Geopolitics


Day 1000 Special: A Retrospection; Strategic Analysis

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | November 22, 2024

As the Ukraine war crosses its 1,000th day, we reflect on its enduring impact, the evolving battlefield dynamics, and the broader strategic implications. The war has not only reshaped Ukraine’s landscape but has also influenced global geopolitics, testing the resolve of nations and the resilience of those involved. The Geopolitical Chessboard: Causes and Impacts The…

Austria’s Bold Stance on Russian Gas: A New Chapter in Energy Politics

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | November 20, 2024

The Austrian utility company OMV announced that it would no longer pay for gas supplied by Gazprom, the Russian state-controlled gas giant. This decision came in light of a €230 million arbitration award granted to OMV by the International Chamber of Commerce due to irregular gas supplies from Gazprom. Background of the Dispute The tensions…

RUSSO-MALIAN COOPERATION: WITHOUT LIMITS!!

By Etoundi Ekodo II | September 27, 2024

The Soviet Era (1960-1991)  Relations between Mali and the Soviet Union began shortly after Mali’s independence in 1960. President Modibo Keïta, who led the country from 1960 to 1968, established close ties with the Soviet bloc, seeking economic and military support to develop Mali. The USSR became a key player by providing technical assistance, infrastructure,…

ARTICLES

Fighting between RCSS (Shan Army South) and SSPP (Shan Army North) + TNLA (Ta’ang National Liberation Army) reported in Kyaukme Township, Northern Shan State

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 9, 2021

Wah Thinn@WahThinn4 Fighting between the RCSS and the coalition forces, TNLA and SSPP has intensified in Kyaukme Township, northern Shan State since August 11, bringing the number of refugees in Kyaukme Township to about 2,000. #Sep1Coup #ASEAN_StandForDemocracy #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

Tatmadaw warn Muslim administrators in Kyauktaw township, Arakan State against Arakan Army training courses

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 9, 2021

Source: https://www.dmediag.com/news/3388-msl-admin-ktw-mm The Myanmar military has summoned some local Muslim administrators in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, telling them not to accept an offer of police and administrative training courses to be provided by the Arakan Army (AA), according to the ward and village administrators.  “Military officials told us not to accept the police and administrative…

Ukraine discovered to be exporting aircraft parts to the Tatmadaw

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 9, 2021

Ukraine has developed deep links to the Myanmar military, with arms exports and technology transfers continuing, even after the Myanmar military has committed mass murder amounting to atrocity crimes following its illegitimate coup attempt. According to Ukrainian export data, accessed via Import Genius, Motor Sich exported engines and parts to Myanmar twice since the military’s…

[ Qatar Tribune ] Taliban invite Qatar, Turkey, China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan to govt formation event

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 7, 2021

The Taliban on Monday gave an early glimpse of its foreign policy and geopolitical alignment as it invited Russia, China, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar to attend an event on its looming government formation. According to an Al Jazeera report, the Taliban invited these countries. The report cited a source saying the necessary procedures for…

[ The Straits Times ]Taiwan scrambles jets after 19 Chinese planes enter air defence zone

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 6, 2021

Taiwan’s air force scrambled on Sunday (Sept 5), with its defence ministry reporting that 19 Chinese aircraft, including nuclear-capable bombers, had flown into the nation’s air defence identification zone. The latest Chinese mission involved 10 J-16 and four Su-30 fighters as well as four H-6 bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, and an anti-submarine plane, Taiwan’s…

[ Insider Asia ] North Korea rejects almost 3 million doses of Sinovac vaccine, saying it should be given to countries that need it more

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 3, 2021

North Korea has rejected about 3 million doses of China’s Sinovac Biotech vaccine, asking for them to be sent to countries that need them more. The isolated kingdom had also previously rejected almost 2 million AstraZeneca vaccines due to the potential of rare but severe blood clots. The country has so far reported zero cases…

[ Reuters ] Before Afghan collapse, Biden pressed Ghani to ‘change perception’

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 2, 2021

In the last call between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Afghanistan counterpart before the Taliban seized control of the country, the leaders discussed military aid, political strategy and messaging tactics, but neither Biden nor Ashraf Ghani appeared aware of or prepared for the immediate danger of the entire country falling to insurgents, a transcript reviewed by…

[ ABC ] North Korea appears to have reactivated Yongbyon nuclear plant, atomic watchdog IAEA says

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 30, 2021

North Korea appears to have restarted a nuclear reactor that is widely believed to have produced plutonium for nuclear weapons, the UN atomic watchdog has said in an annual report. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has had no access to North Korea since Pyongyang expelled its inspectors in 2009. The country then pressed ahead…

Taliban captured 85 billion dollars of military hardware – now is as strong as Tajikistan’s military… maybe

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 30, 2021

A lot had been made and reported about the multi-billion dollars “acquisition” of the US military hardware that were left behind by the US forces and the Afghan National Army. A whopping 85 billion dollars worth of it. In a tweet by disclose.tv reveal the below numbers: The numbers look very impressive, until you start…

[ United With Israel ] Biden ‘Not Optimistic’ About Return to Iran Nuclear Deal

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 30, 2021

President Joe Biden’s mood on a U.S. return to the Iranian nuclear deal is “not optimistic,” according to an Israeli source quoted by Times of Israel. The report followed up on the president’s Friday meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office. The controversial Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) promised Iran economic…

[ MEMO ] Israel: IDF acknowledges failure to destroy ‘Hamas metro’

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 26, 2021

Senior officers have recognised that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) failed to achieve the goals set for the military offensive against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip between 11 and 21 May, the Times of Israel reported on Wednesday. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi have discussed these issues with senior…

[ Euasianet ] Tajikistan: President demands Tajik role in running Afghanistan

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 26, 2021

The president of Tajikistan has said that his government will not recognize the Taliban’s rule over Afghanistan unless the country’s ethnic Tajik minority is accorded a “worthy role” in the running of the country. Rahmon said his confidence in the Taliban has been undermined by the group’s abandonment of pledges to consider power-sharing with all…

[ Reuters ] EXCLUSIVE-Internal UN document says Taliban threatened, beat staff

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 26, 2021

 The Taliban stopped an Afghan United Nations staff member as he tried to reach Kabul airport on Sunday. They searched his vehicle and found his U.N. identification. Then they beat him. The incidents are among dozens contained in an internal U.N. security document seen by Reuters that describes veiled threats, the looting of U.N. offices…

[ The News Pakistan ] From battlefield to power table: Khalil Haqqani emerges as key player

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 25, 2021

KABUL, Afghanistan: He has a $5 million bounty on his head and a triumphant smile on his face. The head money marked by the US Treasury Department for Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani has lost much of its significance in the fast-changing circumstances of Afghanistan. Khalil, a scion of the feared Haqqani Network, is not an ordinary man…

[ The Guardian ] Ukraine denies minister’s claims of hijacked Afghanistan evacuation flight

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 25, 2021

A Ukrainian minister has claimed a passenger jet meant to evacuate people fleeing Afghanistan to Ukraine was hijacked at gunpoint and flown instead to Iran, in an unconfirmed incident that was later denied by his own government. Ukraine’s deputy minister for foreign affairs, Yevhen Yenin, said armed hijackers seized the plane at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai international airport,…

[ Middle East Eye ] Algeria severs diplomatic ties with Morocco over ‘hostile manoeuvres’

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 25, 2021

Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/algeria-morocco-sever-diplomatic-ties Algeria announced on Tuesday that it was officially severing ties with neighbouring Morocco “starting today”, after months of tensions between the two countries. Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra made the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday evening. “It has been proven that the (Moroccan) kingdom has not ceased its unfriendly, low and hostile manoeuvres against…

[ The Epoch Times ] New Jersey Military Base to Be Used to House Afghan Evacuees: Pentagon

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 24, 2021

A military base in New Jersey will house evacuees from Afghanistan as the United States works on flying tens of thousands of Afghans from the Taliban-held country. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, about 39 miles northeast of Philadelphia, is the fourth base that is preparing to or already has accepted evacuees. The other three bases are Fort Lee in Virginia, Fort McCoy…

Failure to evacuate Afghan contractors will have dire consequences for the rest of US foreign deployments around the world

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 23, 2021

Daniella Mestyanek Young@daniellamyoungBFF deployed to Africa tells me that all of their translators have quit & nobody wants to work with the US military right now… This is perhaps one of the first signal that a impending translator drought (or local guide for that matter) for US foreign operations/deployment. Locally employed guides and translator (or…

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