War to break out first in Europe or the Korean Peninsula?

Is the world facing an era shaped by disorder and by illberal actors? On February 13, 2017, several days ahead of the 53rd edition of the Munich Security Conference, the Munich Security Conference Foundation publishes the third edition of its annual report on key issues in international security. Under the title "Post-Truth, Post-West, Post-Order?", the Munich Security Report offers a wide variety of analyses, data, statistics, infographics, and maps on major developments and challenges in international security. The report aims to serve as a companion and impulse for the discussions at the Munich Security Conference 2017 and as background for participants. At the same time, it is also made available to security professionals and the interested public. Last year's report was downloaded more than 25,000 times, with press coverage in both German and international media … for more, go to https://www.securityconference.de/en/discussion/munich-security-report/ 

War to break out first in Europe or the Korean Peninsula?

KUALA LUMPUR (February 2018): There was this interesting report titled “EU, NATO face growing threat of inadvertent military clash, report says”.

Interesting because the international media had been highlighting regularly the heightening of tension in the Korean Peninsula.

So, the question that comes to mind is this: Will war break out in the Korean Peninsula or in Europe first? And, who will draw First Blood?

What is glaring is that in both disputes in the two regions, the war-waging US is involved - directly and indirectly.

And history is testimony that whenever and wherever the US pokes its finger into, it turns to violence.

However, this the 21st Century digital era of high technology.

Unlike in the World War l and World War ll (WWl and WWll), the US today has to contend with multiple nations with hi-tech arms at their disposal.

And the US’ two most powerful military rivals are Russia and China.

The US has to face reality - that the Americans today are no more as rich and powerful as it was globally. It’s global influence is also waning.

So, will the US really go to war again?

This is the Reuters report based on the annual Munich Security Report:

"EU, NATO face growing threat of inadvertent military clash, report says

WORLD
Thursday, 8 Feb 2018
4:08 AM MYT
by聽andrea shalal


BERLIN (Reuters) - The erosion of arms control agreements, deployment of additional weapons and tensions over military exercises have increased the risk of an inadvertent armed clash between Europe and Russia, according to the annual Munich Security Report.

The report, entitled "To the Brink - and Back?", cited growing pressure on nuclear disarmament treaties like the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) and ongoing security concerns in eastern and central Europe.

NATO insists it does not want a new arms race with Russia, but the current situation could "lead to a further deterioration of the security situation in Europe," said the report, which will be formally released on Thursday before next week's Munich Security Conference.

"In this dire state of affairs, miscalculations and misunderstandings could well lead to an inadvertent military clash," it said.

The conflict in Ukraine also posed a huge stumbling block to de-escalation of tensions between Russia and the West, the report said, noting that a U.S. decision to provide lethal arms to Ukraine would probably cement the current stalemate.

It said countries in eastern Europe were struggling in "an environment of contested security," caught between the European Union and NATO on one side and Russia on the other, at a time when the EU's Eastern Partnership policy had "lost its steam" and there was little chance of NATO taking in more members in the near future.

Some EU member states were increasingly sceptical about further EU integration, with Hungary and Poland in direct confrontation with Brussels. Germany - usually a force for EU integration - had been largely absent from the debate for domestic reasons.

The news was not all bad, however, the report said. Economic growth and improved public opinion offered "more than a glimmer of hope" for the EU on the economic front.

In addition, Military cooperation on NATO's eastern flank had progressed, and the alliance was now overhauling its military command structure.

It also lauded a decision by 25 EU member states to launch the Permanent Structure Cooperation (PESCO) to advance defence cooperation, as well as a decision by Germany and France to jointly develop a new generation of fighter jets.

"The coming year will show whether attempts to compromise and ambitious reform proposals will translate into concrete actions and decisions to mend the cracks in the EU," it said.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal, editing by Larry Kin)
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History of the war-waging US contribution to the world

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