Geopolitics
ARTICLES
Russia will not invade Ukraine… unless…
There are so much media hype and perhaps, even misinformation, on the “Ukraine Crisis” – as the western media narrative of an impending invasion of Ukraine by the Russia – the layman on the streets are not going to realise how far it is from the reality. Yes, Russia had massed a lot of forces…
[ Express ] Global tensions grow as Chinese rocket scientist defects to the West
Described as a rocket technician, the Chinese national was attached to the stateowned Aviation Industry Corp of China, where he helped develop a mid-range hypersonic boost-glide vehicle capable of carrying DF-17 missiles to a range of up to 2,000 miles. Sources say the scientist, in his 30s, is connected with a more recent hypersonic missile…
NATO doubled down as the alliance demands Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova
NATO had officially replied to Russia and provided NATO’s own proposals to Russia. In short, NATO basically doubled down on their position and further demanded Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. Russia was waiting for a reply from the United States, and the reply had instead came from NATO, and in General Jens Stoltenberg…
[ AP ] Russia threatens retaliation if Ukraine demands not met
Russia warned Wednesday it would quickly take “retaliatory measures” if the U.S. and its allies reject its security demands and continue their “aggressive” policies, ratcheting up pressure on the West amid concerns that Moscow is planning to invade Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied it has any such designs, but the United States and its NATO…
Are small and medium states ready to stop terrorists with cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency, or “crypto” as some prefer to call it, is slated to be the future of financial transactions. While the further development of crypto is widely celebrated, with mild speculations, traceability remains the most important issue surrounding the digital currency that requires abject focus. Often, acute discussions about the pros and cons of cryptocurrency assume…
[ AP ] Indonesia, Singapore sign key defense, extradition treaties
The agreement on defense cooperation — along with separate treaties on extradition and airspace rights — were signed in the presence of Indonesian President Joko Widodo of Indonesia and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The defense cooperation agreement will significantly boost Singapore’s ability to carry out naval and military exercises amid regional tensions over…
[ Reuters ] Indonesia, Singapore sign extradition, airspace and defence agreements
Indonesia and Singapore signed on Tuesday a bilateral extradition agreement, a move that Jakarta expects to help authorities in their effort to bring to justice people accused of stashing offshore billions of dollars in state money. Senior cabinet ministers from both countries also signed bilateral agreements covering airspace and defence in a ceremony aired on…
[ Reuters ] Singapore PM backs continued exclusion of Myanmar junta from ASEAN meetings
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a video call on Friday urged the regional group’s new chair, Cambodia, to engage all sides in Myanmar’s conflict, Singapore’s foreign ministry said on Saturday. Lee told his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen that ASEAN should continue inviting a non-political representative from Myanmar to its meetings and any decision to…
[ Tolo News ] Afghan Commander: Troops Will Be Stationed Along Durand Line
The commander made the remarks during a graduation ceremony of around 150 border force members who passed a 45-day training in the eastern part of the country. Sangin said these forces will be dispatched alongside the Durand Line to defend Afghanistan’s territory. “The new forces are going to be settled … where we built 32…
Japan signs defense pact with Australia; further abandoning pacifism
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison signed a new defense pact via a virtual summit which the two countries will agree to cooperate closely on defense to bolster securities ties. The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), will allow Australian and Japanese military to work seamlessly on defense and humanitarian operations. “Japan is…
Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen accepted invite to lead high delegation to meet Myanmar military junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing
According to the press release from Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen will be leading a high delegation consist of his deputy, Foreign Minister, Industry Minister as well as a number of senior government officials from the 7 to 8 January 2022. The announced meeting is said to discuss bilateral and multilateral cooperation (read: taking sides;…
IMF’s global financial system cyberattack wargame a signal of what is to come?
Israel on Thursday led a 10-country simulation of a major cyberattack on the global financial system in an attempt to increase cooperation that could help to minimise any potential damage to financial markets and banks. The simulated “war game”, as Israel’s Finance Ministry called it and planned over the past year, evolved over 10 days,…
Tablighi Jamaat a Cause For Concern
Tablighi Jamaat (TIJ) is currently grabbing the headlines for getting banned by Saudi Arabia. Saudi government official statement called Jamaat as a danger to society and one of the gates of terrorism. In a tweet on December 6, the country’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs said, His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif Al…
Europe is making a bet that they can’t win ; Russia may be forced to deploy mid-range nuclear missiles in Europe
Ryabkov said Russia would be forced to act if the West declined to join it in a moratorium on intermediate-range nuclear forces (INF) in Europe – part of a package of security guarantees it is seeking as the price for defusing the crisis over Ukraine. Lack of progress towards a political and diplomatic solution would…
UAE and Ukraine providing military support to Ethiopia in civil war against Tigray Defense Forces
According to an exclusive report by Al Jazeera, they had discovered by satellite images that Ethiopia is receiving extensive support in their fight against forces from the northern Tigray region. In their investigation, there were more than 90 flights between United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ethiopia between September and November 2021. A Spanish firm is…
[ Asahi Shimbun ] Okinawa’s governor plans to reject U.S. base design change
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said on Nov. 25 the prefecture will reject a proposed design change in the landfill work for the construction of a planned U.S. military base when he met the ruling prefectural assembly group backing him. He cited what prefectural officials perceive to be flaws in the measures to strengthen the weak…
Morocco signs defence pact with Israel, as Trump’s legacy reverberates and relationship with Algeria worsen
Israel signed a defence pact with Morocco on Wednesday, its latest public display of readiness to advance national security interests in tandem with Arab countries that have drawn closer to it amid shared concern over Iran and Islamist militancy. The memorandum of understanding could herald intelligence cooperation, arms deals and joint military training, Israeli Defence…
[ The Star ] Urea shortage threatens South Korea’s transport, energy industries
South Korea is flying a military oil tanker to Australia this week to airlift 27,000 litres of urea solution, used in diesel vehicles and factories to cut emissions, amid a dire shortage threatening to stall commercial transport and industries. Approximately two million diesel vehicles, mostly cargo trucks, are required by government to use the additive,…
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