America’s Congressman, John Garamendi and Senator Roger Wicker are reintroducing the ‘Energizing American Shipbuilding Act’, aiming to recapitalise the US’s strategic domestic building and maritime industries. This would be achieved by increasing the percentages of LNG and crude oil exports that will be transported on US-built, flagged, and crewed vessels.
A proposed European initiative to bolster maritime security in the Persian Gulf would only complement ongoing US efforts instead of being a ‘stand-alone’ operation, the top US general said. This comes as UK proposed a plan earlier this week for a European-led naval mission to ensure security in Strait of Hormuz.
Increased activity in the Arctic is a concern for national security and for US Northern Command, the officer in charge of North American security told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington about the role both agencies play in homeland defense.
China published a white paper on July 24, to analyze its defensive national defense policy in the new era and explain the practice, purposes and importance of China’s attempts to build a fortified national defense and a strong military. The white paper is called ‘China’s National Defense in the New Era’, and aims to help the international community understand China’s national defense.
France, Italy and Denmark are supporting an UK plan for a European-led naval mission to ensure safe transits through the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran seized a British-flagged tanker, according to three senior EU diplomats. Except for this idea, British foreign ministry and defense officials have also discussed about a possible mission, which would involve not just ships but aircrafts too.
According to the Farsnews, Iranian news agency, the Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, commented that Iran is the ‘guardian of security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz’, adding that the regional issues will be solved through discussions amongst neighbors.
US Central Command is developing a multinational maritime effort, called Operation Sentinel, to expand surveillance of and security in key waterways in the Middle East to ensure freedom of navigation under the recent events in the Arabian Gulf region.
Gard advises all vessels operating in the Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf region to be highly alerted, operate with a heightened level of security and follow relevant guidance, as the tension in the area keep increasing.
Following the Stena Impero seizure from Iran, the UK called for a European-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz, to ensure safe navigation. After a meeting of COBR, Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, presented the government’s plan on how to keep the area safe.
The US is taking further action under maximum economic pressure campaign against the Iranian regime by imposing sanctions on a Chinese firm and its chief executive for knowingly purchasing or acquiring oil from Iran, violating US sanctions. The transaction took place after the expiration of China’s Significant Reduction Exception (SRE) on May 2, 2019, and was not covered by that SRE.
