Good morning, and welcome to the Global Situation Report for Thursday, 14 December 2023.
- U.S. REQUESTS AUSTRALIAN NAVY PATROL AGAINST HOUTHI ATTACKS: The United States requested an Australian warship to help patrol the Red Sea and guard against Houthi drone and missile attacks, according to Australian media.
- Australian officials are considering the request to grant a ship to the international maritime security effort.
- Australia operates only ten air defense platforms, fewer than what are presently in the Central Command Area of Responsibility.
Why It Matters: Australia has a high-tech but extremely small navy that doesn’t often perform extra-regional deployments. However, their Hobart-class destroyers are AEGIS-equipped and can be fully integrated into an air defense picture alongside their ANZAC-class frigates. This is likely an attempt to get the Royal Australian Navy real-world experience in an integrated air defense network with allies against a low-threat enemy ahead of a potential war with China. – J.V.
- MARINE GENERAL: WIN SPACE OR LOSE FUTURE WARS: Marine Corp Lt. Gen. Matthew Glavy warned that the U.S. needs to win battles in space if it wants to win future wars.
- “I’m telling you right now: We don’t win the space domain? Don’t even bother,” Glavy said. “It’s pretty stiff competition. No space, no chance.”
Why It Matters: Space has been a significant topic in defense and trade circles over the last year, even including sending manned and armed vessels to space to protect merchant assets. Space domination is the new Air Superiority. It houses large segments of surveillance assets and, as noted by recent conferences comfortably talking about violating treaties about weaponizing space, possibly contains some weapons platforms. Gaining Space Superiority or even Space Dominance would give an enormous advantage to the victor. – J.V.
- SULLIVAN MEETS WITH MBS, ON TO ISRAEL: U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman yesterday to discuss the Gaza situation and other issues like the ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
- Sullivan is scheduled to travel to Israel on Thursday and Friday to discuss a ceasefire and peace plan and also to press Israeli military officials against “indiscriminate bombing.”
Why It Matters: The Biden administration appears to be pressuring Israel to end the war before the end of the year to prevent a regional escalation. Muslim and Arab leaders are saying behind the scenes they would prefer Hamas out of power, but they are under domestic pressure to support Gaza over civilian casualties. Biden is likely also concerned over the domestic political fallout of the Israel-Gaza war continuing into the next year. – R.C.
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.