Eurasia

Turkey, Terrorists and NATO

Turkey, reportedly on the verge of yet another military incursion into Syria, appears up to other fun and games as well. The so-called “terrorists” to whom Erdoğan is referring are Kurdish politicians, political activists, and refugees who live in Sweden and Finland. In particular, those who engage in advocacy for …

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Ukraine’s Best Chance for Peace

How Neutrality Can Bring Security—and Satisfy Both Russia and the West At this stage of the war in Ukraine, as Russia steps up its offensive in the Donbas and more revelations of the atrocities committed by its forces emerge, the prospect of any kind of negotiated peace between Moscow and …

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Baltic Sea exercise may serve as prime showcase for prospective NATO members Finland, Sweden

An annual U.S.-led naval exercise in the Baltic region that starts this weekend could allow Finland and Sweden to demonstrate their maritime prowess, potentially underscoring the contributions they might make as NATO members. Both countries long have been participants in Baltic Operations, or BALTOPS, but this year Sweden hosts opening …

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Ukraine to get 4 rocket systems in new $700 million US military aid package

Four medium-range rocket systems will be included in the latest $700 million U.S. military aid package after continued calls by Ukrainian officials for the weapons, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl said Wednesday. The High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, can strike targets roughly 50 miles away and …

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Geopolitical Update: Europe Closer To Energy Crisis

Europe lurched closer to an energy crisis on Tuesday after the Kremlin cut off gas supplies to major buyers including Shell. A Telegraph report said: Russia’s state-owned gas supplier, Gazprom, said supplies to Shell in Germany as well as to Ørsted in Denmark will be cut off on Wednesday after …

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Blinken Calls on PA’s Abbas to De-escalate Tension, Complete Probe of Abu Akleh Killing

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed the importance of Israelis and Palestinians “working to maintain calm and de-escalate tensions,” during a phone call on Tuesday evening with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, according to a readout from the State Department. Blinken also “underscored the importance” of the Palestinian Authority …

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Estonia used to be a crypto pioneer but is now clamping down on crypto licenses. This is why

Small but tech-mighty Estonia was one of Europe’s leading destinations for cryptocurrency companies. But the Baltic nation is now getting tough on how it regulates its digital assets and will bring in new rules this month, which some say could deter Estonia’s thriving start-up scene. The country’s new rules come …

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Record inflation: Which country in Europe has been worst hit and how do they compare?

Inflation in the eurozone hit a new record of 8.1 per cent in May, up from 7.4 per cent in April, amid soaring energy and food prices fuelled in part by Russia’s war in Ukraine. The preliminary estimate published on Tuesday by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, is the …

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Rocket attack in rebel-held Syrian town kills at least 3

A rocket struck a residential area in a northern Syrian town controlled by Turkey-backed opposition fighters on Wednesday, killing at least three people and wounding others, opposition activist said. Some activists said that the rocket was fired on Tel Abyad by the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, a claim that …

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Conflict Risk Alerts

Ukraine Russian forces made gains in east and captured last pocket of resistance in Mariupol in south, as Ukrainian forces advanced in north; hostilities could intensify, escalate or spread in coming weeks. Russian forces 23 May began advancing on Severodonetsk and Lysychansk cities from three directions to encircle Ukrainian troops …

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