Morning Briefing: July 11, 2023

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday with, including Türkiye to advance Sweden’s NATO bid, US support for Türkiye, and an expected meeting between Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

TOP STORIES

Türkiye has agreed to move forward Sweden’s NATO Accession Protocol to parliament, the alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference on Monday.

In Vilnius, Lithuania, where 31 leaders of the military alliance have gathered for a summit, Stoltenberg said that Sweden agreed as an EU member to support Türkiye’s EU accession process, and help modernize the EU-Türkiye customs unions and visa liberalization.

He added that Sweden’s cooperation with Türkiye in the fight against terrorism will continue and both countries would establish a new bilateral security compact.

The US reiterated its support for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye and backed Ankara’s aspirations to join the European Union.

State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington has publicly “supported the provision of F-16s to Türkiye for some time.”

He said Sweden took steps to address Türkiye’s concerns, including changing the Constitution and arresting terrorism suspects.

On Türkiye’s EU bid, Miller said the United States has, for a number of years, supported its EU aspirations and “we continue to do so.”

US President Joe Biden will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Lithuania on Wednesday, a White House official confirmed to Anadolu.

The meeting is set to take place as Russia’s war in Ukraine tops the agenda.

Ukraine is pressing for a commitment toward its membership in the alliance, while some members are reluctant to support the country’s bid due to the ongoing war with Russia, which has passed its 500th day.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US lawmakers welcome Türkiye’s support for Sweden’s NATO bid. Senator Jim Risch says he is ‘pleased to hear’ that Türkiye is moving forward to ratify Sweden’s bid.

• China has urged member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to oppose Japan’s planned release of treated radioactive water from the disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear plant.

• The UN Security Council postponed a vote to renew a cross-border mechanism that allows the use of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing through Türkiye to deliver humanitarian aid to northwestern Syria.

• The world just had the hottest week on record, according to preliminary data from the World Meteorological Organization. The average global temperature on July 7 was 17C (63F) above the previous record of 16C (62F) on Aug. 16, 2016.

SPORTS

• ​​​​​​ Ghanaian defender Alexander Djiku joins Fenerbahce

Strasbourg’s Ghanaian defender Alexander Djiku joined Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce, the Istanbul club announced on Monday.

The 28-year-old signed a three-year contract with the Yellow Canaries.

Djiku netted four goals and made three assists in 127 appearances for the French club. He also represented Ghana’s national team in 21 matches.

Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the 14th time by beating Hubert Hurkacz on Monday.

The World No. 2 edged out 17th-seeded Pole 7-6(6), 7-6(6), 5-7 and 6-4. It was the Serb’s 100th match at the tournament.

Djokovic, who is on track for a record-equaling eighth men’s singles trophy, will face Andrey Rublev for a place in the semi-finals.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• Oil pipeline project destroys livelihoods in Uganda: Report

An oil pipeline project by French oil giant TotalEnergies has devastated thousands of people’s livelihoods in Uganda and will contribute to the global climate crisis, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday.

The rights group said studies show that construction and operation of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) poses grave environmental risks.

Equity markets fluctuated due to major central banks’ monetary tightening steps in response to surges in inflation, persistent geopolitical risks, and growing recessionary concerns, while world benchmark indexes ended the last 12 months with gains.

Argentina’s flagship Merval index has soared 382% in the year since end-June 2022 as investors hedged against an annual inflation rate of over 100% and a weakening peso.

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