
Russia’s Security Chief Tightens Military and Political Ties with Myanmar After Vote
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U.S. and Russia Move to Reopen Military-to-Military Dialogue
Washington and Moscow have agreed to restart direct defense contacts aimed at reducing the risk of operational incidents; the initiative is framed as a pragmatic channel for de‑escalation rather than a restoration of broader trust. Its value will depend on concrete agendas, timelines, and verification arrangements that remain to be negotiated.

Putin Meets Syria’s Interim Leader as Moscow Eyes Long-Term Military Footprint
Syria’s interim president traveled to Moscow for high-level talks that center on Russia’s desire to secure and formalize its coastal military facilities. The meeting signals Moscow’s intent to maintain strategic footholds in the eastern Mediterranean while Damascus seeks security guarantees and reconstruction support.

United States recalibrates ties with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger as Russian influence expands
Washington is signaling a strategic pivot: senior State Department envoys will engage the military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to prioritize shared security and economic objectives over governance conditions. The move aims to blunt exclusive Russian influence while offering intelligence and selective military support rather than large-scale troop redeployments.

China deepens backing for Russia’s Ukraine campaign, Western agencies warn
Western intelligence judges Beijing increased material and diplomatic support for Moscow across 2025 and that coordination is likely to broaden in 2026, but Beijing’s approach remains pragmatic and calibrated. The shift — centred on approvals, third‑party routing and financial layering — constrains European leverage, complicates sanctions enforcement and heightens the need for allied chokepoint controls and intelligence sharing.

Putin and Xi Frame Closer Trade and Political Coordination During Video Call
Russia and China used a scheduled video call to highlight expanding economic links and closer diplomatic alignment, portraying the relationship as a stabilizing axis amid global tensions. The conversation was principally signaling — reinforcing coordination on trade, energy and technology — even as Beijing’s parallel, pragmatic re‑engagement with Western capitals suggests the partnership is important but strategically hedged.

UN records at least 170 civilian deaths as Myanmar air strikes accompany disputed election
The UN reports a minimum of 170 civilian fatalities linked to military air operations that coincided with Myanmar’s multi-week election, alongside 408 recorded aerial attacks. Observers say the vote was tightly controlled, opposition actors were sidelined and insecurity blocked participation across large areas, deepening the country’s political crisis.

India seeks diplomatic reset with a BNP-led Bangladesh after election landslide
India has a narrow window to rebuild ties with a Bangladesh now led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party under Tarique Rahman, but public backlash—especially among younger Bangladeshis—plus contested casualty figures from the 2024 crackdown and practical frictions such as curtailed visas and trade barriers complicate rapid rapprochement.

Estonian intelligence warns Russia is using peace talks to advance war aims
Estonian foreign intelligence concludes Moscow’s recent conciliatory language toward negotiations is tactical and aimed at consolidating battlefield and political gains rather than signaling a genuine halt to operations. The assessment comes as a public split among senior Estonian officials over engagement strategy risks sending mixed signals to NATO partners and Moscow, complicating allied policy responses.