16 Apr – HMCS Harry DeWolf departed Halifax for Op CARIBBE where she will participate in the multinational campaign against transnational criminal organizations in the Caribbean Sea.
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IN THE NEWS
May 15
Historically neutral Finland and Sweden confirmed today that they will apply for NATO membership, a political shift prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland, which shares a 1,300km border with Russia, announced its decision first and was followed within hours by Sweden. Russia has threatened unspecific “consequences.”
May 13
A legal battle over upgrades to a pair of New Zealand frigates in Canada evidently isn’t about to be resolved any time soon while the Attorney General documents to address potential national security concerns. New Zealand contracted for the work in 2014 with Lockheed Martin Canada, which subcontracted elements to Seaspan Shipyards in Victoria. Reciprocal lawsuits effectively delayed the project to the point where one ship was delivered nine months late in December 2020 while the other remains at Seaspan’s yard.
May 13
North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles May 12 in the latest of a series of demonstrations. They fell into the sea outside Japan’s economic management zone.
May 13
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today his country is “not of a favourable option” about the prospect of NATO membership for Finland and Sweden, but he stopped short of saying that he would exercise Turkey’s veto. He cited, among other things, alleged Scandinavian support for Kurdish militants and other groups Turkey sees as terrorists.
May 13
Russian forces have added cluster munitions to their indiscriminate invasion of Ukraine to horrendous effect against the civilian population. The weapons ostensibly are prohibited by a 2010 international treaty but Russia and Ukraine are among a few countries which have not ratified the accord.
May 13
A Canadian Armed Forces general officer and six staff officers are being assigned to NATO’s Multinational Division North Headquarters in Latvia, Prime Minster Justin Trudeau announced May 12 after a meeting with his Latvian counterpart, Krišjānis Kariņš. “They’ll be part of a first-of-its-kind unit in the northern Baltic Sea region to help plan, coordinate and integrate regional military activities that will serve as a continued and important part of our enhancements to NATO’s defence and deterrence capabilities,” Trudeau said. Canada has already deployed nearly 700 soldiers there as part of Operation Reassurance’s Forward Presence Battle Group.
May 13
With Finland’s parliament expected to formally approve a request for NATO membership, a decision expected to be matched by Sweden this weekend, Russia’s foreign ministry said today there is a threat to security and stability in northern Europe. “Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature,” it added without being specific.
May 13
The European Union is giving Ukraine another €500 million to buy heavy weapons to fend off the Russian invasion, the bloc's foreign policy head said today against the backdrop of a G-7 meeting in Germany. Also, Canada and the other bloc members are planning to examine how to gain access to millions of tonnes of globally-critical grain in the besieged country.
May 12
Marine Corps snipers are getting set to adopt a new bolt-action rifle which gives them the choice of three calibres while reducing the need for two weapons. USMC Command said today that the Barrett Mk22 Mod 0 has nearly completed testing before being issued next year. The Army previously announced that it had opted for the Mk22.
May 12
With near-peer warfare back on the agenda, U.S. special operators are focusing on environments where they are highly likely to find themselves engaged, notably in the Arctic. Members from across the community recently spent nearly a month training in Alaska alongside conventional forces and local, state, and federal law-enforcement personnel.
May 12
A 21-year-old Russian conscript will be the focus of Ukraine’s first war crimes trial arising from a shooting four days after Russia’s invasion began Feb. 24. Kyiv’s top prosecutor said Vadim Shyshimarin is accused of killing an unarmed elderly civilian on a bicycle to prevent him from reporting the troops’ presence.
May 12
A report released by two think-tanks May 11 states that senior government officials feel they are ill-equipped to gather evidence for policy advice and that they seem afraid to tell politicians the hard truths when evidence is found. The conclusions are based on mid-pandemic interviews with 42 senior bureaucrats and 2,355 public servants in various departments and agencies.
May 12
A five-member Mississippi-based USAF crew has been disciplined for “abuse of government assets” after diverting their Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport to pick up a member’s personal motorcycle in March. The crew were grounded in California after the incident came to light, necessitating deployment of a second crew to collect the aircraft and its original crew.
May 12
The president and prime minister of historically non-aligned Finland today announced their support for the nation to apply for NATO membership, setting the stage for a parliamentary vote within a few days. There has been a dramatic shift in public support for the decision due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and similarly neutral Sweden is expected to follow suit.
May 11
Seventeen years after a previous Liberal government rejected participation in the U.S. ballistic missile defence system, Defense Minister Anita Anand says Canada is re-examining the possibility. “We are certainly taking a full and comprehensive look at that question as well as what it takes to defend the continent across the board,” she said May 10. “We are leaving no stone unturned in this major review.”
May 11
A Republican Senator from Alaska expressed exasperation about Canada’s defence spending May 10 when a congressional committee was considering more funding for Ukraine. Having asked witnesses whether they have seen allies stepping up, Dan Sullivan said “we still have NATO allies, Canada one, who just freeload. And it's getting a little tiring.”
May 10
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine says thousands more civilians have been died than the official toll of 3,351 killed during nearly 11 weeks of war against Russian. The head of the mission, Matilda Bogner, who has 56 monitors on the ground, said today that most deaths are the result of weapons with a wide impact area.
May 10
Cadets graduating May 19 from Royal Military College plan to use the spring convocation ceremony to honour the memory of four classmates who died April 29 when their vehicle plunged into the St. Lawrence River from a promontory on the sprawling campus.
May 10
With Russia’s invasion well into its third month, the U.S. is trying to figure out how best to supply weapons and train Ukrainian troops. Hundreds have either completed or are undergoing training on an array of weapons and a Pentagon official says the challenge is not to “overload their system” by delivering more than the Ukrainians can handle.
May 09
As the U.S. sends Javelin anti-tank missiles from its military stockpiles to support Ukraine’s fight against Russian invaders, Lockheed Martin aims to nearly double production at the Alabama plant it operates with Raytheon Technologies. Current annual output of the weapons, each of which contains 250 microprocessors, is 2,100 but LM CEO Jim Taiclet said May 8 the goal is 4,000, which will require its supply chain to “crank up.”
May 09
In a “Victory Day” speech in Moscow today, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his military no clues as to how much longer his invasion of Ukraine, which began Feb. 24, would last. He reiterated his unsubstantiated claim that the “special military operation” was an unavoidable preemptive move against plans for a NATO-backed Ukrainian invasion of lands he said were historically Russian.
May 08
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met today in Ukraine with his embattled counterpart, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, even as Russia was stepping up its invasion in some regions. Among other things, Trudeau promised more military assistance and announced more economic sanctions as well as financial support for the World Food Program, saying that “we will continue to do whatever is necessary to stand with Ukraine.”
May 08
U.S. First Lady Jill Biden met her Ukrainian counterpart, Olena Zelenska, met in Ukraine on Mother’s Day, Zelenska's first public appearance since Russian began invading her country Feb. 24. Biden’s visit coincided with a U.S. announcement of more sanctions against not only Russia but also neighbouring Belarus, where its autocratic leader has been openly supportive of Vladimir Putin.
May 08
Is Canada's space industry optimally positioned to maximize opportunities and ensure a competitive edge in the face of expanding markets? AIAC's Space Future event will tackle this and other questions relevant to the very real future of space.
May 08
As a general election looms May 21 in Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today that his government would work with its allies to ensure that China does not set up a rumoured military base in the Solomon Islands. China’s growing Pacific presences has been a hot issue in the election campaign and Morrison has warned that a base in the Solomons would be crossing a “red line.”
ISSUES & IDEAS
Last week, the Canadian government unanimously decreed that Russia’s activities in Ukraine constitute “acts of genocide”. What can Canada do to actually stop the carnage?
General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, has announced first round senior appointments and promotions for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) General and Flag Officers in 2022.
Although Canada’s recent budget did increase some national security spending, it failed to meet NATO’s basic defence expenditure target. At a time when the world stands on the brink of global conflict, I find such government fumbling incredible.
FEATURED ARTICLES 2021 |
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