Pirates seize eight Polish crew, three others from ship off Nigeria coast
11 crew members were seized from their vessel off the coast of Nigeria. The pirates have taken them to an unknown location, and the company has stated that it is working with the local authorities to secure the release of the crew. While piracy off the horn of African became
China will ‘take military action’ if Taiwan declares independence
Rhetoric remains heated between Taiwan and China and, in the latest instance, China has declared that it will take military action if Taiwan declares independence from China. The Chinese Defense Minister was quoted as saying that “The Taiwan issue is related to China’s sovereignty and touches upon China’s core interests…on
With Russia in its crosshairs, Canada moves to buy sub hunters
While the U.S. launches naval exercises with carriers above the arctic circle for the first time since the Cold War, Canada is reflecting growing threats in their decision to purchase submarine hunting frigates. According to a Lockheed Martin Canada VP, this purchase is part of a larger industry movement toward
The Navy sends a carrier back to Russia’s Arctic haunts for the first time since 1991
The U.S. Navy has sent an aircraft carrier into the Norwegian Sea in the arctic circle, the first time since 1991, as part of a NATO exercise. The change is due both to the expanding accessibility of areas once covered by ice and the increased Russian activity and the area
Drug trafficking at sea is devastating island states, ministers say
“Ministers from tiny island states including Palau, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati are calling for help over the ‘devastating’ impacts of criminal networks in the fishing industry. Fishermen, unable to work because stocks are so low, are being lured into gun-running and drug trafficking by international organised crime, the small
Iranian Drone Overflights of U.S. Warships in Persian Gulf Now Common
U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf now expect regular flyovers from Iranian drones, as well as Iranian monitoring from small watercraft. While ships are equipped with expensive high-tech equipment to provide early warning alerts, it can be difficult to find out whether or not an approaching drone is armed. Systems
In Pacific, US Army Shifts Training from Disaster Relief to War
“Not long ago, U.S. Army forces in the Pacific spent most of their training time preparing for humanitarian relief missions, evacuations from natural disasters, and efforts to build up allied security forces. Not anymore. Since President Donald Trump has come to office, the administration has issued a new National Security Strategy
EU harbors fears about China’s maritime Silk Roads
The EU is not a political entity known for reaching consensus with speed. Its fears over security-related foreign investments, specifically from China, however, have activated debates and movements towards stringent policies. “We are not naive free traders,” stated EU President Jean-Claude Juncker. “Europe must always defend its strategic interests. This
Antwerp’s war on drugs steps up a gear
“Criminal gangs are offering big money to dock workers, police and customs officers that are prepared to help them smuggle cocaine via Europe’s second biggest port. Speaking on Friday morning, the interior Minister Jan Jambon (Flemish nationalist) told journalists that ‘If the drugs cartels have been able to buy dock
U.S. Admiral Warns of Russian Submarines Challenging U.S. Defenses
“The head of naval forces in Europe warned that Russia is preparing an underwater battlespace in the Northern Atlantic and that U.S. naval presence is more important now than any time since the fall of the Soviet Union. Adm. James Foggo said in the second episode of his ‘On the