6:00 PM ET, Tuesday, September 5, 2023
The Cipher Brief curates open source information from around the world that impacts national security. Here's a look at today's headlines, broken down by region of the world:
The Americas
Biden Nominates Former Treasury Secretary as Ambassador to Israel. President Joe Biden nominated former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to be Ambassador to Israel on Tuesday. Lew also served as White House Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary of State for management and resources in the Obama administration, as well as director of the Office of Management and Budget under the Clinton administration. In both the Obama and Clinton administrations, Lew also served on the National Security Council. If confirmed, Lew will face a rocky political situation in Israel as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to push forward on a judicial overhaul plan opposed by many Israelis. Reuters
U.S. Says Russia-North Korea Arms Talks Show Moscow’s Struggles. U.S. officials say that reports of negotiations between North Korea and Russia on a potential arms deal show sanctions targeting Russia’s defense industrial base are working. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rah Emanuel said in a CNN interview that the talks show that Russia “is dependent on North Korea” for military support, adding that this demonstrates “how much of a failure” the Ukraine war has been for Moscow. U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday that the Biden administration has been tracking a possible arms transfer “for quite some time” and underscored the seriousness of discussions, highlighting the fact that Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu recently traveled to Pyongyang himself “to try to push this forward.” The U.S. National Security Council has also warned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may travel to Russia to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the deal. Sullivan added that Washington will continue to push and pressure North Korea to adhere to “publicly stated commitments” that it won’t send weapons to Russia and that Pyongyang will “pay a price” in the international community if it supplies Moscow with arms. The Kremlin said earlier Tuesday that it had “nothing to say” about reported arms talks. CNN Reuters
Western Europe
TikTok Hires Britain’s NCC to Audit Data Security. TikTok has hired British cybersecurity firm NCC to audit its data security controls and protections and provide independent verification. The move is part of TikTok’s “Project Clover” data security regime, which includes the opening of three data centers — two in Ireland and one in Norway — to store user data in Europe. TikTok has already started migrating data to one Irish datacenter. The remaining two are scheduled to be online by the end of 2024. TikTok is working on “Project Clover” due to pressure by Western governments over concerns that China’s government can access TikTok users’ data. Reuters
Central and Eastern Europe
Russia Reportedly Covering Planes in Tires to Protect from Ukrainian Drone Attacks. Russia’s military is covering some of its attack aircraft with car tires, according to satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies. The images of Engels Airbase, deep inside Russia, show two TU-95 strategic bombers with car tires on their airframes. Experts said the tires may be a makeshift attempt to add another layer of protection against potential Ukrainian drone strikes and make them less detectable, especially at night. Industry experts and researchers say the effectiveness of the tires will depend on the type of warhead used in attacks and that while the tires may reduce the thermal signature of the planes, they will still be observable through infrared cameras. A NATO military official told CNN that the alliance has observed the tires and believes them to be a makeshift protection against drones, though it is unclear “if this will have any effect.” CNN
Ukraine Continues Push Towards Robotyne. Ukrainian forces say they are continuing to push forward around the southeastern Zaporizhzhia village of Robotyne after piercing through Russia’s first line of defenses. Ukraine’s 46th Brigade reported heavy fighting south of Robotyne and near Verbove and that Russia troops are putting up fierce resistance. Pro-Russian military bloggers reported some Ukrainian progress while adding that Russian strikes hit some of Ukraine’s Western-donated equipment, including armored vehicles and Leopard tanks. CNN
Russian-Appointed Official in Luhansk Injured in Apparent Assasination Attempt. Yuriy Afanasievsky, a Russian-appointed official in the occupied Luhansk region, was injured on Tuesday after an explosion at his house. Russian authorities say they arrested a suspected “attacker” who has “already confessed” to being behind what they called an “attempted murder.” Russian state news reported that Afanasievsky was “not seriously injured” while his son was hospitalized. The Ukrainian head of Luhansk Artem Lysohor suggested Russia was behind the apparent assassination attempt, saying that “another collaborator did not meet the expectations of the Russians.” He did not provide evidence for his claim, which could not be verified by CNN. CNN
Ukraine Accuses Russian Oligarch of Financing War. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) on Tuesday accused Mikhail Fridman, a Ukrainian-born Russian oligarch, of financing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Fridman is chairman of the Alfa group, a private company that operates primarily in Russia and former Soviet states and spans industries such as banking, insurance, retail, and mineral water production. SBU claimed that Fridman “poured” approximately 2 billion rubles into several military factories in Russia, is using Alfa group assets to distribute dry rations and other supplies to the Russian military, has organized the collection of material and technical assistance for Russian forces in Ukraine, and is issuing insurance for Russian military equipment and health and life insurance for Russian soldiers. The SBU additionally said investigators had notified Fridman of the allegations and that “the suspect is currently hiding from justice abroad.” The agency said he faces up to 8 years in prison and confiscation of property for his actions. CNN
Asia and Oceania
Analysis: China’s Assertiveness in South China Sea ‘Will Badly Backfire in the Future.’ Analysts say that China’s recent actions concerning the South China Sea risk damaging its ties with its Southeast Asian neighbors, who are likely to increasingly gravitate towards the U.S. and Western allies in response. China most recently released a new “standard map” that includes its unilateral claim to most of the South China Sea, which received strong, immediate pushback from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei. Last month, Chinese coastguard ships fired a water cannon against a Philippine vessel seeking to resupply Philippine troops at the Second Thomas Shoal in the contested Spratly Islands. Analysts said that behavior like this damages China’s long-term influence in the region and offers a “warning” to regional governments that while Beijing may say it seeks better relations, it will “say one thing and to another.” South China Morning Post
Taiwan’s Tsai Visits Eswatini. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday arrived in Eswatini, Taipei’s last African ally. Tsai’s delegation signed three memoranda of understanding after meeting with King Mswati III. Eswatini’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Taiwan committed to providing $1 million to assist the kingdom in establishing a fund aimed at supporting women in starting businesses. Before her departure, Tsai called Eswatini a “familiar old friend” and said Taiwan will continue its efforts on the international stage to show self-confidence and demonstrate that it is a “steady force for good.” Taiwan now only has formal relations with 13 countries, most of which are smaller nations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Pacific. Tsai’s visit to Eswatini came after Honduras ended decades of formal ties with Taiwan last March. Reuters South China Morning Post
ASEAN Using ‘Troika’ Model to Address Myanmar. ASEAN agreed on Tuesday to follow an informal “troika” model to address Myanmar in which three of the bloc’s members will work together to engage with the country’s military junta. Since the Myanmar military takeover in 2021, whichever country holds the chair of the body, which rotates annually, has been solely tasked with engaging the junta. Under the new model, the current, previous, and next chairs of the regional bloc will lead ASEAN outreach to Myanmar. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the new approach will ensure “sustainability’ in handling the crisis since “everyone understands that the situation cannot change in one year.” Indonesia is this year’s chair, Laos will be chair in 2024, and Malaysia will be chair in 2025. Myanmar was slated to be chair in 2026 but has since withdrawn and ceded the chairmanship for that year to the Philippines. Nikkei Asia Reuters
Middle East and Northern Africa
First Saudi Ambassador Arrives in Iran After Rapprochement Deal. Saudi Arabia’s first ambassador to Iran since the reinstatement of diplomatic relations arrived in Tehran on Tuesday. Saudi state news quoted Ambassador Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi as saying that the Saudi leadership stressed the importance of strengthening relations with Iran and establishing more communication and meetings between the two countries. Last March, China brokered a rapprochement deal between the two countries. Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran in 2016 when protesters attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran after Riyadh executed a prominent Shi’ite cleric. Reuters
Papua New Guinea Opens Embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. Papua New Guinea (PNG) opened its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on Tuesday, becoming the fifth country to have a full diplomatic mission in the city after the U.S., Kosovo, Guatemala, and Honduras. Israel considers Jerusalem its capital, though most of the world does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the entire city. At the embassy’s inauguration ceremony, PNG Prime Minister James Marape pledged support at the U.N. for Israel and said PNG opened the embassy since it is a Christian country. Marape also said Israel will pay for the embassy for the first two years of operation. Reuters
Sub Saharan Africa
France Discussing Withdrawal of Troops from Niger. French newspaper Le Monde reported Tuesday that France has started talks with some Niger army officials on withdrawing some French troops from the country. Le Monde reported that neither the number of soldiers involved, nor the timing of departure had been decided and that the talks have been with regular army officials with whom France has long cooperated with and not with the coup leaders. After the July coup, France announced that it would end all military cooperation and cut all development aid with Niger. However, France has rejected demands from the coup leaders to remove its 1,500-strong force currently in the country. The report comes days after tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside of a French military base in Niger’s capital of Niamey demanding that its troops leave. Reuters
Burkina Faso Clashes With Militants Kill 53 Soldiers, Volunteer Fighters. Burkina Faso’s army said Tuesday that 17 soldiers and 36 volunteer fighters had been killed in clashes with militants in the north of the country, marking the worst attack in months. According to the army statement, the latest fighting occurred in the Yatenga province, where the military said it has been attempting to recapture areas to allow displaced villagers to return home. Burkina Faso has long been battling armed militant groups in the desert north of the county, some with links to Al Qaeda and Islamic State. This past year, Burkina Faso faced two military coups partially triggered by the insecurity. After the second coup, junta leaders forced French troops out of the country and looked to Russia to fill the security void. Last week, a Russian delegation held talks with Burkina Faso’s interim president that included discussions of possible military cooperation. Burkina Faso has additionally turned increasingly to volunteer forces to assist its military. Reuters
Congo Charges Military Officers Over Killings of Anti-UN Protesters. Congolese authorities charged six soldiers for their involvement in the killing of 56 people during an army crackdown on anti-U.N. protests in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last week. The military court in Goma said the group, which includes a colonel and lieutenant-colonel from the republican guard, is being prosecuted for their “crimes against humanity by murder, malicious destruction and inciting soldiers to commit acts contrary to duty or discipline.” A military prosecutor said the soldiers acted on their own and that their behavior in the crackdown was not a “state action.” MONUSCO, the U.N. mission in eastern Congo, has faced protests since last year sparked by complaints that the mission has failed to protect civilians against militia violence. Reuters
Uganda Arrests Five Over Kampala Bomb Plot. Ugandan police said they arrested another five people and discovered five more explosives around the capital Kampala in a bombing plot linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State. For years, ADF has targeted civilians and the military in both Congo and Uganda. Police said that they detained a first suspect in the bomb plot outside a crowded church on Sunday, triggering a search that led to the later arrests and the discovery of the improvised explosive devices. Reuters
Cyber and Tech
China Launching State-Backed Investment Fund to Raise $40 Billion for Chip Industry. China is launching a new state-backed investment fund that aims to raise 300 billion yuan ($41 billion) for its semiconductor sector. It outdoes similar funds launched by the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund in 2014 and 2019, which reportedly raised 138.7 billion and 200 billion yuan respectively. Sources said the new fund will focus on investments in chip manufacturing equipment. China’s finance ministry will reportedly contribute 60 billion yuan. Other contributors are not currently known, though past funds have been backed by various state-owned entities. The fund will add to China’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in semiconductors amid Western export controls meant to curb China’s access to advanced chips and chipmaking technology over national security concerns. Reuters
Ukraine Thwarts Russian Cyberespionage Group’s Attack on Energy Facility. Ukraine’s computer emergency response team (CERT-UA) says the infamous Russian cyberespionage group Fancy Bear, also known as APT28, attack an unspecified energy facility in Ukraine. CERT-UA said a cybersecurity expert working for the facility thwarted the attack. The attackers reportedly used phishing emails containing images and BAT files with harmful script embedded in them to gain initial access to devices, which differed from previous attacks that included fake government documents or fake software update advisories. The attack also installed Tor software on the targeted devices. The cybersecurity expert who thwarted the attack took steps like restricting access to certain web resources related to the Mockbin testing and development software, which Fancy Bear has used in the past to target Ukrainian government agencies, as well as blocking the use of Windows Script Host. The Record
Myanmar, China Police Forces Detain 269 Over Cyber Scams. A joint operation between local public security forces in Myanmar and police in China’s Yunnan province arrested 269 suspects involved in Myanmar-based cyber scams. China’s Ministry of Public Security said the operation took down 11 cyber scam bases in northern Myanmar and led to the detainment of 186 Chinese nationals, who have been repatriated. Among those arrested were 21 people who allegedly played roles in scams involving 120 million yuan ($16.5 million). China has long sought to root out Myanmar-based cyber gangs, which frequently target Chinese nationals. South China Morning Post
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