ASIA-PACIFIC

By José Carlos Palma* In recent years, Vladimir Putin’s leadership and Russia’s geopolitical strategy have faced increasing scrutiny and criticism, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While Putin was once regarded as a shrewd and strategic player on the global stage, perceptions of his capabilities have

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his state-of-the-nation address in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies MOSCOW  — In a state-of-the-nation address on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to the West against further involvement in the Ukraine conflict,

By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies  Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia — In a bold response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s historical justifications for the invasion of Ukraine, Mongolia’s former president, Tsakhia Elbegdorj, took to social media to share a map highlighting the vast extent of the Mongol Empire. The move comes after

By The Smartencyclopedia Staff * Russia became great because it expanded into the lands east of the Urals and it must make that entire enormous region the center of its national life once again in order to ensure its future greatness, according to Moscow security commentator Sergey Karaganov. In an

By The Smartencyclopedia Staff  In recent years, Moldova has emerged as a key target of Kremlin disinformation campaigns, aimed at undermining its democratic institutions, diverting its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and exacerbating existing political divisions within the country. These concerted efforts, orchestrated by Russian officials and their mouthpieces, have employed a range

By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies In a significant geopolitical development, approximately 100 Russian military personnel have arrived in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, marking what seems to be the first substantial deployment of Russian troops in the West African country. Foreign security sources in Ouagadougou confirmed the arrival, raising questions

January 8, 2024 By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies Amidst Vladimir Putin’s claim of enhanced unity within Russia, there is evidence emerging that regional authorities across the country are establishing special staffs aimed at preventing and combating “the emergence and spread of separatism, nationalism, mass unrest, and the commission of

By José Carlos Palma* The term “Russia’s backyard” was used to describe Soviet Central Asia and the republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. While Russia had a strong influence in the region for centuries, the countries of Central Asia

By José Carlos Palma* The question of whether South Korea should acquire nuclear weapons has been a subject of intense debate in recent years, fueled by growing concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program and the perceived waning of U.S. commitment to extended deterrence. While the prospect of South Korea becoming

Kim Jong-un also said Pyongyang would expand strategic cooperation with “anti-imperialist independent” countries. PHOTO: Reuters By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies Introduction In a significant development, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directed the country’s military, munitions industry, and nuclear weapons sector to expedite war preparations in response to what he