Good morning, and welcome to the Global Situation Report for Monday, 13 May 2024.
- Global Rollup
- Germany is considering a conscription-like program for all 18-year-olds after the German defense minister said he was “convinced” Germany “needs a form of conscription.” Germany ended compulsory military service in 2011, which the German defense minister described as a “mistake.”
- U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHOM) officials visited Guyana last week to discuss “ongoing security cooperation and security assistance”. A pair of F/A-18F Super Hornets conducted a flyover of the country, likely in response to threats against Guyana from the Venezuelan military.
- India’s shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal left for Iran today, where experts expect him to sign a ten-year access deal for Iran’s Chabahar Port. (This will allow India to bypass Pakistani territory for trade but also set India at odds with the U.S. by connecting the International North-South Transport Corridor’s final leg between Chahbahar and western Indian ports.- J.V.)
- China and Cambodia kick off an annual military exercise this week. Military analysts are concerned that the development of Chinese infrastructure could enable the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to be a staging area for military conflict with neighboring Vietnam. China and Cambodia inaugurated this annual military exercise in 2016 after Cambodia canceled a similar joint exercise with the United States.
- China is sending a large force to block the Philippines’ 100-boat civilian mission to the Scarborough Shoal. Ato Ino, the organizer of the mission, said they would continue on. The Philippine Coast Guard said they will provide an escort to the civilian mission.
- China and Mexico conducted their first direct flight on Sunday with both Ambassadors in tow. The Chinese Ambassador to Mexico said this will facilitate economic and personnel ties between China and all of Latin America.
THAT’S A WRAP: This does it for today’s edition. Thank you for reading. If you know folks who would also like to receive this email, would you please forward it to them? We appreciate you spreading the word. – M.S.