Latest on top (updated regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
March 2
***
Israeli drones, hacking software used in Myanmar coup - NYT
Israel was supposed to end all military exports to Myanmar, after allegations emerged that weaponry was being sold to the army.
***
The Pentagon announced Monday a $125 million military aid package for Ukraine, the first of its kind under the Biden administration. The package funded by the Foreign Military Financing program. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/03/01/us-announces-125-million-in-military-aid-for-ukraine/
***
The story returns regularly as the tide does: US wasted billions of dollars in war-torn Afghanistan on buildings and vehicles that were either abandoned or destroyed, according to a report released by a US government watchdog. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2021/03/01/report-us-wasted-billions-on-cars-buildings-in-afghanistan/
Rep: https://www.sigar.mil/pdf/evaluations/SIGAR-21-20-IP.pdf
***
Dhaka has genuine interests in learning more about Israel's arms trade with Myanmar because that country poses the principal threat to Bangladesh's physical security. https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Is-Bangladesh-moving-to-normalize-relations-with-Israel
'Disastrous decision': UK slashes aid to Yemen while approving arms sales to Saudi Arabia Politicians and non-governmental organisations condemn major humanitarian cut as military exports to Riyadh continue https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/yemen-uk-aid-half-cut-saudi-arms-sales
March 1
***
There are politicians & militaries, pointing at the other when it comes to military expenditures. “They spend much more than we do!,” they call out in public space.
Europe has its own statistic bureau and that offers the next diagram with the 2019 figures. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/2/29/Total_general_government_expenditure_on_defence%2C_2019_%28%25_of_GDP%29.png
***
The combined military expenditure of the member states amounted to €186 billion in 2019. This represents 1.4% of European Union GDP. https://eda.europa.eu/docs/default-source/brochures/2019-eda-defence-data-report.pdfLuitenant-admiraal Bauer komt met 1,9%. voor Europa. (Maar zelfs met de Engelsen erbij 1.7% halen we die 1.9% niet.)
***
To block arms supply to Myanmar military from major providers China & Russia as violent crackdowns on demonstrators continue, the in Japan expats are calling on Tokyo to lobby other UN members so the Security Council urgently imposes a global arms embargo. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/03/7851420e2bcc-focus-side-with-citizens-not-military-myanmar-expat-tells-japan-asean.html
***
A view on the German military production at Airbus (such as the FCAS) and how the and how the trade unions support the proces. https://www.wsws.org/de/articles/2021/03/01/igme-m01.html
***
The Saudi regime is responsible for one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises through its war in Yemen. The Biden administration has now frozen arms sales to the Saudis, but Trudeau’s government seems happy to continue arms sales. https://jacobinmag.com/2021/02/trudeau-canada-saudi-arabia-arms-sales-yemen
