Miscellaneous News
- Thread starter bd popeye
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When some slaves are too aggressive and enthusiastic...
Commission to Allow Russia to Resume Transports to Kaliningrad
The European Commission plans to issue a clarification that will allow Russia to resume sending supplies to the exclave of Kaliningrad via Lithuania. Berlin supports the idea, but some in Vilnius are not pleased.
supercat
Major
That's why, in real life, Russia imported 70% of its technological goods from China, before the Ukraine War even started.
China wins heart and minds, and contributes to democracy in Africa at the same time - forget about G7's $600 billion whatever.
Germany is preparing for gas-rationing this winter.
You are mistaken with face values versus fundamentals on independence of countries. Here is the general pecking order:
(1) Self-sufficient independent countries
They are fundamentally independent of political, economical, cultural, military and geopolitical domains. There are only 3 such countries in the world today: US, China, Russia.
(2) Largely independent countries
Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria.
Each of them is sufficiently independent in its neighborhood. None of them has permanent foreign military based inside its sovereign.
Brazil is the core of South America.
Indonesia is the core of ASEAN.
Nigeria is the core of Africa.
(3) France
France is a unique country. It could be (1) or (2) if it were not a NATO/EU country.
(4) Quasi-independent countries
EU countries, NATO countries (except US), 5-eye countries, Japan, Korea.
(5) India
India is unique. It is culturally British. It is emotionally American. It cannot get over Pakistan and behave like a major power. It cannot get over China and behave like a grown-up country. India's top 100 million people are world class. Yet they are the same elite people who are extremely and apically illusional in geopolitics. It wants to play a swing role between US, Russia and China. Because of that, none of major powers takes India seriously. Everybody just wants to have a piece of it one way or another. Give me an example in that India has played a leading role or a deciding role in an international even in the past 30 years or so.
(6) Israel
Israel would have been a small country in the muslim world if it were not a client state of US.
The story of the current war actually re-enforces my theory. The west (plus 5-eye and Japan and Korea) is totally united under the US flag. India is trying to play both ways. But the west openly admits that it is only China that would make or break Russia in the current war. As long as the west does not crush Russia, this structure of the world goes on.
Last and least, forget about Turkey. It situates in a great geological spot. That is it, no more, no less. In front of the big 3, Turkey is nobody. In comparison with the (2) tier, Turkey a quasi-client state of the west. The so-called turkic world is as illusional as Indian dream of hegemony inside Asia.
I see you are a fan of Liu Cixin's Three Body series
I think Turkey have potential to become (2) tier country. They can do it if they combine the Arab world and west&middle Asia resources.
how can Brazil/Indonesia/Nigeria stand a chance against growing influence of Israel/India/ Turkey after Ukraine.
Turkey has oil/gas pipelines from Azerbaijan/Iraq/Iran/Russia, it control 40% of Libya and has largest military base next to Centcom in Qatar. Qatar has ownership interest in alot of western firms. Turkey importance is increasing for Germanic world.
Turkey military is at different level. and it will be increasingly used to favor resources for Germanic firms.
Israel influence is well known. It can afford to have 400 combat airforce. it will play increasingly role in energy mix for Europe.
Indians will be running big multinational firms which ultimately influence policies of US/EU/Middleast. Indian demographic dividend is for the West and Middleast.
If Brazil goes leftward in election and West treat it same ways like Venezuela. what do you think will happen?. look at Petrobas and from where it gets the tech. similar with alot of other firms. i bet it will do worse than Venezuela. as Venezuela had long relationship with Russia from Chavez time so it could run some things.
Indonesia and Nigeria are not worth. discussion. Indonesia could not handle partly sum of $1.1b Su-35.
Turkey is not an Arab country. In the muslim world, the pecking order is likely:
(1) Indonesia (sheer size and ASEAN anchor)
(2) Saudi+Pakistan+UAE (a nuclear power)
(3) Iran
(4) Egypt
(5) Turkey
There is practically no space in Central Asia for Turkey to penetrate, which is practically locked out by China+Russia.
Turkey looks good on paper, but is not nearly as influential as it portrays. Turkey in the juncture of Euro-Asia geography is similar to India in South Asia. Looking good, but not even a regional hegemony. Constrained from all sides.