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Source: Europol
The 29-year-old individual was apprehended in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, on 9 January. Three properties were searched to gather evidence against the main suspect. The arrest comes after months of intensive collaboration between Ukrainian authorities, Europol and a cloud provider, who worked tirelessly to identify and locate the individual behind the widespread cryptojacking operation.The suspect is believed to have mined over USD…
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
January 11, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with Japan Chief of Staff, Joint Staff General Yoshihide Yoshida yesterday by phone.
Gen. Brown offered his condolences to the people of Japan following the devastating earthquake there.
The two military leaders discussed the ongoing illegal Houthi attacks on commercial vessels operating in international waters in the Red Sea. Gen. Brown reiterated the U.S. desire to work with all nations who share an interest in upholding the principle of freedom of navigation and ensuring safe passage for global shipping.
The leaders reaffirmed the U.S. – Japan Alliance’s resolve to maintain regional stability. Gen. Brown reiterated that the U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan remains ironclad.
The U.S. – Japan Alliance remains the cornerstone of peace, security and stability in the region, facilitating a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
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Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
January 5, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with New Zealand Defence Force Chief of Defence Air Marshal Kevin Short today by phone.
The two military leaders discussed the ongoing illegal Houthi attacks on commercial vessels operating in international waters in the Red Sea. Gen. Brown reiterated the U.S. desire to work with all nations who share an interest in upholding the principle of freedom of navigation and ensuring safe passage for global shipping.
The leaders also discussed the regional security environment, with a focus on the Pacific Islands region, and explored areas for further collaboration and security cooperation.
The United States and New Zealand have a longstanding partnership focused on ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific around the globe.
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Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
January 8, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with Chief of the Spanish General Staff Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón today by phone. This was their first call since Gen. Brown became Chairman.
The two military leaders discussed strategic security cooperation, Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and the security environment in Europe and the Middle East.
The leaders also discussed the ongoing illegal Houthi attacks on commercial vessels operating in international waters in the Red Sea. Gen. Brown reiterated the U.S. desire to work with all nations who share an interest in upholding the principle of freedom of navigation and ensuring safe passage for global shipping.
Spain is a vital NATO ally and shares a long-standing and strategic relationship with the United States.
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Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
January 4, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with German Inspector General of the Armed Forces Gen. Carsten Breuer today by phone.
The two military leaders discussed strategic security cooperation, Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and the security environment in Europe.
The leaders also discussed the ongoing illegal Houthi attacks on commercial vessels operating in international waters in the Red Sea. Gen. Brown reiterated the U.S. desire to work with all nations who share an interest in upholding the principle of freedom of navigation and ensuring safe passage for global shipping.
Germany is a key NATO ally and critical partner in maintaining peace and stability around the globe.
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Source: Interpol (news and events)
Diego Nicolás Marset Alba, a reputed drug kingpin and brother to the leader of the “Primer Cartel Uruguayo” cartel, was arrested in Brazil on Tuesday 26 December as part of a regional police operation involving INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs) in Brasilia, La Paz, Asuncion and Montevideo.
22-year-old Uruguayan national Diego Marset had been avoiding arrest for many years by using multiple false identities from Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. He is thought to be a central figure in the trafficking of drugs from South America to Europe and is also linked to several high-profile killings.
Diego Marset was the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice requested by Paraguay, which serves as a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and arrest a suspect for extradition.
Married to a Bolivian woman, Diego Marset became the focus of this strategic regional operation when INTERPOL shared intelligence that his wife was nearing childbirth in Foz de Iguacu, Brazil.
Foreseeing Marset’s potential visit to Brazil for the birth, officers from Brazil’s Federal Police monitored the wife’s residence and arrested the fugitive when he arrived at her home.
Valdecy Urquiza, Brazil’s Director of International Cooperation and INTERPOL Vice President for the Americas, said:
“It was the crucial leads provided by countries in the region to the global police community which permitted Brazil’s capture of Diego Marset. It is by working together this way to ensure dangerous fugitives are behind bars that police contribute to global security.
“This arrest not only makes the world a safer place but also demonstrates South America’s determination and commitment to dismantling global criminal networks for global security.”
For NCB Asuncion, this arrest is part of “Operation A Ultranza PY”, one of Paraguay’s most extensive operations against organized crime and money laundering and involving more than 100 raids, 30 arrest warrants, and the seizure of assets worth over USD 100 million.
Paraguay’s Minister of Interior Enrique Riera Escudero said:
“We commend INTERPOL for making sure critical policing tools are strategically positioned for effective regional cooperation across the globe: the INTERPOL community has been key to disrupting South American transnational organized crime groups which damage the region’s communities and economy with their dangerous activities.
“The arrest of Diego Marset stands as a warning for those who think they can continue to threaten our regional stability and security: this is just the beginning.”
While Diego Marset now faces extradition to Paraguay, the hunt continues for his brother, Sebastián Marset, who remains at large and the subject of Red Notices from multiple countries for his drug trafficking ties and links to high profile murders.
Source: NATO
In 2023, NATO air forces across Europe scrambled well over 300 times to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching Alliance airspace, with most intercepts occurring over the Baltic Sea. NATO has standing air-policing missions that calls for Allied jets to scramble when there are signs of Russian military planes approaching Allied airspace in unpredictable ways.
Along NATO’s eastern flank, Russian military aircraft have a history of not transmitting a transponder code indicating their position and altitude, not filing a flight plan, or did communicating with air traffic controllers. The vast majority of aerial encounters between NATO and Russian jets were safe and professional. Breaches of NATO airspace by Russian military aircraft remained rare and generally of short duration.
“Russia’s war against Ukraine has created the most dangerous security situation in Europe in decades,” said acting NATO Spokesperson Dylan White. “NATO fighter jets are on duty around the clock, ready to scramble in case of suspicious or unannounced flights near the airspace of our Allies. Air policing is an important way in which NATO provides security for our Allies.”
In the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine, NATO has substantially reinforced its air defences on its eastern flank, including with more fighter jets, surveillance flights and ground-based air defences. After repeated Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure very close to NATO territory, Allies deployed extra fighter jets to Romania. In October, after subsea pipelines ruptured in the Baltic Sea, NATO sent additional capabilities to the region. This year, NATO also held its biggest ever air exercise, with over 250 aircraft training for the collective defence of the Alliance during “Air Defender 23”.
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
December 28, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces Gen. Martin Herem by video teleconference today. This was their first call since Gen. Brown became Chairman.
The military leaders discussed Estonia’s defense modernization programs, Baltic regional security, deterring Russian aggression, and the upcoming Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session at NATO Headquarters in January.
Estonia is an important Ally on NATO’s eastern flank and a significant contributor to international efforts to assist Ukraine.
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Source: NATO
From 1 January 2024, the United Kingdom’s 7th Light Mechanised Brigade will lead NATO’s rapid reaction force, placing thousands of soldiers on standby and ready to deploy within days. NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) was created after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and was deployed for the first time for collective defence of the Alliance after Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The leadership position is rotated annually among Allies. The UK takes over from Germany, which led the force in 2023.
“This brigade needs to be ready to move within days to wherever NATO needs it, making it a key part of our collective defence. The UK’s leadership of our highest readiness formation is a clear display of its capabilities and commitment to NATO”, said acting Spokesperson Dylan White.
The VJTF is the highest-readiness element of NATO’s larger Response Force, which also includes air and maritime forces. In 2024, VJTF land forces will comprise some 6,000 thousand troops, with the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team – “the Desert Rats” – at its core. The brigade consists of a light cavalry regiment, and four light-mechanised infantry battalions with artillery, engineering, logistics, and medical regiments. Units include the Royal Anglian Regiment and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Poland’s 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade and Spain’s Brigada Guzmán el Bueno will provide heavy battle tanks, attack helicopters and air defences. In total, nine NATO Allies provide forces.
NATO’s Joint Force Command in Brunssum will command the Response Force in 2024. The United Kingdom’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps will serve as the land component command. The Alliance will transition the NATO Response Force into the new Allied Reaction Force in mid-2024.
Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff
December 22, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., spoke with Qatari Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Salim Hamad Aqil Al-Nabit today by phone.
The two military leaders discussed the current security environment in the Middle East, including the threat against U.S. forces throughout the region and the current situation in Gaza. Gen. Brown emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, continued efforts to secure hostages held by Hamas, as well as the importance of deterring any state or non-state actor from seeking to expand the conflict.
The leaders discussed recent attacks by the Houthis on commercial vessels operating in international waters in the southern Red Sea. Gen. Brown reiterated the U.S. desire to work with all nations who share an interest in upholding the principle of freedom of navigation and ensuring safe passage for global shipping.
The strategic partnership between the U.S. and Qatar, a Major Non-NATO Ally, is a crucial element to peace and security in the Middle East region.
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