The Australian Ministry of Defence has published draft legislation that seeks to make it easier for Australia and its AUKUS allies the United States and the United Kingdom exchange information on advanced technologies. The bill’s summary reveals Australia’s agenda of establishing an export license-free system to support industry, higher education and research advancements among the...
Category: Policy Updates
India Clears Saab as First Foreign Firm to Fully Own Local Arms Plant
The Indian government has approved Saab’s 100 percent foreign direct investment to manufacture the Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle in India, marking the first wholly owned foreign venture in the country’s defense sector. In its statement Thursday about the approval, Saab said the shoulder weapon will be manufactured in partnership with Indian sub-suppliers and fully compliant with...
White House Facilitates Policy Discussions in Global Meeting to Combat Ransomware Attacks
The White House hosted the third meeting of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative in Washington, D.C., where delegates discussed new projects and policies to combat evolving cyberthreats. The 2023 edition of the CRI gathered 50 members, comprising 48 countries and two representatives from the European Union and the International Criminal Police Organization. During the two-day...
Senators to File Protect Our Bases Act to Tighten Screening of Foreigners’ Land Purchases
Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Id., and Tim Scott, R-S.C., are set to introduce the Protect Our Bases Act of 2023 in the Senate to ensure a broader and tighter scrutiny of foreigners’ land purchases near U.S. military sites and other security-sensitive areas. The measure seeks to amend Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950...
US Sanctions 3 Entities for Supporting Pakistan’s Ballistic Missile Development Program
The United States has sanctioned three China-based entities tagged for allegedly supplying critical components for Pakistan’s ballistic missile development program. The three designated companies are General Technology Ltd, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co. and Changzhou Utek Composite Co. In a statement, Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for DOS, said the companies engaged in activities that...
Israel Halts Defense Cooperation With Bogota Over Colombian President’s Pro-Palestinian Messages
Israel has suspended its defense dealings with Colombia following a tense exchange on social media between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Israeli Ambassador to Bogota Gali Dagan. Analysts based in Bogota told the Associated Press that the development could jeopardize several military contracts, including maintenance work on Colombia’s Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir combat aircraft. The...
France to Boost Ammo, Weapons Output to Replace Capabilities Shipped to Ukraine
French defense companies have increased their production of self-propelled guns, artillery shells, fighter jets and anti-air missiles, according to Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu. In a statement on social media Tuesday, the minister said the boosted ammunition and weapons output reflects France’s shift to a “war economy.” He added that the ramped-up production...
South Korean Authorities Raise Security, Economic Concerns Over Private Sector Work With Taiwan
South Korean authorities said marine engineering company SI Innotec’s $12 million contract to supply equipment to a Taiwanese shipbuilder posed a national security threat because it might trigger economic sanctions from its top trading partner, China, which claims Taiwan as its territory. According to a Feb. 17, 2022, police affidavit obtained by Reuters, SI Innotec’s...
CFIUS Urged to Forge Partnerships to Protect Private Data, National Security
Nathan Fisher, managing director at StoneTurn, has emphasized the need for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to strike a balance between enabling economic growth and protecting national security interests, particularly with regard to sensitive data. In an opinion piece published in the Global Banking & Finance Review website, he suggests that this...
Cybersecurity Leaders Urge Europe to Reconsider CRA Vulnerability Disclosure Requirement
Cybersecurity experts from Google, Trend Micro, i2Coalition and other companies, nonprofits and academic institutions around the world have published an open letter calling on policymakers from the European Commission to reconsider a portion of the Cyber Resilience Act. In 2022, the EC proposed the CRA to require technology manufacturers to take responsibility for a product’s...