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IOL News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Navigating Tensions: AFRICOM's Role in SADC's Security Landscape
ZAMBIAN President Hakainde Hichilema, Angola President João Lourenço , US President Joe Biden, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi, and Tanzania Vice-President Philip Isdor Mpango at the Lobito Corridor Trans-Africa Summit held in Benguela, Angola on December 4, 2024. Image: AFP Dr. Sizo Nkala The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) – the combatant command responsible for carrying out the US Department of Defence's military operations, exercises, and security cooperation in Africa – could sow divisions within the southern African region. The leadership of the AFRICOM, including the Deputy Commander Lieutenant General John Brennan and Ambassador Robert Scott, made what seemed to be successful visits to Angola and Namibia at the end of July. In both countries, the parties discussed mutual security interests, including promoting stability in southern Africa, tackling wildlife and timber trafficking, drug cartels and terrorism, which are a threat to regional peace and stability. The visits followed the Obangame Joint Military Exercise conducted in Cape Verde in May, in which both Namibia and Angola took part alongside 22 other African countries and the US. In Angola, it coincided with the Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) where Angolan and US troops were conducting live fire exercises aimed at improving combat readiness and the interoperability of allied forces. With the US-funded Lobito Corridor, a railway track which will connect Angola's Lobito port to more inland countries like Zambia and the DRC, Angola is central to US economic interests in southern Africa. The AFRICOM leaders emphasised that they seek to work with African countries in a manner that enhances their sovereignty and autonomy rather than their dependency. This dovetails with AFRICOM's doctrine of 'African Solutions to African Problems'. With its deeper knowledge and experience in maritime security, counterinsurgency activities, and peacekeeping operations, AFRICOM could be a valuable partner for states in the region dealing with violent conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province. In flaunting its credentials and values, the AFRICOM leaders could not miss an opportunity to throw shade at US geopolitical rivals – China and Russia – whom it accused of treating African militaries as their training aides. However, the mood was decidedly different for AFRICOM's relations with another southern African country. Early in August, the US Department of Defence decided to cancel the Shared Accord military exercises between the US and South Africa. This was because of a disagreement over allowing armed American soldiers to guard the US aircraft. It is reported that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) preferred that its personnel protect the aircraft while the DoD insisted on having its soldiers take that responsibility. The DoD argued that the Status of Forces Agreement signed between Pretoria and Washington in 1999 allowed US security personnel to guard US assets. This marks yet another negative turn in the bilateral relations between the two countries, which have deteriorated rapidly since the beginning of Donald Trump's second presidency in January. The latest cancellation is the third time the US has withdrawn from planned security cooperation activities with South Africa since last year. In 2024, the US pulled out of the African Aerospace and Defence Expo and also decided against docking a US Navy ship in Cape Town. This was partly because of South Africa's refusal to sign the so-called 'Article 98', which enjoins countries to sign an agreement to protect the US security personnel from arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) when on their territory. The US is not a member of the ICC. South Africa and AFRICOM have always had a frosty relationship since its establishment in 2007. The former vociferously campaigned against the establishment of an American military base in Africa. Pretoria was of the view that AFRICOM was an imperialistic venture, and a keen association with it would be seen as being a lapdog of American imperialism in Africa. This stance was also in part an effort by the African National Congress (ANC) to differentiate itself from the Apartheid government, which had no issues protecting the interests of the US in the region - sometimes through destabilising neighbouring countries. AFRICOM's less-than-cordial relations with South Africa will undermine the effectiveness of its security cooperation with the region. South Africa is a regional powerhouse with the strongest and most well-equipped military in southern Africa. The country is an active participant in peacekeeping operations in southern Africa, having recently contributed the bulk of the troops in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)'s peacekeeping missions in Mozambique and the DRC. Without Pretoria's cooperation, AFRICOM's ventures will have a limited impact. The SADC region is an indivisible security considering the litany of transnational security threats it faces. As such, any engagement with a major external actor like AFRICOM would be more effective if done on a regional rather than a national and bilateral level. Just last year, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressed his worries to the Russian President Vladimir Putin over AFRICOM's close cooperation with AFRICOM. He asked that Russia intensify security cooperation with his country as a counterweight to the West's projection of power in neighbouring countries. If the regional leaders do not address this, the region could soon be divided into two security spheres of influence – one controlled by the US and the other controlled by China and Russia. * Dr. Sizo Nkala is a Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg's Centre for Africa-China Studies. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
Mint
7 days ago
- Business
- Mint
For Indian defence firms, a special US deal is on the way
India and the US are working on a landmark deal that would open up each country's defence purchase market to the other, marking a significant step forward in their strategic relationship, two people aware of the development said. The Reciprocal Defence Procurement Agreement (RDPA), if finalized, would give Indian companies direct access to the world's largest defence market worth $850 billion, and enable their American counterparts to tap into India's manufacturing and technology sector. This would also make India the 29th signatory to the US framework, and the only Asian signatory after Japan. An official announcement is likely within a year, but it would also depend on factors including the ongoing trade negotiations with the US, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. 'In light of the current geopolitical environment, especially after Operation Sindoor, India sped up talks with the US for a full-fledged RDPA. The rationale has been that while there have been many interim agreements opening up the two markets for strategic technologies, most of them still require approvals from the US Department of Defence, as well as other paperwork under foreign affairs, export and import controls, and so on. Both nations recognize the need for an RDPA, and talks are now closing in at the final stage," one of the two people said. Smoother process An RDPA will enable Indian makers of defence components and technologies such as spy satellites to sell directly to the US. Companies can choose to partner closely with US entities, without needing express approvals of the two governments, currently a cumbersome affair. Talks for an RDPA happen in the backdrop of recent American tariffs on Indian goods, and ongoing talks for a bilateral trade agreement. Experts said that with the RDPA in place, India's defence firms, which exported a record ₹23,622 crore of goods in FY25, are likely to see a major fillip. 'For India, even with the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) signed in August last year, the current agreements and bureaucratic deals have kept multiple roadblocks in place. For the US, India has so far been a Soviet-heavy defence market—getting access to it will be key as in the current geopolitics, India is a crucial ally for the US in the East," said Vivek Mishra, deputy director for strategic studies at global think-tank, Observer Research Foundation. 'Think of this as a deal that would give India a massive defence manufacturing market from the US to cater to, via partnerships signed under the ambit of the RDPA. Doing so is crucial for both countries right now, and has for long been the logical step forward for the ties of the two nations," Mishra added. Queries sent to the holding companies of Kalyani Strategic Systems and Alpha Design Technologies, as well as the Mahindra Group and Indian-American space-tech startup Pixxel remained unanswered. An email sent to the Ministry of Defence also did not receive responses. Explaining how the deal would work, the second official cited above said, 'The current International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) rules are a Department of State affair in the US, which seeks to control access of US technology in foreign nations. The Strategic Trade Authorization, meanwhile, comes under the Department of Commerce—and establishes export control to prevent access of technology outside of the US. RDPA, under the US Department of Defence, will primarily establish the ability for Indian defence entities to view and apply for US defence tenders, and vice-versa." Building on ITAR The deal will build on existing Indo-US agreements in defence and technology, such as the joint initiatives announced by prime minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump, during the former's US visit in February. These include a review of the existing ITAR, which industry experts said is still a bureaucratic and restrictive process. 'The leaders announced plans to sign this year a new ten-year Framework for the US-India major defence partnership in the 21st century… (and) determined that the US would expand defence sales and co-production with India to strengthen interoperability and defence industrial cooperation," a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said on 13 February. Bharat Forge's Kalyani Strategic Systems, the Adani group's Alpha Design Technologies, Centum Electronics and others currently rely on ITAR clearances to supply defence technologies to US entities. Some examples include Kalyani's artillery cannons deal with AM Design, and Mahindra Group's partnership with Anduril for autonomous marine systems, both announced in February this year. "This would be a massive push for the Indian defence market, which is currently worth around $80 billion. The US, meanwhile, has an $850-billion defence market. India's aspiration is to scale up its defence exports to $6 billion by 2030. Even if Indian private firms can capture 1% of the US market, this represents a massive business opportunity for them," the second official added. ORF's Mishra also said that for India, the US is the biggest target market. "We do have a bilateral defence agreement with France, but not with the UK. This means that the US is a one-of-a-kind target for Indian private firms, and an RDPA will majorly boost the domestic market," he added. Streamlining The lack of a streamlined process has pushed startups, such as Bengaluru-born Pixxel and Digantara, to set up independent US entities to pursue defence contracts with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) in the US. The process, however, has meant that defence supply deals remain far and few in nature. 'The RDP Agreement would assist the Indian companies to develop internationally acceptable standards and certifications in order to access the massive US defence market, which will in turn also increase their competitiveness and acceptability in other defence markets," said Shailender Arya, senior advisor, defence and national security at global policy advocacy firm, The Asia Group.
NDTV
04-08-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Trump Plans To Test 'Golden Dome' Missile System In 2028 Ahead Of Elections
The US Department of Defence plans to conduct the first major test of the Golden Dome missile defence system ahead of the 2028 US presidential elections. The test is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028 and will be known as FTI-X, short for Flight Test Integrated, a defence official told CNN. "They want a win to point to in November [2028]," the official added, referring to the presidential election. "And DoD wants to avoid anything they perceive will slow them down." The test will involve multiple components of the Golden Dome system, sensors, interceptors, and command technologies, working in coordination to engage incoming threats. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is leading the effort. The timeline matches Donald Trump's public commitment in May to complete the system within three years. "Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world," he said at the time. The official added that the three-year timeline was particularly ambitious. The US has explored space-based missile intercepts for decades without building an operational system. "It's still a hard problem, and technically very risky," the official said. "The possible number of satellites needed to achieve a probability of engagement success is going to be very high, given the time and area needed to cover the continental United States." General Michael Guetlein, tapped by Trump in May to lead Golden Dome, called the space-based interceptor the program's "real technical challenge" at a recent summit. "The technology exists," he said, but questions remain over cost, scalability, and whether the industrial base can meet demand. A second source told CNN the 2028 test may only be phase one. In May, Trump said $25 billion has been allocated for the Golden Dome, though total costs may run into $175 billion. Northrop Grumman is testing space-based interceptors, and Lockheed Martin's long-range radar (recently tested in Alaska) could be part Michael Guetlein 60 days to define the system's design and 120 days for an implementation plan. Pete Hegseth scaled back the Pentagon's testing office after it began reviewing Golden Dome. SpaceX, Anduril, and Palantir are among the top contenders for the project.
Euractiv
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Germany says it has priority for US-made Patriot air defence systems to backfill Ukraine aid
Germany will be prioritised for delivery of new American-made Patriot air defence systems after agreeing to supply Ukraine with their own batteries, the country's defence ministry said on Friday. Multiple NATO countries have pledged to send their own Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine over recent years to help the country fend off Russian air attacks, but that has sparked confusion over how quickly such weaponry can be replaced. 'It has been agreed with the US Department of Defence that Germany will be the first nation to receive newly produced Patriot systems of the latest generation in return' for their delivery to Ukraine, the German defence ministry stated on Friday. Ukraine has already received three Patriot systems from Germany and was promised five more. In addition, Germany is deploying two of their batteries to NATO's eastern flank. The new deal reprioritises US deliveries and has delayed the fulfilment of standing orders from Switzerland. Ukraine, under continued Russian air attacks, has been asking for more air defence capabilities for years. "We have requested ten," Zelenskyy said previously, adding that he has received official confirmation for two systems from Germany and one from Norway. The launchers of the new Patriot system will be delivered in the next few days, according to Germany. (jp)
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First Post
30-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Hegseth jumping the Trump ship? Pentagon too hot to handle, report says he mulls guv role
Pete Hegseth may be looking for a different political assignment as the US Department of Defence of late is becoming more about chaos than clarity read more US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivers an address at the Shangri-La Dialogue Summit in Singapore on May 31, 2025.- AP Five individuals served as Donald Trump's defence secretary in full or acting capacity during his first presidency from 2017 to 2020. The Pentagon job in a Donald Trump administration has not been an easy one. Now, an American media report suggests that the incumbent US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is finding the Pentagon job too hot to handle. Hegseth has reportedly held private discussions about launching a political campaign in Tennessee, potentially for the 2026 gubernatorial race. According to NBC News, two individuals who spoke directly with Hegseth confirmed that these talks were serious in nature, exploring campaign logistics, eligibility concerns and his chances of winning. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One of the sources specified that the conversation occurred within the past three weeks, reflecting the timeliness and intent behind the deliberations. Although no official decision has been made, the possibility of a run by Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard officer, raises the prospect of a significant shake-up at the Department of Defence. Federal law prohibits civilian Pentagon employees from seeking political office, meaning Hegseth would be required to resign before entering the race. Eligibility hurdles in Tennessee If Hegseth were to proceed with a gubernatorial bid, he could face substantial eligibility challenges. Tennessee law mandates that candidates for governor must have resided in the state for at least seven years. Public records link Hegseth to a suburban Nashville property purchased around mid-2022, suggesting he falls short of that requirement, NBC News reported. Furthermore, Tennessee Republican Party bylaws stipulate that a primary candidate must have voted in three of the last four statewide GOP primaries in which they were eligible. These provisions have been used in the past to block high-profile candidates, including former State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus in 2022. Denials and mixed signals Despite these speculation, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell strongly denied the NBC report, dismissing it as fabricated. He stated unequivocally that Hegseth remains focused on serving under President Trump and advancing the administration's priorities. Some within Hegseth's inner circle support this denial. One individual who spoke with him recently claimed that the defence secretary had been 'very, very clear' in rejecting the idea of a campaign, labelling it 'totally off the table', the NBC News said. Additionally, a longtime Trump adviser familiar with Hegseth's political considerations asserted that the defence secretary had no plans to run in Tennessee. Mounting pressures and scandals However, the political speculation comes during a tumultuous time for Hegseth at the Pentagon. Since taking office in January, his tenure has been marred by controversy. As reported by both the Daily Mail, Hegseth has faced internal backlash, abrupt staff dismissals and increasing scrutiny over his leadership style. A particularly damaging incident dubbed 'Signalgate' involved Hegseth reportedly sharing sensitive military plans over the encrypted messaging app Signal—on a group chat that included a journalist. Although the Pentagon has denied that any classified material was involved, the Office of the Inspector General is set to release a report that may determine whether federal law was violated. Three Pentagon sources told the Daily Mail that an internal letter, penned by current and former staff, could soon be made public. It reportedly criticises Hegseth's decision-making as 'reckless and uninformed,' highlighting his failure to consult legal or intelligence officials on key actions. White House divided While President Trump has publicly voiced support for Hegseth, praising his leadership in military operations like Operation Midnight Hammer, many claim that frustration has grown behind the scenes. Trump is said to be displeased with the fallout from the Signal incident and with Hegseth's inconsistent policy positions, especially regarding aid to Ukraine, which Hegseth suspended multiple times before being overruled by the White House. The New York Times and Politico also reported ongoing tensions between Hegseth and top military officials, particularly over personnel appointments seen as politically motivated. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Future possibilities If Hegseth were to step down, Trump has several replacement options, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby—both Senate-confirmed and eligible to serve as acting defence secretary without additional hearings, NBC News said. In Tennessee, Hegseth would face formidable competition within the GOP. Representative John Rose has already announced his campaign, self-financing with $5 million. Senator Marsha Blackburn, a veteran politician with strong influence in Tennessee, is also rumoured to be weighing a bid. While public denials continue to counter speculation, the private conversations and timing of Hegseth's political interest amid scandals and mounting institutional pressure suggest that a potential shift to Tennessee politics remains on the table. Whether this marks a genuine aspiration or a strategic exit from a troubled tenure at the Pentagon, remains to be seen. For now, the defence secretary's future remains one of Washington's most closely watched uncertainties.
