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18 Jun 24. North Korea-Russia: Putin’s visit will likely herald deepening ties, heightening regional tensions. Later on 18 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to travel to North Korea for a two-day state visit. The two countries have substantially improved their relationship since North Korea supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The US has alleged that North Korean ballistic missiles and ammunition are already in use in Ukraine. According to Russian state media, the two nations are set to sign a treaty on a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’. We assess they are also likely to agree to expand military co-operation, engage in mutually beneficial sanctions-mitigation strategies and establish a line of credit from Moscow to North Korea, providing foreign currency to the latter. The visit will likely further escalate tensions in the Korean Peninsula. Earlier on 18 June, South Korea’s army reportedly fired warning shots as a group of North Korean troops briefly crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), forcing them to retreat. In a separate incident earlier on 18 June, a landmine exploded in the DMZ, reportedly causing multiple casualties on the North Korean side. Although North Korea is unlikely to seek to initiate a military conflict, further provocative actions are a realistic possibility after Putin’s visit is completed. (Source: Sibylline)
19 Jun 24. Putin thanks Kim for unwavering support at summit, including on Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a summit meeting on Wednesday after a grand welcome ceremony at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Russian media said, as they pledged to develop their nations’ ties.
An honour guard including mounted soldiers, and a large crowd of civilians gathered at the square by the Taedong River running through the capital. The scene included children holding balloons, and giant portraits of the two leaders with national flags adorning the Grand People’s Study Hall.
Kim and Putin then rode to the Kumsusan Palace for summit talks, Russian media said.
“We highly appreciate your consistent and unwavering support for Russian policy, including in the Ukrainian direction,” Russian state news agency RIA quoted Putin as saying at the start of the talks with Kim.
Putin said Moscow is fighting the hegemonic, imperialist policy of the United States and its allies, Russian media reported.
Putin arrived at Pyongyang’s airport early Wednesday. After Kim welcomed him with an embrace, the two shared “pent-up inmost thoughts” on the ride to the state guest house in Pyongyang, North Korean state media said.
Putin is on his first trip to the North Korean capital in 24 years, a visit likely to reshape decades of Russia-North Korea relations at a time when both countries face international isolation.
The countries’ partnership is an “engine for accelerating the building of a new multi-polar world” and Putin’s visit demonstrates the invincibility and durability of their friendship and unity, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA said.
Russia has used its warming ties with North Korea to needle Washington, while heavily sanctioned North Korea has won political backing and promises of economic support and trade from Moscow.
The United States and its allies say they fear Russia could provide aid for North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs, which are banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions, and have accused Pyongyang of providing ballistic missiles and artillery shells that Russia has used in its war in Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied weapons transfers. (Source: Reuters)
15 Jun 24. Iran: joint statement by France, Germany and United Kingdom.
Joint statement by the spokespeople for the Foreign Ministries of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on the Iranian nuclear programme.
Statement by the governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom:
We, the governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, condemn Iran’s latest steps, as reported by the IAEA, to further expand its nuclear programme.
Iran has taken further steps in hollowing out the JCPoA, by operating dozens of additional advanced centrifuges at the Natanz enrichment site as well as announcing it will install thousands more centrifuges at both its Fordow and Natanz sites. These steps will further increase Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and enrichment capacity, which already significantly exceed JCPoA limits. This decision is a further escalation of Iran’s nuclear programme, which carries significant proliferation risks. Iran’s decision to substantially increase its production capacity at the underground Fordow facility is especially concerning.
Presenting such steps as a reaction to the IAEA Board of Governors’ adoption of a resolution calling for Iran’s long overdue cooperation on safeguards is not acceptable. Iran is legally obliged under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to fully implement its safeguards agreement, which is separate to the JCPoA.
We remain committed to a diplomatic solution preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
19 Jun 24. South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace and Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Eurosatory 2024 exhibition in Paris on 17 June aimed at strengthening the two companies’ co-operation in delivering high-performing combat solutions for land domain platforms.
The two companies are expanding their partnership in developing and marketing advanced defence solutions for the global market, including their respective home markets in Norway and South Korea. Both companies have previously delivered combined systems to several customers, including in Norway, Finland, Estonia and Australia.
The MoU covers Kongsberg’s Integrated Combat Solution (ICS), digital vehicle platform and remote weapon systems for Hanwha land platforms, including the K9/K10 Thunder artillery system and Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher.
Jaeil Son, president and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, stated: “The memorandum that has just been signed holds special significance for us. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace is a globally recognised company providing top-quality equipment and services. We are therefore particularly pleased to further develop our existing co-operation, and through this partnership we will be developing the most advanced, cutting-edge solutions together. The agreement signed today is further proof of Hanwha Aerospace’s growing commitment in Europe.”
“This MoU confirms the strong relationship between the two companies and our desire to work together to develop first-class solutions to our customers,” added Jørgen Bull, vice president of land systems at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
(Source: Google/ESD)
14 Jun 24. Cuba-Russia-US: Deployment of US submarine amid Russian exercises will elevate regional tensions. On 13 June, a US nuclear-powered fast attack submarine arrived in Guantanamo Bay (Cuba) one day after four Russian ships arrived in Havana Bay. Reports allege that the Russian flotilla, which includes a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate, conducted exercises less than 30 miles (48km) off the coast of Florida (US) on 11 June. The US military authorities have stated that they are unconcerned by the deployment, given that Russia has sailed warships in the region every year between 2013 and 2020. By deploying the USS Helena Los Angeles-class submarine, the US is likely signalling that it will not be intimidated by Russia. The Russian flotilla will likely also make a port call in Venezuela. Cuba and Venezuela are both strategic allies of Russia. We assess that the exercises reflect an attempt by Russia to reinforce its strategic ties in the western hemisphere. Regional tensions between the US, Russia and its allies will likely be heightened during the exercises. (Source: Sibylline)
13 Jun 24. Saudi Arabia to Showcase Defense Prowess at Eurosatory 2024. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to make a grand appearance at Eurosatory 2024, the International Defense and Security Exhibition, taking place from June 17 to 21, 2024, in Paris, France. Spearheaded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), the Kingdom’s participation will bring together a consortium of government and private entities under the Saudi pavilion.
Prominent Participants
The Saudi pavilion will feature a distinguished lineup of organizations, including:
- Ministry of Investment: Represented by Invest Saudi, the Kingdom’s investment promotion agency.
- General Authority for Defense Development (GADD): Overseeing the development of Saudi Arabia’s defense industry.
- SAMI: The leading Saudi military industries company.
- Saudia Technic: A provider of comprehensive aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.
- Life Shield for Military Industries: A manufacturer of armored vehicles and protective solutions.
- Scopa Saudi Arabia for Military Industries: A specialist in manufacturing and supplying ammunition and explosives.
- Arab International Company (AIC): A provider of integrated defense solutions.
- Saudi Arabian Leather Industries Company (SLIC): A manufacturer of military footwear and leather products.
- AL-ESNAD Military Industries Support Group: Offering comprehensive logistics and support services to the defense sector.
- KRMC Service Company for Manufacturing: A provider of manufacturing and maintenance services for defense equipment.
- World Defense Show (WDS): The Kingdom’s premier defense exhibition and conference.
Key Objectives
Saudi Arabia’s participation in Eurosatory 2024 is driven by several strategic objectives:
- Enhance Global Presence: Reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a leading player in the global defense industry.
- Highlight Investment Potential: Showcase the Kingdom’s attractive investment environment for the defense sector.
- Promote Research and Innovation: Foster collaboration and partnerships in defense research and development.
- Demonstrate Sectoral Expertise: Exhibit the Kingdom’s capabilities and expertise in manufacturing and supplying defense products.
- Highlight Localization Efforts: Showcase progress towards the Kingdom’s goal of localizing 50% of defense spending by 2030.
Economic Significance
The Kingdom’s defense industry is recognized as a vital contributor to the national economy, with aspirations to become a major driver of economic growth. Eurosatory 2024 provides an ideal platform to:
- Promote Technology Transfer and Localization: Attract foreign expertise and technology to support localization initiatives.
- Create Employment Opportunities: Generate job opportunities for Saudi citizens within the defense sector.
- Strengthen Supply Chains: Foster partnerships that enhance the resilience and sustainability of defense supply chains.
Reinforcing Strategic Goals
Saudi Arabia’s participation in Eurosatory 2024 aligns with the Kingdom’s broader strategic goals, including:
- Vision 2030: Achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes the development of a robust and self-reliant defense industry.
- National Security: Strengthening national security by enhancing domestic defense capabilities.
- Economic Diversification: Diversifying the economy and reducing reliance on oil revenue.
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia’s presence at Eurosatory 2024 serves as a testament to the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to advancing its defense industry, fostering economic diversification, and positioning itself as a global leader in defense technology and innovation. The participation underscores the Kingdom’s dedication to collaborating with international partners to achieve its strategic objectives and contribute to a more secure and stable regional and global environment. (Source: Defense Arabia)
14 Jun 24. The U.S. military launched a clandestine program amid the COVID crisis to discredit China’s Sinovac inoculation – payback for Beijing’s efforts to blame Washington for the pandemic. One target: the Filipino public. Health experts say the gambit was indefensible and put innocent lives at risk.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. military launched a secret campaign to counter what it perceived as China’s growing influence in the Philippines, a nation hit especially hard by the deadly virus.
The clandestine operation has not been previously reported. It aimed to sow doubt about the safety and efficacy of vaccines and other life-saving aid that was being supplied by China, a Reuters investigation found. Through phony internet accounts meant to impersonate Filipinos, the military’s propaganda efforts morphed into an anti-vax campaign. Social media posts decried the quality of face masks, test kits and the first vaccine that would become available in the Philippines – China’s Sinovac inoculation.
Reuters identified at least 300 accounts on X, formerly Twitter, that matched descriptions shared by former U.S. military officials familiar with the Philippines operation. Almost all were created in the summer of 2020 and centered on the slogan #Chinaangvirus – Tagalog for China is the virus.
“COVID came from China and the VACCINE also came from China, don’t trust China!” one typical tweet from July 2020 read in Tagalog. The words were next to a photo of a syringe beside a Chinese flag and a soaring chart of infections. Another post read: “From China – PPE, Face Mask, Vaccine: FAKE. But the Coronavirus is real.”
After Reuters asked X about the accounts, the social media company removed the profiles, determining they were part of a coordinated bot campaign based on activity patterns and internal data.
The U.S. military’s anti-vax effort began in the spring of 2020 and expanded beyond Southeast Asia before it was terminated in mid-2021, Reuters determined. Tailoring the propaganda campaign to local audiences across Central Asia and the Middle East, the Pentagon used a combination of fake social media accounts on multiple platforms to spread fear of China’s vaccines among Muslims at a time when the virus was killing tens of thousands of people each day. A key part of the strategy: amplify the disputed contention that, because vaccines sometimes contain pork gelatin, China’s shots could be considered forbidden under Islamic law.
The military program started under former President Donald Trump and continued months into Joe Biden’s presidency, Reuters found – even after alarmed social media executives warned the new administration that the Pentagon had been trafficking in COVID misinformation. The Biden White House issued an edict in spring 2021 banning the anti-vax effort, which also disparaged vaccines produced by other rivals, and the Pentagon initiated an internal review, Reuters found. (Source: Reuters)
14 Jun 24. Armenia-Belarus: Minsk’s alleged military aid to Baku will likely widen Yerevan’s split from Russia. Reports emerged on 13 June that Belarus supplied advanced military hardware to Azerbaijan between 2018 and 2022, despite the former being a member of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) alongside Armenia. It is likely that the Belarus-supplied equipment assisted Azerbaijan during the Second Karabakh War (2020), and also in clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in September 2022. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan implied on 12 June that his country will leave the CSTO. He accused members of the alliance of having not fulfilled their obligations, claiming that they are planning a war against Armenia with Azerbaijan. While we cannot confirm the veracity of the reports, Yerevan is highly likely to regard this development as a betrayal and further evidence of the CSTO’s failure to protect Armenia. If the reports are true, it is highly unlikely that Belarus provided such support without Russia’s knowledge or approval. As such, we assess that the development will highly likely further fuel tensions between Armenia, Belarus and Russia in the coming months. (Source: Sibylline)
14 Jun 24. Sudan: Continued RSF ground operations, SAF aerial bombing will drive collateral risks for NGOs. On 13 June, the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution calling for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to cease combat operations in El Fashir (North Darfur state). El Fashir is the last remaining city outside RSF control in the broader Darfur region. As the RSF attempts to consolidate control in western Sudan, its ground operations in tandem with indiscriminate Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) aerial bombing campaigns are highly likely to continue, driving significant collateral risks for NGO staff and assets. In the coming weeks, there is also a realistic possibility that the UNSC will sanction members and elements of both the RSF and SAF, increasing compliance concerns for security and defence firms, particularly those engaged in drone manufacturing. Elevated sanctions-exposure risks for NGOs will also increase the likelihood of operational disruption in combat zones and restrict civilians’ access to critical aid facilities, further undermining humanitarian conditions and driving displacement into eastern Chad. (Source: Sibylline)
14 Jun 24. Pakistan increases defence budget but gains offset by inflation. Pakistan has announced a 2024–25 defence budget of nearly PKR2.13trn (USD7.64bn). The appropriation is a 14.5% increase over the revised defence budget for 2023–24 and an 18% increase over the original budget for that year, according to documents issued by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on 13 June.
These gains are offset however by continuing economic challenges in the South Asian country including the declined value of its currency and continuing double-digit inflation.
The majority of funding in the defence budget is allocated to Defence Services, which receives PKR2.12trn in 2024–25. A Defence Administration appropriation receives the remainder, about PKR6.7bn.
The Defence Services allocation for 2024–25 includes employee-related expenses of PKR815.2bn, a 11% increase over the revised 2023–24 allocation, and expenses for physical assets, which receives PKR548.6bn, an increase of 18%.
Other appropriations under Defence Services consist of operating expenses of PKR513.3bn, an increase of 14%, and civil works, which receives PKR244.8bn, a rise of 20%.
A separate pensions appropriation in the federal budget provides PKR662 bn for the military. This is a 13.5% increase over the revised allocation for 2023–24, MoF documents show.
Another separate allocation is the Armed Forces Development Programme (AFDP), which is thought to augment military procurement. News reports in Pakistan said the AFDP would receive PKR402bn in 2024–25.
In addition, Pakistan’s state-run defence industrial enterprises receive PKR3.7bn in the 2024–25 federal budget. The money supports the continued development of Pakistan’s naval shipbuilding facilities, including those operated by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW).
The Pakistan Armed Forces has made steps towards modernisation in 2024 supported by its primary defence supplier, China. (Source: Janes)
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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need. A CNIM Group Company
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