Defense and National Security — Biden signs Finland, Sweden’s NATO bid
President Biden on Tuesday signed paperwork to admit Finland and Sweden to NATO, making the United States the 23rd of 30 members to approve the countries’ accession to the alliance.
We will summarize today’s signing ceremony. Also, let’s talk about the US sending nearly $90 million to help demining efforts in Ukraine.
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Biden signs papers for Finland, Sweden NATO entry
President Biden on Tuesday signed documents to admit Finland and Sweden into NATO, hailing it as a “watershed” for the transatlantic alliance.
Biden, in the East Room of the White House, signed the accession protocols for the two European nations, a move triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Where the countries end up: With Biden’s signature, the US became the 23rd NATO ally out of 30 to approve Finland and Sweden’s accession to the group. Joining NATO is seen as a deterrent against potential Russian aggression against Finland and Sweden.
Finland shares an 800-mile-long border with Russia. Sweden does not, but they share a strategic interest with Russia in the Baltic Sea, which gives Russia’s navy access to the Atlantic.
Summary of last week: The Senate last week voted 95-1 to approve the resolution, with all members of the Democratic caucus and most Republicans voting in favor.
Late. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who argued in a recent opinion piece that the U.S. should focus on containing China rather than expanding NATO, was the only Republican to vote “no.” Late. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted “present” on the resolution.
A “watershed” moment: “It was and is a watershed, I think, in the alliance. And for greater security stability, not only for Europe and the United States, but for the world,” Biden said at an event attended by the ambassadors of Finland and Sweden.
“At a moment when Putin’s Russia has shattered peace and security in Europe, when autocrats are challenging the very foundations of a rules-based order, the strength of a transatlantic alliance and America’s commitment to NATO are more important than ever.” added the president.
The United States will give 89 million dollars for demining Ukraine
The State Department announced Tuesday that it will provide $89 million to help demining efforts in Ukraine, comparing the extent of unexploded ordnance left behind by Russia to the tactics used by ISIS in Syria.
The funding will help create 100 teams to defuse and dispose of unexploded ordnance covering an area of 160,000 square kilometers (nearly 62,000 square kilometers), roughly the size of Virginia, Maryland and Connecticut combined.
Following $5.5 billion in aid: The demining aid follows an announcement on Monday that the United States is providing $1 billion in military equipment to Ukraine, the 18th draw of aid and the largest package delivered to date, as well as $4.5 billion in economic aid.
The $89 million in funding will also support a “large-scale train and equipment project” to clear and dispose of explosive ordinances in civilian areas such as farmland that are blocking reconstruction efforts or preventing people from returning to their homes.
“grotesque use” of explosives: “Russia’s illegal and unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine has littered large parts of the country with landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices,” the State Department said in a statement.
“The grotesque use of improvised explosive devices in the way we are seeing in Ukraine by Russian actors was previously only associated with ISIS in Syria.”
An intelligence assessment: The US announcement follows an intelligence assessment by Britain’s Ministry of Defense on Monday that Russia is likely to deploy “anti-personnel mines” in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. Dubbed the “Butterfly Mine”, they allegedly maimed large numbers of children in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War between 1979 and 1989.
The British Defense Intelligence Agency update said the Russians are likely to use them to restrict freedom of movement along its defense lines in Donbas and that the mines are “deeply controversial” and maim indiscriminately.
North Korea is financing nuclear weapons with stolen crypto
North Korea is increasingly using its crypto heists to fund its nuclear weapons program, alarmed US officials say.
“I am very concerned about North Korea’s cyber capabilities,” Anne Neuberger, the Biden administration’s deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, said recently during an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). “They use cyber to win, we estimate, up to a third of [stolen crypto] funds to fund their missile programs.”
“It’s a big issue, whether it’s attacks on cryptocurrency exchanges or the use of IT workers in different countries,” Neuberger said.
She added that North Korea’s expansion of its missile tests is a top priority for the United States, which is taking several steps to counter Pyongyang’s cyber threats, including imposing sanctions on criminal groups and seizing stolen digital assets.
ON TAP FOR TOMORROW
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The Wilson Center will host one discussion on “Energy Security Outlook and Japan-US Cooperation” at 9.00 am
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There comes the UN Institute for Disarmament Research host “NPT Side Event: Narratives on the Middle East WMD-Free Zone: Historical accounts, drivers and themes” at 1:15 p.m.
WHAT WE READ
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