Iran and Russia have connected their interbank communication and transfer systems to help boost trade and financial transactions, a senior Iranian official said on Monday, as both Tehran and Moscow are chafing under Western sanctions. Iran, Russia link banking systems amid Western sanction | Reuters
France and Australia will supply Ukraine with 155mm shells needed for artillery pieces provided by the West since Russia’s invasion, defense ministers Sebastien Lecornu and Richard Marles said Monday. France, Australia to Supply Ukraine With 155mm Shells: French Minister (thedefensepost.com)
INDER SINGH BISHT The Ukrainian military is setting up attack drone units to take on Russia. Ukraine Building Strike Drone Units (thedefensepost.com)
ROJOEF MANUEL Sweden and BAE Systems have signed a $30-million contract modification to supply additional CV90 Mjölner mortar systems for the Swedish Army. Sweden Buys 20 Additional CV90 Mortar Systems (thedefensepost.com)
JOE SABALLA A top-ranking US military official has reportedly told UK defense secretary Ben Wallace in private that the British Army is no longer considered a “top-level fighting force.”. British Army No Longer Top-Level Fighting Force, Warns US General (thedefensepost.com)
Poland announced a sharp increase in defense spending on Monday, with the prime minister saying the country needed to arm itself “faster” in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Poland Boosts Defense Spending in Wake of Ukraine War (thedefensepost.com)
North Korea on Sunday denied providing arms to Moscow after the United States said the nuclear-armed state supplied rockets and missiles to Russia’s private military group Wagner. North Korea Denies Arms Dealing With Russia (thedefensepost.com)
A wave of attacks on villages in eastern DR Congo attributed to Islamic State-affiliated ADF rebels killed at least 15 people Sunday, local officials said. Islamist Rebels Kill at Least 15 in Eastern DR Congo (thedefensepost.com)
Belgium announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine on Friday, promising cash, missiles, machine-guns, and armored vehicles to help fight off the Russian onslaught. Belgium Steps up Ukraine Aid With Missiles, Ammo, Guns (thedefensepost.com)
Suiwah Leung In 2022, the geopolitical tensions caused by the war in Ukraine, slowing growth in the Chinese economy and sharp rises in energy and food prices led to a significantly higher inflationary outlook globally. These factors all added to the risks confronting Vietnam as its economy recovered from its lengthy COVID-19 lockdowns. Vietnam’s economy shows signs […]
The UK government should urgently launch a fully-funded Great British Nuclear (GBN) programme to tackle the country’s energy crisis, according to an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from a trade union, nuclear industry representatives and a group of politicians. Call for prompt launch of Great British Nuclear : Nuclear Policies – World Nuclear […]
Pope’s long-awaited visit to DRC and South Sudan where two of the world’s most neglected crises are ongoing. Conflict survivors to meet Pope Francis on his DR Congo trip | Conflict News | Al Jazeera
Eromo Egbejule and Ope Adetayo He has built a formidable political machinery and is credited with being the architect of Lagos’s successes but several hurdles lie on his path to the Nigerian presidency. Can Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s ailing kingmaker, win the presidency? | Elections | Al Jazeera
The move comes after Zelenskyy adviser appeared to directly link Ukraine with an attack on a military facility in central Iran. Iran summons Ukraine’s envoy over drone attack comments | Russia-Ukraine war News | Al Jazeera
Naseem Abu Fouda, 26, is the 35th Palestinian to be killed by Israel so far in January 2023. The death toll includes eight children. Israeli forces kill Palestinian man in Hebron as tensions spiral | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera
Haythem Guesmi President Saeid’s decision to turn to the IMF to save Tunisia’s economy will sound the death knell for his authoritarian regime. Another uprising is in the making in Tunisia | Opinions | Al Jazeera
Zsombor Peter Two years after Myanmar’s military toppled a democratically elected government, analysts say the country remains trapped in a deadly battle of attrition between the ruling junta and resistance forces that will only get bloodier ahead of planned elections this year. Two Years After Coup, Battle of Attrition Grinds on in Myanmar (voanews.com)
Anjana Pasricha India will become the world’s most populous country sometime this year, overtaking China, according to the United Nations. Economic Dividend or Disadvantage as India Becomes World’s Most Populous Country This Year (voanews.com)
The fight against global warming should not be at the expense of economic growth, the UAE oil chief who will lead this year’s UN climate talks said on Monday. Fight climate change without slowing growth, says UAE’s COP28 chief – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East
Alessandra Bajec Tunisia held the second round of legislative elections on Sunday, registering only 11% turnout, with opposition framing it as a rejection of President Kais Saied and his power grab last year. Tunisia’s elections at 11% turnout, further shakes Kais Saeid’s credibility – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East
The UN Fact-finding Mission (FFM) has released a statement following its recent visit to Tripoli urging the Libyan authorities to take action to provide justice and redress to the vast number of victims suffering from longstanding violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. UN FFM: Families of victims in Libya have waited far too […]
Jibran Ahmad A suicide bombing at a crowded mosque in Pakistan’s Peshawar killed at least 32 people on Monday, the latest attack targeting police in this northwestern city where Islamist militants remain active. Suicide bombing at mosque in Pakistan kills 32, targeted police | Reuters
A group of pro-Russian activists in Germany donated funds to a Russian army division fighting in Ukraine, and the money was used to purchase walkie-talkie radios, headphones and telephones, according to an officer in the division and messages from the group’s organisers seen by Reuters. Exclusive: Pro-Kremlin activists in Germany gave money for Russian army […]
Categories
Conflitto e violenza
Per troppo tempo abbiamo negato il conflitto come alimento necessario per la crescita democratica. Abbiamo pensato che parole come conflitto, crisi, errore fossero solo negative. E abbiamo drammaticamente sbagliato. Perché oggi, si vede chiaramente, i conflitti rischiano di diventare guerriglie e le crisi rischiano di trasformarsi in de-generazione. L’errore viene interpretato come peccato da punire […]
Saroj Bishoyi As a part of the wider modernisation agenda, the US Department of State announced on 3rd January 2023 the establishment of a new Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology. The purpose of establishing this office is to bring additional technological expertise to the State Department for diplomatic engagement with […]
Russian strikes in the Southern Ukrainian city of Kherson killed three people Sunday and injured six. Ukrainian President: ‘We Have to Make Time Our Weapon’ (voanews.com)
The U.S. embassy in Turkey warned Americans on Monday of possible attacks against churches, synagogues, and diplomatic missions in Istanbul, marking its second such notice in four days, following Koran-burning incidents in Europe. U.S. issues another warning of possible terrorist attacks in Turkey | Reuters
SANJAY M PATTANSHETTY, ANIRUDDHA INAMDAR, HELMUT BRAND In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, reforming the global health governance system has become a key area of concern for the G20 and other multilateral platforms. This comes at a time when the world has increasingly become volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. As a grouping of developed […]
On January 20, the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group met at Ramstein Air Base in Germany under the chairmanship of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The meeting, attended by more than fifty nations and NATO’s Secretary General Stoltenberg, was the eighth in a series of meetings initiated in April 2022, to discuss efforts to provide military support […]
Russia’s deputy foreign minister said in an interview published on Monday that it was “quite possible” the New START nuclear arms control treaty with the United States would end after 2026. Russia says nuclear arms treaty with U.S. may end after 2026 | Reuters
This weekend, a senior U.S. diplomat has visited the AANES Civil Council for the first time since Washington withdrew its troops in 2019. At the same time, a top Syrian opposition official has thanked Qatar for its position in support of the Syrian revolution while the UN has warned that 70% of the Syrian population could […]
An expert told Athr Press Damascus will not provide free gifts to Ankara, but that dialogue continues. Syrian Political Circles: Ankara Serious About Rapprochement, Not a Tactical Decision – The Syrian Observer
Relations between the Syrian regime and Iran have recently been tense against the backdrop of Tehran’s delay in oil supply, according to Syria TV. Iran Militias Moving to Eastern Syria? – The Syrian Observer
Damascus claims the OPCW report lacks scientific and objective evidence, according to al-Baath. Syria Rejects OPCW ‘Misleading’ Report on 2018 Douma Chemical Attack – The Syrian Observer
Syrian opposition groups refrained from directly criticizing Turkey’s foreign policy, according to Haid Haid in the al-Arab Newspaper. Has the Syrian Opposition Reached the End of the Road? – The Syrian Observer
Pedersen said a political solution in Syria is becoming more complex, according to al-Watan. Pedersen to Discuss “Step-for-Step” Initiative in Damascus, Mid-February (syrianobserver.com)
Ukrainian tank crews have arrived in Britain to begin training for their continued fight against Russia, the British Defense Ministry said on January 29, just days after Britain and other NATO countries pledged more than 130 tanks to Ukraine. Ukrainian Tanks Crews Arrive In Britain For Training (rferl.org)
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. Latest Developments in Ukraine: Jan. 30 (voanews.com)
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged South Korea on Monday to increase military support to Ukraine, citing other countries that have changed their policy of not providing weapons to countries in conflict after Russia’s invasion. NATO’s Chief Urges South Korea to Step up Military Support for Ukraine (voanews.com)
Nicholas Lokker, Jim Townsend, Heli Hautala and Andrea Kendall-Taylor Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a major strategic blunder. Not only will Russia emerge from the war economically and militarily weakened, but its brutal invasion has undercut Moscow’s geopolitical position, including by triggering nearby countries to take new steps to provide for their security and defense. Most notably, Russia’s aggression […]
Ethan Wong As reported by Nunatsiaq News on January 20, nurses at clinics throughout the Hudson Bay coast in Nunavik, Quebec, staged a walkout over staffing shortages and working conditions. The protest began at 5 pm on January 19 and ended the following morning after the nurses were ordered to return to work by the Quebec Administrative Labour […]
Alex Bristow This week, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles will travel to Europe for separate ‘2+2’ meetings with their French and British counterparts. Wong will also head to Brussels to meet the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell. And Marles will travel on from Europe to Washington to meet US Defense Secretary […]
Minxin Pei The Chinese government seems to have fallen back in love with economic growth. As the chaotic exit from its zero-Covid-19 policy has unfolded—leading to tens of thousands of deaths (at least)—the country’s leaders have been eager to profess their undying devotion to robust economic recovery. But lip service alone will get China nowhere. Despite the […]
Yang Yao Forecasts for China’s economic growth in 2023 diverge widely. While international organisations and China watchers abroad predict growth of 4 per cent as reasonable, most Chinese economists believe that growth of 5–6 per cent is more likely. Weak domestic demand now threatens China’s growth potential | East Asia Forum
Frederick W. Kagan, Kimberly Kagan, Riley Bailey, Grace Mappes, Angela Howard, Mason Clark, Kateryna Stepanenko, and George Barros Delays in the provision to Ukraine of Western long-range fires systems, advanced air defense systems, and tanks have limited Ukraine’s ability to take advantage of opportunities for larger counter-offensive operations presented by flaws and failures in Russian […]
Nicholas Carl, Kitaneh Fitzpatrick, Zachary Coles, and Frederick W. Kagan Israel conducted a kamikaze drone attack on a military munitions factory near Esfahan City, Esfahan Province on January 28, according to Western media reports. Iran Crisis Update, January 29, 2023 | Institute for the Study of War (understandingwar.org)
Diane Francis Germany and the United States have recently made headlines by deciding to send tanks to Ukraine. However, the unsung hero behind this landmark decision was actually Poland. Polish leaders were instrumental in efforts to persuade Berlin in particular of the need to provide Ukraine with modern tanks. This was the latest example of […]
Categories
Memoria e segni dei tempi
La giornata della memoria deve trasformarsi in laboratorio della stessa. Ogni giorno, infatti, vi sono segni inequivocabili dei segni totalitari che percorrono il nostro tempo. Per questo la memoria non può essere cristallizzata. Avendo sempre a mente la “soluzione finale”, madre di tutte le tragedie, osserviamo la rinuncia, ai vari livelli di realtà, del dialogo […]
Bikram Timilsina Although politicians claimed political stability was the driving force behind the new Constitution in 2015, Nepal has witnessed six changes of government in the last seven years. Economic recovery, from both the devasting 2015 earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic, will be a long process. Post-COVID-19 Economic Conditions in Nepal and Political Instability – Australian Institute of International Affairs […]
Richard Broinowski AO Australian foreign policy could takes some cues from Vietnam. A flexible diplomacy with the ability shift alignments in the interests of national security is what Australia needs. Vietnam: The Advantages of a Flexible Foreign Policy – Australian Institute of International Affairs – Australian Institute of International Affairs
Majda Ruge The European Union and the United States pursue four broad foreign policy objectives in their relations with Serbia: contain Russia, contain China, normalise Serbia-Kosovo relations, and protect the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, for many years now they have achieved little success on any of these matters. Several reasons explain this, some […]
Mark Leonard There is growing support for the idea that the world is experiencing not ‘deglobalisation’ but rather ‘re-globalisation’, owing to accelerating changes in energy and technology. Nonetheless, the differences between the next wave of globalisation and the last one will far outweigh the similarities. The next globalisation – European Council on Foreign Relations (ecfr.eu)
Already high tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa have risen sharply after Rwanda’s defence forces shot at a Congolese warplane they accuse of violating Rwandan airspace. In this Q&A, Crisis Group examines why the situation has deteriorated and outlines pathways toward de-escalation. A Dangerous Escalation in the Great Lakes | Crisis Group
Joachim Monkelbaan Trade and investment emerged as an overarching theme at this year’s Annual Meeting in Davos. Geopolitical shocks, globalization, climate action and technology were some of the factors that emerged as likely to have a major impact on trade and investment in the coming months and years. Indigenous People’s role in global trade and […]
Davos 2023 featured city-led initiatives to improve urban development and local economies. Nature and circularity are the future of climate action in cities, led by urban innovators. Technology is driving urban transformation, but it must be secured through shared governance. Cities and local economies – takeaways from Davos 2023 | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
Gender balance within functional tech leadership remains an unfulfilled promise, heightening the challenges of chief technology officer (CTO) and chief information officer (CIO) succession planning for chief executive officers (CEOs) and chief human resource officers (CHROs). Depending on which data set you use, typical female representation within functional tech leadership sits in the 15-25% range. […]
Anuka Upadhye, Zainab Mirza, Angelo Villagomez The United States can move closer to its dual goals of increasing access to nature for all Americans and protecting 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030 by approving and completing the designation of five new Indigenous-led marine sanctuaries. Proposed National Marine Sanctuaries Provide a Pathway Toward Indigenous-Led […]
Peter Lintl The new government is seeking fundamental changes in the political system and in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel’s Anti-liberal Coalition – Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (swp-berlin.org)
Kei Koga On the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN relations, Japan is preparing to deepen ties, but ASEAN is less visible in Japan’s new security policy documents. Japan’s Policy Toward ASEAN in 2023: Opportunities and Challenges • Stimson Center
Noorulain Naseem Examining how escalating tensions between the United States and China impact rivalries in South Asia U.S.-China Strategic Competition and the Resulting Arms Race in South Asia • Stimson Center
Ye Myo Hein As violence continues to escalate in Myanmar, resistance forces should facilitate greater military cooperation to leverage their strength against the military junta. Greater Military Cooperation is Needed in the Burmese Resistance Movement • Stimson Center
On the two-year anniversary of President Joe Biden’s inauguration, Stimson Center specialists review his administration’s policies across a range of issue areas and look ahead to the challenges and opportunities of the second half of his presidential term. Hits & Strikes From Biden’s First Two Years • Stimson Center
Transatlantic Tech and Security: A Conversation with EU Commissioner Thierry Breton | CSIS Events
Zongyuan Zoe Liu China has so far been able to feed its 1.4 billion people, but climate change and a dependence on imports could pose challenges. China Increasingly Relies on Imported Food. That’s a Problem. | Council on Foreign Relations (cfr.org)
Colin Demarest ChatGPT, a bot launched by OpenAI in November that produces human-like conversations and content, including surreal art and computer code, has caught the eye of U.S. defense officials. Generative AI like viral ChatGPT lands on DISA technology watch list (defensenews.com)
Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo The Hungarian government and its state-owned holding N7 have signed three joint ventures in December alone, part of a large-scale spending spree for new weapons and production plants. Defense firms flock to Hungary amid EU isolation (defensenews.com)
Astrid Noren-Nilsson Cambodia stood between past and future in 2022 — balancing completion, new beginnings and legacy creation. As Cambodia’s first electoral term with a one-party National Assembly under the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) drew to a close (2018–2023), the party prepared for an upcoming generational transition. The end of the beginning for the Cambodian […]
Troy Stangarone In May 2022, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was elected on a platform calling for a break from his predecessor’s income-led growth strategy to one focused on deregulation and corporate tax cuts. While the new administration has taken steps to implement Yoon’s free market approach, external events have loomed large over South Korea’s trade-dependent economy. Russia and […]
Steven Heydemann In Syria’s civil war, now entering its 12th year, the state/nonstate divide has become increasingly blurred. Nowhere is this more evident than in the practices adopted by ruling elites in regime- and opposition-held areas to ensure access to resources. Over time, both state actors and nonstate armed groups have produced parallel, interconnected, and […]
Daniel L. Byman Despite fears that the 2022 U.S. midterm elections would see a reprise of January 6-like political violence, the elections occurred with no mobs storming state capitals or other attacks. Improved law enforcement deserves much of the credit: January 6 was a shock, and both federal and state officials were far more vigilant […]
Vanda Felbab-Brown Two key interlinked dynamics will define developments in Somalia in 2023. The first is the scale of starvation in the country. The second is how the Somalian government and the jihadi military and political organization al-Shabaab will respond to anti-al-Shabaab clan uprisings. Since mid-2022, these uprisings have been backed by the new government […]
Bruce Riedel In the almost decade-old civil war in Yemen, the adherence to a cease-fire that began in April 2022 by the Shiite Zaydi Houthi rebels suggests they are now prepared to live with a political outcome to the war that leaves them in control of most, but not all, Yemenis. The Houthis seem prepared to settle for less than complete control […]
Victoria Kwakwa, Aloysius Uche Ordu As we begin 2023, Africa’s development is threatened by multiple crises. This time is distinctly different from past episodes, first in the increased frequency of crises, as well as the persistence and deepening of climate and conflict crises. While in 2008/2009 Africa was able to use debt to weather the […]
Ahunna Eziakonwa Africa’s food systems are at a crossroad. Several challenges and exogenous shocks— including extreme weather events and climate change, recurrent outbreaks of pests and diseases, limited availability and adoption of yield-increasing technologies—have exposed fragilities of Africa’s food systems, undermining the ability to meet the food demand of a burgeoning population. Food Security: Strengthening […]
John N. Nkengasong In 2001, the Heads of State of Africa met in a special summit in Abuja devoted specifically to addressing the exceptional challenges of HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS pandemic had been raging worldwide with an acute impact on most countries in Africa. The spread of the disease was impacting every dimension of society–in African […]
Rich Outzen Turkey continues to impose conditions on Swedish and Finnish accession to NATO, clearly irritating Western officials and commentators and causing a renewed kerfuffle around Turkey’s role within NATO. Turkish presidential advisor Ibrahim Kalın said earlier this month that this round of Alliance enlargement is unlikely to conclude before the Turkish elections on May 14. On […]
Categories
Memoria e complessità
Passata “la” giornata si ha la tentazione di tornare a occuparsi d’altro, come se la memoria della soluzione finale accaduta in pieno ‘900 non riguardasse il presente. Errore clamoroso che, soprattutto, può costare caro alle nostre democrazie. L’unico modo di portare avanti la memoria è investire sulla Politica. Di questo ci occupiamo, in un tempo […]
MARC PIERINI Turkey has been undergoing important political, economic, and foreign policy shifts that impact its European partners. But with Turkish parliamentary and presidential elections approaching, what matters most is the kind of society voters want for themselves. Turkey’s Profound Transformation Matters to Europe – Carnegie Europe – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
MARC DE TOLLENAERE In the last decade, nondemocratic regimes have received more development assistance than democratic countries. This reveals how donors struggle with autocratization despite a rhetorical commitment to democracy. Development Assistance in Different Political Regime Contexts – Carnegie Europe – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
A deal between Sudan’s military and its factious political elites has opened the door to installing a civilian government. Signatories should work to win broader support during the current phase of negotiations, while outside actors should stand ready to offer financing if the agreement sticks. A Critical Window to Bolster Sudan’s Next Government | Crisis […]
Insurgents have established bases in an important nature reserve spanning parts of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. They pose a growing danger to local ecosystems and people living around the park. The three countries need to collaborate more closely to keep the threat at bay. Containing Militancy in West Africa’s Park W | Crisis Group
Tamanna Salikuddin As the United States deepens its partnership with India and focuses on the Indo-Pacific strategy, New Delhi’s troubled relationships with both Pakistan and China continue to threaten strategic stability in southern Asia. Last year, a USIP senior study group released a report examining potential trigger events that could lead to escalation in the region, offering […]
Mary Glantz, Ph.D. Russia, like other empires, will need a military defeat to give up its expansionist goals. Ukraine: A Real Peace Will Require Change from Russia | United States Institute of Peace (usip.org)
Robin Wright The regime is more vulnerable than ever, even as domestic reforms, nuclear diplomacy and better relations with the West appear remote. Whither Iran on the Revolution’s Anniversary? | United States Institute of Peace (usip.org)
Maaike Okano-Heijmans and Vera Kranenburg This year India will surpass China in population, becoming one of the world’s largest consumer and industrial markets. In this era of multipolarity, India is an increasingly important geopolitical player. The country plays a crucial role in the Indo-Pacific, a region where China wields growing influence. Strategic Tech Cooperation Can […]
Kevin Socquet-Clerc, Holly O’Mahony, Shiloh Fetzek, Maria-Gabriela Manea, A N M Muniruzzaman, and Fitriani Bintang Timur Four of the ten countries most affected by climate change in the past twenty years are in Southeast Asia. As such, climate change poses a profound threat to populations across the region, spanning traditional security dimensions as well as […]
Wilson Center NOW is by Lauren Herzer Risi, Program Director of the Environmental Change and Security Program and Peter Schwartzstein, a Wilson Center Global Fellow and environmental journalist who reports on water, food security, and the conflict-climate nexus around the world. Climate Change and Migration: Reporting from Bangladesh, Moldova, and Senegal | Wilson Center
Ian Lesser The idea of a wider approach to transatlantic relations, emphasizing the place of the southern Atlantic and the importance of North-South ties is not new. It is rooted in the long history of Atlantic affairs. In recent years the “Atlantic Basin” approach has enjoyed a renaissance, but the context for the intellectual debate […]
JUDY DEMPSEY He finally did it. After months of dithering, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Wednesday that Germany would send fourteen Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. He will also allow European countries that bought the tanks to send them to Kyiv. Scholz’s Tank Decision Upends Germany’s Long Affair With Russia – Carnegie Europe – Carnegie Endowment for International […]
STEPHEN HERZOG, LAUREN SUKIN Earlier this month, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol set off alarms. In an off-the-cuff remark, he warned that Seoul might need to develop nuclear weapons—or demand redeployment of U.S. nuclear arms to the Korean Peninsula—to counter North Korean nuclear threats. In doing so, Yoon spotlighted a popular view once reserved for hawkish commentators, […]
After pledging all 19 of its French-made Caesar howitzers to Ukraine, Denmark is in talks with Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems for new mobile artillery to plug a “critical gap.”. Denmark in Talks With Israel to Replace Howitzers Donated to Ukraine (thedefensepost.com)
JOE SABALLA The US Department of Defense (DoD) will increase production of artillery shells by 500 percent to replenish stockpiles sent to Ukraine, according to a report by the New York Times. US to Boost Artillery Production Sixfold With Eye on Ukraine (thedefensepost.com)
Canada said Thursday it will join the United States, Germany, and other countries in supplying heavy tanks to Ukraine to fight off Russian forces, with a shipment of four fully operational Leopards. Canada to Send Four Combat-Ready Leopard Tanks to Ukraine (thedefensepost.com)
ROJOEF MANUEL The Belgian Ministry of Defence has awarded Airbus a contract to provide a satellite communications (SATCOM) solution to the Belgian Armed Forces. Airbus to Provide Belgian Armed Forces With Ultra-High Frequency Communications (thedefensepost.com)
MARIAM WARDAK Following the withdrawal of the erstwhile Soviet troops and the collapse of the communist regime, the Taliban, an ultraconservative political and religious group emerged in Afghanistan in the mid-1990s. The government’s inability to establish control outside of Kabul left the country open to harassment and violence from local militias and warlords. In 1994, […]
Jack Watling Although Russian elites are highly pessimistic about the war, polling of the Russian population likely gives the Kremlin confidence that it can sustain losses in Ukraine. Russia Through the Kremlin’s Eyes | Royal United Services Institute (rusi.org)
Tom Keatinge and Kinga Redlowska Transparency will be key to managing Ukraine’s reconstruction, both in ensuring the efficient use of resources and in maintaining the trust of the international community. CFCS Director Tom Keatinge joins Oleksii Dorohan, CEO of the Better Regulation Delivery Office – a leading Ukrainian think tank – to discuss why Ukraine must establish a strong […]
Last year, Iran was rocked by some of the biggest protests the country has seen since the foundation of the Islamic Republic – as people were calling not just for women’s rights, but ultimately for regime change. Yet how realistic is that in a nation where the crackdown against the protests has been brutal and […]
Yechiel M. Leiter Since the advent of Zionism and the birth of modern Israel, there has been a strong ideological connection between Israel and the African continent. The fruitful existence of a strategic partnership between Ethiopia and Israel goes back at least as far as King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Reenergizing the Israel-Africa […]
Ori Sela Are new winds blowing in China’s relations with Middle East states, or are they essentially more of the same? The visit by China’s President to Saudi Arabia was heralded as a “new era,” but what does this mean, and what can be understood from Beijing’s various statements about how it sees the region? […]
Nikola Mikovic Russia continues to lose influence around the world, above all in the post-Soviet space. The Russian-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) seems to be the last instrument available to the Kremlin to preserve at least some of the allies in Moscow’s geopolitical orbit. But does the CSTO have a future? How Russia loses […]
Elod Takats and Piroska Nagy Mohacsi The European Commission has decided to suspend funding to 21 Hungarian universities from its Horizon Europe initiative, which supports cross-border collaboration on research and development, and its Erasmus+ study-abroad program. The aim is to defend the rule of law: the universities in question are run by ‘public trust foundations’, which are not subject to […]
David Uren Fewer than one in 10 Western multinationals with subsidiaries in Russia has quit any of them in the year since the Ukraine invasion began. This finding by two highly regarded academics, Simon Evenett from University of St Gallen and Niccolo Pisani from IMD Business School, contradicts earlier reports of a mass exodus by Western businesses […]
James Coker The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned organizations about ongoing spearphishing attacks by Russian and Iranian threat actors. In the advisory, the government highlighted tactics and techniques being used by Russia-based threat actor SEABORGIUM and Iran-based group TA453. NCSC: Iranian and Russian Groups Targeting Government, Activists and Journalists With Spearphishing – Infosecurity […]
Phil Muncaster The volume of publicly reported data breaches and leaks remained at a near-record level in 2022, although consumers and businesses are being let down by the paucity of information provided by breached companies, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). Near-Record Year for US Data Breaches in 2022 – Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
INDER SINGH BISHT Ethiopia has acquired dozens of Chinese-built 155 mm SH15 wheeled, self-propelled howitzers, images of a joint military exercise revealed. Ethiopia Acquires Dozens of Chinese Wheeled Howitzers (thedefensepost.com)
Lee Ferran A senior US official is crediting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s aggression in Asia and the waning effects of the COVID pandemic for a drastic leap in foreign military sales last fiscal year. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency reported this week that total US arms transfers for fiscal 2022 totaled about $52 billion, up […]
Tom Kington Italy has signed a deal with its leading defense firms for the development of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) aimed at producing a new sixth-generation fighter with the U.K. and Japan by 2035. Italy taps local defense companies to work on next-gen warplane (defensenews.com)
Colin Demarest To best China in the increasingly competitive artificial intelligence game, the U.S. must dramatically boost its efforts to collect, label and sort mountains of data that will ultimately be used in machine-training regimens, the Pentagon’s AI czar said. Pentagon’s AI chief says data labeling is key to win race with China (defensenews.com)
Sebastian Sprenger Following a protracted debate over battle tank donations for Ukraine that tested the unity of Kyiv’s allies, cluster munitions appear in position to fire up the next controversy. Whispers about cluster munitions for Ukraine are aimed at Berlin (defensenews.com)
Suryaputra Wijaksana The oil ‘price cap’ of US$60 per barrel for Russian oil is a controversial move by the European Union and G7. The price cap prohibits Western insurers and shipping companies, which account for more than 90 per cent of the marine insurance industry, from servicing vessels that carry Russian oil above US$60 per […]
PATRICK TUCKER A Russian manufacturer says it is adapting one of its ground robots to target Abrams and Leopard tanks—the types heading to Ukraine from the United States, Germany, Poland and other countries. Russian Robot Maker Working On Bot to Target Abrams, Leopard Tanks – Defense One
Vladimir Socor Russia’s war against Ukraine has dealt the coup de grâce to the “5+2” negotiations on the settlement of conflict in Transnistria, the forum where Russia and Ukraine sit next to each other. Moscow and Kyiv have been seated formally at the top of the table, but Russia was always the dominant player by far, manipulating […]
Pavel Luzin On January 11, the Russian Ministry of Defense once again changed the command structure of the Russian forces fighting against Ukraine. Army General Valery Gerasimov (born in 1955), former chief of the Russian General Staff, finally became the commander of Russia’s joint forces in Ukraine, replacing Army General Sergei Surovikin (1966), commander of […]
Charles Lichfield, Maia Nikoladze, and Castellum.AI The war is causing Russia to spend much more than it is making in revenue. Moscow cannot afford to block sales to countries complying with oil price caps, but will try to undermine the cap by building up a fleet of crude vessels. Global Sanctions Dashboard: How sanctions will […]
Kateryna Stepanenko, Karolina Hird, Riley Bailey, Grace Mappes, Layne Philipson, Nicole Wolkov, and Frederick W. Kagan Russian forces launched another massive series of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine on January 26. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 26, 2023 | Institute for the Study of War (understandingwar.org)
Annika Ganzeveld, Nicholas Carl, Kitaneh Fitzpatrick, Johanna Moore and Frederick W. Kagan Ongoing disruptions to Iran’s energy supplies may be generating severe air pollution. Iran Crisis Update, January 26, 2023 | Institute for the Study of War (understandingwar.org)
Amb. Anil Trigunayat is a member of the Indian Foreign Service. He has served in the Indian Missions in Cote d’Ivoire, Bangladesh, Mongolia, USA, Russia, Sweden and Nigeria, Libya and Jordan. In the Ministry of External Affairs he has worked in the Economic, West Asia and North Africa and Consular Divisions. He also served as […]
La ferita è sempre aperta. E’ la ferita, provocata dall’umano, che oltraggia e annulla l’umano. E’ la ferita della parola che uccide il Silenzio. Ogni “soluzione finale” è la resa agli istinti bestiali, incapacità Politica di affrontare l’Altro e la Realtà. Quando l’uomo è debole, l’Altro deve morire e la Realtà deve conformarsi alla sua […]
Hlib Parfonov While some analysis has covered Ukrainian church life, a Western layman might think that religious persecutions are actively taking place in Ukraine. Moreover, such rhetoric can be heard from Western sources and other media with anti-Ukrainian undertones (YouTube, December 22, 2022). In retrospect, the current actions of the Ukrainian authorities, in which people […]
Oleg Varfolomeyev Russia’s re-invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 took a heavy toll on the Ukrainian economy. Moscow focused on destroying the Russian-speaking industrial heartland in the southeast, displacing millions of workers, damaging crops, smashing the power grid and blocking exports from Ukraine’s seaports. As a result, Ukraine’s gross domestic product (GDP) plunged 30 percent […]
Grigory Ioffe Belarusians are divided, and the politically conscious Belarusians live in their own information bubbles and echo chambers. This is the principal conclusion that Yury Drakakhrust of the Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty drew from the most recent (November 2022) online survey of urban Belarusians conducted by Chatham House (Svaboda, December 20). While this […]
Aslan Doukaev The Caucasus is a culture of polar opposites, jarring contrasts and occasionally unexpected juxtapositions. Russian author Viktor Pelevin was on to something when he wrote his noir novel Generation ‘P,’ a cult hit that portrayed an opiate-addicted Chechen racketeer who “usually lay on a mattress in a half-empty trailer … listening to Sufi music” (Pelevin, Generation […]
Fuad Shahbazov The end of 2022 marked another round of confrontation between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Karabakh region with the involvement of Russian peacekeeping forces. The standoff began in early December, when the Russian peacekeeping contingent in the separatist Karabakh region denied access to Azerbaijani officials from the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Ecology […]
Paul Globe Moscow is increasingly concerned about Kyiv’s increased attention not only to the non-Russian republics and regions within the current borders of the Russian Federation but also, and particularly, to parts of the country that have, or at least had, significant ethnic Ukrainian populations (see EDM, July 28, 2022). The last of these regions—and there […]
Dr. Chikako Kawakatsu Ueki est professeur de relations internationales à la Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS) de l’Université Waseda. Ses domaines d’expertise comprennent les relations internationales et la sécurité en Asie de l’Est, avec un accent particulier sur les relations entre les États-Unis, le Japon et la Chine. Elle a beaucoup écrit sur les […]
Masaaki Yatsuzuka Chinese President Xi Jinping paid an official visit to Saudi Arabia from 7 to 10 December 2022 and participated in a series of important summit meetings: a China-Saudi Arabia Summit, a China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and an inaugural China-Arab States Summit. This is Xi Jinping’s third official visit to the Middle East […]
As India formally took over the presidency of the G20, climate change, food security, sustainable living, climate finance, and energy security would be high on India’s G20 agenda. This sharpened focus will undoubtedly provide the burgeoning climate dialogue, innovations, and business models in India and around the world a multifaceted boost. Additionally, it will solidify […]
Neha Mishra Every week, a new concession agreement is signed or a foreign company invests in rare-earth mining projects in the continent of Africa. Africa has the world’s largest mineral reserves. Countries like Burundi, Madagascar, Malawi, Kenya, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia have an abundance of neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium. Some deposits are already being […]
Manpreet Sethi On December 2, 2022, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a 15-member International Group of Eminent Persons from nuclear and non-nuclear states to initiate discussions on steps towards universal nuclear disarmament. The first meeting of the group was held on December 10-11, 2022, in Hiroshima, his hometown. The choice of the venue turned out […]
SONG Jisun The deepening strategic competition between the United States of America (hereafter, the U.S.) and China is also taking place in Africa, with the two countries carrying out active development cooperation diplomacy. Not only did high-level visitation by the two countries increase in recent years, but both the U.S. and China have announced strategic […]
INDER SINGH BISHT The Biden administration has asked Israel to transfer its discontinued Hawk anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine. US Asks Israel to Send Hawk Air Defense Systems to Ukraine: Report (thedefensepost.com)
INDER SINGH BISHT Australia will soon buy sea mines to help deter potential Chinese aggression. Australia to Buy ‘Smart’ Sea Mines as China Deterrence: Report (thedefensepost.com)
Spain said Wednesday it was ready to send some of its German-made Leopard tanks to bolster Ukraine’s fight against Russia after Berlin granted approval for their European transfers. Spain Says ‘Ready’ to Send German Tanks to Kyiv (thedefensepost.com)
JOE SABALLA The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has signified its intention to procure smart aviation weapons from Safran. Indonesia Considering Buying Smart Aviation Weapons From France (thedefensepost.com)
JOE SABALLA Italian shipbuilding firm Fincantieri has launched the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces’ 143-meter (469-feet) landing platform dock (LPD). Qatar’s 143-Meter ‘Al Fulk’ Landing Platform Dock Finally Launched (thedefensepost.com)
ROJOEF MANUEL The US Air Force has teamed with Washington DC-based Howard University to conduct tactical autonomy research supporting US military systems. US Air Force Taps Howard University for Tactical Autonomy Research (thedefensepost.com)
Norway will send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine as part of Western aid, its defense minister announced Wednesday, joining other European countries. Norway Will Send Leopard 2 Tanks to Ukraine: Defense Minister (thedefensepost.com)
Jiayi Zhou and Ian Anthony ext month will mark one year since Russia began its full-scale war on Ukraine. This large-scale land invasion has had repercussions across the geopolitical, humanitarian, financial, and even food and energy domains. It has also had devastating ecological impacts. Environmental accountability, justice and reconstruction in the Russian war on Ukraine | SIPRI
Sweta Kumari Yudh Abhyas, a joint military exercise, held between the Indian Army and the US Army is one of the critical aspects of the defence cooperation between the two countries. This exercise takes place at the Battalion level with its joint planning at the Brigade level. It provides an opportunity for both armies to […]
Anil Kumar Kanungo The contribution of services sector to the Indian economy is well-recognized. With a significant share of over 50% in gross domestic product (GDP) (Economic Survey, 2021-22, Ministry of Finance), and accounting for 36% of total exports (UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), 2017), and 40% in 2021-22 (The Economic Times, March21, […]
Tim Foxley and Antonio Giustozzi With Afghanistan largely turning its back on the outside world, the country’s religious scholars might be in a key position to influence the direction taken by the Taliban government. But what sort of an influence will they be? A Force of Moderation or Radicalisation? The Role of Afghanistan’s Ulema | […]
J. Andrés Gannon, Stanton nuclear security fellow at CFR, discusses the likelihood of Russian deployment and use of nuclear missiles against Ukraine or its allies, and the implications for the United States should that occur. Jerrold T. Bushberg, chairman of the board and senior vice-president of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, discusses […]
A European country has proposed sending cluster munitions to Ukraine, believing the controversial weapons — whose use by Russia has been condemned — could help on the battlefield, an official said Wednesday. European Bid to Send Cluster Munitions to Ukraine (thedefensepost.com)
Col. Maximilian Bremer and Kelly Grieco With news that the United States and its NATO allies will send modern battle tanks to Ukraine, there are now renewed calls to provide Kyiv with modern fighter jets, like the F-16. The weapons the United States and other countries give Ukraine should align with a winning strategy, and driving Ukraine toward a Western way of air superiority will […]
Courtney Albon The Pentagon’s policy shop released updated guidelines for developing and operating autonomous weapons that incorporates the Defense Department’s vision for ethical artificial intelligence and requires additional reviews for new systems. Pentagon updates autonomous weapons policy to account for AI advances (defensenews.com)
Courtney Albon The Defense Innovation Unit more than doubled the number of programs it transitioned from commercial prototypes to military capabilities in fiscal 2022, pushing 17 technologies in a banner year for the organization, according to its annual report. Pentagon tech hub reports strong year with 17 projects fielded (defensenews.com)
James Guild Indonesian Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia suggested that Indonesia is looking into forming an OPEC-style cartel for nickel and other inputs used in battery production. Nickel is becoming a hot commodity as it is a key input in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries needed for electric vehicles (EVs) — and Indonesia has the world’s largest […]
Scott A. Snyder In 2022, North Korea exported tensions through stepped-up missile tests and threats toward South Korea. It also kept a national quarantine that prevented official imports of economic goods in place, but ultimately failed to keep COVID-19 from infecting the country. Missiles and macroeconomy mark North Korea’s 2022 troubles | East Asia Forum
Kirill Nourzhanov Political turmoil and uncertainty beset Central Asia in 2022. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan faced domestic, regional and international challenges exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. This brought into sharp relief both the systemic threats to peace and stability on the ground and regional authoritarian governments’ capacity to placate if not eliminate […]
MARCUS WEISGERBER The Pentagon is preparing to place a number of large orders in coming months to replenish U.S. stockpiles drained of billions’ of dollars worth of weapons and military equipment given to Ukraine over the past year, the U.S. Army’s top weapons buyer said Wednesday. Expect Big Replenishment Orders Soon, Army Tells Industry – […]
Constanze Stelzenmüller, Tara Varma, and Adrianna Pita France and Germany recently marked the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Élysée, a symbol of friendship and framework for cooperation from the early days of the European Union. Constanze Stelzenmüller and Tara Varma examine their countries’ role in providing a model and a motor for deepening European partnerships and meeting the […]
Arash Azizi For those who wish to see an end to the Islamic Republic of Iran, one problem has long loomed large: what to replace it with? Lack of organization and unity among the Iranian opposition is a familiar and perennial problem. Can Reza Pahlavi help unite the Iranian opposition? A hashtag is suggesting so. […]
Jeffrey Cimmino, Shelby Magid For nearly a year, Ukrainian forces have shown their ability to heroically defend their land and their people against Russia’s invading army. However, despite some genuine triumphs on the battlefield, Ukrainian soldiers and civilians continue to die. Meanwhile, Russian forces are seeking to consolidate their gains and a major new Russian […]
The United States announced Tuesday that it would allow Trinidad and Tobago to develop a gas field located in Venezuelan territorial waters. The agreement would boost Caribbean energy supply while creating an exception for some US sanctions on Caracas—though the United States says no cash payments will be allowed to Add Newgo to President Nicolás Maduro’s government […]
The armor is en route. After months of haggling and delay, both the United States and Germany are sending the battle tanks requested by Ukraine for its extended fight against Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday that Berlin will send Leopard 2 tanks—and allow other European nations to do so. Meanwhile, the United States will send […]
Karolina Hird, Riley Bailey, Kateryna Stepanenko, Layne Philipson, Grace Mappes, and Frederick W. Kagan Russian forces may be engaging in limited spoiling attacks across most of the frontline in Ukraine in order to disperse and distract Ukrainian forces and set conditions to launch a decisive offensive operation in Luhansk Oblast. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January […]
Nicholas Carl, Annika Ganzeveld, Kitaneh Fitzpatrick, Amin Soltani, and Frederick W. Kagan Grievances related to deteriorating economic conditions and essential service provision have generated most protest activity in Iran in recent days. Iran Crisis Update, January 25, 2023 | Institute for the Study of War (understandingwar.org)
Amb Anil Trigunayat As the global churn is yet to spring some sense of stability New Delhi has been in an overdrive to identify and nurture key partnerships across geographies since its strategic autonomy and consistent principled policies in international discourse have provided it with a strategic niche to enhance the outreach in a constructive […]
KARTIK BOMMAKANTI In late March 2019, the Modi government took a momentous and courageous decision to conduct a kinetic Anti-Satellite Test (A-SAT) dubbed “Mission Shakti”. The A-SAT was obviously a response to the growing asymmetry in counter-space capabilities between India and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). An A-SAT test ban can wait: India needs […]
HARSH V. PANT, PARAS RATNA The G20 was conceived in 1999 in the wake of the Asian financial crisis as a platform for finance ministers and central bank governors to deliberate on issues pertaining to global finance and economy. In 2008, it was elevated to include the heads of State against the backdrop of global recession. Today, […]
RAVI MITTAL, PRIYANSH NATHANI By developing agendas, action-oriented plans, and decisions through collaborative efforts, India could lead the G20 agenda in a unique way. Setting a robust G20 agenda | ORF (orfonline.org)
HARSH V. PANT, KARTIK BOMMAKANTI India’s tumultuous and volatile strategic environment showed no signs of abating in intensity. New Delhi continues to face a two-front challenge from both of its primary foes, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Pakistan, notwithstanding the latter’s recent conciliatory overtures, which are only a smokescreen to tide over its […]
Tim Willasey-Wilsey CMG Former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has suggested that a Russian defeat in Ukraine could lead to nuclear war. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has dismissed the idea as nonsense. So what would happen if the Russian army mutinied or collapsed? Could a Russian Military Collapse Lead to Nuclear War? | Royal United […]
Neil Melvin and Carlos Solar After decades of peace, the Antarctic is emerging as a zone for future geopolitical competition. Episode 42: The New Geopolitics of the Antarctic | Royal United Services Institute (rusi.org)
Who controls the internet and internet data, and who should control it in the future? Who owns the internet? | Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank
As relations between the UK and its European neighbours become less contentious, plenty of opportunities exist to build on this positive momentum in 2023. UK-Europe relations finally head in the right direction | Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank
Representatives of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States met at the envoys level in Geneva with UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen on January 24 to discuss the crisis in Syria. Joint Statement on Syria – United States Department of State
Fabien Gibault La nouvelle présidente du Conseil italien était très attendue, aussi bien par les citoyens transalpins que par la presse. Trois mois après sa nomination, retour sur les premières réformes et les stratégies du nouveau gouvernement italien. 100 jours après son intronisation, quel bilan pour le gouvernement Meloni ? | IRIS (iris-france.org)
RONALD WATKINS The US and Israel have begun “Exercise Juniper Oak 23.2” in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea amid increased tension with Iran, featuring more than 140 aircraft including strategic bombers, fighter jets, and refueling aircraft. ‘Thinly-Veiled Message to Iran:’ US, Israel Begin Major Live-Fire Drill (thedefensepost.com)
The Rwandan government said a fighter jet from the Democratic Republic of Congo violated its airspace on Tuesday as tensions soar between the neighbors over the DRC’s volatile east. Rwanda Says DR Congo Warplane Violated Airspace (thedefensepost.com)
Turkey on Tuesday postponed NATO accession talks with Sweden and Finland, further denting the Nordic neighbors’ hopes of joining the Western defense alliance after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey Postpones NATO Talks With Sweden, Finland (thedefensepost.com)
Berlin on Wednesday approved the delivery of powerful German-made Leopard tanks to help Ukraine repel Russia’s invasion, after weeks of pressure from Kyiv and many allies. Germany Greenlights Long-Awaited Leopard Tanks for Ukraine (thedefensepost.com)
ROJOEF MANUEL The US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) has tested counter-chemical warfare tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) for the first time at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea. US Pacific Air Forces Trial Counter-Chemical Warfare Protection in South Korea (thedefensepost.com)
JOE SABALLA Germany has tapped the services of local technology firm Hensoldt to equip its Eurodrone unmanned aerial system (UAS) with signals intelligence (SIGNIT) capability. Hensoldt to Equip German Eurodrone With Signals Intelligence Capability (thedefensepost.com)