We report, from Defense News, the news that German government will work to ease its restrictive export policy when pursuing joint weapon programs with European partners.
This is complex news because it touches on many aspects of a strategic problem. The article explains the difficulties related to major European projects, in particular the Future Combat Air System between Germany, France and Spain.
The unblocking of arms exports poses moral and political problems, especially when we look at the world in which we live. Today’s reflection is meant to look into the future: can we consider this step as a further building block towards a Europe of defence?
Whatever our opinion on arms exports, there is no doubt that Europe must progressively unite around sensitive policies, and common defence is among them.
(by M.E.)
TOPICS
- (Cybersecurity) September 13, 2022. Cao Siqi, Global Times. A “concealed and adaptable” weapon used by US’ intelligence center National Security Agency (NSA) to launch a cyberattack on the email system of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province – well-known for its aviation, aerospace and navigation studies – was captured by Chinese cybersecurity experts, the Global Times learned from a source on Tuesday. Exclusive: ‘Concealed, adaptable’ weapon of NSA’s cyberattack on leading Chinese aviation university exposed
- (Debt Crises in developing countries) August 30. 2022. G20 Insights. The debt situation in many low-income countries (LICs) following the COVID-19 pandemic has deteriorated considerably. While many LICs had participated in the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) by April 2022, only three countries have taken part in the Common Framework for Debt Treatment beyond DSSI. To better operationalise the Common Framework, the G20 should incentivise private and public creditor participation including those of Non-Paris Club members. In addition, G20 members should encourage the application of the comparability of treatment clause and urge multilateral creditors to participate in the debt restructuring process. The G20 should encourage full disclosure of debt among creditors by promoting the OECD Debt Transparency Initiative and by adopting the G20 Operational Guidelines. Moreover, the G20 should support local capacity building for public financial management in LICs and should promote that debt treatment under the Common Framework is subject to scaling up sustainable investments in debtor countries. Finally, the G20 should use its weight in the managing boards of the international financial institutions to push IMF-WB debt sustainability analyses to better include sustainability criteria. Resolving Debt Crises In Developing Countries: How Can The G20 Contribute To Operationalising The Common Framework?
- (Defense – Military – Security) September 13, 2022. Courtney Albon, Defense News. Space sustainability company Slingshot Aerospace announced Tuesday it will release a free version of its Beacon platform, which alerts operators to potential satellite collisions. California company promises free crash-avoidance tool for spacecraft
- (Defense – Military – Security) September 13, 2022. Vivienne Machi, Defense News. The French Navy is setting its sights on commercially developed drones and laser weapons to field new capabilities before the end of the 2020s, a senior service officer said on Monday. French Navy embraces commercial tech for directed energy, drones
- (Defense – Military – Security) September 12, 2022. Stephen Losey, Defense News. General Electric Aviation on Monday said it and the U.S. Air Force finished testing the firm’s second adaptive engine, which it hopes the military will adopt for the F-35 jet, and is ready to move into the engineering and manufacturing development phase. GE adaptive engine for F-35 finishes testing, preps for new phase
- (Defense – Military – Security) September 12, 2022. Colin Demarest, Defense News. Lockheed Martin and AT&T said they securely downloaded and shared Black Hawk helicopter flight data in a fraction of the time it would normally take. The results of the Aug. 4 experiment, announced more than a month later on Sept. 9, demonstrate how useful the fifth-generation of wireless technologies can be to a military force, according to officials from the companies. Lockheed, AT&T accelerate Black Hawk data transfer using 5G networks
- (Defense – Military – Security) September 12, 2022. Mike Yeo, Defense News. Participants in a recent air combat exercise used Australia’s upgraded air bases that are still undergoing work in part to support an increased rotational presence of U.S. forces. Pitch Black participants benefit from Australian base upgrades
- (Digital & Health) September 12, 2022. Shania Kennedy, Health IT Analytics. Researchers analyzing genomic data from the UCLA ATLAS Precision Health Biobank have found a highly diverse patient population within the repository, and they plan to leverage the data to support precision medicine efforts for underrepresented populations. UCLA Leverages Genomic Data to Support Health Equity, Precision Medicine
- (Digital & Health) September 12, 2022. Shania Kennedy, Health IT Analytics. Researchers from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine are collaborating with medical technology company Qynapse Inc. to research the effects of COVID-19 on vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) using artificial intelligence (AI). FL Health System to Use AI to Investigate Effects of COVID-19 on Cognition
- (Global currencies) September 12, 2022. Eswar S. Prasad, IMF. As bytes replace dollars, euros, and renminbi, some changes will be welcome; others may not. A New Era for Money Prasad
- (Global education) September 12, 2022. Bruce Fuller and Hoyun Kim, Brookings. The United Nations has set forth an ambitious vision for education systems around the globe: cultivating lifelong learning from early childhood through an individual’s civic and work life. Schools must support children and youth in basic learning—including crucial socio-emotional, literacy, and numeracy competencies—to contribute to sustainable societies. State-run education systems and their communities must now engage these global goals by 2030. Systems thinking to transform schools: Identifying levers that lift educational quality
WORLDS
- (Argentina) September 12, 2022. IAEA. An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission said Argentina’s regulator has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to enhancing and promoting nuclear safety. The team also recommended areas where improvements can be made. IAEA Mission Sees Commitment to Nuclear Safety in Argentina, Recommends Areas for Improvement
- (British Monarchy) September 9, 2022. James McBride, Council on Foreign Relations. The succession from Queen Elizabeth II to Charles could accelerate anti-monarchy movements in countries where the Crown is still head of state. What Will King Charles III Mean for the British Monarchy Overseas?
- (Cambodia) September 13, 2022. Vannarith Chheang, East Asia Forum. Cambodia’s foreign policy is largely shaped by the worldview of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has more than four decades of practical experience in diplomacy and foreign affairs. Understanding Cambodian foreign policy, including its decision to co-sponsor the UN resolution to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, means grasping the pragmatism that informs Hun Sen’s decision-making. Cambodia hedges
- (China – Japan) September 13, 2022. Xinhua. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a video speech on Monday at the opening ceremony of a seminar commemorating the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. Chinese FM puts forward five-point views on developing China-Japan relations
- (Iran – USA) September 12, 2022. Nina Srinivasan Rathbun, Defense One. Iran’s standoff with the United States over its potential nuclear weapons program is unlikely to ease anytime soon. The U.S. and Iran launched talks in 2021 to renew a now-defunct political deal that would curb Iran’s nuclear program. Iran, US Seem Unlikely to Reach a New Nuclear Deal
- (Iraq) September 12, 2022. The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. Iraq’s water situation is increasingly dire, putting pressure on the central government, governorate authorities, and citizens. Declining quantity and quality of water, outdated and damaged infrastructure, and inefficient water use uncover deficiencies in existing water governance. Water Governance in Iraq: Enabling a Gamechanger
- (Japan) September 13, 2022. Andrew Levidis, East Asia Forum. Until he was assassinated during a last-minute campaign stop in the western Japanese city of Nara on 8 July 2022, Shinzo Abe — Japan’s longest serving post-war leader — was a central and dominant figure in Japanese politics. Post-war Japanese history has been punctuated by spectacular instances of murder, arson and religious violence that serve as a stark reminder that parliamentary democracy has not been attained bloodlessly. The end of the Kishi era
- (Russia) September 12, 2022. Richard Arnold, The Jamestown Foundation. As Russia’s illegal re-invasion of Ukraine continues, a number of ramifications extend to the Russian domestic political scene with some, such as Yale University historian Timothy Snyder, positing on the incredible rise of the far right in Russia. Even so, the Cossacks appear to be one group that is improving its standing, being ever more tightly woven into Kremlin state structures. Russian Cossacks’ Integration With the State
- (Russia) September 12, 2022. Pavel K. Baev, The Jamestown Foundation. In early September 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin spelled out his intention to punish Europe for resisting Russia’s assault on the world order and supporting Ukraine louder and clearer than ever before. Speaking at the high session of an economic forum in Vladivostok, Russia, Putin asserted that the confrontation in Ukraine has reinforced Russia’s sovereignty, so in reality, it stands to gain from deepened global polarization and has suffered no significant losses (Nezavisimaya gazeta, September 7). He described the proposal to enforce a price cap on oil and gas exported from Russia as “dumb” and threatened to halt all energy supplies if approved by the European Union (Kommersant, September 7). Putin Has Unsheathed His Energy Weapon Too Early—and Too Late
- (Russia – Ukraine) September 12, 2022. Vladimir Socor, The Jamestown Foundation. Armed resistance within the occupied territory, coupled with Ukrainian army counterattacks along the front lines, have compelled Moscow to postpone the “referendums” for annexing Ukraine’s Kherson and Zaporyzhzhia regions to Russia (see EDM, September 8). Russian ‘Referendums’ Delayed, Ukrainian Resistance Mounting in Occupied Kherson and Zaporyzhzhia (Part Two)
- (Russia – Ukraine) September 12, 2022. IAEA. In his opening address to the IAEA’s Board of Governors today, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterated his call for the establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. Situation at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant ‘Untenable,’ Protection Zone Needed, IAEA’s Grossi tells Board
- (Russia – Ukraine) September 12, 2022. Karolina Hird, Grace Mappes, Katherine Lawlor, George Barros, and Frederick W. Kagan, ISW. Ukraine’s southern counteroffensive is continuing to have significant impacts on Russian morale and military capabilities in southern Ukraine. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 12
- (Russia – Ukraine) September 12, 2022. Tara Copp, Defense One. Ukrainian forces have capitalized as Russia has repeated some of the strategic missteps that halted Moscow’s initial advance on Kyiv, and some Russian troops seem to have retreated back to their home country, Pentagon officials said Monday. Some Russian Forces Appear to Be Fleeing Ukraine, Pentagon Says
- (Sweden) September 12, 2022. IAEA. An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has completed a review of long term operational safety at the Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Unit 3 in Sweden. IAEA Concludes Long Term Operational Safety Review of Sweden’s Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant
- (Syria) September 13, 2022. The Syrian Observer. On Monday morning, the “caravan of light” set off from the Idleb region to the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey to pressure the Turkish side to open the borders and direct them to European countries. The caravan included about 200 people carrying their luggage. HTS Forces Idleb’s ‘Caravan of Light’ to Return
- (Syria) September 13, 2022. The Syrian Observer. Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Bashar al-Jaafari, discussed with Deputy Director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for the Middle East and North Africa (OCHA) Tarek Talahmeh, and the accompanying delegation the need for all countries and international organizations to abide by the resolutions issued by the Security Council. Syria Says International Aid Should to be Delivered by Government
- (Syria) September 13, 2022. The Syrian Observer. The cases of Naira Ashraf, Iman Arsheed, Lubna Mansour, Shaima Jamal and others, all victims of femicide which shook the Arab world during the space of one month, have revived interest in the huge problem of violence against women in the Arab world. However, these numbers only scratch the surface with regards to what is going on in Syria, where violent crimes against women within the family home are recurring on a near daily basis but for the most part, remain shrouded in secrecy. Femicide Reaches Terrifying Levels in War-torn Syria Amid Lawlessness & Impunity
- (Syria) September 13, 2022. The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militias allowed the Turkish regime-backed Kurdish National Council to prepare for its fourth congress in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli. SDF Allows Kurdish National to Prepare for Fourth Congress
- (USA) September 13, 2022. Peter Feaver, Michele Flournoy, Lawfare. The United States needs to review the basic principles of civilian control of the military and recommit to best practices in civil-military relations. That is the underlying message of a remarkable open letter by former secretaries of defense and former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, published last week on War on the Rocks. Let’s Stop Being Cavalier About Civilian Control of the Military
- (USA) September 13, 2022. Kristen Eichensehr, Cathy Hwang, Lawfare. In the past year, the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviewed a record number of transactions for national security concerns. National Security Creep in Cross-Border Investments
- (USA) September 8, 2022. Claire Klobucista, Council on Foreign Relations. COVID-19 is contributing to a dramatic decline in the average lifespan of Americans. The drop-off is canceling out decades of public health gains and stretching the gap between the United States and its peers. U.S. Life Expectancy Is in Decline. Why Aren’t Other Countries Suffering the Same Problem?
- (USA) September 12, 2022. William H. Frey, Brookings. Beginning early in the last century and continuing for decades, Black Americans took part in a “Great Migration” that saw millions move out of the South and into other parts of the country. But over the past 50 years, that historic event has reversed, as many returned to the South in a “New Great Migration.”. A ‘New Great Migration’ is bringing Black Americans back to the South
- (USA – China) September 12, 2022. Lauren C. Williams, Patrick Tucker, Defense One. Imagine a future in which the most skilled U.S. tech workers can’t find jobs, authoritarian regimes exert more power than democratic governments, freedom of expression is replaced by open censorship, and no one believes the U.S. military can deter conflict. All this could happen if China surpasses the United States in key technology areas, according to a new report from the Special Competitive Studies Project, led by former Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work and Google co-founder Eric Schmidt. The 189-page report, released on Monday, looks at current and future technology competition between the United States and China—from microelectronics supply to tech talent retention to the effects of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence on tomorrow’s national security. US Trails China in Key Tech Areas, New Report Warns
- (USA – Haiti) September 8, 2022. Susan D. Page, Council on Foreign Relations. Haiti remains a source of concern for U.S. national security policymakers. The inclusion of Haiti as a priority country under the Global Fragility Act (GFA) reflects a growing recognition by the U.S. government that a new strategy needs to be applied in partnership with the people of Haiti. A Smarter U.S. Assistance Strategy for Haiti
- (USA – Saudi Arabia) September 7, 2022. Council on Foreign Relations. U.S.-Saudi Relations
