October, 2022

• 13 October

  New national security strategy prioritizes China and Russia concerns over Middle East

  

  The United States’ newly released national security strategy calls for restrained use of the American military in the Middle East. Instead, it prioritizes “out-competing China and constraining Russia” while criticizing the expanded missions of U.S. wars in recent decades. “We will not use our military to change regimes or remake …

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• 13 October

  Russia’s ‘irrecoverable losses’ in Ukraine: more than 90,000 troops dead, disabled, or AWOL

  

  More than 90,000 troops make up Russia’s “irrecoverable” military losses in Ukraine, as reported by the Russian media project iStories (or Vazhnye Istorii). One of the two sources of this information works in the FSB; the other is a former state security officer. “Irrecoverable losses” is a category that includes …

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• 13 October

  EU warns Turkey on ties with Russia ahead of Erdogan-Putin meeting

  

  The European Commission’s annual report on Turkey criticizes Ankara for increasing trade and financial relations with Russia, inviting Russian oligarchs to the country and undermining EU sanctions against Russia. The European Union is concerned with Ankara’s continued policy of non-alignment with restrictive measures against Russia and increased trade and financial …

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• 13 October

  Turkey’s stance complicates potential peace between Armenia, Azerbaijan

  

  By linking Turkey’s normalization with Armenia to a peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Erdogan could encourage intransigence on Baku’s part. The recent meeting between the leaders of Turkey and Armenia — the first in 13 years — has rekindled the prospect of normalization between the two estranged neighbors, with …

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• 13 October

  Iranian Regime Mouthpiece ‘Kayhan’: ‘Hundreds Of Iranian Combat Drones Were Exported To Russia – Just As Venezuela Benefited From Iranian Drones In The Past… For Some Time Now, Iranian Drones Have Been Operating Against NATO In Ukrainian Skies’

  

  Kayhan: The Americans “Have Understood It Correctly – Iran Is Exporting Military Equipment To The Second Most Powerful Military In The World – The Russian Federation” Iranian Foreign Minister Abdollahian has on several occasions denied to his European counterparts that Iran is selling Iranian weapons, especially combat drones, to Russia …

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• 13 October

  Somalia: Lifting Arms Embargo Key to Battling Islamist Militants

  

  Somalia is getting support for its campaign to have an arms embargo lifted after Ethiopia joined Uganda in backing the action. The U.N. Security Council is set to vote in November on renewing the partial ban, which Somalia says should be removed so it can better fight al-Shabab terrorists. Ethiopia’s …

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• 12 October

  Germany at a crossroads over Sahel mission

  

  Germany is questioning its military deployment in the Sahel region after anti-Western demonstrations in Niger and a fresh coup in Burkina Faso. There is some support for the Bundeswehr to continue its training mission. Germany’s parliament is debating its deployment of troops to Mali and other Sahel states that are …

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• 12 October

  NATO To Hold Annual Nuclear Exercises Despite Russian Threats

  

  NATO is set to hold its regular annual nuclear deterrence exercises next week amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s repeated threats to use nuclear weapons. “This is routine training which happens every year to keep our deterrence safe, secure and effective,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Tuesday (11 October). …

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• 12 October

  Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant loses external power

  

  Ukraine’s biggest nuclear plant, which is surrounded by Russian troops, has lost all external power needed for vital safety systems for the second time in five days, the head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog said Wednesday, calling it a “deeply worrying development.” The warning from International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General …

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• 12 October

  Nuclear deterrence drill, talks on restocking arsenals next up on NATO’s agenda

  

  The U.S.-led NATO alliance will agree this week to a plan for ramping up munitions and weapons production to replenish stockpiles after months of arms shipments to Ukraine, NATO’s top official said Tuesday. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking on the eve of a two-day defense ministers conference in Brussels, also said …

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