Today In Issues:
FDD Research & Analysis
The Must-Reads
Israel’s Netanyahu fires Defense Minister Gallant Netanyahu ally accused of leaking documents to derail hostage deal Israel says it intercepted drones from east, Iraq-based group claims responsibility Iran’s top diplomat says Tehran would respond to Israel’s strike in a ‘measured’ way Iran’s currency falls to an all-time low as Trump is on the verge of clinching the US presidency Iran sentences 3 to death over assassination of nuclear scientist North Korea enters Ukraine fight for first time, officials say AEI’s Kori Schake: North Korea joining Russia’s war is a sign of weakness Israeli strikes target Syria for a second day in a row WaPo’s David Ignatius: Antony Blinken’s play to ease three Mideast wars at once Donald Trump wins US election Russia blamed for bomb threats at polling sites in Georgia and other statesIn The News
Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, at a time when the country continues to fight wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and is increasingly in direct confrontation with Iran. – Wall Street Journal
A scandal over a leak of top-secret military documents, allegedly involving the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has rocked Israel’s political establishment in a wartime country still reeling from last year’s Hamas attacks. – Washington Post
Like many Israelis, Bronx-born Eli Knoller, who has dual citizenship and lives in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, hopes the next American president allows Israel to “finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza, where his son was killed in battle. – New York Times
The cost of doing business has risen, Palestinian business owners say, as importing supplies and shipping products gets harder. Rising unemployment is hurting local consumers. Tourism, an important source of outside revenue, is down sharply. – Wall Street Journal
The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it intercepted a drone that entered Israeli territory from the east after sirens sounded in the Arava area, a valley that stretches from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Eilat […]The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said in a statement that it targeted a “vital target” in Eilat with drones. – Reuters
By reshuffling Israel’s security leadership, Prime Minister Netanyahu is risking at least a temporary setback on several war fronts as he aims to consolidate his political flanks. – New York Sun
Thousands of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of his defense minister, demanding the government do everything in its power to bring home hostages held in Gaza. – Agence France-Presse
A self-styled political rebel and once a rival of the prime minister, Gideon Saar was named Israel’s new foreign minister on Tuesday. – Agence France-Presse
Israel’s security policy is in flux, and Gallant’s exit could drive a sharper military focus in Gaza, narrowing chances for diplomatic engagements aimed at hostage negotiations. His departure may push Netanyahu’s coalition toward a unified but more intense military approach as far-right voices in the government gain influence over policy direction. – Jerusalem Post
Hamas, though significantly weakened, is still able to initiate attacks in central Gaza, a senior officer in the 14th Reserve Armored Brigade told The Times of Israel days after completing an operation in the Bureij refugee camp there. – Times of Israel
Over 60 operatives from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terror group organization have been arrested in counterterror operations in the West Bank and Lebanon, the IDF and Shin Bet announced in a joint statement on Tuesday. – Times of Israel
Hillel Neuer writes: We told the UN everything. It did nothing. For UNRWA and UNIFIL to continue operating in their present form is untenable. Like Hamas and Hezbollah, the terrorist organizations in which they have become intertwined, these organizations must be dismantled — so that Gaza and Lebanon can be freed from the control of violent extremists and their enablers. – New York Post
Yael Patir writes: The US and other key donors should hold NGOs to a higher standard of monitoring and evaluation, focusing on impact-driven results grounded in a sound theory of change. Simultaneously, US actors working to advance the two-state solution should enhance streamlined coordination between civil society initiatives — whether funded through MEPPA or not — and relevant diplomatic efforts. Such coordination will not only enhance the effectiveness of NGOs, encouraging more strategic approaches, but also better position the US administration to make a meaningful impact on the region. – Middle East Institute
Iran
Iran’s foreign minister on Tuesday reiterated that his country does not seek an escalation in the Middle East but reserved the right to defend itself against Israel’s attack with a “measured and calculative” response. – Associated Press
Iran’s currency fell on Wednesday to an all-time low as former President Donald Trump was on the verge of clinching the U.S. presidency again, signaling new challenges ahead for Tehran as it remains locked in the wars raging in the Middle East. – Associated Press
Discounts on Iranian crude oil sold to China are at their tightest in around five years as lower exports drive up prices amid concerns that Middle East tensions may disrupt supply, trading sources said. – Reuters
Iran’s judiciary says three people have been sentenced to death by a lower court over the killing in 2020 of Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, in what Tehran says was an Israeli-orchestrated operation. – Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty
Francis Wilkinson writes: In Tehran, the struggle between freedom and thugocracy is a foregone conclusion. That’s why the underwear-clad woman is such a paragon of courage. She cannot win. But she demanded that the thugs recognize her power, and individuality, if only for as long as it takes to crush them. In the US, women have been gaining power day by day, year by year, decade by decade. It won’t be easy to steal it back. – Bloomberg
Farhad Rezaei writes: Khamenei is reported to be ill and anxious to secure the succession of his son Mojtaba in the next election for Supreme Leader. A second, more devastating Israeli retaliation – especially if the IAF also hits the Thar-Allah Headquarters of the Guards in Tehran, which is in charge of security for the Tehran area – may jeopardize not only his son’s chances but also the survival of the theocratic regime. – Jerusalem Post
Russia & Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has tapped a Ukraine war veteran to head one of Russia’s regions, the highest post so far awarded to an invasion participant as the leader looks to forge a “new elite” of patriotic workers and soldiers. – Washington Post
North Korean troops have entered the fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine, clashing for the first time with Ukrainian forces who are occupying a large chunk of Russia’s Kursk region, according to a senior Ukrainian official and a senior U.S. official. – New York Times
Eastern European officials said Russia’s alleged plot to send incendiary devices by mail to Western countries including the U.S. marked an escalation in Moscow’s conflict with the West, presenting a challenge to governments trying to deter the Kremlin. – Wall Street Journal
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Monday he had discussed with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock the “need for decisive action” in response to North Korean involvement in the war with Russia. – Reuters
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven democracies and three key allies said on Tuesday they were gravely concerned by the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia and the possibility they may be used in the war against Ukraine. – Reuters
A Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia on Tuesday killed six people, injured at least 20 more and destroyed a critical infrastructure facility, Ukrainian officials said. – Reuters
A budding alliance between Russia and North Korea is handing Chinese President Xi Jinping another problem, as Beijing comes under growing international pressure to rein in two of its closest diplomatic partners. – Bloomberg
A court in Uzbekistan’s Ferghana Province has sentenced 51-year-old Alisher Xoliqov to five years in prison for mercenary activities with the Russian armed forces in a landmark case highlighting the growing issue of foreigners enlisting to fight in Ukraine. – Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty
Eight years, two elections and an all-out assault on Ukraine later, the bubbles of hope have gone flat and been replaced with bittersweet gulps of schadenfreude. – Politico
Kori Schake writes: A final reason North Korea’s move may prove self-defeating for Russia is that it increases pressure to eliminate restrictions the United States has imposed on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons. The Biden administration could well worry that Ukraine will run out of troops and lose the war, or be forced to negotiate a submission to Russia that would humiliate the wider West. The escalation of North Korean involvement on the Russian side could loosen restrictions on Western countries willing to expand their participation on Ukraine’s behalf. – Foreign Policy
Yuri Lyashenko writes: Continued Western backing for Ukraine’s naval forces, however, will be crucial as the conflict develops to ensure long-term stability. A stronger Ukrainian navy, supported by Western assets and expertise, could help stabilize the Black Sea, prevent future aggression, and safeguard European security. Ukraine’s resilience in the face of Russian aggression highlights the importance of a united and strategic approach to Black Sea security, with Ukraine at its center. – Middle East Institute
Turkey
Turkiye and Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday agreed to a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” boosting defense ties, during an official visit to the Central Asian state by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. – Agence France-Presse
Turkiye on Monday sacked three mayors in the Kurdish-majority southeast on alleged “terrorism” charges, despite Ankara’s apparent desire to seek a rapprochement with the Kurdish community. – Agence France-Presse
Ariel Harkham writes: As Israel faces ongoing threats from Iran and restructures its defense posture post-October 7, it must not overlook the growing risks in the eastern Mediterranean. Israel’s approach to countering an Egyptian-Turkish rapprochement should include a fortified navy, strengthened alliances with regional partners, and diplomatic measures to highlight Turkey’s destabilizing influence. – Jerusalem Post
Lebanon
With faint hopes for ending the war in Gaza before President Biden leaves office, U.S. officials have turned their focus to Lebanon, where they are scrambling to strike a cease-fire deal to end Israel’s invasion of the country. – New York Times
The Israeli surveillance drone sank in the sky over this embattled city in southern Lebanon, a signal to rescue workers that a strike might be near. – Washington Post
At least one Israeli airstrike hit an apartment building in a beach town south of Beirut on Tuesday, Lebanese state media said, as other deadly strikes hit scattered locations across the country and armed group Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel. – Reuters
Lebanon’s Civil Defense service says they have pulled 30 bodies from the rubble of an apartment building that Israel struck the night before. Search efforts were ongoing Wednesday, and it was unclear how many survivors or bodies were still trapped under the rubble. – Associated Press
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Tuesday launched an international emergency appeal asking donors to provide resources for Lebanon during the Israel-Hezbollah war. – Associated Press
A preliminary Lebanese probe revealed new alleged details Tuesday about an Israeli naval raid last weekend in northern Lebanon in which commandos captured a Hezbollah operative. – Agence France-Presse
Arabian Peninsula
Qatar’s referendum on a set of constitutional amendments passed with a 90.6% approval of the valid votes, replacing legislative elections for the Shura Council with appointed roles, the Gulf Arab state’s interior minister said early on Wednesday. – Reuters
Investing ties between Riyadh and Beijing are growing harder to ignore. China has has chosen Saudi Arabia as the site for its first US dollar bond sales in three years, scheduled for next week, according to a Ministry of Finance statement. – Business Insider
Ariel Admoni and Yahel Tamir write: This fits the familiar Qatari pattern where Doha is presented as a relevant party and leader in conflict resolution, while the rest of the world walks away at the end with little progress. America and the Taliban remain in a deadlock, while Doha’s glitz and glamor appear on television screens. The world loses and Qatar wins. The UN Afghanistan-focused conference in Doha was never meant to solve the issue of women’s rights in Afghanistan. It was meant to advance Qatar’s image. It is about time that world leaders take notice. – Jerusalem Post
Middle East & North Africa
The open-ended crisis in the Middle East has begun to squeeze the Pentagon, fueling unease over the U.S. military’s ability to balance imminent threats to American interests there with longer-term objectives as Russia and China test Washington elsewhere in the world. – Washington Post
The Israeli military on Tuesday said its Air Force had struck targets in Syria for the second day in a row, attacks it said were aimed at cutting off the flow of weapons and intelligence between Hezbollah, the armed Lebanese group, and its sponsor, Iran. – New York Times
Libya is planning its first tender for energy exploration contracts since 2011’s civil war, as the OPEC member looks to bring back oil majors spooked by years of instability and production shutdowns. – Bloomberg
Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ) has invested $3 billion on infrastructure over the past few years and has plans to invest a similar amount over the next few years as it works to attract investors, its chairman said in an interview. – Reuters
Iraq’s cabinet said on Tuesday it had ordered the semi-autonomous Kurdish region to immediately transfer its oil output to the country’s state-run firm SOMO. – Reuters
The Gaza war has become one of the most significant subjects in the U.S. election this year. Arab analysts, bloggers and victims of the war reacted forcefully to the policy positions of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Their opinions reflect growing concern about U.S. foreign policy, humanitarian issues and the treatment of Palestinians. – Haaretz
David Ignatius writes: There are so many opportunities to end the nightmare of war in the Middle East, at least for a time. What could possibly go wrong here? Well, it’s Election Day as I write, and Americans and Israelis both know it will be hard to plan anything until the political dust settles. – Washington Post
Zvi Bar’el writes: This prediction is based on the assumption that Harris comes with a file created by Biden in which a two-state solution, ending the war in Gaza, a diplomatic agreement in Lebanon and some kind of diplomatic process with Iran take center stage, whereas Trump is likely to prove a wild juggling act that would give Israel free rein to flatten Gaza, build the settlement of Neveh Trump there, occupy a security zone in Lebanon and bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities. – Haaretz
Korean Peninsula
More than 10,000 North Korean troops have arrived in Russia to support its war against Ukraine, with a “significant number” in the frontline areas including Kursk, South Korea’s defence ministry said on Tuesday. – Reuters
A U.S.-led statement approved by 10 of the 15 U.N. Security Council members Tuesday condemned a recent North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile launch and called on Pyongyang to return to negotiations and abandon its missile programs. – Associated Press
Bruce W. Bennett writes: At some point, the loss of control over the North’s information environment may even lead Kim to feel that it is too risky to send more combat forces to Russia. This would be a good outcome for South Korea, the United States, and especially Ukraine. But if North Korean forces help Russia achieve a breakthrough, that could be dire for Ukrainian forces. Such a situation could also strengthen the Kim regime at home and perhaps even convince Kim that he could successfully carry out limited attacks on South Korea, a truly unwanted outcome. – National Interest
Lake Dodson writes: The Sunshine Policy of the Kim Dae-jung and Rho Moo-hyun presidencies, seeking cooperation with North Korea without the direct goal of absorption, looked to be just the forward-thinking route to take to lead inter-Korean relations to a more agreeable position, but North Korea only dangled a carrot-on-a-stick in front of South Korea, in turn, making an ass of themselves. – National Interest
China
A former employee working for one of China’s state agencies has been given a rare death sentence for leaking “state secrets,” the Ministry of State Security said on Wednesday, after he was accused of handing over his USB drive to foreign spy agencies. – Reuters
As Republican Donald Trump claimed victory in the U.S. presidential election, defeating Democrat Kamala Harris, China is bracing for four more years of bitter superpower rivalry over trade, technology and security issues. – Reuters
China condemned a visit by Estonian lawmakers to Taiwan last week as a violation of the country’s claim over the island, the latest point of tension between Beijing and the Baltic region. – Bloomberg
Simone Gao writes: If Harris follows Biden’s path, focusing on de-escalation, her administration would likely adopt a reactive rather than proactive stance on conflicts. […] In contrast, Trump, if he chooses to act, may prefer decisive measures with immediate impact. In a potential Taiwan Strait crisis, Trump would likely respond more quickly and decisively — if he decided to act militarily. However, whether he would choose to act remains a significant question mark. – The Hill
Brandon J. Weichert writes: China’s entire plan relies upon achieving strategic surprise long enough to surround and possibly invade neighboring Taiwan. Once that occurs, and the Chinese have achieved escalation dominance over the Americans and their allies, Beijing believes it will be able to force a negotiated settlement with Washington. But even if China cannot do that, if the Americans decide to respond more forcefully, the costs to both sides will be far greater than what either government thinks. – National Interest
South Asia
India foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday the vandalism of a Hindu temple in Canada on Monday was deeply concerning. – Reuters
Opium poppy production in Afghanistan, long the world’s dominant supplier of the raw material for heroin, has risen by a fifth in the second full year since the Taliban banned it but remains a fraction of pre-ban levels, a U.N. report said on Wednesday. – Reuters
The temple reverberated with rhythmic Sanskrit and Tamil hymns, as a Hindu priest held a flame before the god. As this tiny South Indian village gathered to pray for Kamala Harris, a gaggle of reporters jostled for space and camera angles. – Associated Press
Australia’s foreign minister said Tuesday she raised allegations with her Indian counterpart that India has targeted Sikh activists in Canada. – Associated Press
Asia
Since Sputnik 1 was launched in 1957, satellites have been made with metals. A group of Japanese scientists thinks it has a viable alternative: wood. – New York Times
The head of Australia’s national intelligence office said an “emerging axis” of countries providing support to Russia, including China, Iran and North Korea, was “a profoundly troubling strategic development” that western countries were struggling to catch up with. – Reuters
New Zealand police are investigating an arson attack at an Auckland mosque early on Tuesday, when a fire smoldered for eight hours before it was noticed and emergency services were called. – Reuters
The United States will continue its friendly approach towards Taiwan after the presidential election and Taiwan will work to prevent China “making trouble” during the transition, a senior Taiwanese security official said on Wednesday. – Reuters
The Philippines has approved the purchase of 40 fast patrol craft worth 25.8 billion pesos ($441 million), seeking to bolster maritime security as tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea linger. – Bloomberg
Top Taiwanese officials moved to ease concern about the potential fallout if Donald Trump returns to the White House, making a case that the technology restrictions promised by the former US president against China would outweigh the risks to the island. – Bloomberg
Myanmar’s ethnic groups fighting to oust the junta criticized China for hosting military chief Min Aung Hlaing in the country this week, and said India has reached out for talks with the shadow government and some armed rebels. – Bloomberg
Leonid Nersisyan and Sergei Melkonian write: Increased Western involvement in Armenia’s military reforms and procurement is essential to stabilizing the South Caucasus region and preventing Moscow from regaining control. Armenia’s active rearmament could eventually lead to at least a partial balance of power with Baku, limiting Azerbaijan’s ability to apply unilateral military pressure. This shift lays the groundwork for long-term peace. After restoring its military capacity, Armenia can independently control the communications running through its territory. – War on the Rocks
Europe
Two new cases of the version of mpox that has fueled a deadly outbreak in central Africa have been detected in Britain, according to the country’s health authorities. But the authorities say that the overall risk of a rapid spread in the country remains low. – New York Times
Several of Europe’s biggest financial firms have cut back their links to Israeli companies or those with ties to the country, a Reuters analysis of filings shows, as pressure mounts from activists and governments to end the war in Gaza. – Reuters
Greece is considering setting up a migrant detention facility on the island of Rhodes in the eastern Mediterranean to tackle a rise in arrivals from neighbouring Turkey, Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said on Tuesday. – Reuters
German police have arrested eight suspected members of a neo-Nazi militant group driven by racist ideology and conspiracy theories who had been training in warfare for the downfall of the modern German state, prosecutors said on Tuesday. – Reuters
Vigilante groups, angry at authorities’ response to Spain’s worst flood disaster in decades, have taken to the streets of the Valencian suburb of Paiporta to prevent what they say are widespread robberies and looting after dark. – Reuters
Polish prosecutors have indicted two men in a case concerning cooperation with Belarusian intelligence services, they said on Tuesday, one of a string of espionage cases in the NATO member state. – Reuters
Dozens of European leaders will be gingerly seeking ways to address common challenges together during a one-day summit in Hungary’s capital on Thursday. Yet despite myriad economic problems and two wars in the neighborhood, all eyes will be glued on Washington to see whether the pivotal U.S. election will cause a political rift throughout the continent. – Associated Press
Europeans, no matter what happens in the American election, will be investing billions of euros along an 1,800 mile line between Norway on the Arctic Sea and Romania on the Black Sea, to defend against Russia. They are doing so without waiting for Uncle Sam to protect them, and without regard to who wins today’s election in the United States. – New York Sun
The European Union has started work on a next-generation combat vessel that could enter service somewhere in the 2040s, and the bloc’s defense ministers may sign a letter of intent to pursue the project at a meeting in two weeks, the head of the maritime unit of the European Defence Agency said. – Defense News
Editorial: The Tories face a long road back to power, intellectually and politically, and it’s notable that party members think their best hope is to embrace free-market conservatism rather than its big-state alternatives. Labour’s big win this summer gives Mr. Starmer a long leash, but Ms. Badenoch’s elevation sets the stage for substantive debates about Mr. Starmer’s policies. – Wall Street Journal
Africa
Dozens of teenagers, some as young as 14, had been held for nearly three months in a squalid detention center that houses murder suspects. They faced treason charges and possible death sentences for alleged participation in protests against Nigeria’s government. – New York Times
South Africa and Britain have agreed to boost trade and defence cooperation, the two countries’ foreign ministers said after meeting on Tuesday. – Reuters
The International Monetary Fund has raised Ethiopia’s net international reserves target to facilitate payments of upcoming hard currency bills, the Fund said. – Reuters
Mozambique’s defense minister warned of preparations by unspecified people to try and seize power after the country’s disputed election, as neighboring South Africa closed a key metals-trade route because of violent protests at the border. – Bloomberg
The US has forgiven $1.14 billion of debt owed by Somalia following a bilateral agreement between the two countries, according to the US ambassador in Mogadishu, Richard Riley. – Bloomberg
The Americas
Mexico’s Supreme Court fell short by one vote Tuesday to strike down parts of a controversial judicial system overhaul recently pushed through the congress by the ruling Morena party in a dispute between judges and the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum that threatened to spark a constitutional crisis. – Wall Street Journal
Brazilian police have concluded their investigation into the 2022 killing of a former Washington Post contributor and his Brazilian colleague, officials announced Monday, alleging the homicides were ordered by the leader of a criminal organization that oversaw illegal poaching and fishing in a particularly remote and wild part of the Amazon forest. – Washington Post
Colombia will buy a fleet of JAS Gripen fighter aircraft made by Sweden’s Saab, Swedish public radio SR’s Ekot news broadcast reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources, but Colombia’s government declined to immediately confirm the purchase. – Reuters
A Hindu temple near Toronto where violence erupted over the weekend was the site of another demonstration this week that police broke up after they say weapons were spotted in the crowd. – Associated Press
Brazilian police have indicted a Colombian fish trader as the person who planned the slaying of Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in the Amazon in 2022, they announced Monday. – Associated Press
A caravan of approximately 3,000 migrants set off on Tuesday from southern Mexico, headed toward the United States on the day when U.S. voters were deciding between U.S. presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. – Reuters
United States
Donald Trump surged to victory in the U.S. presidential election, mounting a spectacular comeback that will have profound consequences for the world. – Politico
The Biden administration’s support for Israel in the war in Gaza has been divisive for left-leaning voters in the United States, including many Arab Americans, and some say it has soured them on Vice President Kamala Harris’s candidacy. – New York Times
A U.S. judge overseeing lawsuits accusing Harvard University of antisemitism on Tuesday narrowed but refused to dismiss a case by two advocacy groups accusing the Ivy League school of making it unbearable for Jewish students to study there. – Reuters
Cybersecurity
Russia was behind false bomb threats in Georgia and other states that briefly closed polling stations in some Democratic-leaning areas Tuesday, an escalation in tactics aimed at sowing fear and suppressing votes, federal and local officials said. – Washington Post
A China state-sponsored hacking group had breached Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) iin June as a part of a global campaign targeting telecom companies and critical infrastructure operators, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. – Reuters
Russia-linked disinformation operations have falsely claimed officials in battleground states plan to fraudulently sway the outcome of the extraordinarily close US presidential election, authorities warned hours before voting began Tuesday, adding that they also expected Iranian-linked operations to try to stoke violence by spreading disinformation. – Agence France-Presse
A senior U.S. cyber official on Tuesday said her agency had not seen any major incidents reflecting foreign interference in Tuesday’s presidential election despite a steady stream of disinformation aimed at disrupting the vote throughout Election Day. – Reuters
The hacker suspected of launching a series of major breaches involving data stored on Snowflake accounts was arrested in Canada last week after a request was issued by U.S. officials. – The Record
Defense
Factory workers at Boeing have voted to accept a contract offer and end their strike after more than seven weeks, clearing the way for the company to restart idled Pacific Northwest assembly lines. – Associated Press
The US Navy announced today it is extending the service lives of three Ticonderoga-class cruisers, a decision that adds 10 years of cumulative ship service to the fleet and follows a similar decision last week to extend 12 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. – Breaking Defense
Kari A. Bingen writes: Integration is one of those issues that—because it is everyone’s and no one’s problem—will slip through the cracks if senior leadership is not focused on it. While technological investments will be important, especially to build the connectivity between space sensors and weapon systems, challenging legacy policies and processes will be essential to adapt the use of space power for warfighting advantage. – Center for Strategic and International Studies
Wilson Beaver writes: These solutions are important because America needs shipyards like the one in Marinette to be effective. Building a strong U.S. Navy is key to a successful deterrence strategy in the Indo-Pacific, which is why prominent conservative organizations like The Heritage Foundation are supporting dramatic increases in shipbuilding that would benefit towns like Marinette. To facilitate that increase, conservatives are advocating for large block buys of American ships. Block buys have historically reduced costs long-term and encouraged shipbuilders to invest in additional shipyard infrastructure based on marginal revenue and anticipated profits. – Heritage Foundation
Rebecca Grant writes: Adding more Orcas to the fleet would accomplish both tasks. “What we are doing now in support of unmanned vehicles is key to the future success of our great Navy,” Commander Timothy Rochholz, the commanding officer, of Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Flotilla Three at Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme, pointed out. “We must accomplish the mission our commanders ask of us, deliver Orca to the fleet, ready to fight, as soon as possible – that is our charge.” – National Interest