Sourced: Defence News By Jill Colvin, Catherine Lucey, and Ken Thomas President Donald Trump is replacing national security adviser H.R. McMaster with the former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, injecting a hawkish foreign policy voice into his administration ahead of key decisions on Iran and North Korea. Trump tweeted Thursday that McMaster has done “an outstanding… Continue reading TRUMP REPLACED MCMASTER WITH JOHN BOLTON AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER
Category: Security and Strategy
RUSSIA, WEST INCREASING THEIR MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE ARCTIC
Sourced: Navy Recognition The joint ICEX-2018 exercise of the United States, the UK, Canada and Norway began in the Arctic in March 2018. Three nuclear submarines surfaced through the ice of the Beaufort Sea. The Izvestia daily writes about growing military activities of the regional countries. The Skate polar station was set up in the… Continue reading RUSSIA, WEST INCREASING THEIR MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE ARCTIC
MATTIS SAYS SAUDI ARABIA IS “PART OF THE SOLUTION” IN YEMEN
Sourced: Military Times By: Robert Burns Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Thursday said Saudi Arabia was “part of the solution” in Yemen, where the Saudis are leading a U.S.-supported military campaign against Houthi rebels that is heavily criticized for inflicting civilian casualties. Mattis spoke at the start of a Pentagon meeting with Saudi Crown Prince… Continue reading MATTIS SAYS SAUDI ARABIA IS “PART OF THE SOLUTION” IN YEMEN
RUSSIAN SUB IN ARCTIC TRACKED ENEMY SUB UNDETECTED FOR DAYS
Sourced: Asia Times A crew member of a Russian nuclear submarine says his vessel tracked a “foreign” submarine for days in Arctic waters without being detected in what’s described as a record feat for Russia’s navy. “From the [moment] first contact with the foreign submarine happened, it lasted for several days and that was a… Continue reading RUSSIAN SUB IN ARCTIC TRACKED ENEMY SUB UNDETECTED FOR DAYS
THE SECRET YACHT SUMMIT THAT REALIGNED THE MIDDLE EAST
Sourced: Middle East Eye George Nader, the Lebanese-American businessman and convicted paedophile, who is co-operating with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Donald Trump’s campaign funding, organised a secret summit of Arab leaders on a yacht in the Red Sea in late 2015, Middle East Eye can reveal. Nader proposed to the leaders gathered on… Continue reading THE SECRET YACHT SUMMIT THAT REALIGNED THE MIDDLE EAST
EGYPT FRANCE CONCLUDE JOINT NAVAL EXERRCISE IN RED SEA
Sourced: Masrad Egypt and France on Saturday finalized a joint naval exercises in the Red Sea, as part of the Egyptian armed forces plan for training with allied countries. Official Spokesperson of the Armed Forces Tamer al-Refaei said that the Egyptian-French naval exercises that lasted for several days at the Red Sea and included many… Continue reading EGYPT FRANCE CONCLUDE JOINT NAVAL EXERRCISE IN RED SEA
EU TO GIVE TURKEY MORE FUNDING TO EXTEND MIGRANT DEAL
Sourced: EKathimerini Notwithstanding a rise in tensions between Brussels and Ankara – recently exacerbated by Turkey’s increasingly aggressive stance toward Greece and Cyprus – the European Commission will be approving an additional 3 billion euros in funding for Syrian refugees living in Turkey, EU officials said on Wednesday. The fresh injection of funds will extend… Continue reading EU TO GIVE TURKEY MORE FUNDING TO EXTEND MIGRANT DEAL
MERKEL: TURKEY PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN LACK OF CYPRUS SOLUTION
Sourced: Cyprus Mail By Elias Hazou German chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday said Turkey has played an important role in the failure to reach a negotiated settlement on Cyprus. “We have a very large problem when it comes to Cyprus. For years we’ve been striving to find a solution but until today it has not… Continue reading MERKEL: TURKEY PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN LACK OF CYPRUS SOLUTION
STOP PRETENDING AMERICA AND TURKEY ARE ALLIES
Sourced : The National Interest By Doug Bandow Washington officials routinely call Turkey a vital ally, yet Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government has threatened U.S. forces cooperating with Kurdish militias in northern Syria. After American military spokesmen warned that U.S. troops would defend themselves, Erdoğan promised the famed “Ottoman slap.” Alas, doing… Continue reading STOP PRETENDING AMERICA AND TURKEY ARE ALLIES
A PERILOUS TANGO FOR FOUR IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
Sourced: BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 765, March 11, 2018 By Dr. Spyridon N. Litsas The Eastern Mediterranean has entered a new period of high volatility, with Israel and Greece in the eye of the storm. Both countries are facing an upgraded strategic challenge from Turkey and Iran. This is not simply an interstate problem… Continue reading A PERILOUS TANGO FOR FOUR IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN