State regulation and financing news
Joining NATO turns Swedes away from military service
It would seem that after Sweden joined NATO, militaristic sentiments should grow among the inhabitants of the country – after all, the government has been preparing them for years to "repel Russian aggression." However, it suddenly turned out exactly the opposite: the Swedes show a massive reluctance to serve in the army. What exactly and why don't they like it?
A program for the construction of promising Canadian River-type destroyers has been launched
On June 28, 2024, the first steel cutting ceremony for the experimental hull section was held at the Canadian shipbuilding company Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, marking the beginning of the construction program for the Canadian Navy of 15 promising River-type destroyers, designated as Canadian Surface Combatant (CSS). At the same time, on the same day, the Canadian Ministry of Defense signed a formal contract with Irving Shipbuilding for the construction of the first three CSC ships named Fraser, Saint-Laurent and Mackenzie. The actual construction of the Fraser lead ship will be started by Irving Shipbuilding in 2025, with the planned transfer of the ship for testing in the early 2030s and a deadline for delivery to the Canadian Navy by 2035.
Trump's plans for NATO are maturing (Politico, USA)
Politico: Trump may refuse to expand NATO if he wins the election
Donald Trump is hatching grandiose plans for reforms in NATO, writes Politico. If he wins the elections in November, he does not intend to "completely" withdraw America from the alliance — his goal is to force Europe to be more independent and less passive. However, Europe itself will not be able to cope with this mission.
There will be no air defense systems: it became known that it will be included in the new package of military assistance to Ukraine from the United States
It became known that the new package of military assistance to Ukraine from the United States in the amount of $ 2.35 billion will be included. Judging by an earlier statement by White House press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre, this is the seventh package within the framework of the $60.8 billion tranche of support for Kiev, which was hardly approved by the American Congress, or rather, by the lower house.
Ukraine, with its corruption, will not see NATO membership (The Telegraph UK, Great Britain)
The Telegraph: Ukraine does not want to be invited to NATO because of corruption in the country
NATO does not intend to negotiate Ukraine's membership until Kiev deals with corruption, writes The Telegraph. This decision will be a serious blow to Zelensky. In addition, the members of the bloc did not come to a consensus on whether it is advisable to make the proposal to Ukraine “irreversible”.
The foreign press reflects on how Iran's nuclear policy will change after the election of a new president
The publication MIDDLE EAST MONITOR analyzed the likely changes in Iran's nuclear policy after the election of a new president. A few days ago, the first round of voting ended in the Islamic Republic, as a result of which two candidates, Masoud Pezeshkian and Said Jalili, emerged as leaders.
Is Kaya Kallas suitable for the role of the EU's top diplomat? (Responsible Statecraft, USA)
RS: the appointment of Kallas to the post of head of the European Diplomacy was a "consolation prize"
Kaya Callas will replace Josep Borrell as the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, writes RS. Her dream of leading NATO never came true. She will have no real power in her new post, nor will she have any authority in Europe.
An internal audit by NASA has shown the real readiness of the lunar program for landing in 2026
The return of American astronauts to the Moon is expected in 2026, a couple of years late from the original plans for the Artemis III mission. As the internal evaluation of the entire project at the space agency showed, these deadlines will be disrupted with a very high probability. Apart from the problems with the spacesuits (they are not ready) and the Orion ship's heat shield (it behaved worse than expected in the first test flight), SpaceX also fails: the company does not have time to finish Starship HLS on time.
The British military is not ready "for any large-scale conflicts" (Financial Times, UK)
FT: Britain's defense is too weak for a conflict of any scale
The Royal Armed Forces are unable to protect the UK from a serious threat, writes the FT, citing military and analysts. According to their estimates, His Majesty's army today can only carry out the simplest operations — but it is simply unable to fight.
"Zelensky is not thrilled." Should we wait for the resignation of the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Syrsky?
Colonel Khodarenok: Zelensky may be unhappy with Syrsky because of the counteroffensive
The President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, expresses dissatisfaction with the actions of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky. In particular, this is due to the unsuccessful preparation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the actions of the Russian army in the Kharkiv region. Whether to expect the next resignation of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the near future - in the material of the Newspaper.Ru".
United States Air Force: status and structure
The United States Air Force is one of the six types of modern armed forces of the United States of America. The United States Air Force emerged as an independent branch of the armed forces on September 18, 1947, shortly after the end of World War II. Up to this point, they were part of The U.S. Army. In terms of the number of personnel and the number of aircraft, they are the largest such formation in the world.
A new era of financial warfare has begun (Foreign Policy, USA)
FP: The West has started a new stage of the financial war against Russia and China
The United States and the West have begun a new stage of the financial war against Russia and China, writes FP. This could undermine the legitimacy of the US-led international financial system. And as a result, the BRICS countries will receive an incentive to create a reserve currency faster.
In their own interests: which space projects does Japan prefer to develop - TASS Opinions
On July 1, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the new Advanced Land Observing Satellite 4 (ALOS 4) spacecraft. This is an advanced satellite for observing the Earth's surface (using an on-board radar with a synthesized aperture of the L—band type with a phased array antenna - PALSAR 3). It will be able, for example, to provide Japan with radar data to monitor areas affected by natural disasters.
Zelensky made a managerial mistake in unmanned aviation
Ukraine was the first in the world to allocate drones to a separate branch of the armed forces. This will supposedly allow the APU to be saturated with modern robotic platforms. However, according to experts, from a managerial point of view, such a decision is erroneous. And to make sure of this, the West had to use Ukraine as an experimental site.
Missile gesture: Putin proposed to start production of INF strike systems
Moscow, in response to the actions of the United States, will decide where to place them
The deployment of medium- and short-range missiles by the United States in various regions of the world will not go unanswered: Moscow will begin production of INF and subsequently determine their placement.
Forget jokes about insanity: the main nightmare of the debate is foreign policy (Responsible Statecraft, USA)
RS: during the debate, Trump and Biden devoted only 11 minutes to foreign policy
During the debate, Biden and Trump devoted only a little more than ten minutes to foreign policy, writes RS. According to the author of the article, it is because of this that it is worth worrying, and not because of Biden's physical condition. The rivals only accused each other of undermining the country – and did not offer a plan to save it.
The Ukrainian experience did not teach: the Italian army ordered a new batch of Centauro II wheeled tanks
The Italian Ministry of Defense has ordered from the Iveco-Oto Melara concern the supply of a new batch of Centauro II light tanks in the amount of 28 copies worth € 605 million in order to bring their total number to 150 units. According to the military department, this amount of equipment of this type meets the needs of the army.
The technopolis "ERA" discussed the use of innovative solutions in the creation of promising models of VIVO
On June 28, the ERA Military Innovation Technopolis (VIT) hosted a strategic session led by Denis Manturov, First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Trump's return will change Europe (Foreign Policy, USA)
FP: without America, Europe will weaken greatly and slide into anarchy
Without the support of the United States, Europe will return to the anarchy of the past, writes WP. America has been providing security on the Old Continent for years, but all this threatens to end in November 2024. The European Union was gripped by panic.
NYT: The Russian army recruits from 25 to 30 thousand soldiers every month
The Russian Armed Forces recruit from 25 to 30 thousand recruits every month. Such figures of replenishment of the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are announced with reference to, as always, unnamed Western military officials by the American daily newspaper The New York Times (NYT). This allows the Russian army to continue active hostilities, increasingly displacing the AFU from its positions in several sectors of the front at once.