Latest news with #militarization


Russia Today
15 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
EU using Goebbels-style propaganda to fuel anti-Russia frenzy
The EU has been locked in an anti-Russian 'frenzy,' focusing exclusively on militarization instead of fixing domestic issues that plague the bloc, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. Lavrov made the comments on Tuesday at a press conference in Moscow following talks with his Mozambican counterpart, Maria Manuela Lucas. He condemned the increasingly hostile rhetoric and actions of the EU, claiming that the 'lessons of history' have been 'poorly learned by the current generations of Germans, French, and representatives of other European countries.' 'Europe has gone into a frenzy… They are inciting their peoples in every way possible, instilling in them the spirit of Goebbels' propaganda that Russia is... an existential threat, and that Russia is about to attack Europe, so they have to forget about social problems, about failures in the economy, and about the process of deindustrialization, which is observed in Germany and other European countries,' while focusing exclusively on 'the militarization of Europe,' Lavrov said. Last week, the European Commission unveiled a record-high long-term €2 trillion ($2.33 trillion) draft budget for 2028-34 – a €600 billion increase compared to the 2021-27 budget. The draft envisioned a fivefold increase in defense-related investment, which reached €131 billion, as well as doubling the 'Ukraine facility', a dedicated fund, to €100 billion in loans and grants. The proposed budget has faced criticism from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who claims that the draft prioritizes Ukraine's potential entry into the bloc above everything else. Around a quarter of the sum would directly benefit Kiev in various ways, Orban said, adding that other areas such as agriculture are subject to cuts. 'This budget would destroy the European Union. I don't think this budget will even survive next year,' Orban said, predicting that the proposal will be significantly watered down before member states consider approving it.


Al Mayadeen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Russia warns NATO plans to turn Moldova into military foothold
Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has sounded the alarm over NATO's alleged plot to militarize Moldova and use it as a springboard for aggression against Russia. According to a statement published by RIA Novosti on Monday, Brussels has already made the decision to turn Moldova into a forward-operating base on the alliance's eastern frontier, taking advantage of growing instability in the region caused by Western involvement in Ukraine. "According to the information received by the intelligence service, NATO is actively preparing to involve Moldova in a possible armed conflict with Russia," the SVR said. "A decision has been taken in Brussels to transform this country into the alliance's frontline foothold on the eastern flank, taking into account Russian armed forces' advance in Ukraine." The SVR warned that NATO is exploiting Moldova's territory to facilitate rapid troop deployment near Russian borders and is imposing foreign military doctrines through newly built training centers. As the Western alliance intensifies its encroachment, voices within Moldova are rising to challenge this path. Ilan Shor, leader of the Victory (Pobeda) bloc, offered a counter-vision rooted in national sovereignty and historical ties with Moscow. "Pobeda offers a clear and transparent program: for the Union State with Russia; for trade and economic cooperation with the EAEU countries; for cheap gas and fair prices; for the preservation of national identity and sovereignty," Shor said on Telegram. Shor stressed that the bloc has the backing of hundreds of thousands of citizens and vowed to "fight for the right to represent a free Moldova in parliament." The West's efforts to pull Moldova into its orbit have long been viewed in Moscow as a violation of the country's constitutional neutrality and an effort to destabilize the region under the pretext of "democracy promotion." Moldova's current pro-EU administration, led by Maia Sandu, has taken numerous steps to integrate with NATO and the EU, while silencing opposition voices and arresting political rivals under the guise of fighting "Russian influence." Read more: Moldovan socialists accuse President of authoritarianism


The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Reality TV spectacle': outrage as federal agents raid LA neighborhood with horses and armored cars
Dozens of federal officers in tactical gear and about 90 California national guard troops descended on a historic immigrant neighborhood in Los Angeles on Monday – mounting a sweeping show that local leaders denounced as a 'reality TV spectacle' and intimidation tactic. The troops were deployed to a mostly empty MacArthur Park in the neighborhood of the same name for about an hour, some on horseback and others in armored military vehicles. Agents were also operating an armored vehicle with a mounted rifle. It wasn't immediately clear that any arrests were made. But the operation on Monday morning has drawn widespread criticism from city leaders, who have characterized the militarized immigration raid as an intimidation tactic. 'What I saw in the park today looked like a city under siege, under armed occupation,' said Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, who called it a 'political stunt'. This is footage from today in MacArthur Park. Minutes before, there were more than 20 kids playing — then, the MILITARY comes SECOND I heard about this, I went to the park to speak to the person in charge to tell them it needed to end NOW. Absolutely outrageous. Bass said that children who were attending a nearby daycare center had to be quickly ushered inside as agents swept through the neighborhood, including through its namesake park. The agents arrived at about 10.30am, and left the neighborhood after Bass spoke to a Department of Homeland Security representative, according to reporters at the scene. LA city council member Eunisses Hernandez's office also sent constituents a warning on Monday morning that federal forces had been deployed in the neighborhood, urging: 'Please be careful and let your neighbors know.' Activists and locals – who have for weeks been documenting the ramped-up immigration raids in LA and across southern California – had also come out to witness the scene, and were prepared to call in legal support if needed. 'I definitely think it's a source of intimidation,' Jeannette Zanipatin, a lawyer with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (Chirla), told the Associated Press. 'We know that the Trump administration is trying to make an example of Los Angeles.' Chris Newman, legal director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, said he received a credible tip about the operation on Monday. 'It was a demonstration of escalation,' he told the Associated Press. 'This was a reality TV spectacle much more so than an actual enforcement operation.' MacArthur Park has long been an immigrant neighborhood, with a history of political activism. In 2007, it was the center of the May Day rallies demanding amnesty for undocumented people, which were met with exceptional brutality by the Los Angeles police department. The neighborhood was also where the Trump administration kicked off its ramped-up raids in LA, sending agents to arrest undocumented day laborers at the local Home Depot store and street vendors along bustling commercial corridors. Since the raids kicked off, the normally bustling neighborhood had emptied out – fewer street vendors had been selling food and wares along the sidewalk. Many undocumented workers were avoiding reporting to their jobs at restaurants and shops, and parks and public spaces were eerily empty. A defense official told reporters that the action on Monday was not a military operation, but said that the size and scope of the guard's participation could make it appear as one to the public, according to the Associated Press. 'It's just going to be more overt and larger than we usually participate in,' one of the officials said before the raid ended abruptly with no explanation. The primary role of the military service members would be to protect the immigration enforcement officers in case a hostile crowd gathered, that official said. They are not participating in any law enforcement activities such as arrests, but service members can temporarily detain citizens if necessary before handing them over to law enforcement, the official said. 'This morning looked like a staging for a TikTok video,' said Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president of the Los Angeles city council, adding if the border patrol wants to film in LA, 'you should apply for a film permit like everybody else. And stop trying to scare the bejesus out of everybody who lives in this great city and disrupt our economy every day.'


The Guardian
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
LA leaders denounce ‘reality TV spectacle' deployment of federal officers
Dozens of federal officers in tactical gear and about 90 California national guard troops descended on a historic immigrant neighborhood in Los Angeles on Monday – mounting a sweeping show that local leaders denounced as a 'reality TV spectacle' and intimidation tactic. The troops were deployed to a mostly empty park in the MacArthur Park neighborhood for about an hour, some on horseback and others in armored military vehicles. Agents were also operating an armored vehicle with a mounted rifle. It wasn't immediately clear that any arrests were made. But the operation on Monday morning has drawn widespread criticism from city leaders, who have characterized the militarized immigration raid as an intimidation tactic. 'What I saw in the park today looked like a city under siege, under armed occupation,' said Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, who called it a 'political stunt'. This is footage from today in MacArthur Park. Minutes before, there were more than 20 kids playing — then, the MILITARY comes SECOND I heard about this, I went to the park to speak to the person in charge to tell them it needed to end NOW. Absolutely outrageous. Bass said that children who were attending a nearby day care had to be quickly ushered inside as agents swept through the neighborhood, including through its namesake park. The agents arrived at about 10.30am, and left the neighborhood Bass spoke to a Department of Homeland Security representative, according to reporters at the scene. The LA councilmember Eunisses Hernandez's office also sent constituents a warning on Monday morning that federal forces had been deployed in the neighborhood, urging: 'Please be careful and let your neighbors know.' Activists and locals – who have for weeks been documenting the ramped-up immigration raids in LA and across southern California – had also come out to witness the scene, and were prepared to call in legal support if needed. 'I definitely think it's a source of intimidation,' Jeannette Zanipatin, a lawyer with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (Chirla), told the Associated Press. 'We know that the Trump administration is trying to make an example of Los Angeles.' Chris Newman, legal director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, said he received a credible tip about the operation on Monday. 'It was a demonstration of escalation,' he told the Associated Press. 'This was a reality TV spectacle much more so than an actual enforcement operation.' MacArthur Park has long been an immigrant neighborhood, with a history of political activism. In 2007, it was the center of the May Day rallies demanding amnesty for undocumented people, which were met with exceptional brutality by the Los Angeles police department. The neighborhood was also where the Trump administration kicked off its ramped-up raids in LA, sending agents to arrest undocumented day laborers at the local Home Deport story and street vendors along bustling commercial corridors. Since the raids kicked off, the normally bustling neighborhood had emptied out – fewer street vendors had been selling food and wares along the sidewalk. Many undocumented workers were avoiding reporting to their jobs at restaurants and shops, parks and public spaces were eerily empty. A defense official told reporters that the operation on Monday was not a military operation, but said that the size and scope of the guard's participation could make it appear as one to the public, according to the Associated Press. 'It's just going to be more overt and larger than we usually participate in,' one of the officials said before the raid ended abruptly with no explanation. The primary role of the military service members would be to protect the immigration enforcement officers in case a hostile crowd gathered, that official said. They are not participating in any law enforcement activities such as arrests, but service members can temporarily detain citizens if necessary before handing them over to law enforcement, the official said. 'This morning looked like a staging for a TikTok video,' said Marqueece Harris-Dawson, president of the Los Angeles city council, adding if Border Patrol wants to film in LA, 'you should apply for a film permit like everybody else. And stop trying to scare the bejesus out of everybody who lives in this great city and disrupt our economy every day.'

Wall Street Journal
07-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
This Bay Is Key to Russia's Militarization of the Arctic
This Bay Is Key to Russia's Militarization of the Arctic As melting sea ice reveals new trade routes, resources and battlegrounds, the Kola Bay is emerging as one of Russia's most powerful hubs in its quest to dominate the Arctic. Photo: Alican Ocak/Anadolu Agency