assorted updates: pirates, nukes, BRICs and the straits of kerch
Updating some recent stories. Let’s start with pirates!
A pirate spokesman, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted Somalilandpress today said at least ten of his men were executed by the Russian navy after the troopers stormed MV Moscow University.
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“The Russians never released the young men instead they shot them point-blank range then loaded their lifeless bodies back on the boat,” he added.
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“We condemn the action of the Russians, it’s driven by racism and hate for black people and Africa, it’s the face of the new Russia. In future, if we capture Russians they will meet the same fate as those they executed,” he added.
I posted a bunch of links about nukes the other day, mostly about Brazil stepping up to the nuclear table. Brazil’s in the middle of this one here:
This is a big deal for Iran, of course, but also Brazil. It’s a prominent international action that steps into a gap where the US and Europe failed. It brings Brazil into the inner circles of nuclear diplomacy, easing the way for their potential development. It also hedges their bets by helping Iran, who might assist them with nuclear technology in the future if the global institutions won’t.
Read about the BRICs, in case you didn’t know:
And finally, here’s Russia and Ukraine sparring over borders:
I think this is the key point:
The agreement on the issue is crucial for the potential introduction of visa-free travel for Ukainian visitors to the European Union.
Ships pass the straits just fine, so this isn’t holding up shipping. But it holds up Ukrainian integration into western institutions. Ukraine just tilted heavily towards Russia in their last elections, and while they’re keeping up the official policies of looking west, this is a good way to slow things down a bit.