Andrew Borene

🚨 New Article Alert! 🚨 📖 Vulnerabilities of the Russian Army and Ukraine's Counteroffensive: Key Insights and Strategic Directions 🔍 Dive into the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict This article explores the recent replacement of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu by President Putin amidst the escalating war. What does this political shuffle reveal about the vulnerabilities within the Russian military leadership? 🔗 Read the full article for an in-depth analysis and strategic directions https://lnkd.in/dCterXrP Andrei I. Cursaru, Founder & CEO CYIS #Ukraine #Russia #Geopolitics #MilitaryStrategy #Defense #SupportUkraine #GlobalSecurity #Article

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HOUTHIS ON THE MARCH: U.S. intelligence assesses that Houthi militants in Yemen are working to provide Al-Shabaab with weapons, according to CNN. The move would be a major escalation in cooperation between the Iran-backed proxy and the Somali militant group, which both have posed major threats to shipping and trade in the Red Sea. U.S. intelligence along with African partners have been working to figure out if Iran is involved and whether weapons transfers have already occurred. https://lnkd.in/eSMjqTbz

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In a world where there's more data about you and from you that is available to explore and exploit, this is important for the US. You won't see certain other nations around the world developing these safeguards.

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🇺🇸 The U.S. Department of the Treasury yesterday unveiled the 2024 National Strategy for Combatting #Terrorist and Other #IllicitFinancing. This comprehensive blueprint outlines the U.S. government's approach to disrupt and prevent illicit financial activities that threaten national security and economic stability. The 2024 Strategy responds to findings from the latest #NationalRiskAssessments and builds on recent reforms aimed at modernizing #antimoneylaundering and #counteringfinancingofterrorism (#AML/#CFT) frameworks. It highlights four priority areas including closing regulatory loopholes, enhancing a risk-focused regulatory framework, boosting operational effectiveness, and embracing technological innovation to counter #illicitfinance threats. Key threats include large-scale fraud, ransomware, and terrorist financing by groups like Hamas and state actors like Russia. Under Secretary Brian E. Nelson emphasized the importance of closing pathways exploited by illicit actors, stating, "We need to continue to close the pathways that illicit actors seek to exploit for their schemes." The strategy details 15 supporting actions, with significant emphasis on operationalizing #beneficialownership information and developing new technologies to improve compliance and enforcement.

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5/31/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4c1FiIA 1. Open Source Intelligence Strategy 2. U.S. Allows Ukraine to Carry Out Limited Strikes Inside Russia With American Weapons 3. The Unusual Espionage Act Case Against a Drone Photographer 4. Israel could have used smaller weapons against Hamas to avoid deaths in Gaza tent fire, experts say 5. U.S., Chinese Defense Chiefs Confirm Plan to Reopen Hotlines in First Face-to-Face Meeting 6. Trump is trending on Chinese social media, and many are rejoicing 7. Taking the Fight to Russia: The West Weighs Ukraine’s Use of Its Weapons 8. Behind the scenes of the Pentagon’s race to aid in Taiwan’s defense 9. Stress Test: the April Earthquake and Taiwan’s Resilience 10. This ‘Cowboy’ Wants to Teach Princeton Kids About Greatness 11. US Intel says North Korean missile debris identified in Russian attack on Kharkiv: report 12. Why Trying to 'Defeat' the Chinese Communist Party Could Backfire 13. IDF unearths more tunnels, gains control of Philadelphi Corridor 14. Americans Are Thinking About Immigration All Wrong 15. Off Leash: Inside the Secret, Global, Far-Right Group Chat 16. How Myanmar’s civil war is rippling into the U.S. and around the world 17. US military conducts tunnel warfare exercise in Morocco 18. China's defence ministry condemns US missile deployment in Philippines 19. Five powers plan bigger, deeper Asia military drills 20. Ice Dragon: China’s Antarctic Strategy 21. Myanmar Is Fragmenting—but Not Falling Apart 22. New Cold War proxy conflict brewing in Myanmar

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To counter this, Beijing has however gradually increased its presence using the five pillars for engagement; the SCO, training and joint exercises, military aid, military sales, and private security companies (PSCs). It is suggested that Beijing should also reactivate the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism (QCCM), a multilateral security cooperation framework composed of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan along with Trilateral Dialogue with Pakistan and Afghanistan to chalk out a holistic and comprehensive counter-terrorism policy. Moreover, the Chinese security forces should increase its patrolling at the Wakhan Corridor connecting Afghanistan which borders the province Xinjiang. In the broader region of Central Asia-Afghanistan-Pakistan, China’s primary security concerns should revolve around curbing increased battling out ISIS-K, Al-Qaeda, TTA, TTP, MB and ETIM extending any support to Uighur militancy through the prioritization of both capacity building and intelligence acquisition.

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‘Countries are now forced to confront it’: Rise in Chinese espionage arrests alarms Europe - “A lot of this activity has been around a while,” said Martin Thorley, a senior analyst at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime. “Countries have now been forced confront it, despite the unpalatable nature of dealing with this at the same time as having market dependencies, supply-chain links etc in China. This has been present for a while and has been left too long.” - Experts say Chinese spies have three main priorities: to shape political and economic trends in line with China’s interests; gather information on sensitive industries; and to monitor the diaspora populations, particularly minority groups such as Tibetans, Uyghurs and Hongkongers. - When it comes to overseas citizens, Chinese spies have several objectives, says Thorley. “To deter criticism, to court individuals where it might be advantageous, to gather intelligence. The upshot is that many diaspora groups face a double threat of xenophobia when relations with China deteriorate as well as elevated risks of being targeted by Chinese party-state authorities.” - Kiesewetter believes the targeting of diaspora groups is also designed to make them feel “insecure” and spread the message that Germany cannot protect people on its own soil. - That highlights the fact that “China operates asymmetrically”, according to Sari Arho Havrén, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. “The complexity is quite difficult to detect because we can’t really match the magnitude of resources that China puts in.” https://lnkd.in/eZKEMrnt

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In a concerning development, China has replaced its People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) with the Information Support Force (ISF), highlighting the growing importance of information warfare. This shift comes at a time when the U.S. is downsizing its information warfare capabilities. In a 2022 War on the Rocks article, the author points out that China's "intelligentized warfare" concept aims to use AI to manipulate the will of policymakers, military leaders, and citizens. Again, this comes at a time when the U.S. de-emphasizes information power in resourcing and prioritization. This is a critical wake-up call for the U.S. to prioritize information warfare investment. #China #InformationWarfare #NationalSecurity #greatpowercompetition #geopoliticalrisk #CCP #PLA #strategiccompetition #AI Jake Auchincloss Seth Moulton Michael Waltz Mike Studeman https://lnkd.in/giUgsYfM

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4/16/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4aTNB8L 1. The Lessons of Israeli Missile Defense 2. The U.S. Has Received a Rare Invitation From China. There Is Only One Right Answer. 3. House Speaker Mike Johnson pushes towards a vote on aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan 4. In a decisive moment like this, Israel has to reaffirm its strength by striking back - editorial 5. Review says Abbey Gate bombing wasn’t preventable 6. Victory and Failure in the Great American-Israeli Eastern Mediterranean Range Day MISSILEX of April 2024 7. Fake Footage of Iran’s Attack on Israel Is Going Viral 8. Federal criminal investigation opened into Key Bridge crash 9. Israel’s War Leaders Don’t Trust One Another 10. All the US assets that helped repel Iran’s attack on Israel 11. Army Could Face Resistance from Congress as It Eyes Cuts to Education Benefits 12. Out of INF, Army deploys Typhon weapon to the Philippines 13. SM-3 Ballistic Missile Interceptor Used for First Time in Combat, Officials Confirm 14. Opinion | What it means when the mercenaries appear 15. The epic fail of Biden’s doctrine vs. Iran — no consequences 16. A Test of Strength 17. Opinion | A quandary in Israel: How to retaliate — but not escalate? 18. China accused of running sleeper cells to sow discord 19. Japan's Ukraine aid creates new rift with Russia 20. Opinion | What the United States needs to do after Iran’s attack on Israel 21. A DHS Office of Foreign Influence and Interference—Break Down Barriers to Protect US Democracy and Public Safety 22. The Talks That Could Have Ended the War in Ukraine 23. Japan’s China Reckoning 24. Call in the Coast Guard: How Maritime Law Enforcement Can Combat China’s Gray-Zone Aggression 25. Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea: A New Twist on the Jeune École? 26. Israel–Hamas War (Iran) Update, April 15, 2024 27. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 15, 2024

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#Films produced under #authoritarian regimes are treasure troves of insight into national information environments and regime (dis)information strategy and tactics. Chinese #propaganda blockbusters are no exception, and some formal analysis on the Deft9 Solutions, Inc. blog demonstrates how we can use foreign film to shape our own strategy and tactics: https://lnkd.in/ey-ST9g7

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🇸🇻 El Salvador 🔥 Nayib Bukele’s reelection will reinforce his policies and approach, bringing both continuity and challenges. His administration’s focus on security, economic innovation, and social programs will persist, but concerns about democratic integrity and long-term governance will remain critical. 1. Bukele’s reelection will further consolidate his control over the government. His strong mandate could lead to deeper centralization of power, raising more concerns about democratic backsliding and authoritarianism​​. However, his results are evident. 2. With a renewed mandate, Bukele is expected to continue and intensify his anti-gang and security measures. While these efforts have reduced crime, they will continue to face scrutiny regarding human rights and long-term effectiveness​. 3. El Salvador could see a deepening commitment to Bitcoin and other innovative economic policies. Bukele might push for broader adoption and integration of cryptocurrency, aiming to boost the economy, though the associated risks and volatility will remain contentious​​. 4. Bukele’s continued focus on social programs and infrastructure development has persisted, aiming to address poverty and improve public services. His administration’s popularity hinges on visible improvements in these areas​. 5. Further erosion of checks and balances is expected as Bukele solidifies his control over the legislative and judicial branches. Ensuring accountability and transparency will be critical issues under his extended rule​. 6. Bukele’s foreign policy will continue balancing relations with major powers like the United States and China. His reelection could see strengthened ties with non-traditional partners, impacting El Salvador’s international relations and economic opportunities​. 7. Sustaining long term stability and development will require Bukele to continue addressing underlying systemic issues, such as corruption and institutional weaknesses. Comprehensive reforms will be necessary to ensure that the benefits of his policies are sustainable and inclusive​. Image from Wikipedia

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Of interest. "China has disbanded and replaced its Strategic Support Force, a pivotal component of the People’s Liberation Army’s modernization efforts." The newly established "Information Support Force underpins 'coordinated development and application of network information systems.' This suggests it is responsible for command and control, information security, and intelligence dissemination." "The PLA now has three nascent arms — the Information Support Force, Cyberspace Force and Aerospace Force. It appears the latter two were existing SSF departments that China renamed." https://lnkd.in/erhPkm3E #china #chinathreat #cyber #aerospace #informationoperations #intelligence #commandandcontrol #informationsecurity

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Brookings is a little late with this but at least they are addressing "resistance warfare." The authors (rightly I think) argue that helping our friends, partners, and allies develop a resistance capability should be part of our National Defense Strategy. Bob Jones, calls this unconventional deterrence and resilience. QUOTES: Excerpts: But the United States needs to double down on a little known but very effective irregular approach: resistance warfare. America should do this with Ukraine, enabling them to ramp up resistance activities, as well as broaden these efforts to other friendly frontline partners and allies. ... Ukraine is teaching the world a masterclass in resistance warfare, an asymmetric approach to self-defense. The Defense Department defines resistance as "a nation's organized, whole-of-society effort," both violent and non-violent, to "reestablish independence and autonomy within its sovereign territory that has been wholly or partially occupied by a foreign power." ... In July 2021, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a national resistance law. It provided the legal framework of the dispersed resistance movements—led by Ukrainian special forces, reformed the country's territorial defense forces, and helped prepare regular citizens. The National Resistance Center, created in February 2022, teaches nonviolent resistance and has established underground communication channels. The center leads hands-on workshops, online courses, and produces training manuals. More than 100,000 people have downloaded the manuals. ... Ukrainians clearly have the will to fight and have admirably led their resistance, both military and civilian. While Ukrainian bravery and skill should take much of the credit, a little-known U.S. effort to help build Ukrainian resilience and resistance capabilities over the 2014-2022 period was also key. U.S. support—led by U.S. special operations forces—prioritized long-term relationships, the building and strengthening of defense institutions geared to support resistance warfare operations, and assisted Ukrainian-led preparations in other relevant areas, including information operations. This small footprint support appears to have paid off. Richard Clarke, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, said in April 2022 that U.S. efforts "directly contributed to the success on the battlefield." ... Invasions are back. Supporters of the rules-based international order must act like it and step up efforts to counter them. END QUOTES https://lnkd.in/d6dQRXPu

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https://lnkd.in/g3DDptz9 🇪🇺🌐 On October 26, 2023, I had the honour of addressing the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence, presenting on protecting critical infrastructure amid rising geopolitical tensions. I am proud to know that my contributions, along with those of the other esteemed panellists, continue to highlight the importance of building ongoing resilience, collaboration, and responsible integration of past and emerging technologies. In light of NATO's recent inaugural meeting of the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Network, my presentation underscored the importance of safeguarding critical infrastructure, communication cables and energy pipelines. These are critical for the EU's security, energy, and communication capabilities and also affect the broader global impact in these domains. Recent incidents, such as the Nord Stream pipeline and Balticconnector sabotage, have highlighted vulnerabilities in our critical offshore infrastructure, making it clear that coordinated action is imperative. During my address, I emphasized the need for enhanced policies, resources, intelligence, and information sharing that align with the EU, NATO, and industry partners. Key points from my presentation included: The significance of developing a regional approach to subsea infrastructure protection. The necessity for interoperability among member states, industry partners, and organizations, including NATO. Strategies for raising awareness, monitoring, and sharing threat information. The role of technological innovation, such as sea drones, subsea sensors, machine learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), in enhancing infrastructure security. As NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated, "The increasing dependency of our societies on undersea infrastructure means we need to do more to enhance their security." This sentiment resonates with the discussions at the European Parliament and the collaborative efforts needed to protect our critical infrastructure. Security can only be achieved through effective governance, policy development, common training methodologies, teamwork, and trust. I look forward to continuing these critical discussions and contributing to the ongoing development of strategies that ensure the safety and security of the EU's and global subsea infrastructure. 🌍 #CriticalInfrastructure #Security #GlobalSafety #SubseaCables #EUDefense #NATO #Innovation #Collaboration

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