🇺🇸🌍 The US military influence in Africa
Part 1 – Military bases

Recently we’ve covered the theme of the UK’s influence in Africa. But it would be wrong not to talk about the ever-growing US military presence on the continent, which already exceeds that of Britain and France.

🔻After the end of the World War 2 the USA were quick to replace the UK and France as leaders not only in the western world, but also in Africa. However, up until the end of Cold War the continent was mostly viewed as a field for proxy wars with the USSR, and the United States policy was to support the pro-Western forces.

▪️After the dissolution of the Soviet Union the overall interest towards Africa lowered, because the only influential enemy just disappeared. But the 9/11 changed the situation drastically. The theme of terrorism became one of the main in the US international strategy. Whether it is true concern or just a mean to satisfy interests in certain regions, the fact remains that the US military presence greatly increased, and Africa was not an exception.

🔻Since 9/11, the US military has built a sprawling network of outposts in more than a dozen African countries. Officially, it is done so to battle the terrorism. Unofficially, goals also involve suppressing the growing influence of foreign nations, like Russia and China, and influencing African nations to make them more controllable to satisfy political and economic interests.

▪️The full footprint of the United States AFRICOM bases is hard to grasp, since some military facilities the US government tries not to reveal. However, as of now there are 26 active military bases (another one is planned to be established in the Kingdom of Morocco) and also US military personnel is present in 4 UN peacekeeping operations’ bases.

▪️The highest concentrations of the AFRICOM bases are in the Sahelian states on the west side of the continent, as well as in the Horn of Africa in the east. The AFRICOM is actively seeking to enhance its presence and is primed for expansion in the future. Some African states are positive about these bases, since the United States still provide some security to the states and help battle terrorism, like in Somalia, although not so actively.

🔻Despite some improvements, the situation in many countries that host US military personnel remains harsh. At the same time, the USA successfully preserves its influence and interest on the continent, although encountering competition from Russia, China and Turkey. The United States interests in Africa are growing, as the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit 2022 indicated, and in trying to satisfy them they will continue to increase military presence

However, having only military bases does not mean a full projection of military power on region. For that special operations are also needed, which is a topic for another post, so stay tuned for part 2.

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#USA #Africa #Map

@africaintel

Germany and Russian gas

'A 2-year deal between Russia and Germany prices a cubic metre of gas at $3,5. We can't legally buy Russian gas anymore, but take it or not, we must pay for it. We're storing this gas in a facility in Poland. We can't use it due to Washington sanctions. Instead, we buy gas from America at $27 per cubic metre, which they bought from Russia for $3! What's this got to do with sanctions? It's utter madness! The Americans are laughing at us. This harms the German economy hugely'. Why do Germans buy Russian gas from the US? Watch the video.

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Young muslim kids STOMP the pride flag as their mothers cheer them on.

It is you who love them, but they love you not...

🚨🇮🇱🪖 ~ Israel reports record $12.5 billion defense equipment exports in 2022, 24% of them to 'Arab partners'.

https://t.co/dD7zIZWHap

🔹In an effort to further cement Venezuela’s 🇻🇪 ties to West Asia despite opposition from the US, last week President Nicolas Maduro visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦. He also visited Türkiye 🇹🇷 where he attended Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s inauguration. This was Maduro’s first visit to the Gulf region since 2015. President Maduro said that during his visit, he had succeeded in strengthening bilateral relations with each of the countries.

🔹The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said MBS and Maduro discussed bilateral cooperation and issues of common interest, but did not give further details. Erdogan also looks to expand relations with Saudi Arabia, his re-election was a relief to many Gulf officials.

🔹This is a reflection that Saudi Arabia is looking to have an independent foreign policy dictated by its national interest. Venezuela and Saudi Arabia are founding members of OPEC. And they can work towards making the oil market less dependent on the US 🇺🇸 and its sanctions regime.

Last reported on this channel:

💠 🇻🇪 President Maduro received a warm welcome by Brazilian President Lula, as he attends a summit with 12 South American countries, just several years after he was banned from entering Brazil.

💠 The US 🇺🇸 will gradually lift sanctions on Venezuela only if the country moves toward restoring 'fair' elections.

💠 Russia's 🇷🇺 FM S. Lavrov visited Venezuela to discuss the formation of a multipolar world order.

💠 Iran 🇮🇷 & Venezuela to share technological advances in petrochemicals, oil & gas sectors.

💠 Türkiye's 🇹🇷 FM M. Çavuşoğlu calls on the US to lift sanctions on Venezuela.

Video source - teleSUR, imdat oner, TCV News, Vanessa Ortiz.

- 🇮🇷/🇸🇦 BREAKING: Iran and Saudi Arabia have declared a joint effort to support the Palestinian cause

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🇩🇪 Germany sees no room for extra payments to EU budget to aid Ukraine, says Finance Minister

Germany sees no leeway for additional payments into the EU's long-term budget because of aid to Ukraine, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said ahead of a meeting of finance ministers in Luxembourg on Friday to discuss reforming the bloc's debt rules.

The budget situation in Germany is strained, the politician added.

"Given the necessary cuts in our national budget, we are currently unable to make any additional contributions to the EU budget."

Other member states are in a similar position, Lindner noted.

The European Commission previously argued that the bloc's 2021-2027 budget has been "maximally exploited" due to the rising costs of support to Ukraine, adding that it will present revisions to the budget on June 20.

The Commission is expected to request more funding following the revision, according to Lindner.

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⚡️🇪🇬🇷🇺 The Russian Embassy in Egypt publishes a statement declaring that as of 17th of June, 2023, over 8 million tons of Russian wheat has arrived in Egypt, as a matter of fact on other statements and previous posts, the Embassy informed us that several shipments have been sent free of charge because "the Russian government is aware of the social circumstances in Egypt and we can not let a friendly nation pass through such trouble."

@Mediterraneanman

🇩🇪🇪🇺 The German far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has said it could seek the “dissolution” of the EU or for Germany to leave the bloc, as part of next year’s European Parliament election campaign.

The proposal states that the party leaders’ “patience with the EU is exhausted. We therefore seek the orderly dissolution of the EU and want to found a new European economic and interest community in its place, a federation of European nations.”

The AfD party conference is due to vote on the stance at the end of July. The party has supported Germany leaving the EU since at least 2019, and has also called for the European Parliament to be abolished, according to local media reports.

The EU parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in June 2024.

🔗 https://www.handelsblatt.com/dpa/afd-koennte-mit-forderung-nach-eu-aufloesung-in-europa-wahlkampf-ziehen/29214348.html

Exactly what they should be doing.

Saudi Arabia leads bidding for stake in Brazil mining giant

The investment is part the kingdom's attempts to diversify its economy from oil and secure access to strategic minerals

🇪🇺🇭🇺🇵🇱 With billions of euros still frozen for Hungary and Poland, EU chief proposes Ukraine should receive €50 billion in additional aid.

The European Commission is proposing that EU member states provide a total of €50 billion in grants and loans to Ukraine over the next four years to help rebuild the country, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.

“Above all, the creation of the reserve will provide predictability for our partners in Ukraine, will encourage other donors, and will allow us to calculate our financial support according to the situation on the ground, as we all know that a war requires us to be as flexible as possible,” said von der Leyen.

The call for tens of billions in aid for Ukraine comes at the same time that the EU has frozen billions in aid for EU member states Hungary and Poland over so-called rule-of-law issues. Ukraine has received extraordinary amounts of aid, with substantial amounts of that aid funneled back into international investment behemoths like J.P. Morgan and BlackRock, arms manufacturers, and even corrupt officials within Ukraine.

The tremendous amounts of money flowing into Ukraine also comes at a time when Europeans are dealing with elevated inflation, rising poverty, higher interest rates, and extremely high housing prices that have priced most families out of the market.

At a press conference on the review of the Multiannual Financial Framework, von der Leyen also announced that the EU proposes to allocate €15 billion for migration management. She stressed that the funding would be used to strengthen cooperation at the EU’s external borders and with countries outside the EU to help refugees in neighboring countries.

The commission president also said the EU should invest €160 billion more to strengthen its technological competitiveness. She added that the commission would introduce a trade barrier against non-EU countries, focusing on “a limited and narrow range of high tech” to preserve its own competitiveness.

“Globalization and an open economy are good for Europe economically, but the world is becoming increasingly geopolitical and there is a limited number of key technologies that can be used aggressively. This is why the issue of economic security has become a priority for us and for many of our partners,” she stressed.

🔗 https://rmx.news/european-union/with-billions-of-euros-still-frozen-for-hungary-and-poland-eu-chief-proposes-ukraine-should-receive-e50-billion-in-additional-aid/

The Greater Eurasia project: Building bridges and breaking barriers

If you're counting on Asia's many new power centers to compete and clash – don't. The Greater Eurasia Partnership is set to integrate them all – from the SCO, EAEU, and BRICS, to emerging new currencies – in order to replace the 'rules-based order.'

By Pepe Escobar

The OCGFC dislike corporate and financial power that is, in one way or another, still subordinate to, or entrenched within, state power.