We know what’s coming and we are prepared.
Is it possible that NATO forces could become directly involved in the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine?
Until recently, such a question seemed very hypothetical given the high risks of escalation of the military confrontation between the US-led bloc and Russia into a large-scale armed conflict. But this scenario should be taken seriously now, writes Ivan Timofeev, programme director of the Valdai Club
“A significant escalation factor that would amplify the risk of a direct clash between Russia and NATO, could be the appearance of military contingents form bloc members on the territory of Ukraine. The prospect of such a scenario has already been mentioned by some Western politicians, although their view has not been supported by the US and isn’t an official NATO position.”
“Each of these scenarios involves a direct clash between Russian and NATO forces. Such a situation would inevitably raise the question of deeper bloc involvement and, in the longer term, the transfer of military conflict to other areas of contact with Russia, including the Baltic region. At this stage, it will be even more difficult to stop the escalation. The more losses both sides suffer, the more the maelstrom of hostilities will grow and the closer they will come to the threshold of using nuclear weapons. And there will be no winners.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/599286-russia-nato-ukraine-conflict/
Putin called European politicians “pigs” who wanted to “feast on the collapse of Russia”
He also said that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia had believed it would become an “equal part of the European family,” but that never happened because there is “no civilization in Europe, only total degradation.”
🇮🇷❌🇺🇸 - Are U.S. ground troops being prepared for operations against #Iran? – An Iranian assessment
🔹 Recent flight tracking data shows a number of U.S. passenger and cargo aircraft moving from bases such as Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Bliss, and Fort Liberty toward Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. These bases are associated with special forces, airborne units, and combat aviation, which has drawn attention in Iranian analytical circles.
🔹 In parallel, earlier reports about the cancellation of a training exercise by the 82nd Airborne Division are interpreted as a possible indicator that certain rapid deployment units may have been placed on standby for operations in the region.
🔹 At the same time, the movement of amphibious forces – particularly the Boxer and Tripoli groups – has reinforced speculation that a sizable number of U.S. Marines could now be positioned in or near the battlefield, although the exact composition of these forces remains unclear.
🔹 Within this context, ...
🇺🇸 The U.S. Ammo Shortage Is Worse Than You Think
The conflict with Iran is an urgent reminder that the U.S. needs a defense industrial base that can wage a high-intensity war against American adversaries—especially China. The Trump administration has taken important steps to increase production of some munitions, reform an antiquated acquisition system, and establish incentives for private-sector innovation. It is critical now to accelerate these changes.
Military planners should be particularly worried about China, which has vastly superior capabilities to Iran. The Chinese industrial base, which is on a wartime footing, has produced thousands of hypersonic, cruise and ballistic missiles capable of precision strikes, along with millions of drones. U.S. bases, aircraft, naval vessels and other infrastructure operating within the First Island Chain—which extends south from Japan through Taiwan, the northern Philippines and Borneo—are highly vulnerable to attack.
The Chinese ...
🛢 Oil prices to rise further on Monday as Mideast war escalates
Oil prices look set to rise further on Monday, having closed before the weekend at their highest in nearly four years, after U.S. and Iranian threats to target energy facilities, analysts said on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, a significant escalation barely a day after he talked about "winding down" the war, now in its fourth week.
Iran warned on Sunday it would attack U.S.-linked infrastructure, including energy and desalination facilities in the Gulf, if Trump carried out his threat.
On Friday, Brent futures for May settled up 3.26% at $112.19 a barrel, the highest since July 2022.
"President Trump's threat has now placed a 48-hour ticking time bomb of elevated uncertainty over markets," said IG market analyst Tony Sycamore. If the ultimatum is not walked back, oil ...
