President Donald Trump is suddenly faced on the first day of election year with hot foreign policy crises with Iran and North Korea that put American lives at risk and could weigh heavily on his own political prospects.
Archiv: imperial complex
When news arrived early Sunday that President Trump had spoken to his Russian counterpart, it didn’t come from the White House. It came from Moscow.
(30.12.2019)
Russia’s Foreign Minister Says Either Abide By Iran Nuclear Deal Or Kill It
Lavrov made the comments on December 30 after meeting in Moscow with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who said that the European signatories to the deal were „not taking any practical steps“ to support it.
PETER HITCHENS reveals fresh evidence that UN watchdog suppressed report casting doubt on Assad gas attack
he global chemical weapons watchdog is facing renewed questions after fresh details emerged about how it suppressed the findings of its own inspectors who raised serious doubts about an alleged poison gas attack in Syria.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that a senior official at the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) demanded the ‘removal of all traces’ of a document which undermined claims that gas cylinders had been dropped from the air – a key element of the ‘evidence’ that the Syrian regime was responsible.
Once again, Peter Hitchens is the one journalist to break ranks within mainstream media and report on further damning leaks revealing political capture of chemical weapons watchdog OPCW.
This appears to be Twitter’s explanation. Make of it what you will.
Twitter is proactively censoring news about the OPCW scandal and central involvement in it of French diplomat.
Twitter has also censored some of our tweets at @TheGrayzoneNews. These tweets are factual reporting; they don’t violate any rules. Here is an example of Twitter hiding a tweet with a link to our journalistic interview with Bolivia’s leftist leader:
This is bizarre, I have never seen anything like it before… Italian reporter @SMaurizi had a tweet on OPCW and Douma arbitrarily blocked by Twitter. It contained important info and did not violate any rules.
OPCW-DOUMA – Release Part 4
27 December, 2019
Today WikiLeaks releases more internal documents from the OPCW regarding the investigation into the alleged chemical attack in Douma in April 2018.
One of the documents is an e-mail exchange dated 27 and 28 February between members of the fact finding mission (FFM) deployed to Douma and the senior officials of the OPCW. It includes an e-mail from Sebastien Braha, Chief of Cabinet at the OPCW, where he instructs that an engineering report from Ian Henderson should be removed from the secure registry of the organisation:
“Please get this document out of DRA [Documents Registry Archive]… And please remove all traces, if any, of its delivery/storage/whatever in DRA”.
The main finding of Henderson, who inspected the sites in Douma and two cylinders that were found on the site of the alleged attack, was that they were more likely manually placed there than dropped from a plane or helicopter from considerable heights. His findings were omitted from the official final OPCW report on the Douma incident.
Media’s Deafening Silence On Latest WikiLeaks Drops Is Its Own Scandal
This is getting really, really, really weird.
WikiLeaks has published yet another set of leaked internal documents from within the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) adding even more material to the mountain of evidence that we’ve been lied to about an alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma, Syria last year which resulted in airstrikes upon that nation from the US, UK and France.
This new WikiLeaks drop includes an email from the OPCW Chief of Cabinet Sebastien Braha (who is reportedly so detested by organisation inspectors that they code named him “Voldemort”) throwing a fit over the Ian Henderson Engineering Assessment which found that the Douma incident was likely a staged event. Braha is seen ordering OPCW staff to “remove all traces, if any, of its delivery/storage/whatever” from the organisation’s secure registry.
China to send guided-missile destroyer to joint drills with Iran, Russia
The Russian special presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa also expressed unease and confusion over the US’s establishment of a maritime security coalition to patrol the Middle East region’s waterways.
“It is absolutely unclear to me what our American colleagues suggest,” Mikhail Bogdanov said in July.
The Persian Gulf Is About to Become Dangerously Crowded
(12.12.2019)
France and Qatar signed an agreement allowing France to deploy and station military forces within Qatar.
The Netherlands said on November 25 that it would join Denmark and France in the European naval mission, reported the NLTimes. The Netherlands said it would deploy a navy ship to the Persian Gulf for six months but said it would play an “observing” role. Belgium, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden are also expected to join the European coalition, the Tehran Times reported.
Saudi, Chinese navies conclude military drills
(06.12.2019)
Col. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Omari, the director of the exercise, earlier said that it is part of the efforts to ensure the Saudi military is fully prepared and ready to face all challenges to maintain security and peace in the region and the world.
“The exercise targets building mutual trust, enhancing cooperation between the Saudi Royal Navy and the Chinese PLA Navy, exchanging experiences, developing the capacity of participants to combat maritime terrorism and piracy, and improving training and combat readiness,” he added.
Iran, Russia and China team up for military drills as America boosts troops in Saudi Arabia
Iranian military spokesman General Abolfazl Shekarchi said the joint maneuvers, which are aimed at promoting regional security, will extend as far as the Sea of Oman. The drill is seen as a response to recent U.S. maneuvers with its regional ally Saudi Arabia, in which China also participated.
OPCW Douma Docs
14 December, 2019
Today WikiLeaks releases more documents showing internal disagreement within the OPCW about how facts were misrepresented in a redacted version of a report on an alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria in April 2018.
Amongst these is a memorandum written in protest by one of the scientists sent on a fact finding mission (FFM) to investigate the attack. It is dated 14 March 2019 and is addressed to Fernando Arias, Director General of the organisation. This was exactly two weeks after the organisation published its final report on the Douma investigation.
WikiLeaks is also releasing the original preliminary report for the first time along with the redacted version (that was released by the OPCW) for comparison. Additionally, we are publishing a detailed comparison of the original interim report with the redacted interim report and the final report along with relevant comments from a member of the original fact finding mission. These documents should help clarify the series of changes that the report went through, which skewed the facts and introduced bias according to statements made by the members of the FFM.
Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu
Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu at the latter’s initiative.
Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the range of current issues on the bilateral agenda, including in the context of the President of Russia’s visit to Israel scheduled for January 2020.
In addition, Russian-Israeli cooperation on Syria was discussed.
China Guzzles More Saudi Oil
China’s thirst for Saudi Arabian oil continues to grow on the back of massive refinery joint ventures, and the nation is also drawing more crude from Russia, as imports from the U.S., Iran and Venezuela dwindle, fresh Chinese customs data for the year to November show.
Brasilien: „Die Mentalität der Sklavenhalter kehrt zurück“
Die Gewerkschafterin Carmen Foro über den zunehmenden Widerstand gegen die aggressive Politik von Präsident Bolsonaro
Iran says Chinese state oil firm withdraws from $5B deal
(06.10.2019)
Officials in Beijing didn’t immediately acknowledge their decision. Phone calls to the CNPC rang unanswered on Sunday and its website bore no mention of the withdrawal.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif separately complained Sunday about the U.S. campaign against Tehran and its impact on foreign investments.
China ‚Welcomes‘ Russia’s Call for Persian Gulf Coalition as U.S. and Iran Back Rival Plans
(08.10.2019)
„China has been closely following the complex and sensitive situation in the Gulf region,“ Geng added. „Safeguarding peace and stability in the region is in the shared interests of the international community. China welcomes all proposals and diplomatic efforts conducive to deescalating the situation in the Gulf region. We would also like to stay in communication with all relevant parties.“
Russia offers to establish international organization for security in Persian Gulf
(03.10.2019)
Russia offers to establish an organization with the participation of Russia, the US, EU states and other countries in order to resolve the issues in the Persian Gulf, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed on Thursday during the plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club.
Changes on the world arena have returned Eurasia to the international spotlight. The fourth session of the Valdai Club’s 16th Annual Meeting was dedicated to the topic: „Greater Eurasia as a New Form of Geo-Economic Space Organization“. #valdaiclub
(today)
Wow, #Pacific made part of the Greater Eurasia! India and Russia sign agreement to connect „Greater Eurasia“ and the “regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans”
(23.09.2019)
Speaker Zinaida Greceanîi and @HPFriedrichCSU , Vice-President of the German Bundestag, held a meeting within the pale of the Fourth Meeting of Speakers of the Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments titled “Greater Eurasia: Dialogue. Trust. Partnership.” @CSU
(24.09.2019)
Pompeo says attack was ‚act of war‘ on Saudi Arabia, seeks coalition
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – The United States wants to build a coalition of European and Arab partners to deter Iran after an attack on Saudi Arabia that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described on Wednesday as „an act of war“ against the world’s top oil exporter.
Guy Verhofstadt speech at the UK Liberal Democrats conference [14.09.2019]
Guy Verhofstadt’s speech at the conference of the UK Liberal Democrats September 14h, 2019.
Guy Verhofstadt is on stage getting applauded for saying the world of tomorrow will be one of empires. How do these people dare call themselves progressive? Guy’s done a great job of reminding me why I voted Brexit in the first place.
G7: Trump’s demands for Russia’s readmission cause row in Biarritz
US president argues Putin should be included in discussions on Iran, Syria and North Korea
EU mulls naval mission to Persian Gulf
(today)
The German government would launch the idea at one of the informal European meetings in Helsinki at the end of August.
Did India take down Pakistan 14-1 at United Nations Security Council?
For India, the fact that no country agreed to the ChinaPakistan effort to force a formal meeting, the fact that the informal meeting had no minutes, no votes or show of hands, no resolution, no statements, and no outcome, showed the duo was isolated and was cause for satisfaction. Diplomats pointed out that barring China, not one among the 14 other UNSC members came out to speak on the matter.
UN Security Council has its first meeting on Kashmir in decades — and fails to agree on a statement
A 90-minute private debate among Security Council members on Kashmir is notable. Asked whether the Council had left the Kashmir issue alone for too long, Russia’s deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy, told CNN, „Well I was born in 1971.“
„Sometimes it’s best to not touch on every issue,“ he added.
I welcome the UNSC meeting to discuss the serious situation in Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. It is for the first time in over 50 yrs that the world’s highest diplomatic forum has taken up this issue. There are 11 UNSC resolutions reiterating the Kashmiris right to self determination.
Pak, China trying to speak for world: India after UNSC closed-door meet on Kashmir
“Thwarted,” said a top UN diplomat in a one-word response about Pakistan’s request for a formal meeting of the Security Council that garnered the support of only one of the body’s 15 members: China.
Rajnath Singh’s hint on ‘no first use’ change is message to Pakistan
Soon after the nuclear blasts in 1998, India adopted the “no first use” policy in a bid to address global concerns of an impending nuclear arms race, especially as the Indian tests were followed by tit-for-tat tests by Pakistan.
The promise not to use nuclear weapons first, a policy adopted by several nations including China, addressed the escalation ladder. It also laid to rest apprehensions or misunderstandings about the possible use of nuclear weapons in a conflict.
‚No first use’ of nukes policy is open to review: Rajnath Singh
NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh’s suggestion that India’s no-first-use nuclear posture may not be sacrosanct sparked intense speculation in the midst of heightened India-Pakistan tensions in the wake of the abrogation of special status to Jammu & Kashmir.
The defence minister’s comment, which he also later tweeted, came at Pokhran — the site of India’s nuclear tests.
India makes veiled threat of nuclear war
Though Rajnath Singh didn’t name any country, it is understood the threat was directed at Pakistan. It shows Modi’s growing frustration at his ill-conceived move to strip Occupied Kashmir of its autonomy on August 5.
My friend Bibi, your wishes have touched all Indians: PM Modi to Israeli PM Netanyahu
(15.08.2019)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s greetings to Indians on Independence Day highlighting the „genuine friendship“ between the two countries drew an equally warm and cordial response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who tweeted on Thursday saying that his wishes have touched all Indians.
China Blames India for Kashmir Tension as UN Action Blocked
The Security Council met on Friday to discuss Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to scrap autonomy for Kashmir, though the body was divided on how to proceed, with the U.S. and France blocking a Chinese attempt to get the 15-member body to publicly urge parties to refrain from actions that exacerbate tensions along the line of control, diplomats said.
PM Imran discusses Kashmir issue with Donald Trump ahead of crucial UNSC session
Prime Minister Imran Khan talked to US President Donald Trump and briefed him about Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir issue.
The telephonic contact took place on Friday, ahead of the United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
UN Security Council discusses Kashmir, China urges India and Pakistan to ease tensions
The Security Council met to consider the volatile situation surrounding Kashmir on Friday, addressing the issue directly within the UN body dedicated to resolving matters of international peace and security, for the first time since 1965.
Although the meeting took place behind closed doors in New York, the Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Jun, spoke to reporters outside the chamber following deliberations, urging both India and Pakistan to “refrain from taking any unilateral action which might further aggravate” what was an already “tense and very dangerous” situation.
UN Slams Israel’s ‚Effective Annexation‘ of West Bank After 2,000 Settlement Units Approved
Israel’s Civil Administration approved the proposed plans this week and construction is currently pending. Among units approved include 537 in Alon Shvut, 18 in Ma’aleh Adumim, 66 in Efrat and 96 in Kiryat Netafim.
China May Consider Sending Navy To Protect Oil Tankers In Gulf
“If there happens to be a very unsafe situation we will consider having our navy escort our commercial vessels,” Ni told Reuters, while the Chinese Embassy in the United Arab Emirates said later in a text message to Reuters that China was studying the U.S. proposal on escorting commercial ships in the Gulf.
China’s Iran oil imports plunge as U.S. sanctions bite
(27.07.2019)
Saudi Arabia overtook Russia to become the country’s top supplier in June with 7.72 million tonnes, or 1.88 million bpd, up 84.1% from a year earlier and compared with 1.11 million bpd in May.
Arrivals from Russia reached 7.15 million tonnes, or 1.74 million bpd, up 45.5% from a year earlier and compared with 6.36 million bpd in May.
Iran crisis: Britain could ask Russia and China to join fight as tensions rocket in Gulf
(28.07.2019)
The move was suggested after a summit on Thursday between military chiefs from the US, UK, Europe and the UAE in Florida, where US admirals failed to persuade Britain to join its Sentinel operation.
China welcomes Russian concept of collective security in Persian Gulf
(25.07.2019)
On July 23, the Russian Foreign Ministry introduced the concept of collective security in the Persian Gulf. It stipulates creating an initiative group to organize an international conference on security and cooperation in the Persian Gulf, which will later lead to creating a security and cooperation organization in the region.
China Curiously Says It May Join U.S. Persian Gulf Maritime Coalition Despite Trade War
Chinese Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Ni Jian informed Reuters of his country’s positions on regional maritime security in Abu Dhabi on Aug. 6, 2019. China’s embassy in the country subsequently provided additional details to the wire service via text message.
Syria’s Idlib: The Hot Potato the U.S., Russia and Turkey Are Fighting Over
In fact, Turkey is threatening to launch a broad campaign to take over Syrian territory in the area between eastern Syria and the Euphrates River to “cleanse” it from Kurdish militias, which Turkey considers a threat to its national security.
This is precisely what the United States, which sees itself as the protector of the Kurdish allies who fought alongside it against ISIS, is afraid of.
Telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump
(31.07.2019)
The President of Russia regards the US President’s offer as a sign that it is possible that full-scale bilateral relations will be restored in the future.
The presidents of Russia and the United States agreed to continue contacts in the form of telephone conversations as well as personal meetings.
Stoltenberg: No request for NATO mission in Arab Gulf
„So we continue to follow the situation very closely. We exchange intelligence, information about the situation,“ he said and noted that NATO Defense Ministers in Brussels discussed the American imitative in June where touched on the possibility of NATO members contributing assets but not as part of a NATO mission.
On her part, Kramp-Karrenbauer said the situation in Iran and in Hormuz is very sensitive.
Germany Says It Will Not Support U.S. Military in Gulf, Where Iran Is Ready for Talks with Saudi Arabia
German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass said Wednesday that Germany „will not take part in the sea mission presented and planned by the United States,“ which has sought to develop a „maritime security initiative“ to counter Iran in the world’s top oil chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz. The top diplomat affirmed that „there is no military solution“ to the ongoing crisis that has seen unrest involving competing commercial and military interests in the strategic region.
U.S. Navy kicking off „initial planning conference“ in Bahrain today with allied nations to discuss maritime security: statement. Monday, Secretary of State Pompeo admitted, „it will take more time“ to form coalition to protect ships in Strait of Hormuz from Iranian forces.
Russia presents to UN its concept of collective security in Persian Gulf
„Practical work on launching the process of creating a security system in the Persian Gulf may be started by holding bilateral and multilateral consultations between interested parties, including countries both within the region and outside of it, UN Security Council, LAS [League of Arab States], OIC [Organization of Islamic Cooperation], GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council],“ the document added.
UK calls meeting with US and France to discuss Hormuz plan
The UK has invited military representatives of the US, France and other European countries to a meeting in Bahrain on Wednesday in an attempt to create an international mission to safeguard shipping through the strait of Hormuz.
Britain hopes it can act as bridge between the US – which has the largest military presence of a western nation in the region – and countries such as Germany, which is reluctant to getting involved in any mission led by Washington.
World Powers to Meet Iran in Vienna to Save Nuclear Deal
Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China will hold an unprecedented meeting with Iran in Vienna on Sunday to discuss how to save the 2015 nuclear deal.
Russian deputy defense minister Alexander Fomin visited Pyongyang, where he discussed „expansion and activization“ of military cooperation b/w Russia and N.Korea.
(07.07.2019)
„Cooperation between the military departments of Russia & North Korea including at a high level, has intensified recently.“ – Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel-General Alexander Fomin said at a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Kim Hyun Ryong.
(03.07.2019)
North Korean missile launch a ’new type of threat,‘ South Korea says
„Trump’s trip to Panmunjom didn’t have its desired effect,“ Vipin Narang, an associate professor of political science at MIT told CNN. „There’s no date for working level talks. Instead, they’re still testing — Kim is touring potentially nuclear capable submarines and firing“ missiles.
How America’s Iran policy is shaped in Riyadh and Jerusalem
Nominally, US policy is made in Washington. Substantively, it is framed in Riyadh and Jerusalem, with the interests of the United States figuring only minimally in determining the result.
Iran at the center of the Eurasian riddle
(17.06.2019)
The SCO is bound to significantly expand by 2020, with possible full membership for both Turkey and Iran. It will then feature all major players of Eurasia integration. Considering the current incandescence in the geopolitical chessboard, it’s hardly an accident a crucial protagonist in Bishkek was the ‘observer’ state Iran.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects new submarine that could potentially threaten US
Shin pointed out that the submarine was revealed just in time for U.S. national security adviser John Bolton’s Seoul visit.
U.S. voices strong support for S. Korea, Japan after ‚airspace incursions‘ by Russia, China
„The United States strongly supports our ROK and Japanese allies and their responses to airspace incursions by Chinese and Russian aircraft,“ Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Dave Eastburn said in response to a query from Yonhap News Agency, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.
Putin and Xi test a budding military alliance in the Pacific — and step up confrontation
Moscow and Beijing have been steadily ramping up what he described as a „quasi-alliance,“ said Artyom Lukin, an international relations scholar at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok. He described the incident as one designed to showcase their shared power, „sending a message to Tokyo, Seoul and Washington.“
„Frankly speaking, I was surprised when I read this news,“ Lukin said. „I didn’t expect this action would be so bold and provocative.“
Who needs the G20? Question gets louder in Osaka
The bloc, which expanded out of the original G7 rich-country club, has faced criticism over the years for lacking a charter, a clear mandate, or enforcement power, and holding hugely expensive yet inconclusive summits while excluding most of the developing world.
But while pressure on the bloc previously came from anti-globalisation protesters, this weekend’s summit in Osaka showed that the greatest challenges to its legitimacy may come from within.
Chinese president says Gulf region at crossroads of war and peace
China always stands on the side of peace and opposes war, Xi said when meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ahead of a summit of the Group of 20 major economies in the Japanese city of Osaka.
PM talks to Japanese media on Japan visit, G20 Summit
This is the fourth time in more than 10 years Việt Nam has been invited to the G20 summit (the latest attendance was in July 2017 in Germany), an important multilateral forum.
PM Phúc said this showcases the international recognition of Việt Nam as a reliable partner for regional peace, security and growth, as well as an expectation that the country will continue making responsible contributions to global economic affairs.
Vietnam-EU pacts show trade war reshaping industry
The EU and Vietnam reportedly agreed to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) and an investment protection agreement (IPA) on Sunday in Hanoi, a development that can be seen as a response to US trade protectionism.
Moon holds bilateral talks with Indian, Indonesian, French leaders
South Korean President Moon Jae-in met his Indian, Indonesian and French counterparts on the first day of this year’s G20 summit in this western Japanese city, Friday, and discussed various bilateral and global issues with each of them.
Xi urges BRICS to strengthen strategic partnership, improve global governance
Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) meets with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (C), Russian President Vladimir Putin (1st L), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (1st R) and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (2nd R) at a BRICS leaders meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019
Remarks by President Trump and President Bolsonaro of the Federative Republic of Brazil Before Bilateral Meeting
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much everybody. We’re with a gentleman who had one of the greatest election wins anywhere in the world, as far as I’m concerned, and he was very proud of his relationship with President Trump — President of Brazil. And he’s a special man — doing very well, very much loved by the people of Brazil.
Meeting of BRICS leaders
The five-party meeting was attended by President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President of China Xi Jinping and President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa.
Remarks by President Trump and President Putin of the Russian Federation Before Bilateral Meeting | Osaka, Japan
Meeting with US President Donald Trump
Vladimir Putin met with President of the United States of America Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka.