I don't think I'm exaggerating by saying that this truly is the US's Suez moment: Saudi Arabia just entered into a NATO-like alliance with Pakistan whereby "any attack on either country is an attack on both."
The symbolic is extraordinary: Saudi Arabia was in many ways THE poster child of US client states. If they no longer trusts American security guarantees, why should anyone else?
And of course the fact this actually happened and wasn't prevented by the U.S. is immensely telling in and of itself.
This has so many other consequences that it's almost too much to fathom:
- First of all, it means that Saudi Arabia now benefits from Pakistan's nuclear deterrence (and the deal does include nuclear: a senior Saudi Official told Al Jazeera that “this is a comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means”, https://t.co/90hWQUmTQm). Which means we now officially have two nuclear-backed blocs in the Middle East: US-Israel vs Pakistan-Saudi. Additionally, Pakistan explicitly rejects a "no first use" doctrine - meaning Saudi Arabia now has a protector willing to use nuclear weapons preemptively.
- Given that 81% of Pakistan's weapon imports come from China (https://t.co/ZCPNfZSodQ), it also means that Saudi Arabia just indirectly aligned itself with the Chinese military-industrial complex
- This effectively extends the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to the Persian Gulf, protected by Pakistani nuclear weapons and Chinese military technology - creating a secure energy corridor from the Middle East to China that completely bypasses the Strait of Malacca
- The timing is probably no coincidence, just days after Israel's strike on Qatar, the ultimate proof of the worthlessness of US protection.
- Other Gulf states, and probably in due times other countries "protected" by the U.S., are likely to explore comparable models in the next few months. In fact this might lead to a cascading collapse of the U.S. global alliance system, leading to an entirely new international system where regional nuclear powers become security providers.
- Hard to see how that doesn't permanently kill any chance of Israel-Saudi normalization: Pakistan does not recognize Israel either and with this alliance the Saudis now can resist US pressure as they don't solely depend on them for their defense
- It puts India in an extremely tough spot: its archenemy just became the security guarantor for one its primary energy suppliers
- This undoubtedly kills IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor), the Biden administration's flagship grand strategy to counter China's Belt and Road that was supposed to connect India to Europe via Saudi Arabia
- There is a monetary aspect too: this is another nail in the coffin of the petrodollar system (an agreement to price oil exclusively in USD in exchange for US protection). Saudi Arabia is now much more flexible to price oil in whatever currency it wishes
And this is just what's immediately visible. As a final word: if anyone had any remaining doubt that we were now in a multipolar world, that debate is now settled permanently. American global dominance is no more.
🔁 RT if you think 🇳🇴 @AbraJonas is the Super-combative of the #TDF2025!
🔁 RT si vous pensez que 🇳🇴 Jonas Abrahamsen est le Super-combatif du #TDF2025 !
Recently, 🇺🇦 hero of this war Robert Broudi (aka “Magyar”) spoke at a military conference in 🇩🇪 Wiesbaden. His speech stunned many people.
It’s a bit long for Twitter but totally worth a read.
“In the Ukrainian army, they call me Magyar. I am a field commander of combat drone pilots in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Putin’s propaganda claims I am one of Russia’s most wanted enemies, so I cannot promise we will meet again, but I will speak in stark, black-and-white terms.
Today, I lead 12 pilot units. Ninety-five percent of them were civilians before the war—businesspeople, athletes, lawyers, singers, anyone but military personnel. We make up just 2% of Ukraine’s entire army. Yet, we destroy one out of every three enemy personnel and one out of every three enemy targets. Putin, who promised to capture us in three days, has instead taught us, over three and a half years, to defend our homeland, our children, and our land.
It is absolutely clear that we see no end to this war—not tomorrow, not in a month, and likely not this year. So, we pragmatically calculate our future and see the greatest threats, which, if this war is not stopped, will affect many countries that will inevitably be drawn into it.
➤ The first threat is that Putin is sending more infantry to the war than we can destroy each month. This is the primary challenge.
➤ Second, Putin has found a very convenient, cheap, and effective weapon to intimidate Ukraine’s civilian population and destroy our infrastructure. Its name is Shahed (Russian-Iranian kamikaze drones).
➤ Third, everyone in Ukraine who wanted to fight is already fighting. We don’t expect miracles, but we know what to do, relying on our own experience, our own blood, and the support of our partners.
There isn’t a tank in the world that cannot be stopped by a $300-400 drone. No such tank exists. I’m ready to bet any amount that no matter how well-protected a tank is, it will be stopped by a drone made with Ukrainian components. That’s why I claim Ukrainian drones are the best in the world today.
Drones create a kill zone, currently extending about 20 km around the frontline in Ukraine. The next challenge is replacing Ukrainian infantry with ground robotic systems to handle all frontline logistics.
➤ Fourth, we are building a multi-layered, echeloned wall—far greater than the Great Wall of China—that will stop everything flying toward us, from attack to reconnaissance drones. We are creating this wall today.
When Putin launched 100 Shaheds at Ukraine, he promised 500. We didn’t take it seriously then. Now, it’s no laughing matter, as we’ve already crossed the 400 mark. Our experience will be invaluable to the civilized world because any country could face this same prospect. I don’t know which NATO member state could protect a single city while facing 200-300 Shaheds every day for a week, without stopping.
Your national security requires urgent reassessment.
I rarely travel abroad. This is my second trip. Tomorrow at this time, I’ll be back at the front. But last year, I visited a military base of a NATO member in Europe. They showed me a well-organized facility with a ton of equipment, all in perfect condition.
They asked what I thought of it. My answer didn’t please them. Without coming closer than 10 km, four teams of Ukrainian pilots could turn that place into Pearl Harbor in 15 minutes.
I’m not saying this to scare anyone. I’m saying these technologies are so accessible and cheap that if they fall into the hands of terrorists, 100 terrorists could upend any country’s order. Our fight, our joint fight with our partners, is in our shared interest. We pay with our lives; you gain from our experience, which we will share with the conscientious nations of the world that support Ukraine in good faith.
Thank you for your attention.”
#StandWithUkraine
Jeg har ledet kontrollkomiteen i snart fire år, og har håndtert en god del rot og surr i regjeringen. Men dette tror jeg kommer på topp tre-listen over de mest bisarre sakene. Jeg skjønner faktisk ikke hvordan det er mulig. Hvorfor skjærer ingen gjennom? Hvor er lederskapet?
@Th__Nielsen Banken min (Danske) tilbyr ikke FIRST på ASK, for lat til å lage kontoer andre steder for å kjøpe fond som uansett ville vært krydder. Størstedelen går i indeks.
@sentdefender How about letting the people of Lebanon decide this for themselves? After all, they are the ones that have to live with the consequences, either way.