The Press Roundup
The Press Roundup
Curated Summary of What Matters
February 16,
2024 (Friday)
Kamala Harris seeks to reassure allies
at Munich Security Conference (The Washinton Post)
- There's plenty
to discuss at this weekend's meeting of world leaders and senior officials
in Munich. For starters, disturbing reports from the front lines in
eastern Ukraine, Israeli plans for a potentially devastating ground attack
on Rafah, and an uncertain "space threat" from Russia.
- Yet one single
question seems to hang over this year's Munich Security Conference - what,
exactly, is going on in the United States?
- For months now,
European political, security and intelligence circles have been nervously
watching as crucial aid to Ukraine has become mired in domestic politics.
US interlocutors have assured them that the bill would eventually pass and
the arms money would continue to flow. But the protracted funding fight,
combined with Donald Trump's statements, has rattled Europe, renewing the
debate over whether the continent can count on the US, and what to do if
it can't.
- In Munich, US
Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will
try to convince European allies that US commitments to Ukraine and NATO
remain unchanged. But they seem to have little to
promise for the next few months, let alone the next few years.
What
to expect as the Munich Security Conference kicks off with beefed up security (CNBC)
- The Munich
Security Conference is being dubbed the "defence Davos". Some 60
heads of state and more than 85 government officials will gather in the
Bavarian city over three days to discuss current and future global
security challenges.
- The focus will
be on the ongoing military conflicts in Europe and the Middle East
and possible ways to resolve them. Rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific
region, NATO expansion and Donald Trump's possible return to the White
House will also be on the agenda.
- The programme
for the event was only released early this morning, in keeping with the
high-security forum.
- High-profile
delegates include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will
continue his campaign for more military and financial support for his
country. Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog and Palestinian Prime Minister
Mohammed Shtayyeh will also speak. US Secretary of State Anthony
Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
and US Vice President Kamala Harris will attend.
- Security has
been beefed up across the city in this regard. 5,000 extra police officers
have been deployed for the event, with reinforcement vehicles visible on
most major thoroughfares. Roads have been blocked and parts of the
airspace closed as organisers prepare for increased security risks and
possible reactions to the event.
- At least 20
demonstrations are expected on the opening day, with more protests to take
place over the weekend. Today, hundreds of demonstrators plan to march to
the main conference venue, the Bayerischer Hof Hotel, to draw attention to
human rights abuses in Iran.
Iran’s
Rise as Global Arms Supplier Vexes U.S. and Its Allies (The Wall Street Journal)
- Iran's
expanding arms industry, now a significant global arms supplier, is
causing concern for the U.S. and its allies, as low-cost, high-tech
weapons, including drones, flow to various clients, complicating conflicts
in the Middle East, Ukraine, and beyond. The industry's growth, notably
accelerated by Russia's substantial purchase of drones in 2022, has
empowered Tehran to bolster its support for allied militias, notably
impacting the conflict dynamics in regions such as Gaza.
- A stark example
of Iran's arms impact includes the use of a Shahed suicide drone by an
Iraqi militia to kill three American servicemembers in Jordan. Concurrently,
U.S. efforts to intercept arms shipments to Yemen highlight Iran's
deepening involvement in arming its Houthi allies, with seizures revealing
shipments intended for Houthi-controlled areas, including missile
components and drone technology.
- Iran's drones,
particularly the Shahed model, have been employed across various conflict
zones, from Houthi assaults to Russian military operations in Ukraine,
showcasing Tehran's global arms influence. This proliferation has raised
alarms about the changing landscape of asymmetric warfare, potentially
empowering nonstate actors against major global powers.
- Financially,
Iran's arms sales have surged, with revenues hitting approximately $1
billion from March 2022 to March 2023, marking a significant increase
and highlighting Iran as a notable arms exporter on the global stage.
These sales include a diverse arsenal to clients like Russia, and also
encompass support for Middle Eastern allies like Hamas and Hezbollah,
under Tehran's "Axis of Resistance."
- Originating
from a necessity driven by an arms embargo in the 1980s, Iran's defense
industry has evolved significantly, with drones becoming a prominent
feature of its export portfolio. The technological advancement and
increased production capacity of these drones, especially post the 2022
deal with Russia, illustrate the strategic and economic importance of
Iran's arms industry, despite international sanctions aimed at curbing its
growth.
Pakistan
downgraded to ‘authoritarian regime’ (The Express Tribune)
- Democratic
standards worldwide declined in 2023 due to wars, authoritarian
crackdowns, and decreasing trust in mainstream political parties. The
global average index score fell to 5.23, its lowest level since 2006.
- The number of
countries categorized as democracies increased by two, but the overall
score dropped.
- Western Europe
improved its score and surpassed North America for the first time.
- Wars are
concentrated in countries with a lack of democracy or political
instability.
- Democratic
resilience and consolidation were observed in EU member states in Central
Europe, the Balkans, and the Baltic countries.
Tear
gas and rubber bullets as Indian farmers march on Delhi (Aljazeera)
- Thousands of
farmers have gathered on the outskirts of India's capital, New Delhi, to
demand guaranteed minimum prices for their crops, debt relief, and
policy reforms.
- The protests
are being led by more than 250 farmer unions, including the Kisan Mazdoor
Sangharsh Committee and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, with support from
unions across multiple states.
- The farmers are
marching towards New Delhi with their tractors and trucks, and the Indian
authorities have placed barriers and other obstacles to halt their
progress.
- The protests
are a continuation of demonstrations that took place two years ago and
lasted for over a year, resulting in violent crackdowns and numerous
deaths.
- The
previous protests ended when the government agreed to rescind three
agricultural reform laws that the farmers objected to.
Turkey
and Pakistan forge ahead in air-to-air missile advancements (Bulgarian Military)
- General Irfan
Yossert, Turkey's second Chief of General Staff, visited the Pakistan Air
Force Command to enhance military cooperation between the two countries.
- The visit
focused on technological partnership, particularly in the area of
air-to-air missiles.
- The discussions
included the continuation of the air-to-air missile technology exchange
program, aiming to benefit the air forces of both nations.
- The partnership between Turkey and Pakistan will be strengthened on various levels, including nation to nation, corporation to corporation, and military authorities to the Air Force.
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