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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Taliban Rejects Afghan President's Proposal For New Election RFE/RL Gandhara 24 Mar 2021 -- The Taliban has flatly rejected a proposal by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to hold snap elections within six months or a year right after a peace deal is signed with the militant group.
• Reaching a sustainable political settlement in Afghanistan UK FCDO 24 Mar 2021 -- Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on UNAMA
• Afghan Leader Demands Iranian Oil in Exchange for River Water VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Wednesday that his country is committed to give Iran its due share of water under a decades-long bilateral treaty but he stressed that Tehran will have to pay for any additional requirements.
• Statement From Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby on Approved Request for Assistance to House Unaccompanied Migrant Children DoD 24 Mar 2021

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon Press Secretary and the Chair of the 90-Day Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military Brief the Media DoD 24 Mar 2021 -- Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby; Lynn Rosenthal, Chair, 90-Day Independent Review Commission On Sexual Assault In The Military
• Navy T-45C Crashes in Texas, No Fatalities US Navy Press Release 24 Mar 2021 -- On March 24 at approximately 2 p.m. CDT, a Navy T-45C Goshawk jet trainer aircraft crashed approximately 3 miles northeast of Naval Outlying Field Orange Grove, Texas.
• AFVentures releases annual report, details efforts to expand defense industrial base, fight COVID-19 US Air Force 24 Mar 2021 -- AFVentures, the Department of the Air Force's commercial investment group, has released its fiscal year 2020 annual report.
• USS Monterey Conducts Port Visit in Romania US Navy 24 Mar 2021 -- The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) conducted a two day port visit in Romania, March 22-23, 2021 as part of their mission to conduct presence operations in the Black Sea region and participate in the Romanian-led exercise Sea Shield 2021.
• USS Monterey Concludes Black Sea Operations US Navy 24 Mar 2021 -- The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) transited from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, concluding its recent Black Sea operations and its participation in the Romanian-led exercise Sea Shield 2021, March 24, 2021.
• China, Russia Top NATO Agenda as US Seeks to Rebuild Transatlantic Bonds VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the United States' commitment to NATO as he sought to strengthen the transatlantic relationship in a two-day summit this week in Brussels, which wrapped up Wednesday.
• Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg folowing the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Foreign Ministers NATO 24 Mar 2021
• Secretary General welcomes Poland's vaccine support for NATO NATO 24 Mar 2021 -- Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked NATO and medical personnel from the Polish Medical Emergency Detachment (P-MED) on Wednesday (24 March 2021) for their support in vaccinating military and civilian staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels against COVID-19.
• South Korean Military Says Pyongyang Fired Two Cruise Missiles on Sunday Sputnik 24 Mar 2021 -- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Wednesday confirmed that North Korea had fired two cruise missiles off its west coast on Sunday.
• DPRK tests short-range system over the weekend: U.S. officials Global Times 24 Mar 2021 -- Senior U.S. administration officials said on Tuesday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) tested a short-range system over the weekend while downplaying the test as normal military activity.
• Border Road Organisation (BRO) India PIB 24 Mar 2021 -- The fund approved by the Government regarding maintenance of roads by BRO in various States/Union Territories of the country during the last two years is as follows:-
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) India PIB 24 Mar 2021 -- Business done by HAL in last ten years is as under:-
• Domestic Defence Production Ecosystem India PIB 24 Mar 2021 -- As part of the recommendations of the Sectoral Group of Secretaries-10 (SGoS-10), Department of Defence Production (DDP) has adopted a Vision and Action Plan 2019-2024 to enhance self-reliance and technologies, leveraging 'Make in India' and maximize the untapped employment and economic potential of the Defence Sector.
• Induction of New Weapons in Armed Forces India PIB 24 Mar 2021 -- The induction of new aircraft, weapons etc into the Armed Forces is a continuous process. The details of important recent inductions in this regards are as under:-
• Blinken Urges Turkey To Give Up Russian S-400 System RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told Turkey to abandon Russia's S-400 missile defense system, the U.S. State Department said in a statement issued after Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Brussels.
• US Secretary of State Blinken Urges Turkey to Ditch Russian S-400s Sputnik 24 Mar 2021 -- Ankara's acquisition of the Russian air-defence system has been a stumbling block in US-Turkish relations. In December, Washington punished the Turkish defence sector with sanctions for buying the package.
• Defence to invest £2bn in next stage of UK combat air system UK MOD 24 Mar 2021 -- Defence Minister Jeremy Quin has warned that the 'freedom of the air cannot be taken for granted' as threat picture changes in RUSI speech
• New Royal Navy Surveillance Ship to protect the UK's critical underwater infrastructure UK MOD 24 Mar 2021 -- The Royal Navy are developing a new Multi Role Ocean Surveillance ship (MROSS) to protect our nation against hostile actors and grow our understanding of maritime threats.
• Minister for Defence Procurement's speech at the RUSI Combat Air Power Conference UK MOD 24 Mar 2021 -- The Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin, gave the keynote speech at the RUSI Combat Air Power conference outlining £2bn investment in the UK's Combat Air System.
• Bolivian Air Force Plane Crashes Into Residential House: At Least One Killed Sputnik 24 Mar 2021 -- The victim, as well as two others who were injured, lived in the house. The aircraft's pilot managed to eject from the jet before the crash, but his or her fate remains unknown.
• Blinken Says Alliances Must be Bolstered to Meet New Global Threats VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday in Brussels that there is broad support for the Biden administration's commitment to rebuilding and revitalizing U.S. alliances in the wake of global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and "an increasingly aggressive China."
• Reaffirming and Reimagining America's Alliances US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2021 -- Speech by Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with European Commission President von der Leyen US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2021
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Estonian Foreign Minister Liimets, Latvian Foreign Minister Rinkēvičs, and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Landsbergis US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2021
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Press Availability US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2021
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell After Their Meeting US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2021
• Remarks by President Biden After Marine One Arrival The White House 24 Mar 2021
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Cecilia Rouse, and Member of the Council of Economic Advisers Heather Boushey, March 24, 2021 The White House 24 Mar 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For March 24, 2021

Other Conflicts

• 24 March 2021 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 24 Mar 2021
• US Adding Air Power to Naval Operations in Disputed South China Sea VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- Regional experts say U.S. officials are using a range of aircraft to make speedy yet thorough checks on China's expansion in a disputed Asian sea.
• Chinese Navy Harvests Data From South China Sea Radio Free Asia 24 Mar 2021 -- China's new militarized outposts in the Spratly Islands and its expanded bases in the Paracel chain are helping harvest one of the South China Sea's most valuable but least visible resources: data.
• The United States Welcomes the Clearance of Four Fuel Ships To Enter Hudaydah Port US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2021 -- The United States welcomes the news that four commercial fuel ships have been cleared to enter Hudaydah port.
• Supporting the Libyan-led political process in Libya UK FCDO 24 Mar 2021 -- Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on Libya
• UK maintains ambiguity and evasiveness over frozen Libyan funds Press TV 24 Mar 2021 -- The City of London is where £12 billion in frozen Libyan funds resides
• Libya: UN envoy hails new national government after years of 'paralysis and internal divisions' UN News 24 Mar 2021 -- After years of "paralysis and internal divisions", progress towards a lasting peace through stable national government and dialogue, is being made in Libya, the top UN envoy for the country said on Wednesday.
• Fence Around Rohingya Camps Did Not Hamper Fire Rescue, Bangladesh Says Radio Free Asia 24 Mar 2021 -- Bangladesh officials denied Wednesday that a barbed-wired fence around Rohingya refugee camps disrupted relief and rescue work during and after a massive fire at a refugee settlement this week that left at least 11 people dead.
• Bodies Recovered From Site of Massive Fire at Rohingya Refugee Camp in Bangladesh VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- The United Nations refugee agency says the bodies of 15 people have been recovered in the rubble of a massive fire Monday that destroyed scores of shelters at a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh.
• Eritrean troops massacred 100 civilians in Ethiopia's Tigray: Report Press TV 24 Mar 2021 -- Eritrean troops have reportedly killed over 100 civilians in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray in what may amount to crimes against humanity.
• Belated acknowledgment: Ethiopia confirms Eritrean soldiers' role in Tigray conflict Press TV 24 Mar 2021 -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has confirmed for the first time that troops from Eritrea entered Tigray during the recent conflict in the northern Ethiopian region.
• Kyrgyz-Uzbek Talks On Border Open In Tashkent RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have started talks on border delimitation, a major bone of contention in bilateral ties since 1991, when they gained independence from the Soviet Union.
• Terrorist Attacks in Niger US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2021 -- The United States strongly condemns the horrific terrorist attacks in Niger, the most recent of which tragically killed 137 civilians on March 21 in the Tahoua region.
• UN chief reaffirms solidarity with Niger, as second deadly attack rocks country UN News 24 Mar 2021 -- The United Nations Secretary-General has reaffirmed the Organization's support and solidarity with Niger, as the second deadly attacks against civilians in less than a week rocked the west African nation.
• Kenya Orders Closure of Two Refugee Camps, Gives UNHCR Deadline for Instructions VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- Kenya's Interior Ministry announced plans Wednesday to close two camps that accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing conflict and hardships in neighboring countries, especially Somalia.

News Reports

• EU, US Agree to Coordinate Actions Toward 'Confrontational' Russia - Borrell Sputnik 24 Mar 2021 -- Top EU and US diplomats discussed what they describe as Russia's "confrontational behavior" and agreed to coordinate their approach toward Moscow, according to the EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, on Wednesday.
• U.S., EU Top Diplomats Vow To Cooperate On Russia's 'Challenging' Behavior RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- The U.S. and EU top diplomats say they have agreed to coordinate their response to Moscow's "challenging" behavior such as its "ongoing aggression" against Ukraine and Georgia, as well as the "dwindling respect" in Russia for human rights and the rule of law.
• Foreign Secretary: Russia must face cost for malign activity UK FCDO 24 Mar 2021 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will rally NATO allies to face down the threat from Russia and ensure it faces real world consequences for hostile activity.
• Blinken Tells Germany U.S. Sanctions Over Nord Stream 2 'Possible' RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, that U.S. sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline are a real possibility.
• Russian Duma Approves Bill Aligning Election Law With Constitutional Amendments RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- The Russian parliament's lower chamber, the State Duma, has approved the third and final reading of a bill aligning election laws with recent changes to the constitution that among other things allow for the possibility of President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.
• Russian Regional Governor Fired After Bribery Charge RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed one of his staunch supporters, the governor of the Penza region in the Volga Federal District, after he was arrested on suspicion of taking a bribe.
• Navalny Allies Say Health 'Deteriorating,' Believe Life 'In Danger' RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- Allies of jailed Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny say his health is "deteriorating" and believe his life "in danger" in prison after he complained about severe back pain and leg numbness.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on March 24, 2021 PRC MofA 24 Mar 2021
• Chinese FM Spokeswoman Roasts Western Human Rights 'Judges' Amid Sanctions, Souring Diplomatic Ties Sputnik 24 Mar 2021 -- Speaking to Chinese media, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman gave a scathing response to sanctions launched by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union (EU) and Canada over human rights abuse allegations in Xinjiang.
• China accuses EU of 'hypocrisy' amid escalating row with West Press TV 24 Mar 2021 -- China has accused the European Union (EU) of "hypocrisy and bullying," as tensions hit another high between Beijing and the West over new sanctions that have prompted Chinese retaliation.
• EU states summon China envoys over retaliatory sanctions Press TV 24 Mar 2021 -- European Union (EU) member states have summoned Chinese ambassadors to express their anger at the retaliatory sanctions Beijing slapped on their nationals and entities for spreading disinformation about China, as a diplomatic spat escalates between Beijing and the West.
• European Parliament cancels CAI meeting, threatens deal signing delay Global Times 24 Mar 2021 -- Amid sanctions and countermeasures as well as a strong exchange of words, China's relationship with the EU seems to be sliding into an iteration of white-hot confrontation reminiscent of that between China and the US. Is this a depiction of the true China-EU relations?
• Chinese envoys in at least 7 countries condemn EU and Western sanctions against China over Xinjiang issue Global Times 24 Mar 2021 -- Shortly after the European Union and several other Western countries imposed sanctions targeting China over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang region, Chinese embassies in at least seven countries - Canada, Australia, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Denmark - have lodged stern representations with local authorities, refuting rumors and lies about Xinjiang-related issues.
• Xinjiang regional govt condemns, refutes lie-based EU sanctions Global Times 24 Mar 2021 -- The Xinjiang regional government on Tuesday condemned the EU sanctions, calling the lie-based sanctions using the excuse of "human rights" pure interference in China's internal affairs.
• Chinese, Russian FMs hold talks, reach strategic consensus People's Daily 24 Mar 2021 -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks on Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with the two sides reaching strategic consensus.
• For Canadians, Two Michaels' Ordeal Exposed 'Dark Side of China' VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- Trials held in secrecy for two Canadians imprisoned more than two years ago in China have concluded, with official verdicts to be announced "at a chosen time," according to official Chinese statements.
• Years-Long US Pressure Campaign Chokes Huawei's Growth VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- When Joe Biden took office as president, the Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei Technologies saw at least a glimmer of hope that the U.S.-led campaign to shut it out of international markets might be eased somewhat.
• Chinese threat to invade Taiwan 'closer than most think': U.S. admiral CNA 24 Mar 2021 -- The threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is "much closer to us than most think," Admiral John Aquilino, who has been nominated to lead the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told senators Tuesday.
• Another US admiral warns of China's invasion of Taiwan Press TV 24 Mar 2021 -- A top US admiral has claimed that China will attack Taiwan and that sooner than expected.
• North Korea denounces EU's 'psychotic way of thinking' after sanctions Press TV 24 Mar 2021 -- North Korea has denounced the European Union (EU)'s "psychotic way of thinking," following the imposition of sanctions by the bloc on its top officials over allegations of human rights violations.
• Iran envoy criticizes IAEA Director-General for non-constructive remarks on JCPOA IRNA 24 Mar 2021 -- Iran's Ambassador to the Vienna-based international organizations Kazem Gharibabadi on Wednesday criticized Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi for his non-constructive remarks about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
• Latest IAEA chief's remarks on Iran nuclear deal 'unconstructive': Envoy Press TV 24 Mar 2021 -- Iran's permanent representative to Vienna-based international organizations has criticized Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi for his latest remarks about the 2015 landmark nuclear pact, terming the comments as unconstructive.
• Leader's stance stripped JCPOA parties of any excuse for non-compliance: Rouhani Press TV 24 Mar 2021 -- President Hassan Rouhani has drawn attention to the latest remarks by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei about Iran's readiness to stop its retaliatory measures if the other parties return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, saying the clearly-stated position stripped Tehran's deal partners of all their excuses for non-compliance.
• UN Rights Body Looks To Investigate Belarus's Crackdown On Protesters RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has approved a resolution to create a team to investigate Belarus's violent crackdown on demonstrators protesting against presidential elections last year that authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka claims to have won.
• Joint Statement by 19 States in Support of the Establishment of the International Accountability Platform for Belarus US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2021 -- The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
• UK announces €500k funding to help gather evidence of human rights violations in Belarus UK FCDO 24 Mar 2021 -- The UK contributes 500,000 euros to the International Accountability Platform to collect and store evidence of human rights violations and torture in Belarus.
• Israel's Election Results Too Close to Call VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- With most votes counted, Israelis still do not know who won Tuesday's election. So far, neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the main challenger, Yair Lapid, has a way to put together a majority coalition. That means there will be weeks of political horse trading and possibly another election.
• Myanmar Releases Some 600 Detainees as Junta Evicts Protesting Civil Servants From State Housing Radio Free Asia 24 Mar 2021 -- Myanmar's military junta released hundreds of prisoners detained in weeks of anti-coup demonstrations Wednesday in a rare conciliatory gesture from the hardline regime that has killed more than 250 civilians at protests since it deposed the elected government on Feb. 1, witnesses said.
• Thousands Stay Home Across Myanmar in 'Silent Strike' Against Junta VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- Thousands of people across Myanmar are staging a "silent strike" as a continued show of opposition to the ruling military junta enters its 51st consecutive day.
• With Scandals And Dynasties, Pakistan's Political Parties Struggle To Stay Relevant RFE/RL Gandhara 24 Mar 2021 -- A week after Pakistan's opposition alliance fell apart, political parties are facing questions over their role and relevance in a country where the ethos of democracy is often put to the test.
• Lack of US Action Against Saudi Crown Prince Bemoaned VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- On the day the U.S. declassified an intelligence report on the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, another prominent U.S.-based Saudi dissident received a death threat.
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2021
• Erdogan Says National Currency's Fall Does Not Reflect State of Turkish Economy Sputnik 24 Mar 2021 -- The depreciation of the Turkish lira does not reflect the state of the country's economy, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.
• Armenian Lawmakers Lift Martial Law Ahead Of June Elections RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- Armenian lawmakers have voted to lift martial law, imposed at the beginning of a war with Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, as the country prepares for early parliamentary elections in June.
• Armenian PM Calls For Changes To Electoral System Ahead Of Snap Polls RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has said his parliamentary bloc plans to pass amendments that would switch the electoral system to a fully proportional one before snap parliamentary elections scheduled for June.
• New Uzbek Opposition Party Runs Into The Same Wall As Its Predecessors RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- There was a huge turnout on the outskirts of the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, on March 12 for a meeting of activists of the newly formed Truth and Progress Party. Unfortunately, many of those who came did not have good intentions.
• Romanian Lawmakers Vote To Abolish Disputed Special Court RFE/RL 24 Mar 2021 -- Romania's lawmakers have voted to scrap a special court established in 2018 to investigate magistrates and prosecutors suspected of corruption.
• Congo's Longtime President Reelected in Landslide Win VOA 24 Mar 2021 -- The Republic of Congo's Interior Minister announced Tuesday longtime incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso has won another five year term.