Russia

A power in nuclear energy is emerging as the best alternative to Russia and China for the West: South Korea

by

Russia and China are indisputably two powers in nuclear energy. So are USA, France and other western alignment countries. Although these states have a bulky nuclear plant park which really places them at the forefront is Your ability to develop new technologiesand in this area the most promising reactors are The fourth generation. Russia and China already have at least A reactor of this type in operationand the US, France, India, Canada or Japan are some of the countries that plan to have them in the future. However, there is a power in nuclear energy that often goes unnoticed. We all know that South Korea has a lot of weight in semiconductor industries, consumer electron Nuclear energy as a strategic pillar Not only within its mix of electricity generation, but also as an engine of innovation and export. South Korea is the most consistent alternative to China and Russia Currently South Korea has 26 Nuclear reactors in operation with an approximate total capacity of 25.7 GWE. This infrastructure contributes to its Mix with 30% of electricity, although the commitment of this Asian country for nuclear energy does not end here. And it is that between 2026 and 2033 the construction of four more reactors will conclude that will have a power of 1,340 MWE each of them, so the total installed power in this country within less than a decade will exceed 30 GWE. Its APR-1400 reactors incorporate passive security systems that allow them to compete from you with the machines exported by Russia, China or the USA In any case, as I have anticipated a few lines above, which has placed South Korea to the avant -garde and has positioned this country as One of the largest exporters in the nuclear sector It is your ability to develop your own technologies. Their APR-1400 reactors incorporate passive security systems that allow them to compete from you with the machines exported by Russia, China or the US. In fact, South Korea has already exported this reactor to the United Arab Emirates and is negotiating with the Czech Republic and Poland to sell their technology. On the other hand, this Asian country has also opted for fourth generation nuclear fission. Your smart reactor (System-Integrad Modular Advanced Reactor), what is An SMR type design (Compact modular reactor) is in the process of certification to be used in desalination and electricity generation facilities. It also prepares fourth generation reactors refrigerated by sodium, such as the machine outlined in the Kalimer project, although it is not yet clear when the first South Korean commercial reactor endorsed by this technology will come into operation. South Korea has a very ambitious plan: wants to capture at least Ten international contracts until 2030. His first project abroad has been Barakah’s nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates, and It has been a success. As I mentioned a few lines above, Czech Republic and Poland are presumably will bet on South Korean reactors, but South Korea nuclear energy companies are also trying to take contracts in Egypt, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey and even in the United Kingdom. If only some of them get to fruition this Asian country will become a full competitor in the international market of China, Russia, France or the US. Image | Wikierati More information | Bloomberg In Xataka | Spanish nuclear have been criticized for their role in the blackout. This was what they did before, during and after collapse

Ukraine has turned drones into armed soldiers against Russia. It is no longer necessary to “sacrifice them” because they carry launched

by

That the war in Ukraine has become the largest field of technologies and war artillery. out of any doubt. However, if you had to name a single protagonist, that would be the use of drones as “animals” of Combat for everything. The Ukrainian country, in fact, has become one of the Great industries of the planet in the sector developing many of the most advanced (and important, economic) prototypes to date. The latest: turn drones into authentic soldiers of the future holding launched in flight. Aerreo launches. As we said, Ukraine has reached a new mile With a launchersuch and As he revealed The Ukrainian company Wild Hornets, specialized in military technology. The images, disseminated by the company itself in Your telegram channelThey show what they describe as the “exclusive death” of a Russian soldier reached by one of these devices on the Novopavlivka front. The attack was carried out by the Bulava Unit of the separate presidential brigade, and they did it by adapting their drone “Queen of Hornets”(A heavy model usually designed for bombings) to carry and shoot a precision grooved from the air. The operation, in addition to having tactical success, served as proof of concept and exhibition of the modified design, whose stability when triggering resolved one of the main technical obstacles: the recoil. Mortal precision. After the videos and the exclusive, Diego RodríguezRecognition drone operator in the body of unmanned systems, He expressed his astonishment Because this technology has not been implemented before, underlining its technical superiority against Kamikaze drones. In the expert’s opinion, the throws from drones allow faster, accurate and silent attacks, since Granada rounds fly faster and more reaching, reducing the enemy’s reaction margin and exposure to electronic countermeasures. The reason? The drone can shoot, retreat and recharge, multiplying its usefulness Without losing unity In the attack. Faced with the traditional explosive drones that emit noise and give the enemy time to protect themselves, the granades projected from the air arrive almost instantaneously, making them impossible to dodge them. Without anticipation. Another expert, in this case Vadym Feshchenkoex grenadier converted in drone operator, stressed that this innovation completely alters the defensive habits of the enemy. Russian troops have learned to observe the movements of drones to anticipate when they will release their explosive load, but a drone that shoots in full flight eliminates that reaction window. Feshchenko also highlighted the weapons versatility employee, pointing out that some modern launch projectiles have the capacity to drill up to seven centimeters of armorwhich expands its applicability against fortified vehicles and positions. As these systems multiply, it is likely that the simple sound of a drone forces enemy soldiers to retire or hide, increasing the psychological and tactical impact of the device, also as a deterrence In full fray. From standard prototype. That said, what we see is an evolution. In September 2024 already Videos circulated of tests where Ukrainian FPV drones carried RPG-18 launches. While then rudimentary prototypes were considered, their possibilities were already evident. As counted in Ukrainian media, a collateral advantage of this system is Risk decrease For technicians and engineers who must manually assemble kamikaze drones, exposing themselves to injuries that are rarely made public. In this regard, the partial automation that allows an armed and reusable drone represents a step forward in terms of operational security. Adaptive Engineering They remembered in Insider That although the first use in combat has been attributed to Ukraine, the idea of ​​mounting launched in drones had already been proposed in 2021 through the Display Belarusian Design Cabinet during a Russian military exhibition. The most complex technical challenge was drone stability When shooting, since most quadcopters are too light to support the backward. However, The “Queen of Hornets”due to its size and reinforced design, it seems to have resolved this obstacle: in the Video widespreadno instability is observed after the shot. In parallel, Ukrainian engineers have managed to convert even agricultural drones such as the DJI AGRAS T30 (originally designed for fumigation) on attack platforms, equipping them with PKM machine guns and launched Bullspike-Atcapable of attacking tanks, self -propelled artillery and fortified positions. A radical transformation. As we told at the beginning, the war in Ukraine is changing many of the war concepts that were in the battles of the past. But above any other actor, the introduction Drone successnow even shooting grenades from airmarks a before and after in the development of the technological war. While traditional artillery and heavy weapons continue to play an important role, the miniaturization of fire power and its integration into reusable and precise drones represents a strategic advance that combines efficiency, lethality and operational economy. The question now is not whether this technology will be extended, but rather how fast Ukraine can produce it in mass and how Russia will respond to a threat that becomes increasingly silent, unpredictable and difficult to stop. Image | Army Inform In Xataka | The last and surprising tactic of Ukraine to avoid the Russian drones: hide their tanks and artillery underground In Xataka | The last tactic of Ukraine is a drone that seeks to catch him. When Russia opens it displays its threat: a virus

Ukraine has captured the new cruise missile of Russia. His surprise has been capitalized when he opened it: the “allies” did so

by

November 2024. The Ukrainian forces “hunted” a Russian non -manned plane from the rest, a lure drone prepared to deceive and saturate enemy anti -aircraft defenses simulating radar signals. That day, the surprise was not so much to have captured an “specimen” of the called Parody. The true surprise was given when opening and discovering Who had built That “Russian” machine. Interestingly, the same thing has happened now with the last missile in the conflict. Moscow did not do it, the United States and a group of allies did. The “Russian” Banderol missile. Ukraine has recently revealed the operation of the S8000 Bnderola new Russian cruise missile developed by the Krnstadt company (known for its drones) that has already been deployed in combat and represents a significant evolution in the Kremlin’s long -range attack strategy. According to the Ukrainian military intelligence (Gur), this missile is launched from non -traditional platforms such as Orion drones (similar in size to MQ-1 Predator American) and its adaptation to attack helicopters is expected Mi-28n. Bnderol is driven by a small reaction engineit has retractable wings, it reaches speeds of 500 km/Hy can cover a distance of up to 500 kilometers with A 110 kilos eye. Its superior maneuverability suggests that it has been designed to evade anti -aircraft defenses, which makes it a weapon of great tactical value. Made in Allies. The interesting thing is that the Gur has achieved Examine several Banderol missiles in good condition after being demolished or recovered their remains. His technical analysis revealed a pattern that is increasingly common: the Russian total dependence on foreign componentseven for its most recent developments. In other words, missile dissection reveals an amalgam of components of supposedly allied countries (and not so much) of Ukraine. Dissection of the missile. Namely: The SW800PRO engine (manufactured by the Chinese company Swiwin and accessible on platforms Like Aliexpress) drives the missile, while the RFD900X telemetry module points to Australia. To this are added batteries of Murata (Japan), Servomecanismos Dynamixel MX-64ar of Robotis (South Korea) and an inertial navigation system of possible Chinese origin. Also key, in each missile there are, according to the report, about twenty microchips manufactured mainly in the United Statesbut also in Switzerland, Japan, South Korea and China, many acquired through The chip and dipone of the largest electronics distributors in Russia, currently sanctioned. Infographic prepared by the GUR that shows the Banderol cruise missile and some of its components of foreign origin Evasion of sanctions. As we said at the beginning, the massive presence of western pieces in Russian weapons It is not new: similar components have already been found in drones such as S-70 okhotnik-bin planning bombs, and even in armament supplied By Iran and North Korea. In spite Recycled microelectronicsespecially with epicenter In China. Many of these components come from civil productswhich hinders your tracking. They counted Twz analysts That the Russian industry has been perfecting these evasion mechanisms, and the association of the semiconductor industry (SIA) already warned that, despite the efforts, there are “certain” actors that continue to obtain access to sensitive technology through deception maneuvers. Low cost and high range missile. As for the flag, it is not a high -end missile like the KH-69 (Which waves of up to 300 kilos), but represents a low cost solution, sufficient precision and medium reach, optimized for the current context of the conflict. The combination of its own motor, guided by inertial navigation and satellite correction, and systems against electronic interference They make it a key tool for saturation attacks or against sensitive objectives beyond the front line. Although it is not yet known if it can be reprogrammed in flight (it would be a valuable capacity for mobile or opportunity targets), its only existence already worries Ukraine, which has suffered great damage to the planning pumps UMPK and UMPBalthough the latter lack their own propulsion. Russia and alternative platforms. The fact that the flag is conceived to launch from drones or helicopters is an operational innovation in Russian doctrine. Not depending exclusively on strategic bombers or tactical fighters (frequent target of the Ukrainian air defense), Moscow can diversify your attack vectorsreduce risks and extend your ability to project remote force. This allows traditional aviation to be released for other roles while multiplying platforms capable of carrying out precision attacks. Plus: The concept is aligned with an emerging trend also in the United States: The fusion between Light cruise missiles and effects of effects released from the air, cheaper, modular and adaptable to various missions. Strategic implications. In short, the appearance of the flag is significant not only for what it represents on the military plane, but also for what it reveals in terms of Technological dependencevulnerability of sanctions and tactical evolution systems. According to the Gurmore than 4,000 foreign components have been identified in 150 Russian weapons analyzed, which highlights a structural failure in international export controls. In other words: the war in Ukraine is molding the global arms industry and evidencing that modern conflicts are not only freed with tanks and airplanes, but also with microchips, algorithms and hidden parts in the heart of civil devices. Also something that has been sensed for centuries: in war, there are no “friends.” Image | Ukraine Intelligence, Gur In Xataka | The last and surprising tactic of Ukraine to avoid the Russian drones: hide their tanks and artillery underground In Xataka | The last tactic of Ukraine is a drone that seeks to catch him. When Russia opens it displays its threat: a virus

Now we know what the US Army did in Finland. Russia is expanding its troops on its border with Europe

by

In April there was a paradox that we count. While Finland again became the “happier” nation From the planet, a United States army had reached its borders to prepare for “the worst.” Thus began a simulation where Finland’s defense forces and a Washington operation were trained together for a eventual invasion. If there was any questions about who the enemy was, Russia has just cleared it. Remove silent. I told it in Exclusive the Wall Street Journal supported by the satellite data that he had achieved. While much of international attention is still focused on war in Ukraine, Europe begins to worry to a series of strategic movements of the Russian army that, without making almost noise, are redefining the military balance of the continent. In the Russian city of Petrozavodsk, about 160 kilometers from the border with Finland, military engineers work on the expansion of bases and the creation of a new headquarters that will house tens of thousands of soldiers in the coming years, many of which today fight in Ukraine. These troops, according to Intelligence sources Western, they are not designed for the current war, but for future confrontations with NATO. Moscow has intensified recruitment, modernized rail infrastructure in border areas and duplicated its military budget, already exceeds 6% of GDP. President Putin has ordered that the size of the Russian armed forces increase until 1.5 million troopsand although publicly denies expansionist aspirations, its government continues to give contradictory signs, including official statements that affirm the need to prepare for a possible confrontation With the Atlantic Alliance. Rejuvenate the army. It is one of the consequences. The rebound of military spending has promoted an unprecedented acceleration in weapons production. Before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia manufactured around 40 T-90m tanks a year. Now produce almost 300although many are not sent to the front, but are reserved in national territory. Artillery and ammunition production has also increased, and Russian drones have won in quality and volume. Thus, the Moscow army, far from collapse, is being reconfigured faster than most analysts had planned, with new units, equipment and a constant rotation of troops that allows to maintain pressure in Ukraine while other formations are prepared on Russian soil. In fact, some European intelligence services alert A “B” scenario: If a fire is achieved in Ukraine, Russia could be in a position to launch a large -scale war in Europe within five years, or even before if you perceive weakness in NATO cohesion. Tensions on the eastern flank. No doubt, Russian military strengthening has unleashed immediate reactions in Baltic and Poland countries, which have already Started to reinforce Its borders with ditches, antipersonnel mines and anti -tanks, the acquaintances as “dragon teeth”. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have abandoned international treaties on mines, and several governments consider plausible that Russia seeks to test the solidity of NATO through a limited incursion in a member state with Russian population, as Estonia. To this is added the concern caused by covert operations attributed to the Russian Intelligence Servicessuch as sabotage attempts and murders in Western Europe. Hence, many analysts warn that the Kremlin could bet on a lower provocation that fractures consensus within the alliance, especially if you perceive internal divisions or lack of coordinated response. Territorial strategy For its part, The Journal remembered that Putin has resorted to the historical legacy of the Russian military force (which beat Napoleon and Hitler) to justify the war in Ukraine and his ambition to recover influence on former allies who have leaned towards the West. The Russian government has reorganized its internal military structure creating new districts Around Moscow and St. Petersburg, and has increased logistics cooperation with Belarus, its main ally and basis of operations in the current war. In the Leningrad Military District, which borders Estonia, Latvia and Finland, medium -sized brigades are being transformed into divisions of up to 10,000 troopsand barracks, hospitals, warehouses and new railway routes are being built that connect with Norway, Finland and the south of St. Petersburg. Finland, who historically has tried to avoid tensions with Russia but is now part of NATO, Observe carefully The renewal of ancient border steps and the construction of railway headers that would allow the passage of mechanized forces, with direct implications for their national security. New social elite. Explained the medium that one of the pillars of this military reconstruction is the huge Increased recruitmentpowered by Financial incentives that in some cases exceed $ 20,000 to sign a contract. These sums far exceed Average annual income In many Russian regions, and have allowed a constant flow of new soldiers (between 30,000 and 40,000 per month According to estimates) that allows Russia to maintain its presence in Ukraine without exhausting its strategic reserve. Not just that. In addition, the medium exposed another measure that we have already counted a few weeks ago: veterans are receiving Extended benefitsas positions in local governments and seats in Parliament, consolidating the military estate as a New National Elite. The new recruits will be mostly intended for the units that are deployed at the border with NATO, and for them the new armament is reserved, while the Ukrainian front continues to receive reconditioned Soviet material. Russia’s next strategic military exercises, called Zapadthey will focus on these border regions, and they are expected to serve as a demonstration of force addressed to both NATO and internal public opinion. New power architecture. In summary, Russia is betting very strongly that her military resurgence, combined with a possible Western fatigue before the Ukrainian conflict, returns her back A seat in the table where new security rules in Europe are defined. Although figures like Trump They discard the possibility that Russia has ambitions beyond Ukraine, the facts Described in the Journal On land and warnings of multiple European intelligence agencies suggest otherwise. If you want also, Moscow seems to trust that an NATO divided, uncoordinated or weakened by internal conflicts will be forced to negotiate from a disadvantage … Read more

Russia plans to manufacture its own 28 Nm chips in 2030. It will continue to be light years from the US and its allies

by

The relationship sustaining USA and Russia is disturbing. The interests of the administration led by Joe Biden They seemed hardly reconcilable with those of the Government of Vladimir Putin, but Donald Trump’s return to the White House The rules of the game have changed. It had been many years that the interests of Russia and the US were not as aligned as they seem to be now. At this situation it would not be strange for Trump -led administration to Advanced lithography equipment. At the moment it is only an elucubration, but in the current circumstances it is not a far -fetched possibility. Anyway Russia has a plan to reinforce your semiconductor industry and reduce their dependence on foreign technologies. In October 2024 the Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced that it will invest 2,540 million dollars until 2030 in the development of own photolithography machines that allow it to become independent of foreign powers. Within the framework of the Russian economy it is an important expense that in the medium term seeks to develop the ability to make chips of 28 nm. Russia says you are already making chips with its first UVE lithography team At the end of May Vasily Shpak, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Russian Federation, advertisement During the conference “Industrial Russia Digital Industry” that your country already has prepared its first team of extreme ultraviolet photolithography (UVE). In addition, Shpak confirmed that its construction is entirely Russian, and, more importantly, it also anticipated that this first UVE machine is capable of manufacturing integrated circuits of 350 nm. In 2026 Russia should have a prototype of UVE equipment capable of manufacturing 130 nm chips The really important thing is that Russia apparently already has the necessary technology to tuning these photolithography machines. From here their engineers and physicists can gradually refine their technology to make possible the production of more advanced integrated circuits. In fact, it is fair What the Russian government plans to do. And its itinerary establishes that in 2026 Russia should have a prototype of UVE lithography equipment capable of manufacturing 130 nm chips. And in 2028 another similar one trained to produce integrated 7 nm circuits. However, it is important that we do not overlook that this itinerary does not describe the moment in which Russia will acquire the ability to manufacture these large -scale integrated circuits. This will be the really relevant milestone. Whatever the Russian medium COMNEWS He has collected statements from Konstantin Trushkin, the deputy director of development of the MCST CPU Design Company, in which this engineer argues that Russia will have plants capable of producing large -scale integrated circuits of 28 Nm between 2028 and 2030. This purpose is credible, but by then presumably TSMC, Intel and Samsung will already have the capacity to manufacture in a massive way 1 Nm semiconductor. More information | COMNEWS In Xataka | China needs to develop a new type of immune chips to US sanctions. And their scientists have just achieved it

In 1914 Russia decided to prohibit vodka to stop alcoholism. It was a disastrous decision

by

Exists A legend (not confirmed) that said that, when the final surrender of Nazi Germany was known in World War II, the jubilation with which it was held in the Soviet Union is counted as one of the drunkenness more epic in the history of ethyl celebrations. The myth did not stay there, since the story said the Victory Day It led to the closest to a “national alcoholic blackout”, leaving the nation Without vodka in just 24 hours. The truth is that, whether or not, it makes all the meaning of the world. They came from a prohibition that had resulted. An ancestral relationship. Counted in an extensive Report The Atlantic that the Russian inclination towards alcohol has religious and political roots. In 988, the Prince Vladimir chose orthodox Christianity in part for not prohibiting Alcohol consumption, unlike Islam. During the 16th century, Ivan the terrible established the first state taverns (the calls Kabaks) that they became Fiscal monopolies. In less than a century, a third of Russian men I was indebted With these drink houses. Already in the 18th century, Pedro the Great consolidated that institutional dependence: not only tolerated the alcoholism of his subjects, but punished wives They tried to get their husbands out of the taverns, and recruited ethyl debtors for the army. Arrived at the nineteenth century, the State obtained almost half of its income from the sale of vodka. Far from being an externality of the system, alcohol would be said that it became its collection engine. In this context, the Tsar was going to make a decision of Ajundia. Imperial abstinence. According to Timethe history of the Russian prohibition not only precedes the famous Dry American Lawbut it constitutes one of the most transcendental (and fatal) decisions of the Tsar Nicolás II. It happened in September 1914, when a few days after the death in combat of his cousin, the prince Oleg Romanovthe Tsar sent a telegram to his uncle Konstantin Konstantinovich announcing the definitive suppression of the state sale of vodka in Russia. That gesture, which apparently responded to a moral conviction and a personal loss, dismantled one of the pillars Economics of the Empire: For centuries, the State had maintained a lucrative monopoly on alcohol, generating up to a third of its income thanks to sales to the peasantry. When renouncing that source of financing just at the threshold of World War I, Nicolás not only unleashed a deep fiscal crisis, but also fragile social contract between the throne and its people. Nicolás II Catastrophic consequences. The problem was not only economic. The measure was adopted at a time when the empire tried Revict your prestige After the defeat in the Russian-Japanese war of 1905, where alcoholism among soldiers was indicated as a decisive factor of military collapse. Collective drunkenness during mobilizations and the front had been so notorious that even the Káiser Guillermo II He came to declare that in the next conflict he would win the nation that he least drank. Under that impulse, the ban seemed a strategic decision, aimed at disciplining the army and facilitating mobilization. And, indeed, Russia initially deploy troops quickly and obtain some early victories. However, the price was elevated: by suddenly depriving millions of people of their usual consumption in full war and without social compensation mechanisms, a deep resentment Between peasants, workers and soldiers, amplifying the distance between imperial power and masses. Logistic collapse The Tsar appointed the reformist Peter Bark as Minister of Finance with the difficult task of disconnecting the treasury of alcohol, but the budget vacuum became unsustainable. Given the loss of hundreds of millions of rubles, the solution was the most precarious: Print moneyaccelerating hyperinflation and eroding even more the economy of war. The fiction that national productivity had improved without vodka was sustained with falsified reports and grandiloquent statements, while citizens suffered the consequences of shortage and monetary depreciation. At the logistics level, chaos was equally shocking: the wagons that had to transport grain and supplies to the front were occupied by Aristocratic distillators That, prevented from selling within the country, tried to export their vodka to France, Japan or any port available, saturating the already weak Russian rail networks. From Tsarism to Bolshevism. Paradoxically, the prohibitionist policyborn within the Tsarist conservative regime, was one of the few who survived the tumultuous change of governments that Russia shook Between 1917 and 1924. Neither the provisional government nor Lenin’s Bolsheviks revoked the measure. The communist leader, in fact, defended it as a Ethical and ideological principlewarning that a socialism based on the sale of alcohol was a betrayal of the revolutionary ideal. During the civil war, discipline, sobriety and consumption control were seen as essential components of the new order. Of course, after Lenin’s deaththe logic of state benefit imposed once again: Stalin The monopoly reestablished of vodka (now decorated with the Hoz and the hammer), restoring the practices of the old empire under a new clothing ideological. In terms of fiscal consumption and profitability, the prohibitionist stage It was erased almost completely. Moral experiment. That’s how it ended A movement That did not go as expected, much less. Beyond its symbolism, the Russian prohibition embodies a singular case where a moral decision, taken from power, precipitated the collapse of a regime whole. Time told That, in the context of a devastating war, a broken economy and a desperate population, the elimination of one of the few social exhaust valves ended up exacerbating all the latent tensions of the system. The Zar tried to save the soul of the Russian people removing alcohol, but ended up losing the throne. Thus, the vodka veto not only marked the start of the end of The Romanovbut left a enduring lesson about the risks of moralizing governance in times of crisis. Now, that legend of the end of World War II and the greater ethyl celebration It charges all the meaning of the world, because, sometimes, drunkenness can be more … Read more

An US Army has reached the happiest country in the world. His immense border with Russia has changed the panorama of Finland

by

Finland lives A paradox. The nation became for the eighth consecutive year in the happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report 2025 of the University of Oxford and the United Nations. However, and no matter how happy the lives of its citizens are, its geography has changed the geopolitical situation. While the country was crowned with such virtue, an United States army had come to prepare for “the worst.” Happiness. With an average score 7,736 out of 10the Nordic country maintained its leadership in a ranking based on the evaluation that people make of their own lives, through surveys that cover three years and measure subjective perception, social ties and trust. They accompany him in the top positions other nations of the North European Like Denmark, Iceland and Sweden, consolidating a pattern that highlights the virtues of strong social systems, access to nature, community cohesion and collective well -being as pillars of a satisfactory life. Harvard said that Finland’s persistent success was not noisy, nor depended on advertising campaigns, nor a national identity built on exceptionality. Rather, rather, on a Silent and robust balance between nature, social protection, free time, daily civism and an extended perception of security and mutual trust. Almost the same could be said of the rest of the “north” nations, the same whose geography could change the status quo. A new front. Almost along with New York Times counted A scene that had occurred in another area of ​​the nation. In mid -February, an emergency fictional message sent by Finland’s defense forces activated a large -scale military exercise: an enemy invasion required immediate assistance. Dozens of American soldiers, members of the newly created Arctic Division of the American Armythey left from Fairbanks, Alaska, and crossed the northern pole to land in Rovaniemi, north of Finland. Equipped with M-4 rifles, machine guns and rocket launchers, they were deployed in snowy forests, dresses with special white uniforms and steam waterproof boots. Although It was a drillthe geopolitical and climatic background endowed it with the most disturbing gravity: with the melting of the Arctic ice, this inaccessible region is inaccessible has now returned strategiccausing powers such as Russia, China, the United States and various European nations They actively train for a possible conflict in extreme conditions. The new Arctic centrality. According to Canadian General Robert McBridethe world’s armies have left behind the era of the “war on terror” to focus Your attention in the Arctica territory that, like We have been countinghas acquired prominence for its strategic value, natural resources and emerging transport routes. In that context, cooperation between Finland and the United States It has intensifiedespecially since Finland joined NATObecoming the country of the alliance with the most extensive border with Russia: 1,340 kilometers. The historical past (Finland He fought against The Soviet Union in World War II) reinforces the defensive nature of this relationship. “Russia will take everything that is not nailed to the wall,” recalled a said Finn -cited by Janne Kuusela, defense official, to the Times. Despite recent political changes and Trump’s verbal approach to Moscowin the icy field, cooperation between the two countries seems solid and determined. The United States Army displaced to the area Ice war. What’s doubt, put on the worst stage, the Arctic War It presents unique challenges. “It’s like operating in space. No one will come to help you. And the environment can kill you,” summarized the American colonel Christopher Brawley. The cardinal rule: stay dry. Finnish soldiers must pass An extreme test It consists of throwing themselves, with all the equipment on, in an open hole on an icy river, going quickly and changing clothes before suffering freezing, what they should do with the help of their classmates, since their hands stop responding in seconds. Jackson Crites Videman, a conscript of dual Finnish and American nationality, lived at 36 degrees below zero. We remember that Finland is one of the few democratic countries with conscriptionand before the latent threat of the east, ha Increased your budget In defense. Although the war in Ukraine has significantly reduced the Russian presence in the border region, the Finns calculate that it will only take between five and ten years to establish a tangible danger again. Preparations: Winter war. The designation in 2022 of the 11th Airborne Division of Alaska as the first and unique Arctic Division of the United States marked A doctrinal change. The US army tested new uniforms, combat skis and vehicles with caterpillars capable of climbing frost pending. During the drill in Finland, they showed a New transport model that climbs on the snow efficiently. Plus: Special rations For cold weather, with high caloric content, they reflected in the tests the amount of energy that simply demands to stay hot in that environment. And if winter imposes its rules, summer also does not offer relief in the enclave: with perpetual sun and without night, disappears The advantage of glasses Night vision, and when ice melts, the earth becomes an impassable lodazal of dense forests, rivers, lakes and marshes. No name, but with coordinates. Had the New York Times That, during the maneuvers, the troops took advantage of frozen rivers as improvised highways. With their rifles behind the back, they slipped quickly on the ice, in an environment that demands physical resistance and strategic clarity. Result? The exercise was finally considered a success For the commanders. Before the question of whether the proximity in recent times between Trump and Russia was a reason for concern, Finnish General Sami-Antti Takamaa was blunt to the middle: “It doesn’t worry me at all. The American airborne division has just arrived from Alaska. That is what matters to me.” Finland and NATO. Thus, and while the global geopolitical balance seems to stagger between tense alliances and resurgent threats, Finland, the happiest country in the world For eighth time With its 5.6 million inhabitants and an extreme geography, it emerges as one of the Defensive bastions more strategic in Europe. … Read more

Europe is caught in gas contracts with Russia. Now look for a way to break them without paying the price

by

This winter has ended with an alarming fact for gas in Europe: German reserves are practically empty, 7% of their capacity. Energy expert Javier Blas He explained That the winter of 2024-25 has left the very low gas inventories, and the cost to fill the natural reservoir of Rehden amounts to almost 2,000 million euros. In addition, the continent has entered the discount timesince the European Union has demanded that the deposits be filled at 90% before November 1. However, the European Union has made a decision to close the door forever to the dependence of Russian gas. Close the tap to Russia. From Brussels different legal routes are being explored so that European companies can terminate long -term Russian gas contracts without paying large fines to Moscow. According to Financial Timesthe European Commission has been studying the possibility of declaring force majeure to terminate contractual obligations and not have to pay additional rates. The Russian supply. After three years of war that still persists, this situation has caused a great energy crisis in Europe, reducing its dependence on Russian gas. Currently, the Kremlin supply represents 11% of the block compared to almost two fifths at the beginning of the conflict, such as They have detailed in the British environment. From a more economical vision, the EU paid 21.9 billion euros Russia for oil and gas between February 2024 and February 2025, According to the Clean Energy and Air Research Center. And they continue to depend. Russian liquefied natural gas volumes (LNG) They have increased significantly In the last three years. In addition, Russia has continued to export gas disguised under azeri flag or through relations with two member countries, Hungary and Slovakiawhich has generated tensions within the EU. As He has pointed out The Financial Times, there are important ports such as those of France, Spain and Belgium that continue to receive loads of Russian LNG, showing the complexity of cutting energy ties immediately. Until two years. The European Commission has promised a final roadmap to completely cut energy ties with Russia before 2027. Although its publication has already been delayed twice, the document is expected for May 6, According to Reuters. This delay responds to the conversations reactivated by the United States about the future of the Nordstream gas pipeline, which connects Germany and Russia. The project has gained importance amid the efforts of the Trump administration, since they want look for an approach that implies them in gas transmission. Exploring alternatives … The commission, that He has denied To comment to the Financial Times, you are looking for new supplies. United States, which It takes time exporting LNG to Europehas been profiled as the largest supplier and is seen as a viable replacement. However, with the tariff war in dispute Everything will be to see. But there is an unexpected exit. Continuing with the tariffs, which have been intensified in A bilateral war Between China and the United States. The Asian giant He has found A strategic opportunity: take advantage of contracts signed with American gas to resell it to Europe. This phenomenon has exposed how the global mechanisms of energy trade do not respond to political strategies, but to market logics. An uncertain future. Although the date is marked in 2027, the road map has already suffered several delays and remains surrounded by political and commercial unknowns. In addition, the growing tension with the United States and The lack of a really solid energy plan they leave a European Union corrula, reacting too late before the agency with Russia. Image | Brian Cantoni Xataka | The price of gas has already reached 2022 levels. Now the European industry depends on one thing: that the cold does not return

China and Russia work in “Starlink Killers” to be able to deactivate them

by

At the end of February, a heated discussion before the cameras between Volodimir Zelenski and Donald Trump changed the situation in Ukraine, Warning to the European Union. One of the immediate concerns was that Ukraine lost access to Starlinkwho has had a key role in war. But while Europe is looking for alternatives To the constellation of Spacex satellites, Russia and China are developing, separately, electronic and military countermeasures. Starlink is a strategic asset. Both in Its military version, called Starshieldas in its commercial version. When Russia left conventional communication satellite networks (VIASAT, Iridium, Immarsat…), Starlink gave a crucial advantage to Ukraine. The commercial company led by Elon Musk not only had the capacity to send more terminals and antennas to the front, but proved to be more resistant to “Jamming”Russian cyber attacks based on electronic interference. Spacex internally manufactures satellites, antennas and partially reusable rockets, a vertical integration that has put it decades away from the competition. Starlink has more than 7,000 satellites in the low orbit. At this altitude, they complete a return to the earth every 90 minutes, so different satellites are going through the sky to serve a certain area. Cybeards and Jamming are more effective with companies that have a few geostationary satellites, which remain fixed at 36,000 km of altitude. In search of the Killer Starlink. The use of the Spacex Satellites Network in military conflicts has led Russia and China to reinforce its countermeasures. A Recent report De Secure World Foundation stressed that Starlink was a kremlin priority objective after having demonstrated its usefulness in the Ukraine War. Russia has been developing the Kalinka system, Nicknamed the “Starlink Killer”to detect and interfere with protected military communications of the Constellation “Starshield”launched by Spacex and operated by the number. According to Ukrainian sources, Ukraine military forces suffer from Starlink interruptions since May 2024, which is attributed to Russian experimentation in advanced electronic war methods, which not only affect military communications, but also the use of drones. Russia uses the Tobol system to interfere with satellite signals. It is believed that there are at least ten Tobol devices distributed in Russian territory, and one of them could be located in the Russian base of Kalinningradbetween Lithuania and Poland. Tobol has also been used to try to block the satellite transmissions that Ukraine uses in its operations. Members of the European Union, such as Finland, Poland and Sweden, have noticed GPS failures during use. Strange maneuvers in the land low orbit. China advances in parallel to Russia in its spatial developments against Starlink, according to US sources cited by the report. The United States Space Force has observed several Chinese satellites in Coordinated proximity maneuvers. Although these operations in flight could be used for peaceful purposes, such as naves maintenance or space garbage withdrawal, the United States believes that they are being tested to disable or capture rival satellites in case of conflict. Chinese maneuvers, together with the increase of Chinese satellites dedicated to intelligence work, They have put the pentagon on alertalthough the United States is not far behind in military deployments in space. Even Russia has had advances in this defensive development: recently, they demonstrated how some Russian satellites could surround and isolate another ship in low orbit. The definitive and definitely illegal weapon. The Pentagon believes that Moscow is at the same time chasing the idea of ​​placing nuclear weapons in space capable of Generate electromagnetic pulses (EMP), which would be devastating against satellite constellations. In turn, they could trigger a catastrophic collisions waterfall known as Kessler’s syndrome, by the astrophysicist who predicted it. The Treaty on the Ultra -Site Space of 1967 prohibits the placement of weapons of mass destruction in orbit, but it is an increasingly questioned document by both sides. The last affront the agreement was released by Elon Musk in a political rally, when he declared that Mars would be part of the United Statesviolating another of the key points of the treaty, that the celestial bodies are not subject to demands of sovereignty. Image | Spacex In Xataka | Eutelsat, the “European Starlink”, shot in the stock market. The reality is that no European company can match Starlink right now

If China wants to dodge US tariffs, Russia can teach you a shortcut: Kyrgyzstan

by

In the middle of chaos that have generated United States tariffs, a theory as absurd as feasible Start circular. If in a few weeks we begin to hear that, for example, the Kyrgyzstan nation is shooting its exports suddenly and unexpectedly to the United States, it should not surprise us so much. It does not have to be Kyrgyzstan, of course, but, coincidences of a world more and more globalizedthe nation has become the protagonist for Russia … and China. Boom. To understand how a site like Kyrguistan It can be an important actor in a commercial war we must go back to the beginning of the War in Ukraine. Kyrgyzan’s economic panorama changed radically from March 2022. In a matter of months, country imports from traditional business partners They began to growhighlighting the case of China, whose exports almost tripled. However, the most striking phenomenon was the sudden rise of trade with countries with which Kyrguistan barely had previous economic ties. From different points of the European Union (such as Poland, Czech Republic and the Baltic States) began to register A wave of goods. In some cases, the increases were so extraordinary that it was difficult to assimilate. Data from the Institute of International Finance revealed that, between March 2022 and October 2023, German car exports and pieces towards Kyrguistan increased 5,500%. What the hell had happened? The Ukraine War. The date, obviously, was not trivial. Despite the striking of growth, the origin and destination of many of these goods was diffuse. On numerous occasions, the products are classified as coming from an “unknown” country and with equally “unknown” destination, which generated enormous opacity in commercial statistics. However, for researchers and analysts There was no doubt What is the true destiny: Russia. Far from representing a genuine boom of the Kyrgyse economy, that phenomenon was interpreted as proof of the efficacy of the Kremlin to avoid the international sanctions imposed after its large -scale invasion of Ukraine. According to the researcher Erica Marathassociated professor at the National Defense University of Washington DC, these commercial flows are part of a mechanism which facilitates the evasion of sanctions by Moscow, a mechanism that has been skillfully adopted throughout the region. Parallel imports. In May 2022, Russia promulgated legislation that institutionalized what it called “parallel imports“. This regulation allows the entry of sanctioned products through third countries, without requiring the permission of brand owners. It was enough to import products to another country (such as Kyrgyzstan) and then redirect them to Russian territory. The system was adopted quickly by Russian and foreign companies. In addition to conventional supplies, it also included “double -use” products: appliances, electronic components and other civil goods that can be de -slasamed and reused for military purposes. Between May and December 2022, Russia admitted to having imported 2.4 million tons of goods by a Value of 20 billion dollars Through this scheme. Kyrgyzstan map Kyrgyzistan, the epicenter. No doubt, the nation’s exports to Russia went from 393 million dollars in 2021 to More than 1,070 million in 2022. Not just that. The figures could be underestimated, since many countries (including Kyrgyzstan) classify large volumes of trade as appropriate or with “unknown” destination, using this emptiness as a legal loophole to channel goods towards Russia without raising formal suspicions. This practice, according to marath, It is not considered illegaland therefore the authorities feel comfortable ignoring it while receiving economic benefits. Plus: Kyrguistan is not the only country that facilitates the evasion of sanctions, but possesses particular characteristics that make it an ideal transit point. He is a member of the Eurasian economic union (EAEU), a block founded in 2015 that also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. This block guarantees the free movement of goods and services among its members, which significantly reduces The bureaucratic load For trade between them. The Chinese friend ”. And what does China look in all this? As we said at the beginning, coincidences of a world globalized And in the midst of a commercial war marked by the tariffs of the United States, China has also noticed Kyrguistan, although From another perspective. I told it This week The Economist: Although Beijing proclaims a cooperation relationship “back with back, shoulder shoulder” with Russia, in practice it is taking distance in a crucial aspect: the safety of its export routes to Europe. Yes, despite its geopolitical alliance with Moscow, China prefers not to depend on Russia to maintain the flow of its assets to the European continent, especially in a context marked by conflicts and sanctions. Solution? In December, the construction of an ambitious began officially Railway project that is going through Kyrguistan and Uzbekistan, with the aim of creating a direct route towards Europe that avoids the Russian territory. This new connection becomes more relevant to a possible intensification of the commercial war with the United States and the growing importance of the European market (China already exports more than America). The impulse. Although the railway project had almost three decades under discussion, its materialization only It was completed after the invasion Russian to Ukraine in February 2022. Before the conflict, the main railway routes to Europe passed through Russia, many times via Kazajistan. The war, however, raised security risks, triggered insurance costs and weakened the Russian rail infrastructure due to sanctions, forcing transport companies to look for alternatives. As a result, they began to deviate towards the call “transpian route“Or” Medium Corridor “, which is going through Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea. Connecting the Chinese Railway Net A 520 km line that will consolidate this strategic option. Commercial Resilience. It is not the end of any “alliance”, because as The Economist toldChina continues to consider Russia as a pillar of its ambitious global infrastructure project (the Strip and the Route initiative, launched in 2013 by Xi Jinping), its current enthusiasm by the middle corridor responds rather to economic interests. China’s growth, increasingly dependent on exports, has lost impulse, and guaranteeing stable roads … Read more

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.