GEOPOLITICS & WORLDS
Crisi russo-ucraina (e dintorni): RFE RL: Canada says it will shift its military forces in Ukraine westward and will temporarily pull out nonessential Canadian employees at its Kyiv embassy, joining other Western countries in taking precautions amid rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia. “We will continue to take all precautions necessary to keep our Canadian armed forces safe and secure,” Defense Minister Anita Anand told a Kyiv news conference on January 30. Canada Joins Allies In Cutting Embassy Personnel, Shifting Troops In Ukraine – Michelle Nichols, Reuters: The U.N. Security Council is due to meet in public on Monday, at the request of the United States, to discuss Russia’s troop build-up on the border with Ukraine as international diplomacy aimed at easing tensions moves to the world body in New York. The United States describes the meeting of the 15-member body as a chance for Russia to explain itself, while Russia signaled it could try and block it. Nine votes are needed for the meeting to proceed and Washington is “confident” it has sufficient support. Explainer: Can the U.N. do more than just talk about Russia, Ukraine crisis? – Reuters: Britain will sanction businesses and people with the closest links to Kremlin chief President Vladimir Putin if Russia takes any action against Ukraine, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke said on Monday. Britain warns Russia of sanctions on Kremlin-linked people and businesses – Doina Chiacu, Reuters: U.S. senators are very close to reaching a deal on legislation to sanction Russia over its actions on Ukraine, including some measures that may take effect before any invasion, two leading senators said on Sunday. Deal on Russia sanctions bill possible this week – U.S. senators – Reuters: Vessels of Russia’s Northern Fleet have completed anti-submarine drills in the Norwegian Sea, the Russian defence ministry said on Monday, part of a broader naval exercise amid a stand-off with the United States and NATO. Russian navy holds anti-submarine drills in Norwegian Sea – Dario Quintavalle, Formiche: “Dagli amici mi guardi Iddio che dai nemici mi guardo io”. Questo potrebbe essere il motto dell’Ucraina di oggi e del suo presidente. Volodymyr Zelensky ha passato tutto lo scorso anno a sollecitare udienza dal presidente Joe Biden e il supporto dell’amministrazione statunitense. Adesso che lo ha ottenuto, e con un entusiasmo che va ben oltre le più rosee previsioni, sta puntando i piedi e cercando di frenare l’ardore di un alleato sempre più scomodo. Per l’Ucraina è il tempo delle scelte difficili. Scrive Quintavalle – Ivan Timofeev, Valdai Discussion Club: The United States handed over to Russia a written response to the proposals for security guarantees. Washington refused to accept Moscow’s demands for legally binding guarantees of NATO’s non-expansion, but indicated its readiness to discuss certain issues, such as arms control and strategic stability. Starting from December 2021, both sides have consistently raised the stakes. Russia has concentrated a significant military group near the borders of Ukraine. The United States directly announced a set of restrictive measures that would be taken against Russia in the event of war. Apparently, another round of escalation is coming. In the near future, we can expect the development of the situation according to one of the following scenarios. Ukraine: Three Scenarios After the Answer From Washington
Un’analisi sull’ Unione Economica Eurasiatica. Vyacheslav Dodonov, Valdai Discussion Club: The seven years of the Eurasian Economic Union’s existence provide an opportunity to sum up some results and assess the problems that have arisen during the integration process. The presence of problems prevails in its assessments, but not in the process itself, which has been characterised by steady, although perhaps not overtly noticeable progress. As for the assessments, in many if not most of them, there is scepticism and negativity, often regardless of whether the observers are supporters or opponents of integration. Eurasian Integration: Progress and Problems
Sull’ultimo lancio missilistico da parte della Corea del Nord. Josh Smith, Reuters: North Korea confirmed on Monday it had launched a Hwasong-12 ballistic missile, the same weapon it had once threatened to target the U.S. territory of Guam with, sparking fears the nuclear-armed state could resume long-range testing. N.Korea tests biggest missile since 2017, U.S. calls for talks – Josh Smith, Reuters: North Korea capped one of its busiest months of missile tests ever with the launch of its Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday, highlighting efforts to ensure it has reliable systems for delivering nuclear warheads. January’s testing schedule began with the launch of a new “hypersonic missile,” and went on to include long-range cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles launched from railcars and airports, underscoring the nuclear-armed state’s rapidly expanding and advancing arsenal amid stalled denuclearisation talks. Explainer: From hypersonics to workhorse weapons, N.Korea showcases missile diversity – Josh Smith, Reuters: North Korea’s unusually active month of missile testing appears aimed at securing global acceptance of its sanctioned weapons programmes, analysts said, whether through concessions or simply winning tired acquiescence from a distracted world. – Analysis: With seven tests in a month, N.Korea calls for world to accept its missiles
In Myanmar. Reuters: A court in army-ruled Myanmar will start an election fraud trial of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 14, a source familiar with the proceedings said on Monday, after she was accused of influencing the 2020 vote to win a second term in office. Suu Kyi faces trial in more than a dozen cases and so far has been sentenced to a combined six years in detention by a court in the capital Naypyitaw, in legal proceedings derided by the international community as a sham. Myanmar’s Suu Kyi to go on trial for election fraud Feb. 14 -source
Hong Kong, petizione di cristiani e cattolici per il ritiro delle accuse contro Jimmy Lai e altri attivisti politici. James Pomfret, Reuters: A coalition of Christians and Catholics on Monday called on Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to drop charges against media tycoon Jimmy Lai and other political activists jailed or in custody under a China-imposed national security law. Religious groups call for amnesty for Hong Kongers charged under national security law
Australia, riunione del Quad a febbraio. Reuters: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to Australia in February to meet counterparts from Japan, India and Australia to discuss Indo-Pacific coordination, the Australian government said on Monday. The two-day meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) foreign ministers comes amid the Biden administration’s concerns about China, even as tensions with Russia over Ukraine rachet up in Europe. Australia to host ‘Quad’ meeting of foreign ministers
Riavvicinamento tra Turchia e Israele ? Emanuele Rossi, Formiche: Israele e Turchia stanno negoziando i termini di una visita del presidente Isaac Herzog ad Ankara che potrebbe aver luogo nel prossimo futuro. Un meeting che diventerebbe estremamente importante per il futuro dei rapporti tra i due Paesi, attualmente congelati, e fondamentale per lo sviluppo delle relazioni nel Mediterraneo Allargato, dove entrambi muovono i propri interessi internazionali. Israele e Turchia si parlano. Erdogan invita Herzog (e Putin) ad Ankara – Formiche.net
Tra Turchia e Armenia. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, Valdai Discussion Club: What is going on between Armenia and Turkey? Are they embarking on another process of rapprochement? What are the chances for it to succeed this time, considering the previous failed cases of rapprochement in 1992-93 and 2008-09? Armenia and Turkey: Rapprochement 3.0? – Ilter Turan, Valdai Discussion Club: Azerbaijan’s recovery of its territories, which Armenia occupied in 1993, appears to have opened the way for an improvement in Turkish-Armenian relations. Immediately following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Turkey recognised Armenia. It was expected that relations would gradually advance toward the opening of borders and establishment of diplomatic relations. These hopes were dashed with the commencement of active hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which led to Yerevan seizing several Azeri regions between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Since then, Turkey has maintained steadfast support for Azerbaijan’s efforts to regain its territory. Thaw in Turkish-Armenian Relations: A Hopeful Beginning?
CYBER SECURITY – DIGITAL TRANSITION – TECHNOLOGY
Il Metaverso in salsa cinese. Otto Lanzavecchia, Formiche: La scorsa settimana ha portato una serie di nuovi sviluppi sul metaverso, quello che (secondo le aziende che lo stanno costruendo) sarà la prossima iterazione del nostro rapporto con la tecnologia digitale. Trattandosi del riflesso informatico della società che lo crea, è probabile che esisteranno tante versioni del metaverso quante ne disegneranno i regolatori in giro per il mondo. Com’è avvenuto per internet, o nella fattispecie la sua versione cinese. Ma prima serve un passo indietro. Controllato, censurato, sterilizzato. Come sarà il metaverso cinese
The Global Eye è pubblicato in collaborazione con The Science of Where Magazine
