The Roundup

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 India to ditch Russian weapons? Not so fast! Western newspaper Politico claimed, citing a liberal expert, that India is set to halt major defense purchases from Russia, prioritizing U.S. cooperation instead.  In their opinion, the reasons behind that are fear of sanctions, the conflict in Ukraine and the desire to develop indigenous weapons. 👇 Here are some facts why these claims are no more than wishful thinking by foreign media: ◾️ Major defence contracts are being realised between Russian & India, including for the delivery of S-400 air defenses and Igla-S MANPADS. ◾️ Russian-origin Su-30MKI remains the backbone of Indian Air Force. ◾️ Super-duper BrahMos missile is at an all-time high, securing interests from several nations already — but it's originally an Indo-Russian missile. ◾️ Indo-Russian trade has reached record numbers, with the main export

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 How Russo-Ukraine war became a boon for US Big Five arms makers The Ukraine conflict has become a great boon for American Big Five defense contractors, sending their stocks up and boosting their profits. In January 2022, they openly lauded a deteriorating state of global peace and security as a business opportunity for their investors and employees. Shares in Lockheed Martin, RTX, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics grew in value 12.78% on average in just one year since the start of the special military operation. ▪️ Lockheed Martin provides Javelin anti-tank missiles, HIMARS mobile artillery rockets, and PAC-3 air defense missiles, as well as other munitions and missiles to Ukraine. The company's revenue for the twelve months ending March 31, 2024, was $69.6 billion, a 5.28% increase from 2022. ▪️ General Dynamics is known as the producer of Abr

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 How strong is India’s economy? India's economy is growing rapidly, with an annual growth rate of 6-7%. It is projected to become the world's third-largest economy by 2027, behind the U.S. and China . Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to secure a third term, solidifying his position as India's most influential leader since Nehru. Modi's economic policies have focused on building massive infrastructure, promoting services exports, and implementing a new welfare system with digital transfer payments. This has helped reduce poverty and expand the middle class. However, the country still faces the challenge of generating mass employment, as only about 100 million out of a working-age population of 1 billion have formal jobs. To sustain growth, India needs to transform sectors like education, agriculture, and urban development, which will requir

     https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Greek god of fire: Russia’s stealth jet, hypersonic missile and satellite-killing S-500 air defense system Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed in a briefing Tuesday that Russia’s Air Defense Forces would be getting additional S-500 air and missile defense systems in two modifications. Here’s what we know about these fearsome weapons. 🔺 The S-500 Prometey (lit. ‘Prometheus’ – as in the ancient Greek god of fire) is a road-mobile air and missile defense system developed by Russian weapon manufacturer Almaz-Antey. 🔺The system has a range of up to 600 km , and the ability to detect targets at up to 800 km away. 🔺The S-500 can simultaneously target up to 10 ballistic supersonic targets flying at speeds up to 7 km/s . 🔺It can also attack targets flying at hypersonic speeds (up to Mach 10 , or 12,348 km per hour). 🔺The S-500’s range is sufficient

    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Third front: US readies for confrontation with China in Asia US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to China this week. This trip comes amid a concerted push by the Biden administration to form an anti-China coalition in the Asia-Pacific. Here are some of their most recent moves:        🔺US held its largest-ever joint military drill in contested waters with the Philippines, where they simulated sinking an enemy warship and capturing islands facing Taiwan and the South China Sea. The drill involved medium-range missiles deployed to Asia-Pacific for the first time.      🔺US is expanding AUKUS by involving Japan in the development of the alliance’s “advanced capabilities,” including quantum computing, hypersonic, artificial intelligence, and undersea warfare, among others.      🔺US top officials have been threatening China with new sanctions in a bid

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Article Analysis - In Ukraine, New American Technology Won the Day. Until Was Overwhelmed. The United States is testing Project Maven in Ukraine, which is a program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to process images, the New York Times reports. Project Maven is being tested in Ukraine on the front lines, the publication stated. According to the newspaper, American, British, and Ukrainian officers, as well as military contractors, are working to find and exploit Russian vulnerabilities. It is noted that there is an intelligence gathering center operating at an American base in Europe, which uses technologies developed as a result of Project Maven's evolution. The testing of AI technologies in Ukraine by Washington has yielded mixed results, according to the NYT. While the military has gained the opportunity to gather information about troops movements

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Israel-Iran Conflict: Escalation and Calls for De-escalation Article Discussion -  Cycle of Retaliation by Maleeha Lodhi Summary The Middle East remains on edge after Israel's attack on Iran, pushing the region towards a potential larger conflict. The escalation began with Israel's airstrike on Iran's consulate in Damascus, prompting Iran to retaliate with a missile and drone attack on Israeli military installations. This direct confrontation marks a shift in the covert conflict between the two countries. Both sides crossed red lines, with Iran aiming to establish deterrence against future Israeli attacks and Israel seeking to limit damage and restore deterrence. The international response varied, with swift condemnation of Iran's actions but also concerns about further escalation. Efforts for de-escalation included calls for restraint from glob

Theatre of the Absurd Summary This article by Sushant Singh, titled "Theatre of the Absurd," highlights the complexities and inadequacies in India's strategy against China. The piece discusses the prolonged stand-offs and diplomatic engagements between India, China, and Bhutan since the 2017 Doklam crisis, emphasizing the military and economic strides China has made in Bhutan. Despite attempts by Indian leaders to reset relations through summits and diplomatic talks, China's influence in the region continues to grow, showcased by its deepening ties with Bhutan and continuous border infrastructures. The Indian government's responses are critiqued for lacking coherence and effectiveness, leading to India's increased reliance on external powers like the United States for strategic balance. This narrative portrays India's struggle to maintain leverage over China amidst global and regional power dynamics, suggesting a scenario where India's geopolitical str

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Iran's President Ibrahim Raisi arrived on a two-day official visit to Islamabad, Pakistan 8 agreements were signed today between Iran & Pakistan, solidifying ties between the two nations.  🔘 A Security Agreement aims to enhance collaboration on crucial security matters, ensuring the safety and stability of both Iran and Pakistan. 🔘 Another notable agreement focuses on judicial cooperation, facilitating civil and commercial matters between the two countries. 🔘 The signing of agreements on animal health, establishment of free zones, and human resource development reflects a commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity. 🔘 Additionally, memoranda of understanding on cinematic film exchange, mutual recognition of standards, and legal cooperation underscore the diverse areas of collaboration between Iran and Pakistan.

    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 US and Philippines kick-off large scale exercise amid growing Asia-Pacific tensions Balikatan , an annual joint drill between US and the Philippines, has rung the alarm from China. What’s different about it this year?    This year’s exercise will be the largest yet, with 17,000 troops from US, the Philippines, Australia, and France . The participants will simulate sinking an enemy warship and capturing islands in areas facing Taiwan and the South China Sea.     Notably, they will conduct their first ever exercise beyond Philippine territorial waters into contested waters . Additionally, the Philippine Army will train in the use of medium-range missiles, deployed for the first time to Asia Pacific by the US just last week.     China has slammed the exercise for bearing a destructive impact on regional security. It criticized the Philippines for bringing in exte

    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 World military expenditure reaches all-time high of $2,443 Bln in 2023 Global military expenditure increased by 6.8% in 2023 year-over-year and reached a new record high of $2,443 billion, with the three largest spenders being the US, China and Russia , according to new data published on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). "World military expenditure rose for the ninth consecutive year to an all-time high of $2,443 billion," SIPRI said. Moreover, military expenditure increased in all five of the geographical regions defined by SIPRI, the institute added. The US remained the world's biggest military spender with a 37% share of the world total and $916 billion spent in 2023. It is followed by China with a 12% share and an estimated $296 billion spent on the military and Russia with a 4.5% share and an estimated $

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Forum for India - Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC) Why in News? The Third Forum for India -Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC) summit held at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in May 2023. India announced 12 points development plans for the Pacific Island nations. Genesis of FIPIC It was launched in 2014 at Fiji by Indian PM Narendra Modi. Members It includes 14 Island countries - Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshal Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Soloman Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Why it's Important? Pacific Islands consists of three major group of islands: Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Pacific Island nations have large Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) which are sources of natural resources and minerals like Oil & Gas etc. India is considering expanding International Solar Alliance's STAR-C initiativ

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 US 'begged' Israel not to strike Iran but request was embarrassingly ignored The United States allegedly begged Israel not to carry out a counterattack against Iran in the early hours of Friday, but the Israeli decision to ignore Washington is part of an "embarrassing" trend, Politico reported, citing a US official.  "The US begged [Israel] not to do it, and literally no one from the Pentagon to the Joint Chiefs to the CIA to the intel community thinks this is a good thing," the official was quoted by Politico as saying on Friday. "At this point, it’s truly embarrassing how much Israel does not listen to us, but yet this doesn’t keep President Biden from blind fealty."   The US' silence on this Israeli strike on Iran is part of an effort to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, according to the

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Afghanistan, China Hold Strategic Talks Including BRI Investments Talking about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Kabul said that progress was now moving towards "practical cooperation" after Afghanistan desired to join China's global infrastructure development project in 2023. "Also, both sides talked about the latest developments in increasing the level of oil extraction in Afghanistan and starting the extraction of Logar’s Mes Aynak mine and it was emphasized that plans should be considered to speed things up," the Islamic Emirate's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Besides an increasing economic partnership between the two countries, China is also assisting Afghanistan in training its civil servants and is offering scholarships to the Asian Islamic state's students.

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Bark with no bite: Australia unveils new national defense strategy Australia has announced that it will invest $330 billion in military capabilities by 2033-2034, more than six times its current defense budget. What is behind this spending splurge?      Australia hopes to advance its undersea (nuclear submarine), long-range strike, autonomous, cyber, and space capabilities, and bolster its northern bases, among others, as it seeks to build an amphibious warfighting force with new capabilities.        The planned increase in defense expenditure to 2.4% of GDP, however, is below Australia’s rate of inflation – so the additional funds may not be available in real terms.       While Australia has identified some defense projects to abort to free up funds, the budgetary hole gouged by the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact will only expand with time.       The Australian mil

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Exploring the deep: Which countries have underwater drones? Northrop Grumman has unveiled the Manta Ray unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), built for the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) and designed to perform long-range military missions. The company called the new drone a UUV, inspired by the "graceful glide" of the fish for which it is named. In addition to the US, a number of other countries are developing their fleets of underwater naval drones. Russia: The unique nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable Poseidon UUV has already entered service with the country's navy, where this sophisticated drone - capable of creating a "nuclear tsunami" - has become part of the armament of such nuclear-powered submarines as the Belgorod and Khabarovsk.  China: In addition to a family of HSU001 UUVs, the country has

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 What’s the European Sky Shield Initiative, and why all the comparisons to Israel’s Iron Dome? In August 2022, not long after the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict, Germany launched a pan-European project ostensibly aimed at creating a coordinated air defense in Europe. Some 18 other states signed on to this German plan, which was dubbed the European Sky Shield Initiative (or ESSI for short): Britain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Belgium, Romania, the Netherlands, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). Two other countries, Turkiye and Greece, are also expected to join the ESSI this year, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced his week that Poland intends to sign on to the initiative as well. While this scheme has already been compared by some to Israel’s I

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711   Much ado about nothing: Is the US Mako missile truly ‘hypersonic’ or just in name only? An allegedly new hypersonic American missile n amed after the fastest shark, Mako, has been put on display at the S ea Air Space 2024 conference . What's known about the projectile so far?    ▪️ Designed by Lockheed Martin and CoAspire , the solid-fuel rocket is claimed to be capable of reaching speeds of Mach 5.    ▪️It's compatible with most US tactical aircraft, including the fifth generation F-35 fighter.     ▪️It's 4 meters long, 33 cm in diameter, weighs 600 kg (including a 59 kg warhead) and boasts a striking range of at least 300 km.    There are many unknowns regarding the rocket, such as its type of flight profile and maneuverability. This has raised suspicions about whether the rocket is effective or not.   "A hypersonic missile executes anti-missi

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Russia positioned as key global trade player as major Europe-Asia trade routes develop Russia’s focus on developing two major trade routes linking Europe and Asia may put the country “at the heart of much of international trade,” as Bloomberg put it. The two routes in question are the International North-South Transport Corridor – a network of railways, roads and shipping lanes that links Europe and India via Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran – and the Northern Sea Route, which connects Europe and Asia via Russia’s Arctic waters. Both of these transportation arteries bypass the Suez Canal and are thus unaffected by the current volatile security situation in the region, not to mention that using them could drastically reduce transit times and costs as compared to the Suez Canal route.   Though the United States and its allies in the West have so far refrained from using

I2U2 What is I2U2? I2U2 is a group of India, Israel, the UAE, and the US that was established in October 2021. The purpose was to encourage/ invest in mutually identified areas i.e water, energy, transport, space, health, and food security. The member states have prioritized cooperation in economics, maritime sector, clean energy, and emerging technology. Up till now different agreements have been signed among member countries. I2U2 held its first virtual summit in July 2022 in which the UAE announced financing a $2 billion agriculture project in India with likely help from the US and Israel. The group would also advance a 300 MWs hybrid renewable energy project in India. I2U2 is a fluid arrangement that aims to strengthen and materialize the Abraham Accords. The member countries pledge to work in partnership to ensure greater peace, stability, and prosperity. I2U2 represents an emerging alignment among India, Israel, UAE, and the US, which may impact Pakistan's regional influ