Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias:

I am totally subscribing to the creation of common structures — and even a European Army.

I think this is needed.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias:

Maybe in the past India was a nice-to-have but not necessary.

Now India is necessary to have.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias:

Defense is not just a question of production lines or a question of armaments or the question of the number of armed forces or the question of the number of fighter planes.

There is something much more substantial and that will take time and that is culture.

The young generation of Europeans do not comprehend yet the need to serve the country, to serve an ideal, to serve the defense of what has been created by the European Union, which is a space of democracy, human rights, rule of law, rights of women.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias:

Let us be honest between us, in order to create new production lines it takes years.

The existing SAFE mechanism in the European Union has one clause in it which says whatever you invest in you have to finish and receive it by 2030.

There is no way that you can create new production lines by 2030 and have the final object in use.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias:

For Greeks, India in a way is part of Greek mythology.

Alexander the Great came to the borders of India. Then his troops revolted and he had to return to Macedonia.

So in a way, the relationship with India is a promise never fulfilled.

I see the current challenge as the possibility to realize that promise.

The Justice Department is struggling to recruit and retain prosecutors after heavy departures under Trump.

Staffing fell about 8 percent in a year, with U.S. attorneys’ offices losing 14 percent of their workforce as firings, resignations and political pressure drove out experienced lawyers.

Hiring has increasingly emphasized loyalty to Trump’s agenda, discouraging applicants and narrowing the talent pool.

Some offices are so depleted that the department has deployed military lawyers and formed “emergency jump teams” of prosecutors to plug gaps.

Source: NYT

Netanyahu advanced his Washington visit by a week, seeking urgent talks with Trump as the U.S. pursues negotiations with Iran.

Source: Axios

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán:

As long as Ukraine demands that Hungary be cut off from cheap Russian energy, Ukraine is not simply our opponent — Ukraine is our enemy.

Ahead of Netanyahu’s expected meeting with Trump in Washington this week, Israel’s position on the Iran talks in Oman has been disclosed.

Israel is demanding a complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, including zero enrichment, removal of all enriched material, and strict international oversight.

Additional demands include limiting Iran’s ballistic missiles to a 300-km range and ending Iran’s support for regional proxy groups.

Source: Israeli Channel 14

Mike Tyson:

My whole experience with Trump is that he's just a genuine real person.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud:

Three issues — the information that we have is that Israel agreed with Somaliland on three pillars: bringing Palestinians to Somalia, having a base in Somaliland, and Somaliland signing the Abraham Accord.

These were the three pillars of the agreement that Israel has with the secessionist group of Somaliland.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud:

The issue is the base that Israel wanted to have there — why? That’s the question.

A base is not a tourist center; it’s not a Riviera of tourism. This base is military, and military means attacking or defending.

There is no place to defend Israel in Somalia, so what we are seeing is that Israel is preparing or positioning itself to attack someone else.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud:

We don’t have Israeli security forces in Somalia yet, and we don’t see them coming in the near future as well.

But if that were to happen, that would be another day and another discussion.

We will fight in our capacity — of course, we will defend ourselves. We are against that and we will never allow that.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi:

The Lion and Sun emblem belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran, but others are using it.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

We neither trust them nor rule out the possibility of deception and trickery; in fact, we fully anticipate it.

In all the meetings, I have said: this might be a deception—please let no one be deceived.

Everyone should go about their work as if we are not negotiating at all—whether in the armed forces, the government, or anywhere else.

The country must be managed without reliance on these negotiations and agreements, and, thank God, it is currently being managed that way.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

The presence of the CENTCOM commander makes no difference to the essence of the matter.

We were told that he had arrived there in order to visit one of their own ships.

There was a request from the American side for him to be present during what I mentioned—that customary, polite encounter that usually takes place—but we categorically opposed it.

We stated that we do not accept the presence of a military official in our negotiation process.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

A direct meeting did not take place, but we had an encounter—let’s see what we should call it—out of diplomatic courtesy.

When delegations enter, there was at least a handshake and an initial courtesy. Yes. This used to happen in the past as well.

In all past rounds, negotiations were conducted indirectly, but regardless, either upon entry or exit, the two delegations would encounter each other.

It is not something strange at all. We have said it many times before; this is a common practice in observing diplomatic courtesies.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

I believe that if our conclusion is that this seriousness exists on the opposing side, these negotiations will continue.

There are signs that this seriousness exists, but there are also signs that this seriousness is faint.

The continuation of certain sanctions and some activities in the military sphere, well, create doubt regarding the degree of seriousness and the readiness of the other side for genuine negotiations.

We are monitoring all of these; we will evaluate all the signs together and then make a decision regarding the continuation of the negotiations.