Calls for U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Iraq Continue as al-Amiri Emerges as Leader of PMU Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 18 Issue: 1 By: Rafid Jaboori The Jamestown Foundation The crisis in relations between the United States and Iraq’s Shia-led government has deepened over the last few weeks and especially after the killing of Iran’s top…
Japan PM to visit Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates: US and Iran Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In a sign that America and Iran are seeking to salvage something positive despite heightened tensions, the leader of Japan will go ahead with his regional visit to the Middle East.…
Japan seeks restraint from America and Iran before the planned Self Defense Force mission Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan seeks restraint from America and Iran over the ongoing crisis between both nations. This rupture increased after America killed Qassem Soleimani, the Quds…
Lebanon blighted by internal issues but Hezbollah threatens to embroil the nation for Iran Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Enormous demonstrations have taken place in Lebanon because of mounting economic, political, and social problems. At the same time, political cronyism and the sectarian nature of politics is holding back the hope…
US airstrike takes out Qassem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Iraq Ramazan Khalidov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Donald Trump permitted to take out General Qassem Soleimani based on the recent escalation in Iraq. Of course, for Trump, and others in his administration opposed to the actions of Iran, then…
North Korea leaves the US door open despite possible new nuclear tests: Japan is looking on Ri Kuk-Chol and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, is letting America know that unless genuine dialogue occurs, then new major military tests may take place. This relates to the possible resumption…
Arab League warns Turkey not to send terrorists to Libya: Sullying of NATO Nuray Lydia Oglu and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Arab League (AL) is nervous about the ambitions of Turkey in escalating an already fragile Libya. This relates to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and his plan to enter…
Hizb ul-Ahrar: Pakistan’s Cross-border Taliban Problem Remains Critical Publication: Terrorism Monitor By: Animesh Roul The Jamestown Foundation Following a notable lull in militant activity, Pakistan is now facing a unique militant escalation targeted against its security forces in the North Waziristan area and bordering regions. Despite the Taliban force largely being subdued following the concerted…
France points the finger at Turkey for allying with ISIS during NATO talks Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Emmanuel Macron of France didn’t mince his words in relation to Turkey and its tacit support of working with ISIS (Islamic State – IS) proxies. This is far from the ideal of…
State Department Official Demanded Kurds Capitulate to Islamists by John Rossomando IPT News Investigative Project on Terrorism First, the United States agreed to withdraw special operations forces from a section of northeastern Syria, opening the door to a Turkish invasion aimed at U.S.-allied Kurdish, Arab and Syriac Christian forces there who played a key role…
Hamas supports Turkey crushing the Kurds and other minorities in Northern Syria Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas announced its support of Turkey during the military offensive of this nation in Northern Syria. This isn’t surprising given the Muslim Brotherhood link that binds President Recep Tayyip Erdogan…
Russia Exports Its Missile Early-Warning Knowhow to China Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Pavel Felgenhauer The Jamestown Foundation Russo-Chinese relations continue to improve (see EDM, July 25, 30) as both countries’ ties with the United States have grown increasingly strained. Moscow and Beijing describe their bilateral relationship as a “strategic partnership,” constantly adding new adjectives…
NATO Turkey is bombing the Kurds and others while helping ISIS break free in Syria Ramazan Khalidov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times NATO Turkey is intensifying its attack against the Kurds and other ethnic groups in Northern Syria while the international community just watches. The nations of America, Iran, and the Russian…
Turkey offensive in Syria: Sheepish America, Iran, and Russia but Trump consistency Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Turkey is laying bare the respective self-interests of America, Iran, and the Russian Federation. Hence, while President Donald Trump is abandoning the Kurds on the ground after the failure of the…
Russia’s Advances in Electronic Warfare Capability Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Roger McDermott The Jamestown Foundation Since the reform of Russia’s Armed Forces began in late 2008, Moscow has developed a credible conventional military capability. Among the subset of capabilities over the past decade are the critically important advances in combat support offered by Electronic…
Japan cements military ties with Australia and the trilateral approach with America Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The governments of Japan and Australia respectively are strengthening military and geopolitical ties. Hence, the latest first-ever joint air combat exercise between both nations is following on from the growing role that Japan took…
Iraqi Prime Minister’s Decree will not Undermine Power of Iran-backed Militias Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 17 Issue: 16 By: Rafid Jaboori The Jamestown Foundation On July 1, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi issued a decree stating that the Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militias that operate under the umbrella group of the Popular Mobilization forces (PMU) should…
Russia Rehearses Multi-Platform Warfare in the Baltic Sea Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Roger McDermott The Jamestown Foundation Russia’s Armed Forces have commenced Okeanskiy Shchit (“Ocean Shield”) 2019 naval exercises in the Baltic Sea, under the direction of the commander-in-chief of the Russian Military-Maritime Fleet (Voyenno-Morskoy Flot—VMF), Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov. The exercises, running from August…
At least 42 die in Libya after airstrike hits many civilians attending a wedding ceremony Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another fresh massacre occurred in Libya after at least 42 civilians attending a wedding were killed in the South-Western part of this nation. The airstrike (drone strike) was committed by forces…
India and Myanmar to strengthen military defense ties Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nations of China, India, Japan, the Russian Federation, and many others, all view Myanmar in a positive light. Hence, for various reasons each nation seeks to boost ties with Myanmar. Of course, the geopolitical importance of this…
First Ever Sino-Russian Joint Air Patrol Barely Avoids Triggering Regional Conflict Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Pavel Felgenhauer The Jamestown Foundation The Chinese Ministry of National Defense published a white paper yesterday, July 24, entitled “China’s National Defense in a New Era.” The document accuses the United States of pursuing “unilateral policies,” provoking “intensified competition…
A Neighbor’s Dilemma: The Implications of the Libyan Crisis on Tunisia Publication: Terrorism Monitor By: James Pothecary The Jamestown Foundation Introduction In April, paramilitary forces loyal to the Libyan National Army (LNA)—the armed wing of the Tobruk administration—began its campaign to take the capital Tripoli from the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and…
Japan and Russia territorial dispute made worse based on US containment policies Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan wants stronger relations with the Russian Federation but three issues remain that are preventing this. This applies to the role of America that seeks to contain China and…
Japan and electronic warfare based on a wary eye on China and Russia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Irrespective of the rights or wrongs of events surrounding Crimea between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, the role of Russia’s electronic warfare opened-up eyes in Japan. Similarly, with China and the Russian Federation…
Christians killed in church attack in Burkina Faso: Islamist threat in West Africa Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Suspected Islamists have killed 6 Christians, including the Protestant pastor, in the northern part of Burkina Faso. This latest suspected Islamist terrorist attack is a further sign of the growing problem facing Burkina…
US and Japan affirm Cybersecurity ties: Japan’s non-Northeast Asian fixation and Russia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan claims that he desires to solve the protracted territorial dispute with the Russian Federation. Yet, many within the corridors of power in Moscow dispute the sincerity of Japan.…
China pledges strong support of Myanmar: Western nations need to open up! Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Myanmar is on the path of strengthening democracy under the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi. Yet, after mass propaganda about the crisis in Rakhine, many Western nations have…
Learning Without Fighting: New Developments in PLA Artificial Intelligence War-Gaming Publication: China Brief By: Elsa Kania The Jamestown Foundation The Opportunities and Challenges of Intelligentization A lack of recent experience in combat is often characterized as a major liability and potential disadvantage for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in any future conflict scenario.…
Egypt backs counterterrorism measures in Libya: President El-Sisi meets Khalifa Hafter Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Egypt under President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi openly backs counterterrorism measures in Libya. Indeed, with political convulsions emerging in Algeria and Sudan respectively, then Egypt seeks to keep Islamist terrorism and Muslim Brotherhood intrigues…
Electronic warfare and Japan: New approach to the Russian Federation? Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan is focused on a five-year plan to upgrade areas related to electronic warfare, cyber wars, cyberspace, and other modern military areas. At the same time, Japan understands the growing reality of new…
Russia’s Military Undertaking Growing Role in Creation of ‘Sovereign Internet’ Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Roger McDermott The Jamestown Foundation Russia’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed its involvement in the creation of a “sovereign Internet,” which marks part of its wider efforts to transform its system of military communications. This will involve the Russian military…
‘Special Outsider’: Russia Joins the Race for Global Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Sergey Sukhankin The Jamestown Foundation On February 26, the industrial director of the Rostec State Corporation, Sergey Abramov, declared that work on the fourth generation of the Ratnik future infantry combat system is underway. The system is said…
