Can you imagine if Corbyn had beaten Johnson in 2019? He’d have made Scholz look bold and decisive.
Starmer’s a different fish kettle at least, but his position on NATO, defence spending, Russia etc is slightly opaque. To me anyway.
Are they sure these aren’t the most up to date Jerry cans in use by the orcs?
amazingly well preserved and not a chip or crack in sight…
17 :57
UK has the military ability to deploy - Johnson
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PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Boris Johnson was asked about the UK’s capability to deploy military aid after years of alleged under-investment.
He says the UK military is being increasingly deployed because of the UK’s ability to make record investments in the armed forces.
Nato is a defensive alliance, he adds - it poses no threat to anyone, it’s there for the purpose of mutual defence.
“We make these commitments to our friends in Finland not just because we can, but because we must.”
Posted at 17:54
‘Clear bilateral agreement’ between UK and Finland - Niinistö
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Frank Augstein/PA WireCopyright: Frank Augstein/PA Wire
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö is asked what the main difference is after signing this security agreement.
Niinistö responds by saying there is now a “clear bilateral agreement” between UK and Finland on how they will work together in future.
He also describes the agreement as a “big step forward” and says both countries will enhance co-operation with each other in different sectors.
Posted at 17:51
Declaration ‘intensifies partnership’ between UK and Finland
Boris Johnson says the declaration the two leaders have signed today “ensures that our two nations can intensify our partnership and take it to unparalleled heights”.
“From the high north and the Baltics beyond, our armed forces will train, operate, and exercise together, marrying our defence and security capabilities and formalising a pledge that we will always come to one another’s aid,” he says.
Posted at 17:48
‘We appreciate this big step’ - Niinisto
This co-operation increases Finnish security, President Niinisto says.
“This is a very, very good way to go forward and we do appreciate this big step which is now taken,” he says.
Posted at 17:47
Assistance will depend on request
Asked if there will be British boots on the ground if Finland asks for help during a possible conflict with Russia, Johnson says it depends.
“In the event of a disaster or an attack on either of us then yes we will come to each other’s assistance including with military assistance,” he says.
“But the nature of that assistance will depend upon the request of the other party.”
That echoes similar statements he made in Sweden earlier today.
Posted at 17:45
Russian invasion ‘reshaped our future’ - Johnson
UK PM Boris Johnson says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused the “end of the post-Cold War period”.
He also says the invasion has “rewritten our reality”, “reshaped our future” and opened a new chapter.
Posted at 17:44
Both countries have condemned the war in Ukraine - Niinisto
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto says both countries have condemned the Russian war in Ukraine, and both have been helping Ukraine.
It’s not a zero-sum game - where someone has to lose for another to win - he says. If Finland seeks to increase its security, that doesn’t mean taking away from anyone else.
Posted at 17:42
Britain and Finland will aid each other militarily if attacked
“Here in Finland we appreciate UK’s strong support Nato’s open-door policy and for potential Nato membership,” the Finnish President says.
“That is very valuable to us.”
Sauli Niinisto says joining Nato wouldn’t be “against anybody”, adding “we would like to maximise our security one way or another while thinking about membership in Nato”.
Posted at 17:39
UK and Finland are ‘great friends’ - Finish president
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto begins by saying the UK and Finland are “great friends” and “strong security partners”.
“We signed a joint statement - we will stand together and support each other in any circumstances, in good and bad weather.”
No. Not in this , or any other life.
No aerosols?
Edit: It was him with the red shoes!
They found the little girl🙏
They’ll be caught ‘Red handed’,
Oh dear
Meanwhile in Russia