Alaska ..
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Arabian Peninsula
23-8-11 Saudi Arabia's Challenging Geography - Real > .
24-1-26 Saudi Arabia's Catastrophic "Iran" Problem - Hindsight > .
The Arabian Peninsula ("Island of the Arabs"), or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plate. At 3,237,500 km2 (1,250,000 sq mi), the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world.
Geographically, the Arabian Peninsula includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen, as well as southern Iraq and Jordan. The largest of these is Saudi Arabia. In the classical era the Sinai Peninsula was also considered a part of Arabia.
The Arabian Peninsula formed as a result of the rifting of the Red Sea between 56 and 23 million years ago, and is bordered by the Red Sea to the west and southwest, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the northeast, the Levant and Mesopotamia to the north and the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean to the southeast. The peninsula plays a critical geopolitical role in the Arab world and globally due to its vast reserves of oil and natural gas.
Before the modern era, the region was divided into primarily four distinct regions: the Central Plateau (Najd and Al-Yamama), South Arabia (Yemen, Hadhramaut and Oman), Al-Bahrain (Eastern Arabia or Al-Hassa), and the Hejaz (Tihamah for the western coast), as described by Ibn al-Faqih.
Arabian-Nubian Shield - Mineral Resources ..
Egypt-UAE
24-4-12 Egypt is selling city site to UAE for $35 billion - Caspian > .Qatar
23-11-10 Qatar Angling to Be World’s Lead Hostage Negotiator | WSJ > .
24-8-30 [Potential Impacts of Iraq-Turkey 'Development Road'] - Caspian > .Pontus Herculis et Sinus Persicus - pro libertate >> .
24-8-30 [Potential Impacts of Iraq-Turkey 'Development Road'] - Caspian > .Pontus Herculis et Sinus Persicus - pro libertate >> .
The Arabian Peninsula ("Island of the Arabs"), or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plate. At 3,237,500 km2 (1,250,000 sq mi), the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world.
Geographically, the Arabian Peninsula includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen, as well as southern Iraq and Jordan. The largest of these is Saudi Arabia. In the classical era the Sinai Peninsula was also considered a part of Arabia.
The Arabian Peninsula formed as a result of the rifting of the Red Sea between 56 and 23 million years ago, and is bordered by the Red Sea to the west and southwest, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the northeast, the Levant and Mesopotamia to the north and the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean to the southeast. The peninsula plays a critical geopolitical role in the Arab world and globally due to its vast reserves of oil and natural gas.
Before the modern era, the region was divided into primarily four distinct regions: the Central Plateau (Najd and Al-Yamama), South Arabia (Yemen, Hadhramaut and Oman), Al-Bahrain (Eastern Arabia or Al-Hassa), and the Hejaz (Tihamah for the western coast), as described by Ibn al-Faqih.
Arctic Chokepoints and Littorals
Alaska ..
24-7-16 (Failed) Race For The Arctic - gtbt > .24-2-16 Why Russia is Invading the Arctic (why it matters) - Icarus > .
24-2-13 Canada is Relatively Unpopulated - Different > .23-7-23 Arctic is heating fast! - Just > . Arctic Straits > .
21-10-26 Why Russia Is Rapidly Building Military Bases In The Arctic - OBF > .22-10-30 Between Two Worlds: The Bering Strait - Galilei > .
21-10-26 Why Russia Is Rapidly Building Military Bases In The Arctic - OBF > .22-10-30 Between Two Worlds: The Bering Strait - Galilei > .
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23-7-21 Canada’s Arctic Patrol Ships Will Secure the Northern Frontier - USNI > .1 CE to 2024 Mapping History of the Arctic - Tigerstar > .
Oil & Gas
24-8-14 History & Geopolitics of Oil - gtbt > .
>> Arctic >>>
Shipbuilding Industry - Naval Gazing >> .
The Northern Sea Route is already largely in operation. Domestic Russian commerce operates year-round in a portion of the route. The remainder is open during the summer season, allowing for trade between Europe and Asia. This route boasts open waters, but relies upon additional support from the Russian Federation’s fleet of 14 nuclear-powered icebreakers.
Access to blue water ports and commercial routes will be fundamentally transformative to the Russian economy. The the Ob’ River, the Yeinsei, and the Lena comprise the major Siberian inland waterways opening into the Arctic. Although Siberia is the most resource rich region within the Russian Federation, extraction can prove cost prohibitive because the physical geography renders the construction of lengthy overland transportation corridors extremely difficult. Conversely, implementation of large scale river transportation from the heart of Russia to Arctic ports would dramatically lower the cost and risk of resource extraction — opening this traditional backwater to global commerce. Increasing commerce and infrastructure could attract a population boom. In addition, landlocked, but resource-rich Kazakhstan and Mongolia could gain access to these inland waterways and Arctic ports.
The seafloor comprises the final economically important region of the Arctic — with potential fishing rights, crude oil, and other mineral resources at stake.Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessels: Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessels are warships of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) built within the Government of Canada Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) procurement project, part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. In July 2007 the federal government announced plans for acquiring six to eight icebreaking warships for the RCN.
The vessels are modelled on the Norwegian Coast Guard NoCGV Svalbard and as of 2007 were projected to cost CA$3.5 billion to construct with a total project procurement budgeted to cost $4.3 billion in order to cover maintenance over the 25-year lifespan of the vessels. In 2018 it was reported that the cost of the first six ships had increased by $810 million over previous projections. In 2023 it was reported that the cost for the first six ships had increased by a further $780 million and that of the two envisaged vessels for the Coast Guard by an additional $100 million.
The lead ship of the class was announced as Harry DeWolf in September 2014, and four additional ships were named in 2015. Construction of the ships Harry DeWolf and Margaret Brooke started at the Halifax Shipyards in September 2015 and September 2016, respectively. Harry DeWolf and Margaret Brooke were originally planned to be delivered in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Harry DeWolf was officially launched on 15 September 2018. Margaret Brooke was launched on 10 November 2019. Max Bernays began construction in December 2017 and William Hall was also planned to begin in 2017, although construction was delayed to early 2019. Max Bernays was launched in October 2021, and was followed by William Hall in 2022. Frédérick Rolette was scheduled to begin construction in 2019, with construction on Robert Hampton Gray expected to begin in 2021. They were originally planned to be completed by 2022 and 2023, respectively. However, in 2020 it was confirmed that ships five and six (Frédérick Rolette and Robert Hampton Gray) would not begin construction until 2021 and 2022 respectively.
On 22 May 2019, an official announcement was made to begin the process of building two vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard, bringing the total number of ships in the class to eight
The Eurasian Arctic Littoral is a largely coastal component of the Eurasian mainland. A handful of Arctic Ocean islands can serve as chokepoints, and are largely controlled by the Russian Federation, though Svalbard is an archipelago controlled by Norway.
The strategic Northern Sea Route hugs the northern coast of Eurasia, providing a connection between Europe and Asia. The NSR is shorter than travel through the Suez Canal and Strait of Malacca. Chokepoints along the NSR include the Barents Sea gap between Norway and Svalbard. Bear Island lies at the midpoint, and multiple chokepoints exist between Russian islands and archipelagos.
The strategic Northern Sea Route hugs the northern coast of Eurasia, providing a connection between Europe and Asia. The NSR is shorter than travel through the Suez Canal and Strait of Malacca. Chokepoints along the NSR include the Barents Sea gap between Norway and Svalbard. Bear Island lies at the midpoint, and multiple chokepoints exist between Russian islands and archipelagos.
The Northern Sea Route is already largely in operation. Domestic Russian commerce operates year-round in a portion of the route. The remainder is open during the summer season, allowing for trade between Europe and Asia. This route boasts open waters, but relies upon additional support from the Russian Federation’s fleet of 14 nuclear-powered icebreakers.
As part of their larger Belt and Road Initiative, China has also invested heavily in their "Polar Silk Road". This includes the construction of two additional icebreakers.
As the Arctic melts, the NSR corridor will permit significantly larger traffic flows. By allowing Russia to achieve its centuries-old dream of holding blue water ports and subsequent access to global commerce, an Arctic route will be fundamentally transformative to the Russian economy.
Access to blue water ports and commercial routes will be fundamentally transformative to the Russian economy. The the Ob’ River, the Yeinsei, and the Lena comprise the major Siberian inland waterways opening into the Arctic. Although Siberia is the most resource rich region within the Russian Federation, extraction can prove cost prohibitive because the physical geography renders the construction of lengthy overland transportation corridors extremely difficult. Conversely, implementation of large scale river transportation from the heart of Russia to Arctic ports would dramatically lower the cost and risk of resource extraction — opening this traditional backwater to global commerce. Increasing commerce and infrastructure could attract a population boom. In addition, landlocked, but resource-rich Kazakhstan and Mongolia could gain access to these inland waterways and Arctic ports.
The seafloor comprises the final economically important region of the Arctic — with potential fishing rights, crude oil, and other mineral resources at stake.
The vessels are modelled on the Norwegian Coast Guard NoCGV Svalbard and as of 2007 were projected to cost CA$3.5 billion to construct with a total project procurement budgeted to cost $4.3 billion in order to cover maintenance over the 25-year lifespan of the vessels. In 2018 it was reported that the cost of the first six ships had increased by $810 million over previous projections. In 2023 it was reported that the cost for the first six ships had increased by a further $780 million and that of the two envisaged vessels for the Coast Guard by an additional $100 million.
The lead ship of the class was announced as Harry DeWolf in September 2014, and four additional ships were named in 2015. Construction of the ships Harry DeWolf and Margaret Brooke started at the Halifax Shipyards in September 2015 and September 2016, respectively. Harry DeWolf and Margaret Brooke were originally planned to be delivered in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Harry DeWolf was officially launched on 15 September 2018. Margaret Brooke was launched on 10 November 2019. Max Bernays began construction in December 2017 and William Hall was also planned to begin in 2017, although construction was delayed to early 2019. Max Bernays was launched in October 2021, and was followed by William Hall in 2022. Frédérick Rolette was scheduled to begin construction in 2019, with construction on Robert Hampton Gray expected to begin in 2021. They were originally planned to be completed by 2022 and 2023, respectively. However, in 2020 it was confirmed that ships five and six (Frédérick Rolette and Robert Hampton Gray) would not begin construction until 2021 and 2022 respectively.
On 22 May 2019, an official announcement was made to begin the process of building two vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard, bringing the total number of ships in the class to eight
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Bessarabia - Moldova, Romania, Transnistria, Ukraine
22-5-22 Could Moldova & Transnistria end up like Ukraine? - VisPol > .
24-12-13 Pooti Using Romania to Shake NATO’s Foundations | VisPol > .
24-4-25 [Innacurate Depictions of] "Eastern Europe" - Kraut > .
24-3-29 MOLDOVA | Time to Retake Transnistria? - Prof J K-L > .
24-2-2 Romania, After America || Peter Zeihan > .
24-1-9 Volga River - History, Importance; Volga-Don Canal - Animation > .
23-9-17 How the Rich Ate Moldova - Asianometry > .
23-8-20 NATO's Rearmament & Spending - NATO's R-U Response - Perun > .
23-7-8 R-U War could unite Moldova & Romania - Perspective > . skip > .
23-4-18 Why Ruscia wants [weak, impoverished, pro-EU] Moldova - T&P > .
23-3-8 Tensions mounting in Moldova amid war in Ukraine | DW > .
23-2-25 Why Moldova Is Important in the Russia-Ukraine War | WSJ > .
22-12-16 Moldova’s frozen conflict c R-backed breakaway Transnistria - BBC > .
22-12-2 Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia - Danube & Europe's Future - Kraut > .
22-7-21 Why Every NATO Member Joined (Why Others Haven't) - Spaniel > .
22-5-17 Transnistria War: Moldova's Pro-Soviet Insurgency - Warographics > .
22-4-29 Moldova fears spill-over of Russia's war with Ukraine | DW > .
22-4-29 Moldova fears spill-over of Russia's war with Ukraine | DW > .
22-4-27 Trans-Dneister | DW > .
22-4-22 Romania-Moldova | Could They Really Unite? - Prof J K-L > .
22-4-15 Russia’s Disinformation Spreads Beyond Its Borders | Russia-Ukraine War > .
22-4-10 Ukraine War From Russia's Perspective - CaspianReport > .
22-4-7 Russian attacks on Ukraine → Former Soviet republic of Moldova's fears > .
An enclave is a territory (or a part of one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. Enclave is sometimes used improperly to denote a territory that is only partly surrounded by another state. The Vatican City and San Marino, both enclaved by Italy, and Lesotho, enclaved by South Africa, are completely enclaved sovereign states.
An exclave is a portion of a state or territory geographically separated from the main part by surrounding alien territory (of one or more states). Many exclaves are also enclaves, but are not necessarily so; an exclave can be surrounded by several states. The Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan is an example of an exclave that is not an enclave (bordering Armenia, Turkey and Iran).
Semi-enclaves and semi-exclaves are areas that, except for possessing an unsurrounded sea border (a coastline contiguous with international waters), would otherwise be enclaves or exclaves. Enclaves and semi-enclaves can exist as independent states (Monaco, The Gambia and Brunei are semi-enclaves), while exclaves and semi-exclaves proper always constitute just a part of a sovereign state (like the Kaliningrad Oblast).
A pene-exclave is a part of the territory of one country that can be conveniently approached—in particular, by wheeled traffic—only through the territory of another country. Pene-exclaves are also called functional exclaves or practical exclaves. Many pene-exclaves partially border their own territorial waters (i.e., they are not surrounded by other nations' territorial waters), such as Point Roberts, Washington and Minnesota's Northwest Angle. A pene-exclave can also exist entirely on land, such as when intervening mountains render a territory inaccessible from other parts of a country except through alien territory. A commonly cited example is the Kleinwalsertal, a valley part of Vorarlberg, Austria, that is accessible only from Germany to the north.
22-3-29 (full Transnistria) Moldova: Putin's Next Target? | SBS Dateline > .
A senior Russian commander has said that Moscow is planning to seize Ukraine's south and open a route to Moldova's Transnistria. The Russian commander said that Moscow plans to establish full control over the Donbas and southern Ukraine. As per Gen Rustam Minnekayev, control over southern Ukraine will give Moscow direct access to Transnistria. The Russian commander also claimed there was evidence of "oppression" of the Russian-speaking population there. Russia had previously used claims of oppression of Russian minorities in eastern Ukraine as grounds for military action.
(DW 22-4-29) The Russian military said it plans to seize all of southern Ukraine and open a route to the breakaway Moldovan region of Trans-Dniester. Major General Rustam Minnekayev, acting commander of Russia's Central Military District, said on Friday (22-4-22) that Moscow plans to establish full control over the Donbas region and southern Ukraine, as part of the "second phase" of its military operation. He also claimed that control of southern Ukraine would give Russia a gateway to the breakaway Moldovan region of Trans-Dniester, where there are "facts of oppression of the Russian-speaking population." The announcement has sparked concern that Russia could use the territory to launch attacks on western Ukraine, or move in on Moldova.
What is Trans-Dniester? Trans-Dniester is a narrow strip of land on the east bank of the Dniester River, sandwiched between Ukraine and Moldova. The breakaway region seceded from Moldova after a brief military conflict in 1992. In this conflict, separatists were supported by Moscow. Russia still has about 2,000 soldiers, as well as around 300 peacekeepers, stationed in the region and regularly conducts military maneuvers there. The separatists dubbed the region the "Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic" (PMR), but not even Russia recognizes it as a sovereign state. In 2006, the region held an independence referendum, but the results were not recognized by the international community.
1:45 - Frozen in amber
5:25 - Lines on map
8:55 - ad
10:25 - Forged in fire
14:15 - Old battles re fought
15:26 - Gaugauz - Pridnestrovian Moldavian SSR - Transnistria War
16:18 - Collapse of USSR
18:41 - Mafia State
What is Trans-Dniester? Trans-Dniester is a narrow strip of land on the east bank of the Dniester River, sandwiched between Ukraine and Moldova. The breakaway region seceded from Moldova after a brief military conflict in 1992. In this conflict, separatists were supported by Moscow. Russia still has about 2,000 soldiers, as well as around 300 peacekeepers, stationed in the region and regularly conducts military maneuvers there. The separatists dubbed the region the "Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic" (PMR), but not even Russia recognizes it as a sovereign state. In 2006, the region held an independence referendum, but the results were not recognized by the international community.
Bessarabia (Russian: Бессарабия, Bessarabiya; Ukrainian: Бессара́бія, Bessarabiya; Bulgarian: Бесарабия, Besarabiya) is a historical region in Eastern Europe, bounded by the Dniester river on the east and the Prut river on the west. About two thirds of Bessarabia lies within modern-day Moldova, with the Ukrainian Budjak region covering the southern coastal region and part of the Ukrainian Chernivtsi Oblast covering a small area in the north.
In the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812), and the ensuing Peace of Bucharest, the eastern parts of the Principality of Moldavia, an Ottoman vassal, along with some areas formerly under direct Ottoman rule, were ceded to Imperial Russia. The acquisition was among the Empire's last territorial acquisitions in Europe. The newly acquired territories were organised as the Governorate of Bessarabia, adopting a name previously used for the southern plains between the Dniester and the Danube rivers. Following the Crimean War, in 1856, the southern areas of Bessarabia were returned to Moldavian rule; Russian rule was restored over the whole of the region in 1878, when Romania, the result of Moldavia's union with Wallachia, was pressured into exchanging those territories for the Dobruja.
In 1917, in the wake of the Russian Revolution, the area constituted itself as the Moldavian Democratic Republic, an autonomous republic part of a proposed federative Russian state. Bolshevik agitation in late 1917 and early 1918 resulted in the intervention of the Romanian Army, ostensibly to pacify the region. Soon after, the parliamentary assembly declared independence, and then union with the Kingdom of Romania. However, the legality of these acts was disputed, most prominently by the Soviet Union, which regarded the area as a territory occupied by Romania.
In 1940, after securing the assent of Nazi Germany through the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union pressured Romania, under threat of war, into withdrawing from Bessarabia, allowing the Red Army to annex the region. The area was formally integrated into the Soviet Union: the core joined parts of the Moldavian ASSR to form the Moldavian SSR, while territories inhabited by Slavic majorities in the north and the south of Bessarabia were transferred to the Ukrainian SSR. Axis-aligned Romania recaptured the region in 1941 with the success of Operation München during the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, but lost it in 1944 as the tide of war turned. In 1947, the Soviet-Romanian border along the Prut was internationally recognised by the Paris Treaty that ended World War II.
During the process of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Moldavian and Ukrainian SSRs proclaimed their independence in 1991, becoming the modern states of Moldova and Ukraine, while preserving the existing partition of Bessarabia. Following a short war in the early 1990s, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic was proclaimed in the Transnistria, extending its authority also over the municipality of Bender on the right bank of Dniester river. Part of the Gagauz-inhabited areas in southern Bessarabia was organised in 1994 as an autonomous region within Moldova.
In the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812), and the ensuing Peace of Bucharest, the eastern parts of the Principality of Moldavia, an Ottoman vassal, along with some areas formerly under direct Ottoman rule, were ceded to Imperial Russia. The acquisition was among the Empire's last territorial acquisitions in Europe. The newly acquired territories were organised as the Governorate of Bessarabia, adopting a name previously used for the southern plains between the Dniester and the Danube rivers. Following the Crimean War, in 1856, the southern areas of Bessarabia were returned to Moldavian rule; Russian rule was restored over the whole of the region in 1878, when Romania, the result of Moldavia's union with Wallachia, was pressured into exchanging those territories for the Dobruja.
In 1917, in the wake of the Russian Revolution, the area constituted itself as the Moldavian Democratic Republic, an autonomous republic part of a proposed federative Russian state. Bolshevik agitation in late 1917 and early 1918 resulted in the intervention of the Romanian Army, ostensibly to pacify the region. Soon after, the parliamentary assembly declared independence, and then union with the Kingdom of Romania. However, the legality of these acts was disputed, most prominently by the Soviet Union, which regarded the area as a territory occupied by Romania.
In 1940, after securing the assent of Nazi Germany through the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union pressured Romania, under threat of war, into withdrawing from Bessarabia, allowing the Red Army to annex the region. The area was formally integrated into the Soviet Union: the core joined parts of the Moldavian ASSR to form the Moldavian SSR, while territories inhabited by Slavic majorities in the north and the south of Bessarabia were transferred to the Ukrainian SSR. Axis-aligned Romania recaptured the region in 1941 with the success of Operation München during the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, but lost it in 1944 as the tide of war turned. In 1947, the Soviet-Romanian border along the Prut was internationally recognised by the Paris Treaty that ended World War II.
During the process of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Moldavian and Ukrainian SSRs proclaimed their independence in 1991, becoming the modern states of Moldova and Ukraine, while preserving the existing partition of Bessarabia. Following a short war in the early 1990s, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic was proclaimed in the Transnistria, extending its authority also over the municipality of Bender on the right bank of Dniester river. Part of the Gagauz-inhabited areas in southern Bessarabia was organised in 1994 as an autonomous region within Moldova.
An exclave is a portion of a state or territory geographically separated from the main part by surrounding alien territory (of one or more states). Many exclaves are also enclaves, but are not necessarily so; an exclave can be surrounded by several states. The Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan is an example of an exclave that is not an enclave (bordering Armenia, Turkey and Iran).
Semi-enclaves and semi-exclaves are areas that, except for possessing an unsurrounded sea border (a coastline contiguous with international waters), would otherwise be enclaves or exclaves. Enclaves and semi-enclaves can exist as independent states (Monaco, The Gambia and Brunei are semi-enclaves), while exclaves and semi-exclaves proper always constitute just a part of a sovereign state (like the Kaliningrad Oblast).
A pene-exclave is a part of the territory of one country that can be conveniently approached—in particular, by wheeled traffic—only through the territory of another country. Pene-exclaves are also called functional exclaves or practical exclaves. Many pene-exclaves partially border their own territorial waters (i.e., they are not surrounded by other nations' territorial waters), such as Point Roberts, Washington and Minnesota's Northwest Angle. A pene-exclave can also exist entirely on land, such as when intervening mountains render a territory inaccessible from other parts of a country except through alien territory. A commonly cited example is the Kleinwalsertal, a valley part of Vorarlberg, Austria, that is accessible only from Germany to the north.
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sī vīs pācem, parā bellum
igitur quī dēsīderat pācem praeparet bellum therefore, he who desires peace, let him prepare for war sī vīs pācem, parā bellum if you wan...
