Thread by @Chxta

Sergey Soygu, Russian defence minister, has subbed #America like eight times in his speech. FTT, he's right. America has lost the war in #Afghanistan.

"#Africa is of particular concern because our Western partners have not allowed them to stabilise economically."

Is he right?

He just reminded us that the Soviet Union supported many liberation movements with #Africa, and has offered a hand of friendship.

P.S I hate it when they (and they're all guilty of this) of talking of Africa as a country.

Another direct sub: "we will sign agreements with our African friends without imposing our ways on you like our Western partners do."

Presentation by General Aleksandr Fomin, and #BokoHaram gets a special mention among the top bad guys in the world from #Russia's point of view.

"They must be crushed mercilessly," the General says.

Not sure some people back home will like that. We want them to repent...

A Chinese General is speaking now, and most of the thrust of his talk is about the world uniting to fight #covid19.

"Today's world is not peaceful. There is competition between various powers. One of them in particular keeps interfering in the internal affairs of others. This country keeps threatening everyone else. #China believes that by mutual consultations we can resolve all conflicts."

"We are celebrating 100 years of #China's Communist Party, and we are now the leading trading partner of more than 130 countries in the world."

Hard to argue with this last point.

"#China has never invaded another country."

That's a big claim I'll have to crosscheck.

"#Taiwan is part of China. Their independence will never amount to good. The PLA will never allow it." - Gen Wei Fenghe. China's minister of defence.

The world is about to get interesting.

So @EbubeIsaac has disputed the Chinese defence minister's claim.

I'll put it to him during the Q&A.

I hope I won't be politely escorted to a state facility afterwards.

Meanwhile, #Belarus's defence minister is now talking about the dangers of protests.

The chap from #Belarus was nice enough to provide us with slides in English.

Should I ask him a question about hijacking planes during the Q&A, or would that be plain rude?

Oh, he's talking about the @Ryanair affair now. His spin is that Ryan Air was used to kill #Belarus's state airline.

Now he's talking about the militarization of space, and I have to say that I agree with him on this. #America's Space Force is a joke taken too far.

...and now @PMaurerICRC takes the podium and starts with the point that @ICRC's aims are humanitarian and will treat the wounded of ALL sides.

I wish @HQNigerianArmy will hear this one.

"As the world has urbanised, so have conflicts, and this fighting in densely populated areas brings new challenges." - @PMaurerICRC

"We engage with more than 160 armed forces all over the world, and last year, we engaged with more than 460 non-state armed groups. It is quiet and robust dialogue that will earn respect for robust principles and bring peace." - @PMaurerICRC of the @ICRC gave a great speech.

Ali Fadavi is the second-in-command of #Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

He started his speech by praising Allah. Then he thanked #Russia for inviting him, and then he cursed the Great Satan.

Now he is talking about their successes in riding #Syria of ISIL and American influence.

Fadavi is now talking about something that @cchukudebelu would love: the shift in the world's geopolitical centre of gravity from the West to the East.

He says it is inevitable, and that the handling of #COVID19 proves it.

Then he calls for collective security.

A key theme among all the speakers, except the head of the Red Cross of course, is the need for mutual respect.

I completely agree with this position.

The next speaker is a certain Hamid Karzai, formerly the President of #Afghanistan.

He begins by acknowledging a new era...

Hamid Karzai is dead right on something.

The "rules based international order" would at the very least need to be tweaked. The world has changed from the time these rules were imposed (not agreed to).

"#America came in 2001, and were backed even by countries that don't see eye-to-eye with them such as #Russia and #Iran. That goodwill is gone. It's time for our neighbours to take a front seat in #Afghanistan." - Hamid Karzai.

#China and Iran share borders with Afghanistan.

"We want to stand on our own feet. We want to be friends with all our neighbours." - Hamid Karzai's speech indicates that there's a lot of strategic reorientation going on in #Afghanistan, and that they are frightened of post-September.

I've not talked much about this second session because it's about the Asia-Pacific.

One thing is clear though, there's a "unity of purpose" with respect to changing the current global configuration.

This place is full of soldiers, airmen and sailors. This chap is from #Mexico.

I've seen people from #France, I've seen from #Germany, the delegation from #SouthAfrica is HUGE.

Not seen anyone from #America, #Australia, #Britain, #Canada, #Israel, #Japan or #NewZealand.

Yet.

Oppah Kashiri, #Zimbabawe's defence minister, is talking about how her country has dealt with #covid19.

Apparently, Zim sees the pandemic as a national security issue. I agree.

By the way, she's the only speaker thus far, who has used a mask as she was speaking. No macho crap.

Yassin Ibrahim, #Sudan's defence minister, has the deepest voice I've ever heard on someone speaking Arabic. He really doesn't need that mic.

Like #Zimbabwe, Sudan took #covid19 as a national security issue. He's outlining how they combated it.

The secretary from #India's defence ministry is on the podium and speaking now.

I can't tell you what he's saying. They said he's speaking English, so they aren't providing a translation. I'll read the transcript later.

@UN undersecretary for peace missions is also talking about the role of the military, in his case peacekeepers, in fighting #covid19.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but did #Nigeria's defence minister ever take part in our covid response?

A Chinese General just came up and made the shortest speech possible.

"We donated #covid19 vaccines to most of you here, thank you."

No one clapped.

Oh, and yes the weapons in display have been impressive. There's a tank parked outside the conference centre as well...

So the panel that just started is about cybersecurity.

My first love.

For those who may not know, I have a Masters degree in Computer Networks and Internet Security. And no be like the olodo degree wey I carry comot for Uniben. I try for Middlesex...

We're meant to be talking cybersecurity, but it looks like the man from #Pakistan lost his way...

Well, this #Pakistan guy may be talking outside the topic, but he us a good speaker so I'm listening.

I didn't get his name.

He doesn't think Islamic extremism is an issue, he thinks the issue is ultra-nationalistic extremism. Clearly a dig at #India...

Now he is talking about agreeing on "reciprocal measures for strategic nuclear restraint."

#Pakistan is clearly preoccupied with #India.

Okay, we finally get to cybersecurity...

Just this slide. He is now doing his conclusion and talking about Jammu and Kashmir.

This chap that is speaking now is Tino Chrupalla of the AfD in #Germany.

I find his appearance a bit worrying.

The first part of his speech spoke about immigration, now he is speaking about the Nordstream pipeline and a new Cold War. Perhaps he will get to the computers.

Herr Chrupalla's talk about cybersecurity is centred around the "plague" of #FakeNews.

"Countries use NGOs and the mainstream media to play games and cause trouble. In the future we will need to answer how we can stop the flow of disinformation."

"The AfD is for openness and good relations with #Russia and #China. Let me conclude by saying that what I have said will not be rendered truthfully in #Germany. We are for the respect of cultural values, social values and faith in nature." - Tino Chrupalla

Alex Velasquez, deputy minister for defence in #Venezuela has gone straight to the point, and is talking of cyber warfare in the modern world.

I hope we've course corrected and will stick to the topic.

He's also talking of cryotocurrency. I wish Meffy were here...

Now THIS is a proper IT person. Even though it's in Spanish, I'm following his presentation because it's about stuff I learned and have worked with.

Way to go #Venezuela! Viva #Venezuela

We're bring treated to a proper cybersecurity lecture by #Venezuela's deputy defence minister.

Now the moderator is telling him that we're running out of time.

Will they deport me if I beat the "murderator"? 😡🤬😡

He concluded, and only me and two other people clapped. 😢😢😢

This chap is a German lecturer. He wasn't on the list and I didn't get his name when the Russian moderator introduced him. Sorry I was being arrogant and not using my headset.

Apparently he's a big shot and they're happy to have him.

Omo, the guy sabi this cybersecurity thing.

Between the German doktor and Admiral Velasquez of #Venezuela, the former Prime Minister of #Slovakia spoke. Robert Fico.

The German doktor is a direktor at the Geneva Centre for Cybersecurity. That explains the fact that he was able to school us in 10 minutes.

Another speaker, this one from #Holland. I also didn't get his name. He's taking us on a history lesson about the arms limitation treaty signed by Reagan and Gorbachev in 1987...

Then he launches into his theory that the new Cold War won't be nuclear, but cyber.

"The real discussion about #Europe's future is in the EU, not in NATO, because #America's long term strategic interests lie in #Asia. Brussels and Moscow must learn to talk to and listen to each other to avoid any mistakes."

For the record, every single Russian speaker, including moderators, have not failed to remind us that yesterday was the 80rh anniversary of the start of The Great Patriotic War.

Vidosav Kocacevic from #Serbia is speaking. Another person conflating #FakeNews with cybersecurity.

Next speaker is from #Italy, but works for an Italian company based #France, lives in #Belgium, and is addressing us in English.

He has a presentation for us. So we're back on topic.

He is of the opinion that #Europe needs strategic autonomy, both in AI and cyber defence.

His name is Alessandro Zanasi...

Dr Zenesi finished his presentation by thanking the audience in Russian, and all the Russians in the hall started laughing.

Now the moderator is showing off by replying him in fluent Italian.

Another person who wasn't on the list.

A specialist from #Turkey and he's speaking of the fact that Turkey has a cyber army of 13,000 embedded within the army.

There are more than 180 cybersecurity companies in Turkey, up from 20 in 2016.

Turkey is focused on cyber warfare.

Now he's reeling off the list of #Turkey's successes in drone and cyber warfare. #Libya, #Armenia, #Ukraine, #Azerbaijan.

Then he asks an interesting question, "How long will Turkey and #Russia be able to cope with NATO?"

I was under the impression that Turkey is in NATO.

We're back. Good morning.

On the podium is Nikolay Patrushev. He's talking about how #Russia is always available to help any 'legitimate' government that asks for help.

"In 1863 we helped #America. A few years later we helped #France. Today we are helping #Syria."

"#Afghanistan is about to become another base for ISIS and Al Qaeda. The country needs help. It is unacceptable to use that country's problems to play geopolitics." - Patrushev

"Terrorism doesn't appear by itself but is the result of geopolitical plays by those who arm them when it's convenient for them. Islamist terror is a straight line from West #Africa to #Afghanistan." - Patrushev

"Interference in the domestic affairs of other countries is a geopolitical play that always ends up strengthening the capabilities of terrorists." - Patrushev

He's now talking about the #Iran nuclear programme. He says #Russia is not against any country getting nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and talks about the supremacy of @UN in resolving all international disputes.

"#Russia has no choice but to grow its defensive capabilities as @NATO has retained an aggressive stance towards Russia. NATO countries without taking into account #America are 5x ahead in defence spending. Adding America and it's 20x." - Patrushev

I'll have to check that...

Good speech, but I'm not comfortable with this bit about "legitimate governments".

What happens if in #Nigeria for example, Buhari decides to illegally extend his tenure. Would #Russia still consider him the "legitimate government"?

Now he's switched to English.

"#Russia will never use #covid19 for geopolitical aims. Our vaccine is available to all since 'all lives matter'."

Then he switched back to Russian.

We have a very interesting century ahead of us. I wish I could read history books in 200 years.

Yesterday, we were politely asked to switch off our phones when Putin was speaking.

Today, I get to see another person I've watched from afar for years, Sergey Lavrov.

He's a huge man with a deep voice.

He starts by reminding us of the Nazis and Napoleon...

"We knew what Churchill was planning to do to our country after the war, but it didn't stop us from working with #Britain for the greater good." - Sergey Lavrov.

The Asia-Pacific region is clearly important to the Russians as they've all spent a lot of time talking about it.

Africa?

:sigh:

"Official representatives of Western countries publicly urge Africans not to do business with Moscow or Beijing despite the fact that their own history with the black peoples is not good."

This is a direct quote from Sergey Lavrov. Many would say it's impolite, but it's true.

I see why Putin has kept Lavrov as his foreign minister for almost 20 years.

This man is sound, and he is doing a VERY good job of pointing out Western hypocrisy while bigging his country up.

He's now talking about the militarization of cyberspace and the seizing of websites.

"We all went to school, and we had teachers who talked down on us even when they didn't know much. But we loved them anyway." - Lavrov concluded his speech with a dig at Western arrogance.

Solid speech, the guy sabi. I wonder what #Nigeria's negotiators have given away to him.

There's another chap on the podium now, but he's boring me.

I'm more interested in the next session, which is about #Africa and the Middle East.

In other news, I've seen reps from almost all African countries. The chaps from #Ethiopia are always in their combat fatigues like there's a war here. #SouthAfrica has A LARGE delegation. #Mali & #Algeria have pretty uniforms.

Looks like I'm the only one from #Nigeria around.

The guy on the podium briefly says something interesting before continuing to bore me: "Western countries are turning into liberal totalitarian regimes."

He's referring to the radical left in the West. He specifically name checked Donald Trump.

Time to talk about #Africa, and no official from "the Giant of Africa" is around.

Meanwhile, I just saw an American Major. Sat in front of the chap in the row ahead of me. I wonder if he'll have a word or two at a point.

Now let's focus on the panel...

Fyodor Lukyanov, the moderator said, "We need to stop looking at #Africa as a place for competition. It is getting more and more important and we have to look at it as such."

The first speaker is Said Chamegriha, #Algeria's deputy defence minister.

Gen. Chanegriha is the first Arabic speaker since this conference began who didn't start his speech by praising God.

Sounds like a practical man who has gone striaght to what #Algeria's interests are with regards to its environment - trans-border conflict and migration.

Gen. Chanegriha is now talking about the Sahel, and I can't help but feel that #Nigeria has missed an open goal by not being here.

What the fuck is wrong with us?

I saw two Nigerian officials receiving visas when I went to get mine. I should have taken their names. Gosh!

A common theme of this conference has been a gripe about countries interfering in the internal affairs of others.

Gen. Chanegriha is no different.

"We can solve our challenges by ourselves. #Algeria managed to put an end to various situations without help."

"The African Union needs to do better in terms of sharing information and come up with a common position to tackle trans-border criminality. To do that, #Algeria is ready and willing to cooperate with our neighbours to build our defence and information sharing capacities."

The next speaker is the Vice President of #EquatorialGuinea, Teodoro Obiang Mangue.

He's spent the first part of his talk congratulating Putin for hosting this event and for inviting him.

I guess we can move on to the next speaker now... 🙄

Hold up.

Mr Obiang spent a full minute after thanking Putin, thanking the Russian people for their hospitality.

Hmm...

The guy from #Algeria had a focused presentation. This one is appealing for permanent place in the UN Security Council.

Maybe it's good that #Nigeria didn't show up. I would have died if a Nigerian official had come on the podium to talk this kind of rubbish.

"There is no better way to help a friend than to provide him what he needs. This is what #Russia is doing for #Africa and #EquatorialGuinea. Thank you so much."

I just wished for an earthquake to hit Moscow so the ground will swallow me...

"Recently, #EquatorialGuinea and the Gulf of Guinea have been hit by pirate attacks of unknown origin."

Ogbeni, we know where the attacks are coming from.

If you had read while preparing your presentation you'd have known.

"I want to assure my friends, Vladimir Putin and Sergey Soygu, that #Russia can always count on the friendship of #EquatorialGuinea. Thank you very much."

"Thank you for your kind words towards Russia." - Moderator Lukyanov.

Where is that earthquake when you need it?

#Mauritania's minister of defence mounts the podium, and begins in Arabic, praising God, then going straight to an appeal for more foreign troops in the Sahel.

"I would like to take this opportunity to expand on the positive experience Mauritania has had in cultural exchanges."

Paul points out that #Nigeria was invited, so I wasn't imagining things when I saw chaps in Abuja receiving visas.

Having said that, given the performances of #EquatorialGuinea and #Mauritania thus far, perhaps its a blessing that they got lost en route.

"Thank you for your presentation. I think during the next conference we'll be talking about the same thing." - Moderator Lukyanov to #Mauritania's Hanana.

Then he immediately introduces @PMaurerICRC, who spoke yesterday.

I guess we'll get a better overview of Africa from him.

"We have a challenge. The increasing fragmentation of the actors, the commercialisation of conflict, and the increasing criminality being injected into the conflicts. @ICRC spends 72% of its budget in MEA. The region is complex, driven by state fragility, poverty and economics."

"@ICRC has conducted the large majority of its events in #Africa in the last few years. Our approach gives us the largest possible access to the victims and actors in conflict zones. Shared humanitarian objectives can help warring parties reach agreements." - @PMaurerICRC

"A lay feature of conflicts is partner cooperation. Today just 1/3 of all armed conflicts are between just 2 parties. 22% of conflicts involve 10 or more parties. We are seeing increased coalitions of state and non-state actors." - @PMaurerICRC

*key feature...

@PMaurerICRC has finished his presentation, and I learned more from it than from the previous three.

The defence minister of #Congo is next. They have a geopolitical interest in the Gulf of Guinea and the Great Lakes. Let's hope he is focused.

"Thank you #Russia for inviting #Congo here. We want to share our experience and speak about maritime security in West #Africa because it is part of world security. Warfare and the tools of warfare have evolved." - Charles Mondjo, Congo defence minister.

Mr. Mondjo is giving a decent presentation, talking about #Congo's strategic interests, and he is now trying to relate these interests to global trade.

He has opted to focus on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

"We intend to promote internal navigation and secure the gulf."

"The Gulf of Guinea is strategic because of the oil that comes from there. Hostage takers and pirates damage both cargo, equipment and people's lives. We saw at least 17 attacks in the Gulf and the criminals are getting stronger."

"Members of the Committee of Central African states have created the Protocol of Kinshasa. #Congo is a part of Zone B, and we are working with ECOWAS to ramp up security of our common maritime resources."

"We met in Yaounde, #Cameroun and are working on making cooperation between CAS and ECOWAS to build on the framework adopted in Lome, #Togo that tries to help with good governance in the Gulf of Guinea."

"Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in crime speaking to our difficult position. We need to activate Zone A (is that ECOWAS?). There are a lot of challenges, as 80% of our national resources come from the sea." - Mondjo of #Congo.

"We view our river system as a whole."

By the way, this is a picture of the moderator chatting with his chic when #EquatorialGuinea was speaking. Now that a serious person is talking, we are all listening.

If I were making the decisions, I'd rather work with the guys from #Congo and #Algeria. Even the journos know.

"I wish to eliminate piracy, but we need resources to do it, and we need to base our actions on international law." - Charles Mondjo.

"We can make use of #Russia's experience in eradicating piracy in the Gulf of Aden."

A specific (flawed) example that shows he did his homework.

After #Congo's ovation, it's the turn of #Guinea. I didn't get his name as he wasn't scheduled to speak.

#SaudiArabia was, I saw a Saudi officer yesterday. Wonder where he went. Same as a session that included #Qatar. They didn't turn up.

Chap from #Guinea is "sending warm words from Alpha Conde to his brother, Vladimir Putin."

And I'm switching off.

Shit! I couldn't get my camera out in time. Someone walked up to the podium and knelt in front of Obiang to receive instructions or blessings or whatever. I noticed as he got up.

African despots are on a planet of their own.

#Guinea on the podium has just namechecked #Nigeria.

Ah! Apparently Nigerian immigrants pass through #Guinea a lot and it apparently irritates them.

That's what he was on about. They need help to repatriate us. No ECOWAS solidarity eh?

A Russian general takes the stage now, and makes a beeline to #Syria. His presentation is about the situation in Syria.

Well, to be fair, this session is about #Africa AND the Middle East.

Meanwhile, @PMaurerICRC took his excuses as he has a meeting. #EquatorialGuinea promptly left with him. #Mauritania is sleeping.

We know the serious people...

The Russkies are very proud of their work in #Syria, and General Moskalik is blaming #America for the "transfer of terrorists from the Middle East to adjacent regions."

The American soldier in front of me is taking notes furiously and snapped EVERY slide in the presentation.

#Africa and Middle East done.

Big lesson: we need to have prepared people getting into governments in the region. Can't continue to embarrass ourselves publicly the way some of these guys did today.

Next session is about the Western hemisphere. Let me go get my nose invaded.

It's #Congo who gets interviewed by the media...

Thanks to @g900ap I've gotten the name (or handle) of the Dutch chap from yesterday. @robdewijk

I missed the Western hemisphere session because I went to try and get my #covid19 test.

But I've arrived just in time for the session on #Europe. It's gonna be interesting. I'm particularly looking forward to what the guy from #France will say, if he'll mention the Sahel...

First up though, is Helga Schmidt from the OEC. Speaking in English, she's chosen to focus on verification.

"The diminishing capacity to verify is a security risk and an impediment to honest dialogue," Fraulein Schmidt says.

Key takeaway from Frau Schmidt's presentation, and this can be applied to #Nigeria and our plenty nonsense - dialogue can solve all things.

On the podium now is Aleksandr Brusilov (sp). Lavrov's deputy.

...and someone from #Japan walks in and takes the empty seat next to me...

Alexander Grushko.

His presentation is putting me to sleep. I guess this is how some diplomats wear people down in negotiations...

Jap beside me is taking his notes in Cyrillic script, Japanese script, and Latin script.

I think he's just showing off. Will it be rude to take a picture of his notes?

Nebojsa Stefanovic, deputy PM from #Serbia, is talking about the Balkans. First time outside #Nigeria that I've heard the word "tribalism" used in a political sense.

He used it to describe the Balkans.

I think we have lessons to learn from them on what not to do...

"#Serbia is strategically committed to membership of the EU." - Stefanovic in Moscow. I'm not sure his Russian hosts will like that...

Monsieur Guillaume Lagane from #France's defence ministry. Moderator says he's also a history professor, and he begins his speech by quoting Tolstoy...

I was right. The Sahel is top of mind for #France.

"In an area adjacent to #Europe in the Sahel we have a proliferation of arms."

"#France thinks there are three measures that need to be taken.

1 - support the framework of international law. Both #America & #Russia are guilty of ignoring treaties.
2 - boost international cooperation. We must help #Africa in their fight against terrorism.
3 - dialogue."

It's clear to me that #France is vested in #Africa, the reasons are another matter.

It's also clear to me that France doesn't want to be under anyone's thumb. They want to be free to do their own as they like.

Which is good. Problem is, they often interfere with us negatively.

B Zwack.

He begins by stressing that, "I am speaking as a private American citizen, not as a representative of #America or its people."

This will be good...

"I first came to #Russia as an army officer in 1989."

He talks about the Great Patriotic War. He reminds us that #Russia, #America allied to fight Nazism.

He was defence attache between 2004 and says they can work together again to face today's challenges, which is why he came.

"We talk of re-entering a new arena of Great Power competition. But with the new range of capabilities available to all sorts of actors, where will that end? We were able to dialogue and prevent confrontation during the Cold War. Can we do it now?"

"Could there be a role for an ascendant #China? Criminals such as those who hacked the #ColonialPipeline have shown that their activities can have strategic effect. Such people should bit have sanctuary in any country. This is a global issue."

"I used to think that a nuclear accident was the biggest threat, but now, cyber criminals can cause an accident.

What will it take for @NATO to be seen not as a theat by #Russia?

Nature and power abhor a vacuum. What will replace NATO?"

"Violence inside #Ukraine should cease. We should cooperate on climate change, counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, cooperate on #Afghanistan, and terrorism, and we should not let our joint space efforts flicker out."

#Africa doesn't exist to him...

Just found @PeterZwack on Twitter. He doesn't tweet much though.

The Russian ambassador to the EU began his speech by saying, "I'll try and keep this brief since I'm the last line of defence between the participants and lunch."

Omo.

As he dropped that, my stomach has started an armed insurrection. I shall be heading for lunch...

Now in Addis, en route home.

I'm continuing this thread because checking in Moscow, I saw the chap who collected a Russian visa at the same time as I did, along with two other guys.

I assume they are the Nigerian official delegation.

They all checked in large flat screens TVs.

FTR, I know that only one of them ostensibly attended the Moscow Security Conference, we got our visas at the same time.

This reminds me of when I was part of a trade visit to Brest, #France back in 2019.

Only the private guys made it to Brest. The govt guys stopped in Paris.

It also reminds me of a delegation visit to Austin, #Texas, where as soon as he took enough pix to ensure that his face was recorded as appearing in the papers for the conference, Obono-Obla headed to #Canada AFTER day 1 of a 4-day affair.

Why are #Nigeria's officials like this?

Yes, I can gripe about how lousy the presentations from some of the other African countries at the conference were (#Algeria and #Congo were very good), but at least they showed up.

They were in the room for the discussions. They will get something from the table.

Haba!

Okay. Headed to the plane. Next time I tweet, it will be from behind a VPN. 😢