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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. Senator: Russia Trying To Create 'Pretext For War' By Making Impossible-To-Accept Demands From U.S., NATO RFE/RL 19 Dec 2021 -- The top Republican on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee says the security proposals that Moscow has put forth in response to Western alarm over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine are a clear sign that Russia is "trying to create a pretext for war."
• NATO Countries to Discuss Russia's Security Proposals Next Week, German Defence Minister Says Sputnik 19 Dec 2021 -- NATO will discuss Russia's proposals on security guarantees next week, while being resolute about not allowing Moscow to "dictate" the alliance how to act, German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Sunday.
• Russia Testing New Radar Drone for Reconnaissance of Ground Targets - Source Sputnik 19 Dec 2021 -- Russia has started testing a new drone with an onboard radar system for reconnaissance of ground targets, a defense industry source told Sputnik.
• China's 2nd aircraft carrier conducts exercises in South China Sea Global Times 19 Dec 2021 -- The Shandong, the second aircraft carrier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, recently set out for realistic combat-oriented drills in the South China Sea, in a move experts said on Sunday will enhance its capabilities.
• MORMUGAO, INDIAN NAVY'S SECOND SHIP OF THE PROJECT 15B, SAILS FOR MAIDEN SEA TRIALS ON GOA LIBERATION DAY India PIB 19 Dec 2021 -- Mormugao, Indian Navy's second indigenous stealth destroyer of the P15B class, planned to be commissioned in mid 2022, proceeded on her maiden sea sortie today
• DRDO conducts flight demonstration of Controlled Aerial Delivery System India PIB 19 Dec 2021 -- Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra conducted a flight demonstration of Controlled Aerial Delivery System of 500 kg capacity (CADS-500) on December 18, 2021
• Iran's Navy takes delivery of optimally overhauled destroyer, military aircraft Press TV 19 Dec 2021 -- The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy has taken delivery of a number of overhauled military aircraft, swimmer delivery vehicles and a destroyer that have been modernized by the country's specialists to meet with the world's state-of-the-art technologies.
• Alvand destroyer, 4 submarines join Iran Army Navy IRNA 19 Dec 2021 -- Alvand Destroyer and four submarines joined the Iranian Army Navy at a ceremony in southern Iran on Sunday.
• Alvand Destroyer joins Iran's naval fleet IRNA 19 Dec 2021 -- Alvand Destroyer, the newest warship of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, was set afloat in an official launching ceremony attended by the Deputy Army Commander for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari and Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani here on Sunday.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Muslim World Creates Fund to Help Afghanistan Avert Humanitarian Disaster VOA 19 Dec 2021 -- A daylong emergency conference of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) agreed Sunday to set up a humanitarian trust fund to address the unfolding humanitarian and economic catastrophe in Afghanistan, where millions face hunger and an estimated 1 million children are at risk of dying of severe acute malnutrition.
• Afghans Facing Dual Crisis of Hunger, Destitution VOA 19 Dec 2021 -- The World Food Program warns the crisis of acute hunger facing millions of people in Afghanistan as winter sets in is just one step away from becoming a catastrophe.
• Muslim Nations Call For 'Humanitarian Trust Fund' For Crisis-Hit Afghanistan RFE/RL Gandhara 19 Dec 2021 -- Member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have agreed to establish a trust fund to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan that has left millions facing hunger following the Taliban takeover in August.
• Islamic countries pledge humanitarian trust fund to stave off humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan Press TV 19 Dec 2021 -- Foreign ministers who attended the latest meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have pledged to establish a humanitarian trust fund to address the growing chaos and economic crisis in Afghanistan.
• Hundreds Line Up For Passports In Kabul In Subzero Temperatures RFE/RL Gandhara 19 Dec 2021 -- Hundreds of Afghans have braved freezing temperatures to stand in line outside the newly reopened passport office in Kabul, hoping to receive travel documents that would enable them to leave the war-ravaged country following the Taliban takeover in August.
• Sustainable security in Afghanistan possible only real collective participation, inclusive government: Iran FM ISNA 19 Dec 2021 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stressed that sustainable security and political and social stability in Afghanistan is possible only through real collective participation and an inclusive and effective government in which all ethnicities and religions play a role.
• Iran FM: Sustainable security in Afghanistan only possible through inclusive govt. representing all ethnicities Press TV 19 Dec 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says establishment of sustainable security and stability in the war-torn Afghanistan is only possible through the formation of an inclusive government, which would represent all ethnic groups and religions in the country.
• Afghanistan economy in 'freefall', threatening to take entire population with it UN News 19 Dec 2021 -- Afghanistan's economy is in "free fall", the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator told a special meeting on Sunday, warning that if decisive and compassionate action is not taken immediately, it may "pull the entire population with it".
• Taliban leaders call for international aid as refugee exodus looms Press TV 19 Dec 2021 -- Taliban leaders have once more appealed to the international community to extend aid to Afghanistan amid a worsening economic crisis that could spark a refugee exodus.
• German Defense Minister Calls For Harsher Sanctions Against Russia Over Troop Deployment RFE/RL 19 Dec 2021 -- German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has called for harsher sanctions against Russia over its troop deployment on the Ukrainian border, saying those responsible for any aggression must face "personal consequences."
• Germany Warns Russia That Costs Would Be High If Moscow Invades Ukraine RFE/RL 19 Dec 2021 -- German ministers have reiterated EU warnings that Russia would face harsher sanctions in the event of military aggression against Ukraine, which they said could also prompt Berlin to rethink its cooperation with Moscow on the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline.
• Lithuania Ready to Send Lethal Weapons to Ukraine Sputnik 19 Dec 2021 -- Lithuania is ready to provide all kinds of support to Ukraine, including supplying Kiev with lethal weapons, Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said on Sunday.
• London 'Highly Unlikely' to Deploy Troops in Ukraine, UK Defence Secretary Says Sputnik 19 Dec 2021 -- The United Kingdom is "highly unlikely" to send troops to Ukraine in the event of Russia starting implementing its alleged plans for escalation of the situation around Ukraine, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said.
• Showdown over Ukraine looms as Russia, NATO unlikely to reach deal Global Times 19 Dec 2021 -- The intense situation around Ukraine between Russia and NATO is unlikely to ease, as it is almost impossible that NATO will accept the security guarantee proposed by Moscow due to entrenched hostility to Russia, Chinese analysts said, adding that the US-led bloc will not give up expansion to the east, and Russia will definitely take action to retaliate.
• France praises troops after probe into killing of civilians in Niger Press TV 19 Dec 2021 -- France has praised its troops who killed civilians during a standoff in Niger last month after allegedly conducting an investigation into the incident.

News Reports

• Biden's China Policy: Negotiate While Preparing for a Fight? VOA 19 Dec 2021 -- A Sino-U.S. military dialogue that coincided with a defense budget increase this month reveal a key piece of President Joe Biden's China policy-talk and prepare to fight all at once-analysts believe.
• LegCo election advances despite trivial noises, to bring HK into a new era Global Times 19 Dec 2021 -- No matter how hard some Western media outlets like The New York Times or the BBC tried to hype a "controversial" or "unfair" Legislative Council (LegCo) election that took place in Hong Kong on Sunday, dozens of Hong Kong residents, local officials and experts who talked with the Global Times consider the new election format - the first since the implementation of the national security law for Hong Kong and the electoral reform, as a milestone to bring the city into a new era with better governance after years of political battling in a vicious circle.
• Turnout plummets as Hong Kongers choose among China-approved 'patriotic' candidates Radio Free Asia 19 Dec 2021 -- Less than a third of registered voters turned out to vote in elections for Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) on Sunday, in the first election to be held in the city under Beijing's rules ensuring only "patriots" approved by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) can hold public office.
• Four referendum questions fail to pass on low turnout (update) CNA 19 Dec 2021 -- Taiwanese voters on Saturday narrowly rejected the four referendum questions put to them in a national vote characterized by a relatively low turnout and nearly identical vote margins on almost all four issues.
• Legal amendments proposed to better handle Chinese spying cases CNA 19 Dec 2021 -- Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政) said Sunday he has proposed a bill that would amend four national security laws to include provisions to establish a dedicated legal system and judges to deal with Chinese espionage and other national security cases.
• Mass Technological Innovation Movement Propels Increase in Coal Production KCNA 19 Dec 2021 -- Coal mines in the DPRK made achievements through a positive mass technological innovation movement for boosting coal production.
• Kim Jong-un's Sister Reportedly Promoted Back Into Politburo Amid Behind-the-Scenes Intrigue Sputnik 19 Dec 2021 -- Kim Yo-jong began gaining international attention after her historic visit to South Korea as Kim Jong-un's personal envoy during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. She has since been regularly spotted accompanying her brother at major events, including his meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump.
• Hiatus in Vienna talks based on consensus: Khatibzadeh ISNA 19 Dec 2021 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh stressed that contrary to the Western side's claim about Iran's call for a hiatus in negotiations, the three European parties to the P4+1 group and other members of the group are fully aware that the timetable was fixed following a consensus among all parties and in consideration of the holidays of the European sides on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year.
• Iran allowed IAEA cameras installed at Karaj facility after its preconditions met: AEOI spokesman Press TV 19 Dec 2021 -- The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says the country allowed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to reinstall its surveillance cameras at the TESA Karaj Complex only after the UN nuclear watchdog met Tehran's preconditions.
• At Least Five People Killed In Election-Related Violence In Pakistan's Northwest RFE/RL Gandhara 19 Dec 2021 -- Counting is under way after polling ended in local government elections in a northwestern Pakistani province that were marred by deadly violence and allegations of fraud by the opposition.
• UK Brexit minister David Frost resigns, dealing major blow to embattled PM Press TV 19 Dec 2021 -- British Brexit minister David Frost has resigned from the government, dealing a major blow to embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
• Brexit Minister Resigns, Deepening Crisis Engulfing British Prime Minister VOA 19 Dec 2021 -- The political crisis engulfing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has deepened with the resignation of a close ally, Brexit minister David Frost, who cited pandemic restrictions and the government's "direction of travel."
• Sudan police fire tear gas at protesters as tens of thousands rally in capital for revolt anniversary Press TV 19 Dec 2021 -- Police in Sudan have fired tear gas at anti-coup protesters as tens of thousands of people rallied in the capital of the African country to mark the third anniversary of the nation's revolt against strongman Omar al-Bashir.
• UN chief calls for unity among Lebanese leaders, affirms solidarity with citizens UN News 19 Dec 2021 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Lebanese leaders on Sunday to work together to solve multiple crises plaguing the nation.
• Malawi's Army Chief Tells Politicians Not to Interfere in Military Affairs VOA 19 Dec 2021 -- The commander of Malawi's army has criticized what he says is interference from government officials into the affairs of the military. General Vincent Nundwe says this could incite anarchy and should stop.