In Geopolitics Today: Wednesday, November 9th
Sweden Tries to Persuade Turkey to Ratify NATO Accession, Russia Announces Retreat from Kherson, and other stories.
Sweden Tries to Persuade Turkey to Ratify NATO Accession
The Swedish parliament will soon consider a constitutional amendment that would curtail “freedom of association” for “groups involved in terrorism” in a bid to move forward with Sweden’s NATO membership in accordance with Turkey’s requests.
If passed, the amendment would open the door for Stockholm to begin the extradition process of a number of Kurdistan Workers’ Party members, which in turn promises to overcome Ankara’s demands before ratifying Sweden’s accession. The new Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is visiting Turkey to convince the Turkish President that Sweden is working to meet Ankara’s demands.
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Pressure Mounts on Germany to Reduce Economic Ties to China
The United States has been applying pressure on the German government to limit economic ties to China and prevent Beijing from taking ownership of strategic assets in Germany.
A senior US official was quoted saying that Washington had relayed a message to the German government that China should not have a “controlling stake” in the Hamburg port. Since then, the German government has overturned an agreement between the Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG and the Chinese shipping company COSCO, permitting the latter only a 24.9 percent stake, rather than the previously agreed upon 35 percent in the Tollerort container terminal.
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Russia Announces Retreat from Kherson
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered Sergei Surovikin — the general leading Russia's war in Ukraine — to withdraw Russian forces across the Dnieper River. The decision will likely prompt offensive actions by Ukrainian forces in order to make the impending withdrawal as chaotic as possible.
Russia's withdrawal from Kherson will mark a significant victory for Ukraine, damaging Russian morale in the process and making it more difficult for Moscow to claim a political and military victory over the recently annexed Kherson Oblast. Repositioning its assets and personnel will allow Moscow to more effectively reinforce its troops after Ukrainian strikes have damaged most of the bridges across the Dnieper in the south.
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The European Union and the United States Sanction Myanmar
The United States and European Union have announced new sanctions against Myanmar’s military regime aimed at officials, companies and arms dealers.
The European Union has imposed asset freezes and travel bans on 19 individuals and has frozen assets that belong to Myanmar’s State Administration Council the government’s executive body. In what was a coordinated move between Brussels and Washington, the United States blacklisted Kyaw Min Oo and the firm Sky Aviator Company, which allegedly facilitates some of the Myanmar government’s arms purchases.
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The Philippines Accelerates Defence Cooperation with the United States
The spokesperson for the Department of National Defense of the Philippines, Arsenio Andolong, has stated that his country is working closely with the United States to accelerate projects under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
The new government in Manila has raised security as a policy priority for the Philippines, heavily leaning toward the United States despite indications that Manila seeks a balanced relationship with China and the US. This increased defence cooperation is a clear sign that the Philippines is aligning with Washington in what is likely a bid to shore up territorial defences and reinforce its maritime claims in the South China Sea.