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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• US military claims end of Iraq combat role but keeps 2500 troops Press TV 12 Dec 2021 -- The US military has claimed the end of its combat operations across Iraq under the terms of an earlier agreement with Baghdad, but added that thousands of its troops will remain in the Arab nation as "advisers."

Defense Policy / Programs

• US arms maker wins $11bn deal to sell F-35A jet fighters to Finland Press TV 12 Dec 2021 -- Finland has locked a deal to purchase 64 fighter jets from US arms builder Lockheed Martin to replace its aging fleet of combat warplanes in a 10 billion-euro ($11.3 billion) transaction that represents its largest ever military acquisition.
• Ally Anxiety: US May Block Another French Naval Deal After Approving $9.4 Bln Sale to Greece Sputnik 12 Dec 2021 -- Earlier this year, Washington revealed that it would deliver Australia's first nuclear-powered submarine as part of a new trilateral security partnership, despite France's Naval Group having already discussed a $90 billion submarine contract with Australia. The move prompted Paris to recall its ambassadors in both Canberra and Washington.
• Putin: Russia Maintains Nuclear Parity With US But Leads in New Armaments Sputnik 12 Dec 2021 -- Moscow and Washington maintain nuclear parity, but when it comes to new armaments, Russia is the world leader, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.
• China ramps up J-20 stealth fighter production after domestic engine switch Global Times 12 Dec 2021 -- The maker of the J-20, China's most advanced stealth fighter jet, revealed that it recently broke records in terms of aircraft delivery due to high demand, with experts saying on Sunday that the J-20 has entered a mass production phase after it solved the last missing piece of the puzzle, the domestically developed WS-10 engine.
• Army: Iran's 1st domestically-built reconnaissance vessel almost finished Press TV 12 Dec 2021 -- The Iranian Navy's first domestically-built reconnaissance vessel has reached its final stages of construction, says the chief of the Army's shipyard, which is located in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Thani US Dept. of State 12 Dec 2021

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Britain Increases Aid Commitment To Afghanistan By $100 Million RFE/RL Gandhara 12 Dec 2021 -- Britain has pledged a further 75 million pounds ($100 million) in aid to Afghanistan to help the country address its humanitarian crisis.
• Foreign Secretary pledges to support 1.8 million Afghans with life-saving aid: 12 December 2021 UK FCDO 12 Dec 2021 -- Foreign Secretary Liz Truss pledges £75m of UK emergency aid to support 1.8 million Afghans.
• Second Deadly Attack On Pakistan's Polio-Eradication Effort In As Many Days RFE/RL Gandhara 12 Dec 2021 -- Pakistani police said on December 12 that an officer who was guarding a polio vaccination team in the northwestern town of Tank has been shot dead by militants in the second such deadly attack there in two days.
• G7 Foreign Ministers' Statement on Russia and Ukraine US Dept. of State 12 Dec 2021 -- The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union.
• G-7 Warns Russia on Military Buildup Along Ukraine Border VOA 12 Dec 2021 -- The Group of Seven democratic economic powers on Sunday warned Russia to de-escalate its large-scale military buildup along the Ukrainian border or face what it characterized as "massive" economic consequences.
• G7 Warns Russia Of 'Massive Consequences' If It Attacks Ukraine RFE/RL 12 Dec 2021 -- Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) have warned Russia that it faces "massive consequences" and "severe" costs if it launches a military attack on Ukraine.
• G7 Leaders Pledge 'Severe Cost' in Event of Russian 'Military Aggression' in Ukraine Sputnik 12 Dec 2021 -- Concerns about Russia's "military build-up" in the vicinity of the Ukrainian border continue to arise, with Moscow repeatedly underscoring that it has no plans to attack anyone. Russian President Vladimir Putin told his US counterpart Joe Biden that Russian troops are located within the country's territory and pose no threat.
• Russian Foreign Ministry: West Deploying Militants Disguised as Instructors to Ukraine Sputnik 12 Dec 2021 -- Western countries are transferring to Ukraine militants as instructors, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.
• Putin Told Biden During Call Russian Troops Located Within Country's Borders Pose No Threat Sputnik 12 Dec 2021 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden held a video conversation on Tuesday, discussing acute issues like the situation in Ukraine, bilateral relations, and other topics.
• Reports of Human Rights Abuses, Atrocities, and Destruction in Amhara and Afar Regions US Dept. of State 12 Dec 2021 -- The United States notes with grave concern unconfirmed new reports alleging egregious human rights abuses, atrocities, and destruction of civilian infrastructure by Tigrayan forces in the Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia.
• Breakaway Authorities Stage Vote In Moldova's Transdniester Region RFE/RL 12 Dec 2021 -- Separatist authorities in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester were holding a vote to pick a de facto president on December 12 in an election mostly ignored by Chisinau and likely to be poorly attended by would-be voters.

News Reports

• How China Became A Force In The Former Soviet Space After The Fall Of The U.S.S.R. RFE/RL 12 Dec 2021 -- For three days in May 1989, Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev visited Beijing amid great fanfare.
• China Grows Balkan Investments by Asking Less Than EU, Say Experts VOA 12 Dec 2021 -- China accounts for a relatively small share of outside investment in the western Balkans compared to the European Union, but observers say there is growing concern about the scope of Chinese influence tied to the billions of dollars Beijing has invested in the region since 2005.
• Group politics under guise of democracy is trampling on true spirit of democracy: Chinese FM Global Times 12 Dec 2021 -- The US and some Western countries have, for a long time, described China as an "undemocratic country." But this labelling is a result of their arrogance and prejudice against other civilizations, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrote in an article published in state media People's Daily on Sunday.
• China won't have US-style subprime mortgage crisis: former PBC chief Global Times 12 Dec 2021 -- China does not have structural shortcomings that will trigger a subprime mortgage crisis like the one that occurred in the US in 2007, as the country's urban and rural housing demand continues to rise amid regulatory measures to prevent and address the risks of the real estate market, a former chief of the People's Bank of China (PBC) said on Sunday.
• China's Long March family accomplishes 4th 100 launches with unprecedented speed Global Times 12 Dec 2021 -- With an unprecedented speed, China's indigenous Long March rocket family has recently accomplished its fourth 100 launches with 33 months, manifesting high frequency space launch missions by the series has become a new normal and the rapid growth of the country's comprehensive strength and advancement of its science and technology, developers and industry analysts hailed on Sunday.
• German parliament passes resolution on deepening ties with Taiwan CNA 12 Dec 2021 -- The German parliament has passed a resolution calling on the government in Berlin to reassess its Taiwan policy and deepen exchanges with Taipei, but ruling out the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
• Where does China's full confidence in resolving Taiwan question come from? Global Times 12 Dec 2021 -- A senior Chinese official has reaffirmed the determination of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to realize the national reunification at an annual forum to boost people-to-people exchanges cross the Taiwan Straits, further underscoring the CPC's full confidence in achieving this goal.
• At G7 Meeting, U.K. Implores Iran To Seize 'Last Chance' For Serious Approach To Nuclear Talks RFE/RL 12 Dec 2021 -- The United Kingdom publicly challenged Iran on December 12 to seize on a "last chance" to bring serious proposals to negotiations on a lasting solution to revive a six-year-old nuclear deal.
• Israeli PM Travels To U.A.E. In Historic First Visit Against Backdrop Of Iran Talks RFE/RL 12 Dec 2021 -- Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett arrived in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) on December 12, marking the first time an Israeli prime minister has made an official visit there.
• Israeli PM Bennett Makes Official Visit to UAE VOA 12 Dec 2021 -- Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is in Abu Dhabi to meet Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is the first known visit to the United Arab Emirates by an Israeli prime minister. The issue of Iran's nuclear program is expected to be high on the agenda.
• Over 96% vote against New Caledonia's independence from France Press TV 12 Dec 2021 -- People in the South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia have voted overwhelmingly against full independence from France in the third and final referendum on the issue, a result that could raise fears of unrest and exacerbate ethnic tensions in the tiny island.
• New Caledonia holds tense final vote on independence from France Press TV 12 Dec 2021 -- People in the South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia have taken to the polls to cast their ballots in an independence referendum aimed at breaking away from France, the third and final ballot on the issue amid heightened fears of violence as Paris is determined to maintain its colonialist influence on the tiny island.
• UN Condemns Forced Expulsions of Asylum Seekers from Libya VOA 12 Dec 2021 -- The United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is condemning the forced expulsion of asylum seekers and migrants by Libyan authorities, warning of the risks many face when returned to the homes they fled to escape persecution.
• Military Reportedly Besiege Headquarters of Ousted President's Party in Guinean Siguiri Sputnik 12 Dec 2021 -- People wearing uniforms on Sunday surrounded the office of the RPG Arc-en-ciel, the party of former Guinean President Alpha Conde, in the city of Siguiri, the Guinean media reported.