To All
Good Wednesday Morning January 24 , 2024. A bit of history and some tidbits. No rain , no night visitors and plenty of leaves.
Regards
Skip
HAGD
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
This day in Naval and Marine Corps History
January 24
1942—During the Battle of Makassar Strait (Balikpapan), destroyers John D. Ford, Parrott, Pope, and Paul Jones attack the anchored Japanese invasion force in the harbor of Balikpapan, Borneo, sinking four of 12 transport ships.
1945—Submarine Blackfin (SS 322) sinks the Japanese destroyer Shigure in the Gulf of Siam.
1956—USS Jallao (SS 368) becomes the first U.S. Navy submarine to transit the Suez Canal traveling from the Mediterranean to Massawa, Eritrea, Ethiopia.
1991—Desert Shield/Desert Storm SEAL platoons from USS Leftwich (DD 984) and USS Nicholas (FFG 47) recaptures the island, Jazirat Qurah, the first Kuwaiti territory from Iraqis.
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This Day in World History
January 24
41 Shortly after declaring himself a god, Caligula is assassinated by two Praetorian tribunes.
1458 Matthias Corvinus, the son of John Hunyadi, is elected king of Hungary.
1639 Representatives from three Connecticut towns band together to write the Fundamental Orders, the first constitution in the New World.
1722 Czar Peter the Great caps his reforms in Russia with the "Table of Rank" which decrees a commoner can climb on merit to the highest positions.
1848 Gold is discovered by James Wilson Marshall at his partner Johann August Sutter's sawmill on the South Fork of the American River, near Coloma, California.
1903 U.S. Secretary of State John Hay and British Ambassador Herbert create a joint commission to establish the Alaskan border.
1911 U.S. Cavalry is sent to preserve the neutrality of the Rio Grande during the Mexican Civil War.
1915 The German cruiser Blücher is sunk by a British squadron in the Battle of Dogger Bank.
1927 British expeditionary force of 12,000 is sent to China to protect concessions at Shanghai.
1931 The League of Nations rebukes Poland for the mistreatment of a German minority in Upper Silesia.
1945 A German attempt to relieve the besieged city of Budapest is finally halted by the Soviets.
1946 The UN establishes the International Atomic Energy Commission.
1951 Indian leader Nehru demands that the UN name Peking as an aggressor in Korea.
1965 Winston Churchill dies from a cerebral thrombosis at the age of 90.
1980 In a rebuff to the Soviets, the U.S. announces intentions to sell arms to China.
1982 A draft of Air Force history reports that the U.S. secretly sprayed herbicides on Laos during the Vietnam War.
1935 First canned beer goes on sale
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OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT Thanks to the Bear
Skip… For The List for the week beginning Monday, 22 January 2024 and ending Sunday, 28 January 2024… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT (1968-1972)…
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post of 14 April 2019… 35th President attends his 1st meeting with his National Security Advisor and Staff…
Thanks to Micro
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and can read what happened each day to the aircraft and its crew. ……Skip
Rescued by a Coast Guard Pilot a long way from the sea. One of the items that Micro is working on is the names of the pilots and crew of the rescue helos on these missions. So far only one squadron kept track so if there are any helo guys out there that have information on who the rescue pilots were on any of these missions he could use the help to complete the story on many of these. skip
From Vietnam Air Losses site for "Wednesday 24 January
24: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2102
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip Vietnam Air Losses Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
Vietnam Air Losses
Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Servicemembers Killed in the Vietnam War
(This site was sent by a friend . The site works, find anyone you knew in "search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
Check this out
Thanks to the Bear
Skip… For your information and consideration.. RTR Webmaster Dan Heller has updated the Links List attached to the RTR website with a dozen Vietnam air war sites that might interest regulars of The List… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻… See…
https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/new-links/
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To Honor those Navy Seals that were lost
Horrible News Over Missing SEALs
The U.S. Military made a tragic announcement on Sunday afternoon that two Navy SEALs who went missing nearly two weeks ago during a mission off the coast of Africa are now presumed dead.
The SEALs, whose identities have not yet been released, were conducting a nighttime interdiction mission on January 11 when disaster struck. As they were attempting to climb onto a vessel, one of the SEALs was knocked off by powerful ocean waves. In accordance with proper protocol, the next Navy SEAL up immediately jumped into the water to try and rescue his teammate.
Despite a massive search effort that spanned over 21,000 square miles, the two missing Navy SEALs were not been located and their status has now been officially changed to deceased. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released a statement expressing their deep regret at having to make this announcement and stating that a 10-day exhaustive search had been conducted.
The search was a multinational effort, with Japan and Spain joining in the operation to try and locate the missing SEALs. Additional support was provided by other groups including the University of San Diego – Scripts Institute of Oceanography.
According to CENTCOM, the search covered a vast area in the hopes of finding the two missing SEALs. The U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, University of San Diego – Scripts Institute of Oceanography, and the Office of Naval Research – Oceanographic Support all provided assistance as well. Despite their best efforts, the tragic conclusion has been reached that the two SEALs are presumed dead. The news has been met with an outpouring of grief and sadness from the entire Special Operations community.
General Michale Erik Kurilla, who serves as the CENTCOM Commander, released a statement expressing his deep condolences for the loss of the two Navy SEALs. He also emphasized that the sacrifice and example of these brave warriors will never be forgotten, and their memory will be forever honored. General Kurilla also extended his thoughts and prayers to the SEALs' families and friends during this difficult time. The entire nation stands in solidarity with these families as they grieve the loss of their loved ones.
The details surrounding the mission that led to the loss of the two SEALs have not yet been made public. It is not clear what caused the powerful ocean waves that knocked one of the SEALs off the vessel, but it was severe enough to require immediate rescue efforts.
In accordance with standard procedure, the next SEAL in line bravely jumped into the dangerous waters to try and save his teammate. Unfortunately, the rescue effort was unsuccessful and both SEALs are now presumed dead. The tragedy has shaken the entire military community, as well as the nation as a whole.
The brave men and women of the U.S. military put their lives on the line every day to protect our country and its citizens. The loss of two highly trained and skilled members of the SEALs is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices that these brave warriors make.
As a nation, we honor and respect the service of these two soldiers, and their memory will live on in the hearts of their comrades and the nation as a whole. The tragedy of their loss serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers that military personnel face in service to our country and how precious and fragile life truly is.
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Thanks to Micro
I can't wait for mine
I just received my 2024 Social Security Stimulus Package.
It contained a monthly benefit increase of two cents, a Biden "Build Back Better" bumper sticker, a prayer rug, a Kamala Speech Decoder Ring, a solar powered machine to blow smoke up my own butt, a coupon for a free oil change on my Tesla and a "Blame it on Trump" sign for my front yard.
The instructions were in Spanish.
Yours should arrive soon.
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
6 Sturdy Facts About Camels
At first glance, camels may seem like a biological anomaly, a large mammalian creature somehow capable of surviving in the world's hottest and most desolate climates. That's because camels have been forged by the desert itself, with every piece of their biology seemingly purpose-built to survive anything Earth's arid landscapes can throw at them. These six facts about camels will give you a deeper understanding of their astonishing biology, their importance in world history, and their surprising evolutionary roots.
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There Are Only Three Camel Species
Only three species of the Camelus genus are still living today. The first two — the dromedary or Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) and the Bactrian or Mongolian camel (Camelus bactrianus) — are both domesticated species. The most obvious diference between the two is that a dromedary has only one hump, while a Bactrian camel has two. The dromedary camel has existed in the wild for more than 2,000 years, and was, like its alternative name suggests, first domesticated in the Arabian Peninsula. The Bactrian camel, named for the Persian province of Bactria around modern Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, was a popular pack animal in Asia and filled caravans along the ancient Silk Road.
The third camel, known simply as the wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus), is visually akin to its domesticated cousin. In fact, it was once believed that the wild camel was simply a feral version of its similarly named relative, but genetics confirmed that the two camels separated some 1.1 million years ago. With a population of less than 1,000, the wild Bactrian camel is the eighth-most critically endangered mammal on the planet. Today, it's mostly found in the remote parts of the Gobi desert in Mongolia and China.
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A Camel's Hump Stores Fat — Not Water
A persistent camelid myth is that these "ships of the desert" store water in their hump(s). Instead of H20, camels actually store fatty tissue that can be drawn upon when food is scarce — a common occurrence when traipsing the desert. Because they store fat vertically in their humps (and not throughout their body), camels can also dissipate excess heat more quickly. These strange humps may not be the most elegant thermoregulating solution Mother Nature has ever devised, but it certainly works for them.
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North America Used to Have Its Own Native Camels
Some 11,700 years ago, the last native North American camelid species, in a genus known as Camelops, went extinct — a strange end for a species that originally evolved on the continent 44 million years ago during the Eocene period. The creature stood approximately 7 feet tall, weighed around 1,800 pounds, and looked remarkably similar to today's dromedary, though experts are not 100% certain whether Camelops had a hump like its Arabian cousin. The Camelops died out around the same time as other large mammals in North America, such as mastodon and giant beavers, likely due to increased human hunting.
Camels (imported from the Mediterranean and the Middle East) did make a small comeback in the U.S. during the mid-19th century, when the U.S. government thought they would be the perfect beasts of burden for delivering supplies to military outposts in the Southwest. The Army's short-lived Camel Corps was soon disbanded due to the Civil War and other factors, however, and the herds were sold off or let loose, with many roaming wild for years. Feral camels were spotted in the deserts of the Southwest up until the early 20th century.
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A Camel Can Drink 30 Gallons of Water in 13 Minutes
If a dromedary or Bactrian camel comes upon a chance oasis or watering hole, it's game time. Camels don't lap water like most mammals, but instead suck down water almost like a vacuum, drinking as many as 30 gallons of water in 13 minutes. Such a deluge of water would be fatal for humans (and most other mammals) because the increased amount of fluid would dilute our blood and cause our cells to explode, but camels don't have this problem because they can essentially store water in their first stomach, or rumen. This stomach allows the water to be released to the blood over the course of several hours. Camels also have superpowered blood cells capable of expanding to twice their size. As a camel uses up water and fatty tissue, its hump(s) will actually begin to deflate, but give a camel some food and a lot to drink, and it'll spring back as good as new.
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Camels Are Nearly as Fast as Racehorses
They may not look it, but camelids are extremely agile, and can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour at a dead sprint. At endurance speeds, camels can maintain a speed of roughly 25 mph for an hour, or 12 mph for eight hours. This doesn't quite match a horse in terms of sheer sprinting speed, but things change when the race moves to a camel's home turf. A camel's feet are much larger than a horse's hooves, and that extra surface area helps camels stay on top of sand for easier transportation.
Because camels are so impressively fast — the Greek root word within "dromedary" means "running," after all — camel racing is a popular sport in many parts of the world, and has been for millennia, especially in the Arabian Peninsula. Camel racing became more formalized in the late 20th century, and is now a major sport drawing participants from around the globe.
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Camels Are Perfectly Built for the Desert
Camels, both Bactrian and dromedary, are purpose-built for the desert. Yes, their fat-storing humps, impressive thermoregulation, oval-shaped blood vessels, and wide feet all aid these incredible creatures as they traverse some of the world's most arid landscapes — but that's really only the beginning of a camel's fine-tuned, desert-ready biology.
For example, camels have three sets of eyelids, and two sets of eyelashes for batting away sand and dirt. Although it may seem counterintuitive, a camel's furry coat keeps it from sweating, insulates it from the heat, and also keeps it warm when the temperature drops (it can get deathly cold when the sun sets in the desert). Also, because the sand can sometimes be scorching, camels have leather-like, heat-resistant pads on their knees, elbows, feet, and sternum, so they can lay down without getting burned. They even lack a certain skin fold found in other animals so that air can continue circulating under their bodies when lying down. Even their lips and tongues are extra hardened so they can eat prickly desert plants that other animals have to give a hard pass. Thanks to millions of years of evolution, the camel is truly one of the desert's greatest masterpieces.
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From Sons of Liberty to Devils in Baggy Pants by W. Thomas Smith Jr.
This Week in American Military History:
Jan. 17, 1781: Continental Army forces -- including infantry, cavalry, dragoons (horse-mounted infantry), and militia – under the command of Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan, clash with a better-equipped, more-experienced force of British Army regulars and Loyalists under the command of Lt. Col. Banastre "Bloody Ban" Tarleton in a sprawling pastureland known as Hannah's Cowpens in the South Carolina upcountry. Celebrated today as the Battle of Cowpens, the engagement ends in a decisive victory for Morgan – who defeats Tarleton in a classic double-envelopment – and a near-irrevocable loss of men, equipment, and reputation for the infamous Tarleton and his "British Legion." Tarleton's boss, Gen. Sir Charles Cornwallis, will abandon South Carolina and in less than two months chalk up a pyrrhic victory at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (N.C.). Meanwhile, word of Morgan's victory will spread like wildfire throughout the Carolinas and up into Virginia where – at Yorktown – Cornwallis' entire army (including Tarleton and his feared green-jacketed horsemen) will surrender to the combined American-French forces of Generals George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau on October 19, almost nine months to the day after Cowpens.
Jan. 17, 1991: Two-hundred-ten years to the day after the Battle of Cowpens; American, British, and French forces – this time all three on the same team – kick off what Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein predicted would be "the Mother of all Battles" with a series of blistering air attacks aimed at destroying the Iraqi Air Force, Iraq's air-defense forces and overall command and control. It is day one of Operation Desert Storm.
Jan. 18, 1911: Flying over San Francisco Bay in his Curtiss Pusher Model "D" aircraft, pioneer aviator Eugene B. Ely approaches the anchored cruiser USS Pennsylvania and manages to land onto a special platform fitted with a makeshift tailhook system aboard the ship. Upon landing, he purportedly says, "It was easy enough. I think the trick could be successfully turned nine times out of ten."
Ely's landing is the first-ever airplane landing aboard a ship. Ely already had become the first man to take off from a ship in November. In July, he will be commissioned a second lieutenant in the California National Guard.
In October, he will be killed in a crash during an aerobatic demonstration in Macon, Georgia.
Jan. 19-20, 1770: The little-known but historically significant Battle of Golden Hill erupts in New York City between a group of angry Manhattan patriots and a contingent of British soldiers.
The clash begins when members of the patriot organization "Sons of Liberty" snatch a few of the King's men, who are cutting down wooden "liberty poles" (symbols of resistance against British rule) which had been erected by the "Sons." The redcoats also were reportedly posting bills condemning the Sons of Liberty as "the real enemies of society." A struggle ensues. Redcoats from the nearby barracks respond, and a bayonet charge is ordered. Several are wounded on both sides, and one civilian is killed. Less than seven weeks before the Boston Massacre, the Battle of Golden Hill is considered by some historians as the first armed clash of the American Revolution.
Jan. 20, 1914: Nearly three years to the day after Eugene Ely lands his airplane on USS Pennsylvania, "the cradle of Naval aviation" is born at Pensacola, Florida.
According to the American Naval Historical Center: "The aviation unit from Annapolis [Maryland], consisting of nine officers, 23 men, seven aircraft, portable hangars, and other gear, under Lieutenant J. H. Towers" arrives at Pensacola aboard the battleship USS Mississippi and the bulk-cargo ship USS Orion "to set up a flying school."
Jan. 21, 1903: The Militia Act of 1903 – also known as the "Dick Act"
(Congressman and Maj. Gen. Charles Dick authored much of the legislation) – is passed, establishing federal standards and greater federal control over state militias, essentially creating the modern National Guard.
Jan. 21, 1954: First Lady Mamie Eisenhower breaks a bottle of champagne across the bow of USS Nautilus in Groton, Connecticut, launching the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. The following year, Nautilus gets underway, begins breaking numerous sea-travel records, and becomes the first "ship" to cross the North Pole. Nautilus is the U.S. Navy's sixth vessel bearing the name. The first Nautilus, a schooner built in 1799, saw action against the Barbary pirates and in the War of 1812.
Jan. 22, 1944: Allied forces, including the U.S. VI Corps under the command of Maj. Gen. John P. Lucas (of Lt. Gen. Mark Clark's Fifth Army), begin a series of landings along a stretch of western Italian coastline in the Anzio-Nettuno area. Codenamed Operation Shingle, the Allies achieve complete surprise against – and encounter little initial resistance from – the Germans. But the landings kick off what will become one of the most grueling campaigns of World War II.
It is during the subsequent fighting (which continues for several months) that a dead German officer's diary is found, a portion of which reads:
"American parachutists – devils in baggy pants – are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can't sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere."
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Thanks to History Facts
The Sweating Sickness
In the late 15th century, England got hit with an epidemic straight out of a horror movie: a so-called "sweating sickness," which appeared suddenly in August 1485, after Henry VII returned to England and claimed the throne following the decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses. Some historians suspect the sickness was brought by mercenaries hired to win the war for the Tudors. Illness came on abruptly and aggressively, usually killing its victims in less than a day and sometimes in as little as two hours. The disease, characterized by aches and fever, worked so quickly that people who survived more than 24 hours typically made a full recovery.
The first wave of sweating sickness, also called the "English sweat" (sudor anglicus in Latin), caused 15,000 deaths in just six weeks. The disease struck England a total of five times over the course of 70 years, always appearing in the late summer or early fall and, puzzlingly, always hitting wealthy people harder. After the fifth outbreak, it disappeared — possibly after mutating into a milder, less-lethal version — leaving one of the world's greatest medical mysteries behind.The Black Death, a devastating plague that swept through Europe in the 14th century, was far more deadly than the sweating sickness, but we know conclusively what caused it. Scientists are still searching for an explanation for the sweating sickness more than half a millennium later. One of the prevailing theories was that it was a particularly nasty strain of hantavirus, a respiratory disease spread by rodents; one hantavirus outbreak in 1993 very closely resembled sweating sickness. It could also have been insect-borne like dengue fever, especially given the time of year it typically appeared. Some have even suggested anthrax. But we may never know for sure.
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This Day in U S Military History January 24
January 24
1908 – Boy Scouts movement begins in England with the publication of the first installment of Robert Baden-Powell's Scouting for Boys. The name Baden-Powell was already well known to many English boys, and thousands of them eagerly bought up the handbook. By the end of April, the serialization of Scouting for Boys was completed, and scores of impromptu Boy Scout troops had sprung up across Britain. In 1900, Baden-Powell became a national hero in Britain for his 217-day defense of Mafeking in the South African War. Soon after, Aids to Scouting, a military field manual he had written for British soldiers in 1899, caught on with a younger audience. Boys loved the lessons on tracking and observation and organized elaborate games using the book. Hearing this, Baden-Powell decided to write a nonmilitary field manual for adolescents that would also emphasize the importance of morality and good deeds. First, however, he decided to try out some of his ideas on an actual group of boys. On July 25, 1907, he took a diverse group of 21 adolescents to Brownsea Island in Dorsetshire where they set up camp for a fortnight. With the aid of other instructors, he taught the boys about camping, observation, deduction, woodcraft, boating, lifesaving, patriotism, and chivalry. Many of these lessons were learned through inventive games that were very popular with the boys. The first Boy Scouts meeting was a great success. With the success of Scouting for Boys, Baden-Powell set up a central Boy Scouts office, which registered new Scouts and designed a uniform. By the end of 1908, there were 60,000 Boy Scouts, and troops began springing up in British Commonwealth countries across the globe. In September 1909, the first national Boy Scout meeting was held at the Crystal Palace in London. Ten thousand Scouts showed up, including a group of uniformed girls who called themselves the Girl Scouts. In 1910, Baden-Powell organized the Girl Guides as a separate organization. The American version of the Boy Scouts has it origins in an event that occurred in London in 1909. Chicago publisher William Boyce was lost in one of the city's classic fogs when a Boy Scout came to his aid. After guiding Boyce to his destination, the boy refused a tip, explaining that as a Boy Scout he would not accept payment for doing a good deed. This anonymous gesture inspired Boyce to organize several regional U.S. youth organizations, specifically the Woodcraft Indians and the Sons of Daniel Boone, into the Boy Scouts of America. Incorporated on February 8, 1910, the movement soon spread throughout the country. In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts of America in Savannah, Georgia. In 1916, Baden-Powell organized the Wolf Cubs, which caught on as the Cub Scouts in the United States, for boys under the age of 11. Four years later, the first international Boy Scout Jamboree was held in London, and Baden-Powell was acclaimed Chief Scout of the world. He died in 1941.
1942 – Battle of Makassar Strait, destroyer attack on Japanese convoy in first surface action in the Pacific during World War II. Four Dutch and American destroyers attack Japanese troop transports off Balikpapan sinking five ships.
1944 – The Anzio beachhead continues to expand, albeit, slowly. To the south, along the German defenses of the Gustav Line, the Free French Corps (part of US 5th Army) attacks Monte Santa Croce. The US 2nd Corps (also part of 5th Army) continues attacking over the Rapido River, toward Caira.
1952 – Air Force Captains Dolphin D. Overton III and Harold E. Fischer Jr., both of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, became the 24th and 25th fifth aces of the war. They flew F-86's named "Dolph's Devil" and "Paper Tiger." In addition, Captain Overton set a record for becoming a jet ace in the shortest time of four days.
1964 – Studies and Observation Group ("SOG") is created. MACV headquarters in Saigon issued General Order 6, creating a highly secret new organization to execute clandestine operations. It was euphemistically called MACV's "Studies and Observation Group," known as MACVSOG or simply SOG. The operations were approved by President Lyndon Johnson three years after President Kennedy had called for a serious program of covert actions against North Vietnam. The plan, recommended by Robert McNamara and Dean Rusk, contained a total of 72 categories of action.
1966 – In the largest search-and-destroy operation to date–Operation Masher/White Wing/Thang Phong II–the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), South Vietnamese, and Korean forces ssweep through Binh Dinh Province in the central lowlands along the coast. The purpose of the operation was to drive the North Vietnamese out of the province and destroy enemy supply areas. In late January, it became the first large unit operation conducted across corps boundaries when the cavalrymen linked up with Double Eagle, a U.S. Marine Corps operation intended to destroy the North Vietnamese 325A Division. Altogether, there were reported enemy casualties of 2,389 by the time the operation ended.
1972 – After 28 years of hiding in the jungles of Guam, local farmers discover Shoichi Yokoi, a Japanese sergeant who was unaware that World War II had ended. Guam, a 200-square-mile island in the western Pacific, became a U.S. possession in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. In 1941, the Japanese attacked and captured it, and in 1944, after three years of Japanese occupation, U.S. forces retook Guam. It was at this time that Yokoi, left behind by the retreating Japanese forces, went into hiding rather than surrender to the Americans. In the jungles of Guam, he carved survival tools and for the next three decades waited for the return of the Japanese and his next orders. After he was discovered in 1972, he was finally discharged and sent home to Japan, where he was hailed as a national hero. He subsequently married and returned to Guam for his honeymoon. His handcrafted survival tools and threadbare uniform are on display in the Guam Museum in Agana.
1982 – A draft of Air Force history reported that the U.S. secretly sprayed herbicides on Laos during the Vietnam War.
1986 – The Voyager 2 space probe swept past Uranus, coming within 50,679 miles of the seventh planet of the solar system. Uranus has puzzled scientists ever since the probe Voyager 2 did the flyby and found that its magnetic field appeared to break the planetary rulebook. In 2004 scientists noted that Neptune and Uranus have an interior structure that is different from those of Jupiter and Saturn.
2002 – John Walker Lindh transported to Alexandria, Virginia, to be tried in a civilian criminal court for conspiring to kill Americans. He makes his first appearance before a U.S. District Court. A criminal complaint lists four charges, including conspiracy to kill his fellow Americans in Afghanistan..
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
GREAVES, CLINTON
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company C, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Florida Mountains, N. Mex., 24 January 1877. Entered service at: Prince Georges County, Md. Birth: Madison County, Va. Date of issue: 26 June 1879. Citation: While part of a small detachment to persuade a band of renegade Apache Indians to surrender, his group was surrounded. Cpl. Greaves in the center of the savage hand-to-hand fighting, managed to shoot and bash a gap through the swarming Apaches, permitting his companions to break free .
SMITH, WILHELM
Rank and organization: Gunner's Mate First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 10 April 1870, Germany. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 202, 6 April 1916. Citation: On board the U.S.S. New York, for entering a compartment filled with gases and rescuing a shipmate on 24 January
*HANSON, ROBERT MURRAY
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 4 February 1920, Lucknow, India. Accredited to: Massachusetts. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Air Medal. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty as fighter pilot attached to Marine Fighting Squadron 215 in action against enemy Japanese forces at Bougainville Island, 1 November 1943; and New Britain Island, 24 January 1944. Undeterred by fierce opposition, and fearless in the face of overwhelming odds, 1st Lt. Hanson fought the Japanese boldly and with daring aggressiveness. On 1 November, while flying cover for our landing operations at Empress Augusta Bay, he dauntlessly attacked 6 enemy torpedo bombers, forcing them to jettison their bombs and destroying 1 Japanese plane during the action. Cut off from his division while deep in enemy territory during a high cover flight over Simpson Harbor on 24 January, 1st Lt. Hanson waged a lone and gallant battle against hostile interceptors as they were orbiting to attack our bombers and, striking with devastating fury, brought down 4 Zeroes and probably a fifth. Handling his plane superbly in both pursuit and attack measures, he was a master of individual air combat, accounting for a total of 25 Japanese aircraft in this theater of war. His great personal valor and invincible fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
*PARRISH, LAVERNE
Rank and organization: Technician 4th Grade, U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 161st Infantry, 25th Infantry Division . Place and date: Binalonan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 18-24 January 1945. Entered service at: Ronan, Mont. Birth: Knox City, Mo. G.O. No.: 55, 13 July 1945. Citation: He was medical aid man with Company C during the fighting in Binalonan, Luzon, Philippine Islands. On the 18th, he observed 2 wounded men under enemy fire and immediately went to their rescue. After moving 1 to cover, he crossed 25 yards of open ground to administer aid to the second. In the early hours of the 24th, his company, crossing an open field near San Manuel, encountered intense enemy fire and was ordered to withdraw to the cover of a ditch. While treating the casualties, Technician Parrish observed 2 wounded still in the field. Without hesitation he left the ditch, crawled forward under enemy fire, and in 2 successive trips brought both men to safety. He next administered aid to 12 casualties in the same field, crossing and re-crossing the open area raked by hostile fire. Making successive trips, he then brought 3 wounded in to cover. After treating nearly all of the 37 casualties suffered by his company, he was mortally wounded by mortar fire, and shortly after was killed. The indomitable spirit, intrepidity, and gallantry of Technician Parrish saved many lives at the cost of his own.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for January 24, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
24 January
1913: The Burgess and Curtiss Company delivered the first Curtiss tractor airplane (Signal Corps No. 21) to the Signal Corps Aviation School at San Diego, Calif. It was accepted on 20 June. (24)
1919: 1Lt Temple M. Joyce, Army Air Service pilot, made 300 consecutive loops in a Morane fighter over Issoudun, France. (20)
1925: Using the Navy airship USS Los Angeles (ZR-3), 25 scientists and astronomers chased a solar eclipse across the U. S. (8: Jan 90)
1944: Twelfth Air Force provided air cover for Allied units landing on Anzio beach in Italy. US control of the air played a major role in defending the beachhead. (5)
1951: KOREAN WAR/OPERATION THUNDERBOLT. Close air support for United Nations ground troops remained a priority mission for Far East Air Forces in the Korean conflict. In the operation, a late January Eighth Army campaign designed to reach the Han River, T-6 Mosquito controllers patrolled ahead of friendly ground forces, notified ground forces of enemy strong spots, and called in air strikes by US fighter-bombers. Generals Matthew B. Ridgway and Earl E. Partridge reconnoitered the front lines in a T-6 prior to their 25 January dawn attack on Red Chinese forces. To sustain this offensive, in five days 68 C-119s dropped 1,162 tons of supplies, including fuel, oil, sleeping bags, C-rations, and signal wire, at Chunju. (17) (28)
1962: Two Navy F4H Phantoms, designated F-110A by the USAF, arrived at Langley AFB, Va., on a 120-day loan for orientation and evaluation. (24)
1965: The bulkiest object ever delivered by helicopter, the 2.5-ton 30-foot-tall Apollo spacecraft mockup, flew 1,000 miles from North American Aviation at Tulsa, Okla., to Cape Kennedy, Fla. (5)
1972: A remotely piloted vehicle flew for 21 hours continuously in a test at Edwards AFB, Calif. (3)
1973: The Spirit of '76, the VC-137 in which Lyndon B. Johnson became President in 1963, flew his body from Texas to Washington DC in a final tribute. (2) (26)
1978: The Tactical Air Command deployed eight F-15 Eagles from Langley AFB, Va., to Osan AB, Republic of Korea. This event gave the F-15 its first operational training deployment to the western Pacific. (16) (26)
1983: AHUAS TARA I. For this US-Honduran exercise, the Military Airlift Command moved 3,815 passengers and 2,528 tons of cargo on 65 C-141s, 156 C-130s, and 5 C-5s through 11 February. The exercise featured the airdrop of 516 Honduran paratroopers from nine C-130s. (2)
1985: FIRST ALL MILITARY SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION. Through 27 January, the Discovery flew the fifteenth Space Shuttle mission. Colonel Loren J. Shriver led a four-man crew on the Department of Defense's first dedicated mission to deliver an intelligence satellite. (8: Jan 90) (21)
1999: A Navy F-18 fired an AGM-154A Joint Standoff Weapon, built by Raytheon, for the first time in combat. The F-18 attacked an Iraqi air defense site. (21)
2002: An F-22 pilot from the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, Calif., fired an Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile and destroyed a target drone over the Point Mugu Test Range. The challenging shot was a look-down tail chase with the Navy target drone pulling ahead of the aircraft. (3)
2003: Due to the impending Iraq war, the Global Hawk Systems Program Office at Edwards AFB, Calif., accelerated the "Reachback" capability testing. That reachback capability involved a Mission Control Element in a remote location operating a unmanned aerial vehicle in a theater of war through a tactical field terminal. (3)
2005: Through 4 February, about 620 American servicemembers participated in Thailand's Exercise Cope Tiger. F-15s from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Wing and 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Japan, traveled to Korat AB, Thailand, to join F/A-18s from the USS Abraham Lincoln for the exercise. It featured one-on-one aerial combat and large coordinated air strikes. (32)
2006 Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. The Air National Guard deployed over 400 members of Indiana's 122d Fighter Wing, including 12 F-16s and some 35 pilots, to Ballad AB, Iraq. (32)
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Thanks to Brett
Stratfor snippets - Israel/Gaza, Iraq/U.S., Japan, EU, Poland/Ukraine, Argentina, India, Congo, Israel/Iran, Senegal, Russia/EU, Brazil,
Israel, Gaza: Domestic Protests, Foreign Criticism Mount as War Continues
What Happened: Israeli protesters are demanding that the government pause fighting in the Gaza Strip to earn the release of more Israelis held by militants, and some protesters are pushing for early elections, The Times of Israel reported on Jan. 22. Meanwhile, the European Union, the United States
Egypt and Qatar are signaling growing support for a Palestinian state as part of an agreement to end the Israel-Hamas war, despite Israeli opposition.
Why It Matters: While another temporary cease-fire remains possible, Israel will likely continue to oppose a permanent one that does not include the surrender or withdrawal of Hamas forces from Gaza. As the Israeli military assault continues, more hostages could be killed in the course of operations, causing public outrage and increasing domestic demands for an end to the fighting. Meanwhile, Israel's government is unlikely to agree to a Palestinian state, which will lead to foreign criticism. Sustained criticism will likely cause center-right lawmakers to leave the Israeli government eventually, bringing down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and sparking new elections.
Background: Privately, sources said that Israel and Hamas were continuing hostage negotiations, though progress remains slow. As Israel approaches its fourth month of war, war weariness is starting to creep in on the margins of the electorate as daily life remains disrupted by military mobilization and recurrent attacks on Israel. Meanwhile, the U.S. government is growing more apprehensive about the war as the Democratic base remains split over President Joe Biden's support for Israel ahead of the November presidential election.
Iraq, US: Pro-Iranian Militia Attacks on US Base Wound Several
What Happened: A U.S. official reported on Jan. 20 that pro-Iranian groups attacked the Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq with ballistic missiles and rockets, resulting in minor injuries for several US service members and one wounded Iraqi security forces member, Reuters reported the same day.
Why It Matters: The United States will very likely retaliate against the attack. In doing so, it will likely increase the number of targets, opt to target pro-Iranian militia leaders or launch pre-emptive attacks against missile and rocket launch sites used to attack U.S. targets. Such retaliation, however, will likely further stress the U.S.-Iraqi relationship. Although Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani reportedly privately expressed intent for the U.S. military to remain in Iraq, he faces rising public and political pressure to remove the U.S. military from the country. U.S. retaliatory strikes will likely exacerbate these political tensions, particularly as some militias the U.S. would likely target are affiliated with political parties.
Background: Pro-Iranian militias have attacked U.S. targets in Iraq and Syria following the start of the Hamas-Israel war. Domestic pressure against U.S. military presence in Iraq has increased after a Jan. 4 U.S. strike in Baghdad killed a high-ranking member of the Popular Mobilization Forces and Dec. 25 strikes killed a member of the Iraqi security forces and injured an additional 18, including civilians.
Japan: Tokyo Election Suggests Both Ruling Party and Opposition Have Work to Do
What Happened: Independent candidate Kazuo Shiyake, backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), won the Jan. 21 mayoral election for the city of Hachioji, in the western part of the Tokyo metropolitan area, with nearly 64,000 votes, the Japan Times reported Jan. 22. The next two closest vote-getters were Yasuhiko Takita — backed by three opposition parties — and Jo Ryozumi, who received around 57,000 votes and 45,000 votes, respectively.
Why It Matters: This mayoral election serves as a minor public relations win for the scandal-plagued LDP, though the victory margin was modest. Thus, the ongoing slush fund scandal that is tanking public support for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the LDP seems more of a problem for Kishida, who is seeking to win the September LDP leadership elections, than it is for the LDP, whose electoral prospects remain decent due to a highly fractious and disorganized political opposition. If another LDP leadership figure eventually replaces Kishida, however, policy continuity is likely.
Background: Kishida is trying to manage a slush fund scandal, in which LDP lawmakers are accused of misallocating funding for political events, that has tainted the Kochikai, Nikai and Abe factions of the LDP, partly by disbanding these factions.
EU: Brussels to Unveil Five Key Initiatives Under EU Economic Security Strategy
What Happened: The European Commission will unveil on Jan. 24 five initiatives as part of the economic security strategy it presented in July 2023, Euractiv reported on Jan. 19. These initiatives will include new rules strengthening foreign direct investment screening and a series of opinions and recommendations to increase coordination of export controls, support the research of dual-use technologies, improve research security, and develop outbound investment screening mechanisms.
Why It Matters: The leaked proposals confirm that Brussels will seek to translate its economic security strategy into concrete policy instruments gradually, with many of the initiatives consisting of non-binding opinions and recommendations that will take time to develop into new common rules. Additionally, the implementation of many of the rules will remain the prerogative of EU member states, particularly the eventual development of outbound investment screening mechanisms and export controls for critical technologies. Member states will likely remain cautious in their implementation of these rules due to fears of disrupting trade and economic relations with China. Regardless, the proposed rules aim to increase the scope of the bloc's FDI screening mechanisms and increase the European Commission's powers to screen and block foreign investment into member states' strategic sectors. The next European Commission will carry out the legislative procedure following the publication of the package after it takes office at the end of 2024 following the European Parliament elections in June 2024.
Background: The strategy reflects Brussels' ambition to form a systemic, coherent and coordinated approach to leveraging the bloc's economic heft amid an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.
Poland, Ukraine: EU Concessions and Tusk's Promises Will Improve Ukraine-Poland Ties
What Happened: The European Commission is set to offer "country specific safeguards" to countries bordering Ukraine in June when it extends suspensions to tariffs and quotas on EU imports of grain from Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Jan. 22. Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans to produce ammunition and weapons in Ukraine during a highly anticipated meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Jan. 22.
Why It Matters: The EU safeguards will allow Brussels to halt imports of Ukrainian products if they depress prices in a particular country's domestic market (as opposed to prices in the whole EU market). This concession is a victory for Poland in its effort to limit imports of Ukrainian grain without endangering relations with Kyiv or Brussels. Tusk's trip to Kyiv and announcement of plans to jointly produce ammunition and weapons with Ukraine also underscores Poland's intention to continue to support Ukraine politically and militarily in its war against Russia and remain Kyiv's closest ally in the European Union.
Background: Warsaw emerged as a crucial ally for Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022, providing Kyiv with key political, military and humanitarian support throughout the conflict. However, relations between the two deteriorated in recent months amid blockades by Polish truckers at the border to protest Ukrainian competitors' free access to the EU market and a government ban on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products amid widespread protests from Polish farmers. Tusk pledged to repair ties with Ukraine and the European Union, while at the same time protecting domestic economic interests, when he took office at the end of 2023.
Argentina: Opposition's Amendments to Omnibus Bill Increase Chance of Passage
What Happened: Argentine President Javier Milei submitted an executive decree extending the period of extraordinary sessions for Congress to debate the omnibus reform package through Feb. 14, according to the Argentina Official Bulletin on Jan. 19. Also included in the decree are provisions to allow foreign troops, namely the U.S. Coast Guard, to participate in "combined training for the defense of Argentine fishing resources" in April and a bill to curb money laundering and terrorism financing in Argentina.
Why It Matters: The government's willingness to negotiate on articles in the omnibus bill — which Milei had previously refused — and the extension of the extraordinary sessions suggests that a deal is within reach. If the bill passes in the lower house on Jan. 25, even with significant modifications, Milei will score a significant victory early on in his presidency. But some of the negotiated articles, like those seeking to remove withholdings on tax revenues to regional provinces, would strip the government of expected revenues, which would likely require Milei to increase taxes or cut spending to reach his fiscal goals. On the other hand, if the bill does not pass, Milei could resort to publishing unilateral executive decrees incorporating certain aspects of the bill, which would set up future battles in Congress. Meanwhile, Argentina's powerful labor unions have scheduled a 12-hour strike and wide-scale demonstrations in Buenos Aires and provinces across the country on Jan. 24 to protest Milei's economic reforms and sway lawmakers ahead of the vote.
Background: The controversial bill would give the president broad authority to legislate some matters without Congress until the end of 2025, introduce harsh sentences for those who organize protests, and facilitate the privatization of state-run firms. Milei and his Freedom Advances party, which only holds 38 of 257 seats in the lower house, face an uphill battle to reach 129 votes to pass the reforms. The Peronist Union for the Homeland party and associated left-wing parties plan to reject the bill altogether, but deputies they do not have a large enough outright majority to tank the legislation alone. with 102
India: Modi Leads Consecration Ceremony of Ram Temple Ahead of General Elections
What Happened: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the consecration of Ram Mandir, a Hindu temple for Lord Ram in the holy city Ayodhya, fulfilling a key promise of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Reuters reported on Jan. 22. Large-scale celebrations are taking place across the country, highlighting the religious fervor that has gripped large swaths of the Hindu public.
Why It Matters: The temple's consecration marks the completion of a decade-long BJP commitment to its reconstruction and serves as the unofficial commencement of Modi's campaign for re-election in India's general elections later in 2024. Given the temple's widespread resonance with Hindus, the consecration will boost Modi's popularity, especially since the main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, boycotted the consecration. The temple's consecration will also risk exacerbating religious tensions.
Background: The Ram Mandir movement has been a central theme throughout Modi's career, and the temple's consecration solidifies his legacy in contributing to the slow erosion of secularism in the country. The temple is being built at the site of the 16th century Babri Mosque, which a Hindu nationalist mob demolished in 1992. This site holds immense significance for Hindus, as it is considered the birthplace of Lord Ram, a revered deity in the Hindu faith.
Congo: Tshisekedi Sworn in Following Controversial Elections
What Happened: The Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second term following a controversial election contested by the opposition due to allegations of fraud, Reuters reported on Jan. 20. With armed security forces stationed across the capital, Kinshasa, there was no immediate indication that supporters of the opposition were responding to the call from two of Tshisekedi's primary rivals to demonstrate against his reelection nationwide.
Why It Matters: The opposition will likely continue to challenge the legitimacy of Tshisekedi's reelection, but these challenges will eventually subside without significantly affecting his presidency, as was the case following the contested polls in 2018. Tshisekedi's second term is likely to remain dominated by the ongoing violence in the east. However, this violence is unlikely to ease despite Tshisekedi's pledge to overhaul the security and defense structures aimed at resolving the enduring security crisis, especially with the departure of regional forces and U.N. peacekeeping troops.
Background: On Jan. 18, the National Episcopal Conference of Congo, acting on behalf of the Catholic Church, criticized the elections, labeling them a "catastrophe" and cautioning that the nation faced imminent peril. However, the Constitutional Court determined on Jan. 10 that the irregularities observed during the election could not have influenced the results significantly, citing the substantial margin between Tshisekedi, who garnered 73% of the votes, and the following candidate, Moise Katumbi, with 18%.
Israel, Iran: Israeli Strikes in Syria Kill Five IRGC Members, Risking Regional Escalation
What Happened: Iranian state media sources reported that an Israeli attack on a residential building in Damascus, Syria, killed the Syria intelligence chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, his deputy and three other IRGC members, The Times of Israel reported on Jan. 20. In response to the attack, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said, "The Islamic Republic will not leave the Zionist regime's crimes unanswered."
Why It Matters: Iran will likely conduct a kinetic response but avoid risking regional escalation ahead of its March 2024 legislative and Assembly of Experts elections. Therefore, retaliation will likely involve Iranian proxies in Syria and (to a lesser degree) Iraq launching attacks toward Israel, although the capabilities and incentives of Iraqi proxies would be fewer than those of Syrian proxies. Alternatively, Iran may conduct strikes in Kurdistan, Iraq or Syria against Israeli targets or near U.S. troops due to U.S. support for Israel. In the latter case, Iran may veil its threat to U.S. troops by claiming to have hit Israeli targets, as it did following its Jan. 15 strike in Iraq.
Background: Iran previously conducted a series of retaliatory strikes against Iraq, Syria and Pakistan on Jan. 15-16 in response to the deadly twin bombing attacks in Kerman on Jan. 3 and for the Jaish al-Adl militant attack in southeastern Iran in December 2023. Israeli airstrikes killed Seyed Razi Mousavi, a senior IRGC member, on Dec. 25, 2023, with little Iranian retaliation. Israel has previously launched airstrikes against Syrian targets, including the Damascus International Airport and weapons stockpiles, since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
Senegal: Constitutional Council Excludes Sonko, Wade From Final Electoral List
What Happened: Opposition candidates Ousmane Sonko and Karim Wade are not on the Constitutional Council's list of candidates who will be allowed to participate in the Feb. 25 presidential election, Africanews reported on Jan. 22. The ruling party's presidential candidate Amadou Ba was cleared to run, along with 19 other candidates.
Why It Matters: The announcement has caused an uproar in Senegalese politics and civil society and will likely foment unrest during the electoral period, as it effectively ends Sonko's appeal process to be allowed to participate in the election. Additionally, many Senegalese allege government interference in the Constitutional Council's process and are worried about electoral fraud on polling day. With that said, the opposition remains splintered among several parties, so it is unlikely to pose a substantial electoral risk to Ba.
Background: The Constitutional Council determined that Sonko was ineligible to join the electoral list because he faces a six-month suspended prison sentence, and it said Wade is ineligible because he had dual citizenship at the time he formally declared his presidential candidacy. Wade renounced his French citizenship the week of Jan. 15.
Russia, EU: EU Foreign Ministers Support Plan to Tax Gains of Frozen Russian Assets
What Happened: The foreign ministers of all EU member states have agreed to support a plan to tax the profits generated by frozen Russian central bank assets, Bloomberg reported Jan. 23. Reportedly, however, a group of countries, including Germany, continue to oppose seizing the Russian assets outright over legal concerns.
Why It Matters: European states opposed to seizing Russian assets will likely use support for taxing the proceeds on Russian assets as a substitute measure to provide political cover in order to oppose stronger measures, as reports increasingly suggest progress has stalled among the G7 regarding a common policy on seizing Russia's assets to support Ukraine. The majority of the EU-based frozen Russian assets are held by the clearing house Euroclear in Belgium and could potentially generate around 3 billion euros annually to support Ukraine — not an insignificant amount, but one that still pales in comparison to the approximately $300 billion in Russian central bank assets frozen by Western governments.
Background: On Jan. 22, the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said progress had been achieved and that discussions would continue at upcoming EU meetings. The G7 nations are seeking to formulate a common policy regarding appreciating frozen Russian central bank assets by the end of February.
Brazil: New Industrial Policy Seeks to Spur Local Industry, Exports
What Happened: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced the "New Industry Brazil" program, a 10-year 300 billion reais ($60 billion) policy to support local industry, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 22. The president later posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the new policy would help Brazil "overcome challenges and finally become a developed country."
Why It Matters: Lula's ambitious neo-industrial policy should catalyze Brazilian production and drive agricultural exports over the coming years, but it could also hurt Brazil's fiscal position. Unless Lula enacts new revenue-generating measures, the plan will likely strain the government's ability to follow through on commitments to reach a zero-primary deficit, which could result in pushback from the conservative Congress if Brazil's debt burden rises. Furthermore, much of the plan — local content requirements in production, heavy government investment in the economy, and preference for national products in government procurement — will be seen as protectionist measures to bolster domestic companies. This sentiment could threaten trade relations with partners in South America or stymie negotiations for a Mercosur-EU free trade deal. Finally, with so much money sloshing around the economy, corruption risk tied to public contracts and investments in Brazil will likely increase.
Background: The program will make available $60 billion through 2026 in low-interest rate credit lines, tax credits, and grants for agribusiness and its associated supply chains, as well as for infrastructure development, domestic healthcare companies, digital transformation, decarbonization, the energy transition, and security and defense. Most of the funding will come from the Brazilian Development Bank, but other government agencies such as the Brazilian Company of Research and Industrial Innovation will also participate.
Philippines: President Backs Constitutional Changes To Open Economy
What Happened: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is angling to change his country's 1987 constitution and scrap rules on foreign ownership to attract foreign investment, the South China Morning Post reported on Jan. 23. One of the most impactful changes would be lifting restrictions on those engaging in natural resource extraction.
Why It Matters: Lifting restrictions would impact oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea by undoing restrictions on joint ventures and foreign entities extracting Philippine resources. This means Chinese-Philippine joint exploration ventures proposed since 2018 would become feasible while also making the Philippines' energy market more attractive to international oil companies. Promoting the oil and gas sector in these ways would strengthen the Philippines' economy, particularly given the country's need for technical assistance. However, accommodating China would likely lead Beijing to permanently increase its presence in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone — much of which Beijing claims — thus stoking tensions over territory and intensifying the threat to the Philippines' claims.
Background: Oil and gas exploration and drilling in the West Philippine Sea (the area of the South China Sea that falls within the Philippines' EEZ) have stalled since 2011 due to the tense dispute between the Philippines and China. Marcos' proposed changes would also extend term limits; switch the Philippines from a presidential to a federal parliamentary system; and lift restrictions on foreign ownership of land and those engaging in media, education, advertising and public utilities.
Maldives: Government Grants Permission for Chinese Research Vessel to Dock
What Happened: The Maldivian foreign ministry issued a statement on Jan. 23 granting permission for the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 to dock in Male in February, although the ministry added that the vessel would not engage in any research activities in "Maldivian waters."
Why It Matters: The Maldives' decision highlights its deepening relations with China, which raises security concerns for India amid its ongoing regional influence contest with China. Although the Maldives affirms that China is not conducting deep-water research in Maldivian waters, the vessel may continue research activities in the region. This situation will likely heighten security concerns for India, given its past reservations regarding the presence of such vessels near its shores.
Background: Newly-elected Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu promised to rebalance the country's ties with India, and on Jan. 8-12, he attended the Maldives' inaugural state visit to China. Separately, on Jan. 14, he called for the withdrawal of Indian troops. Under pressure from India, Sri Lanka's government recently imposed a one-year suspension on the docking of Chinese research vessels in its ports.
Turkey, Sweden: Turkish National Assembly Approves Sweden's NATO Bid
What Happened: Turkey's National Assembly approved Sweden's NATO bid, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will likely sign the law into effect in the upcoming days, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 23.
Why It Matters: Turkey's approval leaves Hungary as the only NATO member that has not approved Sweden's NATO bid, so pressure on Hungary to move forward with approval will likely increase. With the progression of Sweden's NATO bid, the United States will likely move forward with the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, although the sale's timeline remains indefinite. If the sale goes through, Turkey may take it as an indication that NATO allies have lost interest in stopping Turkish attacks on Kurds, which could embolden Ankara to strike Kurdish targets. However, if the sale does not go through, Turkey's diplomatic relationship with the United States will likely become strained, which may hinder some cooperation.
Background: Turkey previously delayed its approval of Sweden's NATO bid after criticizing Sweden's counterterrorism laws as ineffective against Kurdish groups like the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which Turkey recognizes as a terrorist organization. Sweden subsequently passed legislation to strengthen its counterterrorism laws and resumed arms exports to Turkey. In December 2023, Erdogan tied the vote to approve the bid with the acquisition of F-16s from the United States.
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