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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Giant US-UK armada takes to water in ‘Talisman Sabre' show of force with aircraft carriers shrouded by fighter jet fleet
AN IMPOSING US-UK armada has taken to the water as part of the allied Exercise Talisman Sabre war drills. The impervious aircraft carriers and fighter jet fleets are taking part in live-fire exercises in Australia which include 35,000 military personnel from 19 different nations. Advertisement 9 An imposing US-UK armada has taken to the water as part of the allied Exercise Talisman Sabre war drills Credit: SWNS 9 Aircraft carriers USS George Washington (top) and HMS Prince of Wales (bottom) sail in formation with US and UK warships Credit: SWNS 9 35,000 military personnel from 19 different nations took part in the Australian drills Credit: SWNS Australia marked the historic event, the largest war drills in their history , by firing missiles from its M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The HIMARS launchers were recently bought from the US and were unleashed today at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland. Elsewhere, a striking display of allied naval might saw the UK and US deploy their USS George Washington and the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers. The UK - who sent over 3,000 troops - also used vessels such as HMS Richmond, HMS Dauntless, RFA Fort Victoria, and RFA Argus for the exercise. Advertisement read more in war drills The expansive multinational flotilla was shadowed by warships from Canada, Norway, and Australia as well. The huge fleet were paired up with air operations and joint ground manoeuvres which took place across Australia's Northern Territory and Queensland. Brigadier Nick Wilson told reporters after the drills: "Today was the first time the Australian Army has live-fired our long-range, multi-domain platforms being the HIMARS, so it is a remarkable day." British Defence Secretary John Healey added: "The historic bonds between Britain and Australia run deep, and through AUKUS and exercises like Talisman Sabre we are strengthening these ties for the challenges of tomorrow. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun "Our commitment to the Indo-Pacific is unwavering, as this huge military exercise demonstrates. "We will continue to work alongside our closest allies to maintain the security and stability that underpins global prosperity." Britain pledges more support to Ukraine as NATO warships prepare for largest drills since Cold War Talisman Sabre has been a This year saw dozens of other countries take part such as Canada , Fiji, France, Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea among others. Advertisement The drills stretched all the way from Darwin to Brisbane as the allies imposed themselves across the Indo-Pacific. The waters are often closely monitored by Chinese surveillance ships. dating back to 2017. Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said he expects China to monitor them again this time around. Advertisement Conroy said: "We'll adjust accordingly. We'll obviously observe their activities and monitor their presence around Australia. "But we'll also adjust how we conduct those exercises." 9 U.S. Navy aircraft and the George Washington Carrier participate in the dual carrier operations Credit: SWNS 9 A US F18 launches from US Aircraft Carrier, USS George Washington Credit: SWNS Advertisement 9 An Australian soldier from the 1st Military Police Battalion is seen participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 Credit: Getty It all comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began a six-day visit to China of his own. He is expected to hold a fourth face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday. Albanese said despite Chinese surveillance being a concern, he would not raise it as an issue amid the Talisman Sabre operations. Advertisement China has been routinely trying to scare the West through their own military drills in recent weeks. Earlier this month, dramatic footage captured a fleet of Chinese tank boats And China's new giant These developments have raised fears that a Chinese invasion on Taiwan could be imminent. Advertisement Bringing the self-governed province back in line with mainland China has been a goal of president The self-governing nation has been protected by the firepower of ally America for decades. The latest Talisman Sabre drills will give Taiwan further hope of protection from not only the US but also the entire allied fleet. The exercises are also aimed towards striking fear into other Western allies such as North Korea and Russia. Advertisement Russia 's relationship with Europe has drastically worsened as Vladimir Putin continues to defy all warnings and continue with his deadly invasion of Ukraine. But even Vlad, with all his firepower and huge army, faces a serious battle against a unified West due to his lack of aircraft carriers. Russia only boasts a Ukraine and has instead been languishing in the grim Arctic port of Murmansk, in northwestern Russia. Advertisement 9 A terrifying fleet of Chinese tank boats seen charging through the sea near to Taiwan earlier this month Credit: X 9 Vladimir Putin's only rustbucket aircraft carrier is poised to be scrapped after seven years of failed repairs - leaving the despot vulnerable Credit: EPA 9
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Giant US-UK armada takes to water in ‘Talisman Sabre' show of force with aircraft carriers shrouded by fighter jet fleet
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN IMPOSING US-UK armada has taken to the water as part of the allied Exercise Talisman Sabre war drills. The impervious aircraft carriers and fighter jet fleets are taking part in live-fire exercises in Australia which include 35,000 military personnel from 19 different nations. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 An imposing US-UK armada has taken to the water as part of the allied Exercise Talisman Sabre war drills Credit: SWNS 9 Aircraft carriers USS George Washington (top) and HMS Prince of Wales (bottom) sail in formation with US and UK warships Credit: SWNS 9 35,000 military personnel from 19 different nations took part in the Australian drills Credit: SWNS Australia marked the historic event, the largest war drills in their history, by firing missiles from its M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The HIMARS launchers were recently bought from the US and were unleashed today at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland. Elsewhere, a striking display of allied naval might saw the UK and US deploy their USS George Washington and the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers. The UK - who sent over 3,000 troops - also used vessels such as HMS Richmond, HMS Dauntless, RFA Fort Victoria, and RFA Argus for the exercise. read more in war drills SEA OF STEEL Watch as huge fleet of terrifying new Chinese 'tank boats' takes to water The expansive multinational flotilla was shadowed by warships from Canada, Norway, and Australia as well. The huge fleet were paired up with air operations and joint ground manoeuvres which took place across Australia's Northern Territory and Queensland. Brigadier Nick Wilson told reporters after the drills: "Today was the first time the Australian Army has live-fired our long-range, multi-domain platforms being the HIMARS, so it is a remarkable day." British Defence Secretary John Healey added: "The historic bonds between Britain and Australia run deep, and through AUKUS and exercises like Talisman Sabre we are strengthening these ties for the challenges of tomorrow. "Our commitment to the Indo-Pacific is unwavering, as this huge military exercise demonstrates. "We will continue to work alongside our closest allies to maintain the security and stability that underpins global prosperity." Britain pledges more support to Ukraine as NATO warships prepare for largest drills since Cold War Talisman Sabre has been a major biennial joint exercise ever since it was first announced in 2005 between the US and Australia. This year saw dozens of other countries take part such as Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea among others. The drills stretched all the way from Darwin to Brisbane as the allies imposed themselves across the Indo-Pacific. The waters are often closely monitored by Chinese surveillance ships. Beijing has kept a watchful eye over any naval exercises off the Australian coast during the last four Talisman Sabre exercises dating back to 2017. Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said he expects China to monitor them again this time around. Conroy said: "We'll adjust accordingly. We'll obviously observe their activities and monitor their presence around Australia. "But we'll also adjust how we conduct those exercises." 9 U.S. Navy aircraft and the George Washington Carrier participate in the dual carrier operations Credit: SWNS 9 A US F18 launches from US Aircraft Carrier, USS George Washington Credit: SWNS 9 An Australian soldier from the 1st Military Police Battalion is seen participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 Credit: Getty It all comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began a six-day visit to China of his own. He is expected to hold a fourth face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday. Albanese said despite Chinese surveillance being a concern, he would not raise it as an issue amid the Talisman Sabre operations. China has been routinely trying to scare the West through their own military drills in recent weeks. Earlier this month, dramatic footage captured a fleet of Chinese tank boats charging through the sea in tight formation near Taiwan. And China's new giant "sea monster" warplane was spotted for the first time in the Bohai Sea. These developments have raised fears that a Chinese invasion on Taiwan could be imminent. Bringing the self-governed province back in line with mainland China has been a goal of president Xi Jinping's for a long time and recent military activity has shown that China is ready to take it back by force. The self-governing nation has been protected by the firepower of ally America for decades. The latest Talisman Sabre drills will give Taiwan further hope of protection from not only the US but also the entire allied fleet. The exercises are also aimed towards striking fear into other Western allies such as North Korea and Russia. Russia's relationship with Europe has drastically worsened as Vladimir Putin continues to defy all warnings and continue with his deadly invasion of Ukraine. But even Vlad, with all his firepower and huge army, faces a serious battle against a unified West due to his lack of aircraft carriers. Russia only boasts a single rustbucket carrier - but even that is poised to be scrapped after seven years of failed repairs. Putin's 'Ship of Shame' has played no role in the war against Ukraine and has instead been languishing in the grim Arctic port of Murmansk, in northwestern Russia. 9 A terrifying fleet of Chinese tank boats seen charging through the sea near to Taiwan earlier this month Credit: X 9 Vladimir Putin's only rustbucket aircraft carrier is poised to be scrapped after seven years of failed repairs - leaving the despot vulnerable Credit: EPA
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Blackbeard ‘Cheap' Hypersonic Strike Missile Being Developed For U.S. Army (Updated)
The U.S. Army wants to see if a startup founded three years ago by former SpaceX employees can deliver a lower-cost ground-launched missile, dubbed Blackbeard, capable of engaging targets hundreds of miles away at hypersonic speeds. The weapon is being developed in parallel with new uncrewed launcher vehicles, but could also be fired from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers. With a viable Blackbeard design from the Castelion Corporation, the Army says it would gain a valuable new way to quickly strike targets, including time-sensitive ones on the move, and do so relatively cheaply. In its proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year, the Army is asking for $25 million to support work on the Blackbeard Ground Launch (Blackbeard GL) effort. The funding request is somewhat confusingly contained in a line item that has been used for elements of the Dark Eagle Long Range Hypersonic Weapons (LRHW), as well as HIMARS Extended Range Demostration (HERD) work, in the past. 'As of June 2025, the program office is pursuing a Middle Tier of Acquisition for Rapid Prototyping (MTA-RP) pathway, with the goal of transitioning the system to Program Executive Office Missile and Space if successful and deemed cost-effective,' the Army's Fiscal Year 2026 budget request explains. 'To accelerate development and leverage innovation, the program office is pursuing acquisition under a Fixed-Firm-Price (FFP) sole-source Other Transaction Authority for Prototyping (OTAP) with Castelion Corporation, a non-traditional defense contractor.' Castelion was founded in 2022 by a trio of individuals who left space launch and services giant SpaceX to form their own company, which is focused on the development of high-speed, but also relatively low-cost and readily producible strike weapons. As of January, the company had raised more than $100 million in funding from private investors and had secured tens of millions more in U.S. military contracts, according to The Wall Street Journal. Those contracts are something we will come back to later on. Rapid development schedules and affordable, mass-produced defense hardware are the keys to deterring future wars. Castelion is here to build them. — Castelion (@CastelionCorp) October 5, 2023 'The mission of Blackbeard Ground Launch (GL) is to attack/neutralize/suppress/destroy using hypersonic missile delivered precision fires (seeker based) against time sensitive moving targets and hardened targets at a much-reduced cost per missile than currently exists in the Army inventory,' according to the Army's proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year. 'Blackbeard Ground Launch (GL) is an affordable, mass-produced hypersonic weapon designed for mid-range precision. The Army will leverage advancements in technology, materials, and cost-effective production methods to provide superior capabilities through fast, iterative design cycles, flexible hardware development, and modern manufacturing practices.' 'Blackbeard GL is not a replacement to [sic] the Long Range Hypersonic Weapons (LRHW) as it will not reach similar velocities nor range,' the line item also makes clear. 'The goal of Blackbeard GL is to deliver approximately 80% of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 4 capability at a significantly reduced cost.' PrSM is a short-range ballistic missile. The Army is in the process of fielding the baseline Increment 1 version now, which can be fired from both wheeled M142 HIMARS and tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher vehicles. The Increment 2 missile, which is in development now, features a new dual-mode seeker system that allows for the engagement of moving targets on land or at sea. Increment 3 is focused on new 'enhanced' payloads, which might include small precision-guided glide bombs or kamikaze drones. Increment 4 seeks to increase PrSM's range from 310 miles (500 kilometers) to 620 miles (1,000 kilometers), and could include the addition of a ramjet or some other form of air-breathing propulsion. At least in terms of range, a Blackbeard missile offering 80% percent of the capability of an Increment 4 PrSM could therefore be able to reach targets out to just under 500 miles (800 kilometers). Hypersonic speed is also typically defined as anything above Mach 5, which would then be the minimum peak velocity for the Blackbeard missile. It is important to note here that traditional ballistic missiles travel at very high speeds, with many types often exceeding the hypersonic threshold in the terminal phase of flight. However, the term 'hypersonic missile' generally refers to weapons designed for sustained hypersonic speed across a far shallower and even maneuvering trajectory. This can include missiles that release unpowered hypersonic boost-glide vehicles, like the aforementioned Dark Eagle, as well as air-breathing hypersonic cruise missiles. Exactly how Blackbeard is expected to be 'hypersonic' is unclear. What kind of unit cost the Army is eying for Blackbeard is unknown. PrSM Increment 4 is still very much in the conceptual stage, so there is no price point there to compare against. Per its latest budget request, the Army is now paying around $1.6 million for each Increment 1 PrSM, but is also spending some $5.35 million per Increment 2 missile with the new guidance package. TWZ has reached out to the Army and Castelion for more information. Castelion has already conducted numerous launches to date of test articles with different designs, which could reflect multiple concepts under development. They all look, at least in very broad strokes externally, like small ballistic missiles. Some of the company's experimental designs also look to feature tail sections that are at least heavily inspired by, if not lifted directly from Standard-series surface-to-air missiles still in service with the U.S. Navy and other navies globally. The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force have awarded Castelion contracts for work related to long-range strike weapon concepts in the past. The company has also said previously that it is aiming to have a more finalized design by 2027. The Air Force connection may also help explain the apparent existence of an air-launched design that the Army plans to use as the basis for the first phase of the Blackbeard project. Phase 1 'will deliver a prototype proof-of-concept, including a fixed-fin flight demonstration of the existing air-launched, extended-range Blackbeard design from a modified Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions (MFOM) pod,' according to the Army's latest budget proposal. 'Following the demonstration, Blackbeard-GL Minimum Viable Product (MVP) prototypes will be fabricated alongside a custom Blackbeard-GL launcher pod, culminating in an MVP flight test launched from the M142 HIMARS Fire Control system.' All current munitions for the M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS come in standardized MFOM pods. The pods can each hold six 227mm guided artillery rockets, a single Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missile, or two PrSMs. It's unclear how many Blackbeards the Army expects to fit inside the standard pod architecture. 'If Phase 1 is successful, this option will be exercised to develop and demonstrate the full capability of a production-representative weapon,' according to the Army's budget documents. 'This includes delivering 10 missiles integrated into the M142 HIMARS launcher platform and fire control system, as well as integrating a Flight Termination System (FTS).' A munition that would allow a HIMARS launcher to precisely engage stationary or moving targets 800 miles in any direction from where it is located, and do so very quickly and at relatively low cost, would be a major boost in capability. Even just with a hypersonic peak speed, Blackbeard would offer additional flexibility against pop-up threats and otherwise present additional challenges for enemy forces. As mentioned at the start of this story, the Army says that Blackbeard is also a direct companion to work on new uncrewed launcher vehicles capable of firing munitions from MFOM pods, as well as bespoke canisters. The service is currently looking toward a future that could include a potential family of so-called Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launchers (CAML) of various sizes. It has already tested an uncrewed derivative of the HIMARS, as well as a separate design from Raytheon. Castelion has been using launchers loaded on 10×10 Oshkosh MKR18 Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) trucks, as well as static launchers on the ground, during its testing. Another flight test in the books – this time @Spaceport_NM. Our second flight in the past 30 best way to stay ahead of your adversary in a prolonged competition is to have faster learning cycles than they do. — Castelion (@CastelionCorp) February 19, 2025 Welcoming our new LSVR MKR18 to El Segundo this week. We'll be making upgrades to convert this vehicle into a launcher system for our upcoming flight tests – and it's a fun ride. — Castelion (@CastelionCorp) April 10, 2024 In general, uncrewed launchers would help the service expand its overall rocket artillery and ballistic missile launch capacity without the need for significantly larger numbers of personnel. The launchers could also be employed with less risk to human operators, even when pushed further forward. This could be a particularly potent combination when paired with Blackbeard's range and other capabilities. Beyond the operational capabilities it might offer, Blackbeard represents a steadily growing U.S. military-wide interest in lower-cost precision munitions that are also relatively easy to produce, as well as leveraging non-traditional defense contractors to develop and build them. This is widely seen as vital for bolstering stockpiles in an economically viable way ahead of a major contingency, such as a large-scale conflict in the Pacific against China, and keeping adequate supplies of those weapons flowing in the event of a drawn-out fight. On top of all this, hypersonic weapons have historically been notoriously complex and expensive, which in turn limits their potential impact in future operations. At the same time, the U.S. military has consistently touted the importance of hypersonic capabilities to success in future conflicts, especially against global competitors like China. 'I think the types of sensing capability that quantum sensing is going to deliver, the cross domain sensing opportunities from space to air, for example,' and 'the sophistication of sensor fusion and track using AI [artificial intelligence] and other techniques – I don't think we're going to be able to hide in any operational sense, in a realistic way,' Rob McHenry, deputy director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), warned during an online talk hosted by the Air and Space Forces Association's (AFA) Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies last week. McHenry had also explicitly posited whether the 'stealth era' might be coming to an end. 'And so what are the implications of that? You know, if you look historically, there are things like using speed and maneuverability,' he added. The U.S. military is also trying to improve its contracting processes to manage risks differently to encourage innovation while avoiding sinking significant resources into efforts that ultimately don't provide useful results. The 'phased approach provides the Army with a clear 'off-ramp' should the technology prove immature, ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars,' the line item for Blackbeard in the service's latest budget request makes clear. Whether the Blackbeard missile project delivers on its promise or not, it could serve as a model for future Army munition development efforts. Update: 7/1/2025 – In response to our queries, Castelion has now told TWZ that the designs seen in the imagery it has released to date show 'arerepresentative of the low-cost internally developed test vehicles we use to enable rapid subsystem design iteration and to ground our performance models in real-world test data.' 'Castelion's approach to development focuses on getting into hardware-in-the-loop and flight testing early in development to support learning cycles across design, production, and test,' the company added. 'As such, flight vehicles shown on social media are not representative nor intended to be representative of our final weapon systems.' Contact the author: joe@
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
The week that was in international affairs: Trump's 'U-turn' on Putin; Estonia conducts HIMARS drill
AP file photo Welcome back to another edition of My Take 5, your weekly round-up of top international news. This week we are covering Trump's possible U-turn on Putin , Estonia and the Baltics get ready with HIMARS, EU unveils its 18th sanctions package, Israel attacks Syria, turmoil in Bangladesh, and a bonus about the singing chief rabbi of Ukraine: Trump U-turn on Putin?: Trump made statements on Putin that could be characterised as a big shift in his administration's approach to the war in Ukraine. Trump said that he was very disappointed in Putin, that the Russian leader would engage in pleasant conversation with him but then bomb Ukraine. He added that he thought a deal to end the war was on the cards at least four times in the last six months, but Putin did not come through. Simultaneously, Trump finally announced a new $10bn military aid package for Ukraine that would include additional Patriot air defence systems that Ukraine desperately needs amid Russia's heightened aerial attacks on Ukrainian towns and cities. The package, Trump said, would be fully paid for by US's European Nato allies that could see them send over their systems to Ukraine and then replace them with new American ones. Interestingly, Trump was also contemplating sending Ukraine Tomahawk cruise missiles. But that, however, is not going to be part of the current package. In fact, according to some reports, during Trump's latest conversation with Zelenskyy, he asked why Kyiv wasn't targeting Moscow. To which Zelenskyy reportedly responded that Ukraine could if it had the American weapons. Trump then also floated the idea of targeting St Petersburg. Additionally, Trump gave Putin a 50-day deadline after which he has threatened to slap 100% tariffs, both on Russian exports to US (which are not that much) and on those countries that buy Russian exports, including oil. The latter secondary sanctions are really significant and could seriously put an economic squeeze on Russia. After all, Moscow has managed to sustain this war because even though it has been largely cut off from the Western market, it continues to make billions by selling its oil and gas to other countries like China and India. But if those countries are slapped with 100% tariffs on their exports to the US, that will certainly deter them from buying Russian energy. Taken together, it seems that Trump is finally changing his view of Putin, and perhaps now realises that Moscow has no intention to end the war in Ukraine any time soon. And if China engages in military adventurism in the Indo-Pacific, especially against Taiwan, while the war in Europe continues, US military resources will be badly divided. Hence, the need to end the war in Ukraine quickly. And maybe, just maybe, Trump realises that the only way to do that is by increasing pressure on Moscow. Estonia conducts HIMARS drill: Estonia conducted its first live-fire HIMARS multiple rocket launch system drill following four months of training. Russia, predictably, accused the Baltic state of provocative actions and said that Moscow would defend its interests in the region. But all of this was started by Russia itself. In April, Moscow had accused Nato of escalating things along Russia's borders and warned that the Baltics and Poland would be the first to suffer in case of a wider conflict. Ironic, given what Russia has done in Ukraine over the last three years. The fact is Russia is already engaging in grey-zone tactics in the Baltics, and Estonia has been a prime target of Russian cyber security attacks – Tallinn fends off thousands of these every day. This is precisely why Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are boosting their defence spending and taking security measures to thwart a possible Russian attack. The Baltic Defence Line's construction is already underway. The Baltic Nato members know that after Ukraine, if Russia is to test Nato's resolve, it will be here in the Baltics. And this is where China's plans also come in as mentioned in the previous segment. If Beijing decides to attack Taiwan for its own political reasons, it would logically want Russia to expand the war in Europe to divide Nato and American forces. And the Russians will most likely oblige by targeting the Baltics. Thus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania preparing for all eventualities by shoring up their military depth – through HIMARS and other systems – is understandable. EU unveils 18th sanctions package: The European bloc unveiled its 18th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine after Slovakia lifted its veto. Slovakia, which relies significantly on Russian energy, wanted written assurances on the planned phase-out of Russian gas. That said, the unveiled package is being described as the strongest yet, targeting Russian oil, Moscow's shadow fleet, Chinese banks helping Moscow evade sanctions and even those Russian entities indoctrinating Ukrainian children. Significantly, the package includes lowering the price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $47.6 per barrel to undercut Moscow's energy revenues that feed its war machinery. The package also targets for the first time a flag registry and Russian oil giant Rosneft's biggest Indian refinery. It also blocks tech exports used in Russian drones, and includes measures against 105 vessels of the Russian shadow fleet. These measures are certainly comprehensive. However, it remains to be seen if they will bring Moscow to the negotiating table. Given Russia's imperialist ideological motivations for the war, Moscow is riding a tiger and won't get off unless it is compelled to. And now Russia is also beholden to China and its strategic calculations. Therefore, EU must keep up the support for Ukraine. Israel attacks Syria: Israel struck Syrian forces in the southern Syrian city of Sweida and the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus after clashes broke out between Sweida's Druze community and Sunni Bedouin tribesmen. Israel, which has its own Druze population, says it was acting at the behest of the minority Druze community in Syria. Although there is some semblance of truce in Sweida at the time of writing, the situation remains volatile. The episode puts the new Syrian government, established after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad last December, in potential conflict with Tel Aviv. But honestly, Israel can't be militarily intervening in every internal matter of regional countries. Note that the US has not backed Israel's strikes on Syria this time. If Tel Aviv continues on this path, it could only mean one thing: that Netanyahu does not want to give up his war-time powers in Israel, and wants to be in a perpetual state of conflict. Turmoil in Bangladesh: Clashes took place in Bangladesh's Gopalganj between supporters of Awami League and security forces in which four people lost their lives. Gopalganj is the birthplace of Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The skirmishes began after a rally of the National Citizen Party (NCP), which had played a key role in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina last year. It's quite apparent that the NCP rally had been organised to provoke Awami supporters in Gopalganj. After all, elements of the current Bangladeshi interim government have been busy cleansing all state institutions of Awami supporters and sympathisers. This is bound to have a reaction. In fact, what the so-called student leaders of the interim government are doing is no different from what they accused the Hasina dispensation of carrying out. If the latter had developed autocratic tendencies in its final moments, how is targeting Awami supporters, who too are Bangladeshi citizens, any less autocratic? Plus, this hardly creates a conducive environment for elections scheduled for April next year. If things continue in the same vein, Bangladesh will simply be repeating its cycle of political violence and vendetta. And interim government chief, Muhammad Yunus, would have only sullied his reputation. Bonus: Finally, this week's bonus is about the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Reuven Azman, who has recorded a song for Trump, urging him to support Ukraine's defence against Russian aggression. Moshe Azman himself lost his son in the war. The video is some weeks old but still quite interesting. Follow the link below to check it out:
AllAfrica
5 days ago
- Politics
- AllAfrica
Time for QUAD to step up to Taiwan's defense
Taiwan's 40th Han Kuang military exercise, its most extensive to date, spans ten days and simulates a full-scale Chinese invasion. The drills incorporate amphibious assaults, joint-force coordination and extensive civilian-military integration across multiple domains. Taiwan is also showcasing enhanced deterrent capabilities with US-supplied HIMARS rocket systems, F-16V fighter jets and indigenous Sky Sword II and Sky Bow III missile systems. The activation of 22,000 reservists marks an unprecedented expansion of national defense mobilization, signaling Taiwan's growing commitment to preparing for conflict rather than merely deterring it. This shift is a direct response to the People's Liberation Army's increasingly aggressive behavior. Gray-zone coercion has become routine. PLA aircraft and naval incursions across the Taiwan Strait's median line surged from 565 in 2022 to over 3,070 in 2024, an average of more than eight per day. In January 2025 alone, Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone recorded 248 crossings by China, which represents a 75% increase compared to January 2022. These provocations are designed to wear down Taiwan's defenses without crossing the threshold into open conflict, reflecting China's long-term strategy of psychological pressure, strategic normalization and the gradual erosion of Taiwan's sovereignty through fatigue. But Taiwan is no longer waiting passively for external support. It is building an active and layered defense strategy in anticipation of a volatile future. This recalibration has drawn attention from Taiwan's strategic partners, particularly Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) members. Originally conceived as a maritime security initiative, the QUAD has evolved into a broader Indo-Pacific framework committed to ensuring a free, open and rules-based regional order. Yet the Taiwan question exposes the bloc's limitations. Unlike NATO, the QUAD is not a military alliance. Still, the urgency of Taiwan's situation has sparked debate over whether the group should develop a more coherent strategy for collective deterrence. US President Donald Trump recently called for greater clarity from Australia and Japan regarding their roles in a potential Taiwan conflict. The Pentagon is also actively working to align operational plans with allies, particularly Japan and Australia, through behind-the-scenes consultations and strategic dialogues. However, progress remains slow, hindered by political constraints and divergent national priorities. Japan has strengthened its defense posture, increasing its budget from 6.8 trillion yen in 2023 to 8.7 trillion yen in 2025, or 1.8% of GDP. It has expanded joint drills with the United States and is reassessing its strategic doctrines. However, constitutional limits and public ambivalence remain obstacles. A survey by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper found that 62% of Japanese citizens consider a regional conflict likely, yet a majority prefer neutrality and global cooperation, with only 18.7% supporting closer alignment with the United States. Australia has also adopted a cautious approach. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's recent six-day visit to China highlights his government's dual-track strategy of deepening US defense ties while preserving strong economic relations with China. Amid US calls for clarity on Taiwan, the Australian government stated that 'it would not commit troops in advance to any potential conflict.' The stakes are significant. Australian exports to China reached AUD196 billion last year, exceeding the combined total of Australia's next four largest markets. Curtin University estimates that Australia's trade with China contributes an additional AUD2,600 to the average household income each year. In contrast, recent tariffs imposed by the United States average around 10%, while those under the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement remain at just 1.1%. This disparity has strengthened the perception of China as a more stable and economically reliable partner for Australia. India, by contrast, continues to maintain deliberate silence on Taiwan, consistent with its longstanding recognition of the One China policy since 1949. Even amid rising cross-Strait tensions, it has avoided statements in forums such as ASEAN, reflecting a strategic calculation to avoid provoking China, especially given their unresolved border disputes in the Himalayas. At the same time, India has steadily expanded its engagement with Taiwan. Companies like Foxconn and Pegatron are integral to Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat programs, and bilateral trade has increased sixfold since 2001. Talks on a free trade agreement and semiconductor cooperation are also progressing. A conflict in the Taiwan Strait would severely disrupt global supply chains and pose significant economic risks, which India increasingly recognizes. While the July 2025 QUAD Foreign Ministers' meeting expressed 'serious concerns' over rising tensions in the East and South China Seas, it refrained from directly condemning China. Strategic and economic divergences within the QUAD underscore its central dilemma. The QUAD was never designed for collective military action and lacks both the institutional structure and legally binding mutual defense commitments that define NATO. However, China's growing assertiveness over Taiwan and its expanding capabilities demand a more coordinated response. Even as public statements remain measured, the QUAD must avoid strategic drift to remain relevant. Coordinated efforts in contingency planning, intelligence sharing and logistical interoperability need to accelerate. The QUAD's credibility, and that of the broader rules-based order, depends on readiness and sustained alignment. China will continue to test the QUAD's cohesion, but this also presents an opportunity to forge a more adaptable and politically viable model of deterrence, one rooted in regional awareness, interoperability and expanding partnerships, particularly with ASEAN. Taiwan is no longer a peripheral concern. It has become the crucible in which the QUAD's purpose and unity will be tested. As pressure mounts in the Taiwan Strait, the time for strategic ambiguity is narrowing. The stability of the Indo-Pacific may well depend on the QUAD's ability to adapt, align and act with resolve. Rishab Rathi is a research assistant at the Centre of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG), leading the Conflict Studies vertical with a special emphasis on South Asia. With an academic background in international relations and political science, his work explores geopolitical dynamics, post-colonial governance and conflict resolution across diverse global contexts.
