Central Asia
US plays Mongolia card against China
Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel signed a "joint vision" statement with Mongolia calling for expanded military cooperation—clearly aimed at further encirclement of China.
Tag: Great Game
Europe
Ukraine and anti-Semitism: house of mirrors redux
Leaflets distributed in the east Ukrainian city of Donetsk, now under occupation by pro-Russian separatists, order Jews to register with the authorities. Real or provocation?
Europe
Baltics militarized by NATO amid Russian threats
Above Russian protests, NATO is beefing up its Baltic Air Policing program with more fighter jets—at the request of regional leaders, who cite Russian provocation.
Europe
NATO, Russia face off across Black Sea
As the US deploys warships to the Black Sea for NATO exercises, Ukraine approved a NATO force to be stationed in the country. Russian troops meanwhile mass on Ukraine's borders.
Greater Middle East
Russia boosts military aid to Assad
Russia is boosting military aid to the Bashar Assad regime in Syria, just as the US has finally broken off diplomatic relations with Damascus—signalling a deepening proxy war.
Europe
UN invalidates Crimea referendum
The UN General Assembly approved a resolution declaring the Crimean referendum to secede from Ukraine invalid, and calling on UN member states not to recognize it.
Europe
Crimea parliament declares independence
The Crimean parliament formally declared the region independent and asked to join the Russian Federation following a popular vote to secede from Ukraine.
Europe
Crimean Tatars protest Russian occupation
Crimean Tatars held protests in the peninsula, calling for a boycott of the referendum on union with Russia and demanding that Russian troops return to barracks.
Europe
Will Ukraine ‘go nuclear’?
NATO maneuvers in the Black Sea—just across from Crimea—come as Ukrainian lawmakers threaten to seek nuclear weapons if the West does not act against Russia.
Europe
Ukraine crisis threatens Russian pipeline plans
In light of the Crimea crisis, the EU is reconsidering approval of Russia's pending South Stream and Nord Stream pipelines, that would strategically bypass Ukraine.
Europe
Crimean Tatars at issue in Ukraine crisis
With pro-Russian gunmen occupying Crimea's parliament and Moscow threatening intervention, the Tatars have emerged as a dissident voice opposing union with Russia.
Europe
‘Fascism’ and the Ukraine protests
The Ukrainian protesters are demonized as “fascists,” exploiting far-right elements in their ranks—but there is a far greater case that the Yanukovich regime is truly “fascist.”