The Press Roundup

 

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The Press Roundup

Curated Summary of What Matters

February 15, 2024 (Thursday)

Moscow’s Indian Ocean Strategy (The Nation)

• Russia has consistently sought warm water ports in the southern regions to exert control over global trade and attain strategic supremacy.
• The Soviet Union had a dominant naval presence in the Indian Ocean and possessed ample naval infrastructure and a significant fleet in these waters for a long period.
• Under President Putin's rule, Russia has reemerged as a significant player in the geopolitical and strategic affairs of the Indian Ocean.
• Russia aims to establish a presence in the Indian Ocean region for various purposes, including gaining access to markets and trade routes, safeguarding interests in historical and present territories, and upholding norms such as the freedom of navigation and over-flight exercises.
• Russia is attempting to broaden the range of partners it has in the Indian Ocean region and military exercises serve to highlight the political and diplomatic unity between countries.

Russia’s advances on space-based nuclear weapon draw U.S. concerns (The New York Times)

• The United States has informed Congress and its allies in Europe about Russian advances on a new, space-based nuclear weapon that could threaten America's satellite network.
• The weapon, if deployed, could potentially destroy civilian communications, surveillance, and military command and control operations.
• The United States currently does not have the ability to counter such a weapon and defend its satellites.
• The intelligence about the weapon raises concerns about Russia potentially abandoning the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which bans orbital nuclear weapons.
• Representative Michael R. Turner called on the Biden administration to declassify the information related to the weapon.
• Russia has been developing its space-based capabilities for decades, and concerns about placing nuclear weapons in space have existed for 50 years.
• Both Russia and China are moving towards greater militarization of space, and the report highlights Russia's development of weapons to blind other satellites.

How Putin’s nuclear arms race could make space the new battlefield (The Times)

• Russia, China, North Korea and Iran are investing heavily in space capabilities and especially anti-satellite weapons, posing a serious threat to the US satellite communications network on which all branches of the US military depend for navigation, precision strike, command and control.
• Russia already possesses serious anti-satellite capabilities. It has conducted at least one confirmed test of an anti-satellite weapon. Russian satellites have also manoeuvred threateningly close to US satellites. Last year, the U.S. warned that the Kremlin was jamming GPS signals in space to interfere with drones in Ukraine. Russia also claims to have developed a ground-based laser system called Kalina, which the US military believes is capable of "blinding" satellites.
• Radiation from a nuclear explosion in space would destroy all satellites in the detonation zone. Due to the lack of air in space, the main destructive effect of a nuclear explosion would be caused by radiation that propagates through space at the speed of light. U.S. satellites are protected from kinetic attacks and electronic jamming, but they would be defenseless against a targeted nuclear strike.
• The potential ability to put nuclear weapons into orbit was demonstrated by the Chinese in 2021. Beijing launched a long-range rocket that circled the Earth and launched a hypersonic glider that travelled in a low orbit all the way to China and fell about 24 miles from its intended target. China's successful 2021 test and now Russia's plan to launch a nuclear-armed anti-satellite system into space have created new security challenges facing the U.S. and its Western allies.

Military operation into Rafah would be catastrophic: Australia, Canada, New Zealand (AA)

• The prime ministers of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand expressed "grave concern" over Israel's planned military operation in Rafah, calling it "catastrophic" and urging Tel Aviv not to proceed with it. They emphasized the need for the protection of civilians and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. They also called on Hamas to lay down its arms and release all hostages. They reiterated their commitment to a two-state solution and the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel for lasting peace and security.
• Israel has been conducting airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since an attack by Hamas on October 7. The conflict has resulted in a high number of casualties and injuries, as well as significant damage to infrastructure. The UN has reported acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine in Gaza. Israel is facing accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and has been ordered to stop genocidal acts and ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

Pakistan Navy Lays The Keel Of The 2nd Hangor-Class Submarine (Naval News)

• The Keel Laying Ceremony of the second HANGOR Class Submarine was held at Karachi Shipyard Engineering Works (KSEW) in Pakistan.
• The development of the HANGOR Class Submarines is part of a defense agreement between Pakistan and China, with four submarines being constructed in China and the remaining four being built at KSEW under a Transfer of Technology agreement.
• The construction of these submarines is a joint effort between the Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan Navy, Karachi Shipyard (KSEW), and China Shipbuilding Offshore International Co. Ltd (Ms CSOC).
• The Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf attended the ceremony and highlighted the importance of indigenization and self-reliance in submarine construction.
• The Managing Director of KSEW emphasized the commitment of Karachi Shipyard to the national cause of pursuing self-reliance in submarine construction.

Indian Killer Drones on Way to Israel – Report (The Palestine Chronical)

• An Indian company, Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd, reportedly delivered more than 20 Hermes 900 killer drones to Israel for use in its conflict with Gaza.
• The delivery of these drones contradicts India's official position seeking an immediate ceasefire in the conflict.
• Adani Defence and Aerospace, a joint venture between Israel's Elbit Systems and Adani, opened a facility in Hyderabad to manufacture UAVs for the first time outside of Israel.
• Drones, including the Hermes 900, are a significant component of the Israeli army's operations in Gaza, used for intelligence gathering and attacks on Palestinian civilians and homes.

Israeli jets hit Lebanon in heaviest strike since Gaza war began (The Washington Post)

• Israel launched its longest and heaviest attack on Lebanon since the start of the Gaza war, resulting in the deaths of three Hezbollah fighters and seven civilians.
• The attack was in response to a morning attack launched from Lebanon into the northern Israeli town of Safed, which killed one Israeli woman and injured at least eight people.
• Hezbollah, an Iranian-aligned paramilitary group and Lebanon's most powerful political group, did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack.
• Hezbollah has joined other groups in supporting Hamas by striking Israel and, in some cases, U.S. interests in the region since October 7th.
• Since October 7th, rockets have been launched almost daily across the border between Lebanon and Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 170 Hezbollah members.