ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

On Jauary 29,  CNN released a video about “Venezuelan army defectors”  that appeal to US President Donald Trump to arm them to defend “freedom” in Venezuela. “As Venezuelan soldiers, we are making a request to the US to support us, in logistical terms, with communication, with weapons, so we can realize Venezuelan freedom,” one of the alleged defectors, Guillen Martinez, told CNN. Another one, Hidalgo Azuaje, added: “We’re not saying that we need only US support, but also Brazil, Colombia, Peru, all brother countries, that are against this dictatorship.” The ‘appeal’ came as the US is increasing pressure on the legitimate Venezuelan government in an attempt to change the political regime in the country. White House National Security Adviser John Bolton was even spotted with a mysterious note about the deployment of 5,000 US troops to Colombia, the US ally which borders Venezuela. In this light, the military uprising or at least a partial defection will become a useful tool t

Source: RIA Novosti/Ilya Pitalev The Russian military has field tested a miitary exoskeleton in Syria, according to Sergei Smaglyuk, president “GB Inzhiniring,” which developed the suit along with TsNIITochMash,  RIA Novosti reported on January 23 . The carbon fiber and metal suit allows a service member to carry up to 70kg of equipment, like an automatic grenade launcher or a 82mm mortar, at long distances without fatigue. The same capabilities allow soldiers using the suit to evacuate wounded people in disasters and to march much further without getting tired. Source: RIA Novosti/Ilya Pitalev Smaglyuk revealed that the exoskeleton had been developed at request from the Russian Engineer Troops for operators of robotic complexes as well as service members of assault engineer-sapper battalions. Russian forces already used the exoskeleton in Syria. According to Smaglyuk, an operator of the Uran-6 mine-clearing robot was carrying its 35-kg control station for 9 hours and was

Click to see the full-size image On January 29 th , US President Donald Trump’s  public events schedule is completely vacant.  More than likely, the POTUS will spend the day if not more discussing the regime change policy and efforts aimed at Venezuela. On the previous day, Trump signed  an executive order  aimed at “Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency with Respect to Venezuela.” “The Executive Order I have issued accounts for the swearing in of a legitimate Interim President of Venezuela, and addresses actions by persons affiliated with the illegitimate Maduro regime, including human rights violations and abuses in response to anti-Maduro protests, arbitrary arrest and detention of anti‑Maduro protestors, curtailment of press freedom, harassment of political opponents, and continued attempts to undermine the Interim President of Venezuela and undermine the Venezuelan National Assembly,”  the Presidential Message accompanying the order stated. Shortl

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, attached to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response-Central Command, engage targets during a live-fire demonstration near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria, Sept, 7, 2018. SPMAGTF-CR-CC Marines supported Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. The U.S. is considering a plan to keep some forces in the al-Tanaf base in southeastern Syria to counter “Iranian activities,” despite President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw all American troops from the war-torn country, the Foreign Policy magazine reported on January 25 citing officials. “Al-Tanaf is a critical element in the effort to prevent Iran from establishing a ground line of communications from Iran through Iraq through Syria to southern Lebanon in support of Lebanese Hezbollah,” a former senior U.S. military commander told the Washington-based magazine. More than 200 U.S. service members are deployed in al-Tanaf base, which is

Foreign Ministry statement on the developments in Venezuela ( source ): The events in Venezuela have reached a dangerous point. Failing to remove Nicolas Maduro, including physically, the extremist opponents of the legitimate government of Venezuela have opted for a highly confrontational scenario. The United States and several other countries in the region have recognised the opposition leader who has sworn himself in as Venezuela’s interim president. This can only deepen the social divide in Venezuela, aggravate street protests, dramatically destabilise the Venezuelan political community and further escalate the conflict. The deliberate and obviously well orchestrated creation of dual power and an alternative decision-making centre in Venezuela is a direct path towards chaos and erosion of Venezuelan statehood. Several people have already died. We firmly condemn those who are pushing Venezuelan society into the abyss of violent civil discord. We regard Washington’s unceremonio

Tu-95. Source: Izvestia/Pavel Bednyakov Written by  Ilya Kramnik ; Originally appeared at  Izvestia The 2011-2020 State Armaments Program (SAP) implementation is approaching the end. In some instances, it will be completely or almost completely fulfilled, in some others there is a big gap between the implementation and the plan. Soon the Russian military will start receiving weapons under the newly reapproved 2018-2027 SAP. Izvestia attempts to assess its key provisions. Strategic Clarity The strategic component of SAP provokes the fewest questions. Modernization of strategic nuclear forces (SNF) remains a priority irrespective of situation, and the current political situation can only magnify its importance. It is evident that the SNF will continue to acquire Yars ICBMs in a mobile configuration, replacing the aging Soviet-era Topols. The deployment of silo-based Sarmat replacing the Voyevoda is expected in 2021. 2019 will see the deployment of the Avangard gliding hyper