BLACKWATER USA | DAILY BRIEF

Posted by BW Actual on Oct 18th 2022

BLACKWATER USA | DAILY BRIEF

China

  • China indefinitely delayed the release of third-quarter GDP data that was supposed to be published yesterday, telling Reuters the delay was “due to adjustment to work arrangements.” Specifically, they were probably trying to “adjust” the timing of a weak growth report so it doesn’t tarnish the glow of the ongoing Communist Party Congress.
  • SecState Blinken said China is planning unification with Taiwan on a “much faster timeline” than previously expected and may use force to achieve it – though he added that the U.S. would honor its promise to come to Taiwan’s defense.

Ukraine

  • The Pentagon plans to solicit proposals for new systems – possibly involving lasers and microwave jammers – to stymie the Iranian “kamikaze” drones Russia is using in Ukraine. They aim to test the new hardware within a year, which is a very fast timeline for a Pentagon solicitation.
  • Russia launched at least 43 of these self-destructing Iranian drones across Ukraine yesterday. They’re loud and fairly slow – making them easy to shoot down – but they’re also cheap and easy to deploy in large numbers.
  • Several EU foreign ministers called for new sanctions on Iran over its provision of these drones to Russia.
  • The same foreign ministers approved a plan to train 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers on EU soil, despite misgivings from others who feared the move could broaden the war.
  • Separately, Russian reinforcements have arrived at the front lines in the Donbas, and the new counter-counteroffensive is slowing Ukraine’s momentum.
  • More Russian troops are deploying to Belarus, raising fears that Pres. Lukashenko will join the fight on Russia’s side. Analysts say it would be a politically risky move for Lukashenko, who stands to lose a lot more than he would gain.

Russia

  • ExxonMobil said Russia expropriated its $4 billion 30% stake in the Sakhalin-1 oil-and-gas joint venture, transferring Exxon’s shares to a Russian entity. Exxon had been winding down its Russian operations anyway but will probably fight this “unilateral termination” in court.

Azerbaijan

  • The EU deployed a monitoring mission to the Armenian border with Azerbaijan as the clashing neighbors try to delineate a formal border and close a peace deal before the end of the year. The 40-person EU team plans to stay up to two months.