Cardinal Military

Russia and China have undertaken joint military drills in the Asia Pacific region (1). China is expanding its military reach with a naval base in the Gulf of Thailand (2). Both Russia and China have been active on the African continent, with China continuing to pursue trade and military connections (3).

NATO threatened to “respond” to the threat of Russia’s new missile system leading to concerns of escalation and putting Europe at risk (4).

The US has been trying to improve its relations with countries on China’s periphery (5), while continuing to challenge China’s sovereignty in the Taiwan Strait (6).

Turkey challenges the US with the delivery of Russian S-400 weapons systems (7), risking sanctions (8), the loss of American F-35 fighter planes (9) and the wrath of NATO (10). However, new information indicates that Turkey might have lost the F-35s due to the lobbying efforts of Israel (11).

Tensions between the US and Iran continue to rise with claims an American assault ship shot down an Iranian drone in the Persian Gulf (12), an act which was denied by the Iranian military (13) claiming the US shot down its own drone (14).

Tensions continue to rise as military divides between East and West become more pronounced as America continues to pursue military-backed tactics to retain its global dominance, despite waning support for yet another war in the Middle East (15), lack of discipline within their army ranks (16), and allies losing faith in their ability to provide adequate protection according to mutual treaties.

Philippine president Duterte issued a challenge to the US military to “fire the first shot” in the altercation against China rather than hiding behind their allies in the South China Sea (17).

Russian relations continue to improve over the value of their military defense systems and advanced fighter planes, with both India and Turkey considering a purchase of the SU-57s (18).

Iran has pushed back against the US’s presence in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming sovereignty over the defense of the region (19). The advances in Iran’s military prowess and alliances in the region will make it more challenging for the US to attempt any sort of ground invasion or wage a winnable war against Iran (20).

While Afghanistan seems to be moving towards peace, the details of such an agreement seem to be lost in translation (21).

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References

1. Russia and China display strategic coordination in Asia-Pacific - Indian Punchline

2. China Expands Military Reach With ‘Secret’ Deal For Cambodia Base

3. China propagiert Militärkooperationen zur Absicherung der Neuen Seidenstraße

4. NATO Tells Russia To Destroy New Missile Or Face Consequences

5. The US Army’s Green Berets have been busy trying to win over friends in China’s neighborhood

6. US Navy trespasses despite China’s warning

7. Erdogan Celebrates Delivery Of S-400s, Says Turkey Should Build New Weapons With Russia

8. Erdogan Gets His S-400s As Turkey Dares Trump To Pull Sanctions Trigger

9. Trump says US will not sell Turkey F-35 fighters

10. ‘Unacceptable’ Russian-Turkish S-400 Deal Has Sparked Worst NATO Crisis in Decades – Trump Adviser

11. Israel Fought Behind The Scenes To Drop Turkey From US F-35 Program: Report

12. US Navy shoots down Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz – Trump

13. ‘Sheer lie’: Iran elite military show VIDEO ‘proving’ no drone downed by US in Strait of Hormuz

14. Iran: US shot down “its own drone”

15. Most American veterans say the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were ‘not worth fighting,’...

16. Entire Navy SEAL platoon withdrawn from Iraq for drinking alcohol in latest US Special Forces shame

17. Firebrand Philippine president pushes the US to send the entire 7th Fleet into the South China Sea

18. India, Turkey eyeing super-advanced SU-57 fighters

19. Protecting Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s business and no one else’s – President Rouhani

20. Why the United States Won’t Launch a Ground War Versus Iran

21. Taliban, Afghan Delegates Agree On Road Map To Peace -- But Texts Differ