French MPs urge inquiry into arms sales to Saudi Arabia as bin Salman visits

Over a dozen French lawmakers have called for an investigation into the country's lucrative weapons sales to Saudi Arabia as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman begins a visit to Paris on Sunday. MP Sebastien Nadot said he and 15 other co-signatories had officially filed a request for a 30-member commission of inquiry into France's complicity in the Saudi-led war on Yemen.

The commission is "to study France's compliance with international commitments regarding arms export licenses, munitions, training, services and assistance that our country has granted during these three years to the belligerents of the conflict in Yemen," he added.

The military campaign has killed and injured over 600,000 civilians since its onset in March 2015, according to the latest figures released by the Yemeni Ministry of Human Rights.

The request comes days after 12 international NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, sent a private letter to French President Emmanuel Macron urging him to halt arms sales to Riyadh. They also demanded pressure on bin Salman to ease a blockade on Yemeni ports.

"Emmanuel Macron should put Yemen at the center of his discussions with Mohammed bin Salman as he hosts him in France," the rights groups said.

According to a recent YouGov poll, 75 percent of French people want Macron to suspend arms exports to countries involved in the war on Yemen, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. However, a French presidential source defended the country's arms exports, claiming that Paris "obeys very precise criteria, including the concern for situations in which civilian populations may be endangered

...MORE https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...presstv02.htm?_m=3n.002a.2260.ph0ao0037n.22xe
 
France:
A Mirage 2000 bomb a factory in France!

A m200 lost a bomb during a training mission over France and the munition (inert training F4 model) hit a factory and injured 2 workers. A this time is unknown if the theF4 fall due to a crew error or a technical issue (bomb not release when the plane make it's first attack run then fall or fall because it was not correctly installed).

News in French : http://lemamouth.blogspot.ca/2018/04/une-f4-fait-deux-blesses.html
 
British Army's rifle set for multi-million-pound upgrade
The Ministry of Defence is upgrading the British Army's standard combat rifle to ensure troops are equipped with the best possible battle-winning kit, Defence Minister Guto Bebb has announced.
The SA80 A2 hand held assault weapon will be upgraded into the A3 model under the Mid Life Improvement (MLI) project, which will ensure the rifle has the enhancements needed to remain in service until 2025 and beyond.

An initial investment of £5.4 million for the project, which will be carried out by Heckler and Koch, will help sustain around 20 highly skilled jobs at the Nottingham Small Arms Factory owned by the company.

Defence Minister Guto Bebb said:

"This multi-million-pound upgrade will give our Army a lighter, more hardwearing, better-camouflaged combat rifle so our soldiers can perform on the frontline of some of the most dangerous locations across the world. This investment is also a boost to Nottingham's highly-skilled gun-makers who proudly support our troops in their task to protect our country in the face of intensifying threats." ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...1-ukmod02.htm?_m=3n.002a.2263.ph0ao0037n.230f
 
Swiss:

The next head of the Swiss intelligence service will be general Jean-Philippe Gaudin who was military attache a the Swiss embassy in Paris. It's the first Swiss intel. director coming from the army.

news in French
http://lemamouth.blogspot.ca/2018/04/le-maitre-espion-suisse-qui-venait-de.html

The rank of General exists only during a war, in Switzerland. Except for a peace promotion officer in Korea.
His rank is Divisionnaire
In Fr
https://www.vtg.admin.ch/content/vtg-internet/fr/home.detail.nsb.html/70400.html
 

SUMMARY OF THE REPORT ON ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT
IN SUPPORT OF A REQUEST FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY
THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland requested technical

assistance from the OPCW Technical Secretariat (hereinafter “the Secretariat”) under

subparagraph 38(e) of Article VIII of the Chemical Weapons Convention in relation

to an incident in Salisbury on 4 March 2018 involving a toxic chemical—allegedly a

nerve agent—and the poisoning and hospitalisation of three individuals. The

Director-General decided to dispatch a team to the United Kingdom for a technical

assistance visit (TAV).

2. The TAV team deployed to the United Kingdom on 19 March for a pre-deployment

and from 21 March to 23 March for a full deployment.

3. The team received information on the medical conditions of the affected individuals,

Mr Sergej Skripal, Ms Yulia Skripal, and Mr Nicholas Bailey. This included

information on their acetylcholinesterase status since hospitalisation, as well as

information on the treatment regime.

4. The team was able to collect blood samples from the three affected individuals under

full chain of custody for delivery to the OPCW Laboratory and subsequent analysis

by OPCW designated laboratories, and conducted identification of the three

individuals against official photo-ID documents.

5. The team was able to conduct on-site sampling of environmental samples under full

chain of custody at sites identified as possible hot-spots of residual contamination.

Samples were returned to the OPCW Laboratory for subsequent analysis by OPCW

designated laboratories.

6. The team requested and received splits of samples taken by British authorities for

delivery to the OPCW Laboratory in Rijswijk, the Netherlands, and subsequent

analysis by OPCW designated laboratories. This was done for comparative purposes

and to verify the analysis of the United Kingdom.

7. The team was briefed on the identity of the toxic chemical identified by the United

Kingdom and was able to review analytical results and data from chemical analysis of

biomedical samples collected by the British authorities from the affected individuals,

as well as from environmental samples collected on site.

8. The results of analysis of biomedical samples conducted by OPCW designated

laboratories demonstrate the exposure of the three hospitalised individuals to this

toxic chemical.

9. The results of analysis of the environmental samples conducted by OPCW designated

laboratories demonstrate the presence of this toxic chemical in the samples.

10. The results of analysis by the OPCW designated laboratories of environmental and

biomedical samples collected by the OPCW team confirm the findings of the United

Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical that was used in Salisbury and

severely injured three people.

11. The TAV team notes that the toxic chemical was of high purity. The latter is

concluded from the almost complete absence of impurities.

12. The name and structure of the identified toxic chemical are contained in the full

classified report of the Secretariat, available to States Parties.


https://www.opcw.org/fileadmin/OPCW/S_series/2018/en/s-1612-2018_e_.pdf

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Germany - MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
WASHINGTON, Apr. 5, 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Germany of MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for an estimated cost of $2.50 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on Apr. 4, 2018.

The Government of Germany has requested to buy four (4) MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), one (1) Mission Control Station (MCS) comprised of one (1) Main Operating Base (MOB) (MD-3A) and one (1) Forward Operating Base (FOB) (MD-3B), ten (10) Kearfott Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS), units (2 per aircraft plus 2 spares), and ten (10) LN-251 INS/GPS units (2 per aircraft plus 2 spares). This proposed MQ-4C UAS sale will be a modified version of the USN Triton configuration. Also included is one Rolls Royce Engine (spare), communication equipment, support equipment, mission planning element to include Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) Global Positioning System (GPS) items, Communications Security (COMSEC) equipment, mapping, training ...more

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/germany/germany-180405-dsca01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2258.ph0ao0037n.22u6

Germany Puts Air Defense Unit Under Foreign Control in 'New Era' for EU Military
The first-ever "sharing parenthood" of the air force marks a milestone in the creation of a German-Dutch joint military, which began more than 20 years ago, and falls in line with expansion of the all-European common defense system PESCO.

Following a path of military cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands, the Hague is taking 450 soldiers from an air force base on German soil close to the Dutch border under its wing. The unit will remain stationed in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. They are to protect military objects from ground attacks.

Berlin retains command in foreign operations abroad. However, both countries must agree to deploy the forces together.

Germany's Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen noted that the transition of command has added momentum to the military cooperation between the two countries. "We share common values and interests ...more https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/germany/germany-180405-sputnik01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2258.ph0ao0037n.22ub
Will be interesting to see how the collaboration between Germany and the Netherlands pans out :)
 
Royal Navy sending third warship to Asia Pacific

The UK defense ministry confirmed on Wednesday it is sending amphibious transport dock HMS Albion to North East Asia to support UN sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Albion set sail from the Devonport Naval Base in February this year and was initially scheduled to spend five months in the Mediterranean Sea as flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2).

Neither the navy nor the defense ministry explained why this change of tasking occurred.

Captain Tim Neild, HMS Albion commanding officer, said: “It is a huge privilege for us to fly the flag of the NATO task group commander in such a high profile deployment.

Albion is the third Royal Navy ship to be sent to the Asia-Pacific region.

Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland has already started its engagements in the region and is currently on a port call in Yokosuka, Japan. Another Type 23 frigate, the HMS Argyll, will join the two later this year.

“Until North Korea matches its words with concrete actions, the UK will continue working closely with partners and allies to keep up pressure and strictly enforce existing sanctions, ensuring not only regional security but that of the UK as well,” Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said.

In the coming months HMS Albion, alongside HMS Sutherland, will be contributing to international efforts to monitor prohibited trading at sea by the DPRK, which provides a major source of funding for its illegal nuclear program.

While in the region, both vessels will visit several ports and take part in joint training with allies and partners, including the US, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

“I am delighted to support UK interests in the Asia-Pacific. Our deployment serves as a fantastic example of the flexibility and global reach of the Royal Navy,” Captain Tim Neild, the commanding officer of HMS Albion, said. “As always, I am extremely grateful for the ongoing support from our families and friends back home as we carry out these important international responsibilities on the other side of the world.”

The deployment of these three ships will mean that the Royal Navy will have a vessel in the strategically critical Asia-Pacific region for the first time since 2013 and will have an almost unbroken presence there this year.

Once HMS Argyll arrives in Asia Pacific, she is set to participate in a Five Power Defence Arrangements exercise with Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore before also travelling to North East Asia for further joint training and exercises.

royal-navy-sending-third-warship-to-asia-pacific-320x215.jpg

https://navaltoday.com/2018/04/11/royal-navy-sending-third-warship-to-asia-pacific/?uid=5430



 
Labs Confirm Nerve Agent Used on Russian Ex-Spy, Daughter
Four laboratories linked to the international chemical weapons watchdog have confirmed Britain's findings that a nerve agent was used last month to poison a former Russian spy and his daughter.

The confirmations were in an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) report released Thursday.

British Ambassador to the U.N. Karen Pierce said OPCW's conclusions "agree explicitly with the U.K.'s analysis" and added the chemical used in the attack was a "military-grade nerve agent of high purity."

British Prime Minister Theresa May said former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned last month in Salisbury, England with a military-grade nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and '80s.

The watchdog did not blame Russia for the attack nor did it name the specific chemical agent used. But British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said only Russia had the "means, motive, and record" to carry out such an attack. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/inte...412-voa01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2264.ph0ao0037n.2326
 
European Commission To Endorse Accession Talks With Albania, Macedonia
BRUSSELS – The European Commission will recommend that the European Union opens accession negotiations with Albania and Macedonia, according to a draft document seen by RFE/RL.

The document is part of the annual EU enlargement package that is set to be published on April 17 in Strasbourg and which outlines how far the non-EU countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey have come on their road to European Union membership.

The European Commission has recommended commencing negotiations with Macedonia every year since 2009, but EU member states in the council -- most notably, Greece -- have always blocked talks due to the name issue, which has soured relations between Athens and Skopje ever since Macedonia became independent in 1991.

Athens has objected to its northern neighbor using the name Macedonia, contending that implies territorial claims on its own northern province of the same name ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/mili...5-rferl05.htm?_m=3n.002a.2266.ph0ao0037n.234p
 
France / Germany :

On April 25th at the ILA airshow in Berlin, France and Germany will launch the new SCAF program. This is a cooperation to develop the next French and German fighter. Dassault will lead the program with Airbus working on subsystems.
the German will lead the next French/German MBT based on the Leopard III.

The British will not participate at both programs for budgetary concerns.
 
Trump and France's Macron Disagree on the Iran Deal. Here's Why Europe Wants to Keep It
BERLIN — President Trump is currently hosting sort of a Europe week at the White House, with French President Emmanuel Macron in town for a state visit and German Chancellor Angela Merkel expected to arrive at the Oval Office on Friday.

To both European leaders who often closely coordinate their foreign policy moves, one issue will define their agenda in Washington: the Iran nuclear deal. Or, as Trump likes to call it: the “bad” and “terrible” deal with a country he has blamed for being “behind every problem” in the Middle East. Trump has called the 2015 agreement disastrous and has argued that it isn’t in the United States’ best interests, though he has reluctantly certified Iran’s compliance in the past.

That may change with a new deadline that’s coming up May 12.

A U.S. decision to withdraw would not come as a full surprise to its European allies. Trump had already announced a withdrawal of presidential “certification” of the Iran nuclear deal last October ...MORE

https://inhomelandsecurity.com/trum...ope-wants-to-keep-it&utm_campaign=20180424IHS


In Case of Sanctions Against Turkey, US to Suffer Greater Losses
In case Washington decides on sanctions against Turkey, due to the implementation of agreements between Ankara and Moscow on the purchase of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) S-400, American companies in the defense industry will suffer the greatest losses, head of the Diplomatic center for strategic studies and head of Department for cultural diplomacy under University of Paris Najiye Celine Senocak told Trend.

Turkey should be ready for any outcome of the events and should not yield to pressure from the US, the expert said.

The expert noted that the constant threats from Washington towards Ankara due to the purchase of Russian S-400 are directed against the national security of Turkey in the run-up to the parliamentary and presidential elections.

Senocak said, there are many reasons for concern for NATO, related to the recent rapprochement between Turkey and Russia.

“One of these reasons is that the rapprochement between Turkey and Russia may lead to the weakening of the US and NATO in the region, as well as the loss of an important market ...MORE

https://inhomelandsecurity.com/in-c...reater-losses-expert&utm_campaign=20180424IHS
 
Lone Survivor Accused of Paris and Brussels Attacks Convicted on Related Shootout Charges
BRUSSELS — A Belgian court on Monday convicted Salah Abdeslam, the lone survivor of the group accused of the Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks in 2015 and 2016, on charges related to a shootout with police as he was captured in Belgium.

The conviction for wounding four police officers in a terrorist context was the first test for authorities as they seek justice for the families of the victims of the attacks, which killed 130 people in Paris and 32 in Brussels. Although Monday’s guilty verdict was not directly related to the terrorist plots, it offered a guide for what to expect ahead of higher-profile trials of accused terrorists scheduled for next year in France and Belgium.

The “terror character” of the actions of Abdeslam and his accomplices was clearly established, Judge Marie-France Keutgen said in her 80-page ruling. Neither Abdeslam, 28, nor co-defendant Sofien Ayari, 24, were in the Brussels courtroom as the verdict was read

Keutgen sentenced both men to 20-year prison sentences and fined each of them about $14,600.

In Abdeslam’s first court appearance in February, he spoke only briefly before falling silent. He refused to attend other proceedings in the trial, disappointing family members of the victims who had hoped his testimony could add to explanations about the motives of the attackers. Silence could also limit whether new understanding comes from the broader terrorism trials next year.

“My silence does not make me a criminal; it’s my defense ...MORE

https://inhomelandsecurity.com/lone...ted-shootout-charges&utm_campaign=20180424IHS
 
UK to rival EU's Galileo space project by own satellite system
Britain is considering setting up a satellite navigation system as a rival to the EU's €10bn Galileo project after being shut out of key elements of the program, a report says.

This comes amid an escalating row with Brussels over whether London can be trusted with Europe's most sensitive security information after Brexit, The Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

Britain's business minister Greg Clark was taking legal advice on whether the UK can reclaim the €1.4 billion it has invested in Galileo since its start in 2003, according to the report.

This is the first consequence of Brexit which has resulted in UK ministers weighing a negotiating strategy to keep its role in the program as without participation in EU projects, the country's ability to become a leader in the global space race would be undermined.

"We have made it clear we do not accept the commission's position on Galileo, which could seriously damage mutually beneficial collaboration on security and defense ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/spac...presstv01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2275.ph0ao0037n.23f1
 
Italy:

The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its newest frigate, Federico Martinengo.

The delivery ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Muggiano shipyard, La Spezia, on April 24.

The newbuild is the seventh of a series of ten vessels of the FREMM program – Multi Mission European Frigates – commissioned to Fincantieri as part of the international Italian-French program, coordinated by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation.

Orizzonte Sistemi Navali — 51% Fincantieri and 49% Leonardo — is the prime contractor for Italy in the FREMM program, which envisions the construction of ten units, all already ordered.

Launched in March 2017, Federico Martinengo is the third multipurpose variant following the deliveries of Carlo Bergamini and Luigi Rizzo in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Other units in the class delivered so far are ASW-oriented. Italy will eventually operate six general purpose variants and four anti-submarine variants.

With a length of 144 meters and a displacement of 6,700 tons, the FREMM frigates are designed to reach a maximum speed of 27 knots and provide accommodation for 200 people.

The FREMM program ships are to replace Italian Navy Lupo- and Maestrale class frigates built by Fincantieri in the 1970s.
fincantieri-launches-seventh-fremm-frigate-for-italian-navy-1024x684-1-320x214.jpg

https://navaltoday.com/2018/04/24/italian-navy-takes-delivery-of-7th-fremm-frigate/?uid=5430
 
Austria:

Austria Probes UN Peacekeepers Over Golan Heights Ambush

Austria's defense minister is ordering an investigation into whether the country's peacekeepers allowed Syrian police to drive into a fatal ambush in the Golan Heights six years ago.
Austrian weekly Der Falter published a leaked video Friday that was apparently filmed by the United Nations peacekeepers from Austria in September 2012 and shows Syrian smugglers ambush the police.
The Austrian soldiers are clearly heard discussing whether to warn the officers, but then letting them pass.
In a statement, the defense ministry said it was only made aware of the "dimension of the incident" by the images and video leaked to Falter.
Defense Minister Mario Kunasek says "the incidents will have to be meticulously and completely cleared up."


https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/04/27/world/europe/ap-eu-austria-un-peacekeepers.html

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Britain, France and Germany reiterate support for Iran nuclear deal
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have reaffirmed their support for the landmark nuclear deal with Iran, noting that it is the best way to keep limitations on Iran's nuclear program in place.

According to a statement by the office of Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel made the remark in separate phone calls with the British premier as a May 12 deadline looms for US President Donald Trump to decide on whether to reestablish sanctions against Tehran.

Trump is a stern critic of the nuclear deal reached between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, France, Britain, China, and Russia -- plus Germany. Under the agreement, nuclear-related sanctions put in place against Iran were lifted in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear program ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...presstv03.htm?_m=3n.002a.2278.ph0ao0037n.23im
 
Basque Group ETA Announces It Has 'Completely Dissolved'
The Basque separatist group ETA is formally dissolving after 60 years and giving up its fight for an independent Basque state in northern Spain and southern France.

Spain's El Diario newspaper published a letter on its website Wednesday from the remaining ETA leaders.

"ETA has decided to declare its historical cycle and functions terminated, putting an end to its journey. ... ETA has completely dissolved all of its structures and declared an end to its political initiative," the letter said.

But the letter said that what it called the conflict between the Basque Country and Spain and France would continue.

Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said the government would continue to hunt down those it called Basque terrorists.
"They will not obtain a thing for making a declaration they call a dissolution," he said.

ETA, whose full name translates to "Basque Homeland and Freedom" in the Basque language, is responsible for around 850 deaths in its campaign of violence and terrorism in the fight for Basque separatism.

Basque militants founded the group in response to Spain's military dictator Francisco Franco, who banned the Basque language in ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/secu...502-voa01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2281.ph0ao0037n.23mc
 

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