Russia-Belarus wargames reinforce key messages

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Situation ◽  
Military Cooperation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Combined Training ◽  
Military Capability ◽  
Military Exercises

Significance In reality, the two armies remain separate because of Lukashenka's past opposition to hosting Russian troops permanently, though, as he noted, they are poised to collaborate in any conflict situation. This cooperation was showcased in the Zapad-2021 military exercises held on September 10-16 which combined training, demonstrations of military capability and political signalling. Impacts Conclusions drawn from Zapad-2021 will further expand Russian-Belarusian military cooperation, though not to the extent sought by Moscow. Lukashenka says Belarus will soon receive Russian fighter jets, helicopters and air defence systems. Zapad-2021 showcased Russia's desire to engage with foreign militaries: Indian troops participated while China and Pakistan sent observers.

Fortress Kaliningrad key to Russia's assertive shield

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Content Type ◽  
Military Capability ◽  
Close Encounters ◽  
Baltic Coast ◽  
Military Exercises ◽  
Intelligence Collection ◽  
Russian Military ◽  
The Baltic

Significance Russia's westernmost outpost has gained in strategic importance since relations with NATO plummeted in 2014. Efforts to enhance military capability have accelerated since spring 2016. New weapons and equipment have been deployed and periodic close encounters take place between fighter jets flying from Kaliningrad and Western planes and ships off the Baltic coast. Impacts NATO will keep a close watch on activity in Kaliningrad during the September Zapad-17 Belarusian-Russian military exercises. Russia will make its irritation known over overt intelligence collection targeting Kaliningrad. Naval commanders will be under pressure to show improvements to the Baltic Fleet's performance.

Iran faces multiple challenges in managing Azerbaijan

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Phone Call ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Exercises ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Multiple Challenges

Significance The ministers agreed that hostile rhetoric on both sides was unhelpful and that dialogue was essential. The phone call is an attempt to salvage a relationship that has gone badly wrong over the last month. Military exercises in each country have unnerved the other, and old and new grievances have been aired. Impacts Azerbaijan will push harder for a land corridor though Armenia, as it can no longer safely rely on Iranian transit to Nakhichevan. The opening of a Russia-Iran transport corridor traversing Azerbaijan may face further delays Iran-Georgia ties may deteriorate after Tbilisi imposed travel restrictions on Iranian nationals.

Netanyahu's Congress gamble could backfire on Israel

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Barack Obama ◽  
Military Cooperation ◽  
Political Candidates ◽  
Framework Agreement ◽  
Obama Administration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
White House ◽  
Parliamentary Elections ◽  
Intelligence Sharing ◽  
Senior Administration

Significance The speech comes two weeks before Israeli parliamentary elections on March 17 and a looming end of March deadline for reaching a framework agreement on Iran's nuclear programme. Netanyahu's speech aims to convince Congress to pass new sanctions legislation, which President Barack Obama has threatened to veto. The Obama administration accuses Netanyahu of trying to sabotage Iran negotiations and of meddling in US politics, while Netanyahu counters that world powers appear to have given up on their pledge to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. The president and other senior administration officials have refused to meet Netanyahu during his visit, which was orchestrated by Republican Congressional leaders without White House coordination, citing the long-standing policy of not appearing with foreign political candidates close to elections. Impacts Some Democratic lawmakers will boycott Netanyahu's speech, threatening to erode bipartisan support for Israel in Congress. US distrust of Netanyahu is limiting intelligence sharing, and could disrupt military cooperation, including some Israeli defence sales. The Obama administration could respond to the tensions by supporting a UNSC resolution laying out the parameters of a two state solution.

Jerusalem deal will have limited impact on violence

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Military Cooperation ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Limited Impact ◽  
Jewish Holidays ◽  
The Military ◽  
Temple Mount ◽  
The Temple

Significance His comments come as Israel and Jordan (which is the custodian of the site) move forward with plans to reduce tension at the site, which has been a flashpoint of conflict for decades, most recently last September, when Muslim and Jewish holidays overlapped. The area, known to Muslims as al-Haram al Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and Jews as the Temple Mount, is one of the most contentious issues dividing Israelis and Palestinians. Impacts Tensions in late April around the Passover holiday (April 22-30) could escalate as nationalist Jews attempt to pray on the Temple Mount. The agreement strengthens Jordan's claim to custodianship of Jerusalem's holy sites while undermining Palestinian claims to Jerusalem. Jordanian-Israeli trust and cooperation will expand, especially in the military and security realms. A violation of the agreement or provocative visits by Israeli MPs could trigger clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces. Renewed violence could undermine Israeli-Jordanian diplomatic and military cooperation, and the tentative Israeli-Turkish detente.

Taiwan will benefit from US-China friction

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North Korea ◽  
State Department ◽  
The State ◽  
Military Cooperation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Opening Ceremony ◽  
Us Military ◽  
The Us ◽  
Us Government ◽  
At Home

Significance Taiwan-US relations got a symbolic boost when the US government opened a new 250-million-dollar institute to house the de facto embassy in Taipei, Taiwan's capital, on June 12. President Tsai Ing-wen, and a US delegation that included representatives from Congress and the State Department, attended the opening ceremony. It may have received greater attention and perhaps higher-ranking US representation had the first US-North Korea summit not been scheduled for the same day. Impacts Taiwan's president will be constrained from improving China ties by anti-China sentiment at home. More businesses could come under Chinese pressure as cross-Strait relations deteriorate further. Taiwan-US military cooperation will prompt more aggressive Chinese efforts to diminish Taiwan's standing and increase military intimidation.

India-Pakistan tensions will hit US military strategy

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
The United States ◽  
Military Strategy ◽  
Military Cooperation ◽  
Security Risks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Us Military ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
Support Fund

Subject Strategic entanglement of India, Pakistan and the United States. Significance Washington is slashing Coalition Support Fund (CSF) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) payments to Islamabad, in the belief that Pakistan harbours the very militants that the United States is fighting in Afghanistan. Washington envisions deeper military cooperation overall with Delhi, which accuses Pakistan of sponsoring militants who act against India. Islamabad is being driven closer to Washington’s rival Beijing. Impacts Pakistan will step up efforts to complete an anti-militant fence on the disputed border with Afghanistan. India is likely to resist any calls from the United States to begin joint patrols in the Indian Ocean. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will face security risks from Islamist militants and Baloch separatists.

Pyongyang provocations signal end of detente

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Korea ◽  
The United States ◽  
Peace Accord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Exercises ◽  
Supreme Leader ◽  
Do So

Significance It had threatened to do so during a fortnight of ever more violent rhetoric against South Korea and its president, spearheaded by supreme leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong. Pyongyang now threatens to nullify the 2018 peace accord by reactivating vacant border guard posts and holding military exercises near the Demilitarised Zone. Impacts President Donald Trump’s impulsiveness and a live dispute over history between Seoul and Tokyo hamper a coordinated response. Trump is unlikely to perceive yielding to pressure from Kim as something that will boost his chances of re-election. Tokyo’s recent suspension of a new missile defence project will reduce its ability to protect the United States from North Korean missiles. Increasing hostility between Washington and Beijing may reduce the latter’s willingness to put pressure on Pyongyang.

The Common Security and Defence Policy

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Hyde-Price
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Culture ◽  
Security Cooperation ◽  
Military Cooperation ◽  
Member States ◽  
Military Capability ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Strategic Context

Since the late 1990s, EU member states have committed themselves to deeper and more structured military cooperation, within the framework of the ESDP/CSDP. At the same time, European defence budgets have shrunk and military capabilities reduced. This chapter analyses the evolution of European military cooperation and identifies its key drivers and the changing strategic context to Europe’s east and south. The chapter argues that the emergence of a credible EU military capability will depend both on developing new defence synergies and on investment in critical military capabilities and infrastructure. Above all, however, it requires greater political cohesion and a common European strategic culture. Elements of a shared strategic culture have emerged, but substantial differences remain among EU member states. The chapter concludes by highlighting the crucial role of Europe’s major states in fostering defence and security cooperation, particularly the UK, France, and Germany.

Prospects for East Asia in the second quarter

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Significant Issue ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Exercises ◽  
People's Congress ◽  
Economic Outlook

Subject Prospects for East Asia in the second quarter of 2015. Significance Pronouncements made at the National People's Congress (NPC), which opened in Beijing yesterday, will give pointers on policy during the coming months. Debt has become a significant issue in the assessment of China's economic outlook. In Japan, nationwide local elections in April could see setbacks for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government, hit in recent days by political funding scandals. Meanwhile, annual large-scale military exercises have just begun in South Korea, antagonising Pyongyang.

Multipartner military exercises may become flashpoints

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Minister ◽  
The United States ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
External Threats ◽  
Military Exercises ◽  
Russian President ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Do So

Significance The exercise was described by NATO as a "show of force", while the Dutch foreign minister referred to it as "a warning" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Multinational military exercises have become more frequent over the past 25 years. The United States participates in dozens of exercises annually and spends billions of dollars to do so. However, there are significant questions over the utility and purpose of such multinational exercises, which serve both a practical function for the militaries involved, as well as a diplomatic signaling effect. Impacts Like BALTOPS, regular exercises will assume greater salience when their regional focus sees new external threats. This could prompt policy changes from adversaries, as they attempt to respond to the exercises. As a result, exercises designed to deter may risk escalating tensions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document