th Regional Insights: October 9 , 2020

Africa, South & Central Asia Americas & Australasia East & Southeast Asia India’s Brahmos missile: an added target in the air? – With DoD’s fleet of 2045, the US military’s chief reveals record high budget request eyeing

IISS signals he’s all-in on sea power – DefenseNews hypersonic tech, F-35s and more – DefenseNews

Japan is set to continue its recent trend of setting new records for its Brahmos Aerospace, the Russo-Indian joint venture, is reportedly The U.S. Navy must rapidly grow its attack submarine force, field annual defense budgets, with the country continuing to cast a wary eye developing a variant of the Brahmos anti-ship missile to engage smaller manned and unmanned combatants and examine changing the on ’s military modernization and nuclear-armed North Korea’s airborne early-warning and control aircraft. The development would role of aircraft carriers in the coming decades as part of a massive missile program. The latest budget request issued by Japan’s Ministry provide a cost-efficient response to an opponent’s capacity to generate expansion of the fleet to maintain American dominance on the seas, of Defense is seeking $55 billion for fiscal 2021, which begins in April an airborne radar-based picture of friendly and hostile aircraft. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Tuesday. To compete with 2021. The amount is an 8% increase from the previous year, and The end of 2020 could see entry it’s into service, with integration on the China’s plans to be a first-rate military power by 2049, the United makes it the eighth consecutive year of new record highs. Su-30MKI fighter/ground-attack (FGA) aircraft. States must grow its fleet to more than 500 ships by 2045, and more

than 355 ships by the mid-2030s, Esper announced, confirming a Defending is growing costlier and deadlier – The Indian government unveils new defence acquisition procedure, report last month from Defense News. Economist says it encourages FDI – business-standard South Korean military aiming to speed up acquisition of light India likely to produce next generation fighter jets in a private and South Korea Can and Must Deepen Defense aircraft carrier – Janes sector-led joint venture – Economic Times Industry Cooperation – The Japan should enhance defence capabilities in cyber, space Mozambique insurgency: a port at the centre of a storm – IISS French shipyard Kership has completed hull and superstructure security – Straits Times Sudan and major rebel groups to formalise peace deal – of second OPV for Argentine Navy – Navy Recognition With eye on China, US opens its arms to Indonesia’s Prabowo – U.S. defence chief's rare Algeria visit points to Sahel region ‘ ’: asks NATO to track China moves in SCMP threats – Defence Web South China Sea – Hindustan Times Eastern Europe Middle East Western Europe & The Nordics Europe’s military mobility, a game-changer for Sheikh Meshaal sworn in as Kuwait’s new crown Despite pressure from lawmakers and pandemic, regional infrastructure projects? – EURACTIV prince –Al Jazeera French defence budget to remain unchanged – Defense News Rail Baltica, a 870-kilometer-long high-speed rail line from Tallinn via Following the death of Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah on the 29th the Baltic states to Poland, is one of the most touted EU infrastructure September, Sheikh Nawaf al-Sabah (previously Kuwait’s crown prince) Despite calls from French lawmakers for the defence industry to projects and new thinking could see the project gain support as a result was made Emir of Kuwait. On the 8th October, after an unanimous vote receive additional support to counter the effects of the coronavirus of its civil-military value. Beyond civil transport usage, the route is by Kuwait’s parliament, Sheikh Meshaal was sworn in as the new pandemic, the 2021 defence budget will remain unchanged at €49.7 expected to allow greater military mobility to ensure rapid transfer of crown prince. Sheikh Meshaal, previously the Deputy Chief of the billion. Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly stated that this troops and material to the Russian border in case of crisis. Military National Guard, has a very close relationship with the new Emir and represents “the third year in a row that we have followed the military mobility has been hailed as one of the EU’s flagship defence initiatives has good relations with neighbours such as the KSA and the UAE. For program law to the letter: with an additional €1.7 billion or so every and Rail Baltica may support this, and alleviate regional disparities. this reason, foreign policies are unlikely to change under the new year” leadership and focus is likely to be made on COVID-19, the drop in oil US, Bulgaria sign 10-year road map for military cooperation – The prices and parliamentary elections due this year. Germany eyes space satellite launchpad in North Sea – BBC Sofia Globe Indra and Spanish Navy test AI system for vessel maintenance – Macron calls on Europe to quit dependency on US arms – Politico Yemen: UN calls for ceasefire as clashes resume in Hodeidah port Naval Technology Bulgaria becomes the world’s 40th AMRAAM user– Global Defence -Al Jazeera Switzerland approved for potential F-35, F-18, Patriot buys worth News Israeli defense giant picks five startups to develop future tech billions – Crows Polish Minister of Defence presents details of the procurement -Defense News Israel, Italy swap helicopters and missiles in new arms deal - reform, armament agency to be established – Defence24 Anadolu Shipyard Launches Firdt Training Ship For Qatari navy DefenseNews Czech MOD selects Rafael’s SPYDER air defence system – Janes -Naval News We make the rules, Portugal tells U.S. after China threats - NATO launches latest Bulgarian air policing – United Press Iran Warns Azerbaijan and Armenia Over Fighting Near Border Reuters International -Bloomberg Belgian Navy F930 Leopold I frigate to take part in Joint Warrior Pakistan’s Israel dilemma -Middle East Institute naval exercise in Scotland – Navy Recognition 1

th Global Think Tanks Report: October 9 , 2020

ASPI (Australia) CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL IISS (UK) • Budget shows defence spending growth on track PEACE (USA) • Russia’s armed forces: more capable by far, but for • Snapshot of a shadow war in the Azerbaijan–Armenia • The Caucasus Burns While Europe Struggles how long? conflict • Chinese Security Contractors in Africa • Why Putin’s call for a US–Russia cyber reset will fall • Azerbaijan’s on Nagorno-Karabakh leaves • Practical Ways to Promote U.S.-China Arms Control on deaf ears little room for de-escalation Cooperation • Mozambique insurgency: a port at the centre of a • Government fund won’t stop Australian • War, Terrorism, and Catastrophe in Cyber Insurance: storm manufacturing’s structural decline Understanding and Reforming Exclusions • Germany to receive new anti-ship missiles • After Abe: Where to for Australia’s quasi-alliance with • A ReSTART for U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Control: • India’s Brahmos missile: an added target in the air? Japan? Enhancing Security Through Cooperation • Defence supply chains and anti-submarine warfare in • Stability Amid Strategic Deregulation: Managing the RAND CORPORATION (USA) the Indo-Pacific End of Nuclear Arms Control • Russia, NATO, and Black Sea Security • Assessing the economic benefits of defence • Rough Waters Ahead for Vietnam-China Relations • The Can Achieve AI Dominance with procurement: how hard can it be? Its Allies • New urgency to get to space fast CHATHAM HOUSE (UK) • Two Vignettes: How Might Combat Operations Be • China military watch • Whatever Trump says, Kim will keep his nuclear Different Under the Information Joint Function? • The threat spectrum option • How to Build Better Militaries in Africa: Lessons from • The five-domains update Niger CNAS (USA) • North Korea Has Agreed to Denuclearization. Trump ATLANTIC COUNCIL (USA) • Sharper: America's Next Defense Strategy Could Try to Make It Happen • Space: The next regulatory frontier for innovation, • Are Chinese Drones a National Security Threat or • Grand Strategy Is Total: French Gen. Andre Beaufré economics, accessibility, and infrastructure Required for the National Interest? on the Nuclear Age • How did Russia’s security services capture the • Harnessing Military Talent to Compete in the 21st Kremlin? Century RUSI (UK) • Battle Force 2045 raises important questions • Making the U.S. Military’s Counter-Terrorism Mission • The UK’s Overseas Operations Bill: Good Questions, • Garlauskas quoted in Japan Times on North Korean Sustainable Wrong Answers strategic weaponry development • The Militarisation of Iran’s Presidency: The IRGC and • Competitive strategy insights from wargames HERITAGE FOUNDATION (USA) the 2021 Elections • What an ‘October surprise’ from North Korea might • Moving Troops in Europe Will Not Bolster • in International Military Relations: A UK– actually look like Conventional Deterrence Pakistan Case Study • Wishful Thinking? Drone Warships are Vital But Not a • The Integrated Review Should Prioritise BELFER CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND Perfect Path to a 355 Ship Navy Understanding INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (USA) • In Defense of Mark Esper • Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear Program: Separating Real • Are the Days of Manned Fighters REALLY Concerns from Threat Inflation Numbered? • Trump's Illness Is Not a National Security Crisis • Maintaining Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense • Strengthening America’s Armed Forces BROOKINGS (USA) • Sustaining the future of Indo-Pacific defense strategy HUDSON INSTITUTE (USA) • Saudi Arabia’s current state of affairs • American Sea Power at a Crossroads: A Plan to • Anti-drone tech’s tangled regulatory landscape Restore the US Navy’s Maritime Advantage • ‘Quad’ all about sending a signal to China • Treat AI As Intelligence — Not Technology • How the US military is prioritizing great power • Does America Have a Bomber Problem When competition Deterring China?

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