Military Force in Mali
Serving Objective 16: Entrenching Russian influence in sub-Saharan Africa
12 Mar 2025. The WP reports on the Russian mercenaries’ activities in support of the Malian regime’s efforts to suppress the rebels. The Russians “have assaulted women, massacred civilians and burned villages in Mali,” killing “men, women and children” indiscriminately while looting their goods. The methods employed by Russians in Mali include “kidnapping, torture and decapitation.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/03/11/russia-wagner-mali-mercenaries-putin/
Naval Cooperation with China in the Indian Ocean Basin and Naval Cooperation with Iran
Serving Objective 20: Alignment with China and Objective 21: Alignment with Iran
11 Mar 2025. The Russian, Chinese and Iranian navies launch a joint exercise off the port of Chabahar on the Iranian coast of the Gulf of Oman. Two corvettes of the Pacific Fleet participate from the Russian side.
https://www.dw.com/en/iran-china-and-russia-launch-annual-joint-naval-drills/a-71877839
Political and Covert Subversion vs Romania
Serving Objective 2: Strengthening the Western political forces considered by Moscow to be inimical to the Western-led international order, and the Kremlin’s relationships with such forces
11 Mar 2025. The Kremlin’s official representative Peskov says that any Romanian election without the participation of pro-Russian candidate Georgescu “will be considered illegitimate.”
https://aif.ru/politics/peskov-otverg-svyaz-kelina-dzhordzhesku-s-moskvoy
Political Support of the Vucic Administration in Serbia
Serving Objective 15: Entrenching Russian influence in the Western Balkans
7 Mar 2025. Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic says that he has Moscow’s support in his confrontation with the Serbian protest movement after a phone call with the Kremlin.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-supports-serbias-authorities-amid-protests-president-aleksandar-vucic-2025-03-07/
Aid Support of Syria
Serving Objective 14: Entrenching Russian influence in the MENA region
5 Mar 2025. Moscow delivers another shipment of Syrian cash printed in Russia to Syria as part of its efforts to retain Khmeimim and Tartus military bases in Syria.
https://www.reuters.com/world/syria-gets-new-cash-shipment-russia-sign-warming-ties-2025-03-06/
Feb 2025. Russia delivers the equivalent of $23 million in Syrian currency at official rates to the central bank in Damascus,” printing “the banknotes for Syria’s cash-starved economy when most other countries had refused due to fear of sanctions.” The delivery is part of Russia’s efforts to retain Khmeimim and Tartus military bases in Syria.
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/russia-is-chasing-a-deal-to-keep-its-military-bases-in-syria-f9f6ca6e
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