Last week, speaking at the Defense News Conclave: Stories of US-India Defense and Security Partnership in New Delhi, the US envoy to India, Eric Garcetti invoking the qualities of “trusted friends” remarked that the bilateral relationship is still “not yet deep enough” to be taken for granted and emphasised that “there is no such thing as strategic autonomy” during a conflict.

The Government of India’s Ministry of External Affairs rightly reacted to Garcetti’s remarks that, “India, like many other countries, values its ’strategic autonomy’. The US Ambassador is entitled to his opinion. Obviously, we have different views”.
’ Garcetti appeared to have forgotten what the former Indian Diplomat Kanwal Sibal had underscored several critical aspects of our relations. Sibal had rightly pointed out, India seeks strong relations with the US, but these should not involve limiting India’s foreign policy choices, especially when the US, imposes no such restrictions on itself, Sibal had said. Läs artikel

A pair of B-52 strategic bombers that came in over Finland from Norwegian air space made a first-ever flight in the skies above Lapland near the Lake Inari Sunday morning. […]

But two B-52 strategic bombers over northern Finland is far from normal. It has never happened before and shows the fundamental change in geopolitics following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

As a result of the war, Finland joined NATO in April 2023 and said there will be no geographical restrictions on where NATO-partners could cooperate within the country’s territory.

Defense analyst with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Per Erik Solli, is not surprised. […]

The B-52 bombers north in Lapland is about as close to the Kola Peninsula as it is possible to get from the southwest. Saariselkä, where the plane was met by the U.S. Air Force tankers, is some 220 kilometers inside the Arctic Circle

On Sunday it was clear skies all over northernmost Finland and Russia’s northwest corner. From cockpit, the pilots could see deep into the Kola Peninsula where Russia has its ballistic missile submarines along the coast to the Barents Sea.  In distance, the crew of the B-52 could also see the Olenya airfield from where Russia’s Tu-95MS bombers use to take off when flying missions to bomb civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

The American strategic bombers aircraft entered Finland from Norway, the Finnish Air Force informs in a short statement.

Spokesperson Henrik Omtvedt Jenssen with the Norwegian Joint Headquarters confirms to the Barents Observer that the planes crossed over Finnmark.

“They were transiting Norwegian airspace and continued into Finland,” Jenssen says.

Norway did not provide fighter jet escort for the American planes while in Norwegian airspace, Jenssen informs.

Russia’s defense ministry said to state-controlled information agency Interfax that the American bombers first approached Russian air space over the Barents Sea. The country’s Air Force scrambled MiG-31 and MiG-29 fighters jets from the Kola Peninsula to meet the American planes.

“When Russian fighters approached, American strategic bombers made a U-turn from the state border of the Russian Federation,” the defense ministry said. […]

Norway, which all since 1949 has had restrictions on NATO activities in a buffer zone close to the Russian border, do not allow B-52 or any American surveillance flights east of the Porsanger fjord in Finnmark.

When three B-52 planes in May 2021 flew a mission north of the Kola Peninsula, they were not allowed inside Norwegian airspace in the east Finnmark region.  Norwegian military spokesperson Henrik Omtvedt Jenssen was not willing on Sunday to detail where in the airspace over Finnmark the B-52 planes were flying on Sunday. Läs artikel

The main objectives of opening a NATO office in Jordan are many and varied. Primarily, NATO aims to enhance military and security cooperation with Jordan, as Jordan is considered a strategic ally in the Middle East region. This cooperation includes providing training and technical support to the Jordanian Armed Forces, which contributes to strengthening its defence and logistical capabilities. Through this office, NATO also aims to facilitate coordination and cooperation with Jordan in the areas of counter-terrorism, cybersecurity and crisis management, which enhances regional security and stability.[…]

To ensure that the opening of the NATO office is in Jordan’s interest and sovereignty, specific mechanisms and guarantees must be put in place. First, a clear agreement should be negotiated that defines the scope and objectives of cooperation, with guarantees of non-interference in Jordanian internal affairs.

Second, there must be national oversight mechanisms over the office’s activities, to ensure their compatibility with Jordanian national interests. A joint committee of Jordanian government agencies and NATO could be established to follow up on the implementation of the agreements and ensure the achievement of common goals without compromising Jordan’s sovereignty.

Third, transparency and communication with the Jordanian people about the goals and benefits of this cooperation can be enhanced, to avoid any misunderstanding or popular concern about the impact of this cooperation on national sovereignty.

Finally: Opening the NATO office in Jordan represents a strategic step aimed at strengthening security and military cooperation, which could bring great benefits to Jordan in terms of strengthening its defence and security capabilities and enhancing its international standing. It enhances regional and strategic balances. However, there must be clear mechanisms to ensure that this cooperation is in Jordan’s interest and respects its sovereignty, with careful management of regional relations to avoid any negative repercussions.  Läs artikel

Enligt Ulf Kristersson kommer 80 procent av vad Ryssland behöver i kriget mot Ukraina från eller via Kina. Sverige var pådrivande för EU-sanktioner mot Belarus på grund av landets stöd för Ryssland – men agerar tvärtom med Kina.

Nu motsätter regeringen sig höjd importskatt på kinesiska bilar.

– Det kinesiska stödet till Ryssland ser annorlunda ut, svarar UD. […]

Enligt EU-kommissionen syftar höjningen till att motverka kinesiska tillverkares fördelar av statliga subventioner, och undvika att EU blir beroende av Kina för sin gröna omställning.

Men Johan Forssell menar att detta kan få negativa följder för en exportnation som Sverige, i form av kinesiska motåtgärder mot andra industrier. Han säger även att Volvo Cars och svensk fordonsindustri ska kunna utvecklas. Framför allt det kinesiskt ägda Volvo Cars riskerar drabbas av en handelsdispyt med Kina.

De två övriga EU-medlemmarna som tydligast motsätter sig de höjda tullarna är Tyskland, vars bilindustri är beroende av den kinesiska marknaden, och Ungern, som tagit emot stora investeringar från kinesiska bil- och batteriföretag.

Johan Forssell beskriver den höjda importskatten på kinesiska elbilar med ordet ”strafftullar”. Det är ett uttryck som Kina ofta använder, men som EU-kommissionen uttryckligen undviker. Läs artikel

Amerikanske soldater er på vej til Bornholm, og det betyder også, at de tager det helt store materiel med sig.

Blandt andet kommer Almegårds Kaserne til at huse en amerikansk containerbaseret missilplatform til langtrækkende missiler, som den amerikanske flåde er på vej mod Bornholm med netop nu.

Imens det amerikanske militær afholder øvelse her på Bornholm, vil det danske forsvar øve sig i at lade allierede opholde sig her, samt lade styrker bevæge sig smidigt og sikkert gennem dansk territorie. Läs artikel

As the newest member of NATO and facing the unstable military menace posed by Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Sweden has already begun its search for its future airpower. For a while the nation appeared eager to partner in the UK/Italian/Japanese Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), but Sweden has elected not to join.

For now, the Scandinavian state’s path centers on evaluating the best way forward for Swedish airpower to make a decision in 2030. Sweden could choose the GCAP—or its Franco/German/Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) equivalent—but it also might pursue a new fighter program independently.

Work known as the Koncept för Framtida Stridsflyg (KFS or future fighter concept) got underway in July 2023, while Saab’s informal “Building X” technology hub takes a leading role. On November 1 Saab formalized its status to become the Advanced Programs business unit led by Peter Nilsson. Läs artikel

Internationella domstolen i Haag ICJ slår fast att Israels bosättningar på ockuperad palestinsk mark strider mot internationell lag. Den internationella domstolen kräver därför att Israel drar sig tillbaka ”så snart som möjligt”.

– Israels bosättningar på Västbanken och i östra Jerusalem har etablerats och upprätthålls i strid med internationell rätt, sa domstolens president Nawaf Salam när han läste upp ICJ:s slutsatser.

Slutsatserna drogs av en panel som bestod av 15 domare. Beslutet är historiskt eftersom FN-domstolen i Haag aldrig tidigare har yttrat sig lika entydigt i frågan. Domslutet gäller markområdena Västbanken,  östra Jerusalem och Gazaremsan. Läs artikel

Kommentar: Hemvärnet skall skall följa med i utvecklingen och bli ”internationaliserad” säger Hemvärnschefen Swaan Wrede.

Hemvärnets styrka är den lokala förankringen hos befolkningen och kännedomen om den lokala geografin. Börjar man luckra upp det sambandet försvinner en hel del av hemvärnets betydelse.

Alla opinionsmätningar visar att det finns ett stort stöd för ett svenskt försvar och att viljan att försvara  landet är hög men det är tydligt att försvarsledning och regering går i motsatt riktning och lämnar landet tomt på egna styrkor. (Utgivarna)

Artikel i Aftonbladet:

Uppdrag utomlands och ny teknik som drönare ställer nya krav på soldaterna. Hemvärnet befinner sig i snabb förändring.

– Det kommer inte bli mindre för oss att göra, snarare mer, säger rikshemvärnschefen Laura Swaan Wrede. […]

Hemvärnssoldater har inte bara fått uppgifter i andra delar av landet. Internationalisering är ett prioriterat område.

– Nu är vi i Storbritannien och utbildar ukrainare i det som kallas för Operation Interflex. Det har vi gjort i snart ett år med fantastiska resultat.

Swaan Wrede ser att Hemvärnet kommer att arbeta mer internationellt i framtiden. Redan nu har man ett större utbyte med Norge, Danmark och de baltiska länderna.

– Nu när vi är Natoallierade kommer det också innebära värdlandsstöd. För att ge det stödet kan vi behöva röra oss över gränserna till våra grannländer. Vi måste helt enkelt följa med i det som händer. Läs artikel

Norge gikk i bresjen for å innføre forbud mot bruk av klasevåpen på 2000-tallet. I 2010 trådte avtalen i kraft, og ifølge SNL har i dag 112 land ratifisert konvensjonen som forbyr all produksjon, lagring, eksport og bruk av klasevåpen.

Torsdag har parlamentet i Litauen vedtatt at de trekker seg fra avtalen.

– Det skyldes behovet for å bruke alle muligheter til å styrke vår avskrekking og forsvar. Siden 2010 har sikkerhetssituasjonen blitt betydelig forverret og truslene mot landets sikkerhet har endret seg, skriver Litauens forsvarsminister Laurynas Kasčiūnas på Facebook.

Ifølge Reuters stemte 103 av 141 stemmeberettigede for å melde Litauen ut av avtalen.[…]

Litauens forsvarsminister Laurynas Kasčiūnas argumenterer med at det i dag er en global mangel på ammunisjon, og at å gjeninnføre klasevåpen vil gjøre det lettere å fylle lagrene.

– Klasevåpen er viktig for å øke effektiviteten av forsvaret mot store arealmål og for å beskytte litauisk territorium og innbyggere. Vi kan ikke la en potensiell angriper få vite på forhånd at forsvarslandet ikke har og ikke vil kunne bruke effektive forsvarstiltak, som angriperlandet bruker i mellomtiden. Det ville vært som å binde hendene våre i en boksering, skriver han på Facebook. Läs artikel

The city-state’s defense minister decodes what Beijing and Washington want in Asia.

Few countries are better equipped to interpret the U.S.-China relationship than Singapore. The small but wealthy city-state has extensive contacts with Washington and Beijing and understands both sides. It knows what’s at stake. And it’s invested in trying to bring the two together and avoid conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Singapore hosts the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, attended by defense ministers from around the world. Last month, that summit was the site of a high-level meeting between the U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs.[…]

Ng Eng Hen:I don’t pretend to understand China or to be an apologist for China. So let me frame our perspective. We have two theaters of conflict, right? One in Ukraine. And you have one which started after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The retaliation and the retribution by the IDF is painful for all of us. But the greater problem there is that it can expand beyond Gaza and Israel.

We can ill afford a third theater of conflict in Asia. First, I don’t think the system can take it. But I think more importantly, I think the reasons for casus belli are simply not there, or at least not yet.

RA: Well, sure. But you’re an astute observer of China. From speaking to your interlocutors, can you try and explain how are they seeing the world and why they’re acting as they are?

NEH:Well, if you situate yourself in China, a lot of things that they’re doing make sense to them. I’m not saying they didn’t make any mistakes. But to build, for example, features within the South China Sea to move their forward defense line a couple of hundred kilometers makes perfect military strategic sense. The island chain concept was an American concept, and it was meant to contain China. And, from that point of view, if they could do it, they would. So they did.

The assertiveness you were describing in the South China Sea was probably a bad foreign policy. If you speak to them quietly and candidly, they say that they don’t claim every inch of water. They’ve said so publicly, but in private, they say they don’t. How to roll it back is something that they need to deal with. Läs intervjun

In a time of unprecedented global challenges and escalating conflicts, States must commit to multilateralism to allow for the emergence of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order, the Security Council heard today in a ministerial-level open debate. […]

Numerous other countries condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, including the speaker for the Republic of Korea who said it is “surreal” that the meeting on multilateralism and the world order was convened by the Russian Federation — a country that has provided a “painful amount of food for thought” on this subject. […]

Meanwhile, the representative of China deplored the notion of a “rules-based international order” promoted by some countries, as it creates a parallel system outside international law, seeking “legitimacy for double standards and exceptions”.  Calling on NATO to stop being the “troublemaker”, he expressed concern over the bloc seeking expansion.

Peter Szijjarto, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, said his country has been living in the shadow of war for two and a half years, confronted with its direct consequences.  “We have received more than a million refugees,” he said, adding that Hungary faces inflation and “tremendously high” energy prices.  “A war looks different from a neighbourhood, compared to an ocean away,” he observed, noting the long-term risk of the world being divided into blocks again.  Now that a war is happening in Europe, the legitimacy of diplomacy is being debated. However, he pointed out, “diplomacy is not talking to those we fully agree with, but talking to everyone, even those we disagree with on major issues”.  The past two and a half years have proven that there is no battlefield solution for the war in Ukraine, he said, citing as “scandalous” that a country is being stigmatized for arguing in favour of a diplomatic solution.  He underscored that the UN has not been established to serve as a platform for like-minded countries, stating:  “To make Europe great again, we need to make it peaceful again.”Läs referatet

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to force a reduction of NATO’s operations in Europe as a condition of future negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, according to Russia’s top diplomat.

“A political and diplomatic settlement should be accompanied by specific steps for removing the threats to the Russian Federation emanating from the Western, Euroatlantic direction,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the United Nations Security Council. “In the process of agreeing upon mutual guarantees and accords, it will also be necessary to take into account new geostrategic realities on the Eurasian continent where a common continental architecture of truly equal and indivisible security is being formed.”

That was an apparent reference to a pair of initiatives that the Kremlin has proffered as mainstays of Putin’s long-term strategy. Moscow proposed integrating its various strategic initiatives into a “Greater Eurasian Partnership” with China while also demanding that the United States and Western European allies curtail their military ties with the central and Eastern European countries that have joined NATO in recent years.

“We are ready for looking for a balance of interests,” Lavrov claimed. Läs referatet