Thread by @PeterZeihan

Here's the UNGA vote on condemning Russia. A few thoughts.

1/ #Syria. No shocker how they voted. But the remaining Russian forces there are about to be cut off from...everything. #Turkey has already closed the Turkish Straits to Russian ships. Wanna kill some Russians without going to Ukraine? Here's your opportunity.

2/ #Mongolia abstained. While not technically a Russian satellite, they remain under heavy Russian influence. Arguably heavier than during the Soviet period. Really cheeses off the Chinese.

3/ #Vietnam abstained. The Vietnamese HATE China, and see Russia as a foil. I may find that view outdated, but it works for Hanoi.

4/ With the exception of #Belarus (which has functionally been annexed by Russia), not one of Russia's "allies" in the CSTO voted for Moscow. That's got to...annoy.

5/ #Nicaragua abstained. <<Ortega>> abstained. Simply the US bringing the resolution forward would normally be enough for Nicaragua to oppose it. I'm sure there's a story there. No idea what it is. (It really is just Tucker Carlson left in Putin's camp.)

6/ Both #Pakistan & #India abstained. #China is Pak's biggest backer, so no shock. India still sees itself as non-aligned unless it has to do with China. The US is unlikely to forget, however. If India is interested in only very narrow relationships, the #Quad may become the Trio

7/ Fair number of #SubSaharanAfrica abstentions. No surprise there. I'd prefer to not take sides in a white-on-what either if I were black. But not nearly as many abstains as I would have guessed. Russia's actions really are touching folks' nerves.

8/ #Iraq abstained. If you needed more evidence that the US failed in reshaping Iraq's political map, here it is.

9/ #Afghanistan voted YES. Might be an interesting basis to draw a line under the past 25 years of US-Afghan policy