Far from the icy battlefields of Ukraine, Russia President Vladimir Putin is busily advancing Russia’s footholds and influence in Africa and the Middle East.
These alliances help advance Putin's ambitions of returning Russia's influence to its old Cold War boundaries.
Regardless of how imminent the threat is, U.S. and European leaders are paying increasing attention to Putin's moves in the Middle East and Africa — and Russia's growing alliance with China — as it formulates plans to protect the West from future aggression. Perhaps the boldest example of Russia flexing its global reach was when it sent defense minister Sergei Shoigu last month to Damascus to oversee Russia's largest military drills in the Mediterranean since the Cold War, just as Russia's military made final preparations for its assault on Ukraine.
Russia’s Hmeimeem air base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast has served as its main outpost for launching attacks in Syria since September 2015. Russia’s attacks in Syria, which leveled ancient cities and sent millions of refugees to Europe, allowed President Bashar al-Assad’s brutal government to reclaim control over most of the country after a devastating civil war.
On the eve of Russia’s invasion with Ukraine, Kremlin officials met in Moscow with an officer of a military junta that seized power in Sudan. But longer-term, a Red Sea port could help give it a greater role in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, increase Russian access in the Suez Canal and other high-traffic shipping lanes, and allow Russia to project force in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russian footholds in Mideast, Africa raise threat to NATOAP: Russia's tactics in the Middle East and Africa are simple: It seeks out alliances with autocrats, coup leaders, and others who have been spurned by the U.S. and Europe, and provides them military or mercenary forces to protect their regimes.
Read more »
Russian footholds in Mideast, Africa raise threat to NATORussian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine dominates our attention. But with less notice, Putin is also busy advancing Russia’s presence in the Middle East and Africa -- an expansion that military leaders view as another threat.
Read more »
Russian footholds in Mideast, Africa raise threat to NATOFar from the icy battlefields of Ukraine, Russia President Vladimir Putin is busily advancing Russia's footholds and influence in Africa and the Middle East.
Read more »
Africa Matters: Russia Attacks UkraineZimbabwe has launched virtual courts to help ease prison congestion after coronavirus lockdowns reduced hours at courthouses and led to a backlog of cases Watch the full show:
Read more »
US slashes Russia trade status, bans imports of Russian alcohol, seafoodThe U.S. will dramatically downgrade its trade status with Russia, raising tariffs on some products and banning imports of Russian seafood, alcohol and diamonds.
Read more »