Latest on top (updated regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
Activist Natalya Perova was detained in
Moscow. The girl is being taken to the Maryina Roshcha police
department. Yesterday, Natalya Perova and Lyudmila Annenkova held an
anti-war action "We Can't Wash Ourselves of Blood" near the
Foreign Ministry building.
Retweet @femagainstwar: Москве задержали активистку Наталью Перову. Девушку везут в ОВД «Марьина роща».
Вчера Наталья Перова и Людмила Анненкова провели у здания МИДа антивоенную акцию «Нам не отмыться от крови».
May 31
***
Denmark — already a member of
NATO — is considering scrapping its EU opt-out on security and
defence.
On Wednesday, Danes will vote in a referendum on the future of the opt-out, which has been in place for 30 years.
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-euroskepticism-loom-denmark-vote-defense-policy-russia-war/
An overwhelming majority of Danes, almost 67 percent, voted Wednesday in favour of joining the EU's common defence policy 30 years after opting out, results showed with 100 percent of ballots counted. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/miscellaneous/danes-say-yes-to-joining-eu-common-defence-1519610.html
***
German transparency on arms shipments to Ukraine limited the federal government informed members of the Bundestag. Berliner Zeitung 310522,
This how the Netherlands reports; it was 1 of the 1st (after Sweden) in Europe introducing higher levels of transparencey on arms trade.
***
Provider of the Eurodrone
engine questioned. Airbus chose Italian-US engine manufacturer Avio
Aero (controlled by General Electric); a choice not in line with
European strategic autonomy. Thierry Breton said Avio has to
guarentee European sovereignty.
https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/le-moteur-de-l-eurodrone-petarade-dans-les-instances-europeennes-919651.html
May 30
***
A radio surveillance team at a
Chinese satellite launch centre have said they have found a jamming
device that can interfere with navigation systems in a car outside
the base – the first time it has reported such an incident.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3179756/chinese-space-centre-finds-jamming-device-weeks-launch-latest
***
Regarding the finding of
Swedish-made AT-4 anti-armor weapon in PKK hands, head of Sweden’s
State Arms Export Administration, Karl Evertsson stated that “Sweden
does not export weapons to organizations. And the US also has a
license to manufacture it.
https://theglobalfrontier.com/sweden-we-can-export-arms-to-turkey/
***
Op de vraag hoelang deze strijd
gaat duren, weet Robert Kagan, een leidend neoconservatief, het
antwoord. Hij zal nooit eindigen', zo stelt hij. Logisch. Zo'n
mondiale strijd is een selffulfilling prophecy, die vanzelf weer
nieuwe vijanden zal creëren.
https://www.trouw.nl/opinie/frame-van-goede-vrije-westen-maakt-wereld-echt-niet-veiliger~b007af71/
***
#Collusion at the military top.
Weapons companies pay for Norwegian diplomats. The arms industry
co-finances two #Norwegian diplomatic positions. #Thales is one of
them, while the company is accused of violating international
sanctions against Russia.
https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/vapenselskap-betaler-for-norske-diplomater/76072916
***
EU considers activating naval
mission to free up Ukraine's agricultural exports. "Turkey would
give permission for the passage of European ships," (through
Dardanelles) says a senior EU source. It would be a major step to be
directly involved in the war.
https://elpais.com/internacional/2022-05-28/la-ue-sopesa-activar-una-mision-naval-para-liberar-las-exportaciones-agricolas-de-ucrania.html
***
GKN policy at work at Fokker in
the Netherlands (Woensdrecht and Papendrecht): on jobs, skills,
closing plants, new build hangars, restructuring. #Elmo, #Fokker
Techniek & Services.
https://www.bndestem.nl/bergen-op-zoom/fokker-techniek-steekt-miljoenen-in-nieuwe-hangar-bij-hoogerheide-voor-onderhoud-grote-vliegtuigen~a1880ce5/
***
Dutch #Damen support for
Nigerian troops: "the largest Landing Ship Tank LST in the whole
of #Africa ... has a helicopter deck and significant space to carry
troops and tanks for ground forces on special mission." #Nigeria
https://thenationonlineng.net/maritime-security-navy-takes-delivery-of-africas-biggest-ship-tank/
May 28
***
US officials have threatened to
limit defence cooperation with the UK in a row about the takeover of
Ultra a supplier of secret tech to nuclear submarines. US officials
argue the UK misusses powers introduced in January designed to limit
powers like China.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/05/27/us-threatens-limit-intelligence-cooperation-row-britains-secret/
***
Retweet @CAATuk: Another
exciting CAAT event, joint with the fantastic @Omega_RF Omega
Research Foundation - Arms Fairs Uncovered, the launch of a new
dataset on military and security arms fairs around the world. 8th
June, 6pm, online. https://caat.org.uk/events/arms-fairs-uncovered/
***
STUDENT activists at the
University of Cambridge have disrupted a talk by Rolls Royce chief
executive Warren East in protest against the luxury car
manufacturer’s role in the global arms trade.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/cambridge-students-disrupt-talks-rolls-royce-boss-protest-against-role-arms-trade
***
Japan is considering relaxing
rules for exporting defence equipment in an effort to prop up the
domestic defense industry, government sources said Friday.
Details will be included in a basic economic policy to be finalized by the government in June. https://nordot.app/902917940544815104?c=445918389795193953
***
Despite tens of thousands of
shot persons each year in the US (a global top position on shot
persons per capita) the debate still circles around the issue if it
is lax gun policy in the City upon a Hill bearing some responsibility
for it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/27/us/politics/fact-check-trump-cruz-nra.html
The
Pentagon Is Protecting and Funding the Same Gun Makers Democrats Want
to Regulate
Daniel Defense, the company that made the gun used by the Robb Elementary shooter, has been handed over 100 federal contracts.
https://inthesetimes.com/article/pentagon-global-arms-trade-gun-lobby-uvalde-texas-robb-elementary
***
U.S. Army awards $624.6
million contract to Raytheon Technologies to build Stinger
anti-aircraft missiles to restock its own supply after sending
roughly 1,400 Stingers to Ukraine
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2022/05/27/us-army-signs-deal-to-backfill-stingers-sent-to-ukraine/
May 27
***
Firearms
have surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death
among US youngsters, with official data showing a strong rise in
gun-related homicides. Overall, 4,368 children and adolescents up to
the age of 19 died from firearms in 2020.
https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/world/guns-are-now-the-leading-cause-of-death-for-american-children.phtml
May 26
***
Retweet @CbrentPatterson: The
British Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin will be a
keynote speaker at the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa, June 1-2. The
"Protector" drone behind him carries air-to-surface
missiles and laser guided bombs. To protest CANSEC:
https://worldbeyondwar.org/cansec/
#CancelCANSEC
***
Turkey demands ’concrete
steps’ to back Nordics’ NATO bids
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-demands-concrete-steps-to-back-nordics-nato-bids-174070
Will NATO expansion in Scandinavia proceed at the cost of human rights and conflict resolution in Turkey and in its sphere of influence?
***
German research takes place in
institutes like Max Planck and they as a whole do not have civil
clauses. Germany also has 2 universities run by the military.
But now there is presure on Universities which do not want to be invloved in military research. https://sciencebusiness.net/news/germanys-pacifist-universities-pose-obstacle-militarisation-eu-rd
***
An article which offers context
to US shootings mostly reported as cases on itself.
"It is odd that little to none of these attacks on schools, churches, malls or department stores have led anti-gun activists to openly question American militarism."
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/texas-shooting-american-gun-violence-whole-world-problem
***
Immigration and asylum related
work a cash cow for Serco.
https://www.ft.com/content/358a1b4b-3ef8-480f-b7d7-e45716e820d5
***
Denmark will arm Ukraine with a
Harpoon anti-ship launcher & missiles Defense Secretary Austin
said after the latest US-led meeting to coordinate military aid for
Ukraine. This is to increase power against Russian naval vessels.
https://news.usni.org/2022/05/23/denmark-sending-ukraine-anti-ship-harpoon-missiles-to-take-on-russian-ships-in-black-sea
May 25
***
Saudi military firm SAMI expects
20% revenue surge in 2022 on more defence contracts, CEO says.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/2022/05/25/pif-backed-sami-expects-20-revenue-surge-in-2022-on-more-defence-contracts-ceo-says/
***
The US MoD must do its part to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve, net-zero emissions by
2050. the US navy states.
But fighters, large naval vessels exhaust enormously; hard to change. The report give e.g. a very small vessel as an example p. 9.
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/22035807/department-of-the-navy-climate-action-2030.pdf
***
China and the rest of the world
must now be wondering: Is Biden trying to bluff China while at the
same time deepening American involvement in a dangerous war with an
increasingly unpredictable Russia in Eastern Europe? - Asia Times
https://asiatimes.com/2022/05/china-experts-blast-bidens-taiwan-slip/
***
Nigerian president Muhammadu
Buhari’s regime has petitioned the US government to recover
#Nigeria’s $6.1 million the FBI seized from Ara Dolarian, an arms
dealer in America, following a report by Peoples Gazette.
https://gazettengr.com/buhari-regime-moves-to-recover-nigerias-6-1-million-fbi-seized-from-american-arms-dealer/
See also:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/former-fresno-resident-charged-illegally-brokering-sale-military-arms-foreign
***
Kunnen
er echt 200 kleine kernreactoren op zee komen? Vier Nederlandse
instellingen gaan onderzoeken of Ned. schepen door #kernenergie
kunnen worden aangedreven. Zo’n 200 Nederlandse schepen in
aanmerking voor reactoren met vermogens tussen de 10 en 20 MW.
https://maritiemland.nl/news/onderzoek-naar-kernaandrijving-voor-nederlandse-schepen/
***
How military technology reaches Russia
in breach of US export controls. In 2015, a parcel containing more
than 100 memory special chips – critical components in missiles and
military satellites – arrived business address in Moscow.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357844/how-military-technology-reaches-russia-in-breach-of-us-export-controls
May 24
***
Arsenal of #Autocracy? That are
the major defence firms, now advertising themselves as the as
defenders of freedom and democracy, thanks to their role in arming
Ukraine. If that is the case why they don't limit sales to other bad
regimes? Propsals enough.
https://tomdispatch.com/arsenal-of-autocracy/
***
Ahmad El Husseini,
#Rheinmetall's former Near East and North Africa #agent, is being
sued by some of his creditors, including the major part state-owned
banks in the UAE.
https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2022/05/24/flurry-of-lawsuits-hit-german-defence-industry-s-former-arab-world-agent-el-husseini,109786930-art
***
Sssssst. Erdogan says Turkey to
launch military operations on its southern borders. The operation
will likely target north of Syria, where Turkey has launched several
military operations since 2016.
https://www.todayonline.com/world/erdogan-says-turkey-launch-military-operations-its-southern-borders-1905736
***
Significant proportions of
weapons and arms seized from Islamist insurgents in Niger came from
West African state stockpiles, suggesting authorities are struggling
to secure arms stores in the region, a report said on Monday.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/some-militant-arms-niger-came-west-african-state-stockpiles-report-2022-05-23/
***
Selection of controversial Dutch military deliverances January - February 2022.
***
This is how
the Netherlands reports arms transits to the Ukraine. No
transparency, no Parliamentarian control.
***
Dutch police counters growing
number of 3D printed small arms.
Politie constateert toename 3D-geprinte
wapens
https://www.politie.nl/nieuws/2022/mei/23/11-politie-constateert-toename-3d-geprinte-wapens.html
***
In 2020 the number of
#executions in #Egypt had tripled to at least 107. Amnesty writes
that the death penalty continued to be used extensively in Egypt in
2021 also based on evidence got by torture. But arms flows to the
allies in Cairo continue.
https://www.zeit.de/news/2022-05/24/amnesty-zahl-der-hinrichtungen-steigt-um-20-prozent
Since Egyptian President al-Sisi seized
power, he has ruled the country with an iron fist. Tens of thousands,
including at least 24 media professionals, are jailed.
https://en.qantara.de/content/repression-in-sisis-egypt-egyptian-media-workers-systematically-intimidated
#Egypt's arms imports grew so fast now
it is the 3rd largest global arms importer globally.
At least 16,064 people have been victims of politically-motivated prosecutions in Egypt. A database of the Cairo-based think-tank Shafafiya documented 10,291 people subjected to detention or prosecution during 2020, and 5,773 people in 2021. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-prosecuted-thousands-political-reasons
***
Fanning the Flames
(@TNInstitute @_ENAAT, 2022) and A militarized union (ENAAT, 2021)
add different pieces to the same picture: the #EU has put the
military dimension at the forefront, with the economic giant building
up military force at a rapid pace.
http://socialister.dk/militariseringen-af-eu-koerer-paa-hoejtryk/
Addition: Just an example from the @EUDefenceAgency:
#HEDI - This week, #EUdefence
Ministers, approved the establishment of a Hub for EU Defence
Innovation within EDA.
Learn how we will build a true hub of
EU #innovation in our factsheet
https://twitter.com/EUDefenceAgency/status/1527211666928189447
***
What
a boyish level of Statemanship. Greek PM Mitsotakis warned US
Congress against US efforts to sell military hardware to Turkey,
saying the move could unleash new instability in the Eastern
Mediterranean. Now Erdogan doesn't want to talk to him anymore.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-erdogan-greece-mitsotakis-no-longer-exists-after-us-trip
May 23
***
Zr. Ms. De Zeven Provinciën
heeft de afgelopen maand zo’n 4.000 liter smeerolie verloren in
onder meer de Baltische Zee. Dat gebeurde tijdens zijn inzet voor de
Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1).
https://defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2022/05/23/zr.ms.-de-zeven-provincien-verliest-smeerolie-tijdens-inzet
***
“This is the first time that
Iran has started mass production of military equipment abroad. This
is the 1st time that Iran is transferring production line know-how by
officially inaugurating a manufacturing factory in Tajikistan” says
a Iranian journalist.
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/why-is-iran-developing-a-drone-production-line-in-tajikistan-57375
***
According to a news report, a
team from Argentina has evaluated the JF-17 fighter in Chengdu,
China. DangDai confirmed the visit of the Argentine delegation to the
CATIC (China National Aero-Technology Import & Export
Corporation) facilities in Chengdu.
https://dangdai.com.ar/2022/05/20/la-embajada-en-beijing-recibio-a-una-mision-militar/
***
Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile
program, although nascent, is “going pretty well," program
executive Brigade General Heath Collins told Breaking Defense.
Hypersonic weapon maker will be named by September.
https://breakingdefense.com/2022/05/air-force-to-name-newest-hypersonic-weapon-maker-by-september/
When does arms control on them start?
***
In Oekraïne zal er een
staakt-het-vuren moeten komen, en daarna onderhandelingen. De
oorlogsstemming in de westerse landen en het fors verhogen van de
militaire budgetten zijn geen bijdrage aan een oplossing, schrijft
@WendelaVries van @CTWnl bij @Joop_nl
https://www.bnnvara.nl/joop/artikelen/oorlogsstemming-leidt-niet-tot-vrede
***
"#NAVO-landen hebben,
anders dan Rusland, overigens niet gedreigd met kernwapens en
respecteren territoriale grenzen."
Onder welke steen hebben deze schrijvers pak'em beet de afgelopen 30 jaar geleefd? Geen nucleaire dreiging, geen invallen? https://www.trouw.nl/opinie/met-pacifisme-helpt-de-vredesbeweging-haar-kerken-niet~be28a880/
***
"Het
Westen lijkt weer te denken dat het onoverwinnelijk is, waarbij de
Amerikanen opnieuw het voortouw nemen en bovendien denken buiten het
conflict te kunnen blijven," schrijft Kolonel b.d. drs. De Rooij
in een column in militair tijdschrift Armex p.3
https://onsleger.nl/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Armex_2022_2_6mei2022.pdf
***
What
a sad story on missed opportunities.
Rolf Mützenich fought for peace and disarmament for two decades. Now the SPD MP has to get motions through parliament on heavy weapons and the largest rearmament since the Cold War. https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/rolf-muetzenich-spd-ein-mann-durchlebt-seinen-politischen-albtraum-a-c9fc9687-92bd-4da7-b5db-e994ae62c606
***
SIPRI warns of a global
emergency. "A compound environmental crisis and a darkening
security horizon are feeding each other in dangerous ways,"
SIPRI's researchers write.
https://www.dw.com/en/sipri-world-stumbling-into-a-new-and-dangerous-era/a-61889617
1/2
2/2 Felled forests, melting glaciers and polluted oceans are occurring simultaneously with an rise in the number of conflict-related deaths, arms expenditures and increasing numbers of people at risk of starvation.
***
Will NATO naval ship in the
Black Sea be the next escalation of the war? Some hurdles have to be
removed. #Turkey has to be bribed into this (as it is to
Swedish/Finish NATO membership) by US F-16 sales and renewed
partnership in the F-35 production. See:
https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/3497038-the-turkish-question-on-nato-a-larger-strategic-opportunity-in-the-black-sea/
***
After a part on Lukoil and
the consequences of an oil embargo on Russia this FT News Briefing
explains that the relocation of Boeing headquarters to Virginia means
the corp. will be lobby more for military contracts & tap into
the growing military budget.
https://www.ft.com/content/0f1bb40a-bb76-408e-b768-54483bd1630e
May 22
***
Revealed: CIA-Trained Militia
Used US-Made Weapons in Deadly Attack
Weapons were directly supplied to the Puntland Security Force in Somalia but after the US withdrew, the group split and fought internally over control of the US-supplied assets.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dg7wn/puntland-security-force-somalia-cia
***
India attempting to tap the
large African arms market, a delegation of the MoD is visiting
Tanzania at the end of this month to explore opportunities for
exporting military products and seeking strategic cooperation. (with
a crystal clear illustration)
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/india-pushes-for-sale-of-arms-in-africa-delegation-to-tour-tanzania-later-this-month/article65439679.ece
***
#Libya's GNU
Government wants to acquire #Hurkus-C trainer aircraft. This was
reported by Libyan media.
https://newstextarea.com/turkey-sold-hurkus-c-to-the-libyan-government/…
It was predicted the deal would "face international criticism in
the light of the international sanctions on Libya, which include an
UNSC arms embargo."
https://newstextarea.com/turkey-sold-hurkus-c-to-the-libyan-government/
Turkey
isn't the only one taking the international agreed embargo with a
grain of salt.
Continued violations of arms embargo threatening hard-won gains in Libya, Special Envoy warns Security Council. Also foreign mercenaries are adding to this threat. https://reliefweb.int/report/libya/continued-violations-arms-embargo-delays-withdrawing-foreign-mercenaries-threatening
***
#Fokker heeft 37 v/d 350
medewerkers van de vestiging in Helmond op non-actief gesteld. Ze
moeten worden doorgelicht door de #MIVD. Het gaat om mensen met 'n
niet-Nederlandse nationaliteit. Ze voeren werk uit voor
landingsgestellen van de #NH90 helikopter.
https://www.ed.nl/helmond/fokker-schorst-37-medewerkers-in-helmond-onderzoek-door-militaire-inlichtingen-en-veiligheidsdienst~aad6d3e2
***
1/2 A murder in
October 2006 was related to alleged kickbacks involved in the
purchase of two Scorpene class submarines by the Malaysian Ministry
of Defence in 2002 for US$1.2 billion. The corruption case was not
pursued in Malaysia.
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cover-story-litany-controversial-deals
2/2 However French investigators
reopened the case in 2010 and last month, it was determined that
there was a case of #corrupt practices. Prosecutors placed 9 parties,
including individuals and #Thales Group, under formal investigation.
Thales has like ever denied any wrongdoing.
***
Naval
Group or Damen; who will deliver the Romanian corvettes to the Black
Sea nation? The saga continues.
https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-defense-25567476-nu-semneaza-contractul-corvetelor-naval-group-sunt-negocieri-care-tin-costuri-riscuri-locul-doi-damen-zice-face-aceiasi-bani-inainte-termen.htm
May 21
***
Why the war in #Ukraine offers
opportunites world wide for US arms industry.
Large sale of anti-tank missiles to
#Egypt e.g. comes as US officials say that #Russia's invasion of
Ukraine presents an opportunity to pry Egypt away from orbit of
Russian arms. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/biden-approves-large-sale-anti-tank-missiles-egypt
Is this already forgotten? August
2013 Rabaa massacre.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_2013_Rabaa_massacre
***
Europese opsporingsdiensten,
waaronder de Nationale Politie, vrezen dat aan Oekraïne geleverde
wapens in het illegale circuit verdwijnen. Die zullen net als na de
Balkanoorlogen gebruikt worden voor misdaad en terreur.
https://www.limburger.nl/cnt/dmf20220520_97001866
#Seouls siding with the West may be bad news for Moscows ability to replace lost arms.
Take semiconductors. Chips are a key
element of advanced weaponry, and with Russia suffering ongoing
material losses in Ukraine, Moscow needs to ramp up arms production.
https://menafn.com/1104247583/Security-Economic-Security-Top-Bidens-Asia-Trip&source=25
***
Retweet
@femagainstwar: Сочетание наивной
стилистики, жёсткого месседжа и
ностальгической ноты 90-х кажется хорошим
решением для антивоенных листовок (The
combination of naive style, tough message and nostalgic note of the
90s seems like a good solution for anti-war leaflets. MB: More of these at twitteraccount.)
May 20
***
Autocrat Erdo and jovial Boris
are very close friends now.
UK lifts all restrictions on defence exports to Turkey
Officials say Britain now allowing the export of all defence products to Turkey after lifting restrictions in December.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-turkey-defence-exports-restrictions-lifted
***
't Wapenhandel analysekader van
@andrewfeinstein draait om corruptie. Het enorme getal van $1.500
miljard voor F-35 straaljagers, zijn de kosten voor 66 jaar. Nog
steeds enorm (en het is zelfs €1.700mjrd), maar soms is nuance voor
de helderheid wél nodig.
https://www.mareonline.nl/achtergrond/goed-nieuws-het-is-oorlog/
***
A Chicago technology executive
has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for illegally
exporting computer equipment from the United States to a nuclear
research agency of the Pakistani government.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-tech-executive-sentenced-year-federal-prison-illegally-exporting-computer
***
Colombia has selected
French-made Nexter’s Caesar howitzer as part of an effort to
modernize its Army’s field artillery capabilities, with
negotiations beginning for a first batch of four, worth about $35
million, anonimous military sources in Bogota told.
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2022/05/19/colombia-to-buy-12-french-made-caesar-howitzers/
***
Africa’s barons of arm sales a
4 part investigation into 3 main players: Aboubacar Hima, Ivor
Ichikowitz and Rafi Dermardirossian. We call them arms dealers. They
themselves prefer the softer term “arms brokers”. As if its like
one trades raw materials.
https://www.theafricareport.com/in-depth/africas-last-barons-of-arm-sales/
***
Opponents of US weapons sales to
Turkey have mobilised in Washington, highlighting the uphill battle
Ankara faces to complete new arms purchases despite its charme
offensive as mediator in the war between Russia & Ukraine.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-us-lawmakers-opponents-arms-sales-mobilise-washington
***
The West's problem with the
Russian made weapons for India is hard to solve. Weapons from the
West are too expensive and the Indian state’s toxic relationship
with the private sector is one of the biggest obstacles to
indigenizing weapons production.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/theres-one-wayto-wean-india-off-russian-weapons/2022/05/19/eda581b4-d7cf-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
May 19
***
Beschrijft dit artikel 'Dutch
Naval Design ontwikkelt innovaties die game changer kunnen zijn' het
Militair Industrieel Wetenschappelijk Complex?
https://magazines.defensie.nl/materieelgezien/2022/04/dutch-naval-design-werkt-aan-maritieme-innovaties
***
Uit korte inleiding @GLeemput
over oorlogsdoelen en vredeseisen. "Het 4e mogelijke doel
tenslotte is het ten val doen brengen van de regering in Rusland...en
lijkt een recept voor een verlengde oorlog en mogelijk ook verdere
internationale escalatie."
Zie https://www.stopdeoorlogamsterdam.nl/wat-zijn-de-doelen-van-oekraiumlne.html
***
Meer geld voor Ministerie van
Defensie, minder voor de grootste veiligheidsproblemen van het
moment, nl. stikstof- en slimaatbeleid.
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1720251398/kabinet-gaat-voor-2-2-miljard-euro-snijden-in-fondsen
Dat heet het paard achter de wagen spannen.
***
EU steps up action to strengthen
EU defence capabilities, industrial & technological base: towards
an EU framework for Joint defence procurement. EDA will inform on
European capability gaps in the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence
framework.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_22_3143
***
Since the start of the Russian
invasion, 30 countries and the EU have sent military equipment to
Ukraine. Italy is one of the largest suppliers, but it is among the
very few states that have not made known anything about what was sent
to Kyiv.
https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/05/19/guerra-in-ucraina-italia-tra-i-pochi-paesi-a-non-dire-nulla-sulle-armi-inviate-ecco-il-confronto-giustificazione-militare-nessuna/6593638/
***
UN, US and Russian views on the
policies to address the global devastating hunger effects for the
global poor of the War in Ukraine.
https://www.reuters.com/world/un-chief-expected-disclose-talks-ukraine-grain-exports-un-officials-2022-05-18/
“Right
now, Ukraine’s grain silos are full. At the same time, 44 million
people around the world are marching towards starvation. We have to
open up these ports so that food can move in and out of Ukraine."
https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-calls-urgent-opening-ukrainian-ports-help-rein-global-hunger-crisis
***
According to government
circles in Kiev, there was a angry conversation between Ukrainian FA
Minister Dmytro Kuleba and German MoD Christine Lambrecht (SPD) last
Friday on the delivery of the promised Gepard tanks and the
organisation of the missing ammo.
https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/plus238822609/Waffenlieferungen-Ukraine-verliert-die-Geduld-mit-Deutschland.html
***
"Specifically,
it is about eight million euros that were smuggled between 2003 and
2009 from the German branch of the aviation and armaments group EADS
(the company is now called #Airbus Defense) to the London mailbox
company City Chambers." #corruption
https://www.diepresse.com/6141410/eurofighter-prozess-grasser-soll-informationen-liefern
May 18
***
Equiped with Dutch technology
which was sanctioned yesterday by a Dutch court. (see also previous
tweets)
Retweet @mahmouedgamal44: Egyptian
Navy MEKO A200 frigate ENS Al-Aziz (904) on sea trials in Kiel,
Germany.
***
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa
Ollongren said that the next steps — including how much money might
be put into a joint EU spending program, and the legal mechanisms
governing it — would largely depend on the security needs
identified by the Commission.
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-war-brussels-break-taboo-joint-arms-spending-plan/
***
Comparing different tragedies
with each other is impossible and must be limited, but it also offers
a different perspective on what you see on the TV screens.
https://www.alternet.org/2022/05/anti-war-conundrum-of-ukraine/
***
Toxic advise to Bangladesh in
the EurAsia Review: Myanmar military wants strategic engagement with
Bangladesh military for various reasons. One of these is preventing
arms trafficking over its borders, while there is no effective arms
embargo on Rangoon
https://www.eurasiareview.com/17052022-why-does-myanmar-bangladesh-militarys-strategic-engagement-matter-oped/
***
Greece seeks to join F-35
program as it lobbies against Turkey F-16 sale.
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2022/05/17/greece-seeks-to-join-f-35-program-as-it-lobbies-against-turkey-f-16-sale/
***
Damen
Naval Holding BV heeft van Koninklijke Schelde Groep BV 90% van het
aandelenkapitaal van het marine-engineeringbedrijf Marine Engineering
overgenomen voor 2,54 miljoen ...
PT #PAL #Indonesia opened up
opportunities for cooperation with ship companies from Europe after
receiving a visit from #Fincantieri at PT PAL Surabaya. "Strategic
cooperation in the maritime defense sector, is a form of strong
political diplomacy."
https://www.republika.co.id/berita/rc1a2x383/pal-indonesia-buka-peluang-kerja-sama-perusahaan-kapal-eropa
***
Dutch #Damen sold Kri I Gusti
Ngurah (Rai-332) SIGMA frigate shown in Indonesian paper as weapon
system against Chinese claims on #Nutuna island in South China Sea.
https://kupang.tribunnews.com/2022/05/17/lcs-terus-memanas-tni-al-siap-amankan-natuna-utara-kri-i-gusti-ngurah-rai-siap-ini-persenjatanya
By the way, Gusti Ngurah fought the Dutch in 1946 on Bali during the last colonial war.
***
What Turkey wants from Sweden
and Finland in NATO expansion spat. Erdogan has shown he’ll dig
deep in geopolitical standoffs.
This isn't good news for those in
Turkey under the bombs of the autocrat regime and not for those in
surrounding countries.
Luxembourg's foreign minister accuses
#Erdogan of "bazaar mentality".
https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/nato-beitritt-von-finnland-und-schweden-luxemburgs-aussenminister-wirft-erdogan-basar-mentalitaet-vor/28348510.html
You can also call it Tit for Tat, or Quid Pro Quo.
Hope his price is not paid at the cost of people (that is what matters). When you deliver him bombers the predictable victims will pay.
***
Israeli #Elbit Systems was
selected by Airbus to provide Direct Infrared Countermeasures
including the Company’s Infra-Red-based Passive Airborne Warning
Systems for Airbus A330-200 MRTT aircraft of European Air Force's
based in #Eindhoven.
https://elbitsystems.com/pr-new/airbus-selected-elbit-systems-to-provide-dircm-and-ew-systems-to-additional-european-air-force/
***
An short overview: Russia is the
world’s second largest weapons exporter, but its stock is slowly
being destroyed on the battlefields of Ukraine every day. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/russian-weapon-exports
May 17
***
Western countries have been
ramping up weapons and ammunition shipments to Ukraine as Kyiv fights
off a Russian invasion, but arms trade experts warn some of the
lethal assistance could end up falling into the wrong hands.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220517-experts-warn-arms-for-ukraine-could-end-up-in-wrong-hands
***
‘Wij blijven vinden dat
Nederland bij aanwijzingen voor dreigende mensenrechtenschendingen in
Egypte geen wapens moet leveren; het Hof oordeelt helaas anders.’
Retweet @JaspervanDijkSP: “Om
wapenleveranties naar een land als Egypte tegen te houden, moeten we
nu bijna de toekomst voorspellen”
https://volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/hof-nederland-mag-wapensystemen-leveren-aan-egypte-onvoldoende-aanwijzingen-voor-mensenrechtenschendingen~b33512e0/
Court:
The Netherlands may continue with arms exports to Egypt
https://netherlands.postsen.com/news/6402
Wendela
de Vries of Stop Wapenhandel: “Despite having far more resources at
its disposal, the State appears unable to get all relevant facts on
the table. How can a well-informed decision about arms exports then
be made?” Uitspraak/Verdict:
https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/inziendocument?id=ECLI:NL:GHDHA:2022:834&showbutton=true&keyword=C%2f09%2f618625%2fKG+ZA+2+1%2f923
***
Reutech is supplying three 20 mm
Super Sea Rogue turrets for the three new multi-mission inshore
patrol vessels (MMIPVs) being built by Damen Shipyards Cape Town
under Project Biro.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/reutech-supplying-weapons-and-radars-for-biro-hotel/
***
Retweet @keesamok: Dutch special forces
#SOF/#KCT member traded 250 asault rifles, 250 pistols and 570
machine guns or components of them. Court case behind closed doors.
https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/corruption-russian-armed-forces
***
Dutch special forces #SOF/#KCT
member traded 250 asault rifles, 250 pistols and 570 machine guns or
components of them. Court case behind closed doors.
https://www.parool.nl/nederland/commando-gelinkt-aan-taghi-verhandelde-meer-dan-duizend-wapens~bddc7afb1/
***
Huh?
So who benefits from this war in Ukraine? Which industries benefit from such a conflict? "For the moment, it's really a question of temporality. There is no immediate benefit", explains the researcher at SIPRI.
***
Turkey and another war. Turkey
played a critical role in strengthening Baku militarily through
training and arms exports prior to and during the 2nd Karabakh War,
but also effectively blocked the danger of 3rd-party intervention.
https://www.azernews.az/our-writers/193875.html
***
Zuma arms deal trial back in
court. The former SA head of state is accused of taking bribes from
#Thales. He faces 16 counts of fraud, graft, and racketeering over
the purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and equipment from five
European arms firms.
https://www.ecr.co.za/news/news/zuma-arms-deal-trial-back-in-court-on-tuesday/
Former
president Jacob Zuma, allegedly still battling illness, did not make
an appearance in the Pietermaritzburg High Court for what turned out
to be a brief sitting to grant another postponement.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-05-17-judge-surprised-state-dismayed-but-absent-zuma-scores-another-delay/
***
Thales continues its growth to a
cyber security giant. The company signed an agreement with Sonae
Investment Management to acquire 2 leading European cybersecurity
companies, S21sec and Excellium, gathered under the holding company
Maxive Cybersecurity.
https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/group/press_release/thales-signs-agreement-sonae-investment-management-acquire-s21sec-and
***
Airbus is beefing up
its range of satellite services dedicated to the maritime and naval
markets with the new generation of Pléiades Neo, developed using its
own funds sized €700 million. Information can be sold to civil and
military customers.
https://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/airbus-affine-l-observation-des-mers-depuis-l-espace-20220515
***
And the guns, in the
majority, come from their Northern neighbour, the USA. A country not
only having a large internal problem of gun violence, but also
exporting it to others. It seems to be part of the frontier mentality
good for some bad for most.
https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-mexico-guns-20180524-story.html
Retweet
@dwnews with comment: Mexico's official figure of missing people
on Monday surpassed 100,000 for the first time as families pushed
authorities to do more to find victims of violence linked to
organized crime.
https://dw.com/en/mexicos-number-of-disappeared-people-rises-above-100000/a-61820055
May 16
***
Retweet
@keesamok: Flood of weapons to Ukraine raises fear of arms
smuggling - Vague US assurances spark concern about lost military
equipment in Ukraine, a longtime hub of arms trafficking
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/05/14/ukraine-weapons-trafficking/
***
Ukraine could be operating its
most sophisticated air defence missile system in November if the
supply to the country of the IRIS-T SLM goes ahead. German media says
training of Ukrainian soldiers could start as the German government
has approved the plan.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-considering-whether-supply-iris-t-air-defence-system-ukraine-source-2022-05-13/
***
"With some predicting a
long conflict in #Ukraine, and others suggesting that the conflict
might spread, US Special Operations Force's #SOF role in the region
could potentially increase not only in duration but in scope as
well," CRS in a report of May 11.
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/22013345/us-special-operations-forces-sof-background-and-issues-for-congress-may-11-2022.pdf
***
Semi-automatic weapons must
remain accessible to all adult Californians. An appeals court ruled
last wednesday unconstitutional a law attempting to prohibit their
purchase by individuals under 21. Firearms kill around 45,000! people
each year in the US.
https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2022/05/11/les-armes-semi-automatiques-restent-accessibles-aux-moins-de-21-ans-en-californie
***
Nato
ringt um Geschlossenheit
NATO is struggeling for unity
To get Turkey accepting NATO expansion it wants arms deliverances and also an end to the S-400/F-35 dispute.
EU countries however had good reasons to limit sales to the autocrat regime of Erdogan. https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/konflikte-nato-ringt-in-debatte-zu-norderweiterung-um-geschlossenheit-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-220514-99-287084
May 15
***
Timely: Relations between Quito
& Jerusalem are based on "common values and principles
shared by our government and the State of Israel in the context of
democracy, peace, prosperity and opportunities for our people,"
President Lasso of Ecuador said.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/05/15/ecuadorian-leader-looks-forward-to-expanding-ties-with-israel/
Another politically untactful state visit.
Exiles angry as Queen hosts king of Bahrain
UK is ‘haven for dictators’ says critic after Queen invites ruler who outlawed political opposition in Middle Eastern state to the Royal Windsor horse show
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/15/exiles-angry-as-queen-hosts-king-of-bahrain
***
Contract for EU SatCom Market -
Provision of Communication and Information System #CIS Services for
Headquarters and Deployed Forces was awarded by European Defence
Agency #EDA to Airbus Defence and Space at a contract value of €35m.
Financial Services Monitor Worldwide 13/05/22
***
Let's talk us out of the war.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Russian Minister of
Defense Sergey Shoigu on Friday after months of radio silence between
the two countries’ military leaders, which the Pentagon has sought
to end.
https://www.navytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2022/05/13/us-defense-chief-talks-to-russian-counterpart/
***
Getting rich from a war.
#Rheinmetall demands a payment of € 153 million for a deliverance
of 100 Marder tanks which s considerably more than Jordan paid three
years ago.
https://www.businessinsider.de/politik/deutschland/vor-drei-jahren-verkaufte-rheinmetall-marder-panzer-an-jordanien-jetzt-soll-die-ukraine-dafuer-70-prozent-mehr-zahlen-b/
***
7 organisations in the US have
written to Congress to express their alarm and concern that the Dep
of State is actively considering a Turkish request to purchase 40
F-16 fighters & nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing
fleet of military
aircraft.https://www.ekathimerini.com/society/diaspora/1184318/seven-us-organizations-voice-objections-to-turkish-f-16-upgrade/
***
AA on #Finland & #Turkey. In
2018, Finland's arms exports to Turkey expanded. However, in a
statement in October 2019, Finland's PM Rinne said that Finland wont
approve any new arms export licenses to Turkey.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/finland-and-sweden-guesthouses-for-terrorists/2588041
Like -for good reasons- many other EU-members.
***
Asian nations that rely on
Moscow for hardware will not have been impressed by watching the
equipment in action. The Ukraine war will make it difficult for
Russian military industry to revive sales, and is likely to lead to
further declines in arms
exports.https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3177545/russian-military-hardware-wrecked-ukraine-war-could-lower-demand
***
Number of candidates for new
corvettes of the Greek Navy (and upgrade of MEKO frigates) is
increasing. British Babcock proposal for Arrowhead 140 frigates -
Funding guarantees included. Herewith it joined a US and a German
#TKMS Dutch #ThalesNL consortium.
https://www.kathimerini.gr/politics/561856225/plithainoyn-oi-ypopsifioi-gia-tis-nees-korvetes-toy-polemikoy-naytikoy/
***
CEO of #TKMS foresees a bright future
for German war ship building. He despises the decision to let new
naval ships be build by #Damen. He states: "More than €5bn of
taxpayers' money is going abroad." As if all systems come from
and work is done abroad.
https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article238749711/Thyssenkrupp-Marine-Systems-will-deutschen-Werften-Champion-bilden.html
***
Turkish diplomacy in the Middle
East and North Africa have paved the way for arms exports there as
well and Roketsan’s 122mm, 230mm, and 300mm munitions are directly
competing with their analogs from China and Russia.
https://21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com/2022/05/14/turkey-can-export-bespoke-rocket-artillery/
#Roketsan
***
Airbus Spain arms sales to
Western allies Saudi Arabia, UAE 'may have contributed to war crimes
in Yemen'. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in that war,
in what the United Nations has described as the world's worst
humanitarian crisis.
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/airbus-spain-sales-may-have-had-role-yemen-war-crimes
May 14
***
Production lines can barely keep
up, stock prices are soaring, and requests keep pouring in from
across Europe. The global rearmament effort in the wake of Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine is grist to the mill for Swiss arms companies.
With arms export map.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/ukraine-war-a-windfall-for-swiss-arms-industry/47581582
***
South African military industry
exported €196m worth of weapons, ammunition and military equipment
to 67 countries around the world last year, according to the latest
figures from the National Conventional Arms Control Committee #NCACC,
like UAE, Turkey.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/sa-exported-r3-3-billion-worth-of-military-hardware-in-2021/
***
If we compare the situation in
Tigray to other ongoing armed conflicts, the numbers are startling.
https://www.thenation.com/article/world/genocide-in-tigray/ Yes I
know everything is compared to the war in Ukraine, but often with
good reason. Here even same Turkish weapon is used
https://twitter.com/martinbroek/status/1508021369107357697
#Bayraktar
***
Military push for Canada to go
to 'wartime footing' to produce armaments will be costly for
taxpayers
Each night on U.S. newscasts retired American generals, many who work behind the scenes for major defence firms, echo the call to ramp up arms production.
***
For Triodos there’s one
exclusionary criterion most responsible, ethical banks have in
common, it is a clear stance against weapons. And why weapons are all
but sustainable.
https://www.triodos.co.uk/articles/2022/investing-in-arms-is-not-sustainable
May 13
***
More of those, please. Russian
soldiers refusing to fight in Ukraine. "Many of us simply did
not want to go back,” said Dmitri, a member of the unit who asked
not to be identified with his real name. “I want to return to my
family – and not in a casket.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/12/they-were-furious-the-russian-soldiers-refusing-to-fight-in-ukraine
***
Reinvigorating the Pacific
Pivot: #ClimateChange and Soft Power. Climate change poses both
national security risks and opportunities for the US in the Pacific.
A new strategy is required wrote Commander Karl Garman, US Coast
Guard Reserve.
***
Greece is extending a bilateral
military agreement with the US for 5 years, with government officials
arguing that enhanced alliances within NATO will help stabilize the
region rattled by Russia’s war in Ukraine and tension in the
eastern
Mediterranean.https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2022/05/12/greece-to-extend-base-access-deal-with-us-military/
***
Developing norms for
enhanced security in outer space: Process and priorities. Submission by Project Ploughshares to
the Open-ended Working Group on Reducing Space Threats
Report:
https://ploughshares.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/OEWG_Norms.pdf
If
[UK] Labour today was a shadow of its 1980s self, it would pressure
our government to end arms exports, dial down the cold war rhetoric
and negotiate for a return to talks that can secure a Russian
withdrawal and a guaranteed neutrality for Ukraine.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/e/new-cold-war-may-be-even-more-dangerous-last
May 12
***
Israeli firm #Xtend
https://xtend.me/xtend-why-we-invested-and-the/
will supply 100s of new Wolverine Gen2 small drones to the US DoD as
part of a joint government-to-government program with Israel’s
Defense Ministry. Even untrained can use them for wide array of taks.
#SOF
https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2022/05/11/xtend-to-supply-hundreds-of-wolverine-gen2-drones-to-us-military
Retweet @ECCHRBerlinw/: @CentreDelas & @amnistiaespana, we show how Spain may aid & abet potential war crimes by providing airplanes, bombs & spare parts as well as maintenance for #Eurofighters & A330 MRTT refueling tankers to #SaudiArabia & #UAE #YemenMatters #YemenCantWait #OurWeaponIsJustice
***
Jeune Afrique republishes an
article (https://twitter.com/martinbroek/status/1409423208424558593)
on the dealings and wheelings of Jean-Yves Le Drian, the current
French Minister of Foreign Affairs in Mali for those who think the
wrongs are one sided in Bamako.
https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1192206/politique/enquete-mali-france-jean-yves-le-drian-vrp-breton-aupres-dibk-2-2/
***
The State Department was "deeply
troubled & disappointed" by the sentencing a critic of
autocrat Turkish president Erdogan.
Four days later, however, Secretary of State Blinken told a he would expedite US arms sales to Turkey because "if we don't...." https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/11/opinion/my-friends-political-prisoners/
Addition: Tweet above is just one of
the many arguments against arming Turkey.
Biden administration presses Congress
for approval of F-16 sale to Turkiye: $6B deal includes sale of 40
new F-16V jets, updated kits for aircraft in Turkish Air Forces
inventory. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/biden-administration-presses-congress-for-approval-of-f-16-sale-to-turkiye-report/2585064
***
Killer Robots Are Here—and We
Need to Regulate Them. Unlike traditional drones, these systems have
the ability to navigate on their own, and some can select targets. https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/05/11/killer-robots-lethal-autonomous-weapons-systems-ukraine-libya-regulation/
***
Naval to employ DC-grid power generation and distribution system on board of German Navy F126 frigates to make energy consumption more efficient. https://damen.com/insights-center/news/damen-naval-to-employ-dc-grid-power-generation-and-distribution-systemDamen
Can lower consumption up to 20% studies by the industry say.
***
VS-leger glijdt langzaam af
naar een confrontatie met Rusland. In de eerste oorlogsdagen stuurde
de VS voor 50 miljoen dollar per dag aan wapens naar Oekraïne.
Afgelopen maand is dat opgelopen tot 100 miljoen per dag.
http://troepenbewegingen.blogspot.com/2022/05/vs-leger-glijdt-langzaam-af-naar-een.html
Training, Weapons, Intel: The US Military's Slow Slide Toward Confrontation with Russia over Ukraine. In the early days of the war, the US was sending arms that accounted for roughly $50m per day. By last month, that average is closer to $100m per day. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/05/06/training-weapons-intel-us-militarys-slow-slide-toward-confrontation-russia-over-ukraine.html
May 11
The US military is investing in climate adaptation and development of technology to scale back CO2 emissions. But when most of emissions are the result of deployment of aircraft, armoured vehicles and major naval vessels, it is the proverbial mere drop in the ocean.
***
Friends? No, in their world only
permanent interests.
Lockheed Secretly Worked to Block Airbus’ Influence in Washington—While Teaming on Major Pentagon Bid
Internal email reveals US company’s pressure to deny Europeans’ application to powerful trade group.
***
Pentagon leaders are asking
Congress for new authorities when it comes to cooperative defense
programs with the European Union, a prospect officials on both sides
of the Atlantic have said will complement traditional NATO processes.
The proposed bill text would name the European Union, plus its associated bodies like the European Defence Agency, in the Arms Export Control Act, thereby enabling routine defense work with the bloc and its member countries. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/05/10/pentagon-pitches-law-changes-to-enable-us-eu-defense-cooperation/
***
Space Race. UK will join the
space race this summer with the launch of two shoebox-sized
satellites equipped with #MoD kit from Cornwall. It will be the first
#satellite launch from British soil to show the UK's ability to rival
other spacefaring nations.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/05/10/britain-joins-space-race-first-satellite-launch-cornwall/
***
Control arms now, also these.
#DARPA, in a bid to mature its scramjet-powered hypersonic weapon
program, is seeking $60 million in its fiscal 2023 budget for the
next phase of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapons Concept.
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/2022/05/09/darpa-maturing-scramjet-powered-hypersonic-weapon-concept-through-follow-on-program/
***
“The Ukraine war kind of came
at a good time (for the arms industry),” @dan_grazier of #POGO
said. “...when the Afghanistan war ended, ... defence contractors
lamenting the fact that the war ended and they were expecting a hit
to their bottom line...”
https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjbyaq/biden-ukraine-us-lockheed-missiles
***
Australian peace groups
organised protest at Darling Harbour at the 2022 Indo Pacific Expo
naval arms bazaar in Sydney. They oppose government plans to become
one of the world’s top 10 arms exporting countries.
https://www.greenleft.org.au/video/protesters-take-aim-2022-indo-pacific-expo-naval-arms-bazaar
May 10
***
Asked if Russia would rule out a
preemptive tactical nuclear strike on Ukraine, Russia's deputy
foreign minister said a decision on the possible use of nuclear
weapons was clearly set out in Russia's military doctrine.
This doctrine states they may be used
if they - or other types of weapons of mass destruction - are used
against Russia, or if the Russian state faces an existential threat
from conventional weapons.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/possible-nuclear-strike-russia-says-its-all-our-military-doctrine-2022-05-10/
***
Nederlandse export helpt Russen
op het slagveld
https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2022/05/nederlandse-export-helpt-russen-op-het.html
Dutch sales help Russian's at the battlefield
https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2022/05/dutch-sales-help-russians-at-battlefield.html
Addition:
A UK defence company manufactured components found in a
Russian weapons system. The firm has admitted making "historic
sales" of "commercial components" to Russia, but
insists it was given "end-user" assurances they would not
be used inmilitary app's.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/uk-defence-firm-built-parts-26902886
Most
of the RUSI reported technology found in the Russian Borisoglebsk-2
jamming equipment came from the US.
Now Washington said a $150 million security package bound for Eastern Europe includes the jamming gear to counter Russia.
So you have it both ways. https://www.c4isrnet.com/electronic-warfare/2022/05/09/us-sending-ukraine-electronic-jamming-gear-in-150m-package/
***
Austria
rearmament as an opportunity for the domestic economy (Aufrüstung als Chance für heimische Wirtschaft) with the help of the European Defence Fund.
https://kurier.at/wirtschaft/aufruestung-als-chance-fuer-heimische-wirtschaft/402001860
***
If China decides to provide
military assistance to Russia during the war in Ukraine, it will risk
becoming a target of direct sanctions. The US has already started
sanctioning China, even without sufficient evidence of China’s
military assistance to
Russia.https://thediplomat.com/2022/05/how-china-supplies-russias-military/
***
According to the latest
quarterly report from German company Rheinmetall
(https://ir.rheinmetall.com/download/companies/rheinmetall/Presentations/2022-05-06_Rheinmetall_Conference_Call_Q1_2022.pdf),
Hungary is well on the way to buying kamikaze drones from them for
huge sums.
https://dailynewshungary.com/leaked-hungary-to-buy-kamikaze-drones-for-e250-million/
***
President Joe Biden signed a
bill Monday that will streamline the lengthy process of supplying
Ukraine with the military equipment needed for the fight against
Russia.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/09/biden-signs-ukraine-lend-lease-military-aid-bill-amid-russia-invasion.html
***
Interesting article on the
Australian military material acquisition policy. Is it a blame game
in the hands of "of an elite few."
https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/who-killed-the-attack-class
***
Bribes in the Defence industry.
A common feature. Bribes for Saudi contracts authorised by
government, trial told.
https://www.ft.com/content/605cc071-4f78-42a1-8f04-da52ff3023b0
***
Die Frankfurther Algemeine gave
an overview of the strongholds of the German military industry.
https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/ruestungsindustrie-das-sind-die-hochburgen-der-deutschen-wehrtechnik-18011814.html
Zoals zo vaak is Nederland de grootste van de kleintjes. Nog voor Polen. Genoeg lijkt 't nooit, de militaire uitgaven uit de Staatsbegroting.
Die uitgaven gaan ten koste van gezondheidszorg, klimaatbeleid, jeugdhulpverlening etc. Maar ook een vredesbeleid ontbreekt.
***
With #Damen in ambush, Naval
Group could lose Romanian corvette deal
While the #Romanian defence ministry is getting impatient, against the backdrop of the war in neighbouring Ukraine, France's #NavalGroup is openly in conflict with its local partner SNC. https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2022/05/10/with-damen-in-ambush-naval-group-could-lose-romanian-corvette-deal,109783540-art
May 9
***
Your kidding? Investing in
weapons is the moral high ground? 25% of investors say that they will
increase their investments in defence stocks if the conflict
escalates, while a further 17% said that they should be accepted as
legitimate ESG investments.
https://www.investmentweek.co.uk/opinion/4049321/months-%E2%80%99-investors-grappling-russia-ukraine-conflict
***
Retweet @CTWnl: Nieuwe
blog van @martinbroek: Bijna alle moderne Russische wapens zijn
afhankelijk van hoogwaardige elektronica uit de VS, het VK,
Duitsland, Japan, Israël, China, Nederland en enkele andere landen,
aldus het Brits rapport 'Operation Z; the death throes of an imperial
illusion.'
Ook vanuit Nederland zijn elektronische componenten
verkocht voor Russische militaire radio’s “die de ruggengraat
vormen van de tactische communicatie van het Russische leger.” Dit
toont aan hoe belangrijk scherpere exportcontrole is om de
oorlogsinspanningen te frustreren.
Doet de Nederlandse
regering al het mogelijke om toekomstige export van Nederlandse
technologie voor wapentuig en militaire technologie tegen Oekraïne
te voorkomen?
https://stopwapenhandel.org/nederlandse-export-helpt-russen-op-het-slagveld/
***
Retweet @CTWnl: New blog
by @martinbroek: Almost all of Russia’s modern military
hardware is depended upon complex electronics imported from the US,
UK, Germany, Japan, Israel, China, the Netherlands, and some other
countries.
According to the UK report: 'Operation Z; the
death throes of an imperial illusion' the Netherlands is one of the
countries selling electronic components to Russia for military
radio’s. They“form the backbone of the Russian military’s
tactical communication.”
This kind of information stresses
the importance of stronger controls to frustrate Russia’s war. Is
the Dutch government doing all what can be done to prevent future
exports of Dutch technology for weaponry and military technology used
against Ukraine?
https://stopwapenhandel.org/dutch-sales-help-russians-at-the-battlefield/
***
CRS
report to US Congress on Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues
for Congress. May 5, 2022.
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2189
May 8
***
Blaming the US for not pampering
the autocrats in Riyadh with arms deliverances contrast in painful
way with calls elsewhere for genuine human rights based policy.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/05/07/joe-bidens-failures-have-turned-saudi-arabia-putins-poodle/
***
The Republic of Cyprus foreign
ministry on Saturday said the Republic has now fulfilled the
requirements of the US 2019 partnership act and hopes that Washington
will fully lift its decades-old arms embargo on Cyprus.
https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/05/07/foreign-ministry-hopes-for-complete-end-to-us-arms-embargo/
***
The #Nigerian Navy said the new
#Damen built vessel (LST 1314) will bolster the Nigerian Navy’s
sealift capability. Specifically, it will enhance the transportation
of troops, military hardware, vehicles in the conduct of maritime
security operations.
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/nigerian-navy-tank-landing-ship-visiting-cape-town/
***
"... All of the above
doesn’t even address the question of whether America’s costly
“cover the globe” military strategy—with more than 750 military
bases and counterterror operations in 85 countries—is the best way
to make the country safe.
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2022/05/dont-overinflate-pentagon-budget/366561/
***
Important developer of high tech
“Taiwan Regulations on Export Control of Strategic High-Tech Goods
and Export Control to Russia: An Introduction”
https://www.fblaw.com.tw/en/news/legalnews?dbid=6235005603
***
An article in the bulletin ISEAS
Perspective published by the ISEAS –Yusof Ishak Institute, a
Singapore-based institute, has found that Russia’s military
industry has been hit hard, with export values reduced from $1.2 bn
in 2014 to just $89 m in 2021.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/vietnam/russian-arms-sales-southeast-asia-05062022141241.html
***
#Japan’s dispatch of defense
items to #Ukraine seen as murky area. Because the law stipulates that
disused items excluding weapons can be transferred to developing
countries, the latest items, like drones, are all regarded as
"disused items" for shipment.
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14608909
***
Morocco is in talks with Israel
to purchase the Delilah short-range cruise missile for its fleet of
F-5, a supersonic light fighter jet, according to a report by Spanish
military news website Defensa.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/05/348878/morocco-negotiating-to-acquire-israeli-cruise-missile
***
Why Taiwan may ultimately
benefit from delays to US weapons delivery. The late delivery of
Paladin howitzers and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles – as a result
of the Ukraine war – may lead to import of more powerful weapons.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3176835/why-taiwan-may-ultimately-benefit-delays-us-weapons-delivery
May 6
***
Russia has been the largest
exporter of arms to Southeast Asia over the past two decades but the
value of its defence sales to the region has fallen sharply since its
annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will
push this downward trend.
https://fulcrum.sg/the-russia-ukraine-war-and-its-potential-impact-on-russias-arms-sales-to-southeast-asia/
Additional:
Are Russian Arms Exports to Southeast Asia a Thing of the Past?
Even before the invasion of Ukraine, Russian sales of weapons to the region were falling. They could well be set to drop further.
https://thediplomat.com/2022/05/are-russian-arms-exports-to-southeast-asia-a-thing-of-the-past/
***
Data leaks as by Anonymous in
early April prove once again that, despite the European embargo, the
behind-the-scenes dealings between European and Russian arms
manufacturers have in fact never stopped. The example of New
Lachaussée is there to remind us.
https://www.rtbf.be/article/vente-d-armes-les-frequentations-russes-du-belge-new-lachaussee-malgre-l-embargo-europeen-10985496
#Belgium
***
It is brainy to publish an
article in a major French paper on the escape routes of former South
African president Zuma from punishment for his corruption and nowhere
use the word @Thales.
https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2022/05/05/afrique-du-sud-comment-l-ancien-president-jacob-zuma-a-offert-le-pays-aux-freres-gupta_6124854_3212.html
***
Why the US does not want Japan
to arm Southeast Asia. It may lead unpredictable Southeast Asian
emboldened by Japanese arms exports to do harm to security in the
region.
https://asiatimes.com/2022/05/japan-thailand-in-enhanced-new-military-embrace/
***
The China-Solomons security pact
may strengthen military ties, translate into arms sales, joint
drills, patrols & even clandestine basing rights. From this angle
it represents a breakthrough. However, the attention means it will
come under severe scrutiny.
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3176343/why-china-solomon-islands-pact-making-waves-pacific
***
Thailand's Chinese submarine
deal will it go on? A German official in Thai embassy said in earlier
that Beijing had failed to coordinate with Berlin before signing the
contract. Opposition politicians in Thailand demanded the submarine
deal to be canceled
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/explained/article/3176532/thailands-chinese-submarine-deal-why-it-stuck-limbo-and-will-it
***
Germany has said it has reached
an agreement to send more heavy weapons to Ukraine.
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-to-send-howitzers-to-ukraine-live-updates/a-61701333
***
What is wrong with that?
Arms sales soar amid rising global poverty,
Read it in the Oman Observer: https://www.omanobserver.om/article/1118652/opinion/arms-sales-soar-amid-rising-global-poverty
***
Questions on Sanctions against
Russia for its military aggression in Ukraine by @JaninaOchojska
(PPE)
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2022-000754_EN.html
Answered as if nothing went wrong. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2022-000754-ASW_EN.pdf
***
Something is wrong with a system
where highly influential private industries can profit out of
politics by other means.
The return of war in Europe with the Russian invasion of Ukraine should be good for business, BAE Systems has told its investors.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bae-fired-up-as-war-returns-to-europe-nw6gzw2sc
***
This week marks the 40th anniversary of
the Exocet strike that sank HMS Sheffield. Now a civil servant in the
French MoD said Mitterand did not inform the UK on the electronic
countermeasures that could "neutralise" the missiles. 1/2
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/05/05/france-would-not-tell-uk-stop-falklands-exocets-arms-trade-rival/
"It is because we were and still are competitors in the arms industry and Francois Mitterrand knew that if he had handed over the plans in full then the British would have let it be known the world over.
"That would have been very bad publicity for the French arms industry at a time when the French and British industries were competing fiercely in a certain number of key markets."
***
Former Airbus unit
paid £9.7mn in bribes to Saudi military, court told
Senior executive and associate of GPT stand trial over corruption concerning UK defence contracts
https://www.ft.com/content/ba722466-3340-42ea-bf9e-7b0b77e18213
Or
here: UK Ministry of Defence official paid £9.7m in bribes to Saudi
military chiefs to get contracts and took double his salary in
kickbacks himself, court hears
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10786419/MoD-official-paid-9-7m-bribes-Saudi-chiefs-took-double-pay-kickbacks-court-hears.html
#corruption in one the most corrupte industries.
May 5
***
Senegal has ordered eight French
LG1 105 mm howitzers and ammunition from Nexter. The contract for the
Senegal Armed Forces entered into effect on April 20.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/senegal-orders-lg1-howitzers/
***
Dirk Kuiken van @Vliegop1
schrijft fris van de lever een ingezonden brief tegen
wervingscampagnes voor de krijgsmacht in de Leeuwarder Courant van 4
mei 2022: Mens bij krijgsmacht altijd sluitpost.
***
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION
(EU) 2022/699, of 3 May 2022
amending Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council by removing Russia as a destination from the scope of Union general export authorisations
***
So far for Europe.
The US F-35 has won every major competition in which it was entered, most recently in Finland & Switzerland. The only such competition remaining at the moment is in Canada, but Spain may consider F-35Bs to maintain carrier operations. https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/21863255/f-35-joint-strike-fighter-jsf-program-may-2-2022.pdf
***
Congress signals openness to
Turkey F-16 sale amid Ukraine cooperation. (Below an article on how
Turkey behaves over the borders of its southern neighbour; with
fighter aircraft.)
Retweet @Ludodb: De ene invasie is de andere niet: westers stilzwijgen over zoveelste Turkse militaire aanval op Noord-Irak https://vrede.be/nl/nieuws/westers-stilzwijgen-over-zoveelste-turkse-invasie-noord-irak
***
Bulgaria’s parliament voted on
Wednesday to allow repairs of Ukrainian heavy military equipment and
seek ways to help Ukrainian exports of grains and electricity,
sidestepping proposals to provide direct military aid to Kyiv.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-bulgaria-aid/bulgaria-approves-repairs-to-ukrainian-military-equipment-not-military-aid-idUSKCN2MQ18J
***
Ukraine: the problem with
Russia’s sanctions-busting arms industry
https://theconversation.com/ukraine-the-problem-with-russias-sanctions-busting-arms-industry-182358
May 4
***
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2022/may/international-commanders-respond
***
Russian aircraft carrier still
at a wharf. The cost of the war in Ukraine & related sanctions
could be a blow and thus it seems the bad luck of the Kuznetsov is
ongoing, is the conclusion of one of two articles in on the ship.
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2022/may/bad-luck-kuznetsov
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2022/may/case-kuznetsov
However
the Russian navy is "equiped with a modeern long-range
precission-strike capability (...) Europe currently is at greater
risk than the continental US of being targetted with these strikes."
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2022/may/kalibrization-russian-fleet
***
The common interests of France
and India. Modi can count on his friend Macron to understand New
Delhi’s position on Ukraine, even if the French president is
personally unhappy with India’s fence-sitting. There is plenty of
room for a friend in need.
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20220504-modi-macron-put-ukraine-rift-aside-to-take-indo-french-ties-to-next-level
***
Next war looming ahead. US
Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill on Tuesday aimed at
fast-tracking the transfer of US weapon systems to Taiwan and
strengthening joint military training to make sure Taiwan can defend
itself in case of a Chinese invasion.
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202205040006
***
The 8th edition of the Black Sea
Defence and Aerospace — #BSDA2022, the largest military,
aeronautical and arms fair in Eastern Europe, will take place at near
#Bucharest, May 18-20.
Lockheed, Raytheon, BAES, Elbit, Rafael, MBDA, Airbus, DAMEN, Beretta..,
https://www.bsda.ro/exhibitor-listing/
***
US ties missiles used by Kyiv to
its China competition bill. “Each Javelin missile requires more
than 200 semiconductors to make, and boosting domestic chip
manufacturing,” is also a vital security component, US Press
secretary Jen Psaki said.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3176302/ukraine-war-white-house-ties-missiles-used-kyiv-its-china-competition
***
Difficult to foresee todays
Russian behaviour?
UK-made parts for jamming systems and military radios are found in Russian weapons in Ukraine. One Borisoglebsk-2 contained components made in the UK, US, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan and the Netherlands. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10776727/British-parts-jamming-systems-military-radios-Russian-weapons-Ukraine.html
***
Google alert 'arms production'
referred to a text by Ernst Mandel on Trotsky’s theory of fascism.
Why? There is a note on the privatisation of military industry and
its profits, which are not in the interest of effective warfare, but
to big corporations. https://www.iire.org/node/1004#sdendnote10anc
***
Olaf Scholtz said of Russia's
potential nuclear attack: "In view of this war, everything
should be taken seriously." Berlin's task was "to prevent
such weapons from being used". He advised not to "act
hastily in the hope that it won't be so bad"
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1604859/nuclear-war-fears-germany-olaf-scholz-russia-ukraine-weapons-energy-update
***
WSJ draw a bead on the Pope
for his opinion what was the trigger for the the War in the Ukraine:
Pope Francis Blames NATO
The Catholic leader can’t seem to condemn Russia’s invasion.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/pope-francis-blames-nato-russia-ukraine-11651598988
May 3
***
The French pride in arms; While
arms deliveries to Ukraine are controversial in Germany, they are
almost celebrated in France.
In the international "Peace Index" France usually comes in last place of all European countries. https://www.zeit.de/zustimmung?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zeit.de%2Fpolitik%2Fausland%2F2022-05%2Fwaffenlieferungen-frankreich-ukraine-deutschland
***
A Whitehall probe has reportedly
begun to see if UK's arms embargo on Russia, in place since 2014, has
been breached. It comes after #RUSI highlighted the extent to which
Moscow's weaponry relies on components produced in the UK and other
Western nations.
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:g-YqnY_a7igJ:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-nuclear-war-mariupol-latest-b2070082.html
***
Thales becomes European leader
in military training; The group buys Ruag Simulation & Training,
a subsidiary of the Swiss aerospace and military firm Ruag.
https://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/thales-devient-leader-europeen-de-l-entrainement-militaire-20220502
***
“Special Report: How military
Technology Reaches Russia in Breach of US Export Controls”. Today,
Russia's efforts to circumvent US restrictions on military &
other sensitive technology are on the rise. Russia cannot military
fucntion without Western tech.
***
Germany bitterly divided over
heavy arms deliveries to Ukraine
Pacifists, philosophers and media are all weighing in on Berlin’s policy shift. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/germany-bitterly-divided-over-heavy-arms-deliveries-to-ukraine-1.4867620
***
There's no ban on Estonia giving
Israeli weapons to Ukraine - Estonian FM
Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets said Jerusalem has not blocked Tallinn from giving Israeli arms to Ukraine, contrary to reports published earlier this year.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-705695
***
Mysterious explosions, fires
in Russia may signal war is moving beyond Ukraine. Could these events
be a shift in the focus of the war? Timeline tracks recent
destruction in Russia & Russian-aligned territories.
Unknown whether they're a coordinated effort.
https://eu.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/05/02/explosions-in-russia-ukraine-attack-fire/9554857002/
May 2
***
#NavalGroup opens new
counter-mine warfare, cyber labs in Brussels. The is part of an
industrial cooperation plan linked to the Belgian-Dutch mine
countermeasure replacement program #rMCM. The Cyber Lab will develop
solutions specifically to the rMCM.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/04/29/naval-group-opens-new-counter-mine-warfare-cyber-labs-in-brussels/
***
Israel Aerospace Industries
(IAI) and Hyundai Heavy Industries have inked an agreement to supply
the Philippine Navy with IAI's ALPHA 3D Radar Systems. The ALPHA 3D
Radar will be integrated into the new ships of the Philippine Navy.
https://www.edrmagazine.eu/iai-and-hyundai-heavy-industries-to-supply-philippine-navy-with-alpha-3d-radar-systems
***
Goochelen met kosten en aantallen.
Nieuwe moderne luchtverdediging voor 2 in plaats van 4
fregattenHoewel de kosten voor de APAR-radar vele malen hoger zijn
dan verwacht, heeft dit geen invloed op de in 2018 ingeschatte
bedragen. Defensie neemt in plaats van 4, 2 radars af en heeft
daardoor ook in minder ESSM Block 2-raketten nodig.
De kosten komen in totaal uit tussen de € 250 miljoen en € 1 miljard. Het Nederlandse bedrijf Thales ontwikkelt de technologie. https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2022/04/29/nieuwe-moderne-luchtverdediging-voor-2-in-plaats-van-4-fregatten
***
@JaspervanDijkSP Vragen
over de levering van pantserhouwitsers in relatie tot het nieuwe doel
van de Amerikanen om het Russische leger te verzwakken.
https://app.1848.nl/document/kamervraag/96374
***
An interesting read on the
popular initiative against arms exports through the port of Hamburg.
Spokesman Martin Dolzer on the question of whether the Ukraine war is
the right time for this.
https://taz.de/Hamburger-Volksini-ueber-Ruestungsexporte/!5851442/
***
German talks to deliver
artillery. The problem: Of the Bundeswehr's 119 self-propelled
PzH2000, only about 40 are currently operational, so military
officials are skeptical. So were their Dutch colleagues, but the
government in The Hague overrode them.
https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/plus238460793/Waffen-fuer-Ukraine-Nun-sogar-Panzerhaubitzen-Deutschland-schleppt-sich-zur-Zeitenwende.html
***
Information on research SQUIRE.
This is Thales' man-portable medium-range ground surveillance radar.
#Thales Netherlands Advanced Development & Studies has a
long-standing collaboration with #TNO, formalized in the Dutch Radar
Center of Expertise.
https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/netherlands/news/field-testing-radar-innovations
***
Last week authorities in Hanoi
raided the house of businesswoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan. The past
decade she was key in promoting & brokering Israel-Vietnam arms
deals. She's accused of fraud & breach of trust. Nguyen had moved
to Europe prior to the
affair.https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israel-vietnam-arms-deals-at-risk-after-arrest-warrant-against-key-middlewoman-1.10772845
***
The Future Air Combat System
#SCAF, is meant to
replace the Rafale and Eurofighter in the 2nd half of the century. It is the main European military project, but for now blocked. Dassault and Airbus do not agree on their future cooperation. https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/defense-lavion-de-chasse-du-futur-stop-ou-encore-1404043
May 1
***
How Netanyahu Backed Arms and
Cocaine Deals
Despite very serious allegations against the then-Honduran president, Israeli governments continued to supply him with arms that were used to suppress his opponents and traffic drugs to the US.
***
This year's Israeli arms
exhibition, ISDEF2022, hosts delegations from various countries that
are infamous for their human rights violation record. They came to
examine a wide range of weaponry some used extensively on the
Palestinian population.
https://mondoweiss.net/2022/04/israels-annual-weaponry-festival-is-inseparable-from-occupation-in-palestine/
***
Why didn't EU advertise it
closed loopholes into the sanctions on the export of strategic tech
to Russia? “Possibly that was to not attract more attention to it —
or it may have just have been standard bureaucratic procedure”,
Pieter Wezeman #SIPRI says.
https://www.investigate-europe.eu/en/2022/eu-closed-loophole/
This
is one of the examples of this lax policy by European Commission,
member states and military industries. Killed by Thales military
technology in Bucha.
https://broekstukken.blogspot.com/2022/04/killed-by-thales-military-technology-in.html
#Thales admitted to have continued to
sell and deliver infrared cameras to Russia after 2014, the start of
sanctions which normally prohibited any company from selling arms to
this country, Le Parisien stated April 30.
https://www.capital.fr/entreprises-marches/guerre-en-ukraine-ce-materiel-militaire-que-thales-admet-avoir-livre-a-la-russie-apres-les-sanctions-occidentales-1435220
(Thales:
Met 80.000 talenten in 68 landen zijn we een van de grootste
hightech-werkgevers op het gebied van safety en security. In
Nederland, waar 2500 medewerkers werkzaam zijn, hebben we vestigingen
in vier steden: Huizen, Delft, Eindhoven en Hengelo (hoofdkantoor).
https://magnet.me/en-GB/opportunity/373036/business-application-engineer)
***
Helping Ukraine defend itself is
one thing, but it should be done with an eye towards limiting the
risks of escalation and unintended economic and security
consequences. The administration’s latest aid request should be
carefully debated and scrutinized.
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/04/28/putting-bidens-new-whopping-33b-ukraine-package-into-context/
***
@WilliamHartung points to the
biggest threats of all.
Global military spending tops $2 trillion. The US far outpaces all spenders when pressing threats like #climate change and #nuclear conflict that require diplomatic strategies receive little funding.
***
Long time effect of the war? The
Japanese government’s unprecedented decision to provide defense
equipment to a country involved in armed conflict raises grave
questions about Japan’s commitment to its restrictive arms export
policy.
https://qoshe.com/the-asahi-shimbun/the-asahi-shimbun/editorial-japan-s-aid-to-ukraine-cannot-lead-to-broader-arms-exports/137024011
Switzerland does not supply arms to warring parties. It has kept it that way as a neutral country for decades. But the war in Ukraine is shattering this certainty. The GLP is the first party to demand a move away from today's neutrality. https://www.bernerzeitung.ch/glp-will-waffen-an-kriegsparteien-liefern-koennen-525596114761
***
Zijn wapens, olie en gas nu toch
een verantwoorde belegging? Rachel Whittaker, hoofd onderzoek
duurzaam beleggen bij Robeco, noemt het uitsluiten van wapens 'een
van de allereerste basisprincipes van duurzaam beleggen'.
https://fd.nl/financiele-markten/1437011/zijn-wapens-olie-en-gas-nu-toch-een-verantwoorde-belegging
