Global Conflict Reporting

Tag: geopolitics

  • French patrol plane targeted by Russian air defense system over Baltic Sea. 

    The Baltic Sea

    French media reported that last Thursday night while patrolling in international airspace over the Baltic Sea a Atlantique 2 French MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) was targeted by the radar of a S-400 air defense system. This aircraft additionally had its radar jammed, a constant problem around the Kaliningrad area for commercial as well as military flight, but added with that the fact it was lit up by a S-400s fire control radar at the same time shows a clear case of aggression and attempted intimidation on the side of the Russians. 

    Atlantique 2 MPA

    The French military viewed this for the hostile act it was with Colonel Guillaume Vernet, the spokesperson for the French armed forces saying “Illuminating our aircraft in international waters with radar is an aggressive action. The professional attitude of the crew prevented any escalation“.

    S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler)

    While the French navy regularly sends Maritime patrol aircraft into the Baltic for the NATO mission to ensure safety of navigation and air and sea policing as well as surveillance of Russian forces. Recently the deployment of these assets have been increased in response to several recent incidents in the past several months where underwater electric and data cables have been damaged or cut. 

    The EstLink 2 cable carried electricity between Estonia and Finland before December when if was damaged by a ship, the EagleS which had allegedly dragged its anchor across it and several other cables damaging them. The ship and crew have been impounded since that incident pending investigation. EagleS is believed to be apart of the Russian shadow fleet, a fleet of cargo and oil transport ships using ships flagged in other countries but being used to circumvent sanctions on Russia. 

    Allied Command Operations (ACO) which is responsible for planning and carrying out all NATO operations has announced Baltic Sentry. 

    “Baltic Sentry will deliver focused deterrence throughout the Baltic Sea and counter destabilizing acts like those observed last month,” said U.S. Army General Christopher G. Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe. “It is indicative of the Alliance’s ability to rapidly respond to such destabilization, and shows the strength of our unity in the face of any challenge.”

    Baltic Sentry is described as a “multi-domain mission taken forth by NATO in the Baltic Sea to deter any future attempts by a state or non-state actor to damage critical undersea infrastructure there. NATO views the undersea links as critically important to the defense of these nations. 

  • Bullets over ballets. Myanmars democracy in the age of the military junta. 

    Bullets over ballets. Myanmars democracy in the age of the military junta. 

    Once hailed as a beacon of hope for democracy in Southeast Asia ,Myanmar has descended into chaos and violence. Two years after a military coup toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the country teeters on the brink of collapse.An ongoing crackdown on civilians and ethnic minorities by the military Junta has claimed the lives of at least 5,000,(according to a report from the Untied Nations)imprisoned thousands and sparked a humanitarian crisis-and a civil war. 


    Myanmar’s military crackdowns have intensified with attacks on ethnic minority groups and towns of late. These attacks have caused widespread destruction. Town such as Kale, in Sagaing Region and Loikaw in Kayah state have been bombed and burned by junta airstrikes and artillery attacks. 

    The communities of ethnic Shan, Rohingya and Chin minorities have also faced sporadic targeted violence and displacement. The accusations against the military towards these groups are grim and include extrajudicial killings, gang rapes, arson and infanticides. 

    Since 2021, the Kyat (Myanmar currency) has fallen by  60% and has caused hyperinflation. The Kyat, today is worth 2101 Kyat compared to 1 US dollar. This inflation has caused banks and services based on currency to struggle with cash shortages.Some in the country have struggled because their bank accounts have been frozen. 

    International corporations and businesses have moved their business away from Myanmar and Trade in the country has also been affected with exports down 30% and imports down 40% year over year.  Food and fuel prices have skyrocketed to unbelievable prices.

    All of this has left the economy gasping for air and contributed vastly to an ongoing humanitarian crisis with 46% of the population estimated to be beneath the poverty line. 

    The coup was carried out on the orders of one man. Former Burmese Army General and chief of the Bureau of Special Operations, Min Aung Hlaing. Hlaing, before the coup has been the leader of the Tatmadaw (the armed forces of Myanmar) officially called the Commander-In-Chief of Defense Services since March of 2011.  He was born in 1956 which makes him 69 this year. That will come up later. 

    In January of 2021 Hlaing, as the commander in chief of defense services approached the different political parties of the country and hints at their being “instability” in Myanmar. In Myanmar, even before this latest takeover the Tatmadaw held a considerable of power in the government. A clause in the 2008 constitution (that the military wrote) lets the military hold up to 25% of the legislative seats. Another clause(known as the coup-i-waiting clause) allows the president to declare an emergency and hand power to the military leadership. 

    The instability brought up to the Myanmar political party’s (some of them being just the military) was likely just the election of parliament chancellor Aung San Sui Kyi in 2020 who is noted as being a “dissident”. The old guard of military political generals didn’t like that their military political party lost some of its power Min who was being forced from his position because of his age (told you it would come up) he had already delayed his retirement by 5 years and had presidential ambitions for after his military service but his party’s loss in the 2020 election ruined this plans. At this point the military took power on the day parliament was set to open, arresting Aung and the president and giving control to General Min- now Prime minister Min. 

    Since then the military has responded harshly to both peaceful protest and armed resistance with no sign of any return to democracy. The international response (besides Russia and China) condemn the military of Myanmar and have levied sanctions against them however there is no end in sight and no rescue for the citizens of this tragedy. However. It does seem the tide is somewhat turning as various ethnic militias who in the past have fought against each other in Open combat have come together and picked up arms against the military who have been losing ground steady since the start of the coup.