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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Israel Begins Modernization Plan Through 2030

Tuesday, January 24, 2017
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is beginning work on a new multiyear modernization road map that takes into account an influx of $38 billion in US-promised grant aid from 2019 through 2028, the military’s top planner said on Monday.English
Country(s): 
Israel
Author(s): 
Barbara Opall-Rome
Publisher / Source: 
Defense New
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance

Trump's Win Doesn't Instantly Solve Defense Budget Problems, Analysts Warn

Monday, January 23, 2017
efense advocates have been hopeful that President Donald Trump’s election will mean big boosts in military spending in years to come, but on Monday prominent analysts said those thoughts may just be dreams.English
Author(s): 
Leo Shane III
Publisher / Source: 
Military Times
Tag(s): 
Legislation

Donald Trump Speaks With Egyptian President Sisi

Monday, January 23, 2017
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah Al Sisi, White House officials and Egyptian state media said, in the first conversation between the two since Mr. Trump took office.English
Country(s): 
Egypt
Author(s): 
Carol E. Lee
Dahlia Kholaif
Publisher / Source: 
The Wall Street Journal
Tag(s): 
Counterterrorism
Development

What Trump’s policies mean for Somalia and security in East Africa

Monday, January 23, 2017
If Al Shabbab seems less fleet-footed and lethal today than it did a year and a half ago, part of the credit must go to the US. It now looks like President Trump — who is breathtakingly naïve about the threat that Al Shabaab-like groups pose — wants the review in order to cut back US involvement in Somalia. This would be a strategic and costly long-run mistake for US policy in the Horn of Africa.English
Author(s): 
Wachira Maina
Publisher / Source: 
The East African
Tag(s): 
AMISOM
AFRICOM

Trump and the Return of Private Military Contractors

Monday, January 23, 2017
In 2005 the Marine Corps University published a paper entitled “The Professional Military Services Industry: Have We Created a New Military-Industrial Complex?” To consider that question now, more than a decade later, is the equivalent of asking if the Pope is Catholic. The United States has not only created such a new complex, but it has also systematized, legalized, normalized, and, in all important aspects, accepted it. Yet, with the advantage of hindsight, America has never really had a deliberate, thoughtful debate over whether this was a good thing. Frankenstein’s monster was created with more forethought than the contemporary private military and security contracting (PMSC) industry.
Author(s): 
David Isenberg
Publisher / Source: 
LobeLog

Trump’s State Nominee Raises Doubts on Colombia Peace Pact

Monday, January 23, 2017
President Donald Trump’s secretary of state nominee said he would review Colombia’s recent peace agreement to determine how much the U.S. should continue to support a historic deal that had been enthusiastically backed by the Obama administration.English
Country(s): 
Colombia
Author(s): 
Joshua Goodman
Publisher / Source: 
The Washington Post
Wire Service: 
AP
Tag(s): 
FARC

How Trump's Economic Policies Promise to Upset Mexico's Criminal Landscape

Monday, January 23, 2017
There are also myriad other secondary effects on organized crime stemming from the policy changes Trump is promising. A long-term divide between the two governments could trickle down to security collaboration, after years in which shared intelligence has helped Mexico locate some of its most wanted men.English
Country(s): 
Mexico
Author(s): 
Patrick Corcoran
Publisher / Source: 
InSight Crime
Tag(s): 
Criminal Organizations
Security Assistance

US Army Security Assistance Command Leader Says 2017 Could Be Bigger Than 2016

Monday, January 23, 2017
Major General Stephen Farmen commands the US Army Security Assistance Command, which manages more than $170 billion in foreign military sales and support. In 2016 the command had more than $14 billion in new business and anticipates more than $16 billion in 2017. But as General Farmen said "its not about the dollars, it's about the effects."English
Program(s): 
Foreign Military Sales
Author(s): 
Jeff Martin
Publisher / Source: 
Redstone Alabama
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance

Under Trump's Spotlight, NATO Chiefs See Larger Counterterrorism Role

Thursday, January 19, 2017
NATO’s top commander expects the alliance to play a larger role in counterterrorism efforts, signaling that allies could be prepared to place greater focus on an issue of concern for the incoming Trump administration.English
Country(s): 
Global
Author(s): 
John Vandiver
Publisher / Source: 
Stars and Stripes
Tag(s): 
NATO

Peril in Peru

Thursday, January 19, 2017
It might just be the most important terrorism case you’ve never heard of. Last fall, prosecutors in the Peruvian capital of Lima launched formal legal proceedings against a 30-year-old alleged Hezbollah operative named Mohammed Hamdar. The trial, now underway, has major regional—indeed, global—implications for the fight against international terrorism.English
Country(s): 
Peru
Author(s): 
Ilan Berman
Publisher / Source: 
Foreign Affairs
Tag(s): 
Counterterrorism

Peace Talks Between Colombia and ELN Rebels to Start in February

Thursday, January 19, 2017
Colombia‘s government will begin much-delayed formal peace talks with the country’s second-biggest rebel group the ELN on February 7, after the guerrillas release a politician being held hostage, the two sides said on Wednesday.English
Country(s): 
Colombia
Author(s): 
Julia Symmes Cobb
Publisher / Source: 
The Wire
Tag(s): 
Peace Negotiations

Turkish Parliament Approves More Constitutional Reform Articles

Thursday, January 19, 2017
Turkey's parliament approved the first seven articles in a second round of voting overnight on a constitutional bill that will extend President Tayyip Erdogan's powers, keeping the reform on course for a spring referendum.English
Country(s): 
Turkey
Author(s): 
Gulsen Solaker
Publisher / Source: 
Rueters
Tag(s): 
Politics and Security

Exclusive: Pentagon, Lockheed Near Deal on $9 Billion F35 Contract - Sources

Thursday, January 19, 2017
The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) are close to deal for a contract worth almost $9 billion as negotiations are poised to bring the price per F-35 below $100 million for the first time, people familiar with the talks said Wednesday.English
Author(s): 
Mike Stone
Publisher / Source: 
Reuters
Tag(s): 
Development
Arms Sales

U.S. Military Moves to Clear ‘Ghost Soldiers’ From Afghan Payroll

Thursday, January 19, 2017
he U.S. military has wiped more than 30,000 names of suspected ghost Afghan soldiers from its payroll, as part of a widening corruption crackdown that a top American general estimates will save the U.S. millions of dollars each month.English
Country(s): 
Afghanistan
Author(s): 
Jessica Donati
Ehsanullah Amiri
Publisher / Source: 
The Wall Street Journal
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance
Security Sector Reform
Corruption

Ukraine Tries Do-It-Yourself Military Upgrade While Awaiting Trump

Thursday, January 19, 2017
Ukraine is ramping up its defense industry at a Soviet-era tank factory here near Europe’s deadly front line with Russia, as officials wonder what the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump will mean for their country.English
Country(s): 
Ukraine
Author(s): 
Julian Barnes
Publisher / Source: 
The Wall Street Journal
Tag(s): 
Politics and Security

Israeli Air Force Deploys Operational Arrow-3 Missile Defense

Wednesday, January 18, 2017
The Israeli Air Force declared initial operational capability on Wednesday of the Arrow-3 intercepting system, the nation’s newest, upper-tier layer of a multi-tiered defense network against ballistic missiles.English
Country(s): 
Israel
Author(s): 
Barbara Opall-Rome
Publisher / Source: 
Defense News
Tag(s): 
Security
Arms Sales

Obama’s Stark Options on ISIS: Arm Syrian Kurds or Let Trump Decide

Wednesday, January 18, 2017
The article details Obama's dilemma as he struggles to decide whether to arm Kurds fighting ISIS in Syria or whether to leave such a decision to the incoming Trump administration. English
Country(s): 
Syria
Author(s): 
Michael Gordon
Eric Schmitt
Publisher / Source: 
, The New York Times
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance

U.S. forces team with Turkey again to attack ISIS in Syria

Wednesday, January 18, 2017
American warplanes and combat advisers are once again backing Turkish military units battling Islamic State fighters in northern Syria, the most tangible indication yet that months of tension between the NATO allies may be easing. English
Country(s): 
Syria
Turkey
Author(s): 
Andrew DeGrandpre
Publisher / Source: 
Military Times
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance

U.S. Increases Airdrops of Supplies to Forces Battling ISIS in Syria

Wednesday, January 18, 2017
The U.S. Air Force is increasing airdrops of weapons, ammunition and other equipment to a growing number of opposition forces closing in on Raqqa, the Islamic State’s de facto capital in Syria.
Country(s): 
Syria
Author(s): 
Jim Michaels
Publisher / Source: 
Military Times
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance
Counterterrorism

Estonia, Lithuania Sign Deals With U.S. To Allow Troop Deployments

Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Estonia and Lithuania moved on January 17 to shore up military relations with the United States ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. The two Baltic states signed bilateral defense agreements with the United States to formalize the presence of U.S. troops in their countries, their defense ministries said.English
Country(s): 
Estonia
Lithuania
Publisher / Source: 
Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty
Tag(s): 
Military Cooperation

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