International

Why the Putin-Biden summit was important

by Guy Mettan, independent journalist, Geneva

(24 June 2021) The cheers about the excellence of the Swiss welcome and preparation and the blah blah blah about the return of the United States to the international stage were no doubt justified, but they failed to show why the June 16 meeting between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden was important. Let us attempt an analysis.

Takeaways from Biden-Putin summit

by M. K. Bhadrakumar*

(24 June 2021) On the diplomatic stage, there is nothing to beat Russian-American summits in sheer theatrics. When the leaders of the two most powerful nuclear powers on earth sit face to face, anything can happen.

Unscrupulous “elites” drive Europe and Russia into war

by Wolfgang Effenberger*

(18 June 2021) An unscrupulous “elite” of NATO strategists, global financial and economic oligarchs is plunging Europe and Russia into war. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO has expanded more and more towards Russia, contrary to the agreements made. The culmination of this expansion was the 2014 coup in Ukraine, which was clearly engineered by the United States to the tune of five billion dollars.

Washington’s Green Branches in Europe

by Diana Johnstone,* Paris

The German Green Party has a chance to join a ruling coalition in September’s election, after turning its back on its roots, to root for Washington.

China blocks US bases in Central Asia

by M. K. Bhadrakumar*

(18 June 2021) Ten months after the first meeting of the foreign ministers of China and the five Central Asian states, Beijing has followed through with a second session on May 11 at a gathering in Xi’an, China, hosted by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Political change of scene: summit moves from Vienna to Geneva

by Willy Wimmer*

(4 June 2021) It sounds like the simple announcement of a change of location. The physical distance between Vienna and Geneva is not great. Yet there must be a reason for choosing Geneva. Perhaps it will be better for everyone if, on June 16, 2021, two presidents take a stroll and drink coffee together on the shores of Lake Geneva?