10:00 AM ET, Thursday, November 30, 2023
The Cipher Brief curates open source information from around the world that impacts national security. Here's a look at today's headlines:
THE TOP STORIES
Henry Kissinger Dies at 100. Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, advisor to 12 U.S. presidents, died on Wednesday at age 100. Kissinger was the architect of opening up the US-China relationship in the Nixon administration, as well as a key player in US-Soviet arms control talks. Following Nixon’s resignation, he remained the Secretary of State under President Ford. He maintained significant influence in US foreign policy circles, and in recent years, Kissinger discussed the relative complexity of today’s foreign policy challenges compared to the Cold War era, and said that what worried him most was the prospect of conflict with “the rising power” of China. He also warned against underestimating Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he said “believes Russia was cheated, and we keep taking advantage of it.” New York Times CNN Politico Reuters
U.S. Foils Attempted Assassination of Sikh Separatist in New York. U.S. prosecutors allege that an Indian official, who described himself as a “senior field officer” responsible for intelligence,” ordered the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in New York City in May. Federal prosecutors said the official recruited Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, to orchestrate the murder. The Department of Justice said the official agreed to pay $100,000 to a hit man to carry out the assassination in a plot organized by Gupta. The indictment did not name the target, but senior Biden administration officials have said it was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, general counsel for the New York-based Sikhs for Justice. The group advocates for the creation of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan in India. U.S. prosecutors said Gupta ordered the hit man to carry out the murder on June 19, but U.S. authorities foiled the plot. Czech authorities arrested Gupta on June 30. It is unclear when he will be extradited to the U.S. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Arindam Bagchi, said on Wednesday that India has set up a “high-level inquiry committee” to investigate the plot after the U.S. raised concerns about the matter. President Joe Biden and other top administration officials have raised the issue with the Indian government at the highest levels. Bagchi added that the Indian government is concerned about an Indian official being linked to the plot, adding that such an operation would be “contrary to government policy.” (Editor's Note: Cipher Brief CEO and publisher Suzanne Kelly spoke with CBC about the alleged murder-for-hire plot and the potential fallout away from the courtroom. Watch here.) Reuters New York Times Wall Street Journal Washington Post CBC
Taiwan’s Tsai Says Chinese Invasion Unlikely Due to China’s Domestic Struggles. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Wednesday that she did not anticipate an invasion from China any time soon due to Beijing’s domestic issues. Speaking at the DealBook Summit in New York, Tsai said that China is “overwhelmed by its internal challenges” — including political, financial, and economic problems — making a major invasion unlikely for now. She also noted the international community’s opposition to a conflict between Beijing and Taipei. She maintained, however, that China is still "interested in interfering" in Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election, as it has been since 1996. Tsai asserted that Taiwan must "focus on strengthening the resilience of our democracy," rather than hope that China would abandon its efforts to influence elections with economic constraints or military threats. South China Morning Post France 24 Reuters
Ambassador Nicholas Burns Describes Post-Xi-Biden Summit Relationship and Steps Forward. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns recommended that the U.S. and China resume people-to-people exchanges to preserve the two sides' delicate post-San Francisco summit balance. Both Chinese President Xi Jinping and American President Joe Biden reaffirmed their desire to restart personnel exchanges to create more open communication channels. Burns described this as crucial in maintaining a “stable” relationship between the nations. Relations between the U.S. and China reached a peak after the discovery of an alleged Chinese spy balloon in American airspace. The San Francisco summit was meant to serve as a turning point in the downward spiral. The two world leaders discussed ways to increase the exchange of students and business professionals to foster communication between citizens. “We cannot have the next generation of American students not know about China and not speak Mandarin,” warned Burns, saying that the impact will be felt in future U.S./China relations. Burns also said that the U.S. will continue to be outspoken against human rights violations in China and will refrain from lifting sanctions on Chinese advanced chip technology at this time. South China Morning Post
Legislation Targeting Chinese and Hong Kong AI and Tech Sectors Clear House of Representatives. Legislation targeting AI and advanced technology sectors in China and Hong Kong passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday. These bills would massively limit U.S. investment in the aforementioned sectors. According to the bill presented by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul, companies looking to invest in Chinese AI development, quantum computing, hypersonics, or semiconductors would be required to report such activity. This move is another in a series of legislation seeking to preserve U.S. national security, following Biden’s executive order to limit Chinese access to key technologies. The bills include Hong Kong and Macao as targets. Under the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act, though, the White House would be required to “remove the extension of certain privileges, exemptions and immunities” to Hong Kong offices in D.C. should it be decided that the city is not at least partially separate from the whole of China. This would then require Biden to make a statement before Congress explaining whether or not the offices should retain diplomatic privileges. Another bill strengthened coordinated efforts with Japan, India, and Australia to protect Chinese Tibetan and Uygur populations from human rights abuses. The Strengthening the Quad Act also passed through a congressional committee, seeking to expand navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific. These decisions came after the San Francisco summit, which sought to thaw the tense U.S./Chinese relationship. South China Morning Post
ISRAEL AND HAMAS WAR
Israel and Hamas Extend Ceasefire. The Qatari Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their truce by another day, just minutes before it was set to expire. Terms of the truce will remain the same, with Hamas to release 10 hostages and Israel to release 30 Palestinian prisoners. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel late yesterday to push for further extensions of the truce and hostage releases. So far, Hamas has released 70 Israeli women and children, each in exchange for three Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Hamas also has released 27 foreign hostages under agreements with their governments. One of the Israeli hostages released yesterday is also a U.S. citizen. A senior Israeli official said yesterday that Israel is open to negotiations for the release of Israeli men and soldiers once all the civilian women and children are freed, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas after “this phase of returning our abductees is exhausted.” AP Reuters Wall Street Journal
Three Killed, 13 Injured in Jerusalem Shooting. Two Palestinians shot at a bus stop in Jerusalem on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring 13 others. The attackers were killed by off-duty soldiers and an armed civilian at the scene. The Shin Bet security service said the shooters, Murad and Ibrahim Namr, were brothers from East Jerusalem. The agency added that they were affiliated with Hamas and had been imprisoned previously for terror activity. Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who visited the scene, said the incident shows that Israel must respond to Hamas militarily. The Guardian Reuters
Israel says ‘Aerial Target’ from Lebanon Intercepted. The Israeli military said it intercepted an “aerial target” from Lebanon on Thursday. A spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFL) told Reuters that there was a launch detected from Lebanese territory towards Israel, which was followed by Israeli retaliation. Witnesses added that they heard explosions along the southeastern border between Lebanon and Israel. There were no immediate claims of attacks from Lebanon against Israel. Reuters
U.S. Expresses Concern to Israel About Military Operations in Southern Gaza. The Biden administration has raised concerns about continued Israeli military operations in southern Gaza following the ceasefire with Hamas. U.S. officials say that Washington is urging Israel to narrow the zone of combat in southern Gaza and more clearly specify where Palestinian civilians can seek safety. Two U.S. officials told Axios that President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that operations in southern Gaza cannot look the same as operations in the north, calling against a repeat of a wide assault tactic with armored and infantry units. Netanyahu responded by saying that Israeli citizens would not accept ending military operations now but that Israel would make a greater effort to discuss operation plans with the U.S. Both the White House and the Office of the Israeli Prime Minister declined to comment. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday that the U.S. would not support operations in southern Gaza until Israel could account for the “internally displaced people of Gaza.” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has also reiterated the importance of Israel conducting operations according to the law of armed conflict, avoiding civilian casualties wherever possible. Axios Reuters
Israel, U.S. Consider What to Do About Hamas, Gaza, Post-Conflict. As Israel prepares to renew its offensive to remove the Hamas leadership in Gaza, Israeli military and political leaders are considering what to do about fighters in the rank-and-file. Some Israeli and U.S. officials are discussing the possibility of expelling thousands of lower-level militants from the region. Before the war began, Israel estimated that Hamas had about 30,000 fighters in Gaza. Such a move would be similar to a U.S.-brokered agreement that allowed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and thousands of fighters to move to Beirut in 1982. But one senior Israeli official said it is not clear whether Hamas fighters would accept the option of exile if offered. The idea is part of a larger discussion of how Gaza will be governed once the war ends and what can be done to prevent Gaza from being used to stage another attack like the one on October 7. One proposal by the Israeli military’s think tank would create “Hamas-free safe zones” that would be governed by a new authority backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. There is still no consensus on how to bring the war to an end, who should run Gaza or who should provide security once it is over. Israel and the U.S. continue to disagree over whether the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority should play any role. Wall Street Journal
Saudi Arabia, Iran Discuss Defense Ties. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman held a rare phone call with Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, according to Iran’s semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency. Khalid bin Salman reportedly told Bagheri that he “welcomed the increase in the level of cooperation of the armed forces” of their countries. The Iranian and Saudi governments did not immediately comment on the report. The call on military cooperation is the latest sign of detente between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which have clashed on regional defense issues such as the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, the Yemen civil war, and Iranian proxies. Iran and Saudi Arabia normalized relations in a China-brokered deal in March. Communications between Tehran and Riyadh have increased amid the Israel-Hamas war. Bloomberg
Saudi Arabia Offers Investment to Iran to Rein in Proxies. Arab and Western officials say Saudi Arabia has offered Iran increased cooperation and investment in return for a promise by Tehran to stop its proxies from turning the Israel-Hamas conflict into a wider war. It is not yet clear what the Iranian response will be. Meanwhile, according to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf, the U.S. is working with Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies to stop Iran from “weaponizing” the conflict to strengthen its so-called “axis of resistance,” which includes armed groups from the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Bloomberg
China Seeks 'Concrete' Roadmap for Two-State Solution to Solve Gaza Conflict. China urged the U.N. Security Council yesterday to produce a “concrete” timetable and roadmap for a two-state solution to achieve a “comprehensive, just and lasting settlement” of the Palestinian issue. President Xi Jinping reiterated support for Palestinian statehood today. The Chinese Foreign Ministry released a paper calling for the Security Council to intensify diplomatic mediation and convene a “more authoritative and effective” international peace conference as soon as possible. Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who chaired a Security Council meeting on Gaza yesterday, warned against the conflict in Gaza spreading to the rest of the Middle East. He also said China will provide a new shipment of emergency humanitarian aid to Gaza. Reuters South China Morning Post
Jordan Hosts Conference on Humanitarian Assistance for Gaza. Jordan is holding an international conference attended by the main U.N. bodies and regional and international relief agencies on Thursday to organize humanitarian aid to Gaza. Jordan’s King Abdullah addressed the conference, urging the international community to pressure Israel into ending its siege of Gaza and allow the opening of additional border crossings to facilitate further aid into the territory. Jordan Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Wednesday said that the U.N. Security Council’s "silence was giving Israel a cover for its crimes,” and asserted that the only road to peace “was the end of Israel's occupation of Palestinian land.” Reuters
THE UKRAINE UPDATE
Ukraine Advancing on East Bank of Dnipro River. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on Wednesday reported that Ukrainian forces have been progressing on the east bank of the Dnipro River in the southern Kherson region. Last month, Ukrainian military forces crossed the river and established a bridgehead on the east bank. Russian military bloggers say that Kyiv has managed to strengthen its positions in the left bank, with up to 400 soldiers having reinforced their positions close to the settlement of Krynkyin. Ukrainian drone-operators have continued to attack Russia’s air-defenses and radio-jammers along the river. Though severe weather conditions have created difficulties for both sides, Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to battle in the area. Institute for the Study of War Kyiv Independent
Russian General, Five High-Ranking Russian Officials Reportedly Killed in Ukraine. Russian media on Wednesday reported the death of Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, who was allegedly killed on Tuesday in a landmine explosion close to Izium in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. He was the deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps of the Russian Armed Forces. The Telegram channel VChK-OGPU claimed that the landmine was actually placed by Russian forces, with the intention of targeting Ukrainian reconnaissance groups. Important Stories, a Russian media outlet, claimed Zavadsky was the seventh Russian general that Russian sources have confirmed was killed in Ukraine, though the Defense Ministry has not officially confirmed his death. Separately, Ukraine's National Resistance Center reports that at least five high-ranking Russian military officials were killed on Tuesday in the occupied village of Yuvileine in the Kherson region in an air strike. The officials were reportedly gathered in an administrative building for a meeting when they were attacked. Photos provided by the Resistance Center show damaged cars, as well as a ruined building flying a Russian flag. The Kyiv Independent could not confirm the report. Moscow very rarely remarks on the deaths of high-ranking leaders in Ukraine. RFE/RL Kyiv Independent Kyiv Independent
Russian Missile Strikes in Donetsk Kill One, Injure 10. Russian missile strikes in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region killed one person, wounded 10, and trapped at least four others under rubble. Ukrainian interior minister Ihor Klymenko said on Thursday that Russia launched six s-300 missiles at three settlements in the region. Local officials said civilian buildings were hit in the attacks. All of the targeted cities are close to the embattled eastern town of Avdiivka. Elsewhere, Ukraine’s air force issued aerial threat warnings across central and southern Ukraine on Thursday. The Ukrainian military said it intercepted 14 of 20 Russian drones launched overnight. Associated Press Reuters Kyiv Independent
Russia Claims it Took Ukrainian Village, Ukraine Notes Increased Russian Activity. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Wednesday that Russian forces have captured the village of Khromove in a contested area of eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials did not comment on the claim but said Russian forces had launched fierce attacks and were suffering heavy losses. Unofficial accounts conceded that Russian forces held part of the village but dismissed the claim that it was fully under Russian control. Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksndr Shtupun said Russian shelling and airstrikes on the front lines had doubled following the end of several days of rain. In a post on the website of Ukraine’s Espresso TV, military analyst Serhiy Zgurets said the number of front line clashes was at its highest level in a month. Reuters
Zelensky Visits Northeastern Front After Southern Ukraine Tour. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited troops in the Kupiansk area of the northeastern frontline on Thursday. Zelensky posted a video of him at a command post in the area meeting with a top general and assembled soldiers. Zelensky previously visited the Odesa, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions on Wednesday. His southern Ukraine tour included meetings with regional leaders to discuss the impact of the recent storm in the Black Sea region, meetings with internally displaced Ukrainian civilians, inspections of civilian protection facilities, and a meeting with Denmark’s ambassador to Ukraine to discuss Danish support for Kyiv. Reuters Kyiv Independent
Russia Relocating 100,000 Central Asian Workers to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Center for National Resistance said on Wednesday that Russia is attempting to change the demographics in occupied Ukrainian territory by bringing in 100,000 Central Asian migrants to work in exchange for Russian citizenship. Russian companies have reportedly hired hundreds of workers from Central Asia already, and are advertising work opportunities in occupied Ukraine on Telegram groups, Russian social media, and websites. RFE/RL reported that most of these migrants are doing construction work in war-torn cities, digging trenches, or collecting dead bodies. Some women are involved in work at factories, hospitals, and canteens. Some Russian businesses have reportedly even focused their attention on recruiting women convicts in Russian prisons to work in Ukraine. Kyiv has asserted that any employees on Ukrainian soil will be treated as accomplices to Moscow. RFERL Kyiv Indepedent
THE CYBER AND TECH RUNDOWN
Google Notes ‘Massive’ Increase, Sophistication of Chinese Cyberattacks on Taiwan. Google reports a “massive increase” in Chinese cyberattacks on Taiwan along with more stealthy techniques that make their intrusions harder to track. Kate Morgan, a senior engineering manager in Google’s threat analysis division, said the surge has been observed in the last six months and involves tactics such as breaches of small home and office internet routers which are then repurposed to launch attacks that shield their origins. Morgan said that the numbers involved in China’s hacking campaigns is “over 100 groups that we are tracking just out of China alone.” As far as targets are concerned, Morgan said the hackers attack “everything” in Taiwan’s defense sector, government entities, and private industry. Taiwan’s outgoing president, Tsai Ing-wen, said Wednesday that the island nation faces China’s increasing “military intimidation, gray-zone campaigns, cyberattacks and information manipulation.” Morgan noted that North Korea and Iran also pose “major” hacking threats and that Russia’s cyber operations have been more limited in focus since it invaded Ukraine. Morgan’s remarks came at a launch event for a new Google cybersecurity center in Malaga, Spain, which will serve as a hub for about 100 security experts from across Google and its subsidiaries such as Mandiant and Virus Total. Bloomberg
CENTCOM Technology Chief Describes Potential, Current Limits of AI Applications. Schuyler Moore, the chief technology officer for Central Command, is enthusiastic about military uses of AI but cautions that “while AI holds an incredible amount of promise, performance is still quite up and down.” Describing the technology overall as one of the “less mature” ones available to military forces, Moore said “the simple reality is that many AI applications are not very mature, and we have to be honest about that.” While more sophisticated uses may still be in the future, Moore did acknowledge AI application to workflow processes across CENTCOM is already significant in areas where confidence is justified by outcomes and where “our ability to detect when it's done incorrectly is quite high.” In actual conflict situations, however, Moore said military officials will likely use AI tools sparingly, reserving them for “very, very select contexts where we feel very certain of the risks associated.” Moore also outlined the multiple initiatives launched by military task forces to test the capabilities and flaws of AI-enabled systems, including “a combination of unmanned systems” and “software that can facilitate faster workflows.” She said the problem-solving-focused work carried out by groups like the Navy’s Task Force 59 will help shape the adoption of technology by combatant commands into their daily operations. NextGov
Nvidia CEO Projects Long Path to Supply Chain Independence for U.S. Chip Sector. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told a conference in New York that it will take as long as 20 years for the U.S. to become self-reliant in chipmaking, citing the fact that companies like his depend on components from all over the world – not just Taiwan – to produce finished products. Huang projected 1-2 decades before supply chain independence could be achieved, noting “it’s not a really practical thing for a decade or two.” Huang also underlined Nvidia’s commitment to China, the company’s largest market for chips even after U.S. export limitations. Huang noted that in the face of expanded U.S. export controls on chips and chip-making equipment, Nvidia is working on products for China that will not violate restrictions. “We have to come up with new chips that comply with the regulation,” Huang said, “and once we comply with the regulation, we’ll go back to China.” Huang acknowledged the legitimacy of U.S. concerns, adding “our national security matters. Our national competitiveness matters.” He added a warning about unintended consequences of export policy, recalling that as many as 50 Chinese companies currently are at work on technology to compete with Nvidia products. Bloomberg
Treasury Sanctions Sinbad Cryptocurrency Service Used by North Korean Hackers. The Treasury Department has imposed new sanctions on cryptocurrency mixer Sinbad.io for its role in laundering funds stolen by North Korea-linked hacking groups. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the Lazarus group, a prolific North Korean cybercrime enterprise, has used Sinbad to process millions of dollars in virtual currency extorted from ransom victims. Cybercriminals also have made use of Sinbad services to obscure transactions linked to sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, and criminal darknet sales. The Sinbad website was seized and now displays a banner from several law enforcement agencies including the FBI, Justice Department, Finland's National Bureau of Investigation, and other international agencies. The OFAC sanctions ban U.S. citizens from any connections with Sinbad, with sanctions possible for anyone violating the ban. The Record Reuters
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD
Asia and Oceania
Taiwan Detects Chinese Military Activity as Election Approaches. The Taiwanese defense ministry said Thursday morning that it had detected renewed Chinese military activity around the island, including operations involving ship-borne helicopters and J-10 and J-16 fighter planes. The ministry said that eleven Chinese military aircraft operating with warships in "joint combat readiness patrols” crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, or areas close to it. Taiwan deployed its forces to monitor the situation. Beijing has not commented on its other three, large-scale incursions into Taiwanese territory this month, though it has said that its actions in the region are aimed at protecting China and hindering any “collusion” between Taiwanese separatists and the U.S. Taiwan’s presidential elections are set for January of 2024. Reuters
China says Taiwan Turning Into ‘Powder Keg’ with U.S. Arms Sales. China’s Defense Ministry’s top spokesperson, Senior Col. Wu Qian, on Thursday criticized Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for turning the island into a “weapons depot and powder keg” through U.S. arms sales. He added that the U.S. should take steps “not to support Taiwan independence” and stop “undermining China’s core interest” with its military support for Taipei. Wu’s comments come months before the Taiwan presidential elections in January. Separately, Wu criticized the U.S. for interfering in the South China Sea by instigating the Philippines to “infringe” on China’s rights in the region. Wu also said that the U.S. and China have agreed to reestablish military-to-military communications at various levels and that Beijing is closely monitoring escalating fighting in Myanmar, especially clashes close to the Chinese border. Associated Press
Chinese Influence in Micronesia Challenging U.S. Power. China is increasing influence in the Indo-Pacific amid competition with the U.S., including with the Federated States of Micronesia, a long-time U.S. ally. Currently, the U.S. controls much of Micronesia’s vast expanse of ocean and funds the majority of the country’s military budget. However, China is deepening political influence in the island nation. In May, then-Micronesian President David Panuelo said that the Chinese government was engaging in “political warfare” by compelling members of the Micronesian government to record meetings on behalf of Beijing and take bribes to make decisions in China’s interest. Many of Micronesia’s Congressional members, foreign diplomats, and others echoed this when interviewed by Axios, saying that China has long been courting the country’s political elite. Beijing has allegedly provided small gifts such as cell phones and envelopes of cash for the construction of state government buildings and residences for the President and other government officials. Unlike Panuelo, many officials have been largely positive on China because of the cash and infrastructure China has provided to the country. However, there is growing concern that this increasing Chinese influence in Micronesia will make the country a conflict point between China and the U.S. Axios
Japan Asks U.S. Military to Ground Osprey Flights After Crash. Japan’s military suspended flights of its Osprey aircraft on Thursday and has asked the U.S. military to ground non-emergency Osprey flights in Japanese territory. The moves came after a U.S. Osprey based in Japan crashed into the sea on Wednesday during a training mission. Senior Japanese defense official Minoru Kihara said in a parliamentary hearing on Thursday that Tokyo has asked the U.S. to resume flights of Ospreys deployed in Japan only “after their flight safety is confirmed.” His language was vague and did not specify that all Ospreys should be grounded. A Defense Ministry official added that the Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) will suspend all Osprey flights until the circumstances and causes around the crash are clarified. NHK public television reported that a handful of Ospreys had flown in and out of U.S. air bases in Okinawa since the crash. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Raymond Emanuel and asked the U.S. to “promptly provide information to the Japanese side” pertaining to the crash. Reuters Associated Press Wall Street Journal
Europe
German Authorities Arrest Two Teenagers Suspected of Planning Attack. German authorities said on Wednesday that they arrested two teensagers — one in North Rhine-Westphalia and the other in Brandenburg — on suspicion of planning an attack on a Christmas market. Authorities said they planned to blow up a small truck at a Christmas market in an attack modeled after Islamic State attacks. Brandenburg Interior Minister Michael Stuebegen said one of the teenagers who was arrested is a “Russian youth.” A source close to the matter said that the teenager was a 16-year-old Russian citizen from Chechnya. Associated Press Reuters
Russia Criticizes Bulgaria for Overflight Ban on Lavrov’s Plane. Bulgaria refused to allow Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s plane to fly through its airspace on the way to the meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in North Macedonia. The move force the plane to take a longer route over Greece. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who is sanctioned by the E.U., said her presence on the plane was the reason for Bulgaria denying airspace access. She called the ban an act of “malicious stupidity” and suggested that it set a “dangerous precedent” since Russia could retaliate with similar overflight bans against “thousands of NATO functionaries.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Bulgaria’s decision “absurd and stupid.” The Bulgarian foreign ministry did not immediately comment on the matter. Reuters Bloomberg
Middle East
Syrians Push for Chemical Weapons Tribunal. Throughout Syria’s civil war, chemical weapons have killed and injured thousands. However, many alleged perpetrators still go unpunished for their use. A dozen Syrian rights groups, international legal experts, and others have established the groundwork for a new treaty-based tribunal — the Exceptional Chemical Weapons Tribunal — which could prosecute alleged users of banned chemical weapons across the world. The aim of the court would be to hold accountable those who use chemical weapons banned under the Geneva Conventions and 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. According to Ibrahim Olabi, a British-Syrian Barrister and key figure in the initiative, diplomats from more than 44 countries have been engaged in the discussions for the establishment of such a tribunal. The tribunal proposal was launched November 30. The next step will be for states to agree to work on a treaty. Reuters
The Americas
Mexico’s President Asks Lawmakers to Allow U.S. Military Trainers to Mexico. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has requested permission from the Mexican Senate to allow U.S. military trainers into the country to train Mexican special forces in early 2024. An announcement in the Senate’s gazette said that Lopez Obrador is requesting permission for 11 U.S. military advisors to participate in the “Strengthening the Capacities of the Special Forces of the Defense Ministry” program, which is set to take place between Jan. 23 and March 21, 2024 at a military training center southeast of Mexico City. The 11 U.S. military personnel requested for the program are from the U.S. Army’s 7th Special Forces Group, which has operated in Iraq and Afghanistan and has trained other foreign troops. They would bring their own weapons, ammunition and equipment. The proposal appears to counter Lopez Obrador’s past policies fiercely defending Mexican sovereignty, such as measures restricting U.S. anti-narcotics officials operating in Mexico. Reuters
Brazil Bolsters Border Security Amid Venezuela-Guyana Dispute. Brazil’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that it had “intensified defensive actions” on its border as it monitors a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. The two countries are in dispute over the oil rich region known as “Esequiba” which makes up two thirds of Guyana’s land mass. Venezuela’s claims in the region were reignited after Guyana’s recent discovery of oil and national gas near the maritime border. Venezuela is scheduled to hold a referendum on “the rights” of Esequiba on December 3. Guyana has requested that the referendum be called off. The International Criminal Court of Justice is expected to rule on the matter on Friday. Reuters
The data cutoff for this product was 8:00a.m. E.T.
Brad Christian, Ethan Masucol, Ken Hughes, Bruce Wilmot, Katharine Campbell, Leighton Durham, and Emma Fisk contributed to this report.
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