MILNEWS.ca Highlights – January 8, 2019

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “January 9 will see a change in the top brass of NATO’s enhanced forward presence in Latvia with Lieutenant-Colonel Philippe Sauvé taking over command from his Canadian compatriot Lieutenant-Colonel Steve MacBeth, thereby concluding the rotation of the third group of troops deployed in Latvia …” (LVA media)
• LCOL Philippe Sauvé bio (in French)
• “Change of leadership of NATO Battle Group Battle Group Leadership Ceremony” (LVA MoD info-machine, in Latvian)
• “Latvia will introduce a comprehensive national defense system” (LVA MoD, in Latvian)
• “Two Russian nuclear subs to complete sea trials this summer — source”
• “New Kalibr-M cruise missile with range of over 4,500 km in development in Russia – source”
• “Combat Experience” (Russian Defense Policy blog)
• “British Embassy asks for consular access to Whelan as soon as possible”
• “British, Irish, Canadian diplomats may visit Paul Whelan detained in Russia – brother”
• “Brother of US national detained in Russia on espionage charges to contact Russian lawyer”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• ” Nearly halfway through Canada’s 12-month mission in Mali, questions and disappointment are emerging over what some experts see as the Trudeau government’s lack of interest in the country — and peacekeeping in general …”
• “Paving the Way for Reconciliation in Central Mali” (MINUSMA info-machine)
• “Chinese peacekeepers help complete camp restoration project in Gao” (CHN mil media)
• “Algeria Operating New UAVs from UAE and China”
• “Russia in Africa: Is it becoming a key player?”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Canadian Military Is In Way Over It’s Head In Iraq”
• “Calls for the formation of transitional Iraq government”
• “Security officers tortured detained children in Kurdistan Region, says HRW” (Kurdish media)
• “Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Detained Children Tortured — Beatings, Electric Shock to Coerce ISIS Confessions” (Human Rights Watch)
• “Kurds in N Iraq Torture Children Suspected of Affiliation With Daesh – HRW” (RUS state media)
• “KRG: Ill treatment ‘rare’ in response to claims of child torture” (Kurdish media)
• “KRG rejects HRW report about abuse, torture of IS child detainees” (Kurdish media)
• “Turkey to ask U.S. to hand over 22 military bases in Syria, report says”
• “US relocates large force to Kirkuk military base: Peshmerga” (Kurdish media)
• “Bolton in Turkey: US opposes mistreatment of Kurdish allies”
• “Bolton’s Turkey Visit Ends in Acrimony Over Syria Withdrawal”
• “Turkey rejects U.S. request to spare allied Kurds in Syria”
• “Turkish President to U.S.: No ‘Concessions’ for Syrian Kurds”
• “Turkey’s Erdogan slams Bolton, as Trump position on Syria shifts”
• “SDF Fighters Could Be Integrated into Syrian Army: Kurdish Official”
• “A Turkish senior official has said that Turkey has been the “only friend” of Kurdish people, warning that no one could guide Ankara to protect the Kurds …” (Kurdish media)
• “Turkey urges U.S. to take back all weapons given to Syrian Kurds: spokesman”
• “Syrian Kurds say they are ‘ready to fight Turkey’ “
• “Turkey has plan to restore peace in Syria after Islamic State defeat — president”
• “Fate of detained IS fighters uncertain as US exits Syria”
• “Russia and Iran Prepare For New Syria Battlefield” (ISW Blog)
• “Options for the U.S. Middle East Strategic Alliance” (Divergent Options)

Way Up North

• “The Arctic is Warming and Turning Red: Implications for Canada and Russia in an Evolving Polar Region” (CGAI paper)
• “Military-patriotic training on remotest Arctic coast”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Canada can afford new fighters or new frigates — but not both at once: report”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump discuss China’s ‘unlawful’ detention of two Canadians, agree to seek their release”
• “Canadian diplomats in China meet detained citizen, Michael Spavor”
• “New documents link Huawei to suspected front companies in Iran and Syria, and may bolster US case against Meng Wanzhou”
• “Canadians support Ottawa’s decision to arrest Huawei executive, poll shows”
• “POLL: Majority Of Canadians Say Communist China Is A Threat To Our Country” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “China protests latest US warship presence near Xisha” (CHN Communist Pty media)
• “Chinese navy’s new ‘compact’ radar will allow it to keep watch over an area the size of India”
• “U.S. Will Pick Up Pace in Race to Space With China, DOD Official Says” (US DoD info-machine)
• “A New Cold War Has Begun – The United States and China will be locked in a contest for decades. But Washington can win if it stays more patient than Beijing …”

Other Military News

• “Defence department still wounding anesthetized animals in ‘live tissue training’ “
• “Have Autonomous and Unmanned Systems Changed War Fundamentally?” (Canadian Military Journal Vol. 19, No. 1)
• “Jewish National Fund of Canada audited over using donor money for Israeli army-linked projects”
• “JNF Canada audited over donations linked to Israeli military”
• “The Royal Canadian Mint honours bravery and sacrifice by dedicating its 2019 Proof Silver Dollar to the 75th Anniversary D-Day” (RC Mint info-machine)
• “2019 Proof Silver Dollar – The 75th Anniversary of D-Day” (RC Mint site)

The Koreas

• “Experts: Kim Jong Un’s Visit to China Sends Dual Message to US”
• “Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Leaves Pyongyang for China” (PRK MFA info-machine)
• “A Closer Look at South Korea’s Plan for Cooperation With Russia”

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