Latest news with #West2025
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian Black Sea provocations 'increasing threat of accidental military incidents,' Latvian intelligence says
Russian military behavior in the Baltic Sea region is "increasing the threat of accidental military incidents," Latvia's Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD) has said in a new report. The annual report, cited by Latvian media on May 6, said Russia is using aggressive tactics, such as unauthorized airspace incursions and close encounters with NATO ships and aircraft. "The purpose of the provocations is most likely to intimidate and test the potential opponent, while attempts to discredit the reactions and defense capabilities of the countries of the region are not excluded," it said. These actions, MIDD says, are "increasing the threat of accidental military incidents." Russia's Baltic Sea Fleet has its headquarters and main base in Kaliningrad Oblast which has access to the Baltic Sea. The headquarters of the Russian Admiralty is based in St. Petersburg, also located on the Baltic Sea. A map of the Baltic Sea Region. (Lisa Kukharska/The Kyiv Independent) Russia has restructured its military presence along its Baltic flank. The former Western Military District, which bordered Latvia, has been split into the newly formed Leningrad and Moscow Military Districts. This was officially presented as a response to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, according to MIDD. Despite ongoing reforms, including the formation of a new army corps and the reorganization of old ones in Karelia and Kaliningrad, MIDD said that these changes have not yet resulted in a significant boost in Russia's combat power near Latvia. Most of Russia's military resources remain involved in the war in Ukraine. MIDD highlighted a sharp reduction in large-scale exercises due to equipment and manpower shortages. Nevertheless, Russia and Belarus are planning to hold the Zapad 2025 (West 2025) joint military exercises later this year, as part of a long-standing series of drills held every two years since 2009. The most recent iteration, Zapad-2021, involved over 200,000 participants and served as a prelude to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia is committed to a long-term militarization strategy, according to the report, and Moscow plans to expand its armed forces from one to 1.5 million personnel, with much of the focus on its western flank. While such goals may take years, or even a decade, to fully realize, Latvia should expect a gradual increase in troop presence near its borders after the intensity of hostilities in Ukraine decreases, it said. The report also stresses that Russia's wartime economy is likely to remain in place. The shift away from peacetime economic priorities reinforces a sustained need for external confrontation and military expansion, making Moscow's aggressive foreign policy not just a strategic choice but a domestic necessity, the MIDD added. Read also: Why the Baltic States fear Russia's Kaliningrad exclave We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelensky warns Russia is 'preparing something' in Belarus under guise of military drills
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on April 29 that Russia is preparing potential military aggression under the guise of joint exercises with Belarus this summer. "Look at Belarus — this summer, Russia is preparing something there under the guise of military exercises. This is how its new attacks usually start," Zelensky said at the Three Seas Summit, according to Suspilne. "But where this time? I don't know. Ukraine? Lithuania? Poland? God forbid! But we all have to be prepared. All our institutions are open to cooperation." Belarus will host the Zapad 2025 (West 2025) military exercises with Russian forces, part of a long-standing series of drills held every two years since 2009. The most recent iteration, Zapad-2021, involved over 200,000 participants and served as a prelude to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite not being directly involved in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarus continues to host Russian troops and missiles on its territory. Belarus shares borders with Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Russia, positioning it as a key strategic corridor between NATO and Moscow. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi previously said that the upcoming Zapad exercises could enable Russia to covertly assemble offensive forces under the guise of drills. Read also: Trump promised peace in 100 days, but Russia's violence against Ukraine has only escalated "All exercises have a purpose. And one of these goals is the covert creation of offensive troop groups," Syrskyi told on April 9. "The visibility of the exercises is the most acceptable way to relocate, redeploy troops, concentrate them in a certain direction, and create a group of troops." Zelensky has repeatedly cautioned that Russia may escalate military actions beyond Ukraine. On Feb. 14, during the Munich Security Conference, he said Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to deploy up to 150,000 troops, primarily in Belarus, suggesting a possible buildup for future offensives against NATO countries. "Based on all the information I've gathered from intelligence and other sources, I think he is preparing for war against NATO countries next year (2026)," Zelensky said, though he added he could not be entirely sure. Tensions between NATO and Moscow have intensified following Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine. Western leaders and intelligence agencies have warned of a risk of a larger war in Europe within the next five years, pointing to Russia's growing militarization and hostile posture. Read also: 'I don't trust a lot of people' — Trump offers contradictory views on Putin's intentions in interview on first 100 days We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
US to deploy ‘hellscape' of drones in Taiwan Strait by 2025 to counter China
The US seems to be rapidly advancing with its ambitious 'Replicator' initiative. Under this program, the US aims to deploy swarms of lethal autonomous drones in the Taiwan Strait by August 2025. Interestingly, US officials have called this deployment an 'unmanned hellscape.' Captain Alex Campbell, the maritime portfolio director of the Defense Innovation Unit, confirmed the August 2025 target date at the recent West 2025 conference. 'It's not another [science and technology] project. It is meant to get to production, meant to field systems, in this case, in support of [US Indo-Pacific Command],' said Campbell, as reported by the US Naval Institute (USNI). These unmanned systems, deployed across air, surface, and underwater, will be networked to form a cohesive force. This strategy aims to create a powerful deterrent that China would be unwilling to risk a military operation against Taiwan. Eventually, the Navy's goal is to develop a hybrid fleet of manned and unmanned craft, and the underlying connective command and control and software decisions that are part of Replicator will inform the effort, noted USNI. The sheer number of drones, combined with their ability to coordinate and adapt, is intended to create a "hellscape" for any adversary. This emphasis on rapid deployment reflects the situation's urgency and the perceived need to counter China's growing military power. 'It's a lot of taking… a pretty wide and diverse set of systems and a wide and diverse set of software, and smashing them all together at a pace that is really more akin to commercial software tempos,' added Campbell. The Pentagon has already allocated approximately $1 billion to fund the initial phase of Replicator. The Navy has also established specialized units to operate and maintain these new drone systems. One such unit, Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3, known as the "Hell Hounds," recently received its first four Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Crafts (GARC). While the specifics of their missions remain classified, these vessels are expected to play a crucial role in the Replicator network. Beyond offensive capabilities, Replicator also focuses on defensive measures, specifically developing counter-drone technologies. This reflects the understanding that future conflicts will likely involve a complex interplay between offensive and defensive unmanned systems. The US and China are investing heavily in drone technology, leading to a potential arms race. The push to create an "unmanned hellscape" in the Taiwan Strait marks a bold gamble on the future of naval combat. The success of Replicator could significantly alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. Amid the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, the use and importance of drones have increased manifold. Subsequently, new developments have also been taking place in this sphere. Recently, Ukraine introduced a drone that can soar to 13,000 feet with a 90-mile range. With these specifications, the drone can operate beyond the reach of many enemy air defense systems. Meanwhile, a Chinese start-up aims to develop a supersonic drone capable of reaching four times the speed of sound.
South China Morning Post
31-01-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Don't push Pacific Islands to choose between China and the West, UK admiral says
Published: 2:14pm, 31 Jan 2025 The West should not pressure Pacific Island countries to choose between cooperating with China or with the US and its allies, a British navy admiral has said, pointing out that Beijing's maritime dominance could cast considerable influence over the small island nations. On Wednesday, during the West 2025 conference hosted by the US Naval Institute and AFCEA in San Diego, Rear Admiral James Parkin, responsible for overseeing the development of naval technologies for the British Royal Navy, said the interconnectedness of global trade meant China 'has a trump card of maritime trade that no other nation on the planet's got'. Parkin specifically cited China's shipbuilding infrastructure, which currently outpaces its neighbouring competitors such as South Korea and Japan in the number of ships built per year and dominates more than half of the global share in exports. Beijing 'passed a law that every merchant ship can be changed to be a state-owned vessel in [an] era of combat,' Parkin said. 'So, as well as the silhouettes of warships versus warships … there's another 10,000 state-owned Chinese vessels which could be brought to bear in an era of conflict.' Noting China's dominance at sea, Royal Navy Rear Admiral James Parkin has warned the US and its allies not to pressure Pacific Island nations to choose sides between China and the West. Photo: He added that China could therefore use its fleet to create an 'almost universal maritime trade embargo' which, for the small, isolated Pacific Island countries, would have immediate ramifications.
South China Morning Post
30-01-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
US military says ‘unmanned hellscape' strategy in Taiwan Strait is on track
Published: 6:00pm, 30 Jan 2025 The first iteration of drones , set to form part of America's 'unmanned hellscape' strategy to be used against China in a potential war in the Taiwan Strait, is on track to meet its August 2025 deadline, according to a US Navy official. Speaking on Tuesday at the West 2025 conference hosted by the US Naval Institute and AFCEA, Alex Campbell, maritime portfolio director of the US military's Defence Innovation Unit (DIU), said the Replicator initiative would meet the goal set by former deputy defence secretary Kathleen Hicks. 'It's not another [science and technology] project. It is meant to get to production, meant to field systems, in this case, in support of [US Indo-Pacific Command],' Campbell said, according to the US Naval Institute's news portal USNI News. 'It's a lot of taking … a pretty wide and diverse set of systems and a wide and diverse set of software, and smashing them all together at a pace that is really more akin to commercial software tempos.' First unveiled by Hicks in August 2023, Replicator is an initiative overseen by the DIU that focuses on fielding thousands of what the Pentagon calls 'all-domain attritable autonomous' (ADA2) systems to create swarms of small, low-cost drone systems – including unmanned surface vehicles, unmanned aerial systems and counter-unmanned aerial systems. Former US deputy secretary of defence Kathleen Hicks set the August 2025 goal for the first part of the Replicator initiative. Photo: AP The first part of the initiative is intended to link surface, subsurface drones and loitering munitions to create a 'hellscape' aimed at preventing possible military aggression by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) across the Taiwan Strait . The second part, announced last year, will be focused on countering hostile drones.
