The Real Politick with Mark Sleboda

My latest Radio Interview on the Critical Hour 17/04/24 Kiev Demands Israeli-style Security Guarantees, Georgia Moves to Halt Pernicious Western Influence, US Can't Tolerate Russian LNG Competition Resorts to Economic War... https://open.substack.com/pub/marksleboda/p/kiev-demands-israeli-style-security?r=mra7c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

🇺🇸🇺🇦🇷🇺The CIA director said Ukraine could lose its war with Russia by the end of the year unless the US sends more aid. Bill Burns said this during a speech at the George W. Bush Center, CNN reports. “There is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could lose on the battlefield by the end of 2024, or at least put Putin in a position where he can dictate the terms of a political settlement,” the CIA director said. Burns detailed the critical need for basic ammunition that Ukraine faces on the battlefield. He cited two battalions of over 2,000 men as having "15 artillery rounds per day" and "a total of 42 mortar rounds" respectively. “They were depressed, and it was not for lack of courage or determination on their part. I worry that we will see more Avdeevkas in the future without additional help,” Burns said. 🔴@DDgeopolitics

US deploys mid-range missiles to Asia-Pacific for first time The US military has deployed the MRC (Mid-Range Capability) system to Asia-Pacific for the first time, landing it in Luzon, Philippines earlier this week. What is the US trying to achieve? The MRC is capable of hitting targets 500 – 2000 km away, meaning that its range extends to China’s coastal areas and military bases in the South China Sea with SM-6s and Tomahawks. Since pulling out of the INF Treaty in 2019, the US has repeatedly floated the possibility of deploying intermediate-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific. Both China and Russia have slammed the move as a blatant threat to their national security. Boost us! | Subscribe to @geopolitics_live

Bloomberg writes that EU/US attempts to hinder Russian trade will not work. Russia "is pressing ahead with construction of two new transport corridors linking Asia and Europe." Russia will invest $25B to improve these two routes, and they "will cut 30%-50% off transit times compared to the Suez Canal and avoid security problems." - INSTC: Connecting India to the European part of Russia. Russia provided a "$1.4bn loan to Iran last May to build a vital missing rail link that will stretch 162 km to connect the city of Rasht along the Caspian Sea coast to Astara on the border with Azerbaijan. The railway will allow cargo supplies from St. Petersburg to Iran’s main export port on the Persian Gulf." Freight is expected to "rise 85% to 35 million tonnes a year by 2030." - NSR: Russia plans to add more ice breakers, facilities, and drones to constantly monitor the route. Cargo from "China to Rotterdam along the NSR takes around 33 days, compared to 48 days via the Suez." #Source @Slavyangrad

US deploys mid-range missiles to Asia-Pacific for first time The US military has deployed the MRC (Mid-Range Capability) system to Asia-Pacific for the first time, landing it in Luzon, Philippines earlier this week. What is the US trying to achieve? The MRC is capable of hitting targets 500 – 2000 km away, meaning that its range extends to China’s coastal areas and military bases in the South China Sea with SM-6s and Tomahawks. Since pulling out of the INF Treaty in 2019, the US has repeatedly floated the possibility of deploying intermediate-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific. Both China and Russia have slammed the move as a blatant threat to their national security. Boost us! | Subscribe to @geopolitics_live

My latest Radio Interview on the Critical Hour 16/04/24 Zelensky’s Israel Envy - US is Not Going to Leave Its Israeli Wife for Its Kiev Regime Mistress, Russia Claims Further Links Between Ukrainian Nationalists & Crocus Terror Attack, more... https://open.substack.com/pub/marksleboda/p/zelenskys-israel-envy-us-is-not-going?r=mra7c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Russia Will Grow Faster Than Any Other Developed Country – IMF The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Russia to grow 3.2% this year, topping he UK, France and Germany. Furthermore, Russia's economy will grow faster than all of the world's advanced economies this year, including the US. According to the IMF, oil exports have "held steady" and government spending has "remained high". Even despite Western sanctions, Russia’s growth for 2025 is also poised to beat earlier expectations of 1.8%.

My latest Radio Interview on Political Misfits 15/04/24 Iran's Retialatory Strike on Iran Was Largely a Mummer's Farce Carefully Agreed Upon, Coordinated, Stage Managed & Calibrated with the US to Allow Iran to Save Face & Avoid Direct War with the US https://open.substack.com/pub/marksleboda/p/irans-retialatory-strike-on-iran?r=mra7c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

The French detachment's adventures in Ukraine in three acts. FAFO. @BazaFromOlga