Saturday, April 20

Geopolitics

Geopolitics refers to international relations and power politics as they are influenced by geography, history, and alliances.

EU Advances Bosnia And Herzegovina Membership Request
14Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Europe, EU, Eurozone, Geopolitics, Human rights, Types of News: Brief

EU Advances Bosnia And Herzegovina Membership Request

European Commission Demands Candidate Countries Provide Stronger Human Rights Protections October 14, 2022—The European Commission gave the green light to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its candidacy to join the 27-member European Union. The decision, which comes with stipulations, moves to the European Council. EU leaders are aspiring to expand their bloc as a way to spread their perspective on the world stage. Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi called the enlargement policy a "geostrategic investment" in the continent's peace and stability. Candidates for the EU Line Up Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia are the latest countries to request membership. The bloc already has many countries waiting to get in, including Turkey, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, and Kosovo. "The Western Balkans are...
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Turkey And Russia Discuss Energy Deals, Trade in Food
13Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

Turkey And Russia Discuss Energy Deals, Trade in Food

October 13, 2022—On the sidelines of a conference in Kazakhstan, Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders discussed trade of Russian grain and fertilizer and plans for Russia to run nuclear plans in Turkey. Energy Deals In addition to the nuclear deals in Turkey, they also discussed transporting Russian gas through Turkey via its ferry system. Putin said Turkey is "the most reliable route to deliver gas to the European Union," according to various news sources that quoted the Kremlin. He added that the hub in Turkey would be a "platform not only for supplies, but also for determining the price." Turkey To Transport Grain And Fertilizer Erdogan said facilitating trade of grain and fertilizer from Russia to other countries is o...
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NATO Reaffirms Support For Ukraine, Strengthens Air Defense
13Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Arms Sales, Military Industry, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

NATO Reaffirms Support For Ukraine, Strengthens Air Defense

Photo by Kongsberg October 13, 2022—As NATO ministers met in Brussels yesterday and today, Russia's bombardment of Ukraine's capital and nine other cities was fresh on their minds. The war intensified, and NATO and the G7 nations of Western countries strengthened their support for Ukraine. Ukraine has asked the military alliance of 30 countries to fast track its request for membership. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that would lead to World War II. And many NATO-member leaders took heed. "We do not want world war," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter. Germany, meanwhile, is leading the effort to strengthen Europe's military defense. Air Defense System While NATO treads lightly on expansion. Today, 14 NATO members agreed to jointly develop an air d...
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A ‘Bomb Beneath The Multilateral System’
13Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Geopolitics, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Quotes

A ‘Bomb Beneath The Multilateral System’

October 13, 2022—European Council President Charles Michel described a geopolitical shift due to the Russia-Ukraine war in an address to the Council. European Council President Charles Michel on a geopolitical transition. "And this war is also, in a way, a bomb that has been placed beneath the multilateral system. As well we know – more or less intuitively, more or less rationally – without a doubt, we are at this very moment being thrown into a sort of geopolitical transition towards a new chapter, a different chapter in the history of international relations."-European Council President Charles Michel, October 10, 2022 speech
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Ukraine Fast Tracks NATO Application After Russia Takes Territory
30Sep By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

Ukraine Fast Tracks NATO Application After Russia Takes Territory

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked NATO to fast-track Ukraine's application on September 30, 2022. September 30, 2022—After Russia took four territories in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky applied to the NATO security alliance to fast-track Ukraine's application. "Today, here in Kyiv, in the heart of our country, we are taking a decisive step for the security of the entire community of free nations," Zelensky said today in an address to his nation. Zelensky asserted that Russia would have attacked other countries, such as the Baltic states, Poland, Moldova, and Georgia if Ukrainians had not stopped them. "Security has no alternatives. But determination is needed to guarantee it. We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine’s application for accel...
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As Nicaragua Invites Russian Troops To Central America, U.S. Responds
17Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Communism, Dictatorship, Geopolitics, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

As Nicaragua Invites Russian Troops To Central America, U.S. Responds

U.S. Treasury Sanctions State-Owned Gold Mining Firm June 17, 2022—Citing Nicaragua's closer ties with Russia and political oppression at home, the U.S. Treasury issued new sanctions today targeting a Nicaraguan mining company and a government official. Specifically, it targets Empresa Nicaraguense de Minas (ENIMINAS), a state-owned gold-mining company, and Ruy Lopez Delgado, the head of the enterprise. Nicaragua Welcomes Russian Military The sanctions action comes just days after Nicaragua's parliament approved a decree to allow Russian troops to enter the Central American country. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega invited Russian troops into his country to carry out law enforcement duties and conduct joint military exercises, ABC News reported earlier this month. On ...
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In Contrast To NATO, Moscow-Based CSTO Is Silent On Ukraine
24Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Analysis

In Contrast To NATO, Moscow-Based CSTO Is Silent On Ukraine

File photo: CSTO meeting 2020 March 24, 2022--The Russia-dominated military alliance known as the Collective Security Treaty Organization is keeping silent on the Ukraine crisis, including Russia's invasion and the humanitarian outflow of refugees. That stands in contrast to the 30 member NATO alliance, which issued a statement today in reaction to Russia's war in Ukraine. March Meeting on Crisis Response Meeting this month virtually, the Moscow-based CSTO staff discussed crisis-response initiatives with military representatives from its member states. Members include Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. According to a March 24 news statement about the meeting, the representatives discussed the "military and political situation in the world and...
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Europe Shores Up Its Defence, Sets Up Security Plan
23Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Europe, EU, Eurozone, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

Europe Shores Up Its Defence, Sets Up Security Plan

NATO Also To Strengthen Its Defense Capabilities In Europe And Perhaps Beyond March 23, 2022--This week political leaders are meeting on two tracks to build up security in Europe: in the NATO Alliance and in the European Council. Josep Borrell speaks ahead of European Council March 21, 2022 meeting. Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, European countries started plans to shore up their own defenses. It started in 2017 with talks of a voluntary defense arrangement among EU countries. Over time, it grew in. ambitions. After Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in August, European leaders began talking about strengthening their own defense capabilities and building stronger autonomy in foreign policy. That led to the culmination of the Strategic Compass. It is a forward-looking defense...
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International Agency Says Europe Can Cut 1/3 Of Its Russian Gas Imports
7Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Europe, EU, Eurozone, Geopolitics, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

International Agency Says Europe Can Cut 1/3 Of Its Russian Gas Imports

March 7, 2022--Europe is notoriously dependent on Russian oil and gas. That reliance is making strict penalties on Russia's invasion difficult to carry out. But that trade isn't set in stone. In a new report, the International Energy Agency recommends 10 steps for European leaders who want to break that dependency. Under the IEA plan, Europe would be able to reduce its natural gas imports from Russia from 155 billion cubic meters (bcm) a year to 95 bcm--a savings of one third. These figures assume Europe refills is gas storage facilities in 2022. According the the report, the steps are in line with the European Union's goals for climate action and a European Green Deal. However, the agency also recommends additional steps in light of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. 10 S...
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Turkey: NATO Should Have Stopped Russia’s Invasion
25Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Geopolitics, International Law, Legal Battles, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

Turkey: NATO Should Have Stopped Russia’s Invasion

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an joins a virtual NATO meeting on Feb. 25, 2022. Source: Turkey's Government February 25, 2022--As Russia closed in on Ukraine's capital city Kyiv, the NATO alliance held an emergency virtual meeting today. Just hours before the meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an suggested that NATO and the European Union should have stopped the invasion. "NATO should have taken a more decisive step," Erdogan said to reporters, according to Reuters and other press reports. "The EU and all the rest of the West have failed to display a decisive and serious stance. They give plenty of advice to Ukraine. It’s not possible to get a result through this advice," Erdo?an said. Turkey is a NATO member and a neighbor of Russia. In a press release on Th...
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