Current Events in Mideast-Africa

From Defense Aerospace Submarine Training for South African Navy (Source: India Press Information Bureau; issued Oct. 11, 2005) INS Satavahana, the submarine training school of Indian Navy, undertook basic submarine training for officers of the South African Navy (SAN) on the Type-209 submarine, from 31st Jan 05. With this, INS Satavahana has joined the league of elite training establishments under the aegis of the Southern Naval Command, that provide training to friendly foreign navies. This has also opened up a new chapter in the role and responsibility of this premier submarine training establishment. The training capsule has been designed for comb…

DefenseNews U.S. Arms Sales to India Could Destabilize Region: EU Report By BROOKS TIGNER, BRUSSELS The European Union should quickly pursue a strategic relationship with India to strengthen political ties and counter the effects of potentially destabilizing U.S. arms sales to the region, according to a new report by the European Parliament. Adopted Sept. 29 by a large majority during the parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, the 30-page report, “EU-India Relations: A Strategic Partnership,” was authored by Emilio Menéndez del Valle, Spanish Socialist member of the European Parliament (MEP), who sits on the legislature’s Foreign Affairs Committee. I…

From DefenseNews Allies India, Russia Plans Air-Land Military Exercises By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, NEW DELHI Military allies Russia and India will hold their largest-ever war games in October with a focus on anti-terrorism combat using airborne commandos and ground forces, India’s defense ministry said Thursday. They said the joint military exercises would be held in the sprawling Thar desert bordering Pakistan in the middle of October. The week-long war games involving special forces units of the two post Cold War allies would “seek to strike an inter-operability between land forces for possible future operations under international peacekeeping banners in…

Nuclear subs on lease from Russia to India ST. PETERSBURG—The construction of a training centre for the Indian military in Sosnovy Bor, 70 kilometers west of St. Petersburg, confirms Russia’s intentions to lease nuclear submarines to India, said Green World Chairman Oleg Bodrov. Vera Ponomaryova, 2005-08-16 15:56 Bellona The international centre will open in September in the town that also hosts the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, and will train some 300 Indian naval officers. Sosnovy Bor is home to the Russian Training Centre for Officers of the Russian Navy which houses working nuclear reactors of the type found on nuclear submarines. These reactors a…

From DefenseNews Pakistan Test-Fires First Cruise Missile By DANNY KEMP, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ISLAMABAD Pakistan successfully test-fired its first cruise missile on Thursday, joining a select club of nations which have developed the ground-hugging projectiles, the military said. Military ruler President Pervez Musharraf hailed the launch of the Hatf VII Babur, which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, as a “major milestone” in the country’s defense program, an army statement said. Pakistan did not give advance warning to rival India, despite a deal made at the weekend between the two countries to notify each other before missile tests and to set up …

From DefenseNews Iran Says It Will Drop Nuclear Pledges if Attacked By AMIR PAIVAR, REUTERS, TEHRAN Iran, a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), would drop all its international nuclear pledges if its atomic facilities were attacked, the outgoing Defense Minister said on Aug. 9. His comments came a day after Iran resumed uranium conversion work, fanning Western fears it may be seeking atomic weapons and defying European Union warnings that Tehran could be referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions. Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are limited to peaceful electricity generation. “The day our facilities are attack…

From DefenseNews New Succession Structure to Emerge in Saudi Arabia By RIAD KAHWAJI, DUBAI The death of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz on Aug. 1 has set in motion a succession process believed to be in place ever since the late monarch’s health started deteriorating following his 1995 stroke. Crown Prince Abdullah was immediately named as the new monarch while his half-brother, Defense Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, was named as the new crown prince. “King Fahd’s death, and Crown Prince Abdullah’s accession to the throne, is unlikely to have any negative impact on Saudi stability and may well help the kingdom move forward in dealing with a number of major…

US offers warships to India for first time NEW DELHI, JULY 22 (PTI) OutlookIndia For the first time, the United States has offered India military hardware including warships like minesweepers and big landing ships, Chief of Naval staff Admiral Arun Prakash said here today. "The new defence framework being worked out between the two countries provides, for the first time, sale of military hardware," Prakash said as he pointed out that a high-level Naval delegation would visit the US soon to look at American Naval minesweepers and troop and equipment landing ships. According to military experts, the US gesture is significant as so far Washington's defence dea…

Navy favours F-35 fighters, not F-18: Naval Chief July 11, 2005 02:45:00 PM .KOLKATA CAL6 Press Trust of India Kolkata, Jul 11 (PTI) Indian Navy is willing to procure F-35 advanced fighters from US, but it is not interested in F-18 fighter planes as they are not "compatible" with the aircraft carriers of the naval force, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash said here today. "Yes. Given an offer, we will be much interested in having the F-35 fighters," Admiral Prakash told reporters when asked if the Navy would be willing to procure the advanced fighters from the US. He was speaking to reporters after the commissioning of warship INS Beas at the Garden…

From DefenseNews U.S., India Sign New Defense Agreement By GOPAL RATNAM The United States and India have signed a new defense cooperation agreement intended to strengthen military ties during the next decade and set up a bilateral working group that would guide India’s purchase of U.S. arms. Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is visiting Washington ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit in July, announced the new cooperation agreement and said although the two countries have different world visions on some key issues, the growing strategic partnership will continue. For example, “the United States considers Pakistan an effective ally” i…

From DefenseNews Israel To Clear Future Arms Deals With U.S. After China Row By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, JERUSALEM Israel was set June 27 to sign an agreement to clear future defense deals with Washington after a spat over an arms contract with China which could leave it with a multi-million dollar compensation bill. Defense ministry spokeswoman Rachel Ashkenazi said negotiations “to reach an understanding with the United States are at an advanced stage” after Israel effectively apologized to Washington over a controversial drones deal. The Haaretz newspaper said the agreement will mean Israel having to renege on the agreement to upgrade Harpy Killer drones …

Looks like another step taken by India to become the Regional Dominance.

Pakistan admits defense role of China-built Gwadar port Special to World Tribune.com EAST-ASIA-INTEL.COM Thursday, May 26, 2005 The Chinese-built port facility at Gwadar, on the Indian Ocean in western Pakistan, will be used for defense purposes, a Pakistani admiral said. Gwadar is seen as part of Beijing's 'string of pearls' strategy to secure sea routes for oil from the Middle East. Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Shahid Karimullah said at a conference on April 26 that while the port is also a commercial facility it will also be used by warships. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said last year that the port would be strictly a commercial facility …

Afghanistan/U.S.: 'Strategic Partnership' Seen As Move Toward De Facto Rights For U.S. Bases By Ron Synovitz GlobalSecurity The strategic partnership agreed to at the White House on 23 May by U.S. President George W. Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai seeks to ensure long-term cooperation between the two governments. In their memorandum of understanding, Bush pledged continued help to strengthen security forces, democracy, and the Afghan economy. Karzai agreed that U.S. forces will continue to have access to the Bagram Air Field north of Kabul and other strategic military installations. Prague, 25 May 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the s…

INDIA TO ASSEMBLE RUSSIAN FIGHTER JETS 12:16 Novosti MOSCOW, May 24 (RIA Novosti) - Indian President Abdul Kalam has arrived in Russia and visited the Sukhoi aircraft corporation in the forerun to India's assembly of 140 Su-30-MKI fighters under a Russian license, Izvestia, a daily, reported. Kalam and Sukhoi CEO Mikhail Pogosyan discussed New Delhi's participation in developing the fifth generation fighter and the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) medium-range airliner. India is ready to channel $100 million into the RRJ program. In 2004, Sukhoi won a state tender for developing the fighter, which is to phase out current Sukhoi and Mikoyan-Gurevich warplanes…

US Criticizes UN Nuclear Watchdog Agency Voice of America The United States has blasted the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency for failing to report Iran's longstanding non-compliance with the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The criticism came on the first working day of a treaty review conference at U.N. headquarters, where VOA's Peter Heinlein picks up the story. U.S. State Department official Andrew Semmel Thursday accused the International Atomic Energy Agency of failing to act on its own findings that Iran was violating the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Speaking to a conference on strengthening the treaty, Mr. Semmel noted that IAEA Director Mohammed El…

From DefenseNews EU Threatens Support for Sanctions Against Iran By BROOKS TIGNER, BRUSSELS Tense back-channel talks are under way between European Union countries and Iran to persuade the latter from re-starting its nuclear enrichment research — an activity Tehran promised in late 2005 to freeze in exchange for a new economic and political relationship with Europe. The EU lead nations of Germany, France and the United Kingdom — the so-called EU3 — are warning they will support United Nations sanctions, long desired by Washington, if Iran does not immediately reverse its position. European support for U.N. sanctions “would certainly see them come into effect …

From Jane's Intelligence Digest A partnership between Israel and NATO ? In a rapidly changing strategic environment, Israeli policy makers are recognising definite advantages, especially in security affairs, in developing closer ties with NATO. The present Israeli government's enthusiasm for this project can be seen in an ambitious set of proposals submitted to the Alliance. Highlighting the desirability of upgrading relations with NATO, the document proposes closer co-operation on counter-terrorism; combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; joint military training; in the field of logistics; and in the future joint development of weapons systems…

Tehran officially launches production of first Iranian-made submarine CanadaEast Tehran launches production of Iranian-made submarine TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran officially launched production of the country's first Iranian-built submarine, a craft capable of operating stealthily, state-run television reported. Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammad Imani was quoted as saying "the enemy would not be able to detect the submarine." He did not elaborate. One submarine has apparently already been built and was shown on television Tuesday, cruising at sea level. The Defence Ministry has commissioned an unspecified number of the craft, dubbed Ghadir in honour of a site…

Pakistan Pins High Hopes on New Chinese Fighter Jet By TAHIR IKRAM, REUTERS, KAMRA, Pakistan eDefense Pakistan, which has been seeking high technology aircraft for the last two decades, said May 9 it hoped to start joint production with China from 2007 of multi-role fighter jets. The first four JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft are expected to be introduced into the air force some time in 2006, said Air Vice Marshal Shahid Latif, project director for JF-17 planes. The medium-technology aircraft matches the Mirage in performance but has better avionics and weapons, Latif told a news conference at the Kamra Aeronautical complex, 80 km (50 miles) west of Islama…