Geopolitics: May 2021

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Shephard Media: Colombia freezes Kfir replacement programme

"Colombia freezes Kfir replacement programme"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Air Warfare

Shephard Media

25 May, 2021

Originally published:https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/colombia-freezes-kfir-replacement-programme/

Colombia may be left without a viable fighter fleet from 2023.

Budget constraints have prompted new Colombian finance minister José Manuel Restrepo (in post since 3 May) to place on indefinite hold the long-awaited acquisition of new multirole fighters to replace the air force’s fleet of 23 ageing Kfir aircraft.

'What is a priority and what is not?… I ...

Central Asia Program: The United States, Kazakhstan, and Environmental Cooperation

"The United States, Kazakhstan, and Environmental Cooperation"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Central Asia Program / George Washington University

25 May, 2021

Originally published: https://www.centralasiaprogram.org/the-united-states-kazakhstan-and-environmental-cooperation

The Republic of Kazakhstan is facing two major water-related environmental challenges: salvaging what is left of the Aral Sea, which the country shares with Uzbekistan, and protecting Lake Balkhash, where Kazakhstan, as a downstream nation, has been affected by the water policies of its neighbor, the People’s Republic of China. The country also intents to capitalizing on its vast natural diversity to promote its eco-tourism industry as part of a wider economic diversification strategy to become one of the 30 most developed nations by 2050.

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Shephard Media: Chilean Navy chief targets 2030 for indigenous frigates

"Chilean Navy chief targets 2030 for indigenous frigates"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Naval Warfare

Shephard Media

24 May, 2021

Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/chilean-navy-chief-targets-2030-indigenous-frigate/

The Chilean Navy wants domestic industry to be capable of building frigates by 2030 but it is pushing against practical and political obstacles.

Chilean naval planners and government policy-makers recently reiterated calls to build up a domestic shipbuilding capability, although the South American country still lacks the industrial depth to undertake major programmes independently.

Adm Julio Leiva Molina, Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Navy, stated the case in a recent webinar called ‘Construcción Naval ...

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

The Diplomat: "EU-Kazakhstan Aim to Cooperate on Green Project"

"EU-Kazakhstan Aim to Cooperate on Green Project"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Crossroads Asia

The Diplomat

18 May, 2021

Originally published: https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/eu-kazakhstan-aim-to-cooperate-on-green-projects/

The Kazakh government is looking to diversify its economy and develop new industries while also promoting environmental protection.

The European Union praised Kazakhstan’s green agenda during a May 10 high-level meeting in Brussels, opening up possibilities for new cooperation opportunities in the near future in areas like environmental protection, achieving carbon neutrality, and combating climate change.

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Shephard Media: Latin American air forces turn to indigenous UAVs

"Latin American air forces turn to indigenous UAVs"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Unmanned Vehicles

Shephard Media News

14 May, 2021

Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/latin-american-air-forces-turn-indigenous-uavs/

Recent developments in Brazil and Colombia reflect a trend towards domestic UAV manufacturing.

While Latin American militaries will continue to rely on imported UAVs for ISR operations in the foreseeable future, countries with robust domestic defence industries are also developing them locally.

Operating domestically manufactured UAVs has become an objective for the Brazilian and Colombian air forces, for example.

On 23 April, the ...

Monday, May 10, 2021

Strife: The Venezuelan Navy: The Kraken of the Caribbean?

"The Venezuelan Navy: The Kraken of the Caribbean?"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Strife

10 May, 2021

Originally published: https://www.strifeblog.org/2021/05/10/the-venezuelan-navy-the-kraken-of-the-caribbean/

While much of what is written about the strength of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’s military is true, its capabilities should not be exaggerated. One illustrative example is the Bolivarian navy of Venezuela (Armada Bolivariana de Venezuela), which operates a particularly old fleet of ships and submarines.

During the lengthy presidency of the late Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), the Venezuelan government spent billions of dollars to acquire state-of-the–art military equipment, particularly from the Russian Federation, to strengthen the Venezuelan armed forces and protect the country from aggression it believed might come from either the United States or Colombia. The Venezuelan army, air force, national guard and paramilitary units received copious amounts of new equipment, such as the S-300 surface-to-missile system, Mil helicopters, Sukhoi Su-30 warplanes and small weapons, but the navy did not.