Indonesia inks strategic partnership with Russia

I suppose they shut down _mobile_ internet. That doesn't make news because wire is normal here.

Also there seem to be tests of DPI and filtering systems now by many ISPs in many places, because apparently Russia is going GFW.

It gave them weapons they can't manufacture themselves and kept them afloat financially despite frankly brutal Western sanctions.

It's mostly the other way around with Iran manufacturing Shahed drones for Russia and licensing production to them.

Since they're still able to be a thorn in the West's side, I'd say they're doing something right.

Most Gulf states are probably happy that Iran is getting attacked, they just don't like that it's Israel doing (and possibly benefiting from) it. Realistically, Iran has no allies, only business partners.

I don't think anyone is expecting Russia to go to war on their behalf, but a more or less reliable non-Western trade and defense partner is a pretty attractive proposition.

Not in the Iran case, but CSTO is such an agreement that nobody honored, which is why Armenia froze its membership. Also Russia is years behind on their agreed weapon sales because of their own huge demand in Ukraine.

Iran has this kind of relationship with Russia as well, I don't see how it helped them the tiniest bit.

It gave them weapons they can't manufacture themselves and kept them afloat financially despite frankly brutal Western sanctions. Since they're still able to be a thorn in the West's side, I'd say they're doing something right.

Every country can choose its own destiny of course, but if you think Russia will do more than send militia to oppress your population (like in Africa), you're not paying attention.

I don't think anyone is expecting Russia to go to war on their behalf, but a more or less reliable non-Western trade and defense partner is a pretty attractive proposition. But then again I could be completely off the mark so take this with a grain of salt.

Iran has this kind of relationship with Russia as well, I don't see how it helped them the tiniest bit. This also isn't a West vs East things, Armenia also got fuck all despite being a CSTO member when Azerbaijan attacked them. Or remember Russia's ally Syria?

Russia is always posturing as that powerful force that could go to war against NATO, but they can't even help their allies against a small country that gets propped up by a single NATO member.

Every country can choose its own destiny of course, but if you think Russia will do more than send militia to oppress your population (like in Africa), you're not paying attention.

Someone I know was in St Petersburg last week. The government shut down the internet due to this meeting, and we totally lost touch with them. But the internet being shut down in a major Russian city to quash any attempt to protest doesn't even make news anymore.

Given the shit the West is up to in Iran, can't blame them.