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Cyber Security, Digital Transition, Technology Geopolitics & Worlds In-Defense In-Security Pensiero Strategico

Open newsletter – february 23, 2022

ASIA A divide is emerging between how the Asia Pacific region has responded to the Omicron wave of COVID-19, and how North American and Western European countries have responded. East Asia Forum, Jeremy Youde: Asia’s cautious approach to Omicron AUSTRALIA One of the former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials involved with a new […]

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Cyber Security, Digital Transition, Technology Geopolitics & Worlds In-Defense In-Security Pensiero Strategico

Open newsletter – february 22, 2022

AFGHANISTAN The Taliban is creating a “grand army” for Afghanistan that will include officers and troops who served the old regime, says the official tasked with overseeing the military’s transformation. Latifullah Hakimi, head of the Taliban’s Ranks Clearance Commission, also told a news conference on Monday that they had repaired half the 81 helicopters and planes […]

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Cyber Security, Digital Transition, Technology Geopolitics & Worlds

Daily news – February 9, 2022

News from: Al Jazeera, Brookings, East Asia Forum, Global Times, Key4Biz, Reuters, RFE RL, The Jamestown Foundation, ThinkChina, US Department of State  AFRICA The criticality of climate finance for Africa. Amar Bhattacharya, Brookings: Climate finance will be critical for enabling Africa to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change and to ensure that its […]

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Cyber Security, Digital Transition, Technology Geopolitics & Worlds

Daily news – February 3, 2022 a.m.

AFRICA Artificial intelligence creeps on to the African Battlefield. Nathaniel Allen, Marian “Ify” Okpali, Brookings: Even as the world’s leading militaries race to adopt artificial intelligence in anticipation of future great power war, security forces in one of the world’s most conflict-prone regions are opting for a more measured approach. In Africa, AI is gradually making its […]

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Geopolitics & Worlds

Daily news – February 2, 2022 p.m.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO  At least 60 people killed in militia attack in eastern DR Congo. Erikas Mwisi Kambale, Reuters: At least 60 people were killed in a militia attack early on Wednesday at a displaced persons’ camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the head of a local humanitarian group and a […]

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Geopolitics & Worlds

How the Biden administration can assure regional partners in the wake of the Houthi attacks on the UAE (William F. Wechsler, Atlantic Council)

The recent attacks on January 18 and 24 by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) capital Abu Dhabi clearly demonstrate, yet again, Tehran’s unique policy of routinely giving precision weapons to non-state proxies so that they can intentionally target civilians across borders. It’s worth reminding all objective observers in Washington—no […]

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Geopolitics & Worlds

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meeting with UAE and Saudi Arabia Ambassadors to the United States (White House)

Today National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with both UAE Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba and Saudi Ambassador to the United States Reema bint Bandar Al Saud to discuss ongoing Houthi attacks against civilian targets in the UAE and Saudi Arabia that have resulted in civilian casualties in both countries.  The Ambassadors […]

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Geopolitics & Worlds

UAE says intercepted and destroyed Houthi missiles (Al Jazeera)

The United Arab Emirates says it intercepted and destroyed two Houthi ballistic missiles that were targeting the country, and there were no casualties. “The remnants of the intercepted ballistic missiles fell in separate areas around Abu Dhabi,” the defence ministry said in a statement on the state-run WAM news agency on Monday. UAE says intercepted […]

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Geopolitics & Worlds

Houthi Strike at Abu Dhabi Hirak (Jyoti Das, VIF)

The Houthi attack using ballistic missiles and drones at an oil refinery in Abu Dhabi’s Musaffah Industrial City that killed two Indians and one Pakistani national on 17 January 2022 has drawn attention to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s role in the Yemen conflict. The commentary seeks to identify the reasons for Houthis’ direct confrontation […]

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Geopolitics & Worlds

THAAD, in first operational use, destroys midrange ballistic missile in Houthi attack (Jen Judson and Joe Gould, Defense News)

A multibillion-dollar missile defense system owned by the United Arab Emirates and developed by the U.S. military intercepted a ballistic missile on Monday during a deadly attack by Houthi militants in Abu Dhabi, marking the system’s first known use in a military operation, Defense News has learned. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System, made by Lockheed […]

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Turkey signs $5bn swap deal with UAE, boosting foreign reserves (Onur Ant, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera)

Turkey signed a $4.9 billion currency swap agreement with the United Arab Emirates, boosting dwindling foreign-exchange reserves depleted by the country’s financial turmoil. The three-year deal reflects a warming of ties that began last year after a decade of frosty relations that rippled across the Middle East. Turkey has already signed swap deals with Qatar, […]

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South Korea inks largest arms export deal with UAE for missile interceptor (Brian Kim, Defense News)

 South Korea has inked a deal with the United Arab Emirates to export midrange surface-to-air missiles, marking the Asian country’s largest-ever arms export deal in history. Valued about $3.5 billion, the contract for the Cheongung II KM-SAM weapons was singed Jan. 16 during a meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Emirati Prime Minister Mohammed bin […]