ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

Illustrative image: Novatek France’s energy company Total will buy a 10% stake in Russian Novatek’s LNG-2 project in the Arctic, Novatek’s chief, Leonid Mikhelson, said, according to Reuters. The deal was signed during a visit of French President Emmanuel Macron visited Russia for the St. Petersburg economic forum. The deal for Arctic LNG-2 could be finalized in the first quarter of 2019. The project could be worth around $25.5 billion. The final investment decision may be made in the second half of 2019. At the moment, Total holds a 20% stake in Novatek and is one of the partners developing the Russian company’s first LNG project in Yamal, along with Chinese CNPC and Silk Road Fund. Yamal LNG became operational last December and has already shipped two million tons of LNG. When the facility is completed, it will have an annual capacity of 16.5 million tons of the liquefied fuel.

On May 27,  Polish news website Onet  published a “ Proposal for a U.S. Permanent Presence in Poland ” of the Ministry of National Defense Republic of Poland. According to this document, Warsaw agreed to allocate $2 billion in state funds to finance the establishment of a US permanent military base within the Polinsh territory. “This proposal outlines the clear and present need for a permanent U.S. armored division deployed in Poland, Poland’s commitment to provide significant support that may reach – 1.5 – 2 billion USD – by establishing joint military installations and provide for more flexible movement of U.S. forces. Together, the United States and Poland can build an even stronger bond – one which guarantees the safety, security and freedom of its people for generations to come,” the document reads. “Permanent US troops in Poland will send a clear message to Russia of US support for its Eastern European allies.” On May 28, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stat

Illustrative image On May 27, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang  stated  that an “unauthorized” entry of the US Navy’s warships into China’s territorial waters had “violated the Chinese law”. “The Xisha Islands are an inherent part of the Chinese territory,” Kang said. “The US Warships’ unauthorized entry into China’s territorial waters off the Xisha Islands again has violated the Chinese law and relevant international law, severely undermined China’s sovereignty and put in jeopardy the peace, security and sound order in relevant waters.” Kang pointed out that Chinese Navy accomplished “identification and verification” of the US warships and “warned them off”. He stressed that China demands “immediately stop such provocation” and “will continue to take every necessary measure to safeguard its sovereignty and security”. On May 27, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Higgins and a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Antietam sailed along the Xisha Islan