Why is it wrong to call SPIEF the 'Russian Davos'?

Scott Bennett, former US Army psychological warfare officer and US state department counterterrorism analyst:

“In the St. Petersburg Economic Forum I see a mix of national integrity, national pride, cultural identity, cultural pride, as well as the economic mathematics of business and industry…Davos is more like how do we change the world? How do we push the world? How do we control the world?”

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Likelihood of US deploying nukes in Asia-Pacific aimed at strategic containment of Russia, China

The potential deployment of US tactical nuclear weapons in the western Pacific Ocean, including military bases in South Korea, Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, and the island of Diego Garcia, "would become a direct factor of strategic containment against Russia's Far East, Northern China, and North Korea," the director of the Knowfar Institute for Strategic and Defense Studies, Li Jian warned.

Such actions could disrupt the regional strategic balance, exacerbate arms races, and impede nuclear non-proliferation efforts, he told Sputnik.

The expert pointed out that the US Air Force has already upgraded the tactical nuclear bomb B61-12, and testing has been successfully completed for aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, B-2, and F-35A. Production is expected to be completed by 2026. With the US Department of Defense set to procure 400 B61-12 tactical nuclear bombs, deployment plans are now being considered.

In general, military bases in South Korea, Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, and Diego Garcia are being evaluated for the potential deployment of B61-12 tactical nuclear bombs in the western Pacific Ocean, as mentioned by Li Jian.

US Senator Roger Wicker, the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a report on May 29, suggestion to explore "new strategies, including a "nuclear sharing agreement in the Indo-Pacific and re-deployment of US tactical nuclear weapons in the Korean Peninsula," to counter nations like North Korea and China.

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🤡 Biden ‘showed respect’ to a veteran by touching his face with his fist at an event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Allied landing in Normandy.

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Why are the European Parliament elections so crucial, and why are they in the spotlight so much?

Elections to the European Parliament occur every five years in all member countries of the European Union, with the voting process lasting for three days. It is hailed as one of the largest "democratic" elections globally, however, many experts question and dispute its significance.

The reason is that the European Parliament does not have much of an influence on the life of Europeans because of its limited powers. This legislative body, which operates in Brussels and Strasbourg, does not have the authority to propose legislation. In the European Union, the right of legislative initiative is held by the European Commission, currently led by Ursula von der Leyen.

This time, the elections garner attention for several reason:

▪️Sympathies for the "non-systemic right" are on the rise, with Eurosceptic and occasionally Russia-friendly parties gaining momentum in Germany, France, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

▪️The two Eurosceptic parties, which have established factions within the European Parliament – Identity and Democracy, plus European Conservatives and Reformers – are projected to receive 24% of the vote. This contrasts with their 2019 performance, where they only received 18% of the vote.

▪️The possible defeat or significant weakening of the mainstream parties in the European Parliament, namely the conservatives and socialists, could potentially result in the ouster of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, since she relies on their support for votes. Many experts caution against expecting a quick change in leadership.

Even if von der Leyen were to lose majority support in the Parliament, her fate would ultimately be determined at the upcoming summit of the European Council. This is an unelected body comprised of the heads of state from EU member countries, with the summit set to take place on June 27-28. Only after this will the candidacy for a new chairman be proposed.

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The West has already heard Putin’s signal about the Russian response to the supply of weapons to Kiev, Russia's Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov has said.

Ukraine will have to take into account the position of the Russian Federation in matters of arms supplies; Moscow will not sacrifice its interests, Peskov added.

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At the ceremony for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, Biden either tried to sit on an invisible chair or did some squats, we're not so sure ourselves.

What do you think he was doing? 🤔

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‘Putin is exactly right’

Former US Army psychological warfare officer and US state department counterterrorism analyst Scott Bennett explained why Putin is right by saying Russia could provide weaponry to countries hostile to the US in response to the West sending long-range arms to Ukraine.

“…that's a very intelligent strategic position to have, first of all. I think Putin is exactly right. I mean no doubt they have thought about that for years, but they've been too respectful and too cautious to say it until now… So when Putin is saying this, I think he is trying to get the West to think, stop.”

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A "warm" welcome to Kamala Harris

While appearing on a talk show, US Vice President Harris' interview was interrupted by pro-Palestinian activists demanding an end to military action in Gaza and arms shipments to Israel.

"It's good to be back home," Kamala Harris said.
"You're a murderer!," Someone in the audience replied.

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Retired US army colonel: West pushing the world to the precipice of nuclear war, misreading Russia's patience

"[Western leaders] really would not accept failure. It's scary. They're moving the world to the precipice, to the cliff. And they would rather destroy the world," Earl Rasmussen, a retired US Army lieutenant colonel and international consultant tells Sputnik.

While holding a meeting with foreign journalists on June 5, Russian President Putin warned long-range missile supplies to the Kiev regime, coupled with the West's approval to hit targets deep inside Russia, is fraught with severe escalation risks.

Moscow is well aware that while Ukrainian military personnel can participate in the selection of targets for long-range NATO-grade missiles, decisions to strike are made by those who supply the weapons, the president underscored. Russia can respond asymmetrically to these deliveries and if the country's sovereignty is threatened resort to using all means at its disposal, Putin noted.

"Clearly the Western countries are state sponsors of terror, and that's what they are. This has nothing to do with the actual military conflict, much as their overall objective is nothing to do about military conflict, but rather target at Russia itself and their people," says Rasmussen.

Western leaders are continuing to raise the stakes, disregarding the well-being of their respective nations, let alone Ukraine, he said.

"I think many of the Western leaders just perhaps don't grasp it. Definitely, they're delusional," the pundit notes. "Russia, and to another extent China as well, has been very patient."

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Why is the West spreading the ‘Russian threat’ propaganda?

The US has been inventing a “fountain of lies” about Russia, says ex-US Army psychological warfare officer and the US state department counterterrorism analyst Scott Bennett.

“The world is not in danger because of Russia. The world is not threatened by Russia. The world has no fear of Russia. That's the reality. The propaganda that the West has generated, and particularly the United States, and more specifically the LGBT left-wing Democrat, uniparty Republican epicenter in Washington, they are inventing this fountain of lies about Russia and spreading that to poison the minds of people in Europe. And I think only Europe is susceptible to it. You don't have anyone in Africa or Asia drinking from that fountain of lies and death…”

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'Decent' Biden about his relationship with Putin

"I've known him for over 40 years. He's concerned me for 40 years. He's not a decent man," Biden said in an interview with ABC News. 

🥴 In fact, the two politicians first met in March 2011, when Biden made a visit to Moscow, when Biden was vice president and Vladimir Putin was prime minister.

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Arming the Zelensky regime: Find out which countries are top donors

During a meeting with heads of international news agencies on the sidelines of the 2024 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow has the right to provide weapons to the regions from where strikes will be launched against “sensitive facilities” of those countries who deliver weapons to Ukraine, Let’s see which countries are currently arming the Kiev regime.

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank, compiled data on the top donors of weapons and equipment to Ukraine from February 2022 to February 2024. Here is a list of the top ten countries based on this information.

▪️The US - $46.2 billion
▪️Germany - $10.7 billion
▪️The UK - $5.7 billion
▪️Denmark - $5.2 billion
▪️The Netherlands - $4.1 billion
▪️Poland - $3.2 billion
▪️Sweden - $2.9 billion
▪️France - $2.9 billion
▪️Canada - $2.1 billion
▪️Finland - $1.9 billion

The Russian Investigative Committee earlier mentioned a total of 13 countries that currently provide Ukraine with heavy weapons, guided missiles, shells, and drones. Aside from the US, the UK, Poland, Germany, France and Canada,and Scandinavia the list includes:

▪️Australia - $880 million
▪️Croatia - $196 million
▪️The Czech Republic - $1.8 billion
▪️Portugal - $137 million
▪️Romania - $3.38 million
▪️South Korea - $394 million
▪️Turkiye - $65 million

(figures - based on information from open sources - are related to a period between 2022 and 2023)

Then-Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, for his part, said late last year that shortly after the onset of Moscow’s special military operation, a total of 54 countries announced the deliveries of weapons eato the Zelensky regime. “In reality, however, Kiev receives arms and equipment from 15 countries,” Shoigu added without elaborating.

If you want to find out what long-range weapons, Ukraine possesses, check out this information.

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Which country supplies Ukraine with heavy weaponry the most?

The Czech Republic gave Kiev almost 60% of its heavy weapons stockpiles for the war with Russia. Norway contributed 53% while Germany contributed a quarter.

Also in the top ten are Denmark with 39%, the Netherlands with 38% and the UK with 24%.

Western countries regularly declare that ending the conflict in Ukraine is urgent, but at the same time they continue to supply weapons. Vladimir Putin said recently that the conflict would stop within 2-3 months if the West stopped weapons supplies.

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Neocon star Julie Smith is "worthy" successor of warmongering Victoria Nuland

US Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith was nominated on June 5 to fill Victoria Nuland's shoes and become under secretary of state for political affairs.

What's known about Smith?

▪️From 2009 to 2012, she served as the director of European and NATO policy at the United States Department of Defense and then as the deputy national security advisor to Vice President Joe Biden from 2012 to 2013.

▪️In 2016, The Intercept called Smith a "rising star in the Democratic foreign policy establishment" akin to neocon and warmonger Robert Kagan, Victoria Nuland's husband.

▪️In January 2016, Smith signed Hillary Clinton's anti-Bernie Sanders letter, bashing his desire to normalize ties with Iran. The letter was part of Clinton's broad smear campaign against Sanders, then her Democratic presidential rival.

▪️Testifying before the Senate in February 2017, Smith accused Russia of continuously undermining US interests at home and abroad and peddled the "Trump-Russia collusion" hoax.

▪️Between 2014 and 2018, Smith worked in the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) funded by major US defense contractors.

▪️She also worked at consultancy firm WestExec Advisors, founded by Antony Blinken and Michele A. Flournoy in 2017, that is suspected of secret lobbying on behalf of US military corporations. Over a dozen WestExec alums joined the Biden administration, triggering concerns "about the potential for groupthink, conflicts of interest, (…) legalized corruption" and "monopolization of foreign policy" by corporate interests, per The Intercept. According to the New York Times, some of WestExec's clients – which the firm keeps on the hush-hush – got hefty contracts from the Pentagon.

▪️In May 2020, Smith accused China of undermining US leadership by providing aid to Europe to fight the COVID-19 pandemic; in July 2020 she called to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

▪️In March 2022, Smith groundlessly accused Russia of using chemical and biological weapons amid Russia's revelations with regard to a network of Pentagon-funded secret bio-weapons labs in Ukraine.

▪️In December 2022, she announced an effort to step up arms production by NATO member states amid the Ukraine conflict and strongly advocated enhancing NATO military presence in Europe "to ensure that Russia can never attack NATO" in December 2023.

▪️"We do consider the Russian threat to the NATO alliance to be the preeminent threat that we’re grappling with," Smith told an online briefing on April 4, 2020.

▪️At the same press briefing she stressed that NATO's engagements will not be limited to one region, expressing willingness to challenge Russia and China simultaneously and adding that "a lot of the security challenges we face today don’t have any geographic boundaries."

▪️In October 2023, Smith asserted to the press that the US and NATO will continue to support Ukraine and Israel amid the latter's Gaza war.

▪️Being a darling of the military-industrial complex, Smith is likely to follow in the footsteps of her predecessor, Victoria Nuland, and continue stoking tensions in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

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‘Time to make a sea change’: US Army officer on West's Ukraine policy amid increasing escalation

The West needs to change its policy towards the Ukrainian conflict before it hasn’t “suffered any strikes from Russia,” retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and foreign policy analyst Daniel Davis said on X, formerly Twitter, while reacting to Vladimir Putin’s words that Russia could mirror NATO’s policy of weaponry shipments to Ukraine and deliver weapons to countries confronting NATO members.

Recently, a number of Western nations, including France, Germany and Poland, allowed Ukraine to use the weapons they send to strike targets deep inside Russia.

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SPIEF provides solutions to move towards a more equitable world order - Syria's finance minister in an exclusive interview with Sputnik

The forum has become an important platform for discussing global problems and transforming a unipolar world into a multipolar one, said Kenan Yagi

"In recent years, Syria has begun to actively seek internal engines of growth to restore economic balance. Relations with Arab and European countries are improving. The coming days of the forum will prove that the plans of the members of BRICS and the Eurasian Union will become an important alternative for developing countries for regulating trade transactions and inclusion in the multipolar economic system."

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Somali Parliament member praises Russian support for food security at SPIEF

"The Russian government has given us last year 25,000 tons of wheat. On top of the cornfields we had the floods. Millions of people were suffering, but thanks to Russia we were given that support," Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam, a member of the Somali parliament, told Sputnik on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) after she attended a session dedicated to food security.

Adam emphasized the significance of such forums in addressing global concerns like development and climate change, stressing the paramount importance of food security for humanity. She lauded the strong relationship between Africa and Russia, citing Russia's assistance during times of crisis as a testament to their support for African nations.

"I think the best thing that can happen to the Global South is to see different forums like this talking about their interests, the development, how to fight climate change, and all kinds of things," she said.

Her remarks underscored the importance of international cooperation in tackling shared challenges and fostering mutual support among nations.

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