Thread by @Kanthan2030

Why is Ukraine such a flashpoint?

🔹It borders Russia & shares 1000-year history
🔹Crimea & Black Sea present a choke point for Russia’s trade/navy

Illustrative example would be how USA created a whole NEW country to enhance & protect its trade/naval route!

🧵on Panama Canal

By the late 19th century, the US was eager to become a global colonial empire.

But there was a big problem with trade and navy movement: All the ships had to traverse all the way to the bottom of South America!

The solution? A new canal, as shown by the blue lines below:

But here was the problem. That land belonged to Colombia, which did not want too much U.S. influence in that region.

So, what did the US do? Support separatism in Panama!

Divide and Rule by Teddy Roosevelt.

So, with the help of US military, the Republic of Panama was born in 1903.

And like a good puppet, it gave the US full ownership of the Panama Canal.

Panama will always be a puppet. When it didn’t want to be a 100% puppet, the US invaded the tiny country many times — 1925, 1958, 1960s, and 1989!

American imperialism, made clear by Monroe Doctrine.

Panama Canal was not a life or death issue for the US. The canal just reduced the trip length by 65%.

However, losing Crimea and control of Black Sea would be infinitely worse for Russia.

Everyone knows this, especially the aggressor — USA.

By the way, this is also why the British joined with the French and the Ottoman Empire to attack Crimea 170 years ago!

Get Crimea, you cripple Russia!

Imperialists and their predicable strategy.

Thus, it’s geopolitically an existential imperative for Russia to have:

🔹A friendly or at least neutral Ukraine

🔹Ownership of Crimea

🔹Black Sea that’s 100% free from foreign threats

End 🧵