Geopolitics

By Patrick Cockburn | INEWS The failure to agree a nuclear deal is only one of a series of separate and unrelated events that have heated up the Iran crisis over the last two months. As war rages in Ukraine, another conflict is ready to explode in the Middle East as the US and its allies confront Iran over its nuclear programme, supply of drones to Russia, and repression of anti-government protests. If the US or Israel were to attack the main Iranian nuclear facility producing weapons-grade nuclear fuel, Iran would most likely retaliate by using its drone and missile arsenal to close the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf, through which tankers daily carry almost a fifth of the world’s oil and gas. The confrontation escalated sharply this week when Iran announced that it int...

Manila — The United States is committed to supporting the Philippines in defending the rule of law in the disputed South China Sea, US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Monday. Her comments came after an incident on Sunday where Chinese coastguard personnel blocked a Philippine Navy team in the South China Sea. In a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Harris said the US would work with the South-East Asian country in upholding international rules and norms to ensure prosperity and security in the region. “An armed attack on the Philippines’ armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defence commitments, and that is an unwavering commitment that we have to the Philippines,” Harris told Marcos Jr during their meeting. ...

As the world fixates on Ukraine, another war is brewing in the Middle East

US vows support for Philippines as Chinese vessel blocks navy