Meredith Wilson

David M. Luna 🦏 🌎 🐘 Threat Convergence ≜ Kine-Dynamics quoted in latest report by award-winning investigative journalist Sam Cooper on "Ports, Fentanyl, Corruption: Beijing's Triad of threats to the United States" (Unheeded Warnings: The Bureau investigates Canadian intelligence on the causes of opioids pouring into North America). The Bureau asked David Luna, a former U.S. Department of State official, if McAdam’s focus on Hutchison and Chinese-controlled ports could shed light on the fentanyl trade examined now by U.S. agencies. Luna is executive director of an NGO, International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE) / ICAIE Labs, that briefs national security leaders on emerging threats, and malign influence, from hostile states including China and Iran that leverage illicit financial networks in Canada and Latin America. Luna couldn’t comment on specific intelligence from McAdam’s 1990s-era reporting, but in a written response confirmed Beijing’s influence in Western ports is concerning. "It is true that most of the fentanyl and the fentanyl precursors in Mexico are not only sourced to China, but arrive in the hemisphere through ports where, in some cases, the PRC either has control or partial control of the port operations, or exert their corruptive influence, and with help from some of China's diasporic proxies, criminal Triads, and complicit enablers (e.g., Mexican cartels) that facilitate such cross-border illicit trade and related money laundering." *** A report from Dr. Evan Ellis of U.S. Army War College says trade between China and Mexico is central to the fentanyl crisis that killed over 100,000 Americans in 2023. Hutchison Whampoa has operated major ports in Mexico since the 1990s, where the Sinaloa cartel partners with Sun Yee On and 14K Triads to import fentanyl precursors from Wuhan, the report says. “Many of those drugs and precursors are brought in through Mexican ports operated by the Chinese company Hutchison,” it says. As US Congress launches investigations into Chinese Communist Party involvement in fentanyl trafficking and money laundering with Mexican cartels, McAdam’s reporting on Hutchison Whampoa and his suspicions about Beijing’s corruptive influence in North American politics look increasingly relevant. https://lnkd.in/erTwnH63 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Drug Enforcement Administration Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) United States Department of Defense Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) | Service canadien du renseignement de sécurité (SCRS) Royal Canadian Mounted Police | Gendarmerie royale du Canada Calvin Chrustie LLM #maligninflence #hybridwarfare #China #organizedcrime #triads #fentanyl #illicittrade #corruption #moneylaundering #ports #trade #maritimesecurity #FTZs #Ottawa #Toronto #Vancouver #Montreal

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7/23/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/3LDorAF 1. US risks learning the wrong lessons about Ukraine’s drones, expert says 2. Secret Service Director’s Testimony Sparks Bipartisan Calls for Her Resignation 3. Clueless at the Secret Service 4. Biden Drops Out, the Dangers of a Lame-Duck President Emerge 5. The Post-Biden Foreign Policy 6. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 22, 2024 7. Israel–Hamas War (Iran) Update, July 22, 2024 8. To Secure the Red Sea, Sink Iran’s Navy 9. Israel Risks All-Out War With Hezbollah. A Truce in Gaza May Reduce That Threat. 10. War, Adaptation and AI by Mick Ryan 11. Countering Chinese Aggression in the South China Sea 12. Israel’s Next War 13. America’s Dilemma in Kenya 14. NATO’s New Mission: Keep America in, Russia Down, and China Out 15. Ukraine confronts labor shortage as need for soldiers drains workforce 16. Can Biden’s arsenal-of-democracy foreign policy outlast him? 17. Pentagon’s new Arctic strategy focuses on adversaries, new technologies 18. Can Hamas Be Left to Defeat Itself? Debating the Endgame in Gaza 19. US warns Chinese banks over Russian shipments 20. Opinion: Project 2025 would slash veterans' hard-earned benefits   21. Why does China care about a rust bucket in the middle of the sea?

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I agree with Dr. Mohamed ELDoh, and would add that countering Russia's influence in Africa, as well as China's influence in Africa, must be based on a broader premise than counter-terrorism. It was apparent in my engagements with African leaders, that they are not interested in being subjected to the trappings of political pawns. There needs to be genuine and broad investment. All elements of national power, to include commercial interest should be brought to bear. It's not lost on me, that instability and risk deter commercial interest, therefore security is a big part of the calculus. It's complex and hard....important things are seldom simple and easy. #thinkdeterrence #africa

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#Denmark seeks to stop #shadowtankerfleet carrying #Russianoil 👁️Reuters Ghttps://lnkd.in/gEBMqVjq 👁️Windward Report UPDATED: Illuminating Russia’s Shadow Fleet Windward’s Maritime AI™ platform identified a three-tiered system of vessels to paint a more accurate picture of Russian oil smuggling: #Clearedfleet – tankers not exhibiting any suspicious conduct, such as flag hopping or irregular ownership structure….[…] #Grayfleet – a completely new phenomenon evolving from the Russia war. Overseas companies have been quickly established following the outbreak of the war, to obscure vessel origins and ownership, and to appear law-abiding/non-sanctioned. This fleet is described as “gray” because it is difficult to determine #legality and #sanctionscompliance in many cases. A significant number of these vessels also switch flags (“#flaghopping”) frequently. Windward has identified over 1,000 #grayvessels around the world. #Darkfleet – this fleet often utilizes “dark activities” (the intentional disabling of the #automaticidentificationsystem) to move #wetcargo, along with other deceptive shipping practices (#DSPs), such as ID and location tampering. Windward has identified approximately 1,300 #darkfleetvessels. https://lnkd.in/gPjJpWSP 👁️ S & P Global, 19 June 2024 spglobal.com Russia's shadow fleet − Formation, operation and continued risks for sanctions compliance teams https://lnkd.in/gGa2SJ2a The shadow fleet, which includes vessels that operate under complex ownership and registration arrangements to evade sanctions, has grown notably. These updates illustrate the evolving dynamics of the Russian oil trade and the extensive measures being taken to circumvent international sanctions, with significant implications for #globalmaritimetrade and #environmentalsafety. 1. Shadow Fleet Size and Growth: • As of July 2024, the number of tankers involved in the Russian oil trade has increased to 600 due to the ongoing geopolitical situation and subsequent sanctions. 2. Operational Tactics: • The shadow fleet employs various deceptive tactics such as #AIS (Automatic Identification System) blackouts and the blending of Russian oil with oil from other origins to obscure its true source. • High #sulfurfuel usage: many vessels not equipped with the required exhaust cleaning systems, posing #environmentalrisks. 3. Global Impact and Trade Routes: • Western ports, particularly in Europe and Asia, have seen increased enforcement, resulting in several detentions in 2024. • The main export routes for Russian oil have shifted towards Asian markets, especially China. #russianshadowfleet #russianoiltankers #sanctions Photo: Reuters

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#Denmark seeks to stop #shadowtankerfleet carrying #Russianoil 👁️Reuters Ghttps://lnkd.in/gEBMqVjq 🦉ME: It is difficult for Denmark to act alone due to Russia’s threats of retaliation. The international waters of the Denmark Strait (Danmarksstrædet) through to the Baltic States are at high risk of catastrophic oil spills. 👁️Windward Report UPDATED: Illuminating Russia’s Shadow Fleet Windward’s Maritime AI™ platform identified a three-tiered system of vessels….: #Clearedfleet – tankers not exhibiting any suspicious conduct, such as flag hopping or irregular ownership structure….[…] #Grayfleet – a completely new phenomenon evolving from the Russia war. Overseas companies have been quickly established following the outbreak of the war, to obscure vessel origins and ownership, and to appear law-abiding/non-sanctioned. This fleet is described as “gray” because it is difficult to determine #legality and #sanctionscompliance in many cases. A significant number of these vessels also switch flags (“#flaghopping”) frequently. Windward has identified over 1,000 #grayvessels around the world. #Darkfleet – this fleet often utilizes “dark activities” (the intentional disabling of the #automaticidentificationsystem) to move #wetcargo, along with other deceptive shipping practices (#DSPs), such as ID and location tampering. Windward has identified approximately 1,300 #darkfleetvessels. https://lnkd.in/gPjJpWSP 👁️ S & P Global, 19 June 2024 spglobal.com Russia's shadow fleet − Formation, operation and continued risks for sanctions compliance teams https://lnkd.in/gGa2SJ2a The #shadowfleet includes vessels that operate under opaque and complex ownership and registration arrangements to evade #sanctions. Recent #secondarysanctions by the UK and other Western nations…. aim to reduce its effectiveness by imposing restrictions on Russian #logisticsproviders and #insurers. These updates illustrate the extensive measures being taken to circumvent sanctions, with significant implications for #globalmaritimetrade and #environmentalsafety. 1. Shadow Fleet Size and Growth: • As of July 2024, the number of tankers involved in the Russian oil trade has increased to 600. 2. Operational Tactics: • The shadow fleet employs various deceptive tactics such as #AIS (Automatic Identification System) blackouts and the blending of Russian oil with oil from other origins to obscure its true source. • High #sulfurfuel usage: many vessels not equipped with the required exhaust cleaning systems, posing #environmentalrisks. 3. Global Impact and Trade Routes: • Western ports, particularly in Europe and Asia, have seen increased enforcement, resulting in several detentions in 2024. • The main export routes for Russian oil have shifted towards Asian markets, especially China. 4. Environmental Impact and Safety: Incidents involving these tankers, such as fires, oil spills and engine failure have increased… #russianshadowfleet Photo: Reuters

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Looking forward to this conversation about how increasing geopolitical threats are affecting globalised business - including the insurance sector.

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7/21/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/3LEsWL3 1. The U.S. Invests in Asia & Rising Asian Powers Set Strategic Sights on Europe 2. Taiwan must protect its sovereignty, know its own history, president says 3. Israel Strikes Houthi-Controlled Port City in Yemen 4. In a Taiwan war, the US could find itself fighting China without its top allies 5. Secret Service Says It Denied Earlier Trump Requests for More Federal Resources 6. A 20-year-old’s perplexing place in the catalogue of American gunmen 7. China and Philippines reach deal to avoid clashes at disputed reef 8. US to support Philippines' efforts to resupply ship on atoll, Sullivan says 9. Outgoing NCTC Director Lays Out Today’s Very Real Terrorist Threat 10. Build Iron Dome in the United States To Prepare for Israel’s Worst Day 11. Pentagon confronts Gold Star divide among grieving military families 12. Why Trump picking Vance as VP is about US foreign policy 13. Is China's social contract about to break down? 14. The China-Only Republicans 15. Resistance movement burns military equipment at an airfield in Russia 16. Is US Aid To Ukraine Driven By A Brutal Logic? – Analysis 17. How the sixth-generation fighter jet will upend air warfare

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7/2/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4cJin5c 1. Israeli Generals, Low on Munitions, Want a Truce in Gaza 2. NATO to Establish Kyiv Post, and Seeks to ‘Trump-Proof’ Ukraine Aid 3. Satellite Images Show Expansion of Suspected Chinese Spy Bases in Cuba 4. The World Is Realigning: An emerging Axis of Resistance confronts the Liberal Alliance. 5. NDU At Fort Liberty/JFK Special Warfare Center and School: Master of Arts in Strategic Studies 6. The weaponization of security clearances 7. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 1, 2024 8. Israel–Hamas War (Iran) Update, July 1, 2024 9. Eight Antifa Defendants Sentenced in Pacific Beach Assault Case 10. ‘In the Shadows’ Review: The Hostage Bargainer 11.Solving the Problem of Postwar Gaza 12. China builds new presidential palace in Pacific's Vanuatu 13. A.I. Begins Ushering In an Age of Killer Robots 14. Lawsuit accuses Iran, Syria and North Korea of providing support for Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel 15. Wokeness Is Awful. Nationalism Is Far Worse. 16. ‘Real Portal to Hell’ – Ukrainian Paratroopers Repel Assault, Destroy Seven Russian Fighting Vehicles With Troops 17. The Digital Battlefield: How Social Media is Reshaping Modern Insurgencies 18. The Looming Crisis in the Taiwan Strait 19. America Is Still Not Ready for the Next Outbreak 20. The Illogic of Doubling Down on a Failed Approach: Security Assistance and Terrorism in Africa

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5/30/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4bFWAuQ 1. How America Inadvertently Created an ‘Axis of Evasion’ Led by China 2. Blinken Signals U.S. May Allow Ukraine to Strike Inside Russia With American Weapons 3. U.S. concerned about Ukraine strikes on Russian nuclear radar stations 4. Israel, Hamas and the Law of War 5. China Is Testing the U.S.-Philippines Alliance 6. Hamas is preparing long-term insurgency in Gaza - analysis 7. The Great AI Challenge: We Test Five Top Bots on Useful, Everyday Skills 8. A timeline of the US-built Gaza pier and the challenges it’s faced 9. Pentagon Opens Ammunition Factory to Keep Arms Flowing to Ukraine 10. Survivors say Russia is waging a war of sexual violence in occupied areas of Ukraine. Men are often the victims 11. Powerful GOP senator eyes ships, jets, nukes in defense spending surge 12. Civil Affairs Assessment and Selection: Everything you need to know 13. Israel’s Claim of Control Over Border Zone Risks Raising Tensions With Egypt 14. What the I.C.J. Ruling Actually Means for Israel’s Offensive in Rafah 15. Turn to American Allies for Shipbuilding Help 16. Vets Want What Trump Refuses to Promise: a Nonviolent Election 17. Palantir lands $480M Army contract for Maven artificial intelligence tech 18. Why Japan and South Korea are rediscovering China 19. Israel, Iran, and the Failure of Irregular (and Conventional) Warfare in Gaza 20. What Does America Want From China? 21. They live on the frontlines. Why won’t they leave? (Ukraine) 22. Is there a Human in the Machine? AI and Future Warfare 23. StratBot vs. Gray: An AI Analysis of the Theory of Grand Strategy 24. Opinion | How an outrageous smear of U.S. troops wound up in history books

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China's Aggression and Australia's Defense Strategy: The Changing Regional Dynamics Curious about Australia's defense strategy and the impact of China's influence in the Pacific? Tune in to our latest podcast episode featuring insights from defense expert Jennifer Parker.

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Day 3 of #ISOASummit2024, in depth panel on #NAVFAC, #LOGCAP, #WEXMAC, Defense Pricing & Acquisition Policy. Mobilizing & supply in contingency environments. Happy to be here representing FGi Global Solutions! @StabilityOps #ISOA #StabilityOps

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An excellent read on commanding multinational fighting units. Command and leadership are close synonyms in military. But more often than not the former is misunderstood in the civilian domain. Worth a read.

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This is a terrific report by Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) on how we need to consider China’s influence operations as part of China’s broad strategic strategy and respond accordingly. My last title in govt included “integration,” so naturally this is my perspective on most of the complex problems We face today. It is HARD, yes. But it is necessarily. Here is a great quote from the executive summary: “In short, understanding that the CCP (1) integrates its tech industrial strategy, governance policy, and engagement strategy and (2) connects its approach at home to how it engages abroad, the United States needs to do the same, commensurate with its values. It should not respond tit-for-tat but rather have a collective strategy for a global competition for information that connects its tech strategy to its governance approach to its engagement around the world.”

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Continued focus on shiny new tactics while our adversaries are engaging ancient strategy puts us here: https://lnkd.in/g6jvbMzE

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9/23/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/3XPsHDX 1. The Long Game: Understanding US and China’s Theories of Victory 2. The Restrained US Weapon Supply to Taiwan: A Troubling Signal Amid Escalating Tensions 3. The Decline of US Naval Power (and How It Can Make a Comeback) 4. India rules out joining world’s largest trade deal, accuses China of 'very opaque' trade practices 5. US Typhon missile system in Philippines has China facing ‘more tense security situation’ 6. Electronic Warfare Spooks Airlines, Pilots and Air-Safety Officials 7. Exploding Pagers and the Tech Race With China 8. Biden Leaves His Successor a World of Disorder 9. Opinion | Former Trump Officials Are Whitewashing His Foreign Policy Record. It Won’t Work. 10. More than 700 current and former national security officials back Harris. 11. Our Own Worst Enemies: The Violent Style in American Politics 12. The Surprising Reality of Political Violence in America 13. Drone, Counterdrone, Counter-Counterdrone: Winning the Unmanned Platform Innovation Cycle 14. In War and Society, Large Language Models Are What We Make of Them

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US-Botschaft CDA Alan Meltzer, welcome to Germany, welcome to Berlin, a city in a country that both - once divided - owe their very existence and recovery after the IIWW to the sagacity and farsightedness of the leaders of your country and the human sensitiveness expressed in the founding documents on which your nation was build. We struggle these days to preserve this valuable heritage, some even to recognize it as such. We will only succeed in doing so if we maintain our trust in each other and assume our responsibilities in view of its higher cause. If we want to successfully push back those who vigorously seek to replace humanity by crime, the rule of law by force, and democracy and the power and dignity of the individual by dictatorship and coercion the transatlantic relationship will need to convincingly prouve its resilience while maintaining in a spirit of jointness its global search for a higher and brighter justness. May you quickly feel at home on the other side of the Atlantic 😊. Plenty of work out there waiting for both of us. LBBW Atlantik-Brücke e.V.

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I was recently interviewed Neil O'Sullivan for the "Perspectives with Neilo" #podcast: ----Quote---- Earlier in August, we reported on 🇨🇳#China's maritime aggression against the 🇵🇭#Philippines in the West Philippine Sea and also on how China's aggression was uniting nations in the region. In the intervening months, this aggression has increased in frequency and severity and expanded further afield to include 🇻🇳#Vietnam and 🇯🇵#Japan. In late October, I had the pleasure of meeting Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) who is the Director of SeaLight, a project of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University in California. We spoke about the background to the current tensions, the origins and validity of China's so-called 'Nine Dash Line', the role of China's maritime militia and deep sea research ships, why what happens in the #SouthChinaSea matters to the rest of the world and much more.

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9/7/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4eeec1N 1. Congressional Call for Center of Special Operations Analysis 2. U.S. Tells Allies Iran Has Sent Ballistic Missiles to Russia 3. $10 Million and a Fake Investor: How the Kremlin Allegedly Built a Conservative U.S. Media Startup 4. Most Mass Shooters Telegraph Their Attacks. These Teams Are In the Business Of Stopping Them 5. Was There a Chinese Agent Working in the New York Governor’s Office? 6. China-Taiwan Weekly Update, September 6, 2024 7. Israel–Hamas War (Iran) Update, September 6, 2024 8. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 6, 2024 9. Free Burma Rangers – Open Volunteer Positions 6 September 2024 10. Commentary: China-Philippines trust in troubled waters 11. US university Georgia Tech to end China partnerships following concerns over military ties 12. Secret American special forces boats spotted in Scotland 13. Unleashing Private Capital: A Strategic Shift to Boost Allied Defense 14. Special Operations Forces: Summary of Armed Overwatch Reports 15. US Special Operations cuts Armed Overwatch acquisition nearly 20% 16. ‘Men of War’ Review: A Delirious Doc About a Former Green Beret Trying to Overthrow the Venezuelan Government 17. When Students Become Terrorists 18. Carrier Captain In Combat: What Went On During 7 Months Under Fire Around The Red Sea 19. Reporter's Notebook: Why foreign policy might matter 20. US Army’s next budget invests heavily in drones and electronic warfare 21. Military must move beyond integration to inclusion 22. The Surface Navy and the Long War 23. Efficacy in Our Nation’s Deterrence Strategy 24. Military Reform: Reversing the Decline 25. Disinformation dilemma: US hands are way dirty, too 26. Five Yalies selected as 2024 Tillman Scholars for their achievements, potential in service 27. US election integrity fears heighten tension ahead of presidential vote 28. Combat swimmer operations and their importance in a near-peer conflict

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4/16/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/4aTNB8L 1. The Lessons of Israeli Missile Defense 2. The U.S. Has Received a Rare Invitation From China. There Is Only One Right Answer. 3. House Speaker Mike Johnson pushes towards a vote on aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan 4. In a decisive moment like this, Israel has to reaffirm its strength by striking back - editorial 5. Review says Abbey Gate bombing wasn’t preventable 6. Victory and Failure in the Great American-Israeli Eastern Mediterranean Range Day MISSILEX of April 2024 7. Fake Footage of Iran’s Attack on Israel Is Going Viral 8. Federal criminal investigation opened into Key Bridge crash 9. Israel’s War Leaders Don’t Trust One Another 10. All the US assets that helped repel Iran’s attack on Israel 11. Army Could Face Resistance from Congress as It Eyes Cuts to Education Benefits 12. Out of INF, Army deploys Typhon weapon to the Philippines 13. SM-3 Ballistic Missile Interceptor Used for First Time in Combat, Officials Confirm 14. Opinion | What it means when the mercenaries appear 15. The epic fail of Biden’s doctrine vs. Iran — no consequences 16. A Test of Strength 17. Opinion | A quandary in Israel: How to retaliate — but not escalate? 18. China accused of running sleeper cells to sow discord 19. Japan's Ukraine aid creates new rift with Russia 20. Opinion | What the United States needs to do after Iran’s attack on Israel 21. A DHS Office of Foreign Influence and Interference—Break Down Barriers to Protect US Democracy and Public Safety 22. The Talks That Could Have Ended the War in Ukraine 23. Japan’s China Reckoning 24. Call in the Coast Guard: How Maritime Law Enforcement Can Combat China’s Gray-Zone Aggression 25. Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea: A New Twist on the Jeune École? 26. Israel–Hamas War (Iran) Update, April 15, 2024 27. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 15, 2024

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