Security and Strategy – Page 28

NATO SAYS NON-US 2017 DEFENCE SPENDING TO RISE 4.3%

Sourced : Yahoo News European NATO allies and Canada will increase defence spending this year by 4.3 percent, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday, amid pressure from President Donald Trump to spend more. “In 2017 we foresee an even greater annual real increase of 4.3 percent. That is three consecutive years of accelerating defence spending,”… Continue reading NATO SAYS NON-US 2017 DEFENCE SPENDING TO RISE 4.3%

WILL CHINA PROVIDE SANCTUARY TO NORTH KOREAN SUBMARINES?

Sourced : Asian Times By Peter J. Brown As Washington, Seoul and Tokyo fret about North Korea’s repeated firing of ballistic missiles into the skies of Northeast Asia, another part of Pyongyang’s arsenal has gone largely unnoticed because it’s under the ocean: Submarines. Of course, submarines aren’t supposed to be noticed, which is what can… Continue reading WILL CHINA PROVIDE SANCTUARY TO NORTH KOREAN SUBMARINES?

UAE ENVOY : GULF STATES CONSIDERING NEW QATAR SANCTIONS

Sourced Al Jazeera A Saudi-led bloc is considering fresh sanctions against Qatar that may include asking trading partners to choose between them or Doha, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to Russia said. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, envoy Omar Ghobash said the expulsion of Qatar from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was… Continue reading UAE ENVOY : GULF STATES CONSIDERING NEW QATAR SANCTIONS

INDIA SHOPS FOR STRATEGIC DEFENCE INDUSTRY PARTNER AGAINST CHINA

Sourced Asia Times Three figures influential in Indian defense circles told a top US think tank this week that, while maintaining a pragmatic set of alliances, India is also looking for a strategic partner to work with its private defense contractors to significantly upgrade its capabilities to better counter China, specifically, as well as other… Continue reading INDIA SHOPS FOR STRATEGIC DEFENCE INDUSTRY PARTNER AGAINST CHINA

TOTAL TO START DRILLING OFF CYPRUS ON JULY 2014

Sourced : In Cyprus French energy giant TOTAL is expected to start exploratory drilling in block 11 of the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone on July 14. Block 11 covers some 2,958 square kilometres and the drill site is 150 km off the coast of Cyprus. Before any exploratory work begins, a 4400-metre diameter area around… Continue reading TOTAL TO START DRILLING OFF CYPRUS ON JULY 2014

TRUMP OPPOSE THE NORD STREAM 2 PROJECT FINDS FAVOR WITH CENTRAL EUROPE

Sourced : Politico By Anca Gurzu The Trump administration is on a diplomatic offensive against Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, lobbying across Europe to kill off the project while also boosting its own gas sales to Europe. The geopolitical rationale behind the U.S. position is to keep Russia from dominating European gas markets. There is also a… Continue reading TRUMP OPPOSE THE NORD STREAM 2 PROJECT FINDS FAVOR WITH CENTRAL EUROPE

AL-SISI : GULF SIEGE AGAINST QATAR SHOULD INCLUDE TURKEY

Sourced : Middle East Monitor The Egyptian president has called on allies in the Gulf to escalate the diplomatic row with Qatar to include Turkey, the New Arab reported. According to the news outlet, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi urged Gulf leaders to expand their boycott until Ankara gives up support for Qatar. He is reported… Continue reading AL-SISI : GULF SIEGE AGAINST QATAR SHOULD INCLUDE TURKEY

CYPRUS, GREECE AND ISRAEL TO SPEED UP EAST MEDITERRANEAN GAS PIPELINE EFFORTS

Sourced : Cyprus Mail By Jean Christou Cyprus, Greece and Israel said on Thursday they would speed up plans for the development of a pipeline channelling gas to Europe from newly discovered east Mediterranean reserves. European governments and Israel agreed in April to move forward with a Mediterranean pipeline project to carry natural gas from… Continue reading CYPRUS, GREECE AND ISRAEL TO SPEED UP EAST MEDITERRANEAN GAS PIPELINE EFFORTS

TURKEY HOLDS NAVAL DRILL OFF CYPRUS IN HEATED RESPONSE TO ISRAELI COMMANDO EXERCISE IN TROODOS MOUNTAIN

Sourced : Haaretz By Gili Cohen Israeli commandos were wrapping up a large-scale military drill in Cyprus’s Troodos Mountains on Wednesday. The drill, the first of its kind to take place in Cyprus, involved hundreds of combat soldiers from the Egoz special forces unit as well as Black Hawk helicopters and Super Hercules transport plans.… Continue reading TURKEY HOLDS NAVAL DRILL OFF CYPRUS IN HEATED RESPONSE TO ISRAELI COMMANDO EXERCISE IN TROODOS MOUNTAIN

US ALARM AT POSSIBLE CHINESE BASE IN PAKISTAN IGNORES CONTEXT

Japanese military planes have intruded on the airspace of China-Russia naval exercises and carried out dangerous actions, seriously violating international laws, China's Ministry of National Defense said Sunday. Two Japanese airplanes, OP3C and YS11EB, intruded into the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone on Saturday morning to scout and interfere with the China-Russia naval drills. Chinese warplanes took off instantly to take necessary identification and preventive measures to ensure the safety of the warships and aircraft in the drills, said the ministry. Japan's actions could have easily caused a misunderstanding and even led to a mid-air incident, a ministry statement said, in response to Japanese media reports that Chinese military airplanes had been "unusually close" to the jets of Japan's Self-Defense Forces. The exercises in the designated waters and airspace was a routine drill held by China and Russia. "No fly" and "no sail" notices in relevant waters and airspace had been issued ahead of the exercises according to international practice, the ministry said. Chinese warplanes have the right to safeguard China's air safety and take necessary identification and preventive measures in case foreign jets enter the identification zone, it said. China has demanded Japan to respect the legitimate rights of Chinese and Russian navies, restrain the personnel concerned and stop all reconnaissance and interference activities. "Otherwise, Japan shall be responsible for all the consequences," the statement said. Photo: China's Harbin missile destroyer fires at a target during the China-Russia joint naval drill on East China Sea, May 24, 2014. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

Sourced : Asia Times By F.M. Shakil The Pentagon’s assessment this week that Pakistan may be set to host a Chinese military base is likely to have caused more of a commotion in New Delhi than in Islamabad. The fact is that Pakistan has provided strategic defense facilities to China for some time; indeed, such… Continue reading US ALARM AT POSSIBLE CHINESE BASE IN PAKISTAN IGNORES CONTEXT