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☆ What is the Wagner Group? A look at the mercenary group led by man accused of 'armed mutiny' in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Phil Helsel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Called by Russia a "private military company" the Wagner Group is called a proxy force by U.S. officials and others, while others label it a mercenary group. Worldwide effortsThe Wagner Group has also been involved in other parts of the world, including Africa. Senior Western diplomats have said that the Wagner Group took control of a gold mine there. Human Rights Watch said in a report that suspected Wagner Group forces have committed atrocities, including executing unarmed men. watch nowThe U.S. in January designated the Wagner Group a transnational criminal organization.

Persons: Maksim Konstantinov, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, general's, Vladimir Alekseev, RBK, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, John Kirby, U.N, Kirby, Prigozhin Organizations: PMC, Private Military Company, PMC Wagner Center, Lightrocket, Wagner Group, Telegram, NBC, Wagner, Prigozhin, U.S . National Security, Strategic, International Studies, U.S . Department of Defense, Central African, Rights Watch, U.S . Treasury Department, U.S . National Security Council, Russian Defense Ministry Locations: St . Petersburg, Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Washington, Russian, Africa, Libya, Central African Republic, Senior

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend an official state dinner at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 22, 2023. Biden and Modi gathered with CEOs including Apple's (AAPL.O) Tim Cook, Google's (GOOGL.O) Sundar Pichai and Microsoft's (MSFT.O) Satya Nadella. Modi, who has appealed to global companies to "Make in India," will also address business leaders at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Modi praised Gopalan for keeping India "close to her heart" despite the distance to her new home, and called Harris "really inspiring." On Friday evening, Modi will address members of the Indian diaspora, many of whom have turned out at events during the visit to enthusiastically fete him, at times chanting "Modi!

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Elizabeth Frantz WASHINGTON, Modi, Biden, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, Sam Altman, OpenAI, Sunita Williams, Anand Mahindra, Mukesh Ambani, Farwa Aamer, John Kirby, Kirby, India's, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Harris, Shyamala Gopalan, Gopalan, Steve Holland, Simon Lewis, Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, Indian, U.S, NASA, Mahindra Group, Reliance Industries, Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, FedEx, MasterCard, Adobe, South China Seas, South, Asia Society Policy Institute, White House, Washington, State Department, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, China . U.S, India, United States, CHINA, Beijing, China, South, South Asia, New Delhi, Taiwan, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, American

☆ US has closely monitored power struggle between Prigozhin and Russian government for months
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine stalled earlier this year, top American officials said they saw indications of tensions between the Kremlin and the Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Russia’s domestic intelligence service opened a criminal case against Prigozhin after he appeared to cross a red line with the Kremlin on Friday. Prigozhin, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, vowed to retaliate against the country’s military leadership after accusing Russian forces of striking a Wagner military camp and killing a “huge amount” of his mercenaries. In January, a top White House official said Wagner was becoming a “rival power center to the Russian military and other Russian militaries.” Officials suggested at the time that Prigozhin was working to advance his own interests in Ukraine instead of the broader Russian objectives. At the time, US intelligence officials deemed the Prigozhin meeting as significant enough to include in one of Biden’s daily briefings, sources said.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Gen, Valery Gerasimov, Vladimir Putin’s, Joe Biden, Adam Hodge, ” John Kirby, Putin Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Wagner Group, Officials, House, Pentagon, Russian, Russia’s Ministry of Defense, National Security, White, ”, Wagner, West Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Prigozhin

☆ US convenes nuclear weapons meeting with China, France, Russia, UK
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters) - The United States this month convened a meeting of working-level experts from China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom to discuss nuclear weapons issues including strategic risk reduction, the State Department said. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the talks were part of "a routine, continuing dialogue." The department said in a statement on Friday that Washington hosted the meeting on June 13-14 in Cairo among the five nuclear weapons states, describing it as "an ongoing exchange in the context of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)." The treaty allowed the five nuclear weapons states - who are the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - to keep their nuclear arsenals. A State Department spokesperson said expert representatives had also met in Dubai in February as part of the dialogue under the NPT, which the United States is currently chairing.

Persons: John Kirby, Rami Ayyub, Simon Lewis, Caitlin Webber, Grant McCool Organizations: State Department, White House, Washington, NPT, United Nations Security, Thomson Locations: United States, China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, Cairo, Dubai

The Chinese government called in Burns for the meeting this week in Beijing to protest Biden’s remarks, according to two US officials familiar with the matter. The move by Beijing comes as officials are still assessing the potential effect of Biden’s comments on US efforts to repair the fractured relationship between the two countries. I mean, my goodness, I mean, my goodness, Jeremy, a démarche is a démarche that happens all the time. But US officials privately expressed frustration over Biden’s remarks. The White House and the State Department did not attempt roll back Biden’s remarks.

Persons: China Nicholas Burns, Joe Biden’s, Jinping, Burns, Biden’s, John Kirby, Jeremy, I’m, ” Kirby, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, Antony Blinken, Biden, it’s, ” Biden, “, Vedant Patel, Blinken, Blinken’s Organizations: CNN, White, Security, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Kirby, White House, . State Department, Department of Justice, State Department, Wall Street Journal Locations: China, California, Beijing, Washington

CNN —Welcoming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House this week for a state visit – the most elevated form of American diplomacy – will require President Joe Biden to make certain trade-offs. Yet Modi and India, the world’s largest democracy, also represent a lynchpin in Biden’s strategy in Asia. That, according to officials, was the rationale behind inviting Modi for a state visit, only the third of Biden’s presidency so far. The two leaders will hold a joint news conference – something virtually every state visit over the past two decades has featured – but that was only agreed upon after lengthy, delicate negotiations between the two sides. “We’re just grateful that Prime Minister Modi is going to be participating in a press event at the end of the visit.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Modi, He’s, India’s, Biden, “ We’re, John Kirby, Jake Sullivan, New Delhi’s, ” Sullivan, “, Barack Obama, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Howdy Modi, Emmanuel Macron, Rahul Gandhi, Modi’s, he’s, Pramila, Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Jayapal, ” Modi, Rashida, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio, Sullivan, ”, It’s, Russia can’t, Xi, ” Biden Organizations: CNN, Indian, White, Office, National Security, Indian Embassy, White House, Trump, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Rep, Democrat, Maryland Democrat, Reps, State Department Locations: India, Asia, China, Beijing, Ukraine, New, United States, America, Houston, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Washington, Maryland, Alexandria, Cortez, Russia

☆ Biden will not 'lecture' Modi on human rights, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Biden is expected to bring up U.S. concerns about democratic backsliding in India, but he will not lecture Modi on the subject, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters. Biden is under pressure by his fellow Democrats to bring up human rights with Modi. Modi will visit the National Science Foundation with first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday and have a private dinner with the president Wednesday night at the White House. On Thursday, Modi will be welcomed with a colorful arrival ceremony on the White House South Lawn. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said work was still ongoing on this subject.

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Modi, Biden, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, It's, Tesla's, Elon Musk, Jill Biden, John Kirby, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Leslie Adler Organizations: White, Micron Technology, White House, United, Bharatiya Janata Party, National Science Foundation, Biden, House, Thomson Locations: Washington, India, China, backsliding, U.S, United States, New York, Ukraine, Russia

☆ India's PM Modi to join Biden in rare press conference, questions limited
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Nandita Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

He has not addressed a single press conference in India since becoming prime minister about nine years ago. In May 2019 he attended a press conference but never took questions. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the White House understands the press conference is a "big deal." "We are just grateful that Prime Minister Modi is participating in a press event at the end of the visit," Kirby said. The format of the press conference will include one question from the U.S. press and one from an Indian journalist, Kirby said.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Mohammed, Read, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Kirby, Biden, Katharine Jackson, Steve Holland, Kanishka Singh, Doina Chiacu, Heather Timmons, Grant McCool Organizations: Indian, United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, White House, U.S ., White, U.S, Bharatiya Janata Party, United, Thomson Locations: New York, United States, WASHINGTON, India, U.S, Indian, backsliding

CNN —When President Joe Biden referred to his Chinese counterpart as a dictator late Tuesday in California, the response from Beijing was swift and angry. Whether the new acrimony further derails a “thaw” in US-China ties, something that Biden has openly hoped for, remained an open question. “He didn’t know about it,” Biden told donors. Biden and Xi last met at a G20 conference in Bali. “You just saw what’s happened in Italy in that election,” Biden told the donors and Democratic officials at a Washington, D.C. fundraiser.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Biden, Xi Jinping, ” Biden, –, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Blinken hasn’t, Blinken’s, “, John Kerry, Xi, Donald Trump, John Kirby, Kirby, “ We’re, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s, Emmanuel Macron Organizations: CNN, White, Democratic, APEC, Biden, Mar, National Security, Japan –, New York City Locations: California, Beijing, China, Marin County, “, –, Washington, India, Bali ., San Francisco, United States, Australia, Japan, Russia, New York, Italy, America, Cornish, England

☆ Russia's 'least capable' troops aren't in Ukraine, but they're still causing problems next door, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Moldova, next door to Ukraine, has been under pressure from Russia for decades. Amid the war in Ukraine, Kyiv and Western officials say Moscow is stepping up its interference. As a result of a 1992 war between Moldovan forces and Transnistrian separatists, Russian troops entered the breakaway region to support the separatists. Following that war, Transnistria gained a form of autonomy. SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty ImagesMoldova declared a state of emergency after Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, and it remains in effect.

Persons: —, that's, John Sullivan, SERGUEI VORONIN, Chișinău, Maia Sandu, Diego Herrera Carcedo, SERGEI GAPON, Moldova's, John Kirby, Kirby, Pierre Crom, Thomas de Waal, Dara Massicot, Massicot, Jamar Marcel Pugh, Sandu, Ursula von der Leyen, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, Georgetown University, Getty, Moldovan, NATO, EU, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images Moldova, White House National Security Council, Carnegie, RAND Corporation, US Army National Guard, European Commission, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn Locations: Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Transnistria, Kyiv, Western, Moscow, Soviet Union, Romania, Europe, Baltic, Poland, Bender, Transnistrian, Chisinau, May, Lithuania, Sweden, AFP, Russian, Carnegie Europe, NATO, Bulgaria

☆ Cuba, Iran presidents meet in Havana, vow to confront 'Yankee imperialism'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Nelson Acosta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HAVANA, June 15 (Reuters) - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday, his last stop on a three-nation Latin American tour aimed at shoring up support among Latin American allies saddled, like Iran, by U.S. sanctions. Raisi told reporters at a trade forum in Havana early on Thursday that Cuba and Iran would seek opportunities to work together in electricity generation, biotechnology, and mining, among other areas. "The conditions and circumstances in which Cuba and Iran find themselves today have many things in common," Raisi said in a conversation with Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel. Prior to arriving in Cuba, the Iranian president also met with Nicaragua´s Daniel Ortega in the Central American country. Raisi called his visit with Iran´s key Latin American allies a "turning point" in relations.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Miguel Diaz, Canel, Raisi, Nicaragua ´, Daniel Ortega, Diaz, John Kirby, Kirby, We’re, Hurricane Ian, Fidel Castro ´, Donald Trump, Nelson Acosta, Dave Sherwood, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Cuban, U.S, Central American, Yankee, White House, Communist, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, Iran, Havana, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, America, Iranian, Russia, China, Hurricane

☆ US shared concerns with Cuba about China spy base
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsUS shared concerns with Cuba about China spy basePostedThe United States has made its concerns known to the Cuban government about Cuba hosting Chinese spy operations on its territory, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday (June 12).

Persons: John Kirby Locations: Cuba, China, States, Cuban

☆ White House: US shared concerns with Cuba about hosting China spy base
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - The United States has made its concerns known to the Cuban government about Cuba hosting Chinese spy operations on its territory, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday. Kirby said the bilateral relationship with China was tense at the moment, but President Joe Biden was committed to keeping the lines of communication open. He told a White House briefing that he would not expect recent reports about a Chinese spy base in Cuba to affect a planned visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China later this week. The Wall Street Journal last week quoted U.S. officials as saying a new Chinese spying effort was underway on Cuba. China on Monday denied it was using Cuba as a spying base.

Persons: John Kirby, Kirby, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, nothing's, Blinken, Biden, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jeff Mason, Andrea Shalal, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United, White, Thomson Locations: United States, Cuban, Cuba, China, People's Republic of China, Beijing

☆ Iran's attack drones have become a key weapon in Russia's war arsenal. Now Tehran is helping Putin to build his own factory to produce them, says the White House.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has been widely using Iranian drones to strike Ukraine since the start of the war. The White House noted that the Russia-Iran military partnership appeared to be "deepening." Remain of a Russian-made Shahed 136 at an exhibition showing remains of missiles and drones that Russia used to attack Kyiv on May 12, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Oleksii Samsonov /Global Images Ukraine via Getty ImagesRussia has been accused of using Iranian-made drones to strike Ukraine since the start of the war, which Moscow has denied. Iran, which is becoming a global leader in the production of drones, has been forming a closer partnership with Russia.

Persons: —, John Kirby, Oleksii, Kirby, Insider's Mia Jankowicz Organizations: Russia, Service, House, Reuters, Kyiv, Getty, Guardian, European Union Locations: Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Alabuga, Moscow, Russian, Kyiv, Makhachkala

☆ Russia has received hundreds of Iranian drones to attack Ukraine, says White House
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The White House said on Friday that Russia appeared to be deepening its defense cooperation with Iran and had received hundreds of one-way attack drones that it is using to strike Ukraine. "Russia has been using Iranian UAVs in recent weeks to strike Kyiv and terrorize the Ukrainian population, and the Russia-Iran military partnership appears to be deepening," White House spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. "We are also concerned that Russia is working with Iran to produce Iranian UAVs from inside Russia." Moscow has denied its forces used Iranian drones in Ukraine. A White House official said Iran had transferred several hundred drones to Russia since August.

Persons: John Kirby, Kirby Organizations: Russian, House, Vehicles, Ukraine, White Locations: Kherson, Ukraine, Iran, Russia, U.S, Alabuga, Moscow

Washington CNN —China has been operating military and intelligence facilities in Cuba since at least 2019 and is continuing to expand its intelligence gathering capabilities around the world, a Biden administration official and two other sources told CNN Saturday. The administration official said China “conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019” under the Trump administration and described the challenge as “inherited.”“This is well-documented in the intelligence record,” the official said. CUBA, HAVANA - AUGUST 02 : Aerial view of the city of Havana on August 02, 2017 in Havana, Cuba. Former US Ambassador to China Max Baucus said Saturday he was “surprised” the Biden administration initially denied reporting that China has operated intelligence and military facilities in Cuba and acknowledged China has long had a “presence” in Cuba. The Chinese military and intelligence sites monitor maritime traffic, the US Guantanamo naval base and communications, the source familiar with the intelligence said.

Persons: China “, Trump, “, ”, John Kirby, Frédéric Soltan, Frédéric, Bill Burns, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, China Max Baucus, Biden, Baucus, Obama Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden, CNN, White House, Wall Street, National Security Council, South China, Getty, Corbis, CIA, Defense, Guantanamo Locations: China, Cuba, ”, South, CUBA, HAVANA, Havana, Havana , Cuba, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

White House/Handout via REUTERSWASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday that Russia appeared to be deepening its defense cooperation with Iran and had received hundreds of one-way attack drones that it is using to strike Ukraine. "We are also concerned that Russia is working with Iran to produce Iranian UAVs from inside Russia." Moscow has denied its forces used Iranian drones in Ukraine. "We will continue to impose sanctions on the actors involved in the transfer of Iranian military equipment to Russia for use in Ukraine," Kirby said. The advisory highlighted key items sought by Iran for its development of drones, including electronics such as processors and controllers.

Persons: John Kirby, Kirby, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Michelle Nichols, Daphne Psaledakis, Heather Timmons, Chizu, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, House, Vehicles, Russian, Ukraine, United Nations, Security, Iran’s, Thomson Locations: Russia, Russian, Iran, White, REUTERS WASHINGTON, Ukraine, U.S, Alabuga, Moscow, United, Britain, France, Germany

White House/Handout via REUTERSWASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday that Russia appeared to be deepening its defense cooperation with Iran and had received hundreds of one-way attack drones that it is using to strike Ukraine. "We are also concerned that Russia is working with Iran to produce Iranian UAVs from inside Russia." Moscow has denied its forces used Iranian drones in Ukraine. A White House official said Iran had transferred several hundred drones to Russia since August. The advisory highlighted key items sought by Iran for its development of drones, including electronics such as processors and controllers.

Persons: John Kirby, Kirby, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Michelle Nichols, Daphne Psaledakis, Heather Timmons, Chizu, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, House, Vehicles, Russian, Ukraine, White, United Nations, Security, Iran’s, Thomson Locations: Russia, Russian, Iran, White, REUTERS WASHINGTON, Ukraine, U.S, Alabuga, Moscow, United, Britain, France, Germany

☆ China: 'Hacker empire' US is 'spreading rumours' with talk of Cuba spy station
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, June 9 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry on Friday said "spreading rumours and slander" is a common tactic of "hacker empire" the United States, after a media report that China has reached a deal with Cuba to set up an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island. Cuba and China have reached an agreement in principle, the U.S. officials said, with China to pay Cuba "several billion dollars" for the eavesdropping station, according to the Journal. "As we all know, spreading rumours and slander is a common tactic of the United States," said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry. "The United States is also the most powerful hacker empire in the world, and also veritably a major monitoring nation." The reported deal could raise questions about a near-term visit to China that U.S. officials say Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning.

Persons: John Kirby, Wang Wenbin, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Liz Lee, Ryan Woo, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Wall Street Journal, White House National Security Council, Reuters, Cuban, Foreign, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, United States, China, Cuba, Beijing, U.S, Washington, America, Caribbean

☆ Reports say China plans to set up a spy base in Cuba. The Pentagon says no, but it's closely watching what Beijing is up to.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

China is reportedly in talks with Cuba about setting up a spy base on the island roughly 100 miles from Florida. It's a move that would follow in the footsteps of the Soviet Union, which operated a spy base on the island for decades. The Soviet spy facility in Lourdes was operational until 2001, when it closed down. The Pentagon responded to the reports of China's plan for a spy facility in Cuba Thursday afternoon, with spokesman Brig. Update: 6/9/2023 — This article has been updated with new statements from the Pentagon, the White House National Security Council, Cuba, and China.

Persons: —, Laura Richardson, Mike Waltz, Brig, Pat Ryder, he'd, John Kirby, Kirby Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Privacy, Department of Defense, White, Politico, Central Command, Cape Canaveral, Wall Street Journal, CNN, The New York Times, Senior, US Southern Command, Florida Republican, House Intelligence, Armed Services, Chinese Communist Party, Soviet Union, National Security, Cuban, White House National Security Council Locations: China, Cuba, Florida, Soviet Union, Beijing, Havana, Cape, America, Soviet, Lourdes

He said the United States has had "real concerns" about China’s relationship with Cuba and was closely monitoring it. Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, a U.S. Defense Department spokesperson, said: "We are not aware of China and Cuba developing a new type of spy station." If such a facility is built, the Chinese will use Cuba "as a beachhead for collection against the United States," said Daniel Hoffman, a former senior CIA undercover officer. Cuba, an old Cold War foe of the United States, has long been a hotbed of espionage and spy games. It backed down and removed the missiles, but it is widely regarded as the moment when the United States and the Soviet Union came closest to a nuclear confrontation.

Persons: Fort Bragg, John Kirby, General Patrick Ryder, Jose Cabanas, Washington, Joe Biden's, Antony Blinken, Washington's, House's Kirby, Bob Menendez, ”, Daniel Hoffman, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Matt Spetalnick, Jonathan Landay, Doina Chiacu, Trevor Hunnicutt, David Brunnstrom, Patricia Zengerle, Dave Sherwood, Michael Martina, Kanishka Singh, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Nick Zieminski, Alistair Bell, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Wall Street, White House, Pentagon, U.S, U.S . Central Command, Tampa . Fort Liberty, Fort, White House National Security Council, Reuters, U.S . Defense Department, Embassy, Senate Foreign Relations, CIA, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, Cuban, Moscow, Soviet Union, Thomson Locations: China, Cuba, Florida, Beijing, U.S, Tampa . Fort, North Carolina, United States, Washington, Cuban, America's, Coast, South, Taiwan, South China, Havana, Soviet, Lourdes, Russian

Such a spy installation would allow Beijing to gather electronic communications from the southeastern United States, which houses many U.S. military bases, as well as monitor ship traffic, the newspaper reported. The countries have reached an agreement in principle, the officials said, with China to pay Cuba "several billion dollars" to allow the eavesdropping station, according to the Journal. The intelligence on the plans for a Cuba station was gathered in recent weeks and was convincing, the Journal reported. Cuba, an old Cold War foe of the United States, has long been a hotbed of espionage and spy games. It backed down and removed the missiles, but it is widely regarded as the moment when the United States and the Soviet Union came closest to a nuclear confrontation.

Persons: Fort Bragg, John Kirby, Biden, Antony Blinken, Washington's, Bob Menendez, ”, Vladimir Putin, Doina Chiacu, Matt Spetalnick, David Brunnstrom, Patricia Zengerle, Dave Sherwood, Jonathan Landay, Nick Zieminski, Alistair Bell Organizations: Wall Street, U.S, U.S . Central Command, Tampa . Fort Liberty, Fort, White House National Security Council, Embassy, Senate Foreign Relations, Capitol, Reuters, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, Cuban, Moscow, Soviet Union, Thomson Locations: China, Cuba, Florida, Beijing, United States, Tampa . Fort, North Carolina, People’s Republic, Washington, Cuban, U.S, America's, Coast, South, Taiwan, South China, Havana, Soviet, Lourdes, Russian

☆ China to Build Station That Could Spy on U.S. from Cuba, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Karoun Demirjian | Edward Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The Wall Street Journal first reported on plans to build a facility in Cuba. President Biden’s National Security Council pushed back against reports of the planned facility. “This report is not accurate,” John Kirby, the council spokesman, said in a statement, declining to go into further detail. Bilateral relations had a further setback earlier this year when a Chinese spy balloon was caught traversing the United States, hovering near sensitive military sites. It is unclear if the latest revelations about the planned facility in Cuba could affect the visit once again.

Persons: Biden, ” John Kirby, Mr, Kirby, Nancy Pelosi’s, Antony J, Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi Organizations: Street Journal, Biden’s National Security Council, Mr Locations: —, Beijing, Cuba, Taiwan, United States

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to China in the coming weeks for talks, two U.S. officials told NBC News on Tuesday. The news comes after a previously planned trip was postponed following the discovery of a Chinese spy balloon flying over the United States. U.S. officials did not provide additional details on the timing of Blinken's rescheduled trip, which was first reported by Bloomberg. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping previously met in November in Bali, Indonesia, where they agreed that Blinken would visit China to follow up on the discussions. A Chinese government representative defended its actions, saying Monday that "China always respects the right of navigation."

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Wang Yi, Ned Price, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, John Kirby, Biden Organizations: American Israel Public Affairs, NBC, U.S, Bloomberg, ., State Department, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Security, U.S . Locations: Washington , DC, China, United States, . American, South Carolina, Singapore, Bali , Indonesia, Taiwan, Bali, American, Beijing

☆ Russia's claim that Ukraine could get nuclear-capable F-16s is baseless fearmongering, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Sinéad Baker | Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia made the bizarre claim that F-16s being given to Ukraine could be fitted with nuclear weapons. Ukraine has no nuclear weapons, and the F-16s it may get won't have that capacity anyway, he said. While F-16 jets can be made to carry nuclear weapons, Ukraine does not have any nuclear weapons in its arsenal. And none of Ukraine's allies who have given it weapons and military training since Russia's invasion in February 2022 have suggested they will give Ukraine nuclear weapons. Kristensen added: "There's no way at all that any nuclear state in the West would give nuclear weapons, or nuclear weapons capability, to Ukraine.

Persons: —, Sergei Lavrov, Ukraine's, John Kirby, Joe Biden, Kirby, Lavrov, Hans Kristensen, Kristensen, that's, It's, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev Organizations: Service, US, Reuters, Federation of American Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Belarus, Europe

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