Resources - News

This section includes the latest news relating to U.S. security policy around the world. Updated daily, the news provided in this searchable database highlights the most relevant security developments from around the world. 

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US, Colombian Militaries Eye a Post-Conflict Future

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Now that a historic peace accord with leftist FARC guerrillas could be signed within weeks, Colombia’s government is eager to ensure ties to the US military endure in a post-conflict future. President Juan Manuel Santos this week rolled out the red carpet for the Pentagon’s top officer, Gen. Joe Dunford, honoring him with three ceremonies during a brief visit to Bogota.English
Country(s): 
Colombia
Publisher / Source: 
Defense News
Wire Service: 
Agence France-Presse
Tag(s): 
Military Cooperation

First Military Planes Leave in Syria Withdrawal

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Russia's defense ministry said Tuesday its first group of planes left Syria following President Vladimir Putin's announcement he was withdrawing most of his forces after a 5½-month operation.English
Country(s): 
Russia
Author(s): 
VOA
Publisher / Source: 
VOA News
Tag(s): 
Security

Pakistan Religious Groups Say Law Protecting Women from Abuse 'Un-Islamic'

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
An all-parties conference convened by Pakistan's oldest Islamic political party and attended by powerful religious groups asked the government on Tuesday to retract an "un-Islamic" law that gives unprecedented protection to female victims of violence.English
Country(s): 
Pakistan
Author(s): 
Mubasher Bukhari
Publisher / Source: 
Reuters
Tag(s): 
Human Rights

Colombia Continues to Grapple with Expanding Coca Cultivation

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
The Colombian government is doubling down on efforts to contain the expanding cultivation of coca crops, underscoring some of the persistent difficulties associated with combating the country’s illicit drug trade. During a press conference on March 10, Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said that the country is concerned over an increase in coca crops, as noted by the US and the United Nations. English
Country(s): 
Colombia
Author(s): 
Mike LaSusa
Publisher / Source: 
InSight Crime
Tag(s): 
Counternarcotics

UAE Fighter Jet Crashed in Yemen, 2 Pilots Killed

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Two Emirati pilots were killed when their fighter jet crashed on Monday in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is battling Iran-backed rebels, the alliance said.English
Country(s): 
Yemen
Publisher / Source: 
Yahoo News
Tag(s): 
Militarization
Military Cooperation

Putin Orders Start of Syria Withdrawal, Saying Goals Are Achieved

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Monday ordered the withdrawal of the “main part” of Russian forces in Syria, a surprise move that reflected what he called the Kremlin’s achievement of nearly all its objectives in the war-torn country.English
Country(s): 
Syria
Author(s): 
Neil MacFarquhar
Anne Barnard
Publisher / Source: 
The New York Times
Tag(s): 
Military Exercises

Ethiopian Troops Accused of Executing Protesters

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
An Ethiopian rights group on Monday accused government forces of more than 100 extra-judicial killings as well as torture while putting down protests that began last year in the Oromia region.English
Country(s): 
Ethiopia
Publisher / Source: 
News 24 (Nigeria)
Tag(s): 
Human Rights

UPDATE 1-Chances of Ukraine technocrat government fade after talks stall

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Ukraine needs a stable government to conclude negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for new aid worth $1.7 billion to keep its war-torn economy afloat and pass economic and judicial reforms demanded by its Western backers.English
Country(s): 
Ukraine
Author(s): 
Pavel Polityuk
Publisher / Source: 
Reuters
Tag(s): 
Politics and Security

More Transparency Is Needed on the Pentagon’s Military Aid Programs

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Providing military and police aid to the security forces of other nations — also referred to as security assistance — has become a centerpiece of the Obama administration’s foreign policy. The programs administered by the Department of Defense are of particular concern, since they are the least transparent and therefore the most likely to be abused.English
Country(s): 
Global
Author(s): 
Colby Goodman
William D. Hartung
Publisher / Source: 
Sunshine Week
Tag(s): 
Military
Transparency
Security Assistance

Senior U.S. General Wants to Start Striking the Taliban Again

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
A senior American general has proposed resuming offensive strikes against the Taliban, exposing a rift between the military and senior administration officials over the U.S. role in the war in Afghanistan, according to military officials.English
Country(s): 
Afghanistan
Author(s): 
Missy Ryan
Greg Jaffe
Publisher / Source: 
The Washington Post
Tag(s): 
Military Exercises

Is the U.S. Now at War With the Shabab? Not Exactly

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Is the United States now at war with the Shabab, too? The short answer, several officials said, is no. But there turned out to be a twist that illustrates how the fight against terrorism keeps eroding limits on presidential war-making powers. English
Country(s): 
Somalia
Author(s): 
Charlie Savage
Publisher / Source: 
The New York Times
Tag(s): 
Terrorism

Policy Leaders Heeded Advice on Afghanistan

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Congress and the U.S. president listened and acted on advice from the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan over the last 18 months, said Gen. John F. Campbell. English
Country(s): 
Afghanistan
Author(s): 
David Vergun
Publisher / Source: 
Military Times
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance

Israeli Defense Minister Wants Aid Package 'Very Soon'

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon hopes to finalize details on an American ten-year military aid package to Israel “very soon,” he said while on a visit here to meet with top US officials.English
Country(s): 
Israel
Author(s): 
Aaron Mehta
Publisher / Source: 
Defense News
Tag(s): 
Military and Police Aid

Turkey and Ukraine Forge an Unlikely Alliance

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Last week Ukraine and Turkey signed a number of political, economic and military deals during Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's visit to Ankara on March 8-9. Poroshenko noted that the key achievement of his visit was the strengthening of security and defense ties between the two countries, and he thanked his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his commitment to supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity. English
Country(s): 
Ukraine
Publisher / Source: 
Strafor
Tag(s): 
Military Cooperation

E.U. Suspends Direct Aid to Burundi Government

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
The European Union has suspended direct financial support for the Burundian government after concluding that it had not done enough to find a political solution to conflict that has so far cost more than 400 lives.
Country(s): 
Burundi
Publisher / Source: 
Defence Web (South Africa)
Wire Service: 
Reuters (UK)
Tag(s): 
Foreign Aid

The Black Hole of Pentagon Foreign Aid

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
One area much in need of sunshine this year is the distribution of international humanitarian, development and security aid by the Pentagon — assistance that used to be provided almost exclusively by the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).English
Country(s): 
Global
Author(s): 
Diana Ohlbaum
Colby Goodman
Publisher / Source: 
The Hill
Tag(s): 
Military
Transparency

Former Commander: the U.S. Military Needs to do More in Afghanistan

Monday, March 14, 2016
The outgoing commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan pressed civilian leaders in the months before he left Kabul to expand the American role there, shedding light on what he called a slow and inefficient decision-making process as he prepares to retire.English
Country(s): 
Afghanistan
Author(s): 
Missy Ryan
Publisher / Source: 
The Washington Post
Tag(s): 
Military and Police Aid

Senegal: The Linchpin of Security in West Africa

Monday, March 14, 2016
Dakar has been a strong force against Islamic extremism. It may also be the next big target. The referendum is a reminder that this is a sub-Saharan African country that is a historically stable democracy, in a region that has seen coups, dictatorship and most recently, Islamist extremism.English
Country(s): 
Senegal
Author(s): 
Seth J. Frantzman
Publisher / Source: 
The National Interest
Tag(s): 
Counterterrorism

Top Paraguay Official Reveals Arms Trafficking Modus Operandi

Monday, March 14, 2016
A raid on a weapons "supermarket" in Paraguay has led officials to offer details of the inner workings of the country's arms trade, depicting a familiar mix of corruption, stolen military arms, and guns legally bought in the United StatesEnglish
Country(s): 
Paraguay
Author(s): 
James Bargent
Publisher / Source: 
InSight Crime
Tag(s): 
Arms Control

Africa Targeted Once More as Rivalry Between Islamic Militants Grows

Monday, March 14, 2016
Grand-Bassam is the latest target as Islamic State, al-Qaida and their local affiliates battle to extend their sphere of influenceEnglish
Country(s): 
West Africa Regional
Author(s): 
Jason Burke
Publisher / Source: 
The Guardian (UK)
Tag(s): 
Counterterrorism

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