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Menendez serves as the powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And as chairman, he had unique influence over foreign military sales and foreign military financing. The State Department typically seeks the input of the chairperson and top minority senator on the Foreign Relations panel when it comes to foreign military financing and foreign military sales, and the department generally will not go forward if one of the two senators objects. Hana is a friend of Nadine Menendez and the Egyptian-American founder of a business that certifies beef imported into Egypt meets Islamic religious standards. “Congratulations mon amour de la vie, we are the proud owners of a 2019 Mercedes,” Nadine Menendez texted her husband, along with a heart emoji.

Persons: — Democratic U.S . Sen, Bob Menendez, Egypt —, Menendez, ”, Nadine, “, Prosecutors, Nadine Arslania, David Schertler, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Nadine Menendez, He's, Hana, Uribe, ” Nadine Menendez, Hana's, Salomon Melgen, Melgen, Donald Trump, Chuck Schumer, Sen, Ben Cardin, Schumer, Phil Murphy Organizations: WASHINGTON, — Democratic U.S ., Senate Foreign Relations, U.S, Embassy, The State Department, Foreign Relations, U.S . House, Strategic International Business Consultants LLC, -, New, Daibes, Senate, New Jersey voters, Republican, NEXT, Democratic, While New, While New Jersey Gov Locations: Egypt, New Jersey, Jersey, U.S, Cairo, Union City , New Jersey, Edgewater , New Jersey, Florida, Dominican Republic, Paris, Washington, D, While, While New Jersey

☆ US philanthropist Buffett warns against Ukraine 'fatigue'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Howard Buffett, a businessman and philanthropist, speaks during an interview with Reuters, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Yurii Kovalenko Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 20 (Reuters) - U.S. businessman and philanthropist Howard Buffett said on Wednesday Western public interest in the war in Ukraine could wane in the coming year, and that he may step up his own support for Ukraine to set an example. Buffett said the idea that Ukraine "fatigue" could set in among the public in the West showed that Kyiv's allies should double down on their support. I think the U.S. and Europe have to step up even more and help Ukraine win this war and put it to end." In some Eastern European states there are signs of more critical views over the extent of foreign military support for Ukraine, and anger among farmers who say Ukrainian food imports hurt their prices.

Persons: Howard Buffett, Yurii, Buffett, Warren Buffett, we're, Tom Balmforth, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, United, Republican, Ukraine, Russia's, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, U.S, United States, Europe, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia

☆ Sudan: Ukraine's special services 'likely' behind strikes on Wagner-backed forces, a Ukrainian military source says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Victoria Butenko Nima Elbagir Gianluca Mezzofiore Tamara Qiblawi Allegra Goodwin Andrew Carey Pallabi Munsi Mahamat Tahir Zene Barbara Arvanitidis Alex Platt Lauren Kent | Victoria Butenko | Nima Elbagir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Covert strikes by Ukraine in Sudan would mark a dramatic and provocative expansion of Kyiv’s theater of war against Moscow. Aside from a string of Ukrainian drone attacks that hit deep inside Russian territory, Ukraine’s ongoing counter-offensive has been focused on the country’s occupied east and south. A high-level Sudanese military source said he had “no knowledge of a Ukrainian operation in Sudan” and did not believe it was true. What appears to be a DJI MAVIC 3 drone can be seen in the videos filming the drone strikes. Six drone strikes targeted pickup trucks driving on Shambat bridge.

Persons: Wagner, Sudan ”, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo –, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Wim Zwijnenburg, ” Zwijnenburg, Zwijnenburg, Hemedti, Gen, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Wagner’s, General Khalifa, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, Prigozhin’s, Prigozhin, Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Andrey Averyanov, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba Organizations: Chad CNN, CNN, Sudanese, Kyiv, Rapid Support Forces, Ukrainian, Central African, PAX, AK, CAR, PMC Wagner, Reuters Analysts, Kremlin, Agence France, Presse Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, N'Djamena, Chad, Ukrainian, Sudan’s, Russian, Sudan, Moscow, Omdurman, Khartoum, balaclava, British, al, Zurug, Russia, Africa, Mali, Central African Republic, Libya, Ombada, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Latakia, Bangui, “, Syria, Burkina Faso, St . Petersburg, Eritrea

☆ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet with senators at the U.S. Capitol
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Julie Tsirkin | Summer Concepcion | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit the Capitol and meet with senators on Thursday, a Senate leadership aide told NBC News. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will host an all-senators meeting with Zelenskyy on Thursday at 10 a.m. More from NBC News:Zelenskyy is also expected to meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday, a person familiar with the plans previously told NBC News. "I hope we finally have put to bed the notion about whether or not Ukraine is welcome in NATO. It is an investment in global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way," he told U.S. lawmakers.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Zelenskyy, Kevin McCarthy's, Joe Biden, Biden, Antony Blinken, Blinken Organizations: Capitol, NBC News, NBC, White, United Nations General Assembly, Zelenskyy, NATO, State Department, U.S Locations: Ky, New York City, U.S, Ukrainian, Vilnius, Lithuania, Ukraine, Kyiv, United States

☆ Prominent Egyptian activist and govt critic jailed for six months
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hisham Kassem, a former newspaper publisher publisher and political activist, speaks during an interview with Reuters TV at his family's cemetery, in Cairo, Egypt, June 13, 2023. Kassem is a leader of al-Tayar al-Hurr, or Free Current, a newly formed liberal group. No serious challenge is expected against Sisi, a former army chief who has continued backing from the security forces. Kassem, a former publisher of Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper, had started then suspended a hunger strike while in detention. Sisi has presided over a far-reaching crackdown on political dissent that has swept up critics from across the political spectrum.

Persons: Hisham Kassem, Ahmed Fahmy, Abdel Fattah al, Kassem, Nasser Amin, Amin, Sisi, Masry, Aidan Lewis, Omar Abdel, Nick Macfie Organizations: Reuters TV, REUTERS, Rights, Saturday, Sisi, Authorities, U.S, Thomson Locations: Cairo, Egypt, Rights CAIRO, United States

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 15 (Reuters) - China will impose sanctions against U.S. aerospace and defence firms Northrop Grumman (NOC.N) and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) for providing weapons to Taiwan, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday. The sanctions are being enacted under China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press briefing. Mao named Lockheed Martin Corp's branch in Missouri as the prime contractor that was directly involved in an arms sale to Taiwan on Aug. 24 and said Northrop Grumman has repeatedly participated in the sale of weapons to Taiwan. Taiwan has also reported dozens of Chinese fighters, bombers and other aircraft flying into its air defence zone this week. China's wide-ranging law to counter foreign sanctions came into force in 2021 in an apparent move to legalise tit-for-tat retaliation against punitive actions taken by foreign countries.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Northrop, Lockheed Martin, Mao Ning, Mao, Northrop Grumman, Joe Biden, Joe Cash, Liz Lee, Kim Coghill, Christian Organizations: Lockheed, Japan Aerospace, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Northrop Grumman, China's, Foreign, Thomson Locations: Japan, Tokyo, Rights BEIJING, China, Taiwan, U.S, Missouri, China . U.S, Shandong, Taiwan's, Beijing

☆ Australia toughens ban on training 'certain foreign militaries' after pilot case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles speaks to the media at the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore June 12, 2022. A series of cases where former military pilots living in Australia had worked for a South African flight school training Chinese pilots, which the United States alleges are Chinese military pilots, has prompted the crackdown. Penalties of up to 20 years prison will apply for providing military training or tactics to a foreign military or government body, including hybrid civilian and military organisations, or state-owned companies, without authorisation from the defence minister. The Test Flying Academy of South Africa was placed on a U.S. trade blacklist on national security grounds in June for "providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources". A court was told Hartley, a former British military pilot, was suspected of organising the training of Chinese military pilots delivered by the flight school.

Persons: Richard Marles, Caroline Chia, authorises, recenty, Daniel Duggan, Keith Hartley, Hartley, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Australian Defence, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, Defence, U.S . Marines Corp, Flying Academy of South, TFASA, Australian Federal Police, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Australia, African, United States, Britain, New Zealand, Canada, China, Australian, Flying Academy of South Africa, U.S, AVIC, British

The administration said it would redirect $55 million worth of that funding to Taiwan and $30 million to Lebanon, the sources said. However, the administration will allow Cairo to access $235 million of the total of $320 million in foreign military financing that is conditioned on human rights issues, a senior State Department official said Thursday. The US provides more than $1 billion in foreign military financing to Egypt and the vast majority of it is not conditional. “Our position on the very serious human rights situation in Egypt absolutely has not changed and we’re going to continue to raise those issues in Egypt consistently and at the most senior levels,” they added. “The Secretary is determined that Egypt has not fulfilled his conditions and therefore we are reprogramming that 85 million,” the official said.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Antony Blinken “, ”, Antony Blinken, “, Gregory Meeks Organizations: CNN, State Department, Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, House Foreign, Administration Locations: Egypt, Taiwan, Lebanon, Cairo, U.S, China

Together, experts say, these efforts aim to enhance China’s military reach, which currently includes only one operational overseas naval base in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa. “It’s a question of when – not if – China will secure its next overseas military outpost,” he said. This photo taken on August 1, 2017, shows Chinese People's Liberation Army personnel attending the opening ceremony of China's new military base in Djibouti. The Hambantota commercial port in Sri Lanka has long been considered a prime candidate for a Chinese naval base. However, China’s path to developing permanent overseas bases, if indeed that is its aim, is not straightforward.

Persons: FDD, Craig Singleton, “, –, ”, Tea Banh, FDD’s Singleton, Tang Chhin Sothy, Singleton, Xi Jinping, Stringer, ” AidData, Stephen J, Townsend, ” Townsend, Bata, Ali Bongo Ondimba, Ken Ishii, ’, ” Singleton, China’s, Aaron Favila, Isaac Kardon, Kardon, ” Kardon, BlackSky Singleton, Rob Wittman, Fu Tian, Seth Moulton, ” Moulton, Martin Meiners Organizations: South Korea CNN, People’s Liberation Army Navy, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Ream, Base, CNN, China’s Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ream Naval Base, ” Cambodian Defense, Cambodian, Getty, Fleet, Communist Party, US, Liberation Army personnel, William & Mary University, Sri Lankan Navy, US Africa Command, Gabonese, of, Xinhua, Naval Research Academy, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, East China Seas, China, Control, Organization, Force, Strategic, International Studies, Defense Department, Chinese Communist Party, ”, Virginia Republican, The Defense Department, Qingdao Port, People's Liberation Army Navy, China News Service, America, Pentagon, US Defense Department Locations: Seoul, South Korea, China, Beijing, Washington, Cambodia, Argentina, Cuba, Djibouti, of Africa, Africa, West Asia, Gulf, Thailand, United States, Preah Sihanouk, AFP, Horn of Africa, “, South, Taiwan, Virginia, —, Sri Lanka, Bata , Equatorial Guinea, Gwadar, Pakistan, Kribi, Cameroon, Ream, Vanuatu, Nacala, Mozambique, Nouakchott, Mauritania, Colombo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, West Africa, South China, East Asia, East, Asia, Washington In Washington, Nanchang, Qingdao, Shandong province, Massachusetts

☆ US approves first-ever military aid to Taiwan through program typically used for sovereign nations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Biden administration has approved funding for the first-ever transfer of US military equipment to Taiwan under a program typically saved for sovereign nations, according to a notification sent to Congress on Tuesday. The package – which is part of the State Department’s foreign military financing (FMF) program – totals $80 million and will be paid for by US taxpayers. The US has sold weapons to Taiwan in the past through a separate program called Foreign Military Sales (FMS). The FMF program will provide grant assistance, paid for by US taxpayers, to Taiwan in order to make those purchases. “I am glad the administration is further implementing our bipartisan Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act by finally providing FMF to Taiwan.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, “, Michael McCaul, ” McCaul Organizations: CNN, State, State Department, Taiwan Relations Act, US, Pentagon, Foreign, Taiwan Enhanced Locations: Taiwan, China, United States, Taiwan Strait

Taiwanese flags are seen at the Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan, December 26, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has approved a military transfer to Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing, or FMF, program normally used for sovereign states, according to a notification sent to Congress. The Taiwan notification was first reported by the Associated Press. FMF, the largest military assistance account managed by the State Department, provides primarily grant assistance to foreign governments for the purchase of U.S. defense equipment and military training under the Foreign Military Sales program. The United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, last month announced a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to $345 million.

Persons: Ann Wang, Joe Biden's, Michael McCaul, McCaul, FMF, Patricia Zengerle, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Ministry of National Defence, REUTERS, Rights, Foreign, Reuters, Associated Press, Representatives Foreign, Chinese Communist Party, State Department, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Beijing, Washington, China, United States, U.S

☆ The US is quietly warning its Middle East partners about the cost of stocking up on Chinese-made weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Chinese arms sales in the Middle East have increased by 80% over the past decade, a result of Beijing's expanding relationships there and its willingness to deliver arms faster and with fewer stipulations than Washington. FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty ImagesMiddle Eastern countries, led by the Arab Gulf states, have for decades been major buyers of US-made weapons. Chinese arms sales to the region are "substantial and expected to continue to increase," said Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow at Chatham House. "But it's just one factor among many, including varying threat perceptions of Iran among the Arab Gulf states as well as varying levels of trust between the Arab Gulf governments themselves." Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history.

Persons: Michael Kurilla, Kurilla, Loong, KARIM SAHIB, Colin Kahl, Biden, Kahl, We're, FAYEZ NURELDINE, Ahmed Aboudouh, Aboudouh, James Hodgman, Russia's, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, Emily Hawthorne, RANE, that's, Hawthorne, Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, Xi, ANDY WONG, Kahl's, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, US Central Command, Senate Armed Services Committee, Dubai Airshow, Getty, Chatham House, Pentagon, Getty Images, United Arab Emirates, Patriot, Al Udeid, Base, US Air Force, Tech, Air Defense, Turkey, NATO, East, Khalifa, UAE, US, Abu Dhabi Crown, Gulf Cooperation Council Locations: China, Washington, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, AFP, British, Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, East, North Africa, Qatar, Russia, Europe, Gulf, UAE, Yemen, Ankara, Turkey, Prince, Xinhua, Khalifa, Abu, Arab Gulf, Iran

☆ The $362 million warship the US Navy just decommissioned wasn't even in service 5 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US Navy officially decommissioned USS Sioux City this week. The $362 million Littoral Combat Ship has been in service roughly four years and nine months. USS Sioux City, a Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, was commissioned into service with the Navy on November 17, 2018. In September last year, the Navy decommissioned the Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado after just eight years of service. USS Sioux City conducts a passing exercise with an Egyptian Navy frigate in the Red Sea in July 2022.

Persons: Brandon J, Vinson, Capt, Daniel Reiher, Nicholas S, Tenorio, Nicholas A, Bob Scott, Scott, Seaman Juel Foster, James Stavridis, Stavridis Organizations: US Navy, Navy, Service, USS, Naval, Brandon, Sioux, Coast Guard, Mayport, Littoral Combat Ship Training, Combat, Combat Ships, USS Sioux City, Egyptian Navy, Russell, Russell Sioux City, Iowa Public, Littoral Combat, USS Navy, Communication, Ships Locations: Sioux City, Wall, Silicon, USS Sioux City, Florida, Iowa, Coronado, Littoral, Souda Bay, Greece, USS Sioux, Egyptian, Red, Russell Sioux, China

☆ Poland to hold biggest military parade in decades, as its clout in Europe grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Kacper Pempel/ReutersPolish military vehicles are seen during a Saturday rehearsal for this week's parade in Warsaw. “Nobody is going to say that military security is not an important issue and that we shouldn’t be strengthening the military. With the UK out of the European Union and Germany still hesitant to take on a leadership role on Ukraine, Poland has sensed its opportunity. In November, two people were killed in eastern Poland, about four miles (6.4 kilometers) west of the Ukrainian border, by a Ukrainian missile defending against incoming Russian fire. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko asked the group to help train his country’s military, and earlier this month the two forces held joint training exercises near the Polish border.

Persons: Russian Wagner, Kacper Pempel, Pawel Supernak, ” Edward Arnold, Arnold, Aleks, ”, Jamie Shea, Putin, ” Arnold, ” Shea, Abrams, “, Dominika, Wagner, Alexander Lukashenko, Mariusz Blaszczak, Lukashenko Organizations: CNN, NATO, Poland’s Defense Ministry, Polish, Russia’s, Abrams, University of Sussex, University of Exeter, Chatham House, Eastern Europe …, European Union, Ukraine, United Nations, “, Polish Army, Getty, Kremlin . Locations: Poland, Belarus, Korean, Crimea, Ukraine, Russian, Kaliningrad, Warsaw, Russia, Polish, Soviet, North Korea, Iran, Communist Poland, England, East, Afghanistan, Central, Eastern Europe, Germany, France, Washington, Ukraine Poland, South Korea, Italy, Polanka Wielka, Ukrainian, Minsk

☆ Niger coup leaders dissolve govt, declare Tiani head of state
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Moussa Aksar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NIAMEY, July 28 (Reuters) - Leaders of the coup in Niger declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state on Friday, and said they had suspended the constitution and dissolved all former institutions after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum. He represents the state of Niger in international relations," an officer said, reading out a statement. African countries, Western powers, regional and international organizations have reacted with alarm to the coup in Niger, insisting that Bazoum be freed and constitutional order restored. Niger borders three countries - Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad - that have also experienced military coups in the last two years. Niger so far has held them off better than Mali and Burkina Faso, where violence has only worsened since the military coups.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiani, Bazoum, Josep Borrell, Kamala Harris, Boris Pistorius, Bate Felix, Anait, Nellie Peyton, John Stonestreet, Angus MacSwan, Nick Macfie Organizations: National Council, Bazoum, REUTERS, Islamic, West African States, European Union, United, European, EU, German, Spiegel, Thomson Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, France, Niamey, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West Africa's, Nigeria, Guinea, United States, Africa, EU, Germany, Italy

CNN —A Niger general, Abdourahamane Tiani, appeared on state television as the country’s new leader following a military coup that sparked international condemnation. Tiani said in the broadcast that Wednesday’s coup was motivated by both the desire to “preserve our homeland” in a context of a “deteriorating security situation,” and poor economic and social governance. French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that the coup was “deeply dangerous for Niger and the whole region,” and called for Bazoum’s release. However, a senior official loyal to Bazoum has suggested there is discord among coup leaders. The aide spoke on condition of not being identified because of the security situation.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, Tiani, “, Mohamed Bazoum’s, Abdourahamane, ” Bazoum, Mahamadou Issoufou, insurgencies, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, –, Catherine Colonna, Bazoum, ”, they’ve, United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Bazoum “, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Mahamat, General Antonio Guterres, Maj, Amadou Abdramane, ” Abdramane Organizations: CNN, African, AFP, Télé, Getty, Nigerien, Union, Bazoum, National Council for, ECOWAS, United Nations, African Union Commission, RIA Novosti, UN Locations: Niger, France, Télé Sahel, Sahel, AFP, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, Papua New Guinea, Niamey

CNN —The Nigerien military has backed coup leaders who have reportedly seized the president of the West African country, prompting warnings from international leaders over further unrest in a region plagued by political volatility. President Bazoum was apparently taken by members of the presidential guard on Wednesday, although his precise whereabouts remain unknown. Niger’s presidential office said in a statement on Twitter on Thursday: “The hard-won achievements will be safeguarded. Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum, pictured on December 13, 2022, was reportedly seized by members of the presidential guard on Wednesday. 1,000 US troopsWorld leaders and humanitarian bodies issued stark warnings against the coup leaders.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, insurgencies, Bazoum, Evelyn Hockstein, Maj, Amadou Abdramane, Abdramane, Jake Sullivan, Washington, Volker Türk, ” Türk, General Antonio Guterres, Bazoum “, African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, “ Organizations: CNN, Nigerien, Twitter, country’s Ministry of Defense, Interior Ministry, National Guard, White, US, Air Base, United Nations, Human, UN, African Union Commission Locations: West, ” Niger, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, France, Niger, Niamey, Washington, Agadez, The

☆ Opinion: In tough times, Russia turns to a Cold War comrade
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Opinion Jeremi Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —After decades of somewhat distant relations, Russia and Cuba are working closely together again — this time, as part of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. Cuba's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez, and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, meet in Havana on April 20, in a show of deepening ties between the countries. In addition to deepened connections with Russia, Cuba has allowed China to build a secret espionage facility on the island. Washington will respond to Russian military escalation in Cuba with its own escalating force, as it already has done with the recent deployment of a nuclear submarine. Military escalation around Cuba is a dangerous temptation for Russia and a difficult trap for the US.

Persons: Jeremi Suri, Mack Brown, America’s, Vladimir Putin’s, Jeremi Suri Korey Howell, Nikolai Patrushev, Igor Sechin, Rosneft, Sergey Lavrov, —, Manuel Marrero Cruz, Putin, Alvaro Lopéz Miera, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, ” Shoigu, ”, Gerardo Peñalver, Bruno Rodriguez, Ramon Espinosa, Miguel Diaz, Canel, Obama, White, Nikita Khrushchev, John F, Kennedy, Khrushchev, Biden, — Khrushchev Organizations: Leadership, Global Affairs, University of Texas, History Department, LBJ School, Democracy, CNN, Russian Security Council, Cuban, Russian, Cuba's, Foreign Affairs, Russian Foreign, Getty Images, year’s, Russian Navy, Caribbean Military, Trump, Biden, Soviets, Pentagon, US, USS, Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US Navy, West, Washington, Hulton, Getty, White, Republican, Russia, Ukraine, Twitter, Cuban Missile Locations: Austin, Russia, Cuba, Ukraine, Russian, Havana ., — Venezuela, Nicaragua, Moscow, Caribbean, Washington, Havana, Getty Images Cuba, America, China, Lourdes, USS Pasadena, Guantanamo, American, Soviet, West Berlin, Europe, Putin, Florida, Afghanistan, Turkey

☆ How Daniel Ellsberg, who died at 92, went from being a disillusioned member of the government-military elite to a hero of anti-war movements
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower behind the Pentagon Papers, died at 92, his family said Friday. David Halberstam, the late author and Vietnam War correspondent who had known Ellsberg since both were posted overseas, would describe him as no ordinary convert. "Without Nixon's obsession with me, he would have stayed in office," Ellsberg told The Associated Press in 1999. Ellsberg's story was depicted in the 2009 documentary "The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers." He and Marx wedded in 1970, the year before the Pentagon Papers were made public.

Persons: Daniel Ellsberg, Ellsberg, —, — Daniel Ellsberg, Richard Nixon, Julia Pacetti, Dan, Robert S, McNamara, Lyndon Johnson's, John F, Kennedy, David Halberstam, Johnson, Neil Sheehan, Henry Kissinger, Hannah Arendt, Nixon, Nixon fumed, H.R, Haldeman, Matthew Byrne, Gordon Liddy, Howard Hunt, Byrne, Daniel, Harry Truman, nodded, Ellsberg's, Rand, Anthony J, Russo, Robert, Kissinger, Sen, William J, Fulbright, George McGovern of, Marcus Raskin, Ralph Stavins, Sheehan, Raskin, Stavins, didn't, spry, George W, Bush, Obama, Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, Snowden, Patricia Marx, Marx Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Supreme, Defense, Harvard, Democratic, Republican, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Associated Press, National Security, United, U.S, White, Democratic Party's, Washington , D.C, Associated Press, Coast, Rand Corp, Christian Science, Soviet Union overseas, Harvard University, Marines, Ivy League, Defense Department, State Department, Rand, Xerox, Arkansas, Foreign Relations Committee, Institute for Policy, Times, ., Army, New York Times, Massachusetts Institute, Technology's Center for International Studies Locations: Boston, Los Angeles, Vietnam, Indochina, U.S, France's, America, United States, Beverly Hills , California, Washington ,, Saigon, Santa Monica, Chicago, Detroit, Pearl, London, Germany, Japan, Santa Monica , California, George McGovern of South Dakota, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia

☆ Pentagon Trying to Get Weapons to Allies Faster
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Gordon Lubold | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

During fiscal 2022, the Pentagon had oversight of more than 15,000 foreign military sales cases totaling in excess of $679 billion. Photo: Eric Lee for The Wall Street JournalWASHINGTON—The Pentagon plans to beef up training for its corps of officers who help execute foreign weapons sales, said senior Defense Department officials, part of an effort to cut red tape and speed up sales to allies and partners, who complain along with others that the Pentagon is sluggish, ponderous and ineffective.

Persons: Eric Lee Organizations: Pentagon, The Wall Street Journal WASHINGTON, Defense Department

India has long expressed interest in buying large armed drones from the United States. U.S. negotiators are counting on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's White House visit on June 22 to break the log jam. Modi and Biden are also expected to discuss co-production of munitions and ground vehicles, like armored personnel carriers, while Modi is in Washington, the sources said. The topic was expected to be on the agenda as Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to finalize preparations ahead of Modi's visit. The Quad grouping of countries - the United States, India, Australia and Japan - all operate, or have operated, the MQ-9B SeaGuardian.

Persons: Narendra Modi's, Biden, General Atomics, Modi, Spokespeople, Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, Mike Stone, Trevor Hunnicuttt, Krishn Kaushik, Heather Timmons, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: WASHINGTON, Indian, U.S, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, White, Department of State, Biden, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Washington, New Delhi, U.S, India, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Japan

☆ China says allegations of Chinese spying in Cuba are false
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, June 12 (Reuters) - China said on Monday that allegations that it was using Cuba as a spying base are false and it denounced the U.S. government and media for releasing what it called inconsistent information. A Biden administration official said on Saturday China had been spying from Cuba for some time and it had upgraded its intelligence collection facilities there in 2019. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that a new spying effort was underway on the island, citing U.S. officials. "On the alleged spy activities of China in Cuba, this is a piece of false information," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, told a regular press conference. The allegation about Cuba comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepares to visit China this week.

Persons: Biden, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Antony Blinken, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Washington, Andrew Hayley, Bernard Orr, Ryan Woo, Philippa Fletcher, Robert Birsel Organizations: U.S, China, Wall Street Journal, White House National Security, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Cuba, Beijing, United States, U.S, America, Caribbean

☆ China has been spying from Cuba for some time, U.S. official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - China has been spying from Cuba for some time and upgraded its intelligence collection facilities there in 2019, a Biden administration official said on Saturday, following a report about a new spying effort underway on the island. The official said the issue predated Joe Biden's presidency, as had Beijing's efforts to strengthen its intelligence collection infrastructure worldwide. "The PRC (People's Republic of China) conducted an upgrade of its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019. That includes a trip to China that U.S. officials say Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning for June 18. The official said U.S. diplomats had engaged governments that were considering hosting Chinese bases and had exchanged information with them.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden's, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Antony Blinken, Washington's, Donald Trump, Andrea Shalal, Phil Stewart, Dave Sherwood, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Biden, People's, Cuban, Foreign, Thomson Locations: China, Cuba, Florida, U.S, People's Republic of China, Washington, Cuban, America, Beijing, United States, Coast, Havana

☆ 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

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