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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Bundeswehr to Invest $59Mln in New Afghanistan Bases Despite Potential Troop Exit, Reports Claim Sputnik 20 Nov 2020 -- The German Armed Forces, Bundeswehr, continues to invest in military facilities in Afghanistan and plans to allocate nearly 50 million euros ($59 million) for the construction of bases, despite a possible withdrawal of troops in the foreseeable future, Der Spiegel reported on Friday, citing internal Bundeswehr documents.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement by Department of Defense on Increased Restrictions for the Pentagon Reservation DoD 20 Nov 2020 -- DOD Chief Management Officer Lisa Hershman has approved additional restrictions for the Pentagon Reservation, which will move the Pentagon Reservation to Health Protection Condition Bravo-Plus effective 5 a.m. EST, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020.
• This Week in Operation Warp Speed - Nov. 20, 2020 DoD 20 Nov 2020
• DOD Awards $11.6 Million to Puritan Medical Products Company, LLC to Increase Domestic Production of Swabs for Cue Health's Point of Care Tests DoD 20 Nov 2020 -- On Nov. 19, 2020, the Department of Defense (DOD), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), awarded a contract action with a not-to-exceed value of $11.6 million to Puritan Medical Products Company, LLC, to expand industrial production capacity of Cue's sample wand nasal swabs.
• US Undersecretary of Defense Tests Positive for COVID-19 as Pandemic Continues to Surge VOA 20 Nov 2020 -- The Pentagon has confirmed that acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Anthony Tata has COVID-19.
• Pentagon Says Testing Personnel Who Had Contact With COVID-Infected Lithuanian Minister Sputnik 20 Nov 2020 -- The US Department of Defence (DoD) says it is testing staff members, who had contacts with the Lithuanian delegation headed by Defence Minister Raimundas Karoblis as the latter tested positive for COVID-19.
• Pentagon Imposes New COVID-19 Restrictions to Contain Outbreak, Reports Say Sputnik 20 Nov 2020 -- The US Defense Department will impose new COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions at the Pentagon in an effort to slow the outbreak among senior officials, Politico reported on Friday, citing an official.
• Defense Official Calls Cyber Resilience Critical to Protecting Systems, Continuing the Mission DoD News 20 Nov 2020 -- While the U.S., allies and partners are working diligently to defend against malicious and destabilizing activities in cyberspace, those defenses may not be robust enough and adversaries are taking advantage of that, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy said on Thursday.
• U.S. Army Europe and Africa Commands consolidate Army News 20 Nov 2020 -- The U.S. Army announced today the consolidation of U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Army Africa into a new command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF). This new command will be the Army service component command for both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. Recently promoted Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli will be the commander of USAREUR-AF.
• Readout of Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller's Phone Call With Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto DoD 20 Nov 2020
• Maxwell AFB selected as location for MH-139 FTU US Air Force 20 Nov 2020 -- The Secretary of the Air Force selected Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama as the preferred location to host the MH-139A Grey Wolf Formal Training Unit.
• Air Force selects Kirtland AFB for AC-130J FTU US Air Force 20 Nov 2020 -- The Air Force selected Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, as the preferred location for the relocation of the AC-130J Ghostrider Formal Training Unit from Hurlburt Field, Florida.
• Virtual Conference Addresses Challenges to Indo-Pacific Armies in Urban Environments Army News 20 Nov 2020 -- Army leaders from 26 nations across five continents virtually joined the 44th Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS XLIV) and the 6th Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum (SELF VI), Nov. 16-17.
• Ambassador Harris Discusses U.S./ROK Alliance, Statesmanship During NPS Virtual Lecture US Navy 20 Nov 2020 -- U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris, lauded leader and diplomat, who became the first Asian American to hold four-star rank in the U.S. Navy and is the former commander of U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), spoke virtually to students, staff and faculty of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) about the U.S./Korea Alliance and about his experiences transcending from military service into statesmanship during NPS' latest virtual Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture (SGL), held Nov. 17.
• Five nations join forces to develop the Next Generation of Medium Multi-Role Helicopters NATO 20 Nov 2020 -- France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom announced the launch of a multinational project on Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities on 19 November 2020.
• Two Allies and one partner join the Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS) Initiative NATO 20 Nov 2020 -- NATO Allies Canada and Romania and NATO partner Australia joined the Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative on 20 November 2020. The Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative aims to strengthen the ability of navies to operate in a multinational context above, on, and under the water, in an increasingly complex maritime domain.
• MISSION SAGAR - II HANDING OVER FOOD AID TO SOUTH SUDAN BY INS AIRAVAT India PIB 20 Nov 2020 -- In continuation of the ongoing humanitarian mission 'Sagar-II', Indian Naval Ship Airavatarrived at Port of Mombasa, Kenya on 20 November 2020. The Government of India is providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and COVID-19 pandemic, and towards the same INS Airavat is carrying food aid for the people of South Sudan.
• Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) India PIB 20 Nov 2020 -- The 30th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy is being conducted from 18 – 20 November 2020. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Karmuk, an indigenously built Missile Corvette and His Majesty's Thailand Ship (HTMS) Kraburi, a Chao Phraya Class Frigate along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both the navies are participating in the CORPAT.
• MND condemns rumors of F-16's 'defection' spread on internet CNA 20 Nov 2020 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Friday condemned rumors believed to have originated from Chinese netizens alleging that a missing Taiwanese F-16 fighter jet and its pilot defected to China.
• UK PM announces largest military investment since Cold War Global Times 20 Nov 2020 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Thursday the country's largest military investment in 30 years -- an extra 16.5 billion pounds (about 21.9 billion US dollars) in defence spending over next four years.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany | 11/20/2020 The White House 20 Nov 2020

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Nov. 20, 2020

Other Conflicts

• UN chief says looming danger of famine threatens Yemen; warns against any unilateral moves by US Press TV 20 Nov 2020 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says war-torn Yemen is on the verge of facing "the worst famine" the world has seen "for decades", warning against any unilateral moves as the United States threatens to blacklist the Houthi Ansarullah movement, whose fighters significantly help the Yemeni army against an invading Saudi-led military coalition.
• 'Act urgently' to stave off catastrophic famine in Yemen: Guterres UN News 20 Nov 2020 -- Yemen is in "imminent danger of the worst famine the world has seen for decades", the UN chief warned in a statement released on Friday, calling for urgent action on the part of the international community to "stave off catastrophe".
• Resistance forces won't put down their weapons amid threat: Iraqi leader Press TV 20 Nov 2020 -- A senior Iraqi leader says the Islamic resistance forces will not lay down their arms as long as Iraq is under threat.
• Iraqi Forces With Help of US-Led Coalition Kill 16 Daesh Militants in Kirkuk Province Sputnik 20 Nov 2020 -- Iraq's counter-terrorism services, with the support of the US-led International Coalition, have managed to eliminate 16 terrorists having links to Daesh* in the northern province of Kirkuk, commander-in-chief spokesperson Yehia Rasool said on Friday.
• No Way Home: Former IS Detainees Doomed to Limbo in Iraq VOA 20 Nov 2020 -- The Hassan Sham Camp, like so many others in Iraq, was built in 2016, as Iraqi and coalition forces retook territories held by the Islamic State terror group.
• Meeting on Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh President of Russia 20 Nov 2020 -- The President held a meeting on the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh, via videoconference.
• Azerbaijan Army Units Enter Region Formerly Held by Armenia VOA 20 Nov 2020 -- Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry announced on Friday that its army units entered the Aghdam region as agreed upon in a cease-fire deal brokered by Russia last week to end the fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Azerbaijani Troops Take Control Of Agdam As Armenians Flee RFE/RL 20 Nov 2020 -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev says his troops have taken control of the first of three districts bordering Nagorno-Karabakh as part of a Russian-brokered peace agreement that ended a six-week war with Armenian forces over the breakaway region.
• Aliyev Says Military Solution to Karabakh Conflict Was Azerbaijan's Right Under International Law Sputnik 20 Nov 2020 -- In late September 2020, the thirty year-old dormant conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh exploded into large-scale fighting, over 4,000 people were killed and over 130,000 civilians were displaced. On November 10, Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Russia.
• UN Agencies Scramble to Assist Those Fleeing Ethiopia's Restive Tigray Region VOA 20 Nov 2020 -- U.N. agencies are bracing for a full-scale humanitarian crisis in eastern Sudan, as refugees flee the fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray region. The latest reports put the current number of arrivals at more than 33,000.
• Rebels in Ethiopia's Tigray fire rockets at neighboring state: Report Press TV 20 Nov 2020 -- Rebels in Ethiopia's northernmost region of Tigray have reportedly launched rocket attacks on neighboring Ahmara State, amid growing concerns about the spread of violence in the East African country.

News Reports

• US missile test proved Washington's anti-Russia sentiment: FM spox Press TV 20 Nov 2020 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry says the United States has lied to the international community as its recent missile tests proved the "falsity" of Washington's statements that American air defense systems would not target Russia.
• The Week In Russia: Street Power, Senators, And A Setback In Space RFE/RL 20 Nov 2020 -- The Kremlin deploys the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a propaganda weapon against its own domestic foes. The State Duma looks at legislation that could expand President Vladimir Putin's options while narrowing the scope for his opponents and civil society. Plus, setbacks in two places where Moscow has long held influence: Moldova and outer space.
• Russian Sentenced To 13 Years For Trying To Pass Classified Materials To CIA RFE/RL 20 Nov 2020 -- A Russian man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for attempting to hand classified material to U.S. intelligence.
• Russia Sentences Man Convicted of Spying for US to 13 Years in Prison VOA 20 Nov 2020 -- A Russian court has sentenced a man convicted of spying for the United States to 13 years in prison, Russia's Federal Security Service said in a statement Friday.
• Xi explains how China's new development paradigm works for shared benefits People's Daily 20 Nov 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday expounded on how China's unlocked market potential, wider opening up and deepening international cooperation under the new development paradigm will offer more development opportunities and bring shared prosperity to the world.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on November 20, 2020 PRC MofA 20 Nov 2020
• Mainland supports HK police investigation into violations of national security laws in campus protest Global Times 20 Nov 2020 -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR said on Friday that it supports the national security department of the Hong Kong Police Force to investigate into a small group of people who allegedly violated the national security law by holding an unauthorized protest and used slogans and banners that promoted Hong Kong independence on campus on Thursday.
• Hong Kong court adjourns case of ex-lawmakers disturbing LegCo order Global Times 20 Nov 2020 -- A Hong Kong court on Thursday adjourned the proceedings of a case in which three ex-lawmakers were accused of disturbing the order of Legislative Council (LegCo) meetings to Feb 11, 2021.
• China refutes "Five Eyes" statement over top legislature's HK decision People's Daily 20 Nov 2020 -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday refuted a statement by the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance over China's decision to disqualify certain Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Legislative Council (LegCo) members.
• Beijing, Hong Kong boost cooperation People's Daily 20 Nov 2020 -- Hong Kong leaders and Beijing municipal officials set their sights on Thursday on high-end service and the innovation and technology industry for closer cooperation between the two cities to enhance their competitiveness on the world stage.
• Five Eyes alliance will be 'poked, blinded' over Hong Kong: China Press TV 20 Nov 2020 -- China has warned the US and several of its allies over interference in Hong Kong affairs, saying they "should face up to the reality" that the city has been returned to the mainland long ago.
• Hong Kong National Security Police Raid Campus Over Slogans Radio Free Asia 20 Nov 2020 -- Hong Kong's newly minted national security police raided the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) on Friday, confiscating "evidence" that protesting students had broken a draconian national security law imposed on the city by Beijing.
• Chongqing Entrepreneur Gets 20 Years For 'Subversion' in Nationwide Campaign Radio Free Asia 20 Nov 2020 -- Authorities in the southwestern Chinese megacity of Chongqing have jailed a prominent philanthropist for 20 years on charges of "incitement to subvert state power."
• Xinjiang Authorities Have Detained Hundreds of Imams, Upending Uyghur Religious Life Radio Free Asia 20 Nov 2020 -- Authorities in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) have detained hundreds of Muslim imams, according to a Uyghur linguist in exile, creating an atmosphere in which Uyghurs are "afraid of dying" because there is no one to oversee their funeral rites.
• China's Export Growth May Upstage the Economy Radio Free Asia 20 Nov 2020 -- China's double-digit export growth has surprised analysts, lifting hopes for a faster recovery as the COVID-19 crisis continues to slow down economies throughout the world.
• Malicious Tip-Offs Stifle Academic Freedom in China, Analysts Say VOA 20 Nov 2020 -- In recent years, a growing number of college professors in China have been dismissed, fired, even arrested and sentenced to prison terms after being turned in to authorities by classroom informants for "inappropriate speech."
• Inaugural U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue US Dept. of State 20 Nov 2020 -- The close relationship between the United States and Taiwan is rooted in our commitment to the defense of freedom and the promotion of democratic values.
• U.S.-Taiwan economic dialogue opens with signing of MOU CNA 20 Nov 2020 -- The first U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue opened in Washington, D.C. Friday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding that will lay the groundwork for deeper and more comprehensive economic cooperation ahead, according to Taiwan's representative office in the United States.
• US to send another top official for Taiwan visit in defiance of China Press TV 20 Nov 2020 -- Taiwan and the US are in talks to set yet another visit to the self-ruled island by a senior American official, in what would be the third such a move in defiance of China this year.
• RCEP outcasts US and Taiwan seek benefit from each other with futile economic dialogue Global Times 20 Nov 2020 -- The US and the island of Taiwan - two outcasts of the world's two major regional trade agreements, the RCEP and CPTPP - will hold a high-sounding "economic prosperity partnership dialogue" on Friday, which analysts described as a "political show" that is unlikely to achieve any substantial progress at a time when the new US administration is preparing to take over the White House in less than 70 days.
• North Korea Releases 7,000 Prisoners, Orders People to Provide for Them Radio Free Asia 20 Nov 2020 -- North Korea has released some 7,000 labor camp prisoners under an amnesty, but ordered local cash-strapped governments and impoverished residents to foot the bill for housing and feeding the ex-convicts, sources in the country told RFA.
• North Korea Arrests Six Gold Smugglers Who Triggered Hyesan Lockdown Radio Free Asia 20 Nov 2020 -- Authorities in North Korea have arrested six people for their connection to the gold-smuggling incident that resulted in a 20-day lockdown of the city of Hyesan, on the country's border with China, local government sources told RFA.
• Iran urges E3 to return to JCPOA commitments IRNA 20 Nov 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Friday that three European countries are expected to return to full compliance with their commitments to the JCPOA and give up blame game.
• Iran urges E3 to end 'political blame game,' commit to JCPOA obligations Press TV 20 Nov 2020 -- Iran has condemned an "irresponsible" stance taken by the three European signatories to the multilateral nuclear agreement of 2015, saying the trio should stop the political blame game and remain committed to their obligations under the deal.
• Iran dismisses NYT report on contact with Biden team as piece of 'yellow journalism' Press TV 20 Nov 2020 -- Iran has dismissed as 'yellow journalism' a report by the New York Times about efforts by Iranian diplomats to hint Tehran's 'insistence' that Washington 'unconditionally' rejoin the nuclear agreement of 2015.
• One Year After Iran's Deadly Crackdown, Victims' Families Face Harassment RFE/RL 20 Nov 2020 -- One year after Iran's deadliest crackdown on anti-establishment protests, no one has been held responsible for the killing of hundreds of citizens.
• Belarusian Opposition Leader Kalesnikava's Detention Extended RFE/RL 20 Nov 2020 -- The Minsk city court has upheld the extension of the pretrial detention of Maryya Kalesnikava, an opposition leader who is facing national-security charges.
• New Belarusian Nuclear Plant Resumes Operations After Transformer Explosion RFE/RL 20 Nov 2020 -- Belarus's nuclear power plant, which was officially opened earlier this month, has resumed operations after suspending electricity production for several days.
• North Macedonia, Montenegro, Ukraine Joining EU Sanctions Against Belarus RFE/RL 20 Nov 2020 -- Seven European countries that are not members of the EU have aligned themselves with the sanctions imposed by the 27-member bloc on Belarus in response to a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests triggered by a disputed presidential election in August.
• Macron Says Russia, Turkey Fuel Anti-French Sentiment in Africa Sputnik 20 Nov 2020 -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said that the rise of anti-French sentiment in the African countries was sparked by Russia and Turkey, which speculate on the French colonial history.
• Global Tech Giants Threaten To Leave Pakistan Over New Rules RFE/RL Gandhara 20 Nov 2020 -- Internet and technology companies are threatening to leave Pakistan after Prime Minister Imran Khan's government granted blanket powers to authorities to censor digital content, a move critics charge is aimed at limiting freedom of expression.
• Asia-Pacific Nations, Including China, US, Commit to Free and Open Trade Radio Free Asia 20 Nov 2020 -- After a fractious summit in 2018 amid a U.S.-China trade war, Asia-Pacific leaders came together Friday to say that a free, open and non-discriminatory trade environment was key to reviving a global economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic.
• Saudi princes tortured, blackmailed during 2017 'sheikhdown': Report Press TV 20 Nov 2020 -- A new report has shown that Saudi royals, billionaires and senior government officials were tortured and blackmailed in early November 2017, when they were rounded up and detained at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in an extraordinary power play by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) to remove people who could potentially pose a political threat.
• Hungary's Orban Says Solutions To EU Budget Deadlock 'Possible' RFE/RL 20 Nov 2020 -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says deadlocked EU budget negotiation will eventually reach an agreement despite vetoes by Hungary and Poland over the 27-member bloc's plan to make funding dependent on respect for the rule of law.
• Nigerian Authorities Threaten to Sanction CNN Over Lekki Investigation VOA 20 Nov 2020 -- Nigerian authorities have threatened to sanction broadcaster CNN for an investigative report that showed Nigerian soldiers shooting protesters last month at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos.
• Constitutional Court Rejects Former Peruvian President's Final Effort to Reverse His Ouster VOA 20 Nov 2020 -- Former Peruvian president Martin Vizcarra has lost his last opportunity to reverse his dismissal from office.
• Mexico Takes a Step Toward Legalizing Marijuana VOA 20 Nov 2020 -- Mexico is a step closer to becoming one of the world's largest legal marijuana markets.