, state arms exporter Rosoboronexport has announced, amid the latter’s feud with NATO allies over the deployment of these multibillion non-NATO systems on its soils, which have raised concern over the security of allied weaponry and radar systems. Source Hurriyet Daily News
The German government said Tuesday it wanted a new alternative pipelines network constructed to transport Caspian natural gas supplies via Turkey to Europe on Tuesday. “We have a significant interest in further developing the South corridor,” (as opposed to the Norther corridor for gas deliveries between Russia and Europe, note), a government spokesperson told press ahead of an upcoming visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the Caucasus republics of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Source Xinhuanet
Europe needs to set up payment systems independent of the United States if it wants to save the nuclear deal between Iran and major powers that was abandoned by President Donald Trump, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. Source Reuters
