Russia: Moscow Looks To Expand Military Presence In Central Asia

Posted by Matt in June 17th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Asia, Military, Russia, Bilateral Agreement, Central Asia, Conclusion, Energy Resources, geopolitics, Journalist, Kant, Military Affairs, Military Cooperation, Military Presence, Political Experts, Ratification, Russia Moscow, Seriousness, tajikistan, Vladimir

Military and political experts both in Russia and Central Asia say the timing of Russia’s ratification of the bilateral agreement with Tajikistan and its plans to reinforce the Kant air base are not coincidental, and show Moscow’s seriousness about fortifying its influence in Central Asia.
Vladimir Mukhin, a Moscow-based journalist and expert on military affairs, says [...]

Russia plans Arctic military build-up

Posted by Matt in June 11th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Military, Russia, Arctic, Arctic Ocean, Defence Ministry, Energy Resources, Military Presence, National Defence, National Interests, Naval Vessels, Rush, Russia, Training Zone, Untapped Energy, World Energy

Russia has raised the stakes in the international scramble for the Arctic by announcing it will boost its military presence in the region to protect its “national interests”.
The defence ministry said naval vessels would be sent to the Arctic Ocean, which is believed to be home to 25 percent of the world’s untapped energy resources, [...]

Russia and Georgia rattle sabres

Posted by Matt in April 30th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Russia, Abkhazia, Breakaway, Central Government, Georgia, Georgia Russia, Georgian Authorities, Kodori Gorge, kremlin, Military Presence, Peacekeepers, Soviet Republic, Surveillance Drone, Tbilisi, Video Footage

GEORGIA and Russia agree upon one thing: the situation in the breakaway province of Abkhazia is bad and getting worse. Georgia, an ex-Soviet republic with close links to America, says that Russia is illegally putting more troops in the region. Last week it produced video footage of what looks like a Russian warplane shooting down [...]

Syria’s shadow still looms large over Lebanon

Posted by Matt in April 26th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Syria, Angry Street, Beirut, damascus, Former Prime Minister, Lebanon, Military Presence, Paralysed, Political Deadlock, Powerbrokers, Pulling Strings, Pullout, Rafiq Hariri, Street Demonstrations, Syria

Three years after Syria ended its near 30-year military presence in Lebanon, Damascus stands accused of still pulling strings there and leaving its tiny neighbour paralysed by political deadlock.
On April 26, 2005, Syria withdrew the last of its officials who had reigned as the true powerbrokers in Beirut, as the final 14,000 troops of a [...]