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Russia

Putin’s choice

In the annals of political appointments, surprises are nothing new. Yet, President Vladimir Putin’s selection of Andrei Belousov as Russia’s defence minister still manages to raise eyebrows.

Ukraine and Nato

Irked with the uncertainty over membership, Ukrianian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasted the alliance as it was a personal setback for him; he had harboured hopes that the Vilnius summit would culminate in a concrete invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance. In scathing criticism, Zelensky termed this Nato stance ‘unprecedented and absurd‘ when there is no time frame set ‘neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine‘s membership‘. He was also upset with vague wording about added conditions ‘even for inviting Ukraine‘

Coup in Niger

Coups are not new to west and central Africa; the military takeover of power in Niger last week is the seventh such event in the region since 2020. But the latest, which saw the overthrow of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum by the commander of his presidential guard Abdourehamane Tchiani, is important in that it is seen as a blow to Western efforts to tackle Islamic insurgency, and judging from some responses may emerge as another chapter in the proxy war between Western countries and Russia-backed mercenaries.