Geostrategic Diary – June 7, 2022 a.m.

First published in The Science of Where Magazine

FOCUS

• June 6, 2022. By Anthony H. Cordesman, CSIS. The Ukraine conflict is already providing a wide range of lessons about the role of modern military forces in modern war, but it is also providing equally important lessons about the future of the civil side of war. Barring some massive political changes in Russia, the conflict is a warning that the civil side of war is becoming far more dangerous. Furthermore, it is yet another example that the kind of civil conflicts and crises that have emerged from the Iran-Iraq War, the Syrian and Yemeni civil wars, and the wars the U.S. and its allies have fought against extremists in Iraq and Afghanistan are now the rule and not the exception. The Longer-Term Impact of the Ukraine Conflict and the Growing Importance of the Civil Side of War

THINK TANKS & GLOBAL NEWS

TECH, DIGITAL, CYBER

• June 7, 2022. By Gatra Priyandita, The Strategist. Anthony Albanese’s first state visit to Indonesia as prime minister saw economics and investment at the top of the agenda, subjects of particular interest to President Joko Widodo. Considering that digital technology is becoming an ever more ubiquitous part of everyday life, cybersecurity should emerge at the top of the agenda in future Australian engagements with Indonesia. Australia and Indonesia should work to deepen cyber ties
• June 7, 2022. By Lesley Seebeck, Emily Williams and Jake Wallis, The Strategist. Enabled by digital technologies and fuelled by geopolitical competition, hybrid threats in the Indo-Pacific are increasing in breadth, application and intensity. Hybrid threats are a mix of military, non-military, covert and overt activities by state and non-state actors that occur below the level of conventional warfare. The consequences for individual nations include weakened institutions, disrupted social systems and economies, and greater vulnerability to coercion—especially from revisionist powers such as China. Countering hybrid threats in the Indo-Pacific
• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. The Russian government will allocate more than 900 million rubles for the rollout of the latest information technology in the agriculture sector. Russian govt to allocate over 900 mln ruble for digital tech in agriculture
• June 6, 2022. By Hu Weijia, Global Times. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Sunday once again urged the US Congress to pass the CHIPS for America Act which aims to help strengthen the US position in semiconductor research, development and manufacturing. The administration of US President Joe Biden has repeatedly demonstrated its determination to restore US semiconductor manufacturing, but the months-delayed CHIPS Act makes Biden’s ambition sound like little more than lip service. This may disappoint US allies who hope to steal a free ride on US economic development, especially Japan. Raimondo signals gloomy prospects for US chip revival
• June 6, 2022. By Global Times. It was only three years ago that Chinese telecoms authorities granted the first batch of 5G licenses for commercial use. Three years later, with over 1.6 million base stations installed nationwide and the number of 5G mobile phone users far exceeding 410 million, the large-scale application of 5G in China has entered a critical period, nurturing enormous economic driving force, companies and experts said on Monday. After three years of 5G commercial use, Chinese firms eye next generation of network
• June 6, 2022. By Nir Kshetri, East Asia Forum. Blockchain is transforming supply chains and facilitating cross-border transactions. In 2020, Anglo-Australian mining, metals and petroleum company BHP completed its first trade with Chinese iron and steel company Baowu on MineHub Technologies’ blockchain-based platform. China Minmetals and BHP have also used MineHub’s platform to share inter-company and cross-border data, such as information related to emissions and metals assay. Blockchain will revolutionise supply chains across the Asia Pacific
• June 6, 2022. By Aileen Nielsen, Brookings. The contours of acceptable online speech, and the appropriate mechanisms to ensure meaningful online communities, are among the most contentious policy debates in America today. Moderating content that is not per se illegal but that likely creates significant harm has proven particularly divisive. Many on the left insist digital platforms haven’t done enough to combat hate speech, misinformation, and other potentially harmful material, while many on the right argue that platforms are doing far too much—to the point where “Big Tech” is censoring legitimate speech and effectively infringing on Americans’ fundamental rights. As Congress weighs new regulation for digital platforms, and as states like Texas and Florida create social media legislation of their own, the importance and urgency of the issue is only set to grow. Misunderstandings of the First Amendment hobble content moderation
• June 6, 2022. By Nick Fouriezos, Atlantic Council. The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) presents the fifth annual 360/Open Summit on June 6 and 7 at the Square, in-person in Brussels and online around the world. 360/OS session time are listed in Central European Summer Time (CEST). Our global team of experts from five continents will convene alongside policymakers and journalists, activists and advocates, and industry representatives for two days of cutting-edge programming. The theme of this year’s 360/OS is Contested Realities | Connected Futures. Facing generational global challenges and unprecedented technological innovation, communities and countries are struggling to agree on a shared set of facts. Emboldened autocrats seek to undermine the very idea of collective action that underpins the democratic world. While democracy versus autocracy, fact versus fiction, and who should hold power are contested, one thing is certain: our futures are connected. As today’s competition shapes the global system for generations to come, it is up to this community of activists, industry leaders, and public servants to work together to create a rights-respecting, transparent, and representative future for all.  Spyware like Pegasus is a warning: Digital authoritarianism can happen in democracies, too

AROUND THE WORLD

Americas

• June 7, 2022. By  Humeyra Pamuk, Reuters. President Joe Biden will announce this week at the Summit of the Americas an economic partnership for the Western hemisphere focusing on promoting economic recovery by building on existing trade agreements, U.S. administration officials said on Monday. Biden to unveil economic partnership for Americas – U.S. official
• June 7, 2022. By Matt Spetalnick and Dave Graham, Reuters. The White House on Monday excluded Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas this week, prompting Mexico’s president to make good on a threat to skip the event because all countries in the Western Hemisphere were not invited. U.S. bars Cuba, Venezuela from Americas summit; Mexican leader sits out
• June 6, 2022. By Global Times. The Ninth Summit of the Americas kicked off in Los Angeles on Monday US time. While the Biden administration may have had high hopes for the event to boost its relationship with Latin American countries and counter China’s “expanding influence,” growing pushback from various Latin American leaders against the US’ exclusion of certain countries shows that Washington is headed for disappointment.  GT Voice: US won’t be able to use summit to sabotage China-Latin America ties

China

• June 7, 2022. By Reuters. Beijing reported no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 infections in communities during the 15 hours to 3 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Tuesday, a disease control official said. Beijing city reports no new COVID cases in communities during the 15 hours to 3pm Tuesday

Georgia – Europe

• June 6, 2022. By Beka Chedia, The Jamestown Foundation. On June 3, at the Global Security Forum, in Bratislava, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili declared, “I will say without exaggeration that Georgia has always been a leader among Eastern European countries.” He added that Georgia had done its homework on joining the European Union, and now it was the EU’s turn (Facebook.com/GaribashviliOfficial, June 3). While shifting the responsibility for resolving the issue of Georgia receiving candidate status to Brussels, Garibashvili asserted that, in all respects, Tbilisi was ahead of fellow EU aspirants from the former Soviet space—Kyiv and Chisinau (Facebook.com/GaribashviliOfficial, June 3). Yet the European Union Delegation to Georgia has expressed some reservations. Several days earlier, the head of the EU mission in Tbilisi, Ambassador Carl Hartzell, agreed that the Georgian authorities had reason to be proud of their achievements, which earned the country the informal title of “leader” of the Eastern Partnership (EaP). But on the other hand, the pace of Georgian reforms had stalled, and the EU was increasingly concerned about the country’s current trajectory (Amerikiskhma.com, May 30). Georgia Claims Pole Position Among Eastern European EU Aspirants

Kazakhstan

• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. Kazakhstan is planning to extend its ban on petroleum product exports, declared in November 2021, through 2022, Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said. Kazakhstan planning to extend ban on petroleum product exports thru 2022 – deputy PM
• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. The latest figures show that 77.18% of voters who took part in the June 5 referendum supported the proposed amendments to the Kazakh constitution, Kazakh Central Elections Commission (CEC) Chairperson Nurlan Abdirov said. Over 77% of voters backed constitutional amendments in Kazakh referendum – CEC report

Malaysia

• June 7, 2022. By Eugene Mark, East Asia Forum. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine constricting the global supply of edible oils, demand for palm oil has spiked. But as the war continues, supply remains uncertain. Indonesia’s export ban on crude palm oil, palm kernel oil and cooking oils added further strain. Sustainable palm oil production is in Malaysia’s hand

Myanmar

• June 7, 2022. By Reuters. A parallel government opposed to military rule in Myanmar announced on Tuesday it was forming its own police force, in its latest effort to hamper the junta’s efforts to govern after a coup last year. Myanmar’s shadow government to create its own police force

New Zealand – Russia – Belarus

• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. New Zealand has imposed sanctions on 44 companies from Russia and Belarus, including Russian gas giant Gazprom and Belarusian defense industry enterprises, the government of New Zealand said on Tuesday. New Zealand sanctions 44 Russian and Belarusian enterprises

Poland – Belarus

• June 7, 2022. By HRW. The effort by Belarus to confront the EU at the Polish border with migrants and asylum seekers as the victims persists. Poland unlawfully, and sometimes violently, summarily pushes migrants and asylum seekers back to Belarus, where they face serious abuses, including beatings and rape by border guards and other security forces. At least one person drowned and another disappeared in March 2022 in the course of being pushed back. Violence and Pushbacks at Poland-Belarus Border

Russia

• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. First deputy general director of VK Vladimir Gabrielyan and the company’s director of procurement Sergei Merzlyakov have died in an accident in Russia’s Nenets Autonomous District, VK said in a statement. VK top managers Gabrielyan and Merzlyakov die in accident
• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. Lukoil plans to develop the network of Shell (SPB: RDS.A) filling stations in Russia under the Finnish Teboil brand, the company said in a press release. Lukoil to develop network of Shell filling stations in Russia under Finnish brand Teboil
• June 7, 2022. By TASS. The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, will consider draft laws on non-performance of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings and parallel import legalization at the plenary session on Tuesday. State Duma to discuss ECHR rulings, parallel import – Russian Politics & Diplomacy
• June 7, 2022. By TASS. The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, will discuss the draft federal law “On control over the activity of persons under foreign influence” at the plenary session on Tuesday. State Duma to discuss draft law on foreign agents – Russian Politics & Diplomacy
• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. The point of the bill that will prohibit granting resource development licenses to foreign companies is that nonresidents will have to set up a legal entity in Russia and transfer the resource rights to it, Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov said at a meeting of the United Russia Presidium. Foreign cos will have to register legal entity in Russia to get resource licenses

Russia – Africa

• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. Russia is prepared to supply grain to Africa and traders hope to establish direct shipments to countries on the continent, the Agriculture Ministry’s Agroexport Center said after the start of the African AgroMarathon 2022 on Monday. Traders hope to establish direct shipments of Russian grain to Africa

Russia – Arctic

• June 6, 2022. By Sergey Sukhankin, The Jamestown Foundation. The unprovoked large-scale Russian military aggression against Ukraine, launched on February 24, is putting at risk the Kremlin’s ambitious plans related to economic exploitation of the Arctic region and the Russian High North. Not only are the Russian war on Ukraine and the associated punitive sanctions adopted by the West undermining Moscow’s ability to capitalize on its large liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects located in the Arctic region, but they are also creating problems for domestic oil producers, whose remaining reserves are overwhelmingly found in the High North and Siberia (see Part One in EDM, June 1). Russia’s Arctic Strategy Melting Under the Scorch of Sanctions (Part Two)

Russia – IAEA – Iran

• June 7, 2022. By TASS. Russia will not associate itself with the resolution on Iran if it is approved at the current session of the IAEA Board of Governors, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said in his Telegram channel. Russia will not support IAEA resolution on Iran if it is approved this week — envoy – Russian Politics & Diplomacy

Russia – Ukraine

• June 7, 2022. By Global Times. Only through cease-fire and the restoration of peace can the trauma of conflict for women and children be fundamentally avoided, a Chinese envoy said on Monday, warning that constantly providing weapons or imposing sanctions and pressure will only perpetuate and expand the Ukraine conflict. Only cease-fire and peace restoration can fundamentally avoid trauma for women and children: Chinese envoy on Ukrainian conflict
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. In the morning of June 7, 2022, Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units shot down an enemy missile over Zaporizhzhia Region. Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units destroy enemy missile over Zaporizhzhia Region
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. Russia has already lost about 31,360 troops in Ukraine (+110 over the past day). Ukraine Army destroys about 31,360 enemy troops and 1,390 tanks
• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. The United States has handed over rescue equipment worth $50 million to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, and other assistance packages are on the way, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said. U.S. provides Ukraine with rescue equipment worth $50 mln – Ambassador Brink
• June 7, 2022. By TASS. Donbass forces supported by Russian troops have almost completely mopped up Severodonetsk, fighting is going on in the suburbs of Lisichansk, the Lugansk People’s Republic’s (LPR) ambassador said on Tuesday. Severodonetsk freed, fighting on in Lisichansk suburbs, says Lugansk republic ambassador
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. In the morning of June 7, 2022, the Russian military opened fire on the city of Mykolaiv. Hostilities are underway in Donetsk Region, Luhansk Region and Kherson Region. Mykolaiv comes under enemy fire, battles raging in eastern and southern Ukraine – consolidated report
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. A total of 263 children have been killed and over 467 injured in Ukraine since the Russian invasion started. Russian military kill 263 children in Ukraine
• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. The Ukrainian government is considering granting the English language the status of the language of business communication in Ukraine, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. Ukraine may designate English as language of business communication – PM
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. “The Russian assault in Novookhtyrka and Voronove directions was repulsed. In Bilohorivka area, the enemy uses sabotage and reconnaissance groups,” Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai posted on Telegram. Enemy continues assaulting Sievierodonetsk, battles ongoing – Haidai
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. “In Kharkiv direction, the enemy’s main efforts are focused on holding the occupied frontiers, border areas north of Kharkiv city, and restraining the advance of our troops. The enemy remotely delivers mines on the route of the offensive of our troops towards Rubizhne,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook. Russian troops mining territory on route of Ukraine’s army offensive in Kharkiv region
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. “In Volyn and Polissya directions, the threat of missile and air strikes from the territory of Belarus remains. As part of the creation of the southern operational command, the size of the armed forces of Belarus is expected to grow up to 80,000 personnel,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook. General Staff: Belarus plans to increase size of armed forces up to 80,000 personnel
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. “What would we like to see in the seventh package of sanctions? Of course, time will tell, but we are talking about a total embargo on Russian energy, ie pipeline oil, but this requires solving a number of technical issues … we are talking about gas,” Vsevolod Chentsov, Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU, said at an online briefing on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. EU’s 7th package of sanctions should include full embargo on Russian energy – Ambassador
• June 7, 2022. By Pavel Polityuk and Natalia Zinets, Reuters. Ukrainian troops were engaged in fierce street fighting with Russian soldiers in the industrial city of Sievierodonetsk, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, in what is a pivotal battle in the Kremlin’s attempt to control the eastern Donbas region. Fierce street fighting in Ukraine’s Sievierodonetsk, a pivotal battle for Donbas
• June 7, 2022. By TASS. The United States will continue providing Ukraine with military support, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said at the briefing. US to continue military support to Ukraine — White House
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. “As for the Belarusians, this is open information. We were offered to go through Belarus by rail. Yes. We understand what the volume is. We understand why we were offered this. We are not ready to work in this format and help our ‘friendly’ neighbors,” President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on June 6. Zelensky: Ukraine not ready to consider grain exports through Belarus
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. The United States will do everything it can to put Ukraine in a position of strength in the face of Russian armed aggression. White House: United States will do everything it can to put Ukraine in position of strength
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said in France that if Ukraine does not receive a signal about the EU membership prospect at the end of June, Putin will receive this signal. If Ukraine does not receive signal of EU membership, Putin will receive it – Stefanchuk
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. “This war made it clear to us that the Three Seas Initiative is impossible without Ukraine. There will be no Three Seas without free and independent Ukraine,” Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki said at the opening of a two-day Three Seas Initiative Local Government Congress in Lublin on June 6, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. Morawiecki: Three Seas Initiative impossible without free and sovereign Ukraine
• June 7, 2022. By Ukrinform. “Continuing insidious 203mm heavy artillery shelling of Mykolayiv city, ruscists hit residential neighborhoods, kill citizens, ruin civilian buildings, destroy cars,” the Operational Command “South” posted on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. Ukraine’s Armed Forces eliminate 26 invaders, 10 enemy equipment units in south
• June 6, 2022. By Pavel K. Baev, The Jamestown Foundation. Russian military strategists argue that modern wars are decided in the high-intensity initial period; and the multi-pronged large-scale offensive into Ukraine was indeed launched, on February 24, 2022, with the aim of achieving a decisive success in the first couple of weeks. Yet as the war crossed the symbolic 100 days milestone last weekend (June 4), nothing resembling a victory was discernible on Russia’s strategic horizon, even if the aims have been reduced to conquering the devastated Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russian troops keep pushing into the ruins of Sievierodonetsk behind heavy artillery barrages, but they cannot deliver anything resembling the elegant enveloping operations that are so highly valued by Russia’s military theorists (Svoboda.org, June 3). The sequence of minor tactical successes over the last couple of weeks may, in fact, bring strategic defeat closer, as tired battalion tactical groups take more casualties and can only be merged together rather than reinforced due to the lack of reserves (Riddle, June 3). After 100 Days, Russian Offensive Crawls Toward Eventual Defeat
• June 6, 2022. By Karolina Hird, Mason Clark, and George Barros, ISW. The nature of urban combat in Severodonetsk is likely obfuscating reports of control of terrain within the city, though Russian forces likely retain control over much of the city.Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Serhiy Haidai claimed on June 5 that Ukrainian forces managed to retake large parts of Severodonetsk and push Russian forces to the outskirts of the city during successful urban counterattacks.[1] Ukrainian journalist Yuri Butusov, however, denied Haidai’s claims on June 5 and claimed that Ukrainian forces only control the Azot industrial sector of Severodonetsk. Haidai amended his claims on June 6 and reported that the situation in Severodonetsk has deteriorated significantly, adding that Ukrainian forces were indeed fighting within the Azot industrial site on June 6.[2] The reason for Haidai and Butusov’s conflicting reports is unclear, and heavy urban fighting is ongoing in the city. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 6

Thailand

• June 7, 2022. By HRW. The Thai government should provide recently rescued Rohingya asylum seekers with assistance and immediate access to procedures to determine their refugee status, Human Rights Watch said today. Thailand: Allow Newly Arrived Rohingya Access to Asylum

UK 

• June 7, 2022. By William James, Reuters. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will seek to shore up his position on Tuesday by setting out a raft of new policies to senior ministers after he survived a confidence vote that revealed the scale of the threat to his position. UK PM Johnson vows to ‘get on with the job’ after surviving confidence vote

Ukraine

• June 7, 2022. By Interfax. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has tasked the country’s relevant ministries with drawing up a draft grant program to support small and medium-sized businesses. PM Shmyhal tells ministries to draft grant program to support Ukrainian small, medium-sized businesses

USA

• June 7, 2022. By Kenneth K. Wong and Coral Flanagan, Brookings. On the first day of his presidency, Joe Biden signed Executive Order 13985.“Our Nation deserves an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda,” the order states. “It is therefore the policy of my Administration that the Federal Government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all.” This order triggered a comprehensive review of federal policy and practice to eliminate governmental barriers to equal access to public education and other services. Education policy through executive action: Comparing the Biden and Trump presidencies
• June 6, 2022. By Frank Konkel, Defense One. President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act on Monday in an effort to beef up clean energy manufacturing, lower energy costs for American families, and improve national security through reduced reliance on foreign counterparts for gas and oil. Biden Invokes Defense Production Act to Boost Clean Energy Manufacturing
• June 6, 2022. By Norman Eisen, Donald Ayer, Joshua Perry, Noah Bookbinder, and E. Danya Perry, Brookings. President Joe Biden legitimately won a fair and secure 2020 presidential election—and Donald Trump lost. This historical fact has been uncontroverted by any evidence since at least November 7, 2020, when major news outlets projected Biden’s victory. But Trump never conceded. Instead, both before and after Election Day, he tried to delegitimize the election results by disseminating a series of far-fetched and evidence-free claims of fraud. Meanwhile, with a ring of close confidants, Trump conceived and implemented unprecedented schemes to—in his own words—“overturn” the election outcome. Among the results of this “Big Lie” campaign were the terrible events of January 6, 2021—an inflection point in what we now understand was nothing less than an attempted coup. Trump on Trial: A Guide to the January 6 Hearings and the Question of Criminality

USA – South Korea – North Korea

• June 7, 2022. By Joori Roh and Soo-Hyang Choi, Reuters. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on Tuesday there would be a strong and clear response from the United States, South Korea and the world if North Korea were to conduct a nuclear test. U.S. official says will respond forcefully if N.Korea holds nuclear test

DEFENSE, MILITARY, SPACE

• June 7, 2022. By Global Times. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warned away an Australian spy plane when it recently attempted to trespass into Chinese airspace of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea for close-in reconnaissance, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Tuesday, debunking Australia’s claim that a PLA warplane intercepted the Australian aircraft and threatened the safety of its crew. PLA warns away Australian spy plane for close airspace trespass in China’s Xisha
• June 7, 2022. By Rebecca Banagala, The Strategist. With the announcement that Defence Space Command operations have kicked off, it’s unsurprising that Australia’s defence and national security experts are increasingly talking about space. Writing the rules for mining in space
• June 6, 2022. By Benjamin Felton, Naval News. The Royal New Zealand Navy’s second Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Mana departed Canada on May 31st for home, three years after she commenced her Frigate Systems Upgrade, at Lockheed Martin Canada. New Zealand Frigate Sails Home Following Upgrade
• June 6, 2022. By Naval News. The Turkish shipyard ARES signed a contract with the Qatari Ministry of Interior for the export of three ARES 40 FIC Fast Interceptor Craft during the MILIPOL exhibition in Doha on May 25, 2022. ARES Shipyard secures deal with Qatar for 3 Fast Interceptor Crafts
• June 6, 2022. By Naval News. U.S. Indo-Pacific command joint forces are scheduled to participate in exercise Valiant Shield (VS) 2022, June 6-17, on Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and at sea around the Mariana Island Range Complex. U.S. Indo-Pacific Forces Come Together: Valiant Shield 22
• June 6, 2022. By Bartosz Głowacki, Breaking Defense. In a move that caught many by surprise, Poland announced late last month that it has begun the process of acquiring 500 of a US-made long-range weapons system known as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, capping off a May military modernization splurge that also announced plans to procure more Patriot missile defense systems. Poland moves to buy HIMARS, capping major May modernization push
• June 6, 2022. By Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense.  The Space Force’s acquisition command next month will hold a so-called “reverse industry day” on space domain awareness, including in the vast cislunar region between the orbits of the Earth and the Moon, as the next topic in a planned series of events designed to help hash out the service’s future purchase plans. For Space Force’s monthly ‘reverse industry days,’ space domain awareness next up
• June 6, 2022. By Andrew Eversden, Breaking Defense. The US Army officially re-activated the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska today, as the service seeks to sharpen its Arctic fighting capabilities and to give soldiers stationed in the north a “common unit identity,” the Army’s top general said. Seeking morale boost in Alaska, Army formally re-activates 11th Airborne Division
• June 6,  2022. By Jen Judson, Defense News. With two demonstrator aircraft logging hundreds of hours in the European and Pacific theaters, the U.S. Army is closing in on a replacement for its aging Guardrail turboprop aircraft that provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance with a faster, more capable jet. US Army closes in on faster jet to replace Guardrail aircraft
• June 6, 2022. By  Jon Gambrell, AP and David Rising, AP, Defense News. China’s most advanced aircraft carrier to date appears to be nearing completion, satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed Friday, as experts suggested the vessel could be launched soon. See satellite images of China’s new aircraft carrier
• June 6, 2022. By Heather Penney, Defense News. Words matter, especially when it comes to understanding and overseeing new military technologies. That is why it is especially important to be deliberate and precise in how we talk about a new class of aerial munitions, like the Switchblade loitering munition, which many, including government leaders, are inaccurately referring to as unmanned aerial vehicles. Stop calling Switchblades ‘drones’ — it’s causing policy confusion
• June 6, 2022. By Colin Demarest, Defense News. The U.S. Army said it verified that military services and international forces participating in Project Convergence this year can exchange information and connect over long distances, a critical milestone ahead of the capstone experiment this fall. Army verifies info-sharing abilities with forces joining Project Convergence 22
• June 6, 2022. By Brian Kim, Defense News. South Korea has approved a plan to buy more Lockheed Martin-made Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles to enhance its defense against North Korea’s ballistic missile threat. South Korea to buy more Patriot missiles, upgrade launchers
• June 6, 2022. By Gregory C. Allen, CSIS. In November 2012, the Department of Defense (DOD) released its policy on autonomy in weapons systems: DOD Directive 3000.09 (DODD 3000.09). Despite being nearly 10 years old, the policy remains frequently misunderstood, including by leaders in the U.S. military. For example, in February 2021, Colonel Marc E. Pelini, who at the time was the division chief for capabilities and requirements within the DOD’s Joint Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, said, “Right now we don’t have the authority to have a human out of the loop. Based on the existing Department of Defense policy, you have to have a human within the decision cycle at some point to authorize the engagement.”. DOD Is Updating Its Decade-Old Autonomous Weapons Policy, but Confusion Remains Widespread

PERSPECTIVES

• June 7, 2022. By Global Times. The finance ministers and central bank governors from the BRICS countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa , agreed on expanding financial cooperation such as supporting the amendment of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) treaty and encouraging cooperation on the New Development Bank, by signing a joint statement during a virtual meeting on Monday as the countries look to strengthen cooperation in the face of external pressures like COVID-19 outbreaks. Officials from BRICS countries call for deeper financial cooperation
• June 6, 2022. By Addisu Lashitew, Brookings. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments—financial assets that fulfill certain minimum social and environmental criteria—are expected to reach $50 trillion in assets by 2025. While this implies a significant reallocation of capital toward sustainable activities, the extent to which ESG investments advance climate transition is unclear because of lack of standardization in their classification. The explosive growth of ESG investments in the past two decades took place in the context of a lax regulatory regime for sustainability disclosure. Corporate managers were free to choose what to disclose and in what format, which led to a hodgepodge of voluntary disclosure standards. The outcome is ESG data that is incomplete, unreliable, and difficult to compare across firms. The coming of age of sustainability disclosure: How do rules differ between the US and the EU?