southfront--2020-07-08--70 Years Of NATO: Is It A High Time To Retire?

NATO is a military and political alliance , a security community that unites the largest number of States on both sides of the North Atlantic .
During its existence , NATO has expanded 2.5 times .
It accounts for 70 % of global military spending .
It is rightfully considered the most powerful military association of States in the entire history of mankind in terms of combined armed power and political influence .
The fact that this year NATO turned 70 years old , which is more than the independent existence of some of its member States , proves an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the Alliance has successfully resisted external enemies in its history , today it is experiencing significant internal divisions that threaten its existence more than ever .
The founding date of NATO is April 4 , 1949 , the day 12 countries signed the Washington Treaty .
NATO became a “ transatlantic forum ” for allied countries to consult on issues that affect the vital interests of participating countries .
The organization ’ s primary goal was to deter any form of aggression against the territory of any member state , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The principle of collective defense , enshrined in article 5 of the Washington Treaty , implies that if one NATO member state is the victim of an armed attack , all other member States of the Alliance will consider this act of violence an armed attack on all NATO countries and will take actions that the organization deems necessary .
At the end of the 20th century , the real threat to the West was the Soviet Union .
After the collapse of the Soviet Union , the question arose about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created to protect against the Soviet threat .
The disappearance of the external threat has led to a process of transformation that has been going on for 30 years .
Each stage of transformation is directly related to the adaptation of the Alliance to certain changes taking place in the international arena and affecting the stability of the security system in the Euro-Atlantic and the world as a whole .
In addition to the collapse of the Soviet Union , one of the key events that affected the development of the Alliance was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually allowed the Alliance to be preserved , since then there was a common external threat to the member countries .
Traditionally , NATO ’ s transformations are considered in the following three areas : geographical changes , political transformations , and processes in the military-technical sphere .
Important political transformations are manifested in adapting to changes in the international arena , which are represented primarily by the disappearance of block opposition .
The Alliance remains committed to the principle of collective defense , as set out in article 5 of the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain the same .
The main transformations are expressed in the form of declarations of new NATO functions : maintaining peace and stability not only on the territory of the member States , but also outside the area of responsibility of the Alliance .
The operations carried out in these territories are aimed at maintaining local and regional stability , eliminating ethnic and religious conflicts , maintaining respect for human rights and various national minorities , and , most importantly , fighting international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ transformed from a regional organization into a guarantor of global stability , taking responsibility for stability in regions outside its own territories and in situations not covered by article 5 of the Washington Treaty .
Assuming global responsibility , NATO is forced to maintain the necessary level of military power , participate in collective planning for the organization of nuclear forces and their deployment on its own territories .
New threats encourage NATO to expand geographically .
The expansion of NATO , which implies the inclusion of former members of the Warsaw Pact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the East , represents a change in geography .
Changes in the military-technical sphere imply a General reduction of the Alliance ’ s collective military forces , their relocation , etc .
The main form of transformation of the armed forces was the transition from ” heavy ” military associations to more flexible and maneuverable groups in order to increase their effectiveness in the fight against new threats .
The beginning of the economic crisis in autumn 2008 revealed the urgent need for reforms .
Member States were forced to reduce their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involving the development and purchase of precision weapons .
In 2010 the plan of the NATO Secretary-General A. Rasmussen ’ s plan to optimize the budget , and in 2012 , the Chicago summit adopted the “ smart defense package ” , which implies a parallel reduction of funds and increased efficiency .
However , despite all the reforms carried out within the Alliance , today the new missions do not have the same clarity as during the cold war .
Options for the purpose of NATO ’ s existence after the collapse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against terrorism , assistance in the spread of democracy , nation-building , “ world police ” , the fight against “ soft threats ” , the fight against a resurgent Russia .
But the main problem of the Organization is that none of the options is universal for all member countries .
None of the considered “ enemies ” unites NATO .
After various stages of transformation , NATO turned out that the condition for its perfect functioning was precisely the situation of structured confrontation .
The current unstructured confrontation , which implies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threats , makes it meaningless to have a cumbersome and generally rather inert organization .
In 2014 , NATO had another opportunity to create a common external enemy , the role of which was approached by Russia .
The summit held in Wales in 2014 radically changed the agenda of the entire Alliance .
The main topic of discussion was the Ukrainian crisis , which led to the conclusion about the need to contain Russia .
The final Declaration of the summit notes that ” Russia ’ s aggressive actions against Ukraine have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a whole , free and peaceful Europe ” .
“ The illegal self-proclaimed annexation of Crimea and Russia ’ s aggressive actions in other regions of Ukraine ” were highlighted as special threats among the spread of violence and extremist groups in North Africa and the Middle East .
The appearance of a ” dangerous external enemy ” entailed not only political transformations .
There have also been reforms in the military sphere of NATO .
Among the new security challenges were “ hybrid wars ” , that is , military actions involving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures of an open or hidden nature .
The adopted Action Plan , which includes the concept of “ hybrid war ” , was primarily aimed at countering the tactics of warfare used by Russia .
Thus , a number of measures included in the Declaration were directed against Russia .
NATO was forced to return to the role of a guarantor against severe security threats , which significantly increased costs for the organization .
At the 2016 NATO Warsaw summit , it was decided to further deploy 4 battalion tactical groups to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baltic States .
In addition , more than 550 tanks and an armored unit of the United States have been transferred to the region .
These units are deployed on a rotational basis , which does not contradict the NATO-Russia Founding act of 1997 .
In the Declaration of the 2018 Brussels NATO summit it is recorded that the “ enhanced presence in the forward area ” of tactical groups includes a total of 4,500 military personnel , which is approximately equal to one brigade .
At the same time , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real threat to NATO .
Real foreign policy practice proves that Russia will not threaten Western countries in the next 50 years .
The only point of instability today is the Ukrainian conflict , which had no preconditions until 2014 , and was in turn artificially created by the American establishment in partnership with Brussels .
Russia , for its part , even in this conflict does not seek to expand its influence , and also observes the Minsk agreements that are unfavorable to It .
In 2016 , the RAND organization conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event of a Russian invasion of the Baltic States , Russian troops can be on the approaches to the capitals of Estonia and Latvia within sixty hours .
The study showed that NATO forces are not sufficient to repel the Russian attack .
In an interview , NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller said that the main goal of deploying additional forces in Eastern Europe and Poland is to demonstrate the unity of the Alliance , and to maintain its members ‘ commitment to article 5 of the Washington Treaty .
Thus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deterrence of Russia , in fact , its forces are not enough to respond to a potential attack from Russia .
The NATO administration is well aware that the likelihood of a military conflict with Russia is minimal , but it continues to maintain the image of Russia as an aggressor in order to unite the member countries .
Moreover , maintaining the image of a dangerous enemy gives the United States the opportunity to promote its own interests in Europe and manipulate its “ partners ” .
On June 25 , Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American military contingent in Germany would be transferred to Poland .
In the end , the American contingent in Germany will be reduced from 52 thousand people to 25 thousand .
According to official data , in Germany there are about 35 thousand US military personnel , 10 thousand civil servants of the Pentagon and about 2 thousand contract workers .
Some of the US military will return to America , some will go to Poland to strengthen the deterrence of the “ Russian threat ” .
In addition , according to media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump discussed the possibility of transferring 30 f-16 fighters .
When asked whether the US administration is trying to send a signal to Russia , Donald Trump stressed that Moscow was receiving a “ very clear signal ” , but Washington still expected to normalize their relations .
This only underscores the fact that the US is taking advantage of the perceived Russian threat to NATO .
The American leader , by undermining cooperation between Moscow and Berlin in the energy sphere , not only prevents Russia , as one of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing a profitable project .
The US is also interested in weakening the leading European industries , primarily Germany .
The United States does not tolerate strong enemies , but it also does not accept strong allies .
It is in the interests of the Americans to prevent the redevelopment of Europe as a self-sufficient and independent center of power in the international arena .
Therefore , Donald Trump is strongly calling on Germany to reimburse the billions of dollars it owes the White House .
Trump is dissatisfied with the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made by all NATO members to increase defense spending to 2 % of GDP .
At the same time , Germany has already followed this path , increasing funding to 1.38 % .
In its turn , the US spends 3.4 % of the state budget on the needs of the Alliance .
The problem of NATO funding is very often the main criticism of Berlin .
However , in addition to this issue , new problems are emerging in US-German relations .
Washington is very dissatisfied with Berlin ’ s interaction with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has strengthened the anti-Chinese vector of its policy , blaming the PRC for the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and accusing the Chinese side of “ controlling ” the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , did not receive sufficient support in Europe , and Germany criticized .
Moreover , Berlin does not support Washington ’ s sanctions policy on Chinese Hong Kong , which Beijing allegedly takes away its independence from .
The US is particularly dissatisfied with the EU ’ s desire for a major investment agreement with China .
Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and seeks to close the deal during its six-month presidency of the EU Council .
China today , of course , is the main competitor of the United States in the struggle for world hegemony .
China also raises considerable concerns among European countries , which is primarily due to economic expansion and the successful development of the large-scale Chinese initiative “ One belt , one road ” .
European leaders are also competing with China for resources in third world countries in Africa and Southeast Asia .
In addition , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , China does not currently pose a military threat to Europe , which does not allow the use of NATO forces against it .
While Western countries see Russia and China as the main threats , strategically they are primarily concerned about Iran and North Korea .
These countries are also a threat primarily to the United States , but their European partners are not ready to conduct active military actions against them at the moment .
The only real dangerous factor that unites almost all NATO member countries remains international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western countries act as a united front .
The current military and political course of the European Union is determined by the clear desire of its leadership to transform the military and political organization into one of the world ’ s leading centers of power .
The aggravation of political and economic differences with the United States is the main incentive for the implementation of this goal .
Thus , the EU ’ s focus on increasing independence in crisis management in the area of common European interests has had a decisive influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and defense policy .
In order to reduce dependence on the United States and NATO for conducting operations and missions within the framework of “ force projection ” , the leadership of the Association has stepped up activities to develop its own military component .
France and Germany are the main engines of this process , and are promoting the initiative to create the so-called European Defense Union .
However , despite active efforts to expand military and military-technical cooperation within the EU , the declared goals of creating a “ European army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the status and activities of NATO seem difficult to achieve in the foreseeable future .
This situation is due to the reluctance of the majority of EU member States to transfer control over their armed forces to the supranational level .
Moreover , the US opposition to the process of forming the European Defense Union and the limited resources available due to the absorption by NATO structures of the major part of the defense potential of European countries , most of which are simultaneously involved in two organizations , do not allow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military construction .
In this regard , it is only possible to talk about giving a new impetus to military cooperation in order to increase the collective capacity to protect the territory and citizens of the States of the region .
Given the lack of forces and resources for conducting operations and missions , Brussels is interested in the practice of involving military formations of third countries in its anti-crisis actions on the basis of bilateral framework agreements .
Currently , such agreements have been reached with Georgia , Moldova , Ukraine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the European Union conducts 16 military and mixed operations and missions in various regions of the world , involving about 4,500 people .
The greatest attention is paid to the “ zones of instability ” in North and Central Africa , the Middle East , the Balkans and the post-Soviet space .
Thus , NATO today has to do everything possible to support the unity and coherence of actions of all its member countries , which are more than ever under threat .
The main European leaders are no longer ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own national interests .
If in the case of Germany , this is manifested primarily in support of the Nord stream 2 project , despite the threats of the United States .
France today supports its own interests in Libya , which contradict the interests of other countries-members of the Alliance : Turkey and Italy .
Certainly , Turkey and Italy have different positions and aspirations in Libya .
Italy was previously a traditional ally of France and does not actively intervene in the military conflict .
However , now , given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Italy is trying to sit on two chairs .
On the one hand , Italy , while supporting Tripoli , does not actively help them .
On the other hand , in political terms , it clearly stands on the side of Tripoli and Turkey , thereby trying to ensure its share of participation in the next division of Libyan natural resources after the supposed victory of the Turkish-Tripolitan Alliance .
Summing up , today the imaginary Russian threat no longer allows US to unite the Alliance members , but only serves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The White House , which has always played a leading role in NATO and retains it thanks to the largest percentage of investment in the Alliance , allows itself to more openly abuse its leading position and promote its own national interests and the interests of its elites through the North Atlantic Alliance to the detriment of the interests of partner countries .
Thus , article 4 of the Washington Treaty , which implies decision-making by consensus and is the basis of NATO itself , is of less and less importance in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renounce its membership in NATO and is interested in preserving it , because it is the Western Alliance that allows the US to give at least a small share of legitimacy to its military actions .
A kind of neo-colonial policy , that the United States is used to employ in relation to European countries , and the current significant shift in the political paradigm within the US itself do not allow us to hope that the American leadership will be able to strengthen its position in Europe in the coming years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Expresses Support Of Turkey ’ s Activity In Libya As It Prepares To Begin Extracting Resources • France Suspends Participation In Mediterranean NATO Op After Probe In Incident With Turkey • Role Of Military Transport Aviation In Ensuring Strategic Mobility Of NATO Forces

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NATO is a military and political alliance, a security community that unites the largest number of States on both sides of the North Atlantic. During its existence, NATO has expanded 2.5 times. It accounts for 70% of global military spending. It is rightfully considered the most powerful military association of States in the entire history of mankind in terms of combined armed power and political influence. The fact that this year NATO turned 70 years old, which is more than the independent existence of some of its member States, proves an incredible success of this project. However, while the Alliance has successfully resisted external enemies in its history, today it is experiencing significant internal divisions that threaten its existence more than ever.
The founding date of NATO is April 4, 1949, the day 12 countries signed the Washington Treaty. NATO became a “transatlantic forum” for allied countries to consult on issues that affect the vital interests of participating countries. The organization’s primary goal was to deter any form of aggression against the territory of any member state, as well as to protect against these threats. The principle of collective defense, enshrined in article 5 of the Washington Treaty, implies that if one NATO member state is the victim of an armed attack, all other member States of the Alliance will consider this act of violence an armed attack on all NATO countries and will take actions that the organization deems necessary. At the end of the 20th century, the real threat to the West was the Soviet Union.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the question arose about the existence of NATO, as an Alliance created to protect against the Soviet threat. The disappearance of the external threat has led to a process of transformation that has been going on for 30 years. Each stage of transformation is directly related to the adaptation of the Alliance to certain changes taking place in the international arena and affecting the stability of the security system in the Euro-Atlantic and the world as a whole. In addition to the collapse of the Soviet Union, one of the key events that affected the development of the Alliance was the terrorist attack of 11.09.2001, which actually allowed the Alliance to be preserved, since then there was a common external threat to the member countries.
Traditionally, NATO’s transformations are considered in the following three areas: geographical changes, political transformations, and processes in the military-technical sphere.
Important political transformations are manifested in adapting to changes in the international arena, which are represented primarily by the disappearance of block opposition. The Alliance remains committed to the principle of collective defense, as set out in article 5 of the Washington Treaty. The main command structures also remain the same. The main transformations are expressed in the form of declarations of new NATO functions: maintaining peace and stability not only on the territory of the member States, but also outside the area of responsibility of the Alliance. The operations carried out in these territories are aimed at maintaining local and regional stability, eliminating ethnic and religious conflicts, maintaining respect for human rights and various national minorities, and, most importantly, fighting international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The “new NATO” is being transformed from a regional organization into a guarantor of global stability, taking responsibility for stability in regions outside its own territories and in situations not covered by article 5 of the Washington Treaty. Assuming global responsibility, NATO is forced to maintain the necessary level of military power, participate in collective planning for the organization of nuclear forces and their deployment on its own territories. New threats encourage NATO to expand geographically.
The expansion of NATO, which implies the inclusion of former members of the Warsaw Pact And the full-scale advance of military infrastructure to the East, represents a change in geography.
Changes in the military-technical sphere imply a General reduction of the Alliance’s collective military forces, their relocation, etc. The main form of transformation of the armed forces was the transition from ” heavy ” military associations to more flexible and maneuverable groups in order to increase their effectiveness in the fight against new threats. The beginning of the economic crisis in autumn 2008 revealed the urgent need for reforms. Member States were forced to reduce their military budgets, which meant abandoning programs involving the development and purchase of precision weapons. In 2010 the plan of the NATO Secretary-General A. Rasmussen’s plan to optimize the budget, and in 2012, the Chicago summit adopted the “smart defense package”, which implies a parallel reduction of funds and increased efficiency.
However, despite all the reforms carried out within the Alliance, today the new missions do not have the same clarity as during the cold war. Options for the purpose of NATO’s existence after the collapse of the USSR vary: the fight against terrorism, assistance in the spread of democracy, nation-building, “world police”, the fight against “soft threats”, the fight against a resurgent Russia. But the main problem of the Organization is that none of the options is universal for all member countries. None of the considered “enemies” unites NATO.
After various stages of transformation, NATO turned out that the condition for its perfect functioning was precisely the situation of structured confrontation. The current unstructured confrontation, which implies that all member countries have different primary threats, makes it meaningless to have a cumbersome and generally rather inert organization.
In 2014, NATO had another opportunity to create a common external enemy, the role of which was approached by Russia. The summit held in Wales in 2014 radically changed the agenda of the entire Alliance. The main topic of discussion was the Ukrainian crisis, which led to the conclusion about the need to contain Russia. The final Declaration of the summit notes that ” Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine have fundamentally called into question the vision of a whole, free and peaceful Europe”. “The illegal self-proclaimed annexation of Crimea and Russia’s aggressive actions in other regions of Ukraine” were highlighted as special threats among the spread of violence and extremist groups in North Africa and the Middle East.
The appearance of a ” dangerous external enemy ” entailed not only political transformations. There have also been reforms in the military sphere of NATO. Among the new security challenges were “hybrid wars”, that is, military actions involving an expanded range of military and civilian measures of an open or hidden nature. The adopted Action Plan, which includes the concept of “hybrid war”, was primarily aimed at countering the tactics of warfare used by Russia. Thus, a number of measures included in the Declaration were directed against Russia.
NATO was forced to return to the role of a guarantor against severe security threats, which significantly increased costs for the organization. At the 2016 NATO Warsaw summit, it was decided to further deploy 4 battalion tactical groups to existing military bases in Poland and the Baltic States. In addition, more than 550 tanks and an armored unit of the United States have been transferred to the region. These units are deployed on a rotational basis, which does not contradict the NATO-Russia Founding act of 1997. In the Declaration of the 2018 Brussels NATO summit it is recorded that the “enhanced presence in the forward area” of tactical groups includes a total of 4,500 military personnel, which is approximately equal to one brigade.
At the same time, it is clear that Russia does not pose a real threat to NATO. Real foreign policy practice proves that Russia will not threaten Western countries in the next 50 years. The only point of instability today is the Ukrainian conflict, which had no preconditions until 2014, and was in turn artificially created by the American establishment in partnership with Brussels. Russia, for its part, even in this conflict does not seek to expand its influence, and also observes the Minsk agreements that are unfavorable to It.
“The main reason why the United States has assumed the role of arbiter of the fate of Ukraine and its citizens is the allegedly increasing threat from Russia not only to Kiev, but also to Europe and the rest of the world. And this is despite the fact that it was with the help of the United States that mass protests were organized and the elected government of Ukraine was overthrown in 2013-2014, which led to the war that has now unfolded in the heart of Eastern Europe,” writes geopolitical columnist Tony Kartaluchi in the new Eastern Outlook.
In 2016, the RAND organization conducted a study that showed that in the event of a Russian invasion of the Baltic States, Russian troops can be on the approaches to the capitals of Estonia and Latvia within sixty hours. The study showed that NATO forces are not sufficient to repel the Russian attack. In an interview, NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller said that the main goal of deploying additional forces in Eastern Europe and Poland is to demonstrate the unity of the Alliance, and to maintain its members ‘ commitment to article 5 of the Washington Treaty. Thus, NATO adheres to the policy of declarative deterrence of Russia, in fact, its forces are not enough to respond to a potential attack from Russia. The NATO administration is well aware that the likelihood of a military conflict with Russia is minimal, but it continues to maintain the image of Russia as an aggressor in order to unite the member countries.
Moreover, maintaining the image of a dangerous enemy gives the United States the opportunity to promote its own interests in Europe and manipulate its “partners”.
On June 25, Donald Trump finally confirmed that part of the American military contingent in Germany would be transferred to Poland. In the end, the American contingent in Germany will be reduced from 52 thousand people to 25 thousand. According to official data, in Germany there are about 35 thousand US military personnel, 10 thousand civil servants of the Pentagon and about 2 thousand contract workers. Some of the US military will return to America, some will go to Poland to strengthen the deterrence of the “Russian threat”. In addition, according to media reports, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Donald Trump discussed the possibility of transferring 30 f-16 fighters.
“They [Germany] spend billions of dollars to buy Russian energy resources, and then we are supposed to protect them from Russia. It doesn’t work that way. I think this is very bad, ” said Donald trump, accusing Berlin of supporting the Nord Stream 2 project.
When asked whether the US administration is trying to send a signal to Russia, Donald Trump stressed that Moscow was receiving a “very clear signal”, but Washington still expected to normalize their relations. This only underscores the fact that the US is taking advantage of the perceived Russian threat to NATO.
The American leader, by undermining cooperation between Moscow and Berlin in the energy sphere, not only prevents Russia, as one of their enemies in the international arena, from developing a profitable project. The US is also interested in weakening the leading European industries, primarily Germany. The United States does not tolerate strong enemies, but it also does not accept strong allies. It is in the interests of the Americans to prevent the redevelopment of Europe as a self-sufficient and independent center of power in the international arena.
Therefore, Donald Trump is strongly calling on Germany to reimburse the billions of dollars it owes the White House. Trump is dissatisfied with the fact that Berlin does not comply with the promise made by all NATO members to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP. At the same time, Germany has already followed this path, increasing funding to 1.38%. In its turn, the US spends 3.4% of the state budget on the needs of the Alliance.
The problem of NATO funding is very often the main criticism of Berlin. However, in addition to this issue, new problems are emerging in US-German relations.
Washington is very dissatisfied with Berlin’s interaction with Beijing. The White House, which has strengthened the anti-Chinese vector of its policy, blaming the PRC for the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and accusing the Chinese side of “controlling” the World Health Organization (WHO), did not receive sufficient support in Europe, and Germany criticized.
Moreover, Berlin does not support Washington’s sanctions policy on Chinese Hong Kong, which Beijing allegedly takes away its independence from.
The US is particularly dissatisfied with the EU’s desire for a major investment agreement with China. Germany is the main ideologue of this process and seeks to close the deal during its six-month presidency of the EU Council.
China today, of course, is the main competitor of the United States in the struggle for world hegemony. China also raises considerable concerns among European countries, which is primarily due to economic expansion and the successful development of the large-scale Chinese initiative “One belt, one road”. European leaders are also competing with China for resources in third world countries in Africa and Southeast Asia. In addition, there are ideological differences between the two world regions. However, China does not currently pose a military threat to Europe, which does not allow the use of NATO forces against it.
While Western countries see Russia and China as the main threats, strategically they are primarily concerned about Iran and North Korea. These countries are also a threat primarily to the United States, but their European partners are not ready to conduct active military actions against them at the moment.
The only real dangerous factor that unites almost all NATO member countries remains international terrorism, in the fight against which Western countries act as a united front.
The current military and political course of the European Union is determined by the clear desire of its leadership to transform the military and political organization into one of the world’s leading centers of power. The aggravation of political and economic differences with the United States is the main incentive for the implementation of this goal. Thus, the EU’s focus on increasing independence in crisis management in the area of common European interests has had a decisive influence on the development of the common security and defense policy. In order to reduce dependence on the United States and NATO for conducting operations and missions within the framework of “force projection”, the leadership of the Association has stepped up activities to develop its own military component.
France and Germany are the main engines of this process, and are promoting the initiative to create the so-called European Defense Union. However, despite active efforts to expand military and military-technical cooperation within the EU, the declared goals of creating a “European army” with collective defense functions that duplicate the status and activities of NATO seem difficult to achieve in the foreseeable future. This situation is due to the reluctance of the majority of EU member States to transfer control over their armed forces to the supranational level. Moreover, the US opposition to the process of forming the European Defense Union and the limited resources available due to the absorption by NATO structures of the major part of the defense potential of European countries, most of which are simultaneously involved in two organizations, do not allow the full implementation of EU political decisions on military construction. In this regard, it is only possible to talk about giving a new impetus to military cooperation in order to increase the collective capacity to protect the territory and citizens of the States of the region.
Given the lack of forces and resources for conducting operations and missions, Brussels is interested in the practice of involving military formations of third countries in its anti-crisis actions on the basis of bilateral framework agreements. Currently, such agreements have been reached with Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and a number of other States.
Currently, the European Union conducts 16 military and mixed operations and missions in various regions of the world, involving about 4,500 people. The greatest attention is paid to the “zones of instability” in North and Central Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and the post-Soviet space.
Thus, NATO today has to do everything possible to support the unity and coherence of actions of all its member countries, which are more than ever under threat. The main European leaders are no longer ready to support US policy and continue to sacrifice their own national interests. If in the case of Germany, this is manifested primarily in support of the Nord stream 2 project, despite the threats of the United States. France today supports its own interests in Libya, which contradict the interests of other countries-members of the Alliance: Turkey and Italy. Certainly, Turkey and Italy have different positions and aspirations in Libya. Italy was previously a traditional ally of France and does not actively intervene in the military conflict. However, now, given the current predominance of Turkey in Libya, Italy is trying to sit on two chairs. On the one hand, Italy, while supporting Tripoli, does not actively help them. On the other hand, in political terms, it clearly stands on the side of Tripoli and Turkey, thereby trying to ensure its share of participation in the next division of Libyan natural resources after the supposed victory of the Turkish-Tripolitan Alliance.
Summing up, today the imaginary Russian threat no longer allows US to unite the Alliance members, but only serves as a method of implementing US interests. The White House, which has always played a leading role in NATO and retains it thanks to the largest percentage of investment in the Alliance, allows itself to more openly abuse its leading position and promote its own national interests and the interests of its elites through the North Atlantic Alliance to the detriment of the interests of partner countries. Thus, article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which implies decision-making by consensus and is the basis of NATO itself, is of less and less importance in practice. The United States cannot renounce its membership in NATO and is interested in preserving it, because it is the Western Alliance that allows the US to give at least a small share of legitimacy to its military actions. A kind of neo-colonial policy, that the United States is used to employ in relation to European countries, and the current significant shift in the political paradigm within the US itself do not allow us to hope that the American leadership will be able to strengthen its position in Europe in the coming years.
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southfront--2020-07-08--Military Situation In Iraq On July 8, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • Anti-terror special units @ @ @ @ @ Defense eliminated Abu Anas al-Obaidi , an ISIS military leader in Tarmiya district ; • @ @ @ @ @ extra-judicial executions Agnès Callamard , the US assassination of Iran general Qasem Soleimani in Iraq @ @ @ @ @ media claimed that they succeeded in killing their first target , Hisham al-Hashimi , and @ @ @ @ @ journalist Majed Hameed from Saudi-Channel Al-Arabiya .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
Anti-terror special units of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense eliminated Abu Anas al-Obaidi, an ISIS military leader in Tarmiya district;
According to UN expert on extra-judicial executions Agnès Callamard, the US assassination of Iran general Qasem Soleimani in Iraq was illegal;
ISIS media claimed that they succeeded in killing their first target, Hisham al-Hashimi, and their next one will be journalist Majed Hameed from Saudi-Channel Al-Arabiya.
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southfront--2020-07-09--Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham Is Preparing New Chemical Provocation In Greater Idlib: Russia Warns

Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) is plotting to carry out a new provocation with chemical weapons in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib , Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria revealed on July 8 .
Alexander Shcherbitsky , chief of the reconciliation center , said that the group had prepared at least fifteen improvised explosive devices packed with unknown toxic substances in order to stage the false flag attack .
Citing local informants in Greater Idlib , Shcherbitsky said the false flag attack could take place in the towns of Sfuhon , Fatira and Flaifel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the terrorist group because they are shelled by the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) on a regular basis .
Most civilians abandoned the towns during the last battle .
HTS and its allies built a series of military positions there .
Over the past two years , Russian , Syrian and Lebanese sources have reported a number of attempts by HTS to stage false flag chemical weapons attacks in Greater Idlib .
HTS ’ plots are nothing but a desperate attempt to provoke a U.S.-led attack on the SAA .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 and 2018 in response to alleged chemical attacks .
Since then , terrorist groups in Syria have been attempting to provide a pretext for new attacks .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • In Video : Syrian Army Once Again Blocked US MIlitary Convoy Near Tell Tamr

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Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is plotting to carry out a new provocation with chemical weapons in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria revealed on July 8.
Alexander Shcherbitsky, chief of the reconciliation center, said that the group had prepared at least fifteen improvised explosive devices packed with unknown toxic substances in order to stage the false flag attack.
“According to the intelligence data, militants have manufactured at least 15 improvised explosive devices replete with unknown toxic substances in a special laboratory located in the town of Sarmada,” the Russian TASS news agency quoted Shcherbitsky as saying.
Citing local informants in Greater Idlib, Shcherbitsky said the false flag attack could take place in the towns of Sfuhon, Fatira and Flaifel.
The three towns were likely chosen by the terrorist group because they are shelled by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) on a regular basis. Most civilians abandoned the towns during the last battle. HTS and its allies built a series of military positions there.
Over the past two years, Russian, Syrian and Lebanese sources have reported a number of attempts by HTS to stage false flag chemical weapons attacks in Greater Idlib.
HTS’ plots are nothing but a desperate attempt to provoke a U.S.-led attack on the SAA. The U.S. launched missile strikes on the SAA in 2017 and 2018 in response to alleged chemical attacks. Since then, terrorist groups in Syria have been attempting to provide a pretext for new attacks.
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southfront--2020-07-09--Military Situation In Syria On July 9, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria : • Joint Turkish-Russian military @ @ @ @ @ western countryside of Kobani ; • Clashes between Turkish-backed groups and the Syrian Democratic Froces @ @ @ @ @ in the east of Al-Bab city ; • Russian Center for reconciliation in Syria accused @ @ @ @ @ weapons devices for provocations in Idlib in order to accuse Damascus of using chemical weapons @ @ @ @ @ for senior leaders in the Maghawir al-Thawra were killed and another 3 were captured by @ @ @ @ @ over contraband weapons brought from the 55km DCZ to ISIS in desert areas ; • @ @ @ @ @ the Turkish-backed militants were reported near the city of Ras al-Ain .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
Joint Turkish-Russian military patrol took place in the western countryside of Kobani;
Clashes between Turkish-backed groups and the Syrian Democratic Froces (SDF) broke out in the east of Al-Bab city;
Russian Center for reconciliation in Syria accused HTS of preparing 15 chemical weapons devices for provocations in Idlib in order to accuse Damascus of using chemical weapons;
3 smugglers working for senior leaders in the Maghawir al-Thawra were killed and another 3 were captured by the SAA after they handed over contraband weapons brought from the 55km DCZ to ISIS in desert areas;
Clashes between the SDF and the Turkish-backed militants were reported near the city of Ras al-Ain.
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southfront--2020-07-09--Horrifying Photos Document Recent ISIS Ambush In Northeastern Nigeria

ISIS terrorists ambushed a large special forces unit of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the northeastern state of Borno .
The unit fell into the terrorist ambush while it was moving on Mngliaiduguri-Damboa road on July 7 .
According to ISIS news agency , Amaq , the unit was targeted with “ all sorts of weapons.
” ISIS claimed that up to 40 service members of the Nigerian Armed Forces were killed in the brutal ambush .
However , local Nigerian media reported that only 19 were killed .
Photos released by the terrorist group on July 9 , confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ISIS terrorists seized five pick-up trucks as well as loads of weapons , including dozens of assault rifles and heavy machine guns .
The terrorists also burned a Chinese-made CS-VP3 armored vehicle .
ISIS cells are highly-active in Borno , especially in the area bordering Lake Chad .
Last month , the terrorists killed more than 20 soldiers and 40 civilians in a brutal attack on the towns of Monguno and Nganzai .
The Nigerian military and security forces are intensifying their operations in Borno to address the ever growing threat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be done .
Better coordination with other countries neighboring Lake Chad is also needed .
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ISIS terrorists ambushed a large special forces unit of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the northeastern state of Borno.
The unit fell into the terrorist ambush while it was moving on Mngliaiduguri-Damboa road on July 7. According to ISIS news agency, Amaq, the unit was targeted with “all sorts of weapons.”
ISIS claimed that up to 40 service members of the Nigerian Armed Forces were killed in the brutal ambush. However, local Nigerian media reported that only 19 were killed. Photos released by the terrorist group on July 9, confirmed local media reports.
During the ambush, ISIS terrorists seized five pick-up trucks as well as loads of weapons, including dozens of assault rifles and heavy machine guns. The terrorists also burned a Chinese-made CS-VP3 armored vehicle.
ISIS cells are highly-active in Borno, especially in the area bordering Lake Chad. Last month, the terrorists killed more than 20 soldiers and 40 civilians in a brutal attack on the towns of Monguno and Nganzai.
The Nigerian military and security forces are intensifying their operations in Borno to address the ever growing threat of ISIS. However, more efforts need to be done. Better coordination with other countries neighboring Lake Chad is also needed.
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southfront--2020-07-09--Leaked Tapes Confirm Poroshenko Ordered Terroirst Attacks In Crimea, Meddled In US Presidential Elec

Leaked Tapes Confirm Poroshenko Ordered Terroirst Attacks In Crimea, Meddled In US Presidential Election And More

Since the rise to power of the current Kiev regime following the 2014 Maidan coup , it has repeatedly tried to stage terrorist attacks inside the Republic of Crimea .
The goal of these efforts was to destabilize the situation in the peninsula and Russia as a whole , as well as to give additional political points to Ukrainian political leaders that became used to exploit terror , deaths and violence for their own causes .
At the same time , with the hypocrisy natural to the Ukrainian ruling class , Kiev was denouncing reports about failed terrorist attacks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ fake news ’ and ‘ Russian propaganda ’ .
The recently leaked tapes of conversations between then Ukrainain President Petro Poroshenko and then Vice President of the United States Joe Biden in 2016 demonstrate that this terrorist activity was an open secret for the Kiev regime ’ s Western partners .
Despite this , the United States was intenitonally covering attempts of the Poroshenko government to stage terrorist attacks designed to kill civilians ( that Kiev calls ‘ occupied Ukrainian citizens ’ ) in Crimea .
The Biden-Poroshenko conversation leaked during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ukraine took place on August 19 , 2016 .
During the conversation , Poroshenko and Biden discussed the attempt of Ukrainian saboteurs to break into Crimea , their attempts to condut terrorist attacks in the republic and clashes between them and Russian border guards .
HINT : On August 10 , 2016 Russia ’ s Federal Security Service reported that it had prevented terrorist attacks in Crimea that were planned by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry ’ s intelligence agency .
The FSB said that the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target the Russian peninsula ’ s critical infrastructure .
A group of infiltrators was detected near the town of Armyansk in northern Crimea near the Ukrainian border in a special FSB operation over the weekend .
Security forces found themselves engaged in a fire fight as the terrorists were being apprehended .
Two Russian personnel were killed .
2 terrorists were eliminated , 7 others were detained .
The rest of terrorists was able to withdraw to Ukraine with a direct help from the Ukrainian Armed Forces .
The estimated number of terrorists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Then , Ukrainian President Poroshenko called the Russian version of events “ equally cynical and insane ” , while the United States Department of State supported the Kiev denial of attempts to carry out terrorist attacks .
Later in November 2018 , Petro Poroshenko ordered to stage a military provocation in the Kerch Strait that led to a brief clash between a group of Ukrainian Navy ships and the FSB Border Guards .
The Ukrainian vessels involved in the provocation were detained .
During the past years , the FSB also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Kiev regime to destabilize the situation in Crimea and conduct terrorist attacks there .
As to the August 2016 , the Kiev regime and the US conducted all what they were able to do to hide the truth .
In the conversation with Biden , Poroshenko promised to hold responsible persons involved in planning the terrorist activity in Crimea .
However , this did not happen .
Instead , a month later , General Adriy Taranov , the deputy head of the Poroshenko administration died in an ‘ accident ’ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post of General Taranov .
In June 2020 , Kondratuk became the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine .
Therefore , the legacy of the terrorist activity of the Poroshenko regime is now kept by the administration of the current Ukrainian President – Volodymyr Zelensky .
The Union of Blogers of Ukraine adressed its concerns that Kondratuk , involved in the preparation of terrorist attacks , could be involved in further attempts to destabilize the situation in Ukraine or esclate the situation in the autumn 2020 .
Another part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedicated to the fate of Privatbank ( previously the largest bank of Ukraine controlled by Ihor Kolomoyskyi ) under direct orders from the International Monetary Fund and the US .
The sitaution with the bank and the Ukrainain financial sector demosntrate how foreign forces were in fact controlling Ukraine .
The leak also reveals how Biden and Poroshenko were discussing the DIRECT MEDDLING into the 2016 presidential election in the United States .
The Kiev government intentionally leaked documents with ‘ dirt ’ against Paul John Manafort ( the head of current US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election ) .
As a result Manafort was removed from his post .
While mainstream media outlets continue crying foul about the supposed Russian influence during the election process in the United Stateds , it was the Obama admisitration and its puppets in Ukraine that tried to influence the result of the election .
Another leaked audio record shows the double-faced approach of President Poroshenko towards the situation in Ukraine .
Publicly , Petro Poroshenko was the strong leader with a harsh position towards Russia and the conflict in eastern Ukraine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian President Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko on April 30 , 2015 .
Two month ago the Ukrainian Armed Forces were smashed during the Battle of Debaltseve ( Debaltsevo ) by united forces of the Donetsk and Lugansk People ’ s Republic ( DPR and LPR ) .
Andrei Ryazantsev , one of the top managers of Ukrainian Railways fired in 2020 , also provided an insight look into how Ukrainian state companies are intergrated into the system of corruption involving foreign and local actors looting the country .
These insights clearly demonstrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only corrupt and controlled from abroad ( this is an open secret ) , but also a clearly terrorist entity , which is ready to use acts of terrorism and violence to achieve its political and economic goals .
This situation did not change after the removal of Poroshenko and the rise to power of comedian Volodymyr Zelensky .
The terrorist system of governance remained behind the brand of the new presidential administration .
At the same time , the political and economic life in the country is under a de-facto control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Washington elites and structures of the global financial capital .
These forces intentionally cover crimes and acts of terror conducted by the Kiev regime and its forces in order to continue looting the country and achieve own geoeconomic goals .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Biggest Problem For Orthodoxy Today Is Erroneous Ecclesiology Of Patriarchate Of Constantinople—Ukrainian Holy Synod • Additional Conversations Between Poroshenko And Biden Released , Focused On IMF and Visa-Free EU Regime

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Since the rise to power of the current Kiev regime following the 2014 Maidan coup, it has repeatedly tried to stage terrorist attacks inside the Republic of Crimea. The goal of these efforts was to destabilize the situation in the peninsula and Russia as a whole, as well as to give additional political points to Ukrainian political leaders that became used to exploit terror, deaths and violence for their own causes.
At the same time, with the hypocrisy natural to the Ukrainian ruling class, Kiev was denouncing reports about failed terrorist attacks and Kiev-funded terrorists/intelligence agents detained by Russia as ‘fake news’ and ‘Russian propaganda’.
The recently leaked tapes of conversations between then Ukrainain President Petro Poroshenko and then Vice President of the United States Joe Biden in 2016 demonstrate that this terrorist activity was an open secret for the Kiev regime’s Western partners. Despite this, the United States was intenitonally covering attempts of the Poroshenko government to stage terrorist attacks designed to kill civilians (that Kiev calls ‘occupied Ukrainian citizens’) in Crimea.
The Biden-Poroshenko conversation leaked during the press conference of the Union of Blogers of Ukraine took place on August 19, 2016. During the conversation, Poroshenko and Biden discussed the attempt of Ukrainian saboteurs to break into Crimea, their attempts to condut terrorist attacks in the republic and clashes between them and Russian border guards.
HINT: On August 10, 2016 Russia’s Federal Security Service reported that it had prevented terrorist attacks in Crimea that were planned by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s intelligence agency. The FSB said that the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was preparing to target the Russian peninsula’s critical infrastructure. A group of infiltrators was detected near the town of Armyansk in northern Crimea near the Ukrainian border in a special FSB operation over the weekend. Security forces found themselves engaged in a fire fight as the terrorists were being apprehended. Two Russian personnel were killed. 2 terrorists were eliminated, 7 others were detained. The rest of terrorists was able to withdraw to Ukraine with a direct help from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The estimated number of terrorists: 3 groups (14 people each). Then, Ukrainian President Poroshenko called the Russian version of events “equally cynical and insane”, while the United States Department of State supported the Kiev denial of attempts to carry out terrorist attacks.
IEDs prepared for terrorist attacks:
Later in November 2018, Petro Poroshenko ordered to stage a military provocation in the Kerch Strait that led to a brief clash between a group of Ukrainian Navy ships and the FSB Border Guards. The Ukrainian vessels involved in the provocation were detained. During the past years, the FSB also repeatedly reported about smaller incidents involving attempts of the Kiev regime to destabilize the situation in Crimea and conduct terrorist attacks there.
As to the August 2016, the Kiev regime and the US conducted all what they were able to do to hide the truth. In the conversation with Biden, Poroshenko promised to hold responsible persons involved in planning the terrorist activity in Crimea. However, this did not happen. Instead, a month later, General Adriy Taranov, the deputy head of the Poroshenko administration died in an ‘accident’ in Kiev. General Valeri Kondtratuk took the post of General Taranov. In June 2020, Kondratuk became the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. Therefore, the legacy of the terrorist activity of the Poroshenko regime is now kept by the administration of the current Ukrainian President – Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Union of Blogers of Ukraine adressed its concerns that Kondratuk, involved in the preparation of terrorist attacks, could be involved in further attempts to destabilize the situation in Ukraine or esclate the situation in the autumn 2020.
Another part of the leaked conversation between Biden and Poroshenko was dedicated to the fate of Privatbank (previously the largest bank of Ukraine controlled by Ihor Kolomoyskyi) under direct orders from the International Monetary Fund and the US. The sitaution with the bank and the Ukrainain financial sector demosntrate how foreign forces were in fact controlling Ukraine.
The leak also reveals how Biden and Poroshenko were discussing the DIRECT MEDDLING into the 2016 presidential election in the United States. The Kiev government intentionally leaked documents with ‘dirt’ against Paul John Manafort (the head of current US President Donald Trump’s HQ during the election). As a result Manafort was removed from his post. While mainstream media outlets continue crying foul about the supposed Russian influence during the election process in the United Stateds, it was the Obama admisitration and its puppets in Ukraine that tried to influence the result of the election.
Another leaked audio record shows the double-faced approach of President Poroshenko towards the situation in Ukraine. Publicly, Petro Poroshenko was the strong leader with a harsh position towards Russia and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The video below shows the conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko on April 30, 2015. Two month ago the Ukrainian Armed Forces were smashed during the Battle of Debaltseve (Debaltsevo) by united forces of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republic (DPR and LPR).
Andrei Ryazantsev, one of the top managers of Ukrainian Railways fired in 2020, also provided an insight look into how Ukrainian state companies are intergrated into the system of corruption involving foreign and local actors looting the country.
These insights clearly demonstrate that the regime created in Ukraine is not only corrupt and controlled from abroad (this is an open secret), but also a clearly terrorist entity, which is ready to use acts of terrorism and violence to achieve its political and economic goals. This situation did not change after the removal of Poroshenko and the rise to power of comedian Volodymyr Zelensky. The terrorist system of governance remained behind the brand of the new presidential administration. At the same time, the political and economic life in the country is under a de-facto control of foreign forces, first of all the Washington elites and structures of the global financial capital. These forces intentionally cover crimes and acts of terror conducted by the Kiev regime and its forces in order to continue looting the country and achieve own geoeconomic goals.
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southfront--2020-07-09--Massive Protests Rock Serbian Capital As Government Blames ‘Foreign Influence’ For Instigating Insta

Massive Protests Rock Serbian Capital As Government Blames ‘Foreign Influence’ For Instigating Instability

Thousands of Serbs have been demonstrating since July 7 in response to President Aleksandar Vucic ’ s decision to impose a curfew in the country ’ s capital , Belgrade .
People clashed with police and stormed the National Assembly building several hours after it was announced that a curfew will be reinstated in the Serbian capital under the pretext of a new spike in Covid-19 cases .
Clashes left at least 43 police officers injured , including one with a skull fracture .
Police officers actively used tear-gas and force in an attempt to disperse protests .
Authorities claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by these actions .
Activists claim that this number is underestimated .
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic described the protests in Belgrade as “ political violence ” influenced from abroad .
The president accused “ members of right-wing organizations ” of instigating the violence .
Thus , the Serbian President wants to demonstrate that some ‘ foreign forces ’ are using the protests to undermine his course .
On the other hand , supporters of protests insist that the government imposed a curfew in Belgrade in an attempt to keep the situation under control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions that find little understanding among the country ’ s patriotic segment .
On July 7 , President Vucic announced that the new Serbian government will be formed till August 20-25 .
He added that the current primie minister , Ana Brnabic , will likely keep her post .
Earlier , on June 26 , the President announced that Serbia can join the European Union by 2026 .
This statement was made following his meeting with European leaders in Brussels .
Vucic emphasized that this government has a great motivation to ‘ strengthen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the same comments , he note that the government wants to get additional EU funding for infrastructure projects , but for this it ’ s needed to develop further the negotiations with the current leadership of Kosvo .
Experts allso noted that the further raproachment with NATO , and even a possible move to join the military bloc are likely steps on the Serbian path to the ‘ European integration ’ .
Such actions of the government caused a strong criticism among the part of the Serbian population that still knows a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bombing of Yugoslavia or the NATO support to Kosovo radicals .
From this point of view , actions of the current Serbian political leadership in Belgrade are an apparent attempt to supress the opposition to the slowly but steadily appearing pro-Western and pro-NATO course of the country .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • 70 Years Of NATO : Is It A High Time To Retire ?
• Serbian President Says European Solidarity Doesn ’ t Exist , Asks China For Help Against COVID-19

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Thousands of Serbs have been demonstrating since July 7 in response to President Aleksandar Vucic’s decision to impose a curfew in the country’s capital, Belgrade.
People clashed with police and stormed the National Assembly building several hours after it was announced that a curfew will be reinstated in the Serbian capital under the pretext of a new spike in Covid-19 cases. Clashes left at least 43 police officers injured, including one with a skull fracture. Police officers actively used tear-gas and force in an attempt to disperse protests. Authorities claim that only about 20 protesters were injured by these actions. Activists claim that this number is underestimated.
Serbia, 8th of July pic.twitter.com/Wt7giOw0aX — dor⁷ | ?CHECK PINNED HELP SERBIA | сафина жена (@moransupremacy) July 9, 2020
??#Belgrade: The crowd outside of the #Serbia|n parliament right now protesting #COVID19 mandates. Earlier hundreds had stormed inside the building before they were driven back by police. pic.twitter.com/8IbxNrT1l3 — The WannabeWonk (@PotempkinBrain) July 7, 2020
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic described the protests in Belgrade as “political violence” influenced from abroad. The president accused “members of right-wing organizations” of instigating the violence.
“The decent citizens, whose dissatisfaction [with the new curfew] was understandable, withdrew [from the protest] and the extremists took over.”
Thus, the Serbian President wants to demonstrate that some ‘foreign forces’ are using the protests to undermine his course.
On the other hand, supporters of protests insist that the government imposed a curfew in Belgrade in an attempt to keep the situation under control as it pushes forward with some controversial decisions that find little understanding among the country’s patriotic segment.
On July 7, President Vucic announced that the new Serbian government will be formed till August 20-25. He added that the current primie minister, Ana Brnabic, will likely keep her post. Earlier, on June 26, the President announced that Serbia can join the European Union by 2026. This statement was made following his meeting with European leaders in Brussels. Vucic emphasized that this government has a great motivation to ‘strengthen the European path’ of Serbia. In the same comments, he note that the government wants to get additional EU funding for infrastructure projects, but for this it’s needed to develop further the negotiations with the current leadership of Kosvo. Experts allso noted that the further raproachment with NATO, and even a possible move to join the military bloc are likely steps on the Serbian path to the ‘European integration’.
Such actions of the government caused a strong criticism among the part of the Serbian population that still knows a bit of history, like the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia or the NATO support to Kosovo radicals. From this point of view, actions of the current Serbian political leadership in Belgrade are an apparent attempt to supress the opposition to the slowly but steadily appearing pro-Western and pro-NATO course of the country.
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southfront--2020-07-09--Venezuela’s Armed Forces Shot Down Drug Plane (Photos)

The Strategic Operational Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces ( Ceofanb ) reported on Wednesday that members of the Armed Forces Airspace Defence Command ( Codai ) neutralized a foreign aircraft with US registration for suspected drug trafficking after the aircraft entered Venezuelan airspace without authorization .
The announcement was made through the military command ’ s official Twitter account , @ Libertad020 , where they reported that at midnight on Tuesday , the entrance of a narco-aircraft registered in the United States was detected .
“ Ceofanb reports that @ CODAI_FANB , detected at midnight on July 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registration into our airspace and once the protocol was applied , it was neutralized with aircraft from our Military Aviation ” , is the message released by the FANB ’ s strategic command on the social network .
While no details have been provided as to the aircraft ’ s flight path , where it was brought down , the identity of the pilot ( s ) , or what it was carrying as yet , the registration number of the aircraft is clearly visible in the photo posted on the Command ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Flightradar , the aircraft was a privately-owned Hawker 800 plane .
Its latest registered flight route was in Mexico , from the central Toluca state to Cozumel Island in the Caribbean .
In 2013 , Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signed a law authorizing the downing of aircraft that illegally enter Venezuelan airspace .
The Strategic Operational Command of Venezuela ’ s Armed Forces frequently reiterates its determination to fight against drug trafficking , as expressed in messages published on social networks , such as this : “ Our permanent sentinels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , continue to be guarantors of the laws of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in its frontal fight against drug trafficking.
” The preceding message was posted following a new seizure of drugs on Tuesday , in the state of Anzoátegui .
At least one other suspected drug plane was detected by the FANB last month and it was also brought down by Venezuela ’ s Air Force according to media reports .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • None Another perspective on the media war against Venezuela • None Venezuela : US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Failed Mercenary Attack Revealed

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The Strategic Operational Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Ceofanb) reported on Wednesday that members of the Armed Forces Airspace Defence Command (Codai) neutralized a foreign aircraft with US registration for suspected drug trafficking after the aircraft entered Venezuelan airspace without authorization.
The announcement was made through the military command’s official Twitter account, @ Libertad020, where they reported that at midnight on Tuesday, the entrance of a narco-aircraft registered in the United States was detected.
“Ceofanb reports that @CODAI_FANB, detected at midnight on July 7 the entry of a narco-aircraft with US registration into our airspace and once the protocol was applied, it was neutralized with aircraft from our Military Aviation”, is the message released by the FANB’s strategic command on the social network.
?#ULTIMAHORA|| #CEOFANB informa que el @CODAI_FANB, detectó en la medianoche del #07JUL20 el ingreso de una Narcoaeronave con matrícula #EEUU a nuestro espacio aéreo y una vez aplicado el protocolo de Ley se procedió a su NEUTRALIZACIÓN con aeronaves de nuestra Aviación Militar. pic.twitter.com/6JtCVLj8bo — @ceofanb (@Libertad020) July 8, 2020
While no details have been provided as to the aircraft’s flight path, where it was brought down, the identity of the pilot(s), or what it was carrying as yet, the registration number of the aircraft is clearly visible in the photo posted on the Command’s social network page – N339AV.
According to Flightradar, the aircraft was a privately-owned Hawker 800 plane. Its latest registered flight route was in Mexico, from the central Toluca state to Cozumel Island in the Caribbean.
In 2013, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signed a law authorizing the downing of aircraft that illegally enter Venezuelan airspace.
The Strategic Operational Command of Venezuela’s Armed Forces frequently reiterates its determination to fight against drug trafficking, as expressed in messages published on social networks, such as this: “Our permanent sentinels of the country with maximum discipline and strength, continue to be guarantors of the laws of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in its frontal fight against drug trafficking.” The preceding message was posted following a new seizure of drugs on Tuesday, in the state of Anzoátegui.
At least one other suspected drug plane was detected by the FANB last month and it was also brought down by Venezuela’s Air Force according to media reports.
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southfront--2020-07-09--Turkey To Hold Large-Scale Naval Drill Off Libyan Coast As Tensions Mount In Mediterranean

The Turkish Ministry of National Defence announced that soon it will hold large-scale naval exercises off the Libyan coast .
According to the releasedstatement , the drills will be called “ Naftex ” and take place off the Libyan coast in three different regions : Barbaros , Turgutreis and Chaka Bey .
Ankara claimed that they will involve 17 warplanes and eight ships in order to : “ Prove Turkey ’ s ability to control the region by air and sea.
” The drills are apparently designed to prepare the navy forces for a potential war in the east of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days after the visit of Admiral Adnan Ozbal , commander of the Turkish Naval Forces , to the Libyan capital of Tripoli whre the Turkish military delegation hold talks with the leadership of the pro-Turkish Government of National Accord .
The exercises are also seen as a response to the recent series of airstrikes that hit the Turkish-operated airbase in Libya .
The responsibility for the airstrikes were taken by the Libyan National Army , which controls the east of the country .
Nonetheless , pro-Turkish sources blame Egypt and the UAE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish Forces Lick Wounds After Airstrikes Hit Their Base In Libya

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The Turkish Ministry of National Defence announced that soon it will hold large-scale naval exercises off the Libyan coast.
According to the released statement, the drills will be called “Naftex” and take place off the Libyan coast in three different regions: Barbaros, Turgutreis and Chaka Bey. Ankara claimed that they will involve 17 warplanes and eight ships in order to: “Prove Turkey’s ability to control the region by air and sea.”
The drills are apparently designed to prepare the navy forces for a potential war in the east of the Mediterranean.
The announcement came a few days after the visit of Admiral Adnan Ozbal, commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, to the Libyan capital of Tripoli whre the Turkish military delegation hold talks with the leadership of the pro-Turkish Government of National Accord.
The exercises are also seen as a response to the recent series of airstrikes that hit the Turkish-operated airbase in Libya. The responsibility for the airstrikes were taken by the Libyan National Army, which controls the east of the country. Nonetheless, pro-Turkish sources blame Egypt and the UAE.
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southfront--2020-07-09--UH-60 Black Hawk Medium-Lift Utility Helicopter (Infographics)

Wouldnt be a bad helo… But the engines are notorious for micro cut outs , its so annoying that alarm @ @ @ @ @ in the cockpit .
At low altitude is not really dangerous , but at higher @ @ @ @ @ it is .
Lot of Blackhawks crashed due to instant torque loss .
Interestingly they @ @ @ @ @ for 40 years , I guess its more profitable to build a new one… One @ @ @ @ @ One is still the good ol Sea King .

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The UH-60 Black Hawk is a twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter developed and manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft.
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southfront--2020-07-09--‘They Messed With Wrong Guy’: Trump Supporters Show Video Of Fight Between Man And ‘BLM Gangsters’

Supporters of US President Donald Trump have been circulating a video supposedly showing a fist fight between a white man and several BLM gangsters .
The video rapidly became viral in Twitter and even reached the Russian-speaking segment of the social media .
Pro-Kremlin telegram accounts are actively sharing it as an example of the ‘ successful ’ resistance to ‘ BLM radicals ’ .
The issue with the situation is that the video originiated from China and first appeared online in 2011 .
The fake was filmed in in the People ’ s Square , Shanghai as a kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmed man is Hu Haoming and he ’ s a kung-fu trainer .
The plot of the video demonstrates that the authors were concerned by the question of street crime by migranst in 2011 already .
Since 2011 , the video has been widely circulating in social media under different titles and once became especially popular in 2016 when the migration crisis was actively developing in the EU .
Then , accounts circulating the video claimed that the incident happened in Germany .
The current level of social and political tensions in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of various fake news and speculations that contribute to the narratives of the sides involved in the standoff .
So , it ’ s expected that in the future more fake videos , photos and claims will appear online .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • ‘ Russians Take Knee Before Homeland , Flag And God ’ : Formula 1 Driver Refuses To Kneel For BLM Propaganda • Erasing History The Only Solution Offered As Cultural And Political Schisms Continue In The US • Shootings Surge In New York Following Disbanding Of @ @ @

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Supporters of US President Donald Trump have been circulating a video supposedly showing a fist fight between a white man and several BLM gangsters.
Looks Like BIack Lives Matter Messed With The Wrong Guy! @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/Ezl9pANqzN — Flightcrew ?? (@flightcrew) July 6, 2020
The video rapidly became viral in Twitter and even reached the Russian-speaking segment of the social media. Pro-Kremlin telegram accounts are actively sharing it as an example of the ‘successful’ resistance to ‘BLM radicals’.
The issue with the situation is that the video originiated from China and first appeared online in 2011. The fake was filmed in in the People’s Square, Shanghai as a kind of promo for kung-fu training. The filmed man is Hu Haoming and he’s a kung-fu trainer. The plot of the video demonstrates that the authors were concerned by the question of street crime by migranst in 2011 already.
Since 2011, the video has been widely circulating in social media under different titles and once became especially popular in 2016 when the migration crisis was actively developing in the EU. Then, accounts circulating the video claimed that the incident happened in Germany.
The current level of social and political tensions in the US set conditions for fast and successful spread of various fake news and speculations that contribute to the narratives of the sides involved in the standoff. So, it’s expected that in the future more fake videos, photos and claims will appear online.
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southfront--2020-07-09--In Video: Syrian Army Once Again Blocked US MIlitary Convoy Near Tell Tamr

Just imagine if a Russian or any foreign armed convoy decided to drive down Rout 66 and set up bases @ @ @ @ @ Texas , we all know what the Americans would do , thats how bloody outrgeous @ @ @ @ @ US are a paper tiger , they don ’ t have the stomach for loads @ @ @ @ @ sacks , thats one reason the Vietnamese were victorious , they were really prepared to @ @ @ @ @ , the Syrians and Iraqis should have been blowing those bastards up using resistance fighters @ @ @ @

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It is by now a good tradition of Syrian troops to start their morning by blocking a US military convoy near Tell Tamr and forcing it to retreat.
SAA blocks Americans near Tal Tamr pic.twitter.com/x7mPhtXRFm — ZOKA (@200_zoka) July 8, 2020
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southfront--2020-07-09--Controversial Opposition Leader Guaido Disqualified As Venezuela Prepares For Legislative Elections

Venezuela ’ s Supreme Court has ordered the disqualification of opposition leader Juan Guaidó from his political party Voluntad Popular ( Popular Willpower ) .
The decision also removes Leopoldo López , the founder of Popular Willpower , as the party ’ s official leader .
Leopoldo López , Guaido ’ s political mentor and the opposition ’ s presidential candidate in the 2012 elections , vowed to continue fighting against the government in a series of tweets after the ruling .
Lopez was detained in 2014 for leading violent anti-government protests which resulted in 43 deaths and was sentenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2017 , he was granted permission to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest .
Shortly thereafter he appeared on a bridge alongside Guaido and a group of troops calling on the military to rise against Maduro .
The insurrection attempt failed and Lopez sought refuge in the Spanish Embassy , where he has remained for over a year .
The court ’ s decision earlier this week follows the disqualification of controversial leaders of two of Venezuela ’ s other main opposition political parties by the Supreme Court in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court affected Democratic Action and Justice First , and involved the disqualification of party leaders who had consistently urged boycotts of elections and attempted to incite military officers to carry out a coup and install them in power .
A new National Electoral Council , appointed last month , is pressing forward with plans to hold elections for the National Assembly on the 6th of December .
The National Assembly is the only branch of government still dominated by the opposition .
Many of the most high profile opposition leaders have indicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particular those backed by the US .
The electoral council recently released a list of the parties that will be permitted to run in the upcoming election – Popular Willpower is not among them .
The chief prosecutor has been urging the Supreme Court to declare the party a terrorist organization .
“ They want to make it quite clear that Guaidó is history , ” said Phil Gunson , a Caracas-based analyst for the International Crisis Group .
Venezuela ’ s opposition has floundered over the last year as repeated attempts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurrections and mass rebellions have found successively less adherents .
From protests rallies between 2014 and 2017 that drew hundreds of thousands of people to the streets , many of whom were willing to set up barricades , destroy and loot public property and enter into violent confrontations with security forces , opposition support has plummeted and major protests have not taken place this year .
LINK The timetable for the legislative elections includes electoral registry sessions from July 13 to 26 , with electoral candidates and lists to be presented from August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself will be held from November 21 to December 6 .
The schedule could be altered if necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The membership of the National Assembly will be increased in the next term , with voters electing 277 deputies for the 2021-2026 period , 110 more than in the current period .
However , the 87 electoral districts that currently exist will not be changed .
Out of the 277 AN deputies , 48 will for the first time be elected from a national list , and the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a 52-48 split between electoral lists and individual nominations .
The objective of the reforms is to provide for greater proportional legislative representation to ensure more “ political pluralism.
” According to the National Electoral Council , 28 national political organizations , 52 regional parties and six parties representing Indigenous peoples have been approved to participate in the December election .
The changes to electoral norms had been one of the topics discussed in the National Dialogue Roundtable between the government and a host of small opposition parties .
Following the announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Nicolas Maduro called on Venezuelans to participate in the parliamentary elections , stressing that the government will put safety and healthcare protocols in place .
Leander Perez , a member of the Homeland for All ( PPT ) party , told news outlet Venezuelanalysis that the new rules could benefit smaller parties and that leftist organizations such as the PPT and the Venezuelan Communist Party have been demanding more proportional representation for years .
Opposition leader Juan Guaido reiterated that he will not take part in the elections .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Venezuela , ” a statement from Guaido ’ s press office read .
The opposition leader has rejected taking part in elections as long as Maduro remains in office , repeatedly urging Venezuela ’ s armed forces to oust the president and install him in power .
LINK The new leaders of the other major opposition parties , Democratic Action and Justice First , who took up their positions following the intervention by the country ’ s Supreme Court last month , have declared their intention to participate in the December contests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for a boycott of the elections .
The US government has also declared it would not recognize the upcoming legislative elections .
While the latest moves have been universally denounced and condemned by Western media outlets , the final decision as to whether the decision to disqualify opposition leaders who have sought to prevent and disrupt elections and have consistently called for armed insurrection and rebellion and US intervention will be made by Venezuelans between now and December .
A high turnout will vindicate the decision , a low turnout will signal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instability and will make the country even more vulnerable to foreign intervention .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Venezuela : US Maximum Pressure Continues , More Details Of Failed Mercenary Attack Revealed • As Showdown Looms Over Iran ’ s Oil Shipments To Venezuela US Nato Forces Poised For Possible Interception

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Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered the disqualification of opposition leader Juan Guaidó from his political party Voluntad Popular (Popular Willpower). The decision also removes Leopoldo López, the founder of Popular Willpower, as the party’s official leader.
Leopoldo López, Guaido’s political mentor and the opposition’s presidential candidate in the 2012 elections, vowed to continue fighting against the government in a series of tweets after the ruling. Lopez was detained in 2014 for leading violent anti-government protests which resulted in 43 deaths and was sentenced to nearly 14 years in jail.
In 2017, he was granted permission to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. Shortly thereafter he appeared on a bridge alongside Guaido and a group of troops calling on the military to rise against Maduro. The insurrection attempt failed and Lopez sought refuge in the Spanish Embassy, where he has remained for over a year.
The court’s decision earlier this week follows the disqualification of controversial leaders of two of Venezuela’s other main opposition political parties by the Supreme Court in June. The earlier decision of the Supreme Court affected Democratic Action and Justice First, and involved the disqualification of party leaders who had consistently urged boycotts of elections and attempted to incite military officers to carry out a coup and install them in power.
A new National Electoral Council, appointed last month, is pressing forward with plans to hold elections for the National Assembly on the 6th of December. The National Assembly is the only branch of government still dominated by the opposition. Many of the most high profile opposition leaders have indicated they will not participate in the election, particular those backed by the US.
The electoral council recently released a list of the parties that will be permitted to run in the upcoming election – Popular Willpower is not among them. The chief prosecutor has been urging the Supreme Court to declare the party a terrorist organization.
“They want to make it quite clear that Guaidó is history,” said Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.
Venezuela’s opposition has floundered over the last year as repeated attempts by US-backed opposition leaders to instigate armed insurrections and mass rebellions have found successively less adherents. From protests rallies between 2014 and 2017 that drew hundreds of thousands of people to the streets, many of whom were willing to set up barricades, destroy and loot public property and enter into violent confrontations with security forces, opposition support has plummeted and major protests have not taken place this year. LINK
The timetable for the legislative elections includes electoral registry sessions from July 13 to 26, with electoral candidates and lists to be presented from August 10 to 19 and the election campaign itself will be held from November 21 to December 6. The schedule could be altered if necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The membership of the National Assembly will be increased in the next term, with voters electing 277 deputies for the 2021-2026 period, 110 more than in the current period. However, the 87 electoral districts that currently exist will not be changed. Out of the 277 AN deputies, 48 will for the first time be elected from a national list, and the rest will be allocated among the 87 constituencies with a 52-48 split between electoral lists and individual nominations.
The objective of the reforms is to provide for greater proportional legislative representation to ensure more “political pluralism.”
According to the National Electoral Council, 28 national political organizations, 52 regional parties and six parties representing Indigenous peoples have been approved to participate in the December election. The changes to electoral norms had been one of the topics discussed in the National Dialogue Roundtable between the government and a host of small opposition parties.
Following the announcement of the schedule for the legislative elections, President Nicolas Maduro called on Venezuelans to participate in the parliamentary elections, stressing that the government will put safety and healthcare protocols in place.
“We have seen elections held around the world during this pandemic, and Venezuela is no exception,” he said in a televised address. Maduro went on to add that the participation of 86 political organizations “strengthens democracy and peace in the country.”
Leander Perez, a member of the Homeland for All (PPT) party, told news outlet Venezuelanalysis that the new rules could benefit smaller parties and that leftist organizations such as the PPT and the Venezuelan Communist Party have been demanding more proportional representation for years.
“The new rules encourage smaller parties to submit their own national lists and achieve representation in the AN. The previous setup forced them to run in large coalitions, the [government-led] Great Patriotic Pole and the [opposition alliance] MUD. We need to set up a bloc that will act independently from the [ruling] PSUV, in alliance with popular movements, to defend a leftist agenda such as: demanding higher salaries and the release of imprisoned trade unionists, opposing the evictions of farming communities, and denouncing privatizations.”
Opposition leader Juan Guaido reiterated that he will not take part in the elections. “There can be no elections in Maduro’s Venezuela,” a statement from Guaido’s press office read. The opposition leader has rejected taking part in elections as long as Maduro remains in office, repeatedly urging Venezuela’s armed forces to oust the president and install him in power. LINK
The new leaders of the other major opposition parties, Democratic Action and Justice First, who took up their positions following the intervention by the country’s Supreme Court last month, have declared their intention to participate in the December contests. All US-backed and Guaido-aligned leaders have called for a boycott of the elections.
The US government has also declared it would not recognize the upcoming legislative elections.
While the latest moves have been universally denounced and condemned by Western media outlets, the final decision as to whether the decision to disqualify opposition leaders who have sought to prevent and disrupt elections and have consistently called for armed insurrection and rebellion and US intervention will be made by Venezuelans between now and December. A high turnout will vindicate the decision, a low turnout will signal that Venezuela faces a continuation of political instability and will make the country even more vulnerable to foreign intervention.
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southfront--2020-07-09--‘Russians Take Knee Before Homeland, Flag And God’: Formula 1 Driver Refuses To Kneel For BLM Propag

‘Russians Take Knee Before Homeland, Flag And God’: Formula 1 Driver Refuses To Kneel For BLM Propaganda

Formula One paused before the start of the season in Austria on July 5 to propagandize the Black Lives Matter movement with drivers wearing black shirts with “ End Racism ” and “ Black Lives Matter ” messages .
Additionally , before the start of the Grand Prix pilots knelt in support of the BLM movement .
However , six drivers , including Russian Daniil Kvyat , remained standing .
According to Kvyat , the proposal of the organizers seemed to him strange , as it contradicts his Russian mentality .
He said that that Russians take a knee before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Grand Prix of Austria became the first stage F1 in 2020 .
The decision of the part of the drivers less committed to the current neo-liberal propaganda trend to not take knee faced a strong criticism in mainstream media .
Sky Sports commentators claimed that it was a “ monumental moment ” and it was supposedly appreciated by fans ( spoiler : No ) although some said that it “ wasn ’ t united ” .
CBS Sports editor Igor Melo said that all drivers not kneeling was a “ bad look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be safer to be an ethnic Russian in the United States amid the ongoing BLM riots .
Videos below show how rioters react to Russian ‘ Borsccht-loving ’ guys that come to check the safety of a Russian restaurant in San Diego : Another interesting fact is that BLM radicals and gangsters also prefer to avoid areas populated mostly by Latin Americans .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Erasing History The Only Solution Offered As Cultural And Political Schisms Continue In The US • Shootings Surge In New York Following Disbanding @ @ @ @

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Formula One paused before the start of the season in Austria on July 5 to propagandize the Black Lives Matter movement with drivers wearing black shirts with “End Racism” and “Black Lives Matter” messages. Additionally, before the start of the Grand Prix pilots knelt in support of the BLM movement. However, six drivers, including Russian Daniil Kvyat, remained standing.
According to Kvyat, the proposal of the organizers seemed to him strange, as it contradicts his Russian mentality. He said that that Russians take a knee before the homeland, the flag and God.
Grand Prix of Austria became the first stage F1 in 2020.
End Racism. One cause. One commitment. As individuals, we choose our own way to support the cause. As a group of drivers and a wider F1 family, we are united in its goal.#WeRaceAsOne pic.twitter.com/qjxYi1zWcJ — Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2020
The decision of the part of the drivers less committed to the current neo-liberal propaganda trend to not take knee faced a strong criticism in mainstream media. Sky Sports commentators claimed that it was a “monumental moment” and it was supposedly appreciated by fans (spoiler: No) although some said that it “wasn’t united”. CBS Sports editor Igor Melo said that all drivers not kneeling was a “bad look”.
The two future stars of F1 stood up. Bad look https://t.co/5lNq7QBi5Q — Igor Mello (@SuperIgor) July 5, 2020
Meanwhile, F-1 fans:
So proud of these respectful drivers. Respectful to the Austrian people standing during the Anthem… ⬇ Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Carlos Sainz (McLaren)
Daniil Kvyat (Scuderia AlphaTauri)
Kimi Raikkonen (Alpha Romeo)
Antonio Giovinazzi (Alpha Romeo) pic.twitter.com/ruU65kMfn4 — PoliticalPig (@politicalpig) July 5, 2020
Charles is correct, F1 drivers should not be branded 'racists' because they refuse to 'take the knee'; drivers should not be coerced into making blatantly political gestures if they do not feel it is appropriate. — Neil Kirby (@EarlKirby) July 5, 2020
Meanwhile, it also appears to be safer to be an ethnic Russian in the United States amid the ongoing BLM riots. Videos below show how rioters react to Russian ‘Borsccht-loving’ guys that come to check the safety of a Russian restaurant in San Diego:
Another interesting fact is that BLM radicals and gangsters also prefer to avoid areas populated mostly by Latin Americans.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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