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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Statement from the Department of Defense on Additional Forces to U.S. Central Command DoD 10 May 2019 -- The Acting Secretary of Defense has approved the movement of USS Arlington (LPD-24) and a Patriot battery to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) as part of the command's original request for forces from earlier this week.
• US sending assault ship, Patriot missile battery to Middle East: Pentagon Press TV 10 May 2019 -- The United States says it is deploying an amphibious assault ship and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East just a few days after it sent an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the region.
• US Sends More Warships, Patriot Missiles to Mideast Amid Escalation With Iran Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has ordered the deployment of more MIM-104 Patriot missile defense systems to the Middle East due to increasing tensions between the US and Iran.
• U.S. Afghan Envoy Says 'Faster Progress' Needed In Talks With Taliban RFE/RL 10 May 2019 -- The U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan said on May 10 that "faster progress" is needed in peace talks with the Taliban as another round of discussions between the two sides came to an end.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Unique opportunity at JMRC enhances readiness, lethality Army News 10 May 2019 -- Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, along with counterparts from several other partner nations fulfill the role of the opposing forces, working together cohesively to challenge friendly forces, or BLUFOR, on the battlefield.
• Joint Statement by U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John C. Rood and Polish Deputy Minister of National Defence Tomasz Szatkowski Following Today's Meeting at the Pentagon DoD 10 May 2019 -- U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John C. Rood and Polish Deputy Minister of National Defence Tomasz Szatkowski provide the following joint statement at the conclusion of their May 10 meeting at the Pentagon:
• Readout of Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan's Meeting with Latvian Minister of Defense Dr. Artis Pabriks DoD 10 May 2019
• Remarks by Acting Secretary Shanahan at a Bilateral Meeting with Republic of Latvian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Dr. Pabriks DoD 10 May 2019 -- Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and Republic of Latvian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Dr. Artis Pabriks
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Under Secretary of Defense Lord on DOD Acquisition Reforms and Major Programs DoD 10 May 2019 -- Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord
• Minor Injuries Reported After T-45 Training Jet Crash at NAS Kingsville NNS 10 May 2019 -- A Navy T-45C Goshawk aircraft crashed at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, at 2:38 p.m. Friday, May 10.
• USS Carney Participates in Formidable Shield 2019 NNS 10 May 2019 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64), along with units from eight partner nations, is off the coast of the Outer Hebrides, United Kingdom, for the U.S.-led multinational exercise Formidable Shield 2019 (FS 19), May 8.
• US Marines to Add Long-Range Naval Strike Missiles to Destroy Land, Sea Targets Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- US-based defense contractor Raytheon recently announced that the US Marine Corps is looking to bulk up its arsenal by enlisting the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) through a $47.59 million agreement.
• US B-52 Strategic Bombers Land in Qatar Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- Earlier, the US military announced that B-52 Stratofortress nuclear-capable strategic bombers would be deployed to the Middle East.
• India, US Air Force leaders participate in Executive Steering Group US Air Force 10 May 2019 -- Indian Air Force leaders visited Headquarters Pacific Air Forces for the annual India Executive Steering Group at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, April 30-May 3.
• Canada Caves to US Pressure on F-35, Stands to Lose $14 Bln in Benefits – Report Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- Earlier, Washington voiced its dissatisfaction with competition rules imposed by Ottawa on potential bidders for Canada's next-gen fighter jet, and threatened to not to allow Lockheed to bid unless the country changes the rules.
• Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Guides Strike Drill of Defence Units in Forefront Area and on Western Front KCNA 10 May 2019 -- Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, guided the strike drill of defence units of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in the forefront area and on the western front on Thursday.
• Top DPRK leader guides strike drill on western front: KCNA People's Daily 10 May 2019 -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), guided the strike drill of defense units of the Korean People's Army in the forefront area and on the western front on Thursday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday.
• Pentagon Confirms Thursday Launch by DPRK of Multiple Ballistic Missiles Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday North Korea fired unidentified missiles from the country's western province of North Pyongan.
• India Joins First-Ever Joint Naval Drill in Contested South China Sea Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- China weighed in on the incident in a strongly worded statement, saying that 'policies and actions' in the region by various state actors should be geared towards 'maintaining' the region's peace and stability, instead of undermining them.
• Ukrainian and UK Ships Hold Joint Drills in Black Sea Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- Ukraine's Pryluky missile boat and the Echo hydrographic survey ship of the UK Royal Navy have conducted joint military drills in the Black Sea, the press service of the Ukrainian Navy said on Friday.

Defense Industry

• Contracts for May 10, 2019

Other Conflicts

• 10 May 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 10 May 2019
• As Houthi forces withdraw from key Yemeni ports, UN monitoring chief welcomes 'first practical step on the ground' UN News 10 May 2019 -- As Yemenis continue to finalize redeployment procedures in line with the UN-brokered Hudaydah Agreement, under which Government coalition and rebel leaders are to pull forces out of the key port city of Hudaydah, the Chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee on Friday welcomed an offer by the Houthi opposition to begin a unilateral withdrawal.
• Yemeni Houthis to Withdraw Forces From 3 Key Ports Over 4 Days - Reports Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- Yemen's Houthi rebels have agreed to unilaterally redeploy forces out of three key ports between 11 and 14 of May to pave the way for United Nations management of the facilities under a UN-brokered peace deal, a UN committee said on Friday, cited by Reuters.
• IS Foreign Fighters Dispersing Via Loosely Aligned Networks VOA 10 May 2019 -- It was Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka, and the joy and serenity filling the country's churches were about to be shattered by a series of suicide bombings soon to be claimed by the Islamic State terror group.
• Over 200 Kazakhs Linked To Islamic State Repatriated From Syria RFE/RL 10 May 2019 -- Kazakhstan's interim president says 231 Kazakh citizens have been repatriated during the past week from Syria, where they were believed to have joined the Islamic State (IS) extremist group or were children of IS fighters.
• GNA Suspends Operations of 40 Foreign Companies in Libya, Including French Total Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) has suspended the operations of 40 foreign companies, including France's Total multinational oil concern.
• UN Security Council Pushes for Libya Cease-Fire VOA 10 May 2019 -- As the fight for the Libyan capital enters its sixth week, the U.N. Security Council Friday urged the parties to stop shooting and rejoin U.N.-led political negotiations.
• Ukraine Urges UN Court To Order Release Of Detained Sailors RFE/RL 10 May 2019 -- Ukraine has called upon the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to order the immediate release of 24 Ukrainian sailors and three navy ships that were seized by Russia near the Kerch Strait off the coast of Russia-occupied Crimea in November 2018.
• Lavrov Says 'Extremely Significant' Differences Still Exist With Japan On Peace Accord RFE/RL 10 May 2019 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Japanese counterpart, Taro Kono, said after a meeting in Moscow that much effort is still needed before their countries can resolve a World War II-era territorial dispute that stands in the way of a peace agreement.
• IAF Intercepts & Forces Plane Entering Indian Airspace From Pakistan to Land Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- The aircraft had deviated from its scheduled flight path and entered Indian airspace in north Gujarat at 3:15pm local time, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said in a statement.
• Two French Soldiers Killed in West Africa Rescuing Hostages Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- ​The rescue operation to free the two French tourists, identified as Patrick Picque and Laurent Lassimouillas, took place overnight. The tourists had disappeared from Pendjari National Park in Benin on 1 May and their local guide had been found dead.
• Nearly 900 children released by north-east Nigeria armed group UN News 10 May 2019 -- The decision by a large armed group based in north-east Nigeria to release nearly 900 youngsters has been welcomed by UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, which has warned that those freed will need long-term help if they are to lead a normal life in the future.
• Colombia: 'Terrible trend' of rights defenders killed, harassed; UN calls for 'significant effort' to tackle impunity UN News 10 May 2019 -- Alarmed by the "strikingly high number" of human rights defenders being killed, harassed and threatened in Colombia, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in the country on Friday, called on authorities to "make a significant effort" to "tackle the endemic impunity" surrounding these cases.

News Reports

• Treasury Identifies the Venezuelan Defense and Security Sector as Subject to Sanctions and Further Targets Venezuelan Oil Moving to Cuba US Treasury 10 May 2019 -- "Today, Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin, in consultation with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, and pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13850, as amended, determined that persons operating in the defense and security sector of the Venezuelan economy may be subject to sanctions. In addition, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two companies that operate in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy, pursuant to E.O. 13850, as amended. OFAC has also identified two vessels, which transported oil from Venezuela to Cuba, as blocked property owned by the two companies."
• The United States Sanctions Venezuela's Defense and Security Sector US Dept. of State 10 May 2019 -- Today, the United States took action against the former Maduro regime for increasing its intimidation of those supporting democracy in Venezuela, including members of the democratically elected National Assembly. Pursuant to E.O. 13850, the United States determined persons operating in the defense and security sector of the Venezuelan economy may be subject to sanctions.
• Juan Guaido's Deputy Luis Florido Prosecuted For Failed Coup Flees to Colombia Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- A deputy to self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, earlier prosecuted for his role in the failed coup on 30 April, has fled to Colombia. This comes after one of Guaido's deputies Edgar Zambrano was jailed for treason, conspiracy, civil rebellion, while another - Americo de Grazia, reportedly took refuge in the Italian embassy in Caracas.
• US Sanctions 2 Entities, 2 Vessels Over Venezuela Links - Treasury Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- Washington has issued several rounds of increasingly tough sanctions against Caracas, targeting its banking and oil sectors, as well as foreign companies, individuals and state assets in countries abroad.
• Guaido Says He Might Agree to US Military Intervention To Solve Venezuela Crisis Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- This echoes Guaido's previous statement that he is still trying to find the "best exit out" of the Venezuela crisis. The situation in the South American country escalated on 30 April, when Guaido unsuccessfully tried to initiate a coup to oust President Nicolas Maduro.
• Montenegrin Coup Verdict A Wakeup Call To EU On Russia's Rising Role In Balkan Instability RFE/RL 10 May 2019 -- If the European Union has hit the snooze button since allegations of Russian state involvement in a coup plot in Montenegro surfaced two years ago, a verdict convicting two alleged Russian military intelligence agents may be the final wakeup call.
• Arms Control, Venezuela, North Korea On Agenda For Pompeo's Russia Talks RFE/RL 10 May 2019 -- Arms control, North Korea, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Russian election meddling will top the agenda when U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo travels to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin next week, the State Department said on May 10.
• Senior State Department Official Previewing Secretary Pompeo's Upcoming Trip to Russia US Dept. of State 10 May 2019 -- Special Briefing by Senior State Department Official
• Butina Says She Was 'Honored' To Pass 'Valuable' Information To Russia's Foreign Ministry RFE/RL 10 May 2019 -- Maria Butina, who pleaded guilty to failing to register as an agent for the Russian government while in the United States and was sentenced to 18 months in U.S. prison, says she believed her notes and analysis would be "valuable" for Russian officials.
• Green light on INSTEX amid US frail saber rattling IRNA 10 May 2019 -- Regardless of the new US sanctions on the Iranian metal industry, planned in the pursuit of Washington's hostile policy toward Tehran, the White House's response to Iran's decision on the JCPOA can be conceived in Pompeo's comments when he announced the US has no problem with the INSTEX for humanitarian exchanges.
• China urges full implementation of JCPOA IRNA 10 May 2019 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman expressed regret over US unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal, saying the JCPOA should be implemented fully and effectively.
• Germany: Efforts underway for implementing INSTEX IRNA 10 May 2019 -- Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr emphasized Germany's commitment to Iran nuclear deal, saying Berlin is to continue talks with Iran for implementing the INSTEX.
• CEO: Rosatom complying with its JCPOA commitments IRNA 10 May 2019 -- The Chief Executive Officer of the Russian Nuclear energy company 'Rosatom' said the company is complying with its commitments under Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• Iranian IRGC Commander Rejects Trump's Invitation For Talks RFE/RL 10 May 2019 -- A senior commander of Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has said Tehran will not hold talks with the United States, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump invited Iranian leaders to "call me."
• Iranian FM Says EU Should Uphold Obligations Under JCPOA Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Thursday that the European Union member states should uphold obligations under the Iranian nuclear deal and improve economic ties with Tehran.
• Threat of More Islamist Militant Attacks Contained - Sri Lanka Army Chief Sputnik 10 May 2019 -- The Sri Lankan Army chief has said there was an international link to the Easter Sunday bombings, adding that the country's security services have dismantled most of the terror network responsible for the attacks.