War

looks like China has picked a side, it seems

Meanwhile back on the farm.


Since Russia does not have any real politics that is not scripted, the behind the scenes troubles are rarely what it seems. The second under Shoigu gets arrested for taking a $11k bribe? Big trouble in little Russia?

Rutte visits "good friend" Erdogan in "crucial ally" Turkey in bid for NATO leadership.

Serious matter but got to love the facial expressions, the palpable reluctance.

Erdogan took the opportunity to complain about US sanctions for buying Russian rocket systems and Canada no longer wanted to sell arms to them. Seems worried NATO won't let him start or back him up in a war with "terrorists"... Basically he's got nothing Rutte could change anyway, who made no concessions or promises just reiterated the importance of Turkey in NATO and acknowledge they got some shitty neighbors. Erdogan got his show again.

No visit to Hungary to give Orban the same satisfaction is planned, nor likely atm. Aside from the power difference, the difference is loyalty. Despite his politics, authoritarian tendencies, I trust Turkey/Turks even Erdogan himself to be on the right side of history if the shit really hits a NATO member's fan. Orban can't be trusted, his loyalty lies at least partly in Moscow. Locked in a box with pictures of Orban taking a Russian shower...

Good on Belgium, let's see if that pushes the others (Denmark, NL, Norway).

Spain is going to supply an unknown number of Patriot missiles. Greece is not, cause they don't feel safe without them and with Turkey as their neighbor. I don't know how good of an argument that is. Not like Erdogan could afford it, politically or economically atm. Both NATO and Greece could probably do some backroom bargaining for it with EU.

Sativied said:

Belgium may deliver first F-16 jets to Ukraine in 2024

"In coordination with our partners in the F-16 coalition, our country will make every effort to speed up deliveries, if possible, by the end of this year," Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said.

kyivindependent.com

Good on Belgium, let's see if that pushes the others (Denmark, NL, Norway).

Spain is going to supply an unknown number of Patriot missiles. Greece is not, cause they don't feel safe without them and with Turkey as their neighbor. I don't know how good of an argument that is. Not like Erdogan could afford it, politically or economically atm. Both NATO and Greece could probably do some backroom bargaining for it with EU.

Click to expand...

if i'm right, and i could be wrong too...delivery will be end of spring, early summer is what i've been reading?

BudmanTX said:

if i'm right, and i could be wrong too...delivery will be end of spring, early summer is what i've been reading?

Click to expand...

The Danish promised, and reiterated, 'this summer'.

NL will be sending 24 instead of 18, and include 150million euro of ammo for them. 11 are already in Romania in the training center, I don't know when they will be handed over to Ukraine and actually used.

Looks like they should have at least 40-50 in the summer?

Belgium will also hand over more than initially planned. They got 50 total, and it's expected they will all 50 go to Ukraine (and get more F35 as replacements). But no exact date, just "before the end of the year".

Greece, is 'almost certain' to deliver 32 F-16s, and possibly 24 French-made Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets.