Political and security risk updates from the Open Briefing intelligence desks. Includes Al-Shabaab's video threat against British Muslim leaders and the string of bombings that threatens Burma’s reformist efforts.
Category: Publications
The weekly briefing, 14 October 2013
The first weekly political and security risk briefing from Open Briefing covers, among other things, the threat to political stability in Somalia from federal natural resource management and the suspension of US military aid to Egypt.
Remote control war: Unmanned combat air vehicles in China, India, Iran, Israel, Russia and Turkey
Open Briefing has identified at least 200 different UAVs in use or in development by China, India, Iran, Israel, Russia and Turkey, with 29 of these being armed drones. The study also assesses the likely future use of armed drones by each country.
Corruption within the pharmaceutical supply chain to the developing world
Pharmaceutical and health sector corruption is financially costly and poses a significant threat to public safety. Recognising the importance of these issues, in May 2013 Savannah Wisdom tasked Open Briefing to undertake a related scoping exercise.
Fire on ice: Russia’s new Arctic brigades
Open Briefing: Russia first publicly announced plans to form at least one Arctic brigade in 2011. The scale and nature of further developments in the formation of these brigades over the next two years or so will tell us much about Moscow’s intentions.
Iran’s outreach to Afghanistan and Tajikistan faces obstacles
Open Briefing: For all the focus on contemporary Iran, relatively little attention is paid to its trilateral ties with Afghanistan and Tajikistan, the geolinguistic remnants of an eclectic series of empires collectively denominated Persian.
Intelligence brief: The likelihood and potential impacts of alternative South Sudan oil pipelines
Open Briefing: Reports that construction of an alternative oil pipeline from South Sudan to Port Lamu, Kenya, will begin in October 2013 are overly optimistic and on-schedule pipeline construction is unlikely. However, Juba is highly likely to continue to seek alternatives to the existing pipeline to Port Sudan, Sudan.
Intelligence brief: The direction of travel for Turkish policy towards Sudan
Open Briefing: Turkey is likely to continue increasing economic and military links with Sudan, but high-profile political engagement with Sudanese officials will remain difficult for Ankara.
