Global Think Tanks (sources: RUSI)
(Joseph Jarnecki – RUSI/Europe, Cloud, Artificial Intelligence) On 3 June, the European Commission presented its European Technological Sovereignty Package, a highly anticipated set of measures billed as a generational effort to address Europe’s reliance on foreign technology. The package answers the 2024 Draghi Report which called for a reduction in foreign dependence and increased competitiveness to achieve European prosperity and security in a digital age. The Commission’s tech sovereignty package consists of four instruments: two pieces of legislation – the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) and the Chips Act 2.0 – and two strategic documents, the Open Source Strategy and Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in Energy. Altogether, an ambitious set of proposals. If enacted, the package will reshape how Europe builds, buys and trusts its digital infrastructure. How far it goes will be decided in the negotiations ahead, at the European Parliament and among member states. – Europe Means Business on Cloud and AI Sovereignty | Royal United Services Institute
Global News
(AFP-Al Arabiya/US, Iran) US forces struck and disabled another oil tanker attempting to bypass their blockade of Iranian ports this week, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursday. A US aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Guinea-Bissau flagged vessel “after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from US forces,” CENTCOM said. – US military says it struck tanker violating Iran port blockade
(Al Arabiya/US, Syria) Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa received an invitation to head to the United States later this month, where he met his counterpart Donald Trump last November, a diplomatic source told AFP on Thursday. The invitation comes after Trump had recently hinted at Syria’s willingness to intervene against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. – Syrian president receives invitation to US mid-June: Diplomatic source
(AFP-Al Arabiya/US, Iran) US President Donald Trump vowed fresh strikes on Iran Thursday and promised to take the country’s key oil infrastructure, in what would be a major escalation in the war with Iran. “The United States will be hitting Iran… VERY HARD TONIGHT,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. – Trump vows to take Iran oil terminals, launch new strikes
(Reuters-Al Arabiya/Russia, Ukraine, UK, France, Germany) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin met the ambassadors of France, Germany and Britain in Moscow on Thursday and told them their countries were pursuing a “destructive policy” toward the Ukraine war. The French ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere, told reporters outside the Foreign Ministry building the trio had had a “good discussion” with Galuzin and would release a statement later. – Russian diplomat discusses Ukraine war with French, German and British ambassadors
(Reuters-Al Arabiya/Russia, Italy, Ukraine, Europe) European allies of Ukraine should appoint a single representative for talks with Russia to end the war, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told lawmakers on Thursday, saying smaller groups of nations cannot represent the entire bloc. On Sunday, the leaders of Britain, France and Germany — heading an informal security alliance called the E3 — met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and said they supported Kyiv’s proposal for talks with Russia to secure a ceasefire. – Italy PM calls for single EU voice in Russia talks, questions smaller formats
(The Associated Press-Al Arabiya/UK) UK Defense Secretary John Healey unexpectedly resigned on Thursday, saying the government isn’t willing to spend enough on the military at a time of “rising threats.”. The resignation is another blow to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is already facing demands from Labour colleagues to step down. – UK defense secretary quits, says government isn’t willing to spend enough on military
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