In Geopolitics Today: Wednesday, December 14th
Australia and Vanuatu Sign Security Agreement, Turkey Detains Suspects over Spying for Israeli Intelligence Services, and other stories.
Australia and Vanuatu Sign Security Agreement
Australia has signed a security agreement with Vanuatu that covers defence, disaster relief, law enforcement, cyber security, border security and maritime safety. The bilateral deal was signed by Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau.
Australia has been bolstering regional ties by undertaking Pacific island-hopping diplomatic missions. Wong has sought to boost engagement with Australia from Pacific countries, promising to increase the level of cooperation in a number of fields. In the context of regional security competition, bilateral defence pacts such as this are among the priority areas for Canberra. The delegation led by Wong now travels to Palau and then Micronesia.
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Turkey Detains Suspects over Spying for Israeli Intelligence Services
The Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah reports that an investigation into 44 people suspected of spying on Palestinians in the country has led to the arrest of seven individuals.
Istanbul police and Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization detained a total of 44 individuals whom local security officials say were linked to the Israeli spy ring. Seven of the 44 have been put under arrest while a search for another 13 individuals remains underway. According to the reports, Turkish authorities were investigating consulting companies based in Istanbul and discovered that Mossad paid suspects to run surveillance on Palestinians and their nongovernmental organizations.
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The US Preparing to Provide Ukraine Patriot Anti-Air System
The United States is reportedly in the final stages of the approval process for sending Patriot anti-air missile systems to Ukraine. While not final, the move has come to light after three officials spoke of an upcoming announcement on the matter.
The Patriot systems Ukraine is to receive are apparently going to come from Pentagon stocks and be moved from another country. Ukraine is set to receive a single Patriot missile battery from the US. A truck-mounter Patriot battery includes eight launchers, each of which can hold four missiles. The entire system also includes a phased array radar, a control station, and a number of computers and generators.
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Germany Approves F-35 Fighter Jet Purchase
The German government has announced a deal to buy F-35 fighter jets from the United States. The move is expected to cost $8.4 billion and forms a part of Berlin’s efforts to replace its Tornado bomber jets with more advanced nuclear-capable aircraft.
This is one of the first major defence projects that will tap into the 100 billion euro fund that Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Germany aims to buy 35 of the F-35 in total, including missiles and other equipment, with the first eight set to be delivered in 2026. The Tornado remains the only German jet capable of carrying US nuclear weapons and will likely be retired soon after all F-35s enter service.
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Ghana Reaches $3 Billion Loan Agreement with the IMF
The International Monetary Fund and Ghana have reportedly come to a preliminary agreement on a three-year load worth almost $3 billion. The loan will help Ghana overcome its unsustainable debts, waning currency reserves and a wilting currency.
Already burdened by debt, Ghana is facing inflation of more than 40 percent and a collapse in the value of its currency. Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has vowed that his government is ready to complete the actions outlined by the IMF, some of which reportedly include tax increases and structural reforms to Ghana’s cocoa and energy sectors.