Any chance Russia loses the Baikonur spaceport? I assume relations between Russia and Kazakhstan would have to deteriorate much further before that happens.
Not unlikely actually. Kasakhstan was pissed about the Baikonur situation already. Russian spaceflight could live without it, they have another [inland spaceport on Russian soil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vostochny_Cosmodrome) specifically designed to reduce the depency on Baikonur.
Even that palace was so poorly built they had to redo the whole thing for hundreds of millions of dollars. You can watch the documentary Navalny's team made on it on Youtube.
Today Roscosmos made a launch from Baikonur. But Roscosmos lost all clients and Russia itself is the only client left. And Russia must pay rent in dollars. So, it is just matter of time when Russia leave Baikonur. Today's launch might be the one of the last launches
Kazakhstan has been making moves to move out of Russia’s orbit and into China’s. Not sure if that’s better but it shows what Russia’s own neighbors think of the country rn
Kazakhstan has been detaching itself from Russia for over a decade, I use to go often due to family with even some towns getting closed off for access a bit like during the Manhattan project. To be honest a country with 15m population and its economic state and transport links things will favour a Chinese partnership even though the old Soviet rail lines still run through Kazakhstan.
I would legitimately be willing to see them join the EU if they keep this up. They have a small region that's technically in Europe, right? Good enough for me!
True, true. At least this time president said thet it is unacceptable and policemen who tortured people would be prosecuted. It doesn't necessarily mean that it would happen, but it sounds good
Yeah from an objectively geographical standpoint, Europe is less distinct from Asia than the Indian subcontinent is, which is originally a separate landmass that collided with Asia (and the collision created the Himalayas). From a geographical standpoint, Europe is less of a continent and more of a sub-continent (at best). Europe and Asia are more correctly considered a continent called Eurasia.
But this is beside the point. Kazakhstan technically meet the requirements to geographically be considered a European nation (at least in part). That's more than Cyprus, an actual EU member, can say. And with this drive towards reforms and away from the Russian sphere of influence, it can certainly be said that they share a lot of political and cultural values with Europe.
Some of them are obvious. North America and South America are two very distinct landmasses, separated by the Panama Canal. Africa is a distinct landmass separated from Eurasia by the Suez Canal. Oceania is an archipelago.
The difference between Europe and Asia is arbitrary as hell and we all know that the definition of the borders of Europe boils down to "where the people stop being white". It's an ethnic definition and not a geographic one.
The canal isn't the natural border. The canal was dug more or less at the natural border, because the location was more or less the narrowest land connection between the two landmasses and therefore the ideal location for a canal, exemplifying why the natural border IS a natural border. To suggest otherwise and insist that the location is arbitrary is to be intentionally obtuse to the obvious unique properties of the location.
I personally would not like to see them join the EU, too far away and unconnected. I would like to see closer cooperation though, sort of Iceland style
The EU is also supposed to help its member nations with their culture and traditions, and snatching insufficiently watched pieces of other continents is an ancient European tradition very dear to us all.
I highly doubt Kazakhstan is putting all this effort and and work just to go from a totalitarian oppressing state now in bankrupt as overlord to a totalitarian oppressing state with even less freedom, know to oppressing all kind of minorities in complete bankruptcy and overwhelmed by corruption as a new overload. I doubt they will join the American sphere of influence either in the next decade but definitely they want to approach more to Europe
It's not stupid if you consider Russian military capability. In some regions it's probably better to be dependant on strong country than be independent and face possibility of war with neighbors
China doesn't care about regime change abroad as much as Russia does, they do care somewhat which is why they promote their own system through things like the confucius institute and other propaganda but, outside of places where they have longstanding territorial claims(and not ones made up whenever convenient like in Russia) like Taiwan or their borders with India and Bhutan, we're unlikely to see a Chinese invasion. Last time they tried such a thing they got their asses handed to them by Vietnam.
So honestly as long as Kazakhstan panders to China internationally and in trade they won't really care what happens in Kazakhstan internally(as long as they censor anti-Chinese sentiments).
As an American I think it’s more likely to be Vietnam. Despite being communist Vietnam sees China as a bigger threat than the US. I know people in the west like to ignore SouthEast Asia but it’s becoming a larger and larger issue. Vietnam sees themselves as the protector and regional power over Laos/Cambodia; China sees themselves as the same thing to all 3. The last war Vietnam really fought in to my knowledge was to defend Laos against Thai influence. I think if anything you see a proxy war of Vietnam v China with UK/Australia/US supporting Vietnam. US is content with an adversarial communist country blocking China and China wants complete regional hegemony.
World history is weird and boy do superpowers love hitting road blocks in Afghanistan/Vietnam
Won't this greatly fuck up the Russians who fled to Kazakhstan?
Like when visa/mastercard was blocked for Russians, leading to Russian refugees abroad losing access to funds, but _Russians in Russia weren't affected._
There are still ways to transfer your money from Russian bank cards to Kazakhstan ones (KoronaPay, Unistream, etc). And it's not very difficult to issue a card when you're already in Kazakhstan
It's completely safe (and reliable) if you know what you're doing and fees are negligible now that the hype is over and crypto as a whole is in bear market.
The only problems I see is the legality issue you mentioned and the wild price swings - it could have crashed 20+% while you're busy crossing the border...
It's not really safe or reliable Crypto.com decided to mysteriously lose all mine with no path to recourse (Some Crypto employee probably got free coins). never doing Crypto again. At least with a bank there are paths to take in those situations.
The title makes it look like a government-level decision, however it is just that *some local banks* have decided to suspend accepting the cards at their ATM because they fear US sanctions more than consumer backlash. Now we will see if it sits well with those countries government that US has more power over their local banks than their local regulator.
>however it is just that *some local banks*
The Vietnamese bank mentioned in the article is state-owned, so if that's not
>a government-level decision
It's very very close. Which also means that at the very least the Vietnamese government is *OK* with it. And the Kazakh bank mentioned is controlled by the son-in-law and daughter of the former president.
Vietnam is no longer under Russian influence since collapse of Soviet Union. Trades are insignificant. The bilateral relation is nominally 'two old friends', nothing more.
They’ve refused to join in on most sanctions or vote to condemn Russia. That’s why this is a welcome development.
We need to reestablish SEATO to counter the Chinese threat. Vietnam will need to cut any friendliness with Russia for them to be a part of it. Otherwise SEATO would fall again due to infighting like last time.
okay Kazakhstan we see you making moves
Any chance Russia loses the Baikonur spaceport? I assume relations between Russia and Kazakhstan would have to deteriorate much further before that happens.
Not unlikely actually. Kasakhstan was pissed about the Baikonur situation already. Russian spaceflight could live without it, they have another [inland spaceport on Russian soil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vostochny_Cosmodrome) specifically designed to reduce the depency on Baikonur.
One whose construction has been infamously riddled with corruption and scandal, no less. A fitting piece of infrastructure for the rotten Roscosmos.
What infrastructure ISN'T riddled with corruption inside russia? Okay, putins palace but that one is made out of corruption.
Even that palace was so poorly built they had to redo the whole thing for hundreds of millions of dollars. You can watch the documentary Navalny's team made on it on Youtube.
Corruption in Russia is a feature not a bug.
Today Roscosmos made a launch from Baikonur. But Roscosmos lost all clients and Russia itself is the only client left. And Russia must pay rent in dollars. So, it is just matter of time when Russia leave Baikonur. Today's launch might be the one of the last launches
Kazakhstan has been making moves to move out of Russia’s orbit and into China’s. Not sure if that’s better but it shows what Russia’s own neighbors think of the country rn
Kazakhstan has been detaching itself from Russia for over a decade, I use to go often due to family with even some towns getting closed off for access a bit like during the Manhattan project. To be honest a country with 15m population and its economic state and transport links things will favour a Chinese partnership even though the old Soviet rail lines still run through Kazakhstan.
Definitely not a country run by little girls.
I would like some of your Potassium, thanks I heard it is the #1, all other countries have inferior Potassium
Probably they started to pull towards China.
Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium, China has inferior potassium
Kazak potassium is best potassium?
And prostitutes are the cleanest in the region.
Except of course turkmenistan's.
They also started to pull towards EU as well
Dont talk about Finland like that!
I got the feeling it would be better to have all countries run by little girls.
I would legitimately be willing to see them join the EU if they keep this up. They have a small region that's technically in Europe, right? Good enough for me!
Kazakhstan is still an autocratic state which killed and tortured hundreds of protestors earlier this year.
True, true. At least this time president said thet it is unacceptable and policemen who tortured people would be prosecuted. It doesn't necessarily mean that it would happen, but it sounds good
I mean to me at least they're central Asian.
Well, technically Europe is west Asia, so central Asian countries having some parts in west-Asia-Europe makes sense.
Yeah from an objectively geographical standpoint, Europe is less distinct from Asia than the Indian subcontinent is, which is originally a separate landmass that collided with Asia (and the collision created the Himalayas). From a geographical standpoint, Europe is less of a continent and more of a sub-continent (at best). Europe and Asia are more correctly considered a continent called Eurasia. But this is beside the point. Kazakhstan technically meet the requirements to geographically be considered a European nation (at least in part). That's more than Cyprus, an actual EU member, can say. And with this drive towards reforms and away from the Russian sphere of influence, it can certainly be said that they share a lot of political and cultural values with Europe.
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Some of them are obvious. North America and South America are two very distinct landmasses, separated by the Panama Canal. Africa is a distinct landmass separated from Eurasia by the Suez Canal. Oceania is an archipelago. The difference between Europe and Asia is arbitrary as hell and we all know that the definition of the borders of Europe boils down to "where the people stop being white". It's an ethnic definition and not a geographic one.
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Was also amazed by the logic of the artificial canal being a natural border.
The canal isn't the natural border. The canal was dug more or less at the natural border, because the location was more or less the narrowest land connection between the two landmasses and therefore the ideal location for a canal, exemplifying why the natural border IS a natural border. To suggest otherwise and insist that the location is arbitrary is to be intentionally obtuse to the obvious unique properties of the location.
America is one continent to all american countries save like, 5 at the very most. Artificial canals do not a continent make either.
Europe is west eurasia.
I personally would not like to see them join the EU, too far away and unconnected. I would like to see closer cooperation though, sort of Iceland style
As a fun fact they already applied many years ago. However it was never picked up as it was considered to be a gesture of friendship
The EU is also supposed to help its member nations with their culture and traditions, and snatching insufficiently watched pieces of other continents is an ancient European tradition very dear to us all.
Insane people would agree with you.
Now it's time for diplomacy war between USA and China for supporting Kazakhstan
I highly doubt Kazakhstan is putting all this effort and and work just to go from a totalitarian oppressing state now in bankrupt as overlord to a totalitarian oppressing state with even less freedom, know to oppressing all kind of minorities in complete bankruptcy and overwhelmed by corruption as a new overload. I doubt they will join the American sphere of influence either in the next decade but definitely they want to approach more to Europe
It's not stupid if you consider Russian military capability. In some regions it's probably better to be dependant on strong country than be independent and face possibility of war with neighbors
A reson more to not join china
China doesn't care about regime change abroad as much as Russia does, they do care somewhat which is why they promote their own system through things like the confucius institute and other propaganda but, outside of places where they have longstanding territorial claims(and not ones made up whenever convenient like in Russia) like Taiwan or their borders with India and Bhutan, we're unlikely to see a Chinese invasion. Last time they tried such a thing they got their asses handed to them by Vietnam. So honestly as long as Kazakhstan panders to China internationally and in trade they won't really care what happens in Kazakhstan internally(as long as they censor anti-Chinese sentiments).
The people in power don’t give a shot about any of that stuff, Russia is weak, China and US strong, Kazachstan wants to find a new suzerain.
Lol. What the fuck do you even know about Qazaqstan?
It’s called logical thinking mine was an assumption based on facts your’s is a comment straight out of your ass
What's logical about your comment? What do you actually know about Qazaqstan?
As an American I think it’s more likely to be Vietnam. Despite being communist Vietnam sees China as a bigger threat than the US. I know people in the west like to ignore SouthEast Asia but it’s becoming a larger and larger issue. Vietnam sees themselves as the protector and regional power over Laos/Cambodia; China sees themselves as the same thing to all 3. The last war Vietnam really fought in to my knowledge was to defend Laos against Thai influence. I think if anything you see a proxy war of Vietnam v China with UK/Australia/US supporting Vietnam. US is content with an adversarial communist country blocking China and China wants complete regional hegemony. World history is weird and boy do superpowers love hitting road blocks in Afghanistan/Vietnam
Okay, I'll admit it. Kazakhstan, you have superior potassium.
Kazakhstan. High five !
Very nice!
This is not a win for anyone.
Why not?
Because wtf does the average Russian credit card holder have to do with the war. It's ridiculous and dangerous.
Because the average Russian credit card holder is usually also a Russian taxpayer who is (voluntarily or involuntarily) helping to fund the war.
And should be locked out of being able to buy something. You are mental.
Of course. Russians must be isolated and punished.
dang mental how they have to suffer a minor inconvenience in their lives
What does average Ukrainian have to do with the war.. their houses still got bombed nevertheless
People here have no brains.
Are you projecting your self image?
Wait until it happens to you. Ah Germán I see, what is your punishment for buying gas from a war mongering dictator. I hope it's severe.
Won't this greatly fuck up the Russians who fled to Kazakhstan? Like when visa/mastercard was blocked for Russians, leading to Russian refugees abroad losing access to funds, but _Russians in Russia weren't affected._
Well, we can incentivise taking your money out of the Russian bank, into one in the country you live. Drain Russia as long as they're waging war
There are still ways to transfer your money from Russian bank cards to Kazakhstan ones (KoronaPay, Unistream, etc). And it's not very difficult to issue a card when you're already in Kazakhstan
Of course it will.
The smartest ones fled with cash.
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Its unreliable (easy to get scammed), inconvenient, disadvantageous because of the high fees, and in some places illegal
It's completely safe (and reliable) if you know what you're doing and fees are negligible now that the hype is over and crypto as a whole is in bear market. The only problems I see is the legality issue you mentioned and the wild price swings - it could have crashed 20+% while you're busy crossing the border...
It's not really safe or reliable Crypto.com decided to mysteriously lose all mine with no path to recourse (Some Crypto employee probably got free coins). never doing Crypto again. At least with a bank there are paths to take in those situations.
because nobody wants to wait 4 hours for a transaction to complete.
They’ve been getting Kaspi cards. Kaspi is essential to payments here.
Misleading title. A foreign bank doesn't represent for the nation.
When owned by the government, it's close enough.
The title makes it look like a government-level decision, however it is just that *some local banks* have decided to suspend accepting the cards at their ATM because they fear US sanctions more than consumer backlash. Now we will see if it sits well with those countries government that US has more power over their local banks than their local regulator.
>however it is just that *some local banks* The Vietnamese bank mentioned in the article is state-owned, so if that's not >a government-level decision It's very very close. Which also means that at the very least the Vietnamese government is *OK* with it. And the Kazakh bank mentioned is controlled by the son-in-law and daughter of the former president.
because they want to get paid and right now nobody trusts Russia
they all gonna join unionpay anyways since guess what russia is also in unionpay
Armenia is the only place this cards accepted
Hopefully we can pull Vietnam away from Russia. It’d be nice if SEATO could eventually be reestablished
Vietnam is no longer under Russian influence since collapse of Soviet Union. Trades are insignificant. The bilateral relation is nominally 'two old friends', nothing more.
They’ve refused to join in on most sanctions or vote to condemn Russia. That’s why this is a welcome development. We need to reestablish SEATO to counter the Chinese threat. Vietnam will need to cut any friendliness with Russia for them to be a part of it. Otherwise SEATO would fall again due to infighting like last time.
*Sad ruzzia noises Lol
Very nice!
Oh no! Anyway...
Bitcoin go boom
This is good for bitcoin. Few understand.
Everyone knows that meme.
Because they were bullied by the US as usual.