In Geopolitics Today: Friday, February 24th
Afghanistan Reopens Key Pakistan Trade Route, Foreign Operatives Compete for Control of Sudan's Ports, and other stories.
The US and China Adopt Key Lessons from Russo-Ukrainian War
The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has provided key lessons about modern warfare for China and the United States. US military officials already say they are incorporating some of these lessons into US military doctrine, while Chinese strategists are also taking notes.
One of the main lessons learned from the land conflict was the importance of a large-scale ground fight with modern weapons and the complexity of using tanks on the battlefield. The importance of defending against drones was also emphasized, with drones being compared to the improvised explosive devices that killed US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Space assets were also highlighted as critical in modern warfare, with the vulnerability of ground systems for spacecraft to cyber attacks and the importance of the proliferation of space systems being identified as key lessons.
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Afghanistan Reopens Key Pakistan Trade Route
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has reopened the Torkham border crossing with Pakistan after a four-day closure, which left thousands of trucks carrying food and other goods stranded. The move came a day after a high-level Pakistani delegation, led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, visited Kabul to discuss security and other matters.
The Taliban government shut the crossing over alleged refusal by Pakistan to allow Afghan immigrants and their caretakers to enter the country for medical care without travel documents. On the other hand, Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary for Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants, whose cross-border attacks have led to a spike in violence within Pakistan. Pakistan also said it would reopen its side of the crossing after certain “administrative requirements” are met.
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US Concerned over Closer Iran-Russia Alignment
Increasing concern is being voiced by US officials over the possibility of a military partnership between Russia and Iran evolving into strategic coordination. US officials argue that closer military cooperation between the two powers will have potentially dangerous consequences for the Middle East.
US military officials claim to be able to subdue any advantage Iran gains from receiving Russian fighter jets and air defence systems, but the injection of Russian technology into Iran's vast arsenal of attack drones may increase the danger to US and allied troops in the Middle East. A major Iranian demand in the growing Russian-Iranian alliance is likely to involve Russia taking a tougher position on Israeli strikes on Iranian and Hezbollah strategic missile systems in Syria. But Moscow shares significant interests with Israel as well, and it remains unlikely that Russia would jeopardize the relationship in favour of Iran at this time.
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Joint US-Taiwan Military Training to Intensify
The United States plans to increase the number of troops helping to train Taiwanese forces. The move reflects concerns over China's military threat to Taiwan and comes after Taiwan announced its intention to deepen military ties with Washington.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen Tuesday announced after a meeting with US legislators that the island would strengthen its military ties with the US. The US army will reportedly send between 100 and 200 soldiers in the coming months to the island for training in the use of American weapons and manoeuvres. Taiwan's defence minister declined to comment on the news, but confirmed that some soldiers would head to the United States for more tactical training.
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Foreign Operatives Compete for Control of Sudan's Ports
Foreign operatives have reportedly taken up residence on small islands along the Sudanese coastline in the Red Sea, with the goal of controlling Sudan's ports. Conflicts of interest have arisen between international players such as the US, Russia, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China, and Turkey, all of which are competing for control of Sudan's ports, exacerbating the existing conflicts between civilians and the army.
The competition for economic and military influence along Sudan's coastline involves the US and Russia, who are pressuring different parts of Sudanese society as part of their rivalry. Russia's plan to establish a naval base on the Red Sea is awaiting ratification from the Sudanese legislative assembly after the US Africa Command reportedly pressured the Sudanese transitional government to freeze the agreement in 2021. The presence of armed foreign fighters in Sudan has raised concerns about what they are doing and who they are working for, as they have attacked local fishermen and expelled them from their waters.