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Defense Policy / Programs

• US Air Force F-22 Raptors deter aggression over Baltic skies US Air Force 14 May 2023 -- U.S. Air Force fifth-generation fighters supporting NATO Allied Air Command's Air Shielding mission along the Eastern Flank executed an Agile Combat Employment deployment to Ämari Air Base, Estonia, May 8, to deter aggression in the Baltic Sea region.
• Readout for Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Vice Adm. Brad Cooper's Video Call with Joint Commander of the French Forces Deployed in the Indian Ocean Vice Adm. Emmanuel Slaars CENTCOM 14 May 2023 -- Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, spoke with Joint Commander of the French Forces Deployed in the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN) Vice Adm. Emmanuel Slaars during a video call, May 13.
• NORAD Tracks Russian Military Aircraft Flyby Near Alaska Sputnik 14 May 2023 -- Russian activity in the North American ADIZ occurs regularly and is considered neither threatening nor provocative, a NORAD statement said.
• 1,500 UK troops join major NATO exercise amid expanded UK deployment to Estonia UK MOD 14 May 2023 -- More than 1,500 UK troops are set to train alongside thousands of personnel from NATO Alliance countries, as part of a major exercise in Estonia.
• Russian Recruiters 'More Assertive' Toward Central Asian Migrants As Dual Citizens' Urged To Fight In Ukraine RFE/RL 14 May 2023 -- In the waiting hall of Moscow's Sakharovo Migration Center that is often packed with foreign workers applying for work or residency permits, a poster -- in Tajik, Uzbek, and Kyrgyz -- hangs on the wall.
• Joint Declaration by Ukraine and Germany President of Ukraine 14 May 2023 -- "In close cooperation with partners, Germany has also established maintenance and service hubs for systems delivered. Germany has moreover earmarked in total over 11 billion EUR for 2023 and beyond in order to continue military support for Ukraine. Through tailored new military equipment packages Germany will continue to support Ukraine in strengthening its defence capabilities"
• President of Ukraine met with members of the German Security Cabinet President of Ukraine 14 May 2023
• President of Ukraine: We are working to create a coalition of fighter jets President of Ukraine 14 May 2023
• Zelensky pushes Germany to replace US as Ukraine's first arms provider Press TV 14 May 2023 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with German leaders in Berlin and pressed them for faster deliveries of advanced weapons and fighter jets, in a visit that aims to nudge Germany towards potentially replacing the United States as Kiev's most prominent supplier of arms.
• Zelenskiy Travels To Paris After Being Hailed In Germany For Contributions To European Unity RFE/RL 14 May 2023 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on May 14 flew to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, extending a tour of European capitals after accepting the Charlemagne Prize at a ceremony in Aachen, Germany.
• NATO Intends to Offer Kiev Support, But No Membership at July Summit - Reports Sputnik 14 May 2023 -- Reportedly NATO will offer Ukraine great assistance opportunities, but hardly facilitate any progress on its membership bid at the July summit in Lithuania.
• China verifies far sea capabilities of Type 055 large destroyer in South China Sea, West Pacific Global Times 14 May 2023 -- A flotilla of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has wrapped up a month-long far sea exercise in the South China Sea and the West Pacific, a move experts said on Sunday demonstrated the Type 055 large destroyer's far sea capabilities.
• First domestically manufactured submarine prepares for final tests CNA 14 May 2023 -- A prototype of Taiwan's first domestically manufactured submarine is set to undergo final tests in September, Cheng Wen-lon (鄭文隆), chairman of local shipbuilder CSBC Corp., Taiwan, told CNA in a recent interview.
• Taiwan's Han Kuang exercises to begin Monday with tabletop wargames CNA 14 May 2023 -- The tabletop wargames phase of Taiwan's annual Han Kuang series of military exercises will begin on Monday, simulating the nation's armed forces responses to a potential Chinese invasion based on the latest threats posed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
• Five Power Defence Arrangement exercise concludes Australia DOD 14 May 2023 -- Exercise Bersama Shield - a bi-annual military exercise between the five nations in the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) - concluded in Malaysia on Friday.
• INDIA-INDONESIA BILATERAL EXERCISE SAMUDRA SHAKTI - 23 India PIB 14 May 2023 -- INS Kavaratti, indigenously designed & built ASW Corvette, arrived at Batam, Indonesia to participate in the 4th edition of India-Indonesia Bilateral exercise Samudra Shakti-23 from 14-19 May 23. An Indian Navy Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft and Chetak helicopter is also participating. The Indonesian Navy will be represented by KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and AS565 Panther Helicopter.
• 'Aatmanirbharta' in Defence: MoD approves 4th Positive Indigenisation List of 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units/Sub-systems/Spares & Components India PIB 14 May 2023 -- To promote 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence & minimise imports by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has approved 4th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) of 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units (LRUs)/Sub-systems/Spares & Components, including high-end materials & spares, with import substitution value worth Rs 715 crore. Details of these items are available on SRIJAN Portal (https://srijandefence.gov.in/).
• Iranian drones among most efficient drones in world ISNA 14 May 2023 -- Commander of Iranian Air Defense Force, Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard said that Iran's military equipment is among the most modern defence equipment in the world.
• US failed to prevent Iranian Navy flotilla from crossing Panama Canal: Navy cmdr. Press TV 14 May 2023 -- The United States once failed to prevent the Iranian Navy's 86th flotilla of warships from sailing through the Panama Canal, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani recounts, as the flotilla docks at Oman's Salalah port.
• Iranian Flotilla Approaches Home Waters After Round-the-World Trip Through 'America's Backyard' Sputnik 14 May 2023 -- The voyage was the second time that Tehran has sent a mini-armada on a world-spanning journey since 2021, when a pair of Islamic Republic of Iran Navy ships traveled more than 45,000 km around Africa, through the English Channel and the Baltic Sea to St. Petersburg, Russia to participate in a naval parade.
• Iran Navy's 86th flotilla close to end of global tour in Oman IRNA 14 May 2023 -- The Iranian Navy's 86th flotilla has docked at a port in Oman after a long voyage around the globe with the objective of expanding Iran's naval presence in international waters.
• Iranian Navy's flotilla docks at Oman's Salalah ISNA 14 May 2023 -- The 86th flotilla of the Iranian Navy, including Dena destroyer and Makran forward base ship docked at Oman's port of Salalah after travelling 63,000 km.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Moroccan Foreign Minister Bourita US Dept. of State 14 May 2023
• Remarks by President Biden in Press Gaggle The White House 14 May 2023

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• Yemen Government Delays Prisoner Swap With Rebels Sputnik 14 May 2023 -- A new prisoner swap between the UN-recognized Yemeni government and Houthi rebels in the north has been delayed indefinitely, Deputy Human Rights Minister Majid Fadael told Sputnik on Sunday.
• Iran's Amir-Abdollahian, UN special envoy exchange views on situation in Syria Press TV 14 May 2023 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has met and conferred with the visiting United Nations' special envoy for Syria on the latest developments in the Arab country.
• Sudan Freezes Bank Accounts of Rebel Paramilitary Sputnik 14 May 2023 -- Sudan's transitional authority led by Gen. Abdul Fattah Burhan ordered banks on Sunday to freeze accounts belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which have been fighting the regular army since mid-April.
• Summary of Operation Shield and Arrow Israel Defense Forces 14 May 2023
• Guterres welcomes ceasefire in Israel and Gaza UN News 14 May 2023 -- UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed last night's ceasefire agreement in Israel and Gaza and reiterated that only a negotiated political solution will lead to lasting peace and end the devastating cycles of violence "once and for all."
• Israel/Palestine: Statement by the Spokesperson on the ceasefire in Gaza European External Action Service (EEAS) 14 May 2023 -- The European Union welcomes the announced ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which should bring an end to the violence in and around Gaza.
• Hamas chief hails Iran, Hezbollah's support for resistance during Israeli onslaught on Gaza Press TV 14 May 2023 -- Head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has hailed Iran's support for the resistance in Palestine, during Israel's relentless onslaught against the besieged Gaza Strip.
• Palestinian resistance groups: We upended Israeli regime's calculations Press TV 14 May 2023 -- The Joint Operations Room of the Palestinian Resistance Factions says the retaliatory rocket attacks and steadfastness of resistance fighters upset the Israeli regime's calculations during the latest aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip.
• Netanyahu Claims Israel Destroyed Entire Islamic Jihad Command in Gaza Strip Sputnik 14 May 2023 -- The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) destroyed the entire Islamic Jihad leadership in the Gaza Strip during the five-day Shield and Arrow operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.
• Israeli Forces, Gaza Exchange Strikes After Ceasefire Comes Into Force Sputnik 14 May 2023 -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have struck targets in the Gaza Strip after the Egypt-mediated ceasefire came into force, in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian side, the IDF said.
• Securing borders, people's safety & safeguarding India's unity, integrity & sovereignty is Government's top priority, says Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh in Maharashtra India PIB 14 May 2023 -- "Securing borders, safety of the people and safeguarding the unity, integrity & sovereignty of the nation is the Government's top priority," said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at an event in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra on May 14, 2023. Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that all efforts are being made by the Government to ensure that the country is protected from all kinds of threats and it moves forward on the path of development at an unprecedented pace.

News Reports

• US Homeland Security Chief: No Migration Surge at Mexican Border VOA 14 May 2023 -- U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday that the number of migrants trying to cross into the United States from Mexico since border entry rules were changed late last week has dropped nearly in half but that it was "too early" to know whether the surge in migration has peaked.
• Kyrgyzstan Sees No Hurdles to Cooperate With Russia Despite Sanction Threat Sputnik 14 May 2023 -- There is no hindrance to Kyrgyzstan's cooperation with Russia despite secondary sanctions that the West threatens to impose on Moscow's partners, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev said on Sunday.
• Russia approves agreement on supplying natural gas to China via Far Eastern Route: Tass Global Times 14 May 2023 -- Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin approved an inter-governmental agreement to supply natural gas to China through the Far East Route. The move will accelerate energy cooperation between Russia and China, experts stated.
• Taiwan finds suspected China-made weather balloon debris on frontline islet CNA 14 May 2023 -- Taiwan's military has found the wreckage of a suspected China-made weather balloon on one of its offshore frontline islets near China on Saturday.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan May 14, 2023 ROC MND 14 May 2023
• Technical cooperation between Iran, IAEA to witness great progress: FM Press TV 14 May 2023 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the course of the country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within technical frameworks will soon witness great progress.
• Eight arrested for provoking worker unrests in Iran's gas region IRNA 14 May 2023 -- Eight people who have had a leading role in the recent unrests in South Pars and Assalouyeh gas facilities in southern Iran have been arrested, according to a senior provincial official.
• Despite sanctions, Iran has world's largest oil pipeline building program IRNA 14 May 2023 -- Iran has ranked first in the world in terms of under-construction oil transmission pipelines despite the harsh regime of sanctions imposed by the US on the country's energy sector.
• Iran tops world's leading countries in oil pipeline construction despite sanctions: Report Press TV 14 May 2023 -- Iran has ranked first in the world in construction of oil transmission pipelines despite US-led sanctions targeting the country's energy sector, according to a report.
• Iran denies being paid in African currencies for China oil exports Press TV 14 May 2023 -- The Iranian Oil Ministry has denied a report suggesting that it is being paid in African currencies for oil exports to China, saying the claim is just an attempt to undermine Iran's success in ramping up oil exports in recent months despite the continued pressure of US sanctions.
• Turkish Election Could Be Headed for Runoff VOA 14 May 2023 -- Turkey appeared headed for a runoff election after neither President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu received a majority of the vote on Sunday.
• Turkey's tight race: Polls close amid accusations of foreign interference Press TV 14 May 2023 -- Polls have now closed and vote counting is underway in Turkey's momentous elections that could extend the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the country's longest-serving leader, or end his long innings at the helm.
• Six dead as Cyclone Mocha makes landfall in western Myanmar coast Radio Free Asia 14 May 2023 -- Powerful Cyclone Mocha made landfall in western Myanmar Sunday, killing six people and bringing down trees, residents said, as humanitarian agencies warned of a severe impact on "hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people."
• Belarusian Leader Skips Official Event Amid Rumors Of Hospitalization RFE/RL 14 May 2023 -- Belarus's authoritarian leader, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, on May 14 failed to attend events to mark the National Flag, Coat of Arms, and Anthem Day amid rumors of ill-health.
• Two Thai Opposition Parties Score Big Election Victories VOA 14 May 2023 -- Two pro-democracy opposition parties secured a stunning victory Sunday in Thailand's general election, as millions cast their votes on who should lead the country's government.
• Vote counting underway in Thailand as pro-democracy opposition set to win big Press TV 14 May 2023 -- Polls closed in Thailand's general election with pro-democracy opposition parties tipped to defeat the conservative military-backed government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha.
• Thai Opposition Parties Lead With 97% of Votes Counted Sputnik 14 May 2023 -- Both Thailand's opposition parties are currently leading with nearly all the ballots counted, Election Commission data revealed on Sunday.
• Bosnian Serbs Chase Closer Ties With Beijing Amid Western Pressure, Looming Debt RFE/RL 14 May 2023 -- Faced with growing economic pressure over looming debt payments and a lack of foreign investment, Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik is seeking a financial lifeline from China.