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March 25, 2023
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WEEKLY THREAT AND ALERT ROUNDUP
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Pentagon Budget Prepares US for Possible China Confrontation  - ALLOW IMAGES

Pentagon Budget Prepares U.S. for Possible
China Confrontation

March 25, 2023
 
What You Need To Know

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley testified this week before the House Appropriations Committee on the Biden administration’s proposed $842 billion dollar fiscal 2024 defense budget. During opening statements, Austin and Milley provided an excellent strategic overview of a number of regions and topics posing security challenges for the United States. Here are some highlights:

Global View

Milley said the international rules-based structure that has kept great power peace since the end of World War II is under stress. "For the first time in the nation's history, the United States is facing two major nuclear powers whose vital national security interests are in competition with the United States," he said. "Both the People's Republic of China and Russia have the means to threaten our interests and our way of life.

On China

"This is a strategy-driven budget and one driven by the seriousness of our strategic competition with the People's Republic of China (PRC)," Austin told committee members. "The PRC is our pacing challenge, and we're driving hard to meet it. Our budget builds on our previous investments to deter aggression by increasing our edge."

Milley said China is seeking to become the sole "regional hegemon" within the next decade and is seeking to outpace the US military by 2049. China’s actions are moving it "down the path towards confrontation and potential conflict with its neighbors, and possibly the United States."

On Russia

The defense leaders told lawmakers that Russia is an acute threat and remains dangerous, Milley stated the US is "supporting Ukraine as it fights to protect its sovereignty, and supporting our NATO allies with a United States force presence in every single nation on NATO’s eastern flank." Milley stressed that this fight is not just in Ukraine’s interests, but also in the global interest "to protect the system and rules that have prevented great power war since the conclusion of World War II."

The US has committed to provide Ukraine 160 155mm Howitzers, over 1,000,000 155mm artillery rounds, 38 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), a Patriot air defense battery, 8 National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), 31 Abrams tanks, and 109 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles.

Russia retains a large nuclear capability to threaten the United States, Europe, and the globe. Milley stated that "Vladimir Putin and his regime continue to use irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and posturing." Additionally, Russia has repeatedly demonstrated its capability and will to conduct complex malicious cyber activities targeting American digital infrastructure, both military and commercial.

On Xi's Visit to Russia

Milley described a meeting this week between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “troubling”. He warned that Xi’s decision to provide material support to Russia in Ukraine would not only “prolong the conflict” but also make it “global”.

Read / Watch the Full Testimony HERE.

AlertsUSA continues to monitor the domestic and international threat environment around the clock and will immediately notify service subscribers, via SMS messages to their mobile devices, of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.


AlertsUSA.com

SMS ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE

3/25 - Vladimir Putin announces Russian tactical nuclear weapons will be deployed to and stationed within neighboring Belarus. Anticipates completion by July 1, 2023.

3/23 - NOAA issues G4 (SEVERE) geomagnetic storm alert warning of poss widespread voltage control problems w protective systems tripping key assets offline. See email.

3/22 - Two adults hospitalized following a shooting at East High School in Denver, CO. Large multi-agency response. Shooter at large. Add'l alerts as warranted.

3/22 - M6.5 earthquake, 68 km NNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina. AlertsUSA monitoring for damage reports.

 
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The first of 18 AN/TWQ-1 'Avenger' self-propelled short-range surface-to-air missile systems, similar to the example shown in this image, have arrived in Ukraine. - ALLOW IMAGES

Ukraine War Update+

March 24, 2023
What You Need To Know

According to the Institute for the Study of War:

Prominent voices in the Russian information space are increasingly setting information conditions to prepare for a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive. Russian Security Council Deputy Head Dmitry Medvedev emphasized on March 24 that the Russian General Staff is aware that Kyiv is preparing for offensive operations and that the Russian General Staff is considering its own decisions and responses to prepare for a Ukrainian offensive. A prominent Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian actors are disseminating disinformation about plans for a Ukrainian attack towards Belgorod Oblast, in order to draw Russian troops to border areas and allow Ukrainian troops to launch attacks on other sectors of the front, partially echoing Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin’s prior warnings about a Ukrainian push on Belgorod Oblast. Another Russian milblogger warned that Ukrainian forces will likely try to launch a counteroffensive before the Russian defense industrial base (DIB) gains the capacity to increase production and bolster Russian defensive potential.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence:

Russia’s assault on the Donbas town of Bakhmut has largely stalled. This is likely primarily a result of extreme attrition of the Russian force. Ukraine has also suffered heavy casualties during its defence.

The Russian situation has also likely been made worse by tensions between the Russian Ministry of Defence and Wagner Group, both of whom contribute troops in the sector.

Russia has likely shifted its operational focus towards Avdiivka, south of Bakhmut, and to the Kremina-Svatove sector in the north, areas where Russia likely only aspires to stabilise its front line. This suggests an overall return to a more defensive operational design after inconclusive results from its attempts to conduct a general offensive since January 2023.

Ukraine conflict map as of March 25, 2023. Image: @war_mapper with permission. - ALLOW IMAGES

Rare earth oxides of gadolinium, praseodymium, cerium, samarium, lanthanum, and neodymium. Photo courtesy of USDA ARS.- ALLOW IMAGES

Commentary / Analysis / Research

March 25, 2023

The Time to Prevent Shortfalls in Critical Materials Is Now

Rare earth elements are—despite their name—everywhere. They're in your cellphone, your car, maybe even in a crown in your mouth. They're in satellites, wind turbines, night-vision goggles, and laser-guided missiles. By one estimate, every F-35 Lightning II fighter jet has around 920 pounds of rare earth elements built into its engines and electronics.

All of which makes China's near-total domination of the rare earth market a matter of economic and national security concern.

~ READ MORE HERE (RAND) ~

The Canadian Policy Behind the Surge of Illegals at the US/CAN Border

The Canadian border is back in the news, with headlines proclaiming that illegal immigration there has suddenly spiked more than 800 percent in one busy sector recent months. Amid a fresh outbreak of “what-to-do-doism”, the Biden administration redeployed 25 Border Patrol agents from the besieged southern border to the far northeast corner of America’s border with Canada, the Border Patrol's Swanton Sector (including New Hampshire, Vermont, and part of New York).

The agents are to intercept what appears to be a huge spike in crossings by mostly Mexican nationals flying over the United States into Canada and then crossing the border southward, along with other nationalities in smaller numbers.

~ READ MORE HERE (Ctr. for Immigration Studies) ~

What to Do About the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Since it was seized by Russian military forces a year ago, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in eastern Ukraine has lost external power six times. Following the latest outage, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, issued an emotional call to action, warning that it is only a matter of time before a disaster occurs. Given the fact that Zaporizhzhia sits on the frontline of a war zone, what can be done to prevent catastrophe?

~ READ MORE HERE (Brookings) ~


Fleet and Marine Tracker Map as of March 20 2023.  - ALLOW IMAGES
 
USNI Fleet and Marine Tracker
March 20, 2023

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of March 20, 2023 based on U.S. Navy, public data provided by the U.S. Naval Institute, and open source reporting.


U.S. and South Korean troops conduct a combined aerial exercise over South Korea, March 19, 2023. Image: DoD
 
World News Roundup
March 25, 2023

AMERICAS

Blinken admits under oath Americans STILL left stranded in Afghanistan
War with China ‘not inevitable’, but helping Russia in Ukraine widens conflict
Border agents arrest 16 people on FBI’s terror watchlist at Mexico crossing
Cuban intelligence opposed warming U.S. relations. Did it send a message?
KPMG gave SVB, Signature Bank clean bill of health weeks before collapse
The growing Chinese investment in illegal American weed
Study finds (CA) mass shooters have distinct patterns of buying guns
Student shoots two administrators at Denver East High School
Shelter-in-place lifted after body found near East High shooting suspect's car
Denver Public Schools to temporarily suspend its ban on armed guards

EUROPE

NATO to accelerate deployment of up to 300,000 soldiers on eastern border
Ukraine fires 7,000 artillery shells every day – NATO Secretary General
Putin’s mercenary Prigozhin shifts focus after Ukraine setbacks
UK to send Ukraine ammunition with depleted uranium
Russia-China ties enter ‘new era’ as Xi meets Putin in Moscow
Putin flaunts alliance with Xi as 'dear friends' meet in Kremlin
No path to peace: Five key takeaways from Xi and Putin’s talks
Putin to deply tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus
Russia says risk of nuclear conflict at highest level in decades
US B-52s intercepted by Russian fighter jets over the Baltic Sea
Finland opens airspace for NATO surveillance and intelligence flights
US inaugurates first permanent army base in Poland
US speeds up delivery of Abrams tanks, could be in Ukraine by fall
Seven out of 30 allies met NATO military spending target in 2022-Stoltenberg
Report signals humiliating end for Russia's shadow army in Ukraine
Have four or more babies in Hungary and you’ll pay no income tax for life

MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

Israel could strike Iran in three months, retired Israeli general says
How a ‘Gold Mafia’ is looting Southern Africa, washing dirty cash
Ethiopia scraps bid to end UN-ordered Tigray abuses probe early - sources
UN mission In Mali reports rising number of deaths
Niger army says 20 jihadists killed at Nigeria border

ASIA

China’s position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis
If China attacks Taiwan, war could start in space: Pentagon
S. Korea, U.S. stage combined high-tech Army training
S. Korea, U.S. set for 'largest-ever' live-fire drills for 70th anniv
US gave India intel during clash with Chinese troops
U.S. begins air base rehab in Philippines as part of basing agreement
N. Korea tests 'underwater nuclear attack drone,' cruise missiles: KCNA

PUBLIC HEALTH

Drug shortages are rising and pose a national security risk
Burundi officials detect polio outbreak linked to vaccine
Vaccine makers prep bird flu shot for humans 'just in case'
Child mortality is rising at the fastest rate in 50 years
Pentagon: 7 year olds are capable of choosing transgender hormones
Highly contagious fungus that has a kill rate of 60% spreading across the US
Outbreak of drug-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa from eye drops
Death toll linked to contaminated eye drops rising as more report vision loss
Tranq making ‘deadliest drug threat’ in US ‘even deadlier,’ DEA warns
Why is social media pushing young women to donate their eggs?
How Fauci's wife used her NIH position to backstop his health directives
Fauci-backed research team accused of omitting key data from report


Peak Prosperity with Dr. Chris Martenson.
Global Rescue: Wander the World Without Worry

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Travel Security Resources

With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to research the security situation at your destination prior to booking, and again prior to departure.

The U.S. Dept. of State Travel Website is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide.

Active USGOV Travel Notices

Active USGOV Travel Advisories

Other USGOV Travel Resources

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) - Registering your overseas trip with the Department of State STEP program allows you to receive information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.

Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) - Joining OSAC provides a variety of USGOV resources to enhance the safety and security of the U.S. private sector businesses and organizations operating abroad.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - The CDC travel website is the authoritative federal source for information on current health issues related to specific destinations worldwide. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health.

Foreign Sources of Travel Guidance

See what other governments are telling their own citizens about the safety and security aspects of your destination.



Take Advantage of These Resources

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