In Geopolitics Today: Wednesday, August 24th
Germany Swaps Tanks for Combat Vehicles to Deliver to Ukraine, The US Carries out Airstrikes in Syria, and other stories.
Germany Swaps Tanks for Combat Vehicles to Deliver to Ukraine
Slovakia and Germany have agreed on a n arms swap deal that will facilitate arms transfers to Ukraine after bilateral talks were held in Bratislava. Under the agreement, Slovakia will send 30 BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine and receive 15 Leopard 2-A4 tanks from Germany in exchange.
German officials have said that the deal is meant to allow Slovakia to close the gap caused by the donation of the BVP-1s to Ukraine. Germany’s tank package also includes ammunition, training and spare parts for Slovak troops, with the first Leopards meant to arrive in Slovakia later this year. In addition to supporting the Ukrainian government, Germany and Slovakia plan to intensify their cooperation in arms transfers and improve interoperability between their armed forces.
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Mali at Odds with Germany over Bundeswehr Deployment
A conflict between Mali and Germany over the Bundeswehr’s deployment in that West African country continues to strain relations between the two countries. While differences over the arrival and departure of German soldiers were resolved last week, Berlin maintains pressure on Mali over its military cooperation with Russia. Bamako is now also taking action against unauthorized military activities conducted by foreign powers on its territory.
Bamako has accused France of having carried out dozens of unauthorized operations in Mali, some which Malian officials claim were part of state espionage and subversion. Mali’s government is now requesting a special session of the UN Security Council and has begun taking action against a private contractor of the German Bundeswehr for having operated a military camp at the airport of Mali’s capital without authorization. As a consequence, 49 Ivorians are now on trial in Mali as Bamako accuses the soldiers from Côte d’Ivoire of attempting to perform illicit security operations for a military camp used by German soldiers.
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The US Carries out Airstrikes in Syria
The United States has said its armed forces have carried out air raids in eastern Syria, targeting infrastructure facilities which Washington says is being used by groups affiliated with Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). US Central Command said the raids in Syria’s Deir Az Zor were a “proportionate, deliberate action” intended to “limit the risk of escalation” that was ordered by President Joe Biden.
Central Command Spokesperson Colonel Joe Buccino said that the strikes were “necessary to protect and defend US personnel” and identified a previous drone attack which targeted US forces as the reason for the raid. The United States regularly conducts strikes against IRGC-backed militias in Syria, and provides intelligence and military support for Israel’s campaign of airstrikes in Syria as well. Both the US and Israel are seeking to stem the flow of arms to Iran-backed groups in Lebanon and the Levant.
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US Navy's Destroyer USS Preble Armed with a High-Energy Laser
A US Navy's class destroyer is now armed with a High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance system, or HELIOS. The HELIOS system has its own optical sensors, which are primarily used to spot, track, and cue the laser, and can be used in surveillance role.
The Navy has made clear that HELIOS is just one part of its full directed energy ambitions, which are now set to eventually include high-power microwave-based systems. It is powerful enough to damage or destroy target sets, such as small drones and boats. In addition, the system can blind or confuse optical sensors on enemy ships, drones and aircraft, as well as any optical seekers within incoming missiles. When used in this way, HELIOS can intercept incoming weapons and limit an opponent's situational awareness. HELIOS is set to begin sea testing aboard the USS Preble sometime after October, and it is not yet clear when the destroyer will conduct operations with the system.