US Will Not Deploy Missile Defense in Black Sea

Ellen Tauscher, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security

The United States has no plans to deploy missile defence elements in the Black Sea, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher told foreign journalists, including Itar-Tass, on Monday.

“The Russians have been consistently advised as to what the phased adapted approach is and what the plans are for the four pieces of the timetable since the announcement was made by President Obama in mid-September,” she said.

“And my Russian counterparts were informed that I was going to be in Romania and that the President was going to offer Romania the opportunity to host phase 2 in 2015 – the land-based SM-3 site. And we have a Ballistic Missile Defense review and the Russians have been consistently briefed on it as our NATO allies,” Tauscher said.

She said the U.S. had no plans to deploy Aegis ships and there are no sea-based missile defence elements in the Black Sea.

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Iran says it has New Nuclear Proposal from West

Ali Akbar Salehi, Iranian Representative International Atomic Energy Agency

Iran claims that it has received a new proposal to bring a halt to its nuclear development program. None of the rumored parties (US, France or Russia) say there is any merit to Iran’s statements. This announcement came around the same time that US Secretary of State Hilliary Clinton said that Iran is becoming a military dictatorship run by the Republican Guard. Hopefully this is not another sign of growing instability in Iran as this is dangerous; regionally and globally.

The head of Iran’s nuclear program said Monday that the country received a new proposal last week from the United States, Russia and France, three of the countries trying to rein in Tehran’s uranium enrichment program.

A U.S. official denied a new proposal had been made by the three powers, saying the only offer from them remains a plan brokered by the U.N.’s nuclear monitoring agency in October calling for Iran to ship most of its stockpile of enriched uranium out of the country. The official, based in a European capital, spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly on the issue.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry also denied the existence of a new proposal, according to the Interfax news agency.

China Plans $10 Billion Investment in North Korea

Left to Right- Wang Jiarui, Kim Jong Il

In an attempt to get North Korea back to the table China will invest $10 Billion through an international cooperation agency called the Taepung International Investment Group. North Korea claims that this investment does not violate UN sanctions leveled after their most recent missile test. It seems that the North Koreans have found a loop-hole in the UN sanctions, and the Chinese are funneling cash through it. This may make North Korea more willing to talk, or it could embolden them to hold out for more from the international community.

China has decided to invest about $10 billion in North Korea to revive the communist neighbor’s faltering economy, a report said Monday.

The move comes as Beijing, the host nation for the six-party denuclearization talks, is making an effort to motivate the impoverished country to rejoin the multinational forum.

The decision was made when Wang Jiarui, chief of the Chinese Communist Party’s international department, visited Pyongyang last week, Yonhap reported.

A U.S. congressional report, meanwhile, said China’s supportive policy toward North Korea remains unchanged despite the North’s continued missile firings and nuclear ambitions.

Moldovan Rebels Offer to Host Russian Missiles

Moldova's Rebel Region of Transdniestria

A Soviet protectorate offers offensive missile sites to Russia in response to Romania’s potential cooperation with US missile defense plan in Europe. This is a blatantly opportunistic grab at Russian support by rebel leadership in Transdniestria. This development does highlight the growing tensions between Moscow and Washington in regards to post-START negotiations.

Moldova’s rebel region of Transdniestria said on Monday it was ready to host Russian tactical missiles if the Kremlin were to ask, escalating growing tensions about defense between Moscow and Washington.

NATO and European Union member Romania, which borders Moldova, this month approved a U.S. plan to deploy interceptor missiles which Washington says aims to defend against current and emerging ballistic missile threats from Iran.

It prompted calls for clarification from Russia’s foreign ministry, which said it was concerned.