Security and Strategy – Page 27

CIA ANALYST : BEIJING POSES A GREATER THREAT THAN RUSSIA

(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 By Bill Gertz A senior CIA analyst has offered a rare public glimpse into American intelligence analysis of China. Michael Collins, deputy assistant director and head of the agency’s East Asia mission center, believes more attention should be focused on China and that recent public angst about Russia is distracting America… Continue reading CIA ANALYST : BEIJING POSES A GREATER THREAT THAN RUSSIA

SAUDI ARABIA APPROVES PROPOSAL FOR A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR ATOMIC ENERGY

Sourced : Al Arabiya Saudi Arabia’s cabinet of ministers have approved a proposal to establish a national program for atomic energy during its latest session on Monday. The proposal, presented by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was approved on Monday and consists of a number of programs and initiatives as figured out in… Continue reading SAUDI ARABIA APPROVES PROPOSAL FOR A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR ATOMIC ENERGY

NORTH KOREA MAY HAVE MORE NUCLEAR BOMB MATERIAL THAN THOUGHT

Sourced : NBC News Thermal images of North Korea’s main nuclear site show Pyongyang may have reprocessed more plutonium than previously thought that can be used to enlarge its nuclear weapons stockpile, a U.S. think tank said on Friday. The analysis by 38 North, a Washington-based North Korean monitoring project, was based on satellite images… Continue reading NORTH KOREA MAY HAVE MORE NUCLEAR BOMB MATERIAL THAN THOUGHT

ALL EYES ON TURKEY AS TOTAL-ENI VESSEL READIES TO DRILL OFFSHORE CYPRUS

West Capella at sea trails

Sourced New Europe By Kostis Geropoulos As the West Capella drilling vessel, contracted by France’s Total in association with Italy’s ENI, is about to start drilling at Block 11 off Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) only a few days after UN-sponsored reunification talks collapsed in Crans-Montana, there are concerns that Turkey may cause tensions in… Continue reading ALL EYES ON TURKEY AS TOTAL-ENI VESSEL READIES TO DRILL OFFSHORE CYPRUS

EGYPT FRANCE LAUNCH JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE CLEOPATRA 2017

Sourced : Ahram online Egypt and France are set to launch naval military exercise Cleopatra 2017 on Monday, which will run for several days on Egyptian territorial waters in the Mediterranean and Red Seas. In a statement on Monday, the Egyptian armed forces said the training encompasses several units and naval forces, including Egyptian and… Continue reading EGYPT FRANCE LAUNCH JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE CLEOPATRA 2017

ALL EYES ON SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN AS DRILL SHIP ARRIVES TO CYPRUS EEZ

Sourced : In Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades says he hopes that there will not be any Turkish provocations as drill ship ‘West Capella’ arrived off the southern Cypriot coast in the early hours of Wednesday morning. French energy company Total in consortium with Italian Eni, is set to start drilling in Block 11 of Cyprus’… Continue reading ALL EYES ON SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN AS DRILL SHIP ARRIVES TO CYPRUS EEZ

ASIAN NATO TO COUNTER CHINA’S RISE ?

Sourced : Asian Times Μuch has been made of the “coming out” of the Indian-Israel strategic relationship, following Narendra Modi’s trip to Israel, the first such visit by an Indian Prime Minister. The relationship has long been an important one, and the closer the ties between the two countries, the closer also is India’s strategic… Continue reading ASIAN NATO TO COUNTER CHINA’S RISE ?

NORTH KOREA’S MISSILE PROGRAM IS NO LONGER A DISTANT THREAT

Sourced : Asia Times By Harry J Kazianis Νorth Korea is claiming it now has the capability to hit the United States with a nuclear weapon, after testing another advanced missile on Tuesday. While such an assertion is hard to confirm so early after the test, one thing is clear: Pyongyang’s missile program is entering… Continue reading NORTH KOREA’S MISSILE PROGRAM IS NO LONGER A DISTANT THREAT

CHINA HAS BUILT NEW MILITARY FACILITIES ON DISPUTED SOUTH CHINA SEA ISLANDS AND CAN DEPLOY “AT ANY TIME”

Sourced : Business Insider China has built new military facilities on islands in the South China Sea, a U.S. think tank reported on Thursday, a move that could raise tensions with Washington, which has accused Beijing of militarizing the vital waterway. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), part of Washington’s Center for Strategic and International… Continue reading CHINA HAS BUILT NEW MILITARY FACILITIES ON DISPUTED SOUTH CHINA SEA ISLANDS AND CAN DEPLOY “AT ANY TIME”

MEMBERS OF US CONGRESS URGE TILLERSON TO TAKE STRONG STANCE ON TURKISH THREATS AGAINST CYPRIOT EEZ

Sourced : Cyprus Mail By Apostolis Zoupaniotis Thirty-six members of the US House of Representatives encouraged US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to continue the active engagement by the State Department in the Eastern Mediterranean, including against Turkish threats concerning the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In a letter, the Representatives urged Tillerson to maintain… Continue reading MEMBERS OF US CONGRESS URGE TILLERSON TO TAKE STRONG STANCE ON TURKISH THREATS AGAINST CYPRIOT EEZ