#defense diplomacy

[kesarijournal]

India's Space Ambitions: A Celestial Tango

In a move that’s less about stepping on toes and more about moonwalking in zero gravity, India has declared its space sector a free-for-all cosmic playground. With the announcement of 100% foreign direct investment in satellite component manufacturing, India is not just opening its doors; it’s removing them entirely. The message is loud and clear: “Welcome to the Grand Indian Space Bazaar, Elon…

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#2024 #defense diplomacy #Elon-Musk #foreign direct investment #geopolitical strategy #India #Indo-Pacific #Modi government #space ambitions #SpaceX #strategic autonomy

[royal-wren]

To Lord Hermes of speech, communication, eloquence, wit, and diplomacy I wholeheartedly thank you for every moment you help me hold my tongue when foolishness, anger, and impulse flare. To you, my praise is given to also speak my mind and stand up and fight for myself or for others when necessary and important to do so. For above all else you know the time and place to use words better than any other soul and when to gift others with the same prowess.

#y'know ... learning that Hermes is the god of diplomacy while later also learning that in an earlier period of time he also has a war #epithet like Ares Athene and Aphrodite have really connected the dots for me as to why when it's such an important part for more than #combat and defense in a literal sense; passion and emotion; and strategy at play #so while it's on a much smaller scale for this post it's nice to think about regardless #hermes #hermes deity #what even is this? who knows

[wolves-in-the-world]

having thoughts about my friend julio in the miracle job, who we know best as the guy with the gun in his waistband. <3

like, okay, the "even gangsters recognise the sanctity of catholic priests" thing is…… problematic. just nodding towards that because I think it needs to be nodded towards.

but I love how little ego julio brings to the scene once the secret (that one of his people took a side job without telling him, a job he emphatically disapproves of) is out there. hardison shoves the guilty party to reveal his injury and eliot glances to julio to see if he means trouble, but julio's attention is just entirely fixed on the guy. he politely asks for the gun back and uses it to get the answers that hardison and eliot need.

it's transactional, practical. respectful of eliot as someone who's shown he's not to be messed with, who's on julio's turf, but who's behaving with respect and restraint himself - eliot's there for entirely reasonable answers on one specific issue, uses violence only in reaction to and in proportion with the threats against him, and frankly de-escalates the situation pretty damn well by grabbing the gun in julio's jeans and knocking out the next guy who threatens him. (seriously, for violence-type criminals, it was practically diplomatic.)

and it's clear that julio's underling Broke The Rules. like, I'd have preferred we had this encounter with a different underlying message than "priests are inherently good and respecting them is the obvious choice," because oof. (this show is kinda about acknowledging when people in power all too often abuse that power, after all. that and seeking justice.)

but it's an interesting little unquestioned-by-the-narrative-or-the-characters nod to honour among thieves.

and this fairly formal, mutually respectful, almost ritualised encounter ends with "gentlemen, I'll leave you to your internal affairs" which:

very cool, nice job eliot

possibly discreetly requests that julio not start in on any punitive actions until eliot and hardison are away, so they're not privy to that specific crime (the last we see of julio he's crouching and pointing the gun at the guy very close, and eliot gets them out of there pretty quickly, so there could be some implications there, and it's a very understated moral messiness if so)

gets eliot a little nod from julio like "thanks for bringing this to my attention, I appreciate your civility here, not ceding my authority though" (and eliot doesn't ask him to.)

it's a great little interaction. it's a (sigh, mostly) great little scene.

#the miracle job #leverage #I'm from an xtian background but not a catholic one so I'm guessing & hoping that this acknowledgement of the messiness is enough #my friend julio #he gets a tag now because I like him #so help me I kind of want to make him a character in fics now but I don't know how to include him without leaning into cop show type shit #I suppose they could just run into him on a job again? end up in the area in need of a place to hide from the cops? #find him tied to a chair like ''dude you need a better job'' ''tell me about it‚ last year a guy threatened me with muffins'' etc etc #never getting over that. martin's an absolute freak <3 #anyway this is probably going to be it but. I do like him. #takes a heck of a guy to react to that jeans situation with grace and composure #and he does manage that eventually. #and I feel like eliot walked a very subtle line here with making sure he was respected #but also not stepping on julio's toes? not putting him on the defensive? #he was In Julio's Territory and he was fully acknowledging that #eliot being so competent in frigging gang diplomacy is weird as hell to see so early #like I know in theory he's had dealings with those sorts of criminals before but we never really see it #and that's just fascinating #orig

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

"You are very well aware of what we are dealing with. Latvia has been warning other countries about Russia for a long time, and Latvia was right," said Metsola. Metsola told deputies that since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the center of gravity of decision-making in the field of European defense and security has been in the Baltic region. And Latvia's experience and leadership will be decisive in the next steps to overcome threats to our democratic values ​​and the well-being of the European Union, she said(..)

P.S. Belatedly, the right words are finally being heard in Europe, but real action must be much more important right now...   

#Latvia #Riga #EU #defense of liberty #Baltic States #Northern Europe #Roberta Metsola #diplomacy #russian imperialism

[spacedadsupport]

https://twitter.com/SpaceDadSupport/status/1595788715472961540 Jean-Luc Picard @SpaceDadSupport I'm a diplomat by profession and by nature, but I am nobody's doormat and neither should you be. When in doubt, ask yourself, "Would Captain Picard put up with this nonsense?" Then imagine my response and formulate your own accordingly. 2:37 PM · Nov 24, 2022 ·Twitter Web App

#star trek #star trek the next generation #diplomacy #self defense #what would picard do #jean luc picard #captain picard #picard

[defensenow]

#youtube #militarytraining #international cooperation #Lloyd J. Austin III #sanctions #geopolitics #Secretary of Defense #Russia #NATO #United States #conflict #diplomacy #military #military alliances #aggression #foreign policy #global affairs #security #defense #virtual meeting #SLAMS #2024 #defense cooperation #Lloyd Austin #Contact Group meeting #defense policy. #Ukraine #defense strategy #defense secretary #foreign affairs

[pressnewsagencyllc]

Britain sends a message to Trump: NATO is worth investing in

One senior European diplomat said “we are trying to engage as many Republicans as possible and people around” Trump to try and win his ear, but that “it’s very difficult.” Some U.K. government officials believe Britain is uniquely placed among European nations to bend Trump’s ear. The ex-president has shown himself to be something of an Anglophile and has frequently expressed his admiration for…

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#americas #Cold War #David Cameron #Defense #diplomacy #Donald Trump #elections #emmanuel macron #France #Germany #imports #Jens Stoltenberg #Joe Biden #military #Olaf Scholz #POLAND #Rishi Sunak #Russia #Sébastien Lecornu #security #Ukraine #United Kingdom #United States

[saxafimedianetwork]

Ethiopia-Somaliland Agreement: A Slap In A Face For Somalia

Now, #Ethiopia's deal with #Somaliland will be criticized, but there'll be no way for ET to look back. #Africa'ld learn that when there're economic interests of the so-called giant nations, it’s only their interest that matters & not the deal of the poor Africans.

Continue reading Untitled

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#2024 Ethiopia-Somaliland Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) #Abiy Ahmed #Diplomacy #Ethiopia #Ethiopia-Somaliland Relations #Ezra Nnko #Horn of Africa #International Recognition #Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) #Military and Security #Ports and logistics #Sea Access #Security and Defense #Somalia #Somaliland

[carlocarrasco]

Israel-Philippines ties are essential!

#Israel #Philippines #diplomacy #military #defense #security #cooperation #Youtube

[kevinmmiller]

North Korea: Kim Jong-Un 2010 - 2023: Where to Next?

In August of 2010 a transition seemed imminent in the near future in the North Korean Regime. Kim Jong-iI was severely ailing after a purported 2008 stroke, and had rarely been seen in public. Erstwhile Kim Jong-Il was having his propaganda apparatus

In August of 2010 a transition seemed imminent in the near future in the North Korean Regime. Kim Jong-iI was severely ailing after a purported 2008 stroke, and had rarely been seen in public. Erstwhile Kim Jong-Il was having his propaganda apparatus issue decrees on the imminency of a possible successor taking over; the twenty-six-year-old son of the reclusive leader Kim Jong-Un. Up until that…

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#Ballistic Missile Defense #Communist Party Secretariat #Diplomacy #internal security #Transition and Handover Process #United Nations Sanctions #United States #War in Korea #Xi Jin Ping

[hassibah]

https://archive.ph/9PT8S

Israel Has Bought a Mass Online Influence System to Counter Antisemitism, Hamas Atrocity Denial

Defense, intelligence and civilian bodies realized soon after October 7 they were losing the online battle to what sources call Hamas' 'well-oiled psychological and information warfare machine.' So they quietly purchased digital tools to fight disinformation, despite fears of future political misuse

Israel has responded to its "clear loss" to Hamas on the digital battlefield by making its first-ever purchase of a technological system capable of conducting mass online influence campaigns, according to numerous sources with knowledge of the matter.

The system can, among other things, automatically create content tailored to specific audiences. The technology was purchased as part of a wider attempt by Israeli bodies, both civilian and military, to address what sources termed "Israel's public diplomacy failure" following the Hamas massacre on October 7 and subsequent war.

Basically they are using AI to generate online arguments.

#hasbara

[reportwire]

Biden brings hope — as well as pledges of cash and weapons — to Ukraine

KYIV — Just days before the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the streets of the capital were suddenly locked down on Monday morning. Then videos of a mysterious procession of vehicles with blacked-out windows began being posted online. Who, wondered many ordinary Ukrainians — trying to go about their daily business as best as they can despite the war — was the…

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#defense #Diplomacy #joe biden #military #russia #ukraine #united states #Volodymyr Zelenskyy #War in Ukraine

[themokupuni]

Taiwan needs an integrated set of national security strategies

"The US already has the National Security Strategy and Pacific Partnership Strategy. Taipei needs to make similar strategic planning investments." - Michael Walsh and John Hemmings (10/7/2022)

As observed by President Joe Biden, we appear to be fast approaching an inflection point in world history. Faced with no clear enough future, the Taiwan government needs to systematically make strategic decisions on domestic and foreign policy that advance the core national security interests of the peoples of Taiwan across a range of futures. As recently noted by Walsh and Hemmings, this should start with the creation of a set of integrated national security strategies. Building on that argument, this collection of strategies should be deployable and operable across a range of geographic, functional, and community contexts. That may require supplementing the traditional strategy approach with other strategy-building activities, including scenario planning.

At the global level, the Taiwan government needs to develop a multidisciplinary and systematic national security strategy that contains realistic and time-bounded targets. This corporate strategy should be grounded in a core set of principles carefully selected by Taiwan policymakers. Candidates might include autonomy, openness, prosperity, respect, and security. The strategy should identify a core set of national security concerns that frustrate the achievement of those principles. Then, it should identify a core set of instruments for managing those national security concerns. An example would be the strategic partnerships with Japan and the United States. This set of instruments should promote extensive crosscutting cooperation and coordination among government and non-government agencies responsible for defense, democracy, development, and diplomacy. 

At the regional level, the Taiwan government needs to develop multidisciplinary and systematic national security strategies for select regions and sub-regions. Distance matters in international security affairs. Proximate sovereign states often share decision-making, collaborate on assessments, and pool resources to promote peace and security in their local neighborhoods. Among other things, this proximity can arise from administrative, cultural, economic, geographic, and historical factors. Examples include the member states of the African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Commonwealth of Independent States, European Union, Pacific Islands Forum, and Organization of American States. Wherever regionalism threatens to frustrate the successful implementation of the global strategy, Taiwan policymakers should develop regional variants built around values, concerns, and instruments adapted to fit the local conditions. Obvious prospects include Europe, Pacific Islands, and Southeast Asia.

At the functional level, the Taiwan government needs to develop multidisciplinary and systematic strategies for defense, democracy, development, and diplomacy. Functionality matters in domestic and international affairs. Every government agency possesses a unique mix of cultures, missions, roles, legal authorities, ethical norms, funding mechanisms, and political interests that give rise to their own sets of biases, frameworks, processes, terminologies, and planning cultures. For these reasons, Taiwan policymakers should direct the government agencies with primary responsibility for defense, democracy, development, and diplomacy to develop functional variants built around values, concerns, and instruments adapted to fit the local conditions. Ideally, these strategies would not only communicate policy, priorities, and actions to staff, contractors, and other stakeholders. They would also communicate unity of purpose with other government agencies and partner countries. To achieve that outcome, the Taiwan government would need to make significant investments in shared assessments, planning coordination, and alignment reviews.

At the community level, the Taiwan government needs to develop a multidisciplinary and systematic strategy for security relevant groups of people who share common features and manifest collective identities. Community matters in international security affairs. Every community has its own beliefs, cultures, interests, structures, and values that impact the strategic fitness of corporate strategies. Wherever communities threaten to frustrate the successful implementation of the global strategy, Taiwan policymakers should assess those features, determine the strategic fitness, and develop community variants built around values, concerns, and instruments adapted to fit the local conditions. These strategies would help to build more empathetic relationships and take advantage of synergies. Obvious prospects include indigenous peoples and overseas Chinese.

In addition to these integrated strategies, the Taiwan government needs to develop a multidisciplinary and systematic national survival strategy that contains realistic and time-bounded targets. This strategy should identify those processes and functions that would be required to preserve nationhood in the event of occupation by the People’s Republic of China. This strategy should be grounded in its own core set of principles. Candidates might include autonomy, independence, patriotism, respect, and security. The strategy should forecast a core set of national survival concerns that would frustrate the achievement of those principles. Then, it should identify a core set of instruments for managing those national survival concerns. Examples would be nonviolent resistance and violent resistance by Taiwan nationalists. This set of instruments should promote extensive crosscutting cooperation and coordination among the government and non-government agencies forecast to exist in such a contingency.

Echoing an earlier observation by the author, the Taiwan government ideally should have one multidisciplinary team develop all of these strategies through a collaborative process making use of multiple work streams. Such an approach would help to promote systems thinking in strategy development. That not only could help to unlock efficiencies and innovations that otherwise might be missed if different teams set out to develop these strategies independent of one another. It could also help to mitigate the risk of unexpected destabilization in cross-strait relations that could arise from the strategic posture brought into existence by the interaction of these strategies.

Michael Walsh is a Senior Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum. 

The views expressed are his own.

#taiwan #national security #strategy #integrated strategy #regionalism #indigenous people #overseas chinese #democracy #diplomacy #defense #development #security #survival #national identity

[globalcourant]

US Coast Guard cutter is denied port call in Solomon Islands

US Coast Guard cutter is denied port call in Solomon Islands

BANGKOK — A U.S. coast guard cutter conducting patrols as part of an international mission to prevent illegal fishing was recently unable to get clearance for a scheduled port call in Solomon Islands, an incident that comes amid growing concerns of Chinese influence on the Pacific nation. The cutter Oliver Henry was taking part in Operation Island Chief monitoring fishing activities in the…

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#British armed forces #call #Coast #cutter #Denied #Diplomacy #General news #Government and politics #Guard #International relations #islands #Marsha Blackburn #Military and defense #Military facilities #P #port #Solomon #U.S. Coast Guard #United Kingdom government #United States government #United States military

[jobssok]

America's defense diplomacy to lower oil prices will give defense system to Saudi Arabia-UAE!

America’s defense diplomacy to lower oil prices will give defense system to Saudi Arabia-UAE!

Highlights According to US officials, Lockheed Martin will build the THAAD interceptor and equipment, which will cost $2.25 billion. Raytheon Technologies will build Patriot interceptors and equipment that could be worth about $3.05 billion America shows signs of strengthening relations between the Middle East and the West by selling strategic weapons Washington, To strengthen its diplomatic…

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#Americas #ArabiaUAE #defense #diplomacy #give #oil #prices #Saudi #system

[defensenow]

#youtube #militarytraining #2024 #Strategic Stability #Risk Reduction #Western Hemisphere #Arms Control #Geopolitics #Conflict Resolution #International Relations #Diplomacy #Nuclear #Foreign Policy #Global Affairs #Peacebuilding #Security #South America #April 24 #Nuclear Disarmament #Nuclear Weapons #Defense #North America #Nuclear Proliferation.