🔎 Macron’s 'Coalition of the Willing': A stealth move for NATO expansion?

The French president’s push to build a Coalition of the Willing aims to impeach the peace deal between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Alexis Poulin, a leading EU policy analyst and co-editor of Le Monde Moderne magazine, tells Sputnik.

“They pretend to come as a coalition of European forces to protect Ukrainian cities. But in fact, this is clearly an advance post for NATO forces,” Poulin points out, warning of the risk of escalation.

He insists that European leaders, along with the North Atlantic Alliance, are trying to build up a force on the ground in Ukraine, “not saying it's NATO, but clearly it will be NATO.”

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SWIFT is a system of the past and will be replaced by end of decade - economist

The US is ready to consider Russia's return to the international banking system SWIFT. Why is it interested in Russia's comeback?

"The interest is understandable...[SWIFT] is logical and absolutely familiar for Americans," Nikita Maslennikov, an economist and expert at the Center for Political Technologies, tells Sputnik.

As of today, 159 US companies are operating in Russia at full capacity, 178 are in a semi-suspended mode but have not officially left the country, while over 300 have left permanently, as per Maslennikov.

▪️Russia is in no rush to rejoin SWIFT as it has its own National Payment System, which has proved to be a viable alternative within the country, the pundit says. The use and testing of cross-border payment mechanisms is also already underway, Maslennikov says.

"Currently, the issues of international digital settlements are being tested. There is already an active use of digital financial assets in international payments for a number of countries and transactions," the pundit says.

SWIFT is a system of the past, Maslennikov adds, saying that by the end of the decade alternative systems will emerge. Over 90 countries are presently testing their own central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

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📹LIVE NOW: Putin's speaks at the plenary session of the 6th International Arctic Forum: "The Arctic - Territory of Dialogue"

👉 Watch live in our Telegram

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📹 Russia is ready to work in the Arctic with all states that take a responsible approach to development issues, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

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📹 The US has had plans to annex Greenland for a long time, Vladimir Putin has said.

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📹Russia has the largest icebreaker fleet in the world, a position which needs to be strengthened further - Putin

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📹 We are concerned with the fact that the NATO countries increasingly identify the Far North as a foothold for possible conflicts — Putin

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📹Putin: the strength of our military in the Arctic will be increasing.

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👇 Check out the highlights of Putin's International Arctic Forum speech

▪️Russia never threatened anyone in the Arctic but is keeping an eye on the situation

▪️NATO countries regard the Arctic as a staging ground for potential conflicts

▪️Russia will react to Sweden and Finland’s participation in NATO’s activities

▪️Russia will not allow any encroachment on its sovereignty

▪️Donald Trump’s idea of annexing Greenland is no extravagant talk but serious plans

▪️The US will continue furthering its interests in the Arctic

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📹🇫🇷 No more arms to Ukraine!

A protest against arms supplies to Kiev and the Ukraine Summit in Paris took place at Place de la République in the centre of the French capital.

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🇺🇸 Trump terminates US funding for White Helmets — report

The Trump administration HAS CUT most of its financial support for the pseudo-humanitarian organization, the so-called Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) also known as "the White Helmets", CNN reports.

The USAID funding was halted due to the administration's broader move to cancel foreign aid contract.

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📹 Vladimir Putin authorizes launch of new NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE PERM

Among the nuclear submarines of project 885M, "Perm" will be the first regular carrier of the cruise hypersonic missile "Zircon."

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🔍 Trump’s auto tariffs hit hard: A major blow to European and Asian allies

US President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on foreign automakers, dealing a major blow to European and Japanese businesses. Let’s break it down.

👉 European auto stocks plunged following Trump’s announcement, with a new round of tariffs wiping out over $14 billion in market value for European carmakers, according to The Telegraph.

▪️Japanese automakers also took a hit:
▪️Toyota Motor fell 2%
▪️Nissan Motor closed down 1.7%
▪️Honda Motor declined 2.5%

🔸Automobiles accounted for 28.3% of Japan’s total exports to the US in 2024, generating approximately $63 billion annually.

🔸According to Nomura Research Institute, Trump’s auto tariffs could shrink Japan’s GDP by around 0.2%, equivalent to about $8 billion.

🔸Additionally, these measures significantly reduce the likelihood of the Bank of Japan raising its benchmark interest rate in May, despite consumer inflation remaining above target.

🔸Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated: “We need to consider what’s best for Japan’s national interest. We are evaluating all options to determine the most effective response,” but stopped short of providing specific details.

🔸Trump defended the tariffs, claiming they aim to boost domestic manufacturing in the US and are expected to generate $100 billion in annual tax revenue. The auto tariffs take effect on April 2, with tariffs on car parts following a month later.

🔸Nearly 50% of new passenger vehicles sold in the US in 2024 were manufactured abroad, according to S&P Global Mobility, while the Trump administration pushes to revive the domestic auto industry.

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Canada PM: Our response to Trump's tariffs is to fight

Mark Carney said Canada must dramatically reduce its dependence on the US and rebalance its trade relationships elsewhere.

"We will fight the US tariffs with retaliatory trade actions of our own that will have maximum impact in the United States," Mark Carney said.

He added that he would have a phone call with the US president in the "next day or two".

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Diego Garcia: why is it a lynchpin of US military strategy in the Indian Ocean?

The island of Diego Garcia, where the US has redeployed some of its vaunted B-2 Spirit strategic bomber aircraft, holds significant strategic value to the United States for several reasons:

🔶 Located practically in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia affords to whoever controls the island an opportunity to project military power and influence across the region.

🔶 A large US military base on the island allows the United States to rapidly deploy its military assets across the region and conduct various operations at a relatively short notice. The base helped the US facilitate its invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, and can help Washington carry out operations against Iran and Yemen.

🔶 The B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit bomber aircraft that are occasionally stationed at the base can strike at any target in the region, while the KC-135 Stratotanker refueling planes drastically increase their range.

🔶 Military deployments aside, the base at Diego Garcia provides the US with a convenient stopping point for troop movements between various theaters of operation such as Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The C-17 heavy airlifters Diego Garcia often hosts help facilitate these efforts.

🔶 The naval base on the island allows the US to conduct naval operations in the region and to provide logistical support to US assets in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. The port facilities at Diego Garcia can host various types of naval craft, from destroyers and aircraft carriers to submarines.

🔶 The island’s location also affords significant intelligence advantage to the US as it allows monitoring air and maritime traffic in the region. This intelligence gathering is augmented by the base’s satellite communications facilities and further aided by specialized aircraft such as P-8 Poseidon.

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