Category: Selected Articles

#SouthCaucasus  #Azerbaijan  #Armenia
ARMS FOR PRISONERS
Trump administration: easing restrictions on arms sales to Azerbaijan in exchange for the release of political prisoners.
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In August 2025, the Trump administration brokered a historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which included lifting long-standing restrictions on U.S. defense cooperation with Baku. [1, 2]
While the deal lifted restrictions by waiving Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act—paving the way for potential arms sales and joint military training—it was criticized by human rights groups and members of Congress for failing to secure the release of political prisoners and prisoners of war. [3, 4, 5]
Key Details of the Agreement

Defense Cooperation: The administration issued a waiver for Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, a 1992 law that previously banned direct U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan.
Strategic Corridor: The deal established the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP), a strategic transit corridor through the South Caucasus with U.S. development rights for 99 years.
Missing Prisoner Provisions: Despite pressure from the Congressional Armenian Caucus and rights groups like Freedom Now, the agreement lacked specific mandates for Baku to release its approximately 375 political prisoners or Armenian detainees.
Proposed “Grand Deal”: As of May 2026, policy experts from the Atlantic Council have proposed a “grand deal” that would explicitly trade further lifting of arms sale bans for the release of these prisoners, modeled after the administration’s recent negotiations with Belarus. [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]

[1]  cnbc.com
[2]  politico.com
[3]  politico.com
[4]  armenianweekly.com
[5]  armenianweekly.com
[6]  atlanticcouncil.org
[7]  presidency.ucsb.edu
[8]  geopoliticalmonitor.com
[9]  youtube.com
[10]  en.wikipedia.org
[11]  youtube.com
[12]  cnbc.com
[13]  politico.com
[14]  atlanticcouncil.org
–

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ARMS FOR PRISONERS: Trump administration: easing restrictions on arms sales to Azerbaijan in exchange for the release of political prisoners.
As of May 12, 2026, the Trump administration has reportedly moved to ease defense cooperation restrictions on Azerbaijan following a brokered peace framework with Armenia. While thin on formal “arms-for-prisoners” documentation, current policy shifts and think-tank proposals point to this potential trade-off. [1, 2, 3]
Current Status of Restrictions and Deals

Lifting of Defense Restrictions: In August 2025, President Trump announced the lifting of restrictions on defense cooperation between the U.S. and Azerbaijan. This included a waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, which typically prohibits direct military aid to Baku due to its conflict with Armenia.
Proposed “Grand Deal”: The Atlantic Council has actively proposed a “grand deal” where the administration would formally end the ban on arms sales in exchange for the release of dozens of political prisoners held in Azerbaijan. This proposal is modeled after a successful deal the White House recently brokered with Belarus.
The “Trump Route”: The 2025 peace framework established a strategic transit corridor (the “Trump route”) through the South Caucasus, providing Azerbaijan access to Nakhchivan while securing U.S. development rights. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

Prisoner Release Efforts

Direct Appeals: President Trump and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz have publicly urged Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to release Armenian political prisoners and Christian detainees.
Congressional Pressure: Over 25 U.S. senators, including Chuck Schumer and Sheldon Whitehouse, have formally petitioned the administration to use its leverage to secure the unconditional release of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) and political prisoners.
Past Exchanges: A limited exchange occurred in December 2023, where Azerbaijan freed 32 Armenians in exchange for two Azerbaijani servicemen, though advocacy groups like the ANCA state many others remain in “unjust captivity”. [11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17]

Critics from groups like the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) argue that waiving Section 907 without securing the final release of all prisoners “rewards aggression” and removes critical U.S. leverage. [5, 18]

[1]  cnbc.com
[2]  reuters.com
[3]  panarmenian.net
[4]  atlanticcouncil.org
[5]  armenianweekly.com
[6]  politico.com
[7]  atlanticcouncil.org
[8]  atlanticcouncil.org
[9]  youtube.com
[10]  pbs.org
[11]  x.com
[12]  x.com
[13]  facebook.com
[14]  youtube.com
[15]  facebook.com
[16]  ancawr.org
[17]  dw.com
[18]  politico.com

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 12, 2026

#SouthCaucasus  #Azerbaijan  #Armenia
ARMS FOR PRISONERS
Trump administration: easing restrictions on arms sales to Azerbaijan in exchange for the release of political prisoners.
share.google/aimode/iQq8N7xk…
In August 2025, the Trump administration brokered a historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which included lifting long-standing restrictions on U.S. defense cooperation with Baku. [1, 2]
While the deal lifted restrictions by waiving Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act—paving the way for potential arms sales and joint military training—it was criticized by human rights groups and members of Congress for failing to secure the release of political prisoners and prisoners of war. [3, 4, 5]
Key Details of the Agreement

Defense Cooperation: The administration issued a waiver for Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, a 1992 law that previously banned direct U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan.
Strategic Corridor: The deal established the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP), a strategic transit corridor through the South Caucasus with U.S. development rights for 99 years.
Missing Prisoner Provisions: Despite pressure from the Congressional Armenian Caucus and rights groups like Freedom Now, the agreement lacked specific mandates for Baku to release its approximately 375 political prisoners or Armenian detainees.
Proposed “Grand Deal”: As of May 2026, policy experts from the Atlantic Council have proposed a “grand deal” that would explicitly trade further lifting of arms sale bans for the release of these prisoners, modeled after the administration’s recent negotiations with Belarus. [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]

[1]  cnbc.com
[2]  politico.com
[3]  politico.com
[4]  armenianweekly.com
[5]  armenianweekly.com
[6]  atlanticcouncil.org
[7]  presidency.ucsb.edu
[8]  geopoliticalmonitor.com
[9]  youtube.com
[10]  en.wikipedia.org
[11]  youtube.com
[12]  cnbc.com
[13]  politico.com
[14]  atlanticcouncil.org

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 12, 2026

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— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 12, 2026

“The war on Ukraine has exacerbated Russia’s long-standing demographic crisis; its economy has been restructured to churn out non-productive military hardware…. Each day the war continues, Russia falls further behind the US, China, India, and Europe.” https://t.co/S1525o4jmr

— Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) May 12, 2026

Tikhon Dzyadko, who serves as editor-in-chief at TV Rain, was accused of spreading false information about the Russian armed forces.https://t.co/HxAWCE8hcI

— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) May 12, 2026

Putin News Today – 5.11.26 PM chrome://contextual-tasks/?q=Putin+News+Today+-+5.11.26+PM&num=10&newwindow=1&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1133US1133&cs=0&hl=en-US&sca_esv=b38e11246799189c&sxsrf=ANbL-n5OjRrPEnG-VoxqqaGqRKOkF36z4A%3A1778523069733&udm=50&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKp0UJuhqwKhR0QUhF54-6jIeXhzwX3V5R0etslDc8-1a2c7pkksHrL91hoDa96YxXI3QIG7cMZdhEMFrIa7NWK2AIXkCCIsv37zM1V77cC3js50C-7xvHFN_7Bguo1IujcfqkMv-TBmE6qMrDcEkIy09gGqpcPFKuRztFqpTfho44bH9ubIAiB_oGQuW5iRG1KKmsz8g&aep=1&ntc=1&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjHg6_e6rGUAxWK0PACHScFH-EQ2J8OegQIDxAD&biw=1536&bih=695.2000122070312&dpr=1.25&sourceid=chrome&ccb=1&mstk=AUtExfCjChDXx9FGf59n6UDKkXMEP8gOi3XNHDu2Qk53ce1jRmVlaaf3em8s3rk6Yqde8C0y-S8zRaMfeTWa1vGh5sXOEZ0WUEKZKIP7VehmSD_R89qgNiDeSzCQf6qMV32noUw0vPhzpJ_FND-j8WSP1dB0yvBPlx5IgF8&csuir=1&mtid=yRsCara4M_ag5NoP1qetgAk&chrome_task_id=afd32b62-41a5-48b7-83ff-0ae998fd5ca4

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

#CIA  #Russia  #History
I would say, go deeper and further,  back to Genghis Khan.
x.com/mikenov/status/2053878…
Search: “A new essay explores the weird origins of Russia’s distrust of the West, tracing it back to wild WWI spy plots involving eccentric agents and stolen clothes.”
AI Overview:
Based on recent discussions of espionage history, this narrative likely refers to accounts of British intelligence activities in Russia during World War I and the subsequent Bolshevik revolution, which established a foundational “siege mentality” in Moscow. [1, 2]
Key elements of this historical narrative, as discussed by experts like Michael Weiss, include:

The “Lockhart Plot”: Named after British diplomat and spy Robert Bruce Lockhart, this 1918 operation aimed to overthrow the Bolshevik government and bring Russia back into the war against Germany.
Eccentric Agents: The plot involved colourful characters, such as Sidney Reilly (the “Ace of Spies”), who operated in a chaotic, undercover capacity.
Wild Plots: The conspiracy included plans to bribe Bolshevik guards, use stolen motor cars and clothing to bypass security, and stage a coup in Moscow.
Long-Term Impact: The failure of this plot, coupled with other Western interventions during the Russian Civil War, is considered a key origin point for the Soviet—and later Russian—view of the West as an eternal, treacherous enemy. [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]

These historical events are frequently cited to explain how the Kremlin portrays the West as actively seeking to sabotage Russian stability. [1, 8]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  euvsdisinfo.eu/the-myth-of-b…
[2]  rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/0226/…
[3]  x.com/michaeldweiss/status/2…
[4]  walter-maria.com/2023/07/04/…
[5]  belfercenter.org/publication…
[6]  youtube.com/watch?v=2CV-gvPj…
[7]  youtube.com/watch?v=2CV-gvPj…
[8]  euvsdisinfo.eu/the-myth-of-b…
–

AI Mode:
The essay you’re thinking of is likely a 2026 piece by journalist Michael Weiss titled “The Lockhart Plot: The Strange Origins of Russia’s Lasting Paranoia”. [1, 2]
The essay dives into a chaotic period of World War I and the Russian Revolution, highlighting several “wild” and eccentric elements: [1]

The “Lockhart Plot”: Weiss explores the 1918 attempt by British agent Robert Bruce Lockhart to overthrow the new Bolshevik government and bring Russia back into the war against Germany.
Stolen Clothes: One of the most bizarre details Weiss mentions is a British plan—involving Latvian double agents—to kidnap Lenin and Trotsky and humiliate them by parading them through the streets of Moscow without their trousers.
Eccentric Agents: The story features a colorful cast, including Sidney Reilly (the “Ace of Spies”) and even Nick Clegg’s “saucy” great-great aunt, Moura Budberg, who was rumored to be a double or triple agent.
Impact on Distrust: Weiss argues that while the plot was largely bungled and “eccentric,” it provided the Soviet state with a foundational narrative of Western betrayal and “encirclement” that continues to fuel Russian paranoia and distrust of the West today. [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]

[1]  x.com
[2]  michaelweissjournalist.com
[3]  maynoothuniversity.ie
[4]  warfarehistorynetwork.com
[5]  professionalsecurity.co.uk
[6]  facebook.com
-Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) #Security and  #Intelligence:  #Analysis of Russian historical paranoia
Global Friction and Surveillance Debates Heat Up: Deep dive into Russian historical paranoia — A new essay explores the weird origins of Russias distrust of the West, tracing it back to wild WWI spy plots involving eccentric agents and stolen clothes.  thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…—  https://x.com/mikenov/status/2053878013725450536

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

#CIA  #Russia  #History
I would say, go deeper and further,  back to Genghis Khan.
x.com/mikenov/status/2053878…Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) #Security and  #Intelligence:  #Analysis of Russian historical paranoia
Global Friction and Surveillance Debates Heat Up: Deep dive into Russian historical paranoia — A new essay explores the weird origins of Russias distrust of the West, tracing it back to wild WWI spy plots involving eccentric agents and stolen clothes.  thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…—  https://x.com/mikenov/status/2053878013725450536

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

#Security and  #Intelligence:  #Analysis of Russian historical paranoia
Global Friction and Surveillance Debates Heat Up: Deep dive into Russian historical paranoia — A new essay explores the weird origins of Russias distrust of the West, tracing it back to wild WWI spy plots involving eccentric agents and stolen clothes.  thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026

Trump is scheduled to travel to Beijing this week to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping: What does he plan to achieve?
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Conflict Resolution in Iran: A major priority is securing Chinese diplomatic support to help end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump aims to leverage his personal relationship with Xi to curb Chinese purchases of Iranian oil and ease global energy price pressures.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14–15. His primary goal is to stabilize the bilateral relationship and secure immediate “commercial wins” ahead of the November midterm elections. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Key Strategic & Economic Objectives
The Trump administration is pushing for several tangible outcomes to reduce the trade deficit and address geopolitical crises: [7, 8, 9]

Trade & Investment Mechanisms: A central aim is the formal announcement of a “Board of Trade” and a “Board of Investment”. These bodies would oversee the implementation of purchase commitments and manage non-sensitive trade sectors to provide more structure than previous ad-hoc measures.
Large-Scale Commercial Purchases: Trump seeks commitments from Beijing for significant purchases of U.S. goods, including:Agriculture: Specific targets for soybeans, poultry, and beef.
Aerospace: A long-stalled deal for up to 500 Boeing aircraft, specifically 737 MAX jets.
Energy: Increased exports of American coal, oil, and natural gas.

Conflict Resolution in Iran: A major priority is securing Chinese diplomatic support to help end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump aims to leverage his personal relationship with Xi to curb Chinese purchases of Iranian oil and ease global energy price pressures.
Critical Resources: The U.S. is looking to extend a truce that ensures the continued flow of rare earth minerals from China, which are vital for American aerospace and automotive manufacturing.
Emerging Technologies & Security: Discussions are expected to cover a consensus statement on AI guardrails and safety risks, as well as longstanding tensions regarding Taiwan and North Korea. [3, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]
While both leaders hope to prevent a breakdown of their current “fragile truce,” observers from CSIS and Brookings suggest the summit may be more about maintaining stability and avoiding escalation than achieving a major structural reconfiguration of the relationship. [4, 15, 17]
[1]  en.wikipedia.org
[2]  scmp.com

[3]  instagram.com

[4]  finance.yahoo.com
[5]  youtube.com
[6]  youtube.com
[7]  csis.org
[8]  rieti.go.jp
[9]  weforum.org
[10]  weforum.org
[11]  reuters.com
[12]  brookings.edu
[13]  reuters.com
[14]  reuters.com
[15]  capitaleconomics.com
[16]  theguardian.com
[17]  youtube.com

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) May 11, 2026