In Geopolitics Today - Friday, May 6th
China Proposes Global Security Initiative, Brazil and Guyana Agree to Deepen Energy Cooperation, US Defence Firms to Produce More Javelin Missile Systems
China Proposes Global Security Initiative
Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed a new international security architecture to regional officials at the Boao Forum for Asia. The Chinese leader has floated the new initiative as an international security bloc which sets out to uphold “indivisible security,” to build a “balanced, effective and sustainable” security architecture, and to oppose efforts aimed at imposing security policies on the “basis of insecurity in other countries.”
In outlining the new Global Security Initiative (GSI), Xi said the international security initiative aims to build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture which legitimizes the key security concerns of all countries who sign up. While calling out hegemonism and power politics as issues that endanger stability and “exacerbate security challenges,” Chinese officials are proposing an international security organization based on principles of collective defence. The proposed GSI will likely start to play a prominent role in Chinese public diplomacy and foreign policy posture going forward as China will attempt to persuade others countries in Asia to engage in its regional security mechanism.
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Brazil and Guyana Agree to Deepen Energy Cooperation
The governments of Brazil and Guyana have agreed to broaden energy cooperation through a number of agreements. During a visit by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to Guyana's capital city, Georgetown, the two countries set out a path for closer energy ties in the coming years through a number of infrastructure and legal deals. Guyana has discovered new oil deposits in recent years, and has increased both how much oil is produced and exported.
The agreements are largely a consequence of Brazil's growing energy demand and Guyana's rising oil production. US energy giant ExxonMobil has recently announced the discovery of three new oil deposits in waters disputed between Guyana and Venezuela, fuelling tense relations between the two countries and complicating energy exploration efforts. Brazil has rising energy needs and will benefit from increased energy flows from Guyana. Included in the political agreement are construction projects for road and rail links, a deep water port, hydroelectric energy projects, fibre optic connectivity, as well as collaboration on various agricultural projects. Moreover, the deals signed will see both countries offer each other advice on civil matters, and collaborate on the investigation or prosecution of criminal offenses in order to strengthen mutual cooperation in criminal matters.
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US Defence Firms to Produce More Javelin Missile Systems
Major US defence firms Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have been awarded contracts in value of $238 million to produce more Javelin Missile Systems for the US military. As the war in Ukraine drags on, more of the 5,500 Javelin Missile Systems promised to Ukraine by the Biden administration have been transferred from stockpiles in the United States to the armed forces of Ukraine. However, transfers of the self-guided and shoulder-fired Javelin systems has led to growing shortages in US stockpiles.
The Javelins are sought-after because of their sophisticated tracking systems and destructive power, which allow users to take cover immediately after firing a projectile capable of knocking out armoured vehicles from above. Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US has committed to giving Ukraine 5,500 Javelin systems, with each system worth an estimated $178,000. Rather than buying new supplies, most of this military hardware has been coming out of existing US military stockpiles. Now, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have been awarded a contract to quickly produce more of the popular system.
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