Center for Global Health Engagement (CGHE)’s Post

A significant meeting between Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Jana Nelson and Peruvian Minister of Defense Walter Astudillo took place at the Pentagon on June 26. The discussions focused on enhancing defense cooperation, countering transnational criminal organizations, and addressing the impact of climate change on Peru.     Strengthening the U.S.-Peru #airdomainawareness #BilateralCooperation #Climatechangeimpact #CybersecurityCollaboration #DefenseCooperation #defenseinfrastructure #Maritimesecurity #Regionalsecuritychallenges #thxnews #USPerudefensepartnership

The utility of force appeared to be simpler in the past. In the 1960s and 1970s, Military training and education was focused on being able to seize, occupy and defend an assigned objective using fire, manoeuvre and close combat. Hearts and minds were recognised with the combined action programme for the South Vietnamese, but did not seem to apply to North Vietnamese regulars in open combat. Cold War orthodox warfare and irregular conflicts needs were often mixed together and mingled with civil disturbance, humanitarian service and non-combat evacuations in a confused manner. Manoeuvre warfare and fourth-generation theories were put forward as solutions to the muddle - it needed degree of clarity. This book seeks to use the metaphor of the ‘strategic corporal’ as a way to focus on the demands facing junior leaders in contemporary military operations, and what might be done to enhance their ability to respond to them. While the foundation of the metaphor is to be found in the capacity of soldiers to make appropriate decisions under stress and in real time, the circumstances in which these decisions are made need to be better understood, both by soldiers and their critical onlookers, be they villagers on the scene, senior military or political leaders remote from the operation, or anti-war activists thousands of miles away. It is not just about a soldier’s professional mastery, though the ability to take command when required is basic to all the rest. It also means a familiarity with legal and ethical issues, and an ability in low-intensity conflict to understand local culture and communicate with those in villages and neighbourhoods whose goodwill, or at least neutrality, are vital to ultimate success. In the non-war circumstances in which many Western militaries operate, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief as well as peacekeeping operations, it means dealing with civil authorities in the distribution of aid or even the administration of justice if local institutions have broken down. Sometimes it involves negotiation and mediation. It may even mean having an understanding of the ways modern media works, and its potential to surveil—and sometimes derail—a mission. Sometimes it also means having a better understanding of the challenges that face one’s own defence force, including the malign effects of bureaucratic inertia and the outsourcing of key capabilities to private contractors. This is the complex world in which the modern soldier now operates. "The strategic corporal is a Marine who has mastered Marine basic skills, is tactically and technically proficient, is morally and ethically adept, savvy in both language and culture, mentally agile, physically fit, prepared to act and lead in a decentralized environment and is empowered by the trust and confidence of his seniors and subordinates.’ - Lt Gen George J Flynn (USMC), Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration 210p 2017 UCT Press https://lnkd.in/gYihB2ex

What kind of assistance do #Ukrainians expect most from international partners? Offensive (72%) and defensive (70%) weapons, as well as financial assistance (64%). At the same time, the share of citizens who believe that humanitarian aid is needed has almost halved. For more data from Gradus Research's special survey on the 2nd anniversary of the full-scale invasion, please follow the link https://lnkd.in/e5qVeEm6 #Ukraine #survey #data

You don't give up on something just because it's hard. #JLOTS is a critical joint capability that supports U.S. forces from sea in areas where port infrastructure is lacking. If we cannot setup a mobile pier in peacetime, how will we do it when bullets at flying? You rarely get the chance to train critical warfighting operations in a real, but risk reduced environment. The Gaza pier is back in action, and we need to keep it going as long as it remains necessary to provide humanitarian aid. https://lnkd.in/dzMdMwzT

📝 New op-ed from Joshua Walker (director of programs, Congo Research Group/CIC) and Jason Stearns (senior fellow, CIC) looks at "what's needed to prevent a regional war" between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. This piece breaks down the following: 🟫 Beginning of regional escalation (2010/2020) 🟫 Military changes in eastern #DRC (late 2023) 🟫 Mixed signals from influential foreign actors Read the full analysis in The Conversation Africa: https://lnkd.in/eGr-nXAG

Absolutely delighted to read this report that reviews and presents tangible outcomes and "value for money" for donor investment in Hala Systems, Inc., Sentry Syria. This platform saved lives, by supporting local civilians, civil society and humanitarian organizations in their response and immediate action to imminent air strikes, whilst also assisting in coordinated responses from civil defence, post strike. Created by Syrians, led by a seasoned diplomat and technologist, this is a real success story of technical innovation. "In 2016, Hala System began developing an early warning system called Sentry Syria that uses multiple information sources to deliver accurate, automated (remotely triggered) and timely warnings, allowing civilians and humanitarian actors time to take action to protect themselves and others and thereby reduce the casualties inflicted by airstrikes. Sentry uses a cohesive and robust system that provides 8+ minutes of warning, works across multiple platforms, and augments human expertise with advanced technology."

Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow in the Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, writes that "When senior U.S. officials descended on Niger’s capital city, Niamey, recently, they had little idea that the sands of the Sahara were shifting under their feet. The trip—the highest-level visit to the country since Niger’s military leaders overthrew Washington’s preferred ally in the region last July—was intended as a last-ditch attempt to salvage a security relationship that would allow Washington to continue operating a drone base in the country despite suspending military aid to Niger’s new coup government. There appears to be a shock in Washington about the developments in Niamey. It seems Washington never saw that coming; like the French before them, there was an assumption that the old paradigm would continue unabated. Niger would continue to serve as a forward-operating drone base in the Sahel. What most analysts and policymakers in Washington have forgotten is that they are not the only players in town. The multipolar order offers many alternatives, and the U.S.'s gross negligence of a continent at the front of a new "Cold War" is primarily responsible for the outcome we are seeing today. The French exploited Nigerien for decades and America came and offered little beside security assistance and weapons to fight terror groups. https://lnkd.in/gWgMXMtF

The war in Ukraine has now waged for over 600 days across a frontline that spans over 600 miles, bringing with it a scale of destruction not seen since World War II. There’s growing resistance to Ukraine support, largely from House Republicans, despite well-documented moral and national security arguments for continued aid made by bipartisan leaders and military experts. I wrote a piece for Harvard’s Belfer Center where I describe the needs of the frontline and the whole-of-society effort that has kept Ukraine’s fight alive thus far. I also offer recommendations for how public, private, and nonprofit leaders can better fill existing gaps on the frontline. The purpose of this piece is not to rehash the cases already made for continued aid, but to provide greater color to what the situation looks like on the ground in Ukraine and demonstrate why Ukraine’s military is desperate for continued support. With global chaos and instability approaching a breaking point, steadfast support to Ukraine not just from the federal government, but from the private and nonprofit sectors, is more critical than ever. Abandoning Ukraine would be a decision that puts at risk the lives of millions and the line between democracy and tyranny. Shoutout to Grace Jones for helping get this published.

With the IDF offensive now focusing on Hamas leaders and other high-value targets in southern Gaza, this phase of urban warfare will feature close-quarters combat, including house-to-house fighting and tunnel warfare in Gaza’s vast subterranean network. The IDF has reportedly set up large pumps to prepare for flooding Hamas’s tunnel network, though that could present a range of challenges related to the recovery of hostages still being held by Hamas and other Palestinian groups. https://lnkd.in/g6JBPDQ7

Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow in the Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, writes that "When senior U.S. officials descended on Niger’s capital city, Niamey, recently, they had little idea that the sands of the Sahara were shifting under their feet. The trip—the highest-level visit to the country since Niger’s military leaders overthrew Washington’s preferred ally in the region last July—was intended as a last-ditch attempt to salvage a security relationship that would allow Washington to continue operating a drone base in the country despite suspending military aid to Niger’s new coup government. There appears to be a shock in Washington about the developments in Niamey. It seems Washington never saw that coming; like the French before them, there was an assumption that the old paradigm would continue unabated. Niger would continue to serve as a forward-operating drone base in the Sahel. What most analysts and policymakers in Washington have forgotten is that they are not the only players in town. The multipolar order offers many alternatives, and the U.S.'s gross negligence of a continent at the front of a new "Cold War" is primarily responsible for the outcome we are seeing today. The French exploited Nigerien for decades and America came and offered little beside security assistance and weapons to fight terror groups. https://lnkd.in/gWgMXMtF