2000
The Russian Armed forces achieve technical victory in the second Chechen Crisis and clean Grozny in February following a long lasting large-scale counter-insurgency operation. However, Chechen militants throughout the North Caucasus region still challenge Russian political control over Chechnya and due to several reports pointing at Soviet’s brutality, linked to parallels with China, relations with the West grow increasingly colder. Then, on September 2, Lukyanov declares that USSR no longer recognize the CFE Treaty and orders several Soviet units to move back to the European theater. France and Germany react immediately by increasing the strength of the Franco-German Brigade. In addition, while the French parliament vote again to increase military expenditures (Now reaching 4.5% of its GDP), Germany announces that it will no longer comply to its treaty obligation and expends its forces well above 370.000 manpower. As Sweden three years earlier, UK starts to refit the equipments put in storage during the early 1990’s and accelerates the refitting and modernization of several ships. As an answer to the Soviet move on the CFE treaty, the USA withdrawn from the ABM treaty, suspend further reduction of the reserve fleet and refund its ASAT program, expecting to field the firsts of 112 ASM-135 as early as next year. However, Soviet military programs continue as they had for almost a decade but, on August 12, the Russian Navy loses their submarine K141 “Kursk” which sank in the Barents Sea, resulting in the deaths of all 118 men on board. Western medias largely cover the event and many analysts state that, despite all their possible efforts, the Soviets cannot overcome the poor level of profeciency plaguing its personnels, enlisted and officers. This will prove inaccurate but contribute to an underestimation of Shanghai Pact military capabilities among NATO.
In Anatolia, as confrontation continues between the PKK and the Turkish Army, that last one find itself in need of finding new additional sources of supplies. Then, while retaining its new neutrality, Ankara signs several trade agreements with the Shanghai Pact and Iran. It buys various equipements and trade Western technologies for oil. As a result, tensions increase with its former NATO allies and the western press is particularly aggressive. Moreover, in June, UK and US issue a call to have the UN intervene in order to end Turkish brutality against the Kurds. The Turks are outraged and announce that the Bosphorus is now close to NATO military ships.
In Algeria, the government makes the first real step toward final victory over the terrorist movements that had plagued the country for years. On January 11, the armed wing of the Islamic Salvation Front (FSI) concludes its negotiations with the government for an amnesty and disbands. Further East, Israel cancel the withdrawal of its troops from Southern Lebanon and, soon after, on September 28, the israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visits the Temple Mount, protected by a several-hundred-strong Israeli police force. Then, Palestinian riots erupt leading to a full-fledged uprising called the Al-Aqsa Intifada.
In Mexico, Vicente Fox is elected President of Mexico, as candidate of the rightist PAN (National Action Party), ending 71 years of PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) rule. Slightly earlier, the socialist lenient, Ricardo Lagos was elected president of Chile, initiating what will soon become known as the Pink Wave. Further North, in the USA, the presidential elections are won by an unexpected so-called independent candidate named John Tanner. Tanner’s vice president Deanna Pemberton is the first woman to hold such a high elective office. The final outcome is not known for over a month because of disputed votes in Florida.
|