THE WATCH STAFF Canada and the United States demonstrated their interoperability in defense of North America during military exercises highlighted by the biennial Arctic Edge (AE), which was held across Alaska and ended March 16, 2022. “The Canadian Armed Forces is a key partner in Arctic safety, security and defense matters,” said Canadian Lt. Col. Jill Lutz, commanding officer of the Canadian Detachment at Alaska’s Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. In conjunction with the large-scale AE, several other joint exercises took place in the region: the U.S. Army’s Joint Pacific Multi Readiness Center, the Alaska Air National Guard’s Arctic Eagle-Patriot, the U.S.…
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REUTERS Mexico deported the suspected leader of a drug cartel to the United States, authorities said on March 15, 2022, after his arrest spurred armed attacks against almost two dozen military installations and a U.S. consulate. Juan Trevino, also known as “El Huevo” or “The Egg,” was arrested March 13 in the northern Mexican border state of Tamaulipas. He was wanted for crimes including drug trafficking and money laundering. “It was a blow to one of the most important criminal organizations in the northeast of the country, with influence in at least five states and operations in the United States,” Rosa Rodriguez, Mexico’s security minister, said in…
U.S. Strategic Command Integrated deterrence is the foundation of the United States’ defense strategy, and interdependence across all domains is critical to effective deterrence. Prioritized and focused efforts are required to reduce cyber vulnerabilities in the conventional, nuclear and cyber domains. To that end, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) partnered to deploy a cyber protection team (CPT) to Fairford, England, in October 2021 to enhance the information system and network security of the U.S. Air Force’s B-1B Lancer bombers. The two unified combatant commands next turned their sights toward the cybersecurity of U.S. strategic assets in…
U.S. STRATEGIC COMMAND The U.S. Air Force recently sent four B-52H Stratofortresses to Guam to conduct bomber task force (BTF) missions in the Indo-Pacific region with allies and partners. More than 220 Airmen assigned to the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, deployed to the island in support of the operation February 9-March 9, 2022. “Every bomber task force mission demonstrates the credibility of our forces to address a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any other time in our history,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Coleman, commander of the 96th Expeditionary…
THE WATCH STAFF A “cautiously optimistic” government of the Bahamas recently eased COVID-19 restrictions in the Caribbean island nation. In making the March 12, 2022, announcement, the Ministry of Health and Wellness relaxed several pandemic rules, including those for cruise ships, social gatherings and masks, the Nassau Guardian newspaper reported. Minister of Health Dr. Michael Darville told the Guardian that in addition to the recent changes, he is closely watching the new omicron subvariant that is causing a surge in COVID-19 cases in Asia and Europe. “Our job is to monitor. As we monitor, we will take into consideration what’s…
THE WATCH STAFF The U.S. Army’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) recently defeated incoming missiles in two separate flight tests — a step toward realizing Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2). The successful tests were carried out March 17, 2022, at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, IBCS manufacturer Northrop Grumman announced. The goal of the IBCS is to connect different types of missile-defense assets to improve command and control. JADC2 is the U.S. Department of Defense’s concept to connect sensors from all the military services — Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force — into one network, according to a…
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Mexican Army and National Guard on March 3, 2022, said they found almost 3 million rounds of ammunition and at least 16 fully automatic, belt-fed machine guns in raids on several houses in the northern border state of Sonora. The Defense Department said the seizure was the biggest haul of illegal ammunition in recent memory in Mexico. The ammunition, more than enough to supply a battalion-size force, was found in Navojoa during raids. Navojoa is a crossroads city in the southern part of Sonora several hundred miles from the U.S. border. Sonora has been the scene…
North Korea appears to be preparing to launch a reconnaissance satellite, a move that may prove as controversial as the nuclear-armed country’s weapons tests because they use the same banned ballistic missile technology, experts say. North Korea conducted a record seven missile launches in January 2022 and has suggested it could resume testing of nuclear weapons or its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for the first time since 2017. After a test of satellite-related systems during a missile launch on March 6, 2022 — the second such test in a week — experts think it is just a matter of…
THE WATCH STAFF Arctic Edge, the biennial defense exercise for U.S. Northern Command and the Canadian Armed Forces, took place February 28-March 17, 2022, throughout Alaska. During the three-week event, Arctic Edge had 1,000 participants, including U.S. Coast Guardsmen and government employees from the U.S. Department of Defense and Canada’s Department of National Defence. U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. David A. Krumm, commander of Alaskan Command, said Arctic exercises are crucial in demonstrating and improving the capabilities of U.S. and Canadian forces to defend their homelands. TAKING AIM: A Green Beret assigned to the U.S. 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)…
THE WATCH STAFF As Russia wages war on Ukraine, one of its neighbors is leading a large-scale winter NATO exercise. Norway, a NATO member that shares a nearly 201-kilometer land border with Russia, is hosting Cold Response 2022, which began March 14 and runs through early April. The participants include 30,000 troops from more than two dozen nations — NATO members as well as defense partners Finland and Sweden. NATO said Cold Response, which also includes 200 aircraft and 50 vessels, was “not linked to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine,” The Associated Press reported March 15. Before the…