Security and Strategy – Page 19

MACRON OFFERS TO MEDIATE BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIAN KURDS

Sourced: Reuters France has offered to mediate between Turkey and the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces, and assured the SDF of Paris’ support in stabilising northern Syria, President Emmanuel Macron’s office said on Thursday. Speaking after Macron met a delegation from northern Syria that included the Kurdish YPG militia, Khaled Eissa, a Kurdish official based in… Continue reading MACRON OFFERS TO MEDIATE BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIAN KURDS

KOSOVO PM SAYS ARRESTED EDUCATORS DEPORTED TO TURKEY

Sourced: Balkan Insight Several employees of Turkish colleges in Kosovo, allegedly linked to the exiled cleric Fetullah Gulen and arrested on Thursday, have been reportedly rapidly deported to Turkey – in a move criticised by Kosovo high officials. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, took to Facebook on Thursday to say that the operation was undertaken… Continue reading KOSOVO PM SAYS ARRESTED EDUCATORS DEPORTED TO TURKEY

CHINA CARRIER GROUP LEADS MASSIVE SHOW OF FORCE IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

(121125) -- LIAONING AIRCRAFT CARRIER, Nov. 25, 2012 (Xinhua) -- This undated photo shows China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, sailing on the sea. China has successfully conducted flight landing on its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. After its delivery to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Sept. 25, the aircraft carrier has undergone a series of sailing and technological tests, including the flight of the carrier-borne J-15. Capabilities of the carrier platform and the J-15 have been tested, meeting all requirements and achieving good compatibility, the PLA Navy said. Designed by and made in China, the J-15 is able to carry multi-type anti-ship, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, as well as precision-guided bombs. The J-15 has comprehensive capabilities comparable to those of the Russian Su-33 jet and the U.S. F-18, military experts estimated. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

Sourced: Asia Times China’s Liaoning carrier group has appeared in the South China Sea off Hainan, satellite photos show, after it was said to pass through the Taiwan Strait, in what analysts are describing as an “unusually large display of the Chinese military’s growing naval might.” That is according to Reuters, which obtained the photos… Continue reading CHINA CARRIER GROUP LEADS MASSIVE SHOW OF FORCE IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

EU PUSHES NEW PLANS TO RAPIDLY MOVE COMBAT GEAR ACROSS EUROPE

Sourced: Defence News By Sebastian Sprenger The European Union wants to quicken the pace of moving military equipment across countries on the continent to prepare for future crises, according to a planning document unveiled Wednesday. The project is billed as a key prerequisite for an ambitious project to build European defense capabilities outside of NATO,… Continue reading EU PUSHES NEW PLANS TO RAPIDLY MOVE COMBAT GEAR ACROSS EUROPE

CHINA SHOWS OFF LONG-RANGE BOMBERS IN AIR FORCE DRILL

Sourced: Defence News By: Mike Yeo China’s air force announced Tuesday that it had conducted a large-scale exercise involving 12 of its long-range bombers. According to a news release issued by the Ministry of National Defense, 12 Xian H-6K bombers belonging to the Shenwei Unit took part in the exercise, which involved missions into the… Continue reading CHINA SHOWS OFF LONG-RANGE BOMBERS IN AIR FORCE DRILL

NORTH KOREA’S VISIT PROVES THAT CHINA HAS LEVERAGE

Sourced: The National Interest By Robert E Kelly North Korean leader Kim Jong-un just met Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This comes on the cusp of Kim’s meetings with South Korean president Moon Jae-in in April and, possibly, U.S. president Donald Trump in May. Much of the initial analysis has focused on the importance of North… Continue reading NORTH KOREA’S VISIT PROVES THAT CHINA HAS LEVERAGE

POWER PLAYS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: THE “GREAT GAME” GOES TO SEA ?

Sourced: Offiziere By Paul Pryce Even as tensions simmer between India and China on the Doklam Plateau, where troops from both sides engaged in a two-month standoff in 2017 over Chinese efforts to build a road through territory disputed by India and Bhutan, the rivalry continues unabated at sea — namely, in the Indian Ocean… Continue reading POWER PLAYS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: THE “GREAT GAME” GOES TO SEA ?

TURKEY PREPARES FOR A POMPEO PROBLEM

Sourced: The National Interest By Gonul Tol The tension between Turkey and the United States appeared to have diminished after the outgoing Secretary Rex Tillerson’s visit to Turkey in February. The two countries had been at loggerheads over a number of issues, particularly U.S. support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, seen as terrorists by… Continue reading TURKEY PREPARES FOR A POMPEO PROBLEM

TURKISH REPORTS SAY GREEK OFFICERS COULD FACE UP TO 5 YEARS PRISON

Sourced: EKathimerini There is concrete evidence to support charges against the two Greek soldiers detained in Turkey after crossing the border earlier this month, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency said Tuesday citing an unnamed judicial source. According to the same source, the sentence for the alleged offense is five years in prison. No more details… Continue reading TURKISH REPORTS SAY GREEK OFFICERS COULD FACE UP TO 5 YEARS PRISON

EU LEADERS CONDEMN TURKEY FOR ILLEGAL ACTIONS AS TRANSGRESSIONS CONTINUE

Sourced: EKathimerini European Union leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday unanimously condemned Turkey for its aggression toward Greece and Cyprus and called on Ankara to release two Greek soldiers who have been in Turkish custody for more than three weeks. In a draft common statement, the European Council “strongly condemns Turkey’s continued illegal actions in… Continue reading EU LEADERS CONDEMN TURKEY FOR ILLEGAL ACTIONS AS TRANSGRESSIONS CONTINUE