Brad Courtney

The disengagement process between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh is progressing on schedule. Most temporary structures built during heightened tensions since 2020 have been removed, paving the way for resuming patrols. Chinese military infrastructure hindering Indian access in the Depsang area has been dismantled, along with critical structures at Y Junction and other posts. India's temporary structures, such as tents and sheds, have also been cleared. The primary unresolved issue was the Chinese blockade of patrols in Depsang, which has now been lifted following successful disengagement at the Finger Area, Galwan, and Gogra-Hot Springs. At Demchock, Chinese huts on disputed land have been dismantled, facilitated by the lower number of personnel involved. Disengagement will continue as planned, with patrols expected to resume after October 28-29. To avoid potential clashes, both nations will share patrol activity details to prevent troop encounters in disputed areas. Additionally, efforts are underway to reduce tensions in two hotspots in Arunachal Pradesh, particularly at Yangste. India and China have also agreed to restart special representative-level talks to tackle broader border issues. #AsiaRisk #GeopoliticalConflictandDisputes #India Get a full accounting of the security situation in Asia by subscribing to Security Asia. Subscribe now--free of charge--at https://lnkd.in/g7Cs8Gkf https://lnkd.in/gf8P85-c

German chancellor says deployment of US missiles unlikely to raise tensions with Russia According to Olaf Scholz, these weapons are a deterrent serving to prevent BERLIN, July 13/ Plans to deploy US missiles in Germany will not lead to a rise in tensions with Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. According to Scholz, these weapons are a deterrent serving to prevent. "This enhances security through deterrence. <...> What we are always concerned about is the need to prevent war," Scholz added. He reiterated that Germany would provide weapons to Ukraine in a way to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia. "We are clear about decisions made within NATO: there won’t be a decision, weapons supplies or options for the use of weapons that could turn Russia’s war against Ukraine into Russia’s war against NATO, but it’s also clear that the decisions we make here are always aimed at ensuring the security of our country and the alliance [NATO]," the German chancellor pointed out. "It means that we are strong enough, and we are making sufficient efforts and doing the right thing. This certainly includes air defenses and deterrence capabilities," Scholz concluded. Washington and Berlin said in a joint statement on July 10 that the US would begin deployments of long-range fires capabilities in Germany in 2026, "which have significantly longer range than current land-based fires in Europe." Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov pointed out that such plans increased the likelihood of a missile race and could lead to uncontrolled escalation. #business #finance #financialservices

Pakistan is grappling with a surge in militant attacks, particularly in its northwest region, where six security personnel were killed in a recent assault. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack, which is part of a broader pattern of violence along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. With Islamabad accusing the Afghan Taliban of providing safe havens to TTP militants, regional tensions remain high. Pakistan's government warns of the group's potential to become a global terrorist threat, aligning with organizations like al-Qaeda. Read full news at https://lnkd.in/d_-WtjMC #PakistanMilitantAttack #TTP #AfghanistanPakistanBorder #RegionalSecurity #GlobalTerrorism #SouthAsia #Islamabad

Protecting Taiwan: Cyber Defense Is Critical 💻 🛡 Arming Taiwan with kinetic weaponry is important, but it’s not enough. True protection requires proactive cyber defense to address vulnerabilities that weapons can’t fix. Taiwan’s critical infrastructure—power grids, financial systems, and communications—is under constant cyber threat (30 million cyber attacks per month). A single successful attack could paralyze the nation far more effectively than traditional conflict. Investing in cyber resilience—securing systems, improving cyber hygiene, and building recovery capabilities—ensures Taiwan can withstand and recover from disruptions. Cyber defense isn’t just complementary to physical security; it’s essential for long-term protection and sovereignty. With this in mind, let’s ensure that any effort to “arm” Taiwan includes a robust investment in cyber defense. Shout out to Brian Iselin in the comments for raising this topic! #Cybersecurity #Taiwan #CriticalInfrastructure #CyberResilience #NationalDefense #CyberDefense #ProactiveDefense

India and China have agreed on military patrols along their disputed Himalayan border, aiming to guide troop disengagement at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This agreement follows a standoff that began after a deadly clash in 2020, which resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers. The pact was announced after multiple rounds of negotiations between diplomatic and military officials from both sides. India's Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, expressed hope that this agreement would help resolve issues stemming from the 2020 conflict. The timing coincides with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Russia for the BRICS summit, where discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping may take place. Despite some troop withdrawals in areas like Pangong Tso lake and Galwan Valley, both nations continue to maintain significant military presence along the border. The LAC is not a clear territorial demarcation, with India claiming a 3,488-kilometer boundary compared to China's shorter assertion. India's Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, highlighted that the pact represents patient diplomacy aimed at restoring military patrols to their pre-2020 state, underscoring the need for peace in bilateral relations. #AsiaRisk #GeopoliticalConflictandDisputes #Japan Get a full accounting of the security situation in Asia by subscribing to Security Asia. Subscribe now--free of charge--at https://lnkd.in/g7Cs8Gkf https://lnkd.in/dmKV2spd

Isinya DCI Officers Recover Stolen Sheep and Vehicle Used by Rustlers After High-Speed Chase Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers in Isinya successfully recovered nine live sheep and the vehicle used by rustlers after an intense chase that spanned several hours. The incident unfolded… #DCI #Isinya #Kajiado #Sheep >>> Read more

As Trump secured the presidential election win Tuesday night and Republicans regained control of the Senate with 51 seats, the House remains undecided with more than 50 races uncalled. ​ Read More: https://lnkd.in/gN3es26q #Election2024 #CaliforniaPolitics #CongressionalRaces #HouseControl #SenateMajority #VoteByMail #MidtermResults #USPolitics #CaliforniaVoters #ElectionUpdates

Catastrophic Landslide in Wayanad: Rescue Operations Intensify as Death Toll Crosses 260                           ▶️IAF and NDRF Coordinate Relief Efforts                                                             ▶️Helicopter Support Crucial in Humanitarian Assistance https://lnkd.in/eaaVx35W

India and China have withdrawn troops from contentious areas in Demchok and Depsang, following an agreement to ease tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Both countries have returned to troop positions from before April 2020, dismantling previous temporary structures. Verification of this withdrawal is set to occur in the coming days, allowing for the resumption of coordinated patrolling. Both armies will maintain dialogue, with a traditional sweets exchange expected during Diwali. The Indian Army plans to resume patrols in Demchok and Depsang by month-end, giving advance notice to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to prevent conflicts. The agreement also requires the PLA to inform India of their patrols ahead of time. The disengagement process began around October 24, with both sides withdrawing from key friction points and disassembling temporary installations. The Indian Army is repositioning westward, while Chinese forces move east. This agreement grants access to previously restricted patrol areas, including the Depsang plains and Galwan Valley, though timelines for patrols remain unclear due to seasonal weather considerations. #AsiaRisk #GeopoliticalConflictandDisputes #India Get a full accounting of the security situation in Asia by subscribing to Security Asia. Subscribe now--free of charge--at https://lnkd.in/g7Cs8Gkf https://lnkd.in/gMc292GV

Kim Jong Un gives instructions to boost production of weapons-grade nuclear materials North Korean leader "stressed the need to further augment the number of centrifuges in order to exponentially increase the nuclear weapons", KCNA reported TOKYO, September 13/ North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the country’s Nuclear Weapons Institute and a facility producing weapons-grade nuclear materials, setting the task of boosting production, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. During the visit, Kim "acquainted himself with the production of nuclear warheads and current nuclear materials and set forth important tasks for a long-term plan for increasing the production of weapon-grade nuclear materials," the report says. In particular, he "stressed the need to further augment the number of centrifuges in order to exponentially increase the nuclear weapons." In order to fulfill the task of building up nuclear armed forces, the country’s nuclear industry should "not content with the successes and, at the same time, to further raise the individual separation ability of the centrifuge and push forward the introduction of a new-type centrifuge which has already reached its completion stage as planned so as to further strengthen the foundation for producing weapon-grade nuclear materials." "The security environment facing the DPRK, the peculiarity of the Korean revolution to constantly confront with the US and contain it and prospective threats require the DPRK to steadily expand and bolster up its defense capability for self-defense and the capability for a preemptive attack with the nuclear force as a pivot," the report quoted Kim as saying. #business #finance #financialservices