Rebel Alliance News Update:
There are massive pieces on the chess board for the Rebel Alliance. Which for the most part has been flying under the radar of Darth Invader Trump current commander of the Death Star and the American Dollar Empire. Unbeknown to many The Rebel Alliance is shape shifting multifaceted regional players.
China, and Russia have been showing there support for Iran. This is in part due to Iran's geographical location as a trade route for various countries. The E.U. has been looking unstable with Darth invader Trump current commander of the Death Star. While ASEAN a group of 10 countries has been quietly going about its business. That is a saneness that seems lacking in the current western political environment. Kumbaya my friends Kumbaya or as a Mandalorian might put it - This is the way.
Kumbaya - Wiki
For example, in discussing the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, U.S. President Barack Obama commented that the substantive disagreements between the parties "can't be reduced to somehow a matter of let's all hold hands and sing 'Kumbaya.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumbaya
16 Mar 2025 - China's Xi declines EU invitation to anniversary summit, FT reports
China, Russia and Iran are becoming closer. This is changing the dynamics on tariffs, sanctions and trade on the world chess board.
14 Mar 2025 - China, Russia stand by Iran as Tehran rejects US call for nuclear talks - CNA
19 Mar 2024 - Mapping the potential trade route between Iran and China
Tracing the trajectory of attacks at the Red Sea, one could argue that since November 2023, Yemen’s Tehran–backed Houthi rebels have forced central Asian economies (among other states at the international level) to consider opening alternate trade routes and maintain supply lines, further greasing the wheels of their economies. Interacting with scholars and policy makers from Central Asia, the authors measured enthusiasm for the ambitious Central Asian trade network popularly known as the Middle Corridor. The corridor is creating lucrative opportunities, not just for regional economies in Central Asia, but potentially countering temporary trade blockages in the Red Sea by offering shippers cheap alternate trade routes and greater opportunities for direct trade with Tehran and Beijing.
https://www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/mapping-potential-trade-route-iran-china
11 Jan 2023 - Russia and Iran eye trade route with India to bypass sanctions
DUBAI -- Russia and Iran are working on a new shipping corridor that cuts Europe and its sanctions out of the picture, and are looking to partner with India, which has kept its distance from the Western-led isolation campaign against the two countries.
International North–South Transport Corridor
The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200-km (4500 mile) long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road route for moving freight between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation via ship, rail and road.[2] The objective of the corridor is to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar Abbas, Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali, etc.[3] Dry runs of two routes were conducted in 2014, the first was Mumbai to Baku via Bandar Abbas and the second was Mumbai to Astrakhan via Bandar Abbas, Tehran and Bandar Anzali. The objective of the study was to identify and address key bottlenecks.[4][5] The results showed transport costs were reduced by "$2,500 per 15 tons of cargo".[5] Other routes under consideration include via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_North%E2%80%93South_Transport_Corridor
Indonesia recently became a full BRICS member while also being a member of ASEAN.
4 Feb 2025 - Indonesia, Iran to intensify cooperation in strategic fields
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono met with Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia Mohammad Boroujerdi to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in strategic fields, particularly in supporting national food and energy security, trade, and investment.
Minister Sugiono and Ambassador Boroujerdi acknowledged numerous accomplishments in their bilateral relations and expressed hope for continued progress under the administrations of Indonesian President Prabowo and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The Indonesian and Iranian governments share aligned views on the Palestinian issue, advocating for full independence and liberation of Palestine.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/343641/indonesia-iran-to-intensify-cooperation-in-strategic-fields
Asean has a news site which I believe is.
Asean News
ASEAN - Wiki
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations,[commonly abbreviated as ASEAN, is a political and economic union of 10 states in Southeast Asia. Together, its member states represent a population of more than 600 million people and land area of over 4.5 million km2 (1.7 million sq mi). The bloc generated a purchasing power parity (PPP) gross domestic product (GDP) of around US$10.2 trillion in 2022, constituting approximately 6.5% of global GDP (PPP). ASEAN member states include some of the fastest growing economies in the world, and the institution plays an integral role in East Asian regionalism.
List of member states
| State | Accession |
|---|---|
 Brunei |
7 January 1984 |
 Cambodia |
30 April 1999 |
 Indonesia |
8 August 1967 |
 Laos |
23 July 1997 |
 Malaysia |
8 August 1967 |
 Myanmar |
23 July 1997 |
 Philippines |
8 August 1967 |
 Singapore |
8 August 1967 |
 Thailand |
8 August 1967 |
 Vietnam |
28 July 1995 |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASEAN
20 May 2024 - 10 ASEAN Countries To Ditch the U.S. Dollar
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries are looking to promote local currencies for trade and ditch the U.S. dollar for cross-border transactions. ASEAN consists of 10 countries and their economies are fast developing in the global sphere. This puts the USD under pressure, as several developing countries including the ASEAN bloc are looking to end reliance on the U.S. dollar.
https://watcher.guru/news/10-asean-countries-to-ditch-the-u-s-dollar
14 Mar 2025 - Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Ambassador of India to ASEAN
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Ambassador of India to ASEAN, Jayant N. Khobragade, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides exchanged views, among others, on ways to enhance the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership making it even more meaningful and beneficial for the peoples of both sides.
https://asean.org/secretary-general-of-asean-meets-with-ambassador-of-india-to-asean-3/
What in the world in a free trade area rather than a free trade agreement? Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) with the Protocol scheduled to enter into force on 21 April 2025,
13 Mar 2025 - Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Australia’s Instrument of Ratification of the AANZFTA Second Protocol
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received the Instrument of Ratification (IOR) for the Second Protocol to Amend the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) from Ambassador of Australia to ASEAN Tiffany McDonald, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. This signifies Australia’s steadfast dedication to bolstering regional economic integration, with the Protocol scheduled to enter into force on 21 April 2025, which would help towards facilitating enhanced trade and investment flows within the region.
Here are two out of the list of five things you didn't know about ASEAN.
Home to 8.7% of the world’s population:
With over 640 million inhabitants, ASEAN represents 8.7% of total world population. By comparison, the European Union has about 512 million people, and the United States around 327 million people in 2018. After China and India, ASEAN is the most populous region in the world.
ASEAN’s population is also very young, with over half between the ages of 20 to 54, and one third aged 0 to 19 years old in 2017.
Australia’s largest two-way trading partner:
Ahead of the United States and Japan, ASEAN and Australia’s trading relationship exceeds $100 billion a year.
More than 100 million people are estimated to have joined ASEAN’s workforce over the past 20 years, and another 59 million are projected to be added by 2030, making ASEAN the third-largest labour force worldwide. The region has successfully balanced economic growth with human development, lifting millions of people out of poverty.
https://www.sydney.edu.au/sydney-southeast-asia-centre/news/5-facts-about-asean.html
The trade links north to south from Russia to Australia with India and China being central hubs seems to make some sense when looking at a world map. The distance seems minimum considering ASEAN holds close to 9% of the world's population and in 2022 6.5% of the global GDP.
