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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Shanahan Accepts Findings in 2017 Niger Ambush of US Forces VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has formally accepted the findings of an investigation into an ambush of U.S. Special Forces mission in Niger nearly two years ago that led to the deaths of four U.S. soldiers and four Nigerien soldiers.
• Pentagon's Second Probe Into 2017 Niger Ambush Advises No Further Reprimands Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced that its investigation of the 2017 ambush in the African nation of Niger that left four American soldiers dead had been concluded, and that the disciplinary actions already taken against military personnel involved had been deemed adequate.

Defense Policy / Programs

• SECNAV Names Future Destroyer in Honor of US Coast Guard, World War II Navy Cross Recipient NNS 06 Jun 2019 -- Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer named a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, DDG 132, in honor of Coast Guard Capt. Quentin Walsh, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his service during World War II.
• Ensuring Readiness for Strategic Support: Strategic Power Projection Army News 06 Jun 2019 -- The Army's ability to fight anywhere and at any time doesn't happen by chance. It is the result of reliable, agile and responsive logistics and sustainment capabilities, including Strategic Power Projection.
• U.S. Military Police conduct joint training with Slovenians Army News 06 Jun 2019 -- In the tall grass, with mountains providing a backdrop and foxes skittering past, U.S. and Slovenian Soldiers kneeled with their weapons. Training to operate swiftly, they maneuvered together, unloading and reloading magazines to create a clicking sound in unison.
• NUWC Division, Keyport and UUVRON-1 Partner on Micro UUV NNS 06 Jun 2019 -- The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport and Undersea Unmanned Vehicle Squadron One (UUVRON-1) partnered to complete initial sea tests for a pair of prototype unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) that offer a multifunctional platform capable of performing a variety of missions for the Navy.
• Navy, Civilian Leaders Discuss Cooperative Strategy With NATO Allies NNS 06 Jun 2019 -- Senior Navy and civilian defense officials from 17 countries and NATO met in Bremerhaven, Germany, for the 2019 Cooperative Strategy Forum June 4-5.
• ESG-3 hosts MRG training NNS 06 Jun 2019 -- Expeditionary Strike Group THREE (ESG-3), alongside Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) Code-263 division, hosted main reduction gear (MRG) training at the Naval Base San Diego movie theater June 5.
• NRL Develops Environmentally and Painter-Friendly Topcoat for Aircraft NNS 06 Jun 2019 -- The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's Center for Corrosion Science and Engineering developed a safer and user-friendly topcoat that was recently applied onto the exterior of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft.
• US Media Reveals True Reason Why Pentagon Deployed Naval Armada Near Iran Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- Tensions between Iran and the US have been running high since Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal on 8 May 2018 that was supposed to lift anti-Tehran sanctions in exchange for Iran maintaining the peaceful nature of it programme. Since then, the Trump administration has beefed up pressure on Tehran, having imposed tougher sanctions.
• US State Department Fires Official Who Pulled Huge Arms Deal for Ex-Employer Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- A man who used to work as a lobbyist for Raytheon but then switched to serving as a government employee in the State Department used his position to greenlight a massive arms sales to two Arab nations.
• U.S. Department of State Debars 23 Persons for Violating or Conspiring To Violate the Arms Export Control Act US Dept. of State 06 Jun 2019 -- On June 6, 2019, the U.S. Department of State published a Federal Register notice of 23 individuals and entities statutorily debarred for having been convicted of violating, or conspiring to violate, the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751, et seq.).
• NATO Spearhead Force deploys to test readiness NATO 06 Jun 2019 -- A force of 2,500 German, Dutch and Norwegian troops and 1,000 vehicles is currently taking part in exercise Noble Jump 19 at the Zagan training range in Western Poland. Noble Jump is the main training opportunity for NATO's Spearhead Force, the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), and tests how well its different units work together.
• Putin Says Russia Prepared To Drop Arms Control Treaty If U.S. Not Interested In Renewal RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- In a far-ranging discussion on foreign policy, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is prepared to drop the New START arms control treaty if the United States is not interested in renewing it.
• Putin Sees Significant Risk International Arms Control System Will Break Down Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- In late-May, US Defenсe Intelligence Agency (DIA) Director Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley said that the United States believes Russia may not be adhering to the nuclear testing moratorium outlined in the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
• Saudi Arabia steps up ballistic missile program with Chinese aid: Report Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- Saudi Arabia has reportedly stepped up its ballistic missile program with the help of China, with the administration of US President Donald Trump withholding intelligence on the issue.
• US Claims Data Shows Riyadh Boosted Missile Program With China's Help - Reports Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- The US government has obtained intelligence information that Saudi Arabia has significantly enhanced its ballistic missile program through recent purchases from China, local media reported.
• Germany to approve first millions for French-German fighter aircraft system Global Times 06 Jun 2019 -- The budget committee of the German Bundestag is to approve the first 32.5 million euros (36.6 million U.S. dollars) for the new French-German fighter aircraft system FCAS, German media reported on Wednesday.
• Germany Orders Development of Hypersonic Missile to Counter Certain 'Threats' Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin presented an array of cutting-edge weaponry, including hypersonic missiles, in 2018, with some of them being unique in the world.
• Sale of U.S. M1A2 tanks, ammunition on schedule: Defense ministry CNA 06 Jun 2019 -- Four batches of arms sale requests have been sent to the U.S., the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday, following a foreign media report that Washington could soon grant the sales, which include tanks and ammunition.
• US Reportedly Seeking Massive Sale of Weapons to Taiwan Amid Growing Tensions With China Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- Relations between Washington and Beijing have been actively spiralling downward for the last two years over an array of issues: from an ongoing trade war and the banning of Chinese companies from the US market to numerous "provocations" by the American military in the South China Sea, specifically in the Taiwan Strait.
• Taiwan's Request to Buy US Military Hardware Draws Ire From China VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- Taiwan says it has formally made a request to the United States to purchase new state-of-the-art military tanks and anti-tank missile systems, a move that drew an angry response from China.
• China urges US to stop arms sales to Taiwan, sever military ties Global Times 06 Jun 2019 -- China on Thursday urged the United States to stop arms sales to Taiwan and sever its military ties with the island.
• China voices concerns over reported US plan to sell Taiwan $2bn worth of arms Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- China has voiced serious concerns about a reported plan by the United States to sell Taiwan more than $2 billion worth of tanks and weapons amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.
• Washington, Tokyo Defense Ministries Agree to Cooperate in 'New Domains' Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- During a visit by Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan to Tokyo earlier this week, Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said the two nations had agreed to cooperate in "new domains" in the Indo-Pacific region, including space and cyberspace.
• India to Launch Coastal Surveillance Radar Stations in Maldives Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- In November 2018, India resumed the second phase of a project to install coastal surveillance radar stations, which are crucial for the Indian Navy following the replacement of former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The work was stalled during the Maldives' previous government.
• India Vows to Go Ahead With S-400 Contract Despite US Sanctions Threat Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- The United States has been trying to convince India to abandon a S-400 deal with Russia following its attempts to pressure Turkey into ditching a similar agreement in the face of US penalties.
• Indian Gov't Roasted for Not Upgrading An-32 That Vanished Near Chinese Border Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- The Indian Army is in the middle of a large-scale search-and-rescue operation in a bid to track down the whereabouts of an Indian Air Force An-32 plane that went missing near the Chinese border missing on 3 June with 13 people on board.
• People Living Near US Airbase to Receive Multimillion Compensation – Reports Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- Yokota Air Base is located in the city of Fussa in the western suburbs of Tokyo. It hosts the US Air Force and Japan's Air Defence Command Headquarters.
• Qatar receives first 5 Rafale jets from France Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- Qatar has received its first batch of Rafale fighter jets from France, amid a standoff with four fellow-Arab states led by Saudi Arabia.
• Remarks by Vice President Pence at Press Gaggle The White House 06 Jun 2019
• Remarks by President Trump and President Macron of France Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 06 Jun 2019
• Remarks by President Trump Before Air Force One Departure The White House 06 Jun 2019

Defense Industry

• Contracts for June 6, 2019

Other Conflicts

• 6 June 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 06 Jun 2019
• World must avoid a new Cold War, UN chief tells economic forum in Russia UN News 06 Jun 2019 -- In a world where international relations have become "more chaotic," world leaders must avoid a new Cold War, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told delegates attending the International Economic Forum, in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg on Thursday.
• Islamic State's English-Speaking Supporters Rallying on Telegram VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- English-speaking Islamic State supporters are refusing to give up on the terror group's ability to remain a force in Syria and Iraq, according to a new study that examined their behavior on the Telegram instant messaging service.
• Syria: Urgent, concrete actions needed, to protect children too young to 'make sense of this senseless war' UN News 06 Jun 2019 -- New firsthand reporting by UN staff in Syria reveals "increasingly horrific brutality" by all parties in the de-escalation area of the country's northwest, causing "significant civilian causalities" and hundreds of thousands displaced, a senior humanitarian official said on Thursday.
• Militants Breach Ceasefire in 3 Syrian Provinces in Past 24 Hours – Russian MoD Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- Militants have violated the ceasefire in the Syrian provinces Hama and Latakia as well as in the city of Aleppo over the past 24 hours, the head of the Russian Defence Ministry's Centre for Syrian Reconciliation, Maj. Gen. Viktor Kupchishin, said on Wednesday.
• Israel shrinks Gaza fishing zone over alleged incendiary balloons Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- The Israeli regime has cut the offshore fishing restriction it imposes for vessels off the Gaza shore after its officials claimed that incendiary balloons were launched from the besieged enclave towards the occupied territories.
• Indian Soldier Killed by Terrorist in Kashmir, Other Major Gunfight Underway Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- A police official said that an Indian soldier - a member of the Territorial Army - was shot dead by a terrorist at his residence in Sadoora village in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on 6 June. The incident took place a day after the India's Home Ministry prepared a list of ten top terrorists who have been operating in Kashmir Valley.
• Haftar-Led Libyan Army Says Destroyed Drone at Tripoli's Mitiga Airport Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- The Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar on Thursday destroyed a drone that carried out several airstrikes on the outskirts of Tripoli, at the city's Mitiga International Airport, the LNA General Command's press service director Khalifa Obeidi announced.
• Military Jet Targets Libya Intl Airport in Tripoli - Statement Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- The Mitiga International Airport in the Libyan capital of Tripoli said on Thursday its runway had been struck by a military airplane amid a recent wave of escalation in the area.
• Ukraine Reports More Casualties In Conflict In East RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- Ukraine says fresh clashes with Russia-backed separatists in the country's east have claimed the life of one of its soldiers, raising to four the number of Ukrainian troops reported killed this week.
• Egyptian Police Kill 14 Militants in Northern Sinai Peninsula - Statement Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- The Egyptian Interior Ministry's forces killed 14 militants in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday, adding that the militants might have had a role in the recent attack on a law enforcement checkpoint in the city of Arish.

News Reports

• Western Leaders Thank Veterans On 75th Anniversary Of D-Day RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- Western leaders have gathered in Normandy have paid homage to veterans and those who died during the World War II landing of Allied forces in northern France on the 75th anniversary of the event known as the D-Day.
• Mexico to Deploy 6,000 Troops to Guatemalan Border Under Migration Deal - Report Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- Washington and Mexico are discussing an agreement that would increase Mexico's immigration enforcement efforts and give the United States far more latitude to deport Central Americans seeking asylum, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
• US Not Satisfied With Mexican Steps to Curb Migrant Surge VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- The United States pushed Mexico on Thursday to do more to curb the surge of Central American migrants headed north to the U.S., with President Donald Trump renewing his threat to impose a 5% tariff on imported goods from Mexico next week if no agreement is reached.
• Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the Signing of H.R. 2157 – Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 The White House 06 Jun 2019
• Russia, China oppose military intervention in Venezuela Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- Russia and China have expressed opposition to any military intervention in Venezuela, calling for "inclusive political dialog" between conflicting parties and their adherence to the principles of international law to resolve the political crisis in the Latin American country.
• Russia's Putin: US military meddling in Venezuela disastrous Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- Russia warns that any potential military intervention in Venezuela by the United States will be "a disaster," citing the history of such US meddling elsewhere.
• African Union Suspends Sudan, Demands Civilian Administration VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- The African Union says it has suspended Sudan from all activities until a civilian-led government is formed.
• UN removing some staff from Sudan as tensions soar Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- The United Nations (UN) says it is temporarily removing a number of its civilian staff from Sudan because of the deterioration of the security situation in the African country, two days after security forces killed dozens of people during a crackdown against a sit-in in the capital, Khartoum.
• Russia Opposes 'Any Foreign Intervention' In Sudan, Says Senior Official RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- A senior Russian diplomat has said Moscow is against "any foreign intervention" in Sudan, where more than 100 protesters have been killed in a military crackdown this week.
• US using energy as political weapon for new colonialism: Russia's oil giant Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- The United States is using energy as a political weapon, says the head of Russian oil giant Rosneft, describing the US shale oil push as an "era of energy colonialism" for other countries.
• Russian Oil Chief Claims U.S. Sanctions Aimed At Helping Output From Texas RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- The head of Russia's largest state-owned oil company has claimed the United States is using sanctions against energy-producing countries to find markets for growing output from Texas.
• Russia's Former Finance Minister Links Cash Outflow Increase With American Investor's Arrest RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- Aleksei Kudrin, Russia's former finance minister and a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin, says tens of billions of dollars in cash outflows from the country can be traced to the arrest of a prominent American investment fund manager.
• At Russian Economic Forum, Former Finance Minister Warns Of Dangers To Economy RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- Russia's former finance minister warned that the economy would show weak growth in the coming years, as Russian and foreign business leaders gathered at the country's premier investment forum.
• Ex-Associate Of Jailed Russian Scientist Charged With Treason Arrested RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- Authorities in Russia have arrested the former associate of a researcher at a Russian rocket- and spacecraft-design institute who had been in detention for almost a year on treason charges, his son says.
• China hopes DPRK, U.S. to work for progress toward political settlement of Korean Peninsula issue People's Daily 06 Jun 2019 -- China said Wednesday that it hopes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States will meet each other half way, continue to act on their consensus and work for advancement toward a political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.
• UAE, Norway, Saudi Arabia: ‘State Actor’ Likely Attacked Oil Tankers VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Norway said Thursday that a preliminary investigation into a coordinated attack on four of their oil tankers in an Emirati port last month was likely carried out by a state actor.
• Trump Calls for Iran Talks as Allies Announce Rare Tehran Visits VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has called for U.S.-Iran talks for a second day to resolve mutual tensions — a prospect two U.S. allies hope to promote as they send senior envoys to Tehran for the first time in years.
• Trump trying to 'save face' by calling for Iran talks Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- US President Donald Trump's recent calls for unconditional negotiations with Iran shows he is desperately looking for a "face saving" way out of a political crisis created by his hawkish aides, according to a new report.
• Russia slams anti-Iran measures of US, Arab allies as 'destructive' Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- Russia has censured the United States and the Persian Gulf Arab countries for engaging in "destructive" activities, including military moves, against Iran, saying such an approach only exacerbates the problems.
• Japan's Abe to Visit Iran Soon To Help Ease Tensions With U.S. RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Iran in the near future, Japan's government spokesman has said, as Tokyo hopes to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.
• Trump Says US, France on Same Page With Regard to Iran Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States and France share the common objective that Iran cannot obtain nuclear weapons despite French President Emmanuel Macron's recent comment that he regretted Washington's decision to pull out of the international nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.
• Russia, China Voice Support for Iran After Xi Visit to Kremlin VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for Kremlin talks that reflected increasingly close ties between the two countries that were communist rivals during the Cold War.
• Stronger China-Russia partnership key to global peace, stability: Xi Global Times 06 Jun 2019 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday that a stronger China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is of great importance to maintaining the interests of the two countries and their peoples, and to global peace, stability and prosperity.
• China, Russia commemorate 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties Global Times 06 Jun 2019 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, attended on Wednesday a gathering marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• China-Russia statement on global strategic stability shows willingness to safeguard multilateralism Global Times 06 Jun 2019 -- The statement on strengthening contemporary global strategic stability between China and Russia sent the world a strong message of the two countries to safeguard multilateralism and the international order, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday.
• China, Russia agree to upgrade relations for new era People's Daily 06 Jun 2019 -- China and Russia agreed on Wednesday to upgrade their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.
• 'Best Friends' Putin, Xi Head For St. Petersburg After A Bit Of 'Panda Diplomacy' RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping are heading off to an important economic conference in St. Petersburg after going to lengths to demonstrate what they called a great "friendship" with a little "panda diplomacy."
• China's Panda Diplomacy Comes to Moscow VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping is on a three-day state visit to Russia aimed at underscoring Russian-Sino cooperation – and his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin – in the face of strained relations with the United States.
• China pushes back accusations, releases report on trade benefits for US amid trade war Global Times 06 Jun 2019 -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Thursday released a detailed report on how the US has greatly benefited from trade with China, in a clear attempt to push back repeated claims from US officials that the US was losing billions to China.
• Former Ukrainian President Yushchenko Suspected In Corruption Surrounding Residential Complex RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has been served on charges of suspected abuse of power and possession of state property in what investigators call the illegal privatization of a residential complex near Kyiv that served as a residence for his prime minister and successor Viktor Yanukovych.
• Zelenskiy, Poroshenko, And The Curious Case Of The 'Plagiarism' In Brussels RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- Volodymyr Zelenskiy seemed to be saying all the right things in Brussels.
• UN warns of severe hunger in Somalia due to drought Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- A senior UN humanitarian official has warned about severe hunger in Somalia, which has been suffering from one of the worst droughts in decades.
• Left-wing opposition defeats Danish PM's right-wing party Press TV 06 Jun 2019 -- Denmark's Liberal Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has conceded defeat in the country's general election, after the left-wing opposition bloc emerged victorious.
• Opposition Wins Denmark Elections VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- Denmark's Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced his resignation Thursday after the opposition Social Democrats won the most seats in the country's elections.
• Romania's President Urges PSD Government To Back Down On Judicial Changes RFE/RL 06 Jun 2019 -- Romania's president has called on the ruling left-wing government to honor referendum results and reverse a series of measures to weaken the judiciary and the rule of law that have been criticized by the European Union and United States.
• After Allegations of Spying, African Union Renews Huawei Alliance VOA 06 Jun 2019 -- The accusations were explosive: For five years, the Chinese government had spied on communications at the African Union. Every night, data streamed from computers at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to unknown locations controlled by China, anonymous sources at the AU told reporters with the Financial Times and Le Monde, a French newspaper.