The Press Roundup

 

January 21, 2024 (Sunday)

Curated Summary

DefSAT 2024 charts visionary path for India's defence space capabilities (Force)

• DefSat 2024 is a prestigious conference held in New Delhi that aims to unveil a strategic blueprint for the future readiness of India's defence space capabilities. It brings together visionaries, thought leaders, and key stakeholders from various sectors.
• The conference includes the IndSpace Exercise, a simulated tabletop wargame, to scrutinize the space industry's capability to respond to contingencies and crises. It involves active participation from government agencies, armed forces, space industry leaders, technology innovators, and diplomats.
• DefSat 2024 goes beyond being a mere intellectual exchange and stands as a unique platform addressing transformative necessities in defence space capabilities. It focuses on discussions related to decision-centric warfare, autonomous systems, integration of AI in the military domain, and the principles of Mosaic Warfare.
• The conference anticipates the presence of key government and industry personalities, including Lt. Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), General Anil Chauhan, and Dr VK Saraswat.
• DefSat 2024 promises an immersive experience featuring cutting-edge solutions, collaborative discussions, and strategic insights that will shape the future of India's defence space capabilities.

Why a BRICS plus Belt and Road Initiative is what the world needs (SCMP)

• The idea of the BRICS nations formally adopting the China-led Belt and Road Initiative as a joint international project with an institutional structure and international headquarters is proposed. This would symbolize China-Russia and Global South economic cooperation and give the Brics group a greater voice on the world stage. It would also amplify the geographical and strategic reach of the Belt and Road Initiative.

• The Belt and Road Initiative needs wider ownership, a stronger institutional structure, and more funding, which could be achieved by integrating it into the functions of the Brics group. This would leverage the group's increasing international credibility.

• Overland routes are becoming more attractive compared to ocean-borne commerce due to increasing risks in key parts of the Middle East and Asia. This shift, along with the increasing share of world trade by emerging powers like the Brics group, will require new infrastructure patterns.

• The Belt and Road Initiative initially faced rivalry from maritime powers in North America and Europe, leading to a more localized focus in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

How Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea threaten Israel's economy (The Washington Post)

• Yemen's Houthis have launched attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, primarily to pressure Israel for a cease-fire in Gaza. These attacks have caused an 85% drop in shipping activity at the Port of Eilat, Israel's entry point on the Red Sea, and could lead to worker furloughs.
• The attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping, with nearly a fifth of freight bound for the U.S. east coast passing through this route. Shipping giants have started diverting ships around Africa, impacting the Suez Canal route.
• The focus on shipping to Israel has prompted shipping companies like Evergreen and Maersk to stop accepting Israeli cargo or introduce surcharges on shipments to cover rising insurance costs. Consumers may bear the brunt of higher insurance prices.
• The disruptions in the supply chain could pose challenges for the supply of medical supplies, potentially causing life-endangering delays for critically needed supplies in Israel.
• Israel's economy is already facing obstacles due to the fallout from the war in Gaza, with a decline in exports and tourism amid the conflict.

Denial of Palestinian statehood 'unacceptable', says UN chief (Arab News)

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Non-Aligned Movement summit that denying Palestinians their own state is unacceptable.
• He warned that such a stance would prolong the conflict and embolden extremists.
• The Non-Aligned Movement called for a two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

North Korea agrees strategic and tactical co-operation with Russia (LBC)

• North Korea's Foreign Ministry has agreed to further strategic and tactical cooperation with Russia to establish a "new multi-polarised international order".
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed his willingness to visit Pyongyang at an "early date".
• North Korea has been strengthening its ties with Russia, as evidenced by Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia in September for a summit with Putin.
• The North Korean Foreign Ministry condemned the UN Security Council for calling an emergency meeting over the country's latest ballistic test, stating that it did not pose a threat to its neighbors.
• Russia and China have blocked US-led efforts to increase sanctions on North Korea, highlighting a divide deepened over Russia's war on Ukraine.
• The alignment between North Korea and Russia has raised concerns about alleged arms cooperation and potential economic and military assistance from Russia to North Korea.

NATO moves 90,000 troops into position - The Middle Game begins (Sputnik)

• NATO has deployed 90,000 troops, 50 ships, over 80 combat aircraft, and more than 1,100 combat vehicles for a military exercise.
• This exercise is the largest NATO combined arms exercise since REFORGER 1988, surpassing the previous largest exercise, Trident Juncture in 2018, which involved 50,000 troops.
• The deployment is concentrated in the Baltic states on Russia's borders, Romania on the Ukraine border, and Germany, which is the military logistics hub of NATO.
• The middle game of chess is where the fighting intensifies, with the majority of pieces being lost and surprise moves being likely. 

Biden started campaign against Houthis because of ideology, not economics - Report (Sputnik)

• The US economy is not heavily reliant on Middle East maritime routes, so Washington officials believe that Joe Biden started the anti-Houthi campaign because of his obsession with the idea that the US plays a major role in world affairs.
• The notion of US indispensability and ideology were the key motives behind Biden's decision to launch an anti-Houthi military campaign.
• Houthi attacks in the Red Sea were not a concern for Washington from an economic standpoint, as US business relies mostly on Pacific sea routes.
• Biden believes that the US must be an "indispensable nation" and a supreme military power, leading other states and uniting them behind a single cause.  
• The US airstrikes and maritime activities create a strong media buzz that helps the Houthis promote their agenda.

President Sisi says Egypt will not allow any threat to Somalia or its security (Reuters)

• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stated that Egypt will not allow any threat to Somalia, indicating a potential involvement in the dispute between Ethiopia and Somaliland. This suggests that Egypt may intervene in the conflict, which could escalate tensions in the Horn of Africa.
• Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained recognition from any country. The proposed port lease deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland has angered Somalia, as it would give Ethiopia access to a sea port.
• Ethiopia has offered to consider recognizing Somaliland's independence in exchange for access to the port of Berbera. However, President al-Sisi warned Ethiopia against seizing land and emphasized the importance of cooperation on development.
• Relations between Egypt and Ethiopia have been tense for years due to the use of the Nile River and Ethiopia's construction of a major dam on the Blue Nile. Egypt's foreign minister has referred to Ethiopia as a source of instability in the region.