Vasabjit Banerjee
@vasabjit.bsky.social
Comparative civil-military relations, defense manufacturing, political violence, electoral politics, and foreign policy. Regional foci on South Asia and Latin America, but also the "global south."
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Vasabjit Banerjee
@vasabjit.bsky.social
· Jan 26
Don't make your U.S. foreign policy contingent on the average American's ability to tolerate material deprivation. That's been a losing proposition since the 1960s, despite all the rhetoric to the contrary.
Hey IR and CP Folks, what is a good venue for policy essay on Venezuelan civil-military relations?
Specifically, one explaining the current and pre-Chavez civ-mil status quo to argue that Venezuela needs a different paradigm for democratic stability.
Thanks!
Specifically, one explaining the current and pre-Chavez civ-mil status quo to argue that Venezuela needs a different paradigm for democratic stability.
Thanks!
November 28, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Hey IR and CP Folks, what is a good venue for policy essay on Venezuelan civil-military relations?
Specifically, one explaining the current and pre-Chavez civ-mil status quo to argue that Venezuela needs a different paradigm for democratic stability.
Thanks!
Specifically, one explaining the current and pre-Chavez civ-mil status quo to argue that Venezuela needs a different paradigm for democratic stability.
Thanks!
Y'all should read Peter Godwin's "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun", especially the bit about his father's identity.
November 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Y'all should read Peter Godwin's "When a Crocodile Eats the Sun", especially the bit about his father's identity.
In 1973-74, sometimes Peron had mentally good days and sometimes bad ones. Foreign dignitaries had to be aware. His actual succession, versus the legal one to his wife and Vice President, still remained unclear: an eternal problem with charismatic populist leaders.
November 28, 2025 at 12:44 PM
In 1973-74, sometimes Peron had mentally good days and sometimes bad ones. Foreign dignitaries had to be aware. His actual succession, versus the legal one to his wife and Vice President, still remained unclear: an eternal problem with charismatic populist leaders.
The Maduro regime is preparing the military for a land invasion that will not happen. The air defenses are a danger, though. I am most concerned about the anti-ship missiles on Iranian-origin cheap offshore patrol vessels, which this piece doesn't get into.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/a...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/a...
How Maduro’s forces are responding to US deployments in the Caribbean | CNN
CNN analyzed Venezuelan military footage, verified social media video, and other open-source data since early September to explore how President Nicolás Maduro’s regime is flexing its comparatively mo...
www.cnn.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The Maduro regime is preparing the military for a land invasion that will not happen. The air defenses are a danger, though. I am most concerned about the anti-ship missiles on Iranian-origin cheap offshore patrol vessels, which this piece doesn't get into.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/a...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/a...
No idea what this achieved and why Maduro even attempted it. No airline would anger the U.S. to sidle up to Maduro's regime.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
No idea what this achieved and why Maduro even attempted it. No airline would anger the U.S. to sidle up to Maduro's regime.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Removing undocumented immigrants primarily from Venezuela has been central to the campaign of Chile's rightwing presidential candidate Kast who is now the front runner.
But, since Maduro has cut diplomatic relations with Chile, there is uncertainty about how to do it.
elpais.com/chile/2025-1...
But, since Maduro has cut diplomatic relations with Chile, there is uncertainty about how to do it.
elpais.com/chile/2025-1...
Kast busca que los extranjeros irregulares “colaboren” en su billete de vuelta a su país de origen
El republicano ahonda en su cuestionado plan para que los migrantes indocumentados abandonen Chile voluntariamente
elpais.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Removing undocumented immigrants primarily from Venezuela has been central to the campaign of Chile's rightwing presidential candidate Kast who is now the front runner.
But, since Maduro has cut diplomatic relations with Chile, there is uncertainty about how to do it.
elpais.com/chile/2025-1...
But, since Maduro has cut diplomatic relations with Chile, there is uncertainty about how to do it.
elpais.com/chile/2025-1...
The policy mistake of deploying the National Guard in Washington, DC does not justify some terrorist killing them. Because at this moment, the logic being presented by galaxy brains is that the real mistake (which got the Guardsmen shot) was deploying them. Touch Grass!
November 27, 2025 at 3:14 AM
The policy mistake of deploying the National Guard in Washington, DC does not justify some terrorist killing them. Because at this moment, the logic being presented by galaxy brains is that the real mistake (which got the Guardsmen shot) was deploying them. Touch Grass!
There's a chance that U.S. strikes on Venezuela will result in Russian casualties.
www.twz.com/news-feature...
www.twz.com/news-feature...
November 27, 2025 at 2:48 AM
There's a chance that U.S. strikes on Venezuela will result in Russian casualties.
www.twz.com/news-feature...
www.twz.com/news-feature...
Everything in this India-Venezuela interaction implies that India either expects the Maduro regime to continue in power or a pacted transition wherein the new regime will honor Venezuela's current commitments.
stratnewsglobal.com/south-americ...
stratnewsglobal.com/south-americ...
India-Venezuela Talks Focus On Digital Tech, Critical Minerals
India and Venezuela reviewed expanded cooperation in digital systems, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, trade, agriculture and cultural exchanges during their fifth Foreign Office Consultations in N...
stratnewsglobal.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Everything in this India-Venezuela interaction implies that India either expects the Maduro regime to continue in power or a pacted transition wherein the new regime will honor Venezuela's current commitments.
stratnewsglobal.com/south-americ...
stratnewsglobal.com/south-americ...
This is such a bad take by Pres. Petro because Maduro has also offered U.S. companies full control over Venezuelan energy. Au contraire, Machado's legitimacy will depend on controlling access to energy.
en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br/Oil-at-the-c...
en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br/Oil-at-the-c...
Oil at the center of the geopolitical dispute: Petro accuses the US of using pressure against Venezuela to secure access to the world's largest reserves.
Petro's statements reignite international debate by pointing to Venezuelan oil as the main motivation for US pressure.
en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br
November 26, 2025 at 8:30 PM
This is such a bad take by Pres. Petro because Maduro has also offered U.S. companies full control over Venezuelan energy. Au contraire, Machado's legitimacy will depend on controlling access to energy.
en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br/Oil-at-the-c...
en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br/Oil-at-the-c...
Reposted by Vasabjit Banerjee
The potential failure of the FCAS — billed as a European sixth-generation fighter aircraft — should be a moment of reflection in Europe regarding its plans for a European defense industry, @rikefranke.bsky.social writes.
A Truly European Defense Industry May Remain a Pipe Dream—Forever
The potential failure of the FCAS project should be a moment of reflection in Europe regarding its plans for a European defense industry.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The potential failure of the FCAS — billed as a European sixth-generation fighter aircraft — should be a moment of reflection in Europe regarding its plans for a European defense industry, @rikefranke.bsky.social writes.
Reposted by Vasabjit Banerjee
The Swedish government’s offer of Saab’s A26 submarines to Poland has been selected by the Polish government to replace the current Kilo-class submarine 🇸🇪 🇵🇱
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Sweden and Saab selected for Poland’s new submarines - Naval News
The Swedish government's offer of Saab’s A26 submarines to Poland has been selected by the Polish government to replace the current Kilo-class submarine
www.navalnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The Swedish government’s offer of Saab’s A26 submarines to Poland has been selected by the Polish government to replace the current Kilo-class submarine 🇸🇪 🇵🇱
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Good blended scotch and good bourbon, 40-60 bucks each. What are your opinions?
November 26, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Good blended scotch and good bourbon, 40-60 bucks each. What are your opinions?
Look guys, the fall of the Maduro regime will have distinct effects on Russia, China, and Iran. As oil exporters, Russia and Iran will obviously get kneecapped by lower oil prices as sanctions on Venezuela are removed. As an oil importer, China will benefit from low oil prices.
November 25, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Look guys, the fall of the Maduro regime will have distinct effects on Russia, China, and Iran. As oil exporters, Russia and Iran will obviously get kneecapped by lower oil prices as sanctions on Venezuela are removed. As an oil importer, China will benefit from low oil prices.
Google, what is the stupidest thing a Latin American leader seeking regime survival in the face of U.S. military intervention do?
www.newsweek.com/venezuela-re...
www.newsweek.com/venezuela-re...
Venezuela reveals Xi and Putin's letters to Maduro
Xi reportedly voiced "categorical rejection" of U.S. interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
www.newsweek.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Google, what is the stupidest thing a Latin American leader seeking regime survival in the face of U.S. military intervention do?
www.newsweek.com/venezuela-re...
www.newsweek.com/venezuela-re...
Reposted by Vasabjit Banerjee
Super excited that a new edited volume, Bend But Do Not Break, is coming out, edited by Jaron Wharton, @klkuzminski.bsky.social @jkdemp.bsky.social @mzmargulies.bsky.social Keith Carter, and @carriealee.bsky.social
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
November 25, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Super excited that a new edited volume, Bend But Do Not Break, is coming out, edited by Jaron Wharton, @klkuzminski.bsky.social @jkdemp.bsky.social @mzmargulies.bsky.social Keith Carter, and @carriealee.bsky.social
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
American trolls are based in India and now I found an Indian troll based in Indonesia connected via Switzerland.
a man with long hair and a beard is drinking from a glass
ALT: a man with long hair and a beard is drinking from a glass
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:14 AM
American trolls are based in India and now I found an Indian troll based in Indonesia connected via Switzerland.
Reposted by Vasabjit Banerjee
Good as always. Tennessee's entrance makes it, but stay until the end for the ad read, it's worth it.
SEC Shorts - Lane Kiffin does it again
YouTube video by SEC Shorts
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Good as always. Tennessee's entrance makes it, but stay until the end for the ad read, it's worth it.
SM is heading towards a national-centric user space with exceptions. E.g., U.S. with an agreement with EU. This also means developing countries like India and Nigeria may be excluded from these spaces or inhabit a different sphere. It's either that or removing anonymity, which raises other issues.
November 24, 2025 at 1:49 AM
SM is heading towards a national-centric user space with exceptions. E.g., U.S. with an agreement with EU. This also means developing countries like India and Nigeria may be excluded from these spaces or inhabit a different sphere. It's either that or removing anonymity, which raises other issues.
Post a movie where you are from
November 24, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Post a movie where you are from
Reposted by Vasabjit Banerjee
Speculating Heggie recently landed in PR. Shortly after SAM336 touched down, 2xC-17s also landed.
November 24, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Speculating Heggie recently landed in PR. Shortly after SAM336 touched down, 2xC-17s also landed.
November 23, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Love him or hate him, this threat would be more credible if he ever really supported the administration.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Rand Paul predicts GOP will 'fracture' over Venezuelan strikes
Sen. Rand Paul warned that the White House’s continued strikes on Venezuela may lead to a drop in support for President Donald Trump.
www.politico.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Love him or hate him, this threat would be more credible if he ever really supported the administration.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Russia's winset extends from loss of land and finlandization of Ukraine to full protectorate status ala Belarus.
EU's winset is from frozen conflict and South Korea to West Germany in NATO.
U.S. winset is from finlandization to the Austrian agreement of no NATO membership and full sovereignty.
EU's winset is from frozen conflict and South Korea to West Germany in NATO.
U.S. winset is from finlandization to the Austrian agreement of no NATO membership and full sovereignty.
November 23, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Russia's winset extends from loss of land and finlandization of Ukraine to full protectorate status ala Belarus.
EU's winset is from frozen conflict and South Korea to West Germany in NATO.
U.S. winset is from finlandization to the Austrian agreement of no NATO membership and full sovereignty.
EU's winset is from frozen conflict and South Korea to West Germany in NATO.
U.S. winset is from finlandization to the Austrian agreement of no NATO membership and full sovereignty.
I have been shocked by India's rapid rise in the telephone scam, Twitter bots, and phishing scams. But AFAIK this is the end result of massive overcapacity in call centers and low end back office suppliers, a legacy of the 2000s-2010s, along with educated youth unemployment and lax law enforcement.
All kinds of Russian influence explanations of Nigerian and Indian bots and trolls on X are being forwarded. But the real reasons are college educated, unemployed youth with access to the internet and small sums of money to bot farm type places or even individuals from Russian sources.
November 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM
I have been shocked by India's rapid rise in the telephone scam, Twitter bots, and phishing scams. But AFAIK this is the end result of massive overcapacity in call centers and low end back office suppliers, a legacy of the 2000s-2010s, along with educated youth unemployment and lax law enforcement.