Vladimir Putin is attending the G-20 summit with a bunch of warships in tow
No matter how you feel about Vladimir Putin, he knows how to make an entrance.
The Russian strongman has sent four Russian warships off the northeastern coast of Australia, in advance of his scheduled attendance at a G-20 summit this weekend in Brisbane. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has responded by sending three Australian warships to monitor the Russian ones, which technically remain in international waters. Abbott also accused Putin of "trying to recreate the lost glories of tsarism or the old Soviet Union."
Putin's feistiness is apparently meant to rebuke Abbott, who earlier promised to "shirtfront" Putin over his government's alleged involvement in the downing of Malaysia Flight 17 over Ukraine in July. In Australian rules football, a shirtfront is a "head-on shoulder charge to an opponent's chest," according to the Associated Press.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The two tough guys, along with their less macho counterparts, are expected to discuss a range of issues, including boosting growth in the global economy.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published