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CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Labrador to see development as Canada expands northern military defence
With Russia waging war to the west, threats to Canadian sovereignty to the south, and climate change threatening disaster— eyes are set on Canada's arctic as a hub of national defence. "There's a lot of focus on what is going to happen and protecting our sovereignty," said Victoria Belbin, CEO of the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association (ACADA). On July 17, companies from across Atlantic Canada involved in defence, came together at the annual Maritime and Arctic Security and safety conference in St. John's. Due to climate change, waterways in the arctic are opening up, said Belbin, which means more countries are looking to access the north for trade. So, she also says threats to Canadian sovereignty are top of mind. "The urgency is now and [the] industry is showing that they're ready," said Belbin. The CEO says Labrador will have a growing role in the realm of global defence and security. She added that conversations are taking place surrounding the military presence already available in Labrador, such as the 5 Wing military base in Goose Bay. WATCH | Northern sovereignty is a hot-button issue at the St. John's conference: Labrador has important role to play in Arctic sovereignty, experts say 35 minutes ago At the Maritime and Arctic Security and Safety Conference being held in St. John's this week, experts from around the world have gathered to talk geopolitics, climate change and more as Canada looks north to expand defence. As the CBC's Abby Cole reports, that also comes with a newfound focus on what northern defence could mean for this province. Prime Minister Mark Carney r ecently announced his promise to increase defence spending to five per cent of the GDP by 2035. And now that more money is going toward defence spending, Belbin says some of Labrador's defence infrastructure will be updated. She also hopes to see more innovation surrounding Labrador's defence capabilities. "Our presence in the Arctic needs to be stronger, whether it's through ports and it's through infrastructure and with communities," said Belbin. Labrador development opportunities Military expansion in northern communities could also mean more opportunities for business development in Labrador. Garry Best, CEO of Nunatsiavut Group of Companies says they are already contributing to defence and security in Labrador today. And with Ottawa's promise of more defence spending, Best hopes to see a growth in opportunities, especially for the growing Inuit population. "Lots of young ladies and gentlemen who want to do things a little differently, keep their feet … in the traditional cultural areas," said Best, adding they'd also "explore opportunities in business, in defence and elsewhere [in] public service." Additionally, Best says increasing defence could mean upgrades elsewhere in Labrador. "Helping the communities perhaps upgrade their airstrips, upgrade the existing ports, provide employment opportunities and … build and maintain multi-use infrastructure," said Best. "That's why we're here talking to the defence industry and government people." Indigenous consultation emphasized While companies look to develop and expand in the north, Indigenous leaders say community consultation is a requirement. COO of CanArctic Inuit Networks, Madeleine Redfern, spoke at the conference about the importance of Indigenous consultation. Redfern hopes to see more meaningful consultation and partnership with the Inuit regions as defence is expanded across the North. "If we are not meaningfully consulted and we're not involved, then we actually have a legal challenge in a legal case to demonstrate that Canada and the proponents haven't fulfilled their obligation," she said.
Sharjah 24
5 days ago
- Business
- Sharjah 24
UAE, Turkish Presidents witness exchange of agreements and MoUs
Exchanged during His Highness the UAE President's state visit to Türkiye, the agreements aim to expand cooperation, reflecting the two countries' shared commitment to further advancing bilateral relations across various sectors. The agreements and memoranda include: Agreement on the mutual protection of classified information: MoU on the establishment of a joint consular committee MoU on investment in food and agriculture MoU on investment cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry MoU on investment in tourism and hospitality MoU on investment cooperation in the industrial sector MoU on cooperation in polar research The agreements and memoranda were exchanged during a formal ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Ankara. From the UAE side, the agreements were exchanged by: Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State From the Turkish side, the agreements were exchanged by: Yaşar Güler, Minister of National Defence Nuh Yılmaz, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Burak Dağlıoğlu, President of the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology
News18
14-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Pakistan, Turkey Are New Anti-India BFFs: $900-Mn Drones, Intel Sharing To Defence Pacts
Last Updated: Pakistan will sign $900-million deals for spy drones from Turkey and get 700+ loitering munitions. The 2 countries will boost trade volume to $5 bn dollars: Top military official Pakistan and Turkey or Türkiye are set to enter a new era of security arrangements, defence deals, intelligence sharing and strategic partnership to do jihad against India, according to a top military official. 'While Pakistan is set to enter into deals worth $900 million for latest spy drones from Turkish firms and get 700+ loitering munitions to boost its military surveillance, the two countries plan to boost their trade volume to $5 billion dollars," said the source. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, and Yasar Güler, Minister of National Defence, met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, National Security Advisor and DG ISI Lt. General Muhammad Asim Malik and other senior officials in Islamabad as part of their two-days official visit last week. What was discussed during Pakistan-Turkey leaders' meet? According to the official, both the countries' leadership stressed to strengthen their cooperation in defence deals, security cooperation, intelligence sharing and strategic partnerships — top leadership of both countries have discussed recent regional developments in Iran, Gaza and Afghanistan too. The official added, 'Turkey will boost supply of modern weapons specially in the field of drones — recently Pakistan has used Turkish-made SONGAR drones against India in May during the conflict." 'Turkey is likely to provide more than 700 latest loitering munitions to Pakistan and its may be Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones of worth around $900 million dollars — in exchange Pakistan will supply equipments of modern artillery for tanks, mortar shells and other weapons to Turkey," the source added. Defense and strategic deals will be kept secret, while the trade volume of both countries to be boosted around $5 billion dollars by the end of 2025, he added. Pakistan-Turkey bilateral ties Top leadership of Turkey and Pakistan have expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Türkiye in diverse fields, including cultural exchange, trade, investment, technology, defence and intelligence sharing. Sharif stressed upon the need for concerted efforts by both sides to enhance bilateral trade to attain the mutually agreed target of $5 billion dollars. Highlighting Pakistan's investor-friendly policies, he invited Turkish companies to expand their investment footprint in Pakistan and invited Turkish side to share its expertise to assist in Pakistan's structural reforms, economic growth and development efforts. Sharif and Munir expressed his deepest gratitude to the Turkish nation and leadership for their support to Pakistan during the recent Indian aggression. Turkey has strong ties with Pakistan and expressed solidarity with Islamabad during recent military conflict with India in May, angering India. Pakistan's top civil military leadership is likely to visit Ankara soon to materialise the deals with Turkey, said the source. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Star
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Inside Trump's border military zone
THE weapons system atop a drab green US Army Stryker swivels, its camera locking on a white Ford F-150 crawling along the US-Mexico border. Under the gaze of the 26-tonne armoured vehicle perched on a sand dune, humanitarian volunteers cruise the dirt road beside the border wall, hoping to continue their search for migrant remains in one of two new military zones established by the Trump administration. Their hopes are short-lived. An unmarked grey pickup appears, spins around in the sand, flashes a siren. A US Border Patrol agent steps out and tells them they're no longer allowed there. James Holman, founder of Battalion Search and Rescue – whose volunteers also hand water through the bars of the barrier to migrants – complies, but fumes. 'We're ramping up all this military and taking this public land away,' says Holman, 59, a former Marine. 'It doesn't make sense, and it's theatre – deadly, deadly theatre.' They are inside one of two 'National Defence Areas' created along 418km of the southern border in New Mexico and Texas, part of Trump's effort to deploy active-duty troops for border enforcement – a mission traditionally handled by Border Patrol. The military zones are classified as US Army installations. Troops can now temporarily detain and question migrants or civilians caught inside, a shift towards military policing without invoking the Insurrection Act. The Army has not disclosed exact boundaries, but in New Mexico the zone appears to stretch nearly 5km inland, according to 'restricted area' signs posted along State Road 9. Within the zones, signs are posted every 100m, about 15m north of the barrier – meaning migrants read them only after crossing. Yet, crossing here now carries new risks: trespassing charges on top of unlawful entry, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison. But early attempts to prosecute have largely failed. Since May, federal judges in Texas and New Mexico have dismissed trespass charges, including one case involving a Peruvian woman, ruling there was no proof the migrants saw the signs before entering. Despite this, Trump insists the military zones are necessary to repel an 'invasion' of traffickers and smugglers, even though illegal crossings are at historic lows following a 2024 asylum crackdown and tighter immigration controls in Mexico. A US Army soldier using binoculars while riding a Stryker armoured vehicle at the US-Mexico border. — Reuters Border buildup Since March, Trump has more than tripled active-duty troop levels along the border – from 2,500 under Biden to 8,000, according to the US Army. Earlier this year, the Bureau of Land Management transferred 44,500ha of public land – seven times the size of Manhattan – to the Army to create the first zone. In May, a second was added using land from the International Boundary and Water Commission in Texas. These areas now function as satellites of Fort Huachuca in Arizona and Fort Bliss in Texas. Deployed units include around 2,400 troops and 105 Stryker armoured vehicles from the 4th Infantry Division in Colorado. The eight-wheeled Strykers – seen in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine – now patrol stretches from El Paso to Santa Teresa, one of the border's deadliest crossing zones. Parked beneath bridges, beside landfills, or overlooking gaps in the wall, their engines hum 24/7 in the 38°C heat to cool crews. Soldiers are unarmed, but carry personal weapons and operate long-range cameras with night vision. 'Monotonous,' one insider said – but it gives soldiers 'a sense of purpose'. According to Army figures, troops have alerted Border Patrol to 390 crossings since the first zone was created, and made their first detentions in June, handing three migrants over in New Mexico. A different kind of line Locals are divided. In Sunland Park, Harold Gregory says fewer migrants now enter his juice bar or ask customers for rides. 'We feel safer,' he says. 'They do kind of intimidate.' But nearby, in Santa Teresa, trade consultant Jerry Pacheco calls the buildup overkill. 'It's like killing an ant with a sledgehammer,' he says. 'It's more of a political splash.' In rural New Mexico, rancher Russell Johnson welcomes the zone, citing cattle thefts and drug smuggling. But even he is unsure if his home or ranch – in his family since 1918 – lies inside it. 'I don't know, I don't think anyone knows,' says Johnson, a former Border Patrol agent. The Army is negotiating memoranda of understanding with local authorities to allow hunting, ranching and mining to continue. 'The MOU process is complex,' Army spokesman Nicole Wieman said. Jenifer Jones, a Republican state lawmaker, insists residents can carry on as before. But in Las Cruces, Democrat Sarah Silva calls it 'an occupation' by the US Army. Vanishing remains West of Santa Teresa, Abbey Carpenter, 67, stands among sand dunes where her group has found 24 migrant remains in 18 months – mostly women. She fears the military zone will block future searches. 'Who's going to look for these remains if we're not allowed out here?' she asks, gesturing to a woman's jawbone reported to authorities months ago. 'Will they just be covered up by the desert sands?' — Reuters
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dar announces SEZ for Turkish entrepreneurs in Karachi
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkiye have agreed to further solidify and strengthen their bilateral economic and defence relations with the Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announcing the establishment of a dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for the Turkish entrepreneurs in Karachi. The understanding came at a meeting between Dar and Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Minister of National Defence Yasar Guler, here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Wednesday. Pakistan and Turkiye have also decided that both the brotherly nations will further strengthen their cooperation for promotion of peace and stability in the entire region with the resolution of Gaza conflict immediately. Dar says steps under way to enhance financial ties with Turkiye Addressing at the joint press stakeout along with Turkish FM Hakan Fidan at the Foreign Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar highlighted that the newly-established joint committee on security, defence and intelligence is scheduled to meet on July 24 in Islamabad, while the committee on defence industry is likely to meet in September. He, however, praised Turkiye's indigenisation of defence industry from 20 percent to 80 percent in recent years. Dar has also expressed the desire that Pakistan will like to benefit from Turkiye's expertise and experiences in the fields of defence and security. Committee on Transport and Communications is expected to meet next week, he added. Dar has also announced to revive Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad train project to further generate trade and economic activities between the three friendly countries. The delegations of Pakistan and Turkiye will hold meeting in the next few weeks to finalise the roadmap for revival of the train project. Furthermore, Turkish companies will be considered for undertaking Jinnah Medical Complex and Daanish University Mega projects in Pakistan, Dar revealed, adding they will also be taking part in offshore drilling ventures. Turkish companies would be participating in the privatisation of Distribution Companies (DISCOs), he pointed out. Both sides have also discussed counterterrorism and enhancement of capacity building of Pakistan's security personnel. Speaking to the media, Turkiye's FM Fidan stressed that both countries have expanded their relations in the fields of economy, energy, defence, industry, education and culture. Both countries are desirous to further strengthen their commercial and trade ties to five billion dollars, he said. The Turkish FM said cooperation in the field of defence industry will be further strengthened in the coming days, emphasising it is very important for the security of the two countries. He said it is a strategic step. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
