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EU commits to support Ukraine

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Vladímir Putin – President of Russia
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – President of Ukraine

This space is to encourage discussion about the distasteful event which played out on the global stage between Presidents Zelenskky, Trump and Vice President Vance last week at the White House. Obviously a more volatile geopolitical environment will have implications for the tiny Caribbean region. It will be interesting to anticipate the outcome, if any, the proposed meeting between the Trump administration and CARICOM.

Today the EU coalition of the willing signalled support for Ukraine to be partially financed by frozen Russian assets. No surprise the war machinery in Europe is about to be ‘fired up’ to manufacture weapons destined for the Ukraine military.

The blogmaster is ambivalent about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Especially after Russia was booted from the G7 and the isolationist polices of the West that have intensified since. There is the saying home drums beat first therefore Putin – like any leader of a country, including President Trump – will implement policies in the national interest.

The same is true for Ukraine which assumed an independent nation status after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The history of that region is complicated given the shared heritage of the two countries. That said, Ukraine is an independent nation and like Russia, Zelenskky has the same right as Putin to defend his country’s self interest as he see fit.

European countries and NATO have an interest to ensure its national security is not compromised given hegemonist inclinations which history records. At the mention of NATO the involvement of the USA must be considered given the alliance. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Stermer has taken the ‘lead’, presumably with back channel support from the USA to reduce the temperature in the geopolital space.

Barbadians will watch with fingers crossed and hope the conflict does not mushroom. We should do our best to be as self sufficient as we is possible and maximise scarce resources.

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110 responses to “EU commits to support Ukraine”

  1. Terence Blackett Avatar
    Terence Blackett

    WHEN IN ROME – DO NOT DISRESPECT THE CAESAR* OR THE ROMANS* – YOU MAY BE THROWN 2 THE LIONS

    Do you go into a prominent man’s house and by the law of averages use gesticulatory actions given the emotional optics and try to “DISRESPECT” him & his household???

    Some folks really push their luck because in a tri-dimensional world (OPTICS OR NO OPTICS), his backside would have been “MOWED DOWN” – #SlappedSILLY* & forcible removed by the #SecretService & thrown into a speeding car!!!

  2. David Avatar
    David

    Symmonds defends EU partnership

    Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kerrie Symmonds is not afraid to have difficult conversations on some issues, including arming children against sexual predators.

    During last Friday’s session of the Estimates, the schedule to the Appropriation Bill, 2025 in the Well of the House of Assembly, Symmonds said interfacing with the wider world gave Barbados a chance to reflect on how things were done here and whether they were being done in a satisfactory manner.

    He was responding to a comment from fellow Senior Minister Dr William Duguid, who asked about the benefits that accrued to Barbados by signing economic partnership agreements with the European Union.

    The Samoa Agreement was signed in November 2023 and there was some pushback by religious groups and education advocates on comprehensive sexuality education and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legislation.

    “If I recall correctly, one of the areas of greatest concern was the desirability expressed by the Europeans, and signed on to by the vast majority, of having our young children be exposed to education in schools about their sexual reproductive rights,” Symmonds said.

    He said these discussions took the country into places it was “uncomfortable in going” culturally.

    “As a parent of a young child, I believe that that is something that we need to seriously look at, because what we fail to recognise is that around the world – and let us not fool ourselves, to some extent here in the Caribbean as well – there are those who will have a very predatory posture towards young people, underage boys and underage girls.

    “And unless we try to set up some guardrails and to help them to start to think at an early age about what they may or may not be getting themselves involved in; understanding choice, understanding what permissions mean and how permission to do anything can have its consequences, those are conversations which we really do need to have. And that is part of what that discussion and that arrangement was about.”

    After the signing, Symmonds defended Barbados’ decision when some CARICOM neighbours expressed reluctance. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Port of Spain, Jason Gordon, urged Trinidad and Tobago not to sign, but they have since done so, as have Jamaica.

    “Access to quality, comprehensive sexuality education, therefore is an empowering tool, which equips the learner, and in the case of the female, it enables her to have better control over her health, her lifestyle, her body and her future.

    “I reject any notion that there’s anything questionable or undesirable about the empowerment of young females in this regard,” Symmonds said at that time.

    He told Duguid the European Union was reaching out to provide business opportunities as signalled by the presence of president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at last month’s CARICOM Heads Of Government Meeting.

    Symmonds said Europe was interested in renewable energy options and Barbados needed to capitalise on this opportunity to provide hydrogen, the ideal form in which it can be shipped, but the relationship continued to grow. (SAT)

    Source: Nation

  3. John Avatar
    John

    Trump handled that like a father correcting a wayward son.

    One thing is sure, American taxpayers done wid dat.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    https://barbadosunderground.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/img_2948-1.jpg

  5. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    The writer of this article has grossly misread every single point to which contact was attempted.

    No time now. But could revert given some, more substantively.

    It reminds us of a tortured relationship with a former Spanish teacher. When it seemed that Pacha was really doing well, on the recordings, he would say “sounds prettie neh, prettie neh, but wrong!”

    Prepare for a master’s chastisement!😂😂😂😂😂🤢

    The writer should have long considered that no one person, whether he’s a master or not, does not need to know everything, not have to follow every issue, and should find a way to deploy wider faculty – an editorial board, or something so.

  6. John Avatar
    John

  7. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Bushie, either today or yesterday, called Kerrie Symmonds an idiot.

    It that not enough to have Symmonds banished to Siberia?

  8. David Avatar
    David

    Zelenskyy is reported to be ready to sign minerals agreement with the USA.

    #surprisesurprise

    https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn5220x56pqt#player

  9. John Avatar
    John

    Trump is after peace.

  10. John Avatar
    John

    Zelensky is after NATO membership and does not want to accept the security guarantee of the US in Ukraine.

    He will resign if Ukraine gets into NATO.

    I see where he is coming from now.

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/zelensky-will-quit-on-one-condition-as-he-s-back-in-touch-with-donald-trump-s-team/ar-AA1A6B7l?ocid=msedgntp&pc=W069&cvid=81da6ad7a1ee4e46c9c06327d8df8f1a&ei=13

    The question now is, can Donald Trump persuade Putin to let Ukraine become a member of NATO?

    Now that would be spectacular.

    His behaviour in the negotiation makes more sense now.

    Will the EU let Ukraine into NATO?

    Trump may also be able to rid America of NATO and get the deal from Ukraine.

    Everybody will get what they want except Putin if he can’t be persuaded to accept Ukraine becoming a member of NATO.

  11. John Avatar
    John

    For the EU, America’s presence in the Ukraine will also be security as it will be for Ukraine.

    Zelensky is holding out for two sets of security.

    All depends on Trump persuading Putin to let him have both.

  12. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    That so-called Zelensky deal is a con. For all the so-called rare-earth minerals are in the Donbass regions, to the east. Regions which are now legally part of the Russian Federation and over which Russia now controls about 75 percent of the territory.

    Secondly, these said same minerals were earlier sold to a hedge fund, the British got a piece too. In any event the Russians will soon conquer all of the Donbass, all of the rare-earth minerals areas, presumably. For Russia itself has express doubt that the rare-earths are as abundant as the Ukrainians are hawking.

    This whole thing is the same kind of scam as war always is. For most of the money said to be going to Ukraine from the Americans the Europeans has ended up within the maw of Western politicians and the military companies you are want to respect so much.

    It was an American general from the 1940s who said that war is a scam, sure was right!

  13. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Another major point relates to the relative military power of the Europeans. They are military midgets!

    Please know that NATO, absent America could not last a month against Russian. They do not even know and are not prepared to fight a modern war. A modern war is essentially ‘an all arms war’. Meaning that the battlefield has changed markedly with the integration of all arms. Meaning, drones, satellites, rockets, communications, air assets, etc are all integrated into a constant, minute to minute war, where the slightest mistake means death, the total battlefield is constantly under surveillance. A drone costing a few thousands can destroy tanks costing millions. A bad exchange ratio. The skies are always under surveillance 24/7.

    The world has never seen this kind of hyper warfarism before. The Europeans, because of financialization have no military industrial capacities to even supply Ukraine with rockets far less stare unto the face of Russia which has planned for this from the beginning as weeee were trying to tell you newbees.

    Case in point, the British has about 50 thousand front line troops all told and only about 25 thousand are battle ready at any one time. The rest of Europe are military chihuahuas. Russia is killing about 2 thousand Ukrainians most days. These British troops will last a few weeks, and they are broke. They do not even have the logistics to get them to the battlefield.

    The Europeans are bull-shiters!

  14. John Avatar
    John

    Pachamama
    March 2, 2025 at 7:52 pm
    Rate This

    That so-called Zelensky deal is a con. For all the so-called rare-earth minerals are in the Donbass regions, to the east.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    That’s the point!!

    If peace is achieved, Russia has to pull back if not to their starting positon.

    The EU has not said it will let Ukraine join NATO but it seems to be signalling that it just might.

    If the Ukraine signs the deal with Trump, real or not, then the ball is in Putin’s court.

    I feel Zelinsky, Trump, Vance and maybe Putin set up the altercation to achieve a goal, to get Putin to move. After 3 years of war, he has to be fed up and wants peace too.

    Nobody gets exactly what they want but everybody gets peace.

    If that is what happens, Trump got to be the greatest.

  15. John Avatar
    John

    Here comes Musk!!

    If the US leaves NATO and the UN, it saves a bomb.

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/us-senator-joins-elon-musk-in-calling-for-withdrawal-from-nato/ar-AA1A6uaH?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=adecd5a8eb5a4db689832b6c39a6aea2&ei=12

  16. John Avatar
    John

    The only person who loses out on a cushy UN job would be Ms. Mockley because for sure if the US is out of the UN, the UN is dead.

    It is the largest contributor and also contributes a huge building in New York.

  17. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Johnny

    Dream on, you tooooo labour under ignorance.

    Russia considers all of the Donbass regions as sovereign Russian territory, all four olbasts of Kherson, Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, as is now entrined within the Russian constitution, where almost 100 percent of all these areas are populated by Russians.

    Ukraine will be lucky to hold on to other predominately Russian areas like Odessa, Kiev, and others. However, if the war goes on after Russisn troops reach the Dnipro River, like they will in weeks, that equation too shall change. Pacha guarantees this!

    In addition, what is left of Ukraine, towards the west, the seat of the Nazis, SHALL be near totally demiliterized, de-Nazified, de-Bandera-rized, de-NATO-ed, then invited into a Belurusian type relationship with Russia, as its only way of survival. No NATO forces, ever being able to enter. You toooo have no idea about what you speak! Per usual. You, like the Nazis currently running Ukraine, are too dedicated to White supremacy to see the truth.

    Russia has won the war. In warfare the winner is the one who dominates the political equation of victory. You should research what the Russians have been saying since the Múnich Security Conference, even before, of 2007, at least. Even the feeble European smell defeat now.

    Then, there shall be a European wide new security architecture. This is the real game which will be discussed by the big boys at the real table – no place for the Europeans nor Ukrainians there. NATO is dead.

    You grossly over estimate the extent to which Drumpf can change these equations. For he too like Zelenski, has the weak hand inhereted from Biden. We give you an excuse, charitably. He’s therefore in no position to dictate any terms to Putin. And even Putin himself cannot negotiate away what are now Russian territories within their constitution.

    When will you ever learn that you can never defeat Pacha in any contest, recognize the disability causing such?

  18. David Avatar
    David

    Belfast factory to supply 5,000 missiles to Ukraine

    John Campbell

    BBC News NI economics and business editor

    Crown Copyright A helicopter flying in a blue sky with no clouds
    The missiles are also used by Royal Navy helicopters

    The Thales missile factory in Belfast is to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine, the Prime Minister has announced.

    The deal is worth up to £1.6bn and will involve recruiting 200 additional staff.

    Thales is a French-owned company which one of Europe’s biggest arms manufacturers.

    The order is for lightweight multirole missiles (LMMs) which Ukrainian forces are already using.

    Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the order as he laid out a four point plan to “reach peace and defend Ukraine”.

    East Belfast MP and DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the order is “hugely significant” given the “turbulence” in international relations and the acknowledgement of the “skill and ingenuity” of the Thales team.

    A £162m contract announced in September last year saw 650 LMMs supplied to Ukraine as an initial order to ramp up production, with the first deliveries in December.

    The new order is much bigger: it is worth an initial £1.16bn with the potential for around a further £500m of work to be added in collaboration with a Ukrainian industry partner.

    The partner firm will manufacture launchers and command and control vehicles for the missiles in Ukraine.

    International values

    Google THALES title is top right in dark blue. The building is made up of reflective windows and has high walled security.
    Thales is a French-owned company located in the Castlereagh area of Belfast

    Robinson said there was no point talking about international principles and values “if you’re not prepared to stand up for them”.

    “We’re giving the tools to make sure a sovereign country has the ability to stand against an international aggressor in Russia, a country that decided to walk over the border, destroy cities, villages and towns and kill civilians,” he said.

    Robinson added that the defence spend was “encouraging” for the industry and the Northern Ireland economy.

    The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is the largest contract ever received by Thales in Belfast.

    The Defence Secretary John Healey said the deal would “help protect Ukraine against drone and missile attacks and help deter further Russian aggression following any end to the fighting”.

    The contract has been placed by the MoD’s procurement arm Defence Equipment & Support on behalf of the Ukrainian Government.

    It will be funded by a loan underwritten by United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) after a deal signed last year to allow Ukraine to draw on £3.5bn worth of support from UKEF to spend with UK industry.

    Belfast

    War in Ukraine

    Source: BBC

  19. David Avatar
    David

    An interesting short video in the context of how ‘things’ work behind the scenes.

    https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14twMAdoyP/

  20. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    You obviously have no idea what it takes to build out a military industrial complex, at scale!

    Everything from the BBC is and always has been pure propaganda.

    The West could barely supply Ukraine for three years yet the BBC wants to tell us that a single factory could start doing so.

    Do you know how many tens of thousands of rockets are used DAILY by Russia?

    This report does not even say when these missiles will be delivered.

    Indeed, Russia has already deconstructed almost everything, every missiles system, the West has to offer.

  21. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Lastly, start seeing the British as a failed former empire reluctant to recognize this reality.

    Instead, all it has done since 1945 was to hold on to the skirt of America and be it’s errand boy running around the world helping the Americans by doing its dirty work.

  22. John Avatar
    John

    Here is a pretty good analysis of the press conference.

  23. John Avatar
    John

    The ball is in Zelensky’s court. He needs to reconcile with Trump and don’t pull another stunt like the last one.

  24. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    What I cannot understand is why the UK pretends to be so afraid of invasion from Russia. I am far from being an expert, but I suspect that Putin is only really interested in retaking former Soviet Union territories. With the Soviet Union back, he would not be subject to the nonsense of the West. Perhaps now that the USA is on the verge of leaving NATO, the rest of them can abandon the idea of pretending to offer the security to the expanded NATO territories that they are incapable of providing.

    That was a bad idea, expanding NATO. No matter what the West may say, in the world of geopolitics, that would be seen as aggression by them if done by Putin. Even BRICS, an economic and not a military alliance is being seen by the US government as a threat bordering on an act of aggression. As though they are entitled to have the dollar as the world reserve currency!

    The area of geopolitics, as even a blind man should be able to see by now, has nothing to do with morality. It is all about interests. This line about Ukraine having the right to defend itself and Israel having the right to defend itself, this idea of sovereign states being free to choose their alliances and their own leaders, their own form of government, to make their own laws, rules and regulations, to have their own culture and interests is only applied to the West and its allies.

    These are not battles of good versus evil. These are battles of interests. I absolutely hate war, but I have come to understand that Putin and Russia are judged by different standards than the West. And as our orientation has always been conducted by the West, we need to examine our perspectives.

  25. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    “These are not battles of good versus evil. These are battles of interests.”
    (Stated by @ Donna)
    Perhaps the only true assessment of this discourse. It is something that all Caribbean people should remember. We seldom comment on these geopolitical discussions because we perhaps with our realistic position, often viewed as simplistic, prefer to quote the famous Chalkdust : ” We have been in town too long “. We know the players in the end , will serve their interests . “To the victor goes the spoils.” We are cognizant that all things are “interconnected” but we have never been disconnected from reality.
    While we read the opinions of erudite minds dissecting these wars and rumours of wars , we have always asked one simple and perhaps stupid question: What are the benefits for us both as Caribbean and Black people.
    We have given our Blood , Sweat and Tears , to one group before and today we are literally scrambling to even get a “window” to the sea and our land is being sold to foreigners. We have fought wars , given our lives but what has it benefitted us ?In whose interests did we sacrifice ?
    The bright spark is that in Mother Africa, we are seeing a number of new leaders, who are taking control of their resources and chasing out the oppressors. We can only hope that we find leaders to do the same in our region and complete the task. However, we will not defeat one and then invite another.
    But , we must always ask the question in whose interests are we fighting intellectually and otherwise for : theirs or ours ?
    A simple, perhaps stupid question.

  26. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    If one looks at the global correlation of forces. Therein would be found the benefits of a radically diferent world for the countries of the South.

    And this would not be new if a reader of global events is properly informed by the post WW1 developments in economy.

    Therein the British classical economist John Maynard Keynes suggested a global financial system which, for example, demanded that balance of payments should balance.

    In the simplist form that means that if a country like Barbados has a balance of payments deficit with America that the balance of payments must be brought into balance by América investing an amount equivalent to Barbados’ deficit into Bridgetown.

    This would have meant that the national debt of Barbados would have been, right now, at zero. Is this financial architecture not beneficial to the region, the Global Majority which has been impoverished, systematically, by the wicked?

    Would this not be a benefit to Barbados. Or do we need to go on and on? And we can adumbrate until the cows come home. But these facile questions from the some closed-minded people will never cease. Neither would such questioners do any real reseach to confront Pacha on material facts.

    However, we’ve always gotten the impression that such questions are only asked to trip up those of us unwilling to buy into one-Caribbean narratives, internal-bound and which pretend to be able to exist absent all other forces within the universes.

    And we can go on and on. But that has proven unhelpful in the past and must again in the future.

    Bottomline, the World War against Russia will soon be seen, as some do already, as a marked period for the end of 500 years of Western domination. Even if that phase of this World War ends the White people, the Anglo Saxons primarily, will then attack China or Irán or other disobedient BRICS countries to maintain global hegemony. The questioner has never dared to investigate our claims but remains content to ask the same tired things over and over again. Stop it!!!!!

    These are the orders of magnitude which for the world, issues of survival or global Holocaust should be front of mind, circumstances where regional equations are of far less importance, to say the least, than what’s happening at the macro level

  27. Horsemeat Avatar
    Horsemeat

    Donna
    March 3, 2025 at 7:29 am

    Excellent comment.

    Pachamama,

    The West cannot attack China. China is too developed now, far from any Libya.

    China will dominate the South Seas, especially with the inept Trump administration.

    And China now has too many trade partners to isolate it at this point.

    BRICS currency is coming as a reality and maybe sooner than many think.

    @ John thinks Putin will want peace. Not, no, no (remember Gabby’s ‘Boots’).

    Putin wants territory expansion.

    Guys like Putin do not suddenly change their mind. Why do you think he wants peace? For what legacy? One of destroying Russia’s economy and economic reach by a short term war? When he only has a few more viable years left?

    Are you joking? You clearly underestimate the guy.

    Promises are comfort to a fool. He can promise all, but his aim is Ukraine, like it or not.

    What this does show, is that ‘friends of all, satellite of none’ is again demonstrated to be a good policy.

    The UN will not end with the USA leaving, in fact it may strengthen alliances among lesser developed countries.

  28. David Avatar
    David

    @Horsemeat

    Does Putin want territory or is this a case of keeping NATO at bay. Keep in mind the geography of the region.

  29. John Avatar
    John

    Venezuela now incurring the ire of Trump!!

  30. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Some of them are early pacesetters
    but as the journey gets longer
    nuff of them gets so weaker
    but them gwan like them alone run things
    but it no go work
    want to treat us like a jerk
    but the race is not for the swift
    neither for the strong
    but for the man who can endure
    to the end
    everybody know some a dem them a just front runners
    as the race gets longer nuff a dem a run out of stamina

    Make a joyful noise unto Jah
    all nations
    come into his presence with singing
    and into his house with joy
    knowing that he’s the one to guard the weak against the strong
    and one day he will come again and take us by our hands
    and the righteous shall be exalted
    and all their works must be praised
    while the wicked man he shall be cut down
    like the grass
    let not your hearts be troubled
    and let noy your mind get weary
    when you are feeling low
    don’t you know he will guide you along

  31. Horsemeat Avatar
    Horsemeat

    David,

    What has this all shown? NATO is not the all powerful monstrosity that is being claimed.

    Consider the time taken to mobilise and consider the lack of appetite for war in the West, among the people and among politicians who want good economic figures.

    So is the wolf crying crocodile tears and pointing fingers at the fox?

  32. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Horsemeat

    Russia, is militarily alone, stronger than China. Admittedly, when one accesses war fighting capabilities all other forces must be brought to bear on such equations.

    These include war fighting capabilities per population, economy, technological advancement, acces to supply lines and the like.

    So yes, you are nearly completely right when you apply commonse. However, part of the war strategy against China was to reverse the deal made with Nixon in the 1970s when China and Russia were split with an entente by America. That entente, one Communist country against another, in reverse is what the folks in Washington sought, are seeking, with Russia against China this time around.

    They lost, for Russia’s relationships with China are now publicly described as better than an alliance. That’s huge!

    Notwithstanding this, the West and America are in a present position that if they do not destroy China, in their minds, global hegemony will be totally lost.

    Given recent Western warfaism; the racist, exceptionalist, ethos at the centre of Western thinking, they support for Nazi historically; they fear of having a non-White country be the leading country, we would beg to disagree with your assertion.

    Recall however, that Asían countries have been the leading countries in the world for more than 1700 of the last 2000 years. This is an orientation absent from mind in the West.

  33. David Avatar
    David

    @Horsemeat

    NATO is ‘powerful’ with the USA as a member of the strategic alliance.

  34. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    No, NATO is a weakling. America’s only source of power is nuclear weapons. Have you not seen them lose, or failed to win, every real war since the invasion of the Phillipines in 1898 circa.

  35. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    “NATO is ‘powerful’ with the USA as a member of the strategic alliance.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Explain the Afghanistan debacle – if your assertion has ANY validity…

    Traditional military ‘power’ has become a big joke, – useful ONLY for channeling GINORMOUS amounts of $funds to the crooked military industrial complex.

    Since Korea and Vietnam we have had example after example of overwhelming military resources deployed against practically defenseless groups – and LOSING badly.

    Gaza is but the last example.

    The Europeans are merely fooling themselves, ..and preparing the way for Mother Karma to extract the now OVERDUE reparations for the lotta shiite they did over the past 500 years… ESPECIALLY to God’s chosen (now turned) brass bowls.

    Think Gaza was bad???!!!
    Wunna will be SHOCKED at the upcoming consequences for 500 years of wickedness…

    If Bushie was bout up there, ever so welcome, ..he would take a Trumpian hint, and not wait for any calls….

  36. de pedantic Dribbler Avatar
    de pedantic Dribbler

    David, it’s perplexing 😀… when you say you are “ambivalent about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine” and then frame concerns in economic terms (G7 issues, impact to Bim and region).

    We all have a hand in this game regardless of ideological persuasion thus I dont ‘handstand the idea of an ambivalent ‘whatever’ view.

    To be clear… one doesn’t have to LIKE Vladimir Putin to accept that he has all the cards in this war; and in turn a reasoned person can also recognize that the US has now become a Putin supporter.

    In effect, Mr. Blogmaster, the US president aims to give succor to Putin and protect him from what you termed the intensified “isolationist polices”.

    That has apparently frieghtened the EU such that they make statements like “the free world needs a new leader”.

    Yes, David EVERYWHERE “home drums beat first”. It can be no other way.

    There is a lot more to upack … so lil time 🙃.

    One tho is we really need to be more astute on this entire NATO, troop strength debate.

    The US president’s nonsensical stance on NATO is obtuse (difficult to put into proper prespective) when viewed practically.

    There is NO practical way that the US would not join the fray to support allies in Europe… BUT… that said, who perceives any warfare with conventional methods of lots of boots and tanks etc. into a EU capital, a la the Ukraine excursion !

    That to say, the nuclear deterrent is still the defining element in our world and despite all this ego boosting land grab construct (China to Taiwan; US to Greenland/Panama; Russia to Ukraine/Moldova etc …) it seems doubtful any leader will step across the line that would take us there !

    Many nations wanted to be like US (and that meant different things to different people) … but as that now changes dramatically with their more aggressive, intimidating tactics and less soft power (influence in UN. WHO, USAID etc etc) we’ll have to wait and see if nations see being like Russia or China as the new model.

    Do you think that’s the way forward!

    Peace. Out.

  37. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Bushie

    You are on the ball today.

    Separately

    We’ve just been informed that the misiles from the British will not be available until 2030.

    When are weee going to see the failures of the people who we like to think are important.

    Do wee know that the British financial system is on the brink of collapse, that Starmer is on his way out?

  38. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    ulterior motives on my part. Eye candy.

    https://nationnews.com/2025/03/03/instant-payment-system-coming/

  39. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    “Bushie …You are on the ball today.”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ‘Today’? … TODAY ???!!! @Pacha…
    Get thee behind the bushman Skippa…

    Bushie has been two steps ahead of Mbappe…
    LOL
    Murdah pun de field of play…

  40. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Bushie!

    Everyday is today, no? And today and everyday are one!

    Separately, the EU, as an entity, has no foreign policy, can have no such policy based on its formation document. Member states can only speak from a national foreign policy point of view.

  41. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    Afghanistan? What is NATO’s mandate?

  42. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    Context was provided to give meaning to the word ambivalent. It meant understanding the raison d’être of all sides to the conflict.

  43. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Wait bosie! The Trump administration, or to be more accurate the son of disgruntled Cuban immigrants, Secretary of State Little Marco Rubio, has determined that unless Barbados severs its relationship with the medical teams from Cuba, Barbadians will no longer be granted visas to travel to the USA.

    As bad as Trump is, he is not studying us. That is Rubio asking and receiving permission to do as he pleases.

    Such a small, petty man!

    Oblong head says they are looking at options. Are they brave enough to take them?

  44. David Avatar
    David

    A summary of EU’s meeting held yesterday, the ‘proposed’ support is not just about the UK to support a war some stated 3 years ago would end in a short time given what was thought to be a Goliath and David scenario.

    “The EU plans to accelerate missile deliveries to Ukraine through a combination of stockpile transfers, joint procurement, and ramped-up production. Key elements of the strategy include:
    1. Immediate Transfers from Member States – EU countries are sending missiles directly from their existing military stockpiles to meet Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs.
    2. Joint Procurement – The EU has launched large-scale contracts with European defense manufacturers to produce and deliver additional missiles. This includes coordinated purchasing to ensure faster supply.
    3. Defense Industry Expansion – The EU is pushing for increased production capacity within its defense sector. Companies like MBDA, Rheinmetall, and Saab are receiving contracts to scale up missile output.
    4. Use of the European Peace Facility (EPF) – The EU is funding part of these efforts through the EPF, which reimburses member states for weapons sent to Ukraine.
    5. Streamlined Logistics and Supply Chains – The EU is working with NATO and the U.S. to improve logistical efficiency, ensuring quicker delivery to the front lines.

    The plan aims to meet Ukraine’s demand for air defense and precision-strike capabilities amid ongoing Russian offensives. If you’re asking about a specific type of missile (e.g., Patriot, Storm Shadow, IRIS-T), let me know, and I can provide more details.”

  45. John Avatar
    John

    I think this is a good listen.

    Ideology (20th century) vs Identity (21st century)

    The world has changed, much of the west is stuck in the 20th century ….. but not America …. and Trump.

  46. David Avatar
    David

    @Donna

    What are you referring to re: Rubio?

  47. David Avatar
    David

    @Dee Word

    Agree with your view re: USA and NATO and Trump’s foreign policy predictably pro Putin.

  48. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    @David
    Rubio stated that visas will be withheld for government officials whose nations employ Cuban medical personnel (forced labour). Caricom met Friday to discuss the matter, concluding more information was needed.

  49. David Avatar
    David

    Thanks NO. This Reuters reports supports a different interpretation.

    US expands visa restrictions on Cubans tied to labor export program | Reuters

    https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-expands-visa-restrictions-cubans-tied-labor-export-program-2025-02-25/

  50. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20250228/caricom-foreign-ministers-meet-discuss-us-position-cuban-medical-brigade

    Yours was how it began, then later expansion.

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