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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Hundreds of US Troops Ending US-Mexico Border Mission VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- Hundreds of troops who were deployed to the United States border with Mexico earlier this year as the government ended pandemic-related asylum restrictions are now returning home.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Phone Call With the Kuwait Minister of Defense, His Excellency Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al Sabah DoD 02 Aug 2023
• Readout of Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks' and SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman's Meeting With AM Forward Partners DoD 02 Aug 2023
• Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call with Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi DoD 02 Aug 2023
• Expeditionary Strike Group Readies Marines to Land in Australia DoD News 02 Aug 2023 -- The amphibious assault ship USS America was abuzz with activity as Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit prepared to make an amphibious assault from the Coral Sea in Queensland, Australia.
• Davis-Monthan AFB identified as AFSOC's next power projection wing US Air Force 02 Aug 2023 -- The Department of the Air Force selected Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, as the preferred location to host Air Force Special Operation Command's third power projection wing.
• F-35 aircraft touch down at Tyndall AFB US Air Force 02 Aug 2023 -- As the Air Force continues to evolve by modernizing its capabilities and maintaining air superiority in an ever-changing global security landscape, Tyndall Air Force Base has officially transitioned from an air dominance training mission to a fully combat capable F-35A Lightning II fighter wing.
• CMF Task Force Commander Visits EUNAVFOR Headquarters in Spain US Navy 02 Aug 2023 -- The commander of the counter-piracy task force for Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) visited European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) headquarters July 26 in Rota, Spain.
• Department of Defense completes Underway Recovery Test 10 with NASA US Navy 02 Aug 2023 -- NASA's Landing and Recovery team and the Department of Defense successfully completed the first recovery test for the crewed Artemis II mission aboard the amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) off the coast of San Diego, Aug. 1.
• Navy Lays Keel for Future USS Oklahoma (SSN 802) US Navy 02 Aug 2023 -- Senior Navy leaders and shipbuilders gathered at HII-Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) Wednesday, Aug. 2, to attend a keel-laying authentication for the future Virginia-class submarine USS Oklahoma (SSN 802).
• Demonstrating agility and capability, Germany conducts swift fighter deployment to Iceland NATO 02 Aug 2023 -- The German Air Force has started the deployment of a fighter capability to Iceland to conduct an Agile Combat Employment (ACE). From August 1 to 10, Eurofighters are conducting training in the High North and work with the Icelandic Coast Guard and other regional Allies.
• US-led NATO forces beef up security on Belarus border Press TV 02 Aug 2023 -- NATO member states in northeastern Europe have bolstered their military forces on their mutual borders with neighboring Belarus.
• Russia launches naval exercise in Baltic Sea Press TV 02 Aug 2023 -- The Russian navy has kicked off its live fire naval exercise in the Baltic Sea, involving more than 50 vessels and 30 aircraft.
• Ocean Shield 2023 Drills Kick Off in Baltic Sea Sputnik 02 Aug 2023 -- The "Ocean Shield 2023" military drills have begun in the Baltic Sea, involving more than 30 Russian Navy warships and vessels, as well as 30 aircraft and about 6,000 military personnel, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday.
• Images Show Fortifications Being Built Near Suspected Wagner Camp In Belarus RFE/RL 02 Aug 2023 -- Fortifications are being actively constructed near the tent camp of the private Wagner mercenary group in the village of Tsel in eastern Belarus, the site believed to be where troops from Yevgeny Prigozhin's company have settled after its aborted mutiny in Russia in late June.
• Analysts Say Shakeup at China's Rocket Force Suggests Strategy Shift Toward 'Nuclear Triad' VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also the military's commander-in-chief, this week replaced two leaders of the elite force overseeing the People's Liberation Army's conventional and nuclear missiles.
• PLA Air Force's YU-20 tanker, Navy's J-15 carrier-based fighter hold first in-flight refueling Global Times 02 Aug 2023 -- A YU-20 tanker aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and a J-15 carrier-based fighter jet of the PLA Navy have conducted their first in-flight refueling exercise. Experts said on Wednesday that this exercise has displayed the systematic integration among different PLA services and will enhance the capabilities of Chinese aircraft carriers.
• Sleepy air base awakens Australia DOD 02 Aug 2023 -- In the remote northern corner of Western Australia sits RAAF Base Curtin, a contingency air base is maintained with a staff of barely 10 people for most of the year.
• IRGC Navy receives Qadir, Fath-360 missiles IRNA 02 Aug 2023 -- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has received the Qadir cruise missile and the Fath-360 ballistic missile equipped with artificial intelligence (AI).
• Iran Deploys Warships With 600 Km Range Missiles on Board During Snap Gulf Drills Sputnik 02 Aug 2023 -- Only two days earlier, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif dropped hints about the Islamic Republic's plans to unveil "new strategic systems and capabilities" for maritime defense.
• What happened on first day of IRGC naval exercises? IRNA 02 Aug 2023 -- The first day of the naval exercises of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) kicked off on Wednesday morning in Abu Musa island while featuring the Qadir cruise missile system, unmanned vessels equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), and the Fath ballistic missile.
• Iran's IRGC naval wargame kicks off in Persian Gulf IRNA 02 Aug 2023 -- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy on Wednesday started a naval wargame in Iran's Abu Musa isand focusing on strong defense for Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf.
• IRGC Navy holds drills in Persian Gulf in defense of triple islands Press TV 02 Aug 2023 -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has launched drills to show its power and combat defense readiness in protecting the security of the Persian Gulf as well as the country's islands.
• EU Statement on Cluster I (nuclear disarmament) as delivered at the First Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), 2 August 2023 European External Action Service (EEAS) 02 Aug 2023
• Remarks by Vice President Harris and Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai of Mongolia The White House 02 Aug 2023

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Aug. 2, 2023

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• 2 August 2023 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 02 Aug 2023
• Afghan acting FM asks U.S. to lift sanctions: gov't spokesman People's Daily 02 Aug 2023 -- Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told U.S. officials at a meeting held in Doha that the U.S. sanctions against Afghanistan should be removed, the local Tolonews TV reported.
• US Calls on Afghan Groups to Refrain From Violence, Engage in Talks VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- Refusing to recognize the Taliban as legitimate rulers of Afghanistan and maintaining sanctions on the group's leaders, the United States continues to reject calls by some former Afghan allies to help topple the extremist regime.
• Sudan conflict displaces nearly four million: UN migration agency UN News 02 Aug 2023 -- Conflict in Sudan has forced nearly four million people to flee their homes in a little over 100 days, the UN migration agency, IOM, has warned.
• Time running out on election timeline for South Sudan, UN official warns UN News 02 Aug 2023 -- Action is needed now to pave the way for timely and credible elections in South Sudan next December, the UN Special Representative for the country told journalists in the capital, Juba, on Wednesday.
• Junta captures 17 civilians in Myanmar's Tanintharyi region Radio Free Asia 02 Aug 2023 -- Junta troops have detained 17 civilians from a village in Myanmar's southernmost Tanintharyi region, locals told RFA Wednesday.
• Analysts Say China Violates Human Rights in Tibet VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- New research measuring nighttime lighting data from detention facilities in Tibet has renewed global discussion about China's decadeslong persecution of Tibetans in the autonomous region.
• OIC warns against Israel's recurrent incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque Press TV 02 Aug 2023 -- Foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have warned against the recurrent incursions of Israeli forces and extremist settlers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, denouncing the practice as a violation of international law.
• Colombia: UN Mission to monitor ceasefire with ELN rebel group UN News 02 Aug 2023 -- The Security Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to expand the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to monitor a ceasefire between the Government and the largest remaining rebel group in the country.
• France Faces Uncertain Way Forward in Africa's Sahel Region VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- Planeloads of French citizens are returning home. Anti-French demonstrations are peppered with Russian flags. French military and political interests are once again under attack in the Sahel as another onetime ally is toppled in a coup.
• Tense Atmosphere in Sahel as Neighbors Warn Against Military Intervention in Niger VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- Military chiefs from the West African bloc ECOWAS are holding talks in Nigeria Wednesday about last week's coup in Niger. Earlier this week, the regional economic bloc set a deadline for junta leaders to restore ousted president Mohamed Bazoum or face a possible military intervention. The warning prompted a sharp counter-warning from two of Niger's neighbors who also have leaders that came to power in coups.

News Reports

• Charges Against Trump Include Effort to Subvert Electoral College VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- The historic indictment charging former President Donald Trump with conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election alleges, among other things, that Trump and his advisers orchestrated an elaborate plot to undermine the workings of the Electoral College, one of the least understood elements of the U.S. election system.
• Trump indicted over alleged efforts to overturn results of 2020 presidential election People's Daily 02 Aug 2023 -- Former U.S. President Donald Trump was indicted on Tuesday in a Justice Department investigation over his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Nigerien President Bazoum US Dept. of State 02 Aug 2023
• Ordered Departure of Non-Emergency U.S. Government Personnel from U.S. Embassy Niamey US Dept. of State 02 Aug 2023 -- The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas, including U.S. government personnel serving abroad.
• Washington Closely Watching Niger After Coup VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- The White House says it's closely watching a coup in Niger, as the U.S. Embassy prepares to evacuate some staff from the West African nation. With the coup plotters staring down a Sunday deadline to reinstate the deposed democratically elected president, analysts say Moscow and Beijing are also monitoring Niamey, and looking for opportunities to widen their influence.
• US Joins France, Italy in Evacuating Citizens From Niger VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- Military chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived Wednesday in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, for two days of meetings to discuss last week's coup in Niger. Meanwhile, the United States joined several European nations in evacuating their nationals.
• France, Italy Evacuate Citizens from Niger VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- Military chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were set to hold talks Wednesday in the Nigerian capital Abuja about last week's coup in Niger, while several European nations work to evacuate their nationals from Niger.
• US military keeps forces in Niger amid evacuations by other nations Press TV 02 Aug 2023 -- The US Defense Department has announced that it will not pull out American troops from Niger and continue interacting with the African nation's counterparts as many other countries ordered evacuations of their military forces and citizens from the country.
• US Orders Partial Evacuation of Embassy Staff in Niger Amid Military Takeover Sputnik 02 Aug 2023 -- The US State Department said in an advisory that it ordered the departure of non-emergency government employees and their family members from the American Embassy in Niger.
• Foreign Minister Baerbock thanks France for transporting German nationals Germany Federal Foreign Office 02 Aug 2023
• Russia Calls Against Deterioration of Situation in Niger Sputnik 02 Aug 2023 -- Russia believes it is important to avoid further deterioration of situation in Niger, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday, adding that Moscow calls for dialogue between the sides of the conflict.
• Coup in the Niger: Political situation and evacuation of German nationals Germany Federal Foreign Office 02 Aug 2023 -- The attempted coup in the Niger is a full-on attack on the young democracy and is jeopardising the country's future. A political solution now needs to be found quickly so that the country can return to the path of democracy.
• Meeting with Government members President of Russia 02 Aug 2023 -- The President held a videoconference meeting with Government members.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, August 2, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 02 Aug 2023
• Anti-War Russians Abroad Fear Kremlin Covertly Pressuring Hosts To Send Them Back RFE/RL 02 Aug 2023 -- Late last month, the authorities in Serbia refused to extend the long-term residency there of St. Petersburg district councilman Vladimir Volokhonsky.
• Associates Of Notorious Gangster From Russia's North Ossetia Handed Life Sentences RFE/RL 02 Aug 2023 -- A military court in Moscow has sentenced 12 associates of a notorious gangster from Russia's North Ossetia region in the North Caucasus to prison terms between 12 years and life.
• China-US tension may continue despite US invites Chinese FM to visit Washington Global Times 02 Aug 2023 -- The US State Department announced that it has invited China's newly reappointed Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, to visit the US, while the Chinese side released no information about the invitation as of press time despite confirmation of the meeting between a senior Chinese diplomat and senior US officials from the State Department and National Security Council in Washington.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on US Blacklisting Chinese Companies for Alleged "Forced Labor" PRC MofA 02 Aug 2023
• US bans imports from two Chinese firms over Uyghur forced labor Radio Free Asia 02 Aug 2023 -- The Department of Homeland Security has banned imports into the United States of goods produced by a Chinese battery maker and a spice maker due to their alleged use of forced Uyghur labor, prompting complaints from China's foreign ministry about a smear campaign.
• DeSantis Joins Republican Rivals Seeking to Revoke China's Trade Status VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- Republican candidates for their party's presidential nomination are increasingly open to the idea of ending the trade relationship between the U.S. and China that, since 2000, has given Beijing permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status and has smoothed commerce between the world's two largest economies.
• US issues environmental warning about Chinese firm's Manila Bay reclamation projects Radio Free Asia 02 Aug 2023 -- Reclamation projects in Manila Bay being built by a Chinese firm on a U.S. blacklist could have "irreversible environmental impacts," the American embassy here warned on Wednesday.
• Experts: China Seeks to Revive Talks With Seoul, Tokyo to Weaken Ties to US VOA 02 Aug 2023 -- Weeks ahead of a planned U.S.-Japan-South Korea summit in the United States, Beijing is making its own push for increased engagement with its two Asian neighbors. Experts say the move is in concert with Beijing's efforts to bolster ties with North Korea and Russia.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers' Meeting PRC MofA 02 Aug 2023
• Mass rescue, evacuations underway as torrential rains flood northern China Radio Free Asia 02 Aug 2023 -- At least 20 people have died and hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated, as torrential downpours continue to batter northern China on Wednesday, as the Chinese capital saw its heaviest rainfall since records began 140 years ago.
• KMT's Hou dismisses China calls for 'democratic' talks with Taiwan CNA 02 Aug 2023 -- Taiwan's participation in China-proposed "democratic negotiations" is currently "not feasible," according to Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), the presidential nominee of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), in an interview with Asahi Shimbun.
• DPP candidate Lai's 'stopover' in US to cause new tension; Washington's encouragement for Taiwan secessionists will add difficulties to mainland's peace efforts Global Times 02 Aug 2023 -- The Taiwan secessionist Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) candidate for the 2024 regional election Lai Ching-te, also deputy regional leader, will make "stopovers in New York and San Francisco" during an August 12-18 trip to Paraguay, the Taiwan "external affairs authority" announced on Wednesday, and this will become a new incident to worsen tension in the Taiwan Straits and another evidence of US' encouragement toward Taiwan secessionism, which is an absolute contradiction to US' promises to China on "opposing Taiwan Independence."
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the US Government's Decision to Provide Military Aid for China's Taiwan Region PRC MofA 02 Aug 2023
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Aug.2, 2023 ROC MND 02 Aug 2023
• Technical Guidance Intensified to Cope with Changes of Weather KCNA 02 Aug 2023 -- The Agricultural Commission of the DPRK intensifies the technical guidance to ensure that all the farms cultivate the crops in a sci-tech way to actively cope with the changes of weather.
• Press Statement by Spokesman for Korea Association for Human Rights Studies KCNA 02 Aug 2023 -- A spokesman for the Korea Association for Human Rights Studies Tuesday issued the following press statement:
• Provocation to Be Surely Made to Pay KCNA 02 Aug 2023 -- Ryu Kyong Chol, a researcher of the Korea-Europe Association, issued the following article "Provocation will be surely made to pay" on August 1:
• Iran's nuclear chief hails efforts to counter 'false narratives' IRNA 02 Aug 2023 -- Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, has lauded the Iranian government for countering a disinformation campaign by adversaries to tarnish public opinion about the country's nuclear activities.
• Iran's Amir-Abdollahian praises 'new chapter' in Tehran-Islamabad ties as he arrives in neighboring Pakistan Press TV 02 Aug 2023 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has arrived in Pakistan at the head of a high-ranking delegation as he praised a "new chapter" in bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries.
• Iran Reportedly Preparing For Further Protests As Amini Anniversary Nears RFE/RL 02 Aug 2023 -- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) appears to be preparing measures to ward off the possibility of renewed unrest as the one-year anniversary aproaches of the death of Masha Amini, who died in September 2022 while in police custody for an alleged hijab violation.
• Venezuela looking forward to joining BRICS: President Maduro IRNA 02 Aug 2023 -- Venezuela has formally applied to join the BRICS group and is expecting a positive decision on the matter, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said.
• Cambodia: National elections 'extremely disconcerting', say human rights experts UN News 02 Aug 2023 -- The lead-up to, and the results of, the recent elections in Cambodia are "extremely disconcerting", UN human rights experts said on Wednesday, adding that the credibility of the entire electoral process was affected.