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

Illustrative image: SERGEI BOBYLEV/ALAMY Turkey will consider buying and will likely buy Russian fifth generation Su-57 stealth fighter jets if the US suspends F-35 stealth fighters deliveries in response to the Russian-Turkish S-400 anti-missile systems deal, the Yeni Safak newspaper reported on May 27 citing sources. The newspaper said that the Russian-Turkish military technology cooperation, including a possible delivery of Su-57 jets, was discussed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Turkey on April 3. Russia and Turkey signed the S-400 anti-missile systems deal in December 2017. Since then, US-Turkish tensions over the issue have grown significantly. On May 24, US Senate Armed Services Committee released draft of annual defense policy bill. The document implies that the delivery of US F-35 jets to Turkey should be suspended in response to the purchase of Russian S-400 anti-missile systems by Ankara. On May 25, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu sai

Illustrative image On May 27, more than 700 policemen and officers of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Police (FSP) were deployed in the northern city of Afrin, according to the pro-opposition news outlet Enab Baladi. The source said that most of these policemen and officers will soon be redployed from the city to several towns and villages around it. Syrian opposition sources said that the the Turkish Army had trained and equipped the policemen and officers of the FSP inside Turkey over the last few months. Reportedly, the FSP in Afrin area will be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Rami Tlass who defected from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in 2012. The city of Afrin witnessed a large wave of looting of crimes which was mainly committed by the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) after it had been captured from the Kurdish People’s Units (YPG) on March 24. The city has even witnessed clashes between Turkish-backed groups on several occasions. Supposedly, the FSP is a part of Turk

Illustrative image On May 27, more than 700 policemen and officers of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Police (FSP) were deployed in the northern city of Afrin, according to the pro-opposition news outlet Enab Baladi. The source said that most of these policemen and officers will soon be redployed from the city to several towns and villages around it. Syrian opposition sources said that the the Turkish Army had trained and equipped the policemen and officers of the FSP inside Turkey over the last few months. Reportedly, the FSP in Afrin area will be commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Rami Tlass who defected from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in 2012. The city of Afrin witnessed a large wave of looting of crimes which was mainly committed by the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) after it had been captured from the Kurdish People’s Units (YPG) on March 24. The city has even witnessed clashes between Turkish-backed groups on several occasions. Supposedly, the FSP is a part of Turk

Click to see the full-size map On May 27, the Libyan National Army (LNA) backed by warplanes of the UAE Air Force resumed its advance south of the northeastern city of Derna and captured the Tamiskit area from the Shura Council of Mujahedeen in Derna (SCMD), according to the Libyan outlet Africa Gate News. Sources close to the LNA acknowledged that an IED planted by SCMD fighters had killed four soldiers of the LNA south of Derna, while two other soldiers had been injured during the clashes in Tamiskit area. From its side, the pro-SCMD news outlet Derna Red Line (DRL) reported that SCMD fighters repelled an attack by the LNA on their positions in al-Fataih and al-Dahr areas east of Derna. Reportedly, SCMD fighters killed two soldiers of the LNA during the clashes. The DRL also revealed that two fighters of the SCMD were killed in an airstrike on Derna, which was carried out by an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) of the UAE Air Force on May 26. The LNA, backed by the

FILE IMAGE: AP Photo At least 124 IEDs have been removed in the liberated area of Yarmouk in southern Damascus over the past 24 hours, Chief of the Russian center for the reconciliation of conflicting parties, Maj. Gen. Yuri Yevtushenko, said on May 25. “Sapper units continue efforts to demine liberated regions of the former Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees. In the past day, 22 buildings were demined, with seven anti-tank mines, 22 mortar rounds and 124 improvised explosive devices defused,” Maj. Gen. Yevtushenko said. On May 26, Maj. Gen. Yevtushenko revealed that over 300 Syrians had returned to their homes in the province of Homs and the Eastern Ghouta region of Damascus. “Restoration of damaged social infrastructure facilities and normalization of everyday life encourage people to return to the places of their former residence. Over the past day, as many as 216 people returned to their homes in the province of Homs, and 134 people returned to Eastern Ghouta,” he