Russia’s ‘Asia pivot’ causing concerns, but …

Main Russian Main Village in Shikotan, Kuril Islands (Надежда Голумбиевская)

Russia has made what is called a small ‘Asia pivot’ according to Western sources:

October 26, 2015

SEOUL—Russia’s plan to build a military base on the disputed Kuril Islands, that were seized from Japan at the end of World War II, is a small part of Moscow’s own “Asia pivot” to increase and protect trade with the vibrant economies in the Pacific region.

“If Russia really wants to be a player militarily in Northeast Asia, the military presence in the Kurils is very helpful,” said security analyst Grant Newsham, with the Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo.

The United States has used the term “Asia pivot” to describe President Barack Obama’s efforts to place greater strategic importance on this region to counter China’s growing military presence and economic strength.

Kuril Islands base

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s announcement to build a base on the Kuril Islands along with four Arctic bases is part of President Vladimir Putin’s plan to build up his country’s military presence in the region.

Russia has reportedly increased spending by over $600 billion in the last decade to modernize its military that includes deploying new nuclear submarines, jets and helicopters.

Russia’s Pacific Fleet currently consists of 73 vessels, including 23 submarines and 50 warships.

Moscow is also developing closer ties to Beijing. The two militaries recently conducted a joint naval exercise that the Russian state news agency TASS described as the largest “in the modern history of cooperation” between Russia and China.

While locating a military base on the Kuril chain of islands near key shipping lanes connecting Russia to the Pacific has some strategic value, Newsham said other factors like national pride and the political projection of power also play a part.

Potential reserves

In addition the potential of offshore reserves of oil and gas, as well as rich fishing grounds has increased the value of the islands.

Building a Russian military base on the Kurils will likely further undermine relations with Tokyo, which lays claim to the southern islands in the chain, known in Japan as the Northern Territories.

The Soviet Union seized the islands in 1945, shortly before Japan’s surrender in World War II, and expelled the 17,000 Japanese residents living on the islands. The two countries have been unable to agree on a post-war peace treaty because of the ongoing dispute over ownership of the islands. http://www.voanews.com/content/russias-asian-pivot-seen-in-kuril-military-expansion/3022965.html

Japan and Russia have had discussions about these islands in the past. There are over 19,000 people on those islands, and they are mainly Russians and others peoples that have ties to Russia.

Russia has probably decided since the USA has made its own “Asia pivot’ (which is a policy that Hillary Clinton takes credit for when she was Barack Obama’s Secretary of State), it needs to take steps to protect what it has defined as its own interests there.

I do NOT expect that either the USA’s or Russia’s Asia pivot will result in any major war between the USA and Russia over these islands.

It remains my view that the efforts and actions of Russia, combined with the USA’s Asia pivot strategy, combined with certain USA actions and inactions, are encouraging the Europeans to arm. And it is no secret that Germany, in particular, wants a European army independent of the USA as I reported here a little while back (see Germany military looking to be ‘Independent of the USA’). While many in the USA see Russia and China as major threats, the Bible does not describe anything that resembles massive war between the USA and the forces of the East.

The Bible shows that the USA will be eliminated by a power based in Europe (Daniel 11:39), and that is NOT a prophecy about Russia (Is Russia the King of the North?). The more that the USA focuses on Russia, China, and other parts of Asia and the more it has military budget constraints, the less it will end up being prepared for the military power that is starting to arise in Europe that will astound the world (Revelation 13:4).

As far as Japan goes, biblical prophecy indicates that in the future it will make some type of military deal with Russia, despite its current concerns about the Kuril islands.

I perhaps should add that the Armageddon related battle that the Bible tells of does NOT involve the USA because the USA will be gone three plus years before that happens (see also Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).

As far as Russia itself goes, the Bible does tell of a time that it will have a more complete ‘Asia pivot.’ In several places, the Bible tells of a confederation of eastern powers that will cooperate with, and at least at one point in time take military direction from, a power that would have to be Russia (e.g. Jeremiah 50:41-43).

And that is NOT the confederation that the Bible tells of in Ezekiel 38, but instead more resembles the type of Eurasian Union that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has been working on.

The Asia pivots by the USA and Russia will not work out for the USA the way that the Obama Administration would hope.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code) Is what is going on with Russia, Iran, and Syria predicted in the Bible Code? Is Rabbi Matityahu Glazerson’s interpretation of the year and passages in Deuteronomy 4 correct? Is a ‘cruel taskmaster from Iran prophesied to rule Israel? Is Joel Richardson’s view of Ezekiel 38 correct? Is Russia the power in the ‘far north’ of Ezekiel 38? Is Russia the prophesied King of the North? What will happen to Iran? Does the Bible teach that Damascus, Syria will be destroyed. Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more in this video.
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a related YouTube video titled Iran In Prophecy.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Wars, rumors of wars, and the Apocalypse Jesus foretold a time before the end where there would be wars and rumors of wars. The Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) warns of the red horseman of war. Now, even secular writers, like Larry Edelson, are worried that wars and rumors of war are the most menacing problem that now haunts the earth? Are they right? What is the solution? This is a sermonette-length video.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? Where did the Japanese people come from? Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Dangerous Protestant Prophetic Errors What are some errors that various Protestants hold to that will tend to prevent them from knowing when the Great Tribulation will begin? A related video is titled Ten Dangerous Protestant Prophetic Errors.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.