While people mock the EU for being entirely toothless, France is the only country in the EU with nuclear deterrence, with 240 warheads coupled to 48 MIRV capable missiles aboard four Triomphant class submarines (built in France), and 50 carried by Dassault Rafale fighters (built in France), with 10 of these 50 being aboard France's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (also built in France). - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_and_weapons_of_mass_des...
Much of this around Greenland has to do with the ongoing land and sea blockade of Kaliningrad. It hasn't been widely reported in the Western media, but it could be the next major flashpoint between Russia and the E.U. Similar to Crimea, Russia wants it's access to the Baltic Sea restored and Kaliningrad is a key part of this.
Standing between the English Channel, North Atlantic and Kaliningrad are three waterways through Danish territory. Now because Putins friend in the U.S. is threatening to invade a Danish controlled island (that the U.S. already has a military base on, and effectively controls militarily already), Denmark now has to split its forces to a degree, making it much easier for Russia to accomplish its goals in the Baltic Sea.
You must have dreamed this. There is no blockade against Kaliningrad. Especially no sea blockade.
In fact, there is a EU treaty in place that ensures overland transport to Kaliningrad via Lithuania.
What in fact is in place is widespread GPS jamming done by the Russians from Kaliningrad, and that impacts ships sailing the baltic sea.
That's exactly what Trump's is looking for - an excuse to break up and to open doors for Putin on the east flank. Same old story, meanwhile there is no counterreaction from freedom loving populace of the blessed country. That's all one needs to know.
The goal seems to be to create essentially the geopolitics of 1984 (the Orwell novel, not the historical year), with the superstates of Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia replaced (for now) with three imperial zones of influence whose metropoles are the US, Russia, and China (this is the real substance of the “Donroe Doctrine”, though the overt part of that focuses on only the US-centered zone of control), though these imperial zones of control becoming de facto or de jure superstates isn't out of the question.
As in 1984, visible geopolitical conflict with a sufficient perceived degree of real kinetic threat between the empires serves the rulers of each empire by providing the external threat to maintain the apparent need for strong internal control, it also facilitates the transition from the current international status quo to the desired end state by providing a set of threats intended to coerce lesser powers to accede to the dominion of their respective regional overlords.
One explanation could be that, if Trump is a Russian asset, he'd be more effective at it if he wasn't obviously one. Seizing all tankers except russian ones might be too obvious.
Therefore, it might be worth it for Russia to lose a few tankers in order to keep one of their greatest assets.
All hypothetical of course. I'm sure Trump isn't a Russian asset. No way they can have kompromat on such a virtuous guy.
> Greenland: Macron warns of 'cascading consequences' if US seizes island
No french wine and, if this doesn't work, no french cheese exports to US for some days. And, if this still doesn't work, a 500% tarif on US whysky, at least until Trump calls.
And, if this still doesn't work, an ad with Pif et Hercule in front of Disneyland, Paris.
While people mock the EU for being entirely toothless, France is the only country in the EU with nuclear deterrence, with 240 warheads coupled to 48 MIRV capable missiles aboard four Triomphant class submarines (built in France), and 50 carried by Dassault Rafale fighters (built in France), with 10 of these 50 being aboard France's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (also built in France). - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_and_weapons_of_mass_des...
Also it is very likely the very nuclear capable United Kingdom will ally with the EU over the United States when things go hot. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_and_weapons_of_...
So if this situation escalates too far, it will end very badly for both sides across the Atlantic.
Much of this around Greenland has to do with the ongoing land and sea blockade of Kaliningrad. It hasn't been widely reported in the Western media, but it could be the next major flashpoint between Russia and the E.U. Similar to Crimea, Russia wants it's access to the Baltic Sea restored and Kaliningrad is a key part of this. Standing between the English Channel, North Atlantic and Kaliningrad are three waterways through Danish territory. Now because Putins friend in the U.S. is threatening to invade a Danish controlled island (that the U.S. already has a military base on, and effectively controls militarily already), Denmark now has to split its forces to a degree, making it much easier for Russia to accomplish its goals in the Baltic Sea.
You must have dreamed this. There is no blockade against Kaliningrad. Especially no sea blockade. In fact, there is a EU treaty in place that ensures overland transport to Kaliningrad via Lithuania.
What in fact is in place is widespread GPS jamming done by the Russians from Kaliningrad, and that impacts ships sailing the baltic sea.
That's exactly what Trump's is looking for - an excuse to break up and to open doors for Putin on the east flank. Same old story, meanwhile there is no counterreaction from freedom loving populace of the blessed country. That's all one needs to know.
Unlikely Putin can capitalize on it with how his army is depleted.
So Trump wants to help Putin while simultaneously seizing his oil tankers?
Explain.
The goal seems to be to create essentially the geopolitics of 1984 (the Orwell novel, not the historical year), with the superstates of Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia replaced (for now) with three imperial zones of influence whose metropoles are the US, Russia, and China (this is the real substance of the “Donroe Doctrine”, though the overt part of that focuses on only the US-centered zone of control), though these imperial zones of control becoming de facto or de jure superstates isn't out of the question.
As in 1984, visible geopolitical conflict with a sufficient perceived degree of real kinetic threat between the empires serves the rulers of each empire by providing the external threat to maintain the apparent need for strong internal control, it also facilitates the transition from the current international status quo to the desired end state by providing a set of threats intended to coerce lesser powers to accede to the dominion of their respective regional overlords.
My 1st guess is that they made Ribentrop-Molotov deal last year in Alaska. 2nd guess he is drunk on power and inpunity. Or maybe both.
The stupidest answer is the most likely one. Occam's Kazoo.
Because they were transporting Venezuelan oil?
It’s not even clear whether they were actually Russian or if they were just flying the Russian flag to try and not get captured.
But even if they were Russian, it was a clear area in which Putin overstepped his boundary.
One explanation could be that, if Trump is a Russian asset, he'd be more effective at it if he wasn't obviously one. Seizing all tankers except russian ones might be too obvious.
Therefore, it might be worth it for Russia to lose a few tankers in order to keep one of their greatest assets.
All hypothetical of course. I'm sure Trump isn't a Russian asset. No way they can have kompromat on such a virtuous guy.
> Greenland: Macron warns of 'cascading consequences' if US seizes island
No french wine and, if this doesn't work, no french cheese exports to US for some days. And, if this still doesn't work, a 500% tarif on US whysky, at least until Trump calls. And, if this still doesn't work, an ad with Pif et Hercule in front of Disneyland, Paris.