November 5, 2019 – Astute News

November 5, 2019

The ‘War’ for the Future of Middle East

Oh, oh, here we are again! In 1967, it was then the ‘threat’ of the standing Arab Armies (and the ensuing six-day war on Egypt and Syria); in 1980, it was Iran (and the ensuing Iraqi war on Iran); in 1996, it was David Wurmser with his Coping with Crumbling States (flowing on from the infamous Clean Break policy strategy...

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November 5, 2019

Improved Russian-Indian Ties Must Be Balanced With Improved Russian-Chinese Ones

The visit of new Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to Moscow from 5-7 November along with a 50-member military-technical business delegation will continue the trend of improving Russian-Indian defense ties after their comparative weakening over the past few years, though this must be balanced with improved Russian-Chinese connectivity through the Eurasian Union’s planned integration with the Belt & Road Initiative...

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November 5, 2019

China Breaks the Western Debt Stranglehold on the World

The west has colonized, exploited, ravaged and assassinated the people of the Global South for hundreds of years. Up to the mid-20th Century Europe has occupied Africa, and large parts of Asia. In Latin America, though much of the sub-Continent was “freed” from Spain and Portugal in the 19th Century – a new kind of colonization followed by the new...

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November 5, 2019

Saudi Aramco IPO Will Not Save Kingdom

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) has staked his country’s future on selling a 5% stake in Saudi Aramco, the most valuable asset it has. And it is his hope that this IPO will help finance the country’s turnaround making it less dependent on oil revenue. It’s been trying to do this for three years and was ready to...

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November 5, 2019

India Loses $7 Billion WTO Case Against the US

India has lost a $7 billion WTO case against US. Meanwhile China has won its case with the WTO now allowing the Chinese to impose a $3.6 billion sanction on American goods. The verdict comes days after India and US officially suspended defense cooperation in what is now giving rise to a full-fledged India-US Trade War. India, meanwhile, is engaged...

Opinion Comment: 1

November 5, 2019

Europe’s Gas Alliance With Russia Is a Match Made in Heaven

Amidst the excitement over the killing of the ISIS chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, a development of much impact on international security passed by when Denmark made the innocuous announcement on October 30 that it would permit the proposed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to pass through its exclusive economic zone. Copenhagen modestly explained that it was “obliged to allow the...

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November 5, 2019

How the War in Ukraine Started

Clear and convincing evidence will be presented here that, under U.S. President Barack Obama, the U.S. Government had a detailed plan, which was already active in June 2013, to take over Russia’s main naval base, which is in Sevastopol in Crimea, and to turn it into a U.S. naval base. There can now be no question that the war in...

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November 5, 2019

Russia’s Permanent Naval Squadron in Syria Serves to Stretch Its A2/AD Bubble Farther

The Russian Naval squadron in Syria is providing coastal defense for its expeditionary corps in Syria, but more than that it represents a forward defense of Russia’s own Black Sea waters. Russia’s Strategic Goals Russia’s strategy in the Mediterranean is focused on three key goals: taking advantage of the Mediterranean’s geographical position to improve Russia’s security, using Russia’s position in...

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Daily Archive: November 5, 2019

The ‘War’ for the Future of Middle East

Improved Russian-Indian Ties Must Be Balanced With Improved Russian-Chinese Ones

China Breaks the Western Debt Stranglehold on the World

Saudi Aramco IPO Will Not Save Kingdom

India Loses $7 Billion WTO Case Against the US

Europe’s Gas Alliance With Russia Is a Match Made in Heaven

How the War in Ukraine Started

Russia’s Permanent Naval Squadron in Syria Serves to Stretch Its A2/AD Bubble Farther