Tag Archives: US foreign politics
| Background to the present Russia – Ukraine crisis
By Phil Wilayto
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have risen sharply following the Nov. 25 seizure of two Ukrainian gunboats and a tug and the detention of 24 Ukrainian sailors by vessels of the Russian Border Guard. The incident took place as the vessels were attempting to pass from the Black Sea through the narrow Kerch Strait into the Sea of Azov, a shallow body of water bounded by Ukraine to the northwest and Russia to the southeast. After the incident, Russia blocked some additional naval traffic through the strait.
| Brazil: How US intervention paved the way for Bolsonaro’s rise
On Tuesday 20 November 2018 over 300 people gathered in the British Parliament for the launch of the Brazil Solidarity Initiative. Britain’s Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry opened the meeting by describing the election of Jair Bolsonaro as a “terrible tragedy” and extended her solidarity to the socialist movement in Brazil. Other politicians from the Labour Party and trade union movement addressed the meeting including Baroness Jean Corston, Richard Burgon MP, Chris Williamson MP, Dan Carden MP and Christine Blower alongside a representative of the London branch of Brazil’s Workers Party.
| Business as Usual: Washington’s Regime Change Strategy in Venezuela
by Garry Leech
For those who have been following Venezuela closely in recent years there is a distinct sense of déjà vu regarding US foreign policy towards that South American nation. This is because Washington’s strategy of regime change in Venezuela is almost identical to the approach it has taken in Latin America on numerous occasions since World War Two. This strategy involves applying economic sanctions, extensive support for the opposition, and destabilization measures that create a sufficient degree of human suffering and chaos to justify a military coup or direct US military intervention. Because this strategy has worked so well for the United States for more than half a century, our elected leaders see no reason not to use it regarding Venezuela. In other words, from Washington’s perspective, its regime change policies towards Venezuela constitute business as usual in Latin America.
With Nearly 400,000 Dead in South Sudan, Will the US Finally Change Its Policy?
The Trump administration has remained largely silent about the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, maintaining a quiet diplomacy with the country’s leaders despite a recent report that nearly 400,000 people have died in the country’s civil war.
UN votes overwhelmingly to condemn US embargo on Cuba
The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed a resolution condemning the US economic embargo on Cuba after rejecting proposed US amendments criticising the communist nation on its human rights record.
Out of the 193-member body, 189 countries voted in favour of the resolution at the 27th annual General Assembly meeting, with only the US and Israel voting against. Moldova and Ukraine did not vote.
