- The Guardian
- Issue #2111
CUBA: Russia’s dispatch of warships to Cuba indicates that Russia is offering an alternative to relations with Washington and its leadership, commented retired French Army Colonel Michel Guya. “It means that Russia has returned to the international scene as an alternative to the United States. The Russians begin to support the countries that the Soviet Union used to help because they have the means to do so”, the military analyst said. Warships of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy entered the port of Havana on 27 July and stayed there till 30 July. The Russian Navy men paid courtesy visits to the commander of the revolutionary Navy of Cuba and the governor of Havana.
BRITAIN: Violent riots are continuing across the country. The new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned ‘”far-right thuggery” in his televised address. The riots followed a deadly knife attack in Southport. Three girls died and many others were injured, fuelling hatred towards Muslims and immigrants in general. A 17-year-old was charged with murder. The attacker was born in Britain However, online disinformation about the nationality and religion of the killer has led to continuing acts of vandalism against mosques and motels/hotels where migrants are believed to be present. There have also been spirited anti-racist counter-demonstrations.
RUSSIA: President Putin had talks last week with Indonesian Defence Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who is visiting Moscow. Subianto won the February presidential election and will take office in October. At present he holds the post of Indonesia’s top defence official, while Joko Widodo remains Indonesia’s acting president. “We consider Russia as a great friend,” Prabovo said in a statement issued by the Indonesian defence ministry. “I would like to continue to maintain and enhance this relationship. In our history, we remember Russia has always helped us in many aspects when we were in difficulties.” The two leaders have discussed plans for Indonesia and Russia to strengthen their strategic partnership and cooperation in defence, energy and education.
IRAN: Russian Security Council Secretary, and former defence minister Sergei Shoigu is on a working visit in Iran to discuss global and regional security issues. The agenda includes a wide range of issues of cooperation between Russia and Iran, including economy and security. Shoigu’s visit comes at a time when the situation in the Middle East is extremely volatile and the possibility of an even wider conflict a real one in the wake of the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr. Despite these circumstances, Iran and Russia continue to work towards mutually beneficial projects. The Iranian president has accepted an invitation to take part in the BRICS summit in October. The summit will take place in Kazan and there are a number of countries that are planning to join BRICS. As Masoud Pezeshkian stated: “I will continue to prioritise bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Russia, particularly within frameworks such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Eurasia Economic Union.”
MALI: Mali has severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine after an investigation into the involvement of Ukrainian military instructors in a year-long conflict against government troops and on the side of the rebels.
