In Geopolitics Today: Monday, November 7th
Bulgaria to Buy F-16 Aircraft from the US in $1.3 Billion Deal, Taiwan Pushes to Establish Language Centres in Allied Countries, and other stories.
Bulgaria to Buy F-16 Aircraft from the US in $1.3 Billion Deal
Bulgarian lawmakers have voted to approve the purchase of eight F-16C/D Block 70 fighter jets for the country’s Air Force. An expenditure draft adopted for Bulgaria’s budget and finance committee details a plan for the purchase of a second batch of F-16s.
Bulgaria’s defence minister, Dimitar Stoyanov, has said that his country required a contract for a further eight F-16 aircraft to be able to service the first eight such aircraft already in service with the Bulgarian Air Force. Bulgarian officials have argued that having a full squadron of 16 F-16 Block 70 jets to be able to secure its airspace, and that this is not possible without a further purchase of F-16s because the first contract “lacks spare parts and ammunition.”
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Slight Improvement in China-Vietnam Bilateral Relations
A recent meeting between party leaders of Vietnam and China suggests a possibility of improved relations between the two countries after years of tensions. However, recent high-level meetings between leaders in the two countries will likely still not be enough to alter Vietnam’s multi-vector foreign policy.
For Vietnam, retaining close ties with China is key to maintaining Hanoi's larger balancing act between the world's top powers. China, meanwhile, is seeking to prevent Vietnam from using its emerging international influence in ways that work against China’s interests. In addition, Beijing is particularly concerned about other countries establishing a strong foothold in its neighbouring state.
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Taiwan Pushes to Establish Language Centres in Allied Countries
A Taiwanese official has said the self-governing island is looking to establish dozens of Mandarin language teaching institutes in the United States and Europe throughout the year 2023, noting that the initiative is a strategic objective for Taipei.
The lack of sufficient number of Chinese speakers in North America and Europe represent a strategic gap for the United States and its allies in their growing competition with China. Growing geopolitical competition has produced increased demand for Mandarin language centres, with Washington likely to support Taiwanese efforts to promote Taipei’s worldview in lieu of Beijing’s within Western education institutions.
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Advanced Air Defence Systems Arrive in Ukraine
Ukraine has received deliveries of more advanced anti-air systems from its NATO allies. The first delivery of NASAMS and Apside air defence systems have arrived to shore up Ukraine’s air defence network.
NASAMS are a short-to medium-range surface-to-air missile defence system developed jointly by Kongsberg of Norway and Raytheon of the United States. NASAMS has a “net-centric architecture” that can engage multiple targets simultaneously. Another acquisition by the Ukrainian army is the Aspide air defence system, which is an Italian-made medium range air-to-air and surface-to-air missile produced by Selenia.
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Armenia Boosts Gas Imports From Iran
Armenia and Iran have agreed to double the amount of natural gas transferred to Yerevan and extend their existing trade agreement to the year 2030. The memorandum of understanding comes after a meeting between Iranian and Armenian officials earlier this month
As Armenia’s ties with its primary natural gas supplier — Russia — deteriorate, Yerevan is looking for alternative energy partners. Even with additional Iranian imports, Russia will remain Armenia’s main gas supplier as Armenia buys over 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Russia. , paying $165 per thousand cubic meters.