5-30-2018 Neither Norway, Sweden nor Finland could hold a Russian invasion at the border. To varying degrees, their strategy presumably would be to cede much of the country to invaders – then fight back with hit and run attacks https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apps-sweden-commentary/commentary-why-neutral-peaceful-sweden-is-preparing-for-war-idUSKCN1IV27N
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9-14-18 “Russia’s conventional forces are incapable of defending Russian territory in a long war," Kristensen said. "It would lose, and as a result of that, they have placed more emphasis on more usage of tactical nuclear weapons as a leveler.” https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-warned-mattis-it-could-use-tactical-nuclear-weapons-baltic-war-2018-9
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9-16-16 The US Army is starved for resources, getting only $22 billion for new equipment (2016). In 2010 Russia embarked on a 10 year, $700 billion program to buy weapons. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2016/09/16/five-reasons-the-u-s-army-will-lose-its-next-war-in-europe-maybe-in-2017/#ea61fc320439
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In theory, the U.S. and its allies will be free to base missiles in Europe once the U.S. completes its pullout from the INF treaty in April. Putin’s bellicose speech appeared to be a warning against any move by the Trump administration to return U.S. medium-range missiles to Europe.
“This is a very serious danger to us,” Putin said, according to the Tass news agency. “In this case, we will be forced, and I want to stress this, we will be forced to envisage tit-for-tat and asymmetric measures.”
He added that Russia would target not just the launch site of any Europe-based missiles, but the command center from which they are launched--presumably referring to the United States itself.
“They can count, can’t they?” the Kremlin leader said of U.S. political leaders. “Then let them count the speed and the range of the weapons systems we are developing.” https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-russia-putin-20190220-story.html
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2-16-19 German Def. Min. Von der Leyen’s entire speech made very clear what this means. Almost 75 years after the end of World War II, the "imperialist powers" are openly preparing for a new round of military conflicts. In front of over 600 politicians, military personnel and intelligence service operatives, including 35 heads of government and 80 defence and foreign ministers, von der Leyen appealed for an independent German and European defence policy to enable Berlin and Brussels to play an independent role in the coming struggle. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/02/16/muen-f16.html
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4-11-19 What’s changing on the African landscape is the configuration of allies and business partners. Russia, most notably, is making a comeback in weapons sales to Africa, topping western and Chinese arms sellers by a wide margin.
In a new report, “Trends in International Arms Transfers,” Russia accounted for 28 percent of arms exports to sub-Saharan Africa in 2014-18, China for 24 percent, Ukraine for 8.3 percent, the U.S. for 7.1 percent and France for 6.1 percent. http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2019/apr/11/african-leaders-build-weapons-stockpiles-aided-rus/
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3-31-19 In the Central African Republic, where a Russian has been installed as the president’s national security adviser, the government is selling mining rights for gold and diamonds at a fraction of their worth to hire trainers and buy arms from Moscow. Russia is seeking to ensconce itself on NATO’s southern flank by helping a former general in Libya fight for control over his government and vast oil market.
Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, brought in Russian mercenaries in January to help shore up his rule against nationwide protests. And last spring, five sub-Saharan African countries — Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mauritania — appealed to Moscow to help their overtaxed militaries and security services combat the Islamic State and Al Qaeda. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/31/world/africa/russia-military-africa.html
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4-11-19 Russian ally President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan has been ousted in a military coup. Russian officials are calling the development ‘unconstitutional’.
The military has suspended the national constitution and dissolved the parliament and local authorities, Sudanese First Vice President and Defense Minister Lieutenant General Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf said in a statement that was broadcast on Sudanese state TV, reported Russian state news agency TASS.
“The regime is still unable to respond to the existing issues. For this reason a decision has been made that the armed forces will govern the country during a two-year transitional period,” declared the defense minister. https://tsarizm.com/news/eastern-europe/2019/04/11/russia-just-lost-big-in-sudan/
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4-10-19 Bangui – The Central African Republic (CAR) has cemented
bilateral relations with Russia after the Eurasian country brokered a deal
that brought reconciliation in the African nation.
Russia brokered the signing of the Khartoum Peace Agreement between
government and 14 groups in February. The arrangement involved the participation of the African Union (AU), Sudanese mediators and other international observers.
Firmin Ngrébada was appointed Prime Minister, among the outcomes of the
treaty. A new inclusive government was created resulting in stability in the
Central African country. https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/news/car-russia-solidify-bilateral-relations
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Russian fertility rate continues to fall: just 1.69 million births recorded last year, despite government efforts to reverse the demographic trend, according to official data. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2018/01/29/birth-rate-hits-10-year-low-russia-a60321
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Very complex longterm picture in the case of Russia which shares long borders with the Middle East and its high birhrate, with China and its vastly growing power (based alot on US tech and finance and trade.) Moscow strategists closely consider where the strengths are and where the weaknesses are, both now and for coming years. Europe is considered far weaker than China then. -r, mt. shasta, ca
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Very complex longterm picture in the case of Russia which shares long borders with the Middle East and its high birhrate, with China and its vastly growing power (based alot on US tech and finance and trade.) Moscow strategists closely consider where the strengths are and where the weaknesses are, both now and for coming years. Europe is considered far weaker than China then. -r, mt. shasta, ca
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