SOFREP Daily: Allies Urge Zelenskyy to Seek Peace, Putin Revises Nuclear Doctrine, AUKUS Expand Hypersonic Collaboration

Good Morning! Here’s your daily rundown on what’s going on in defense and global affairs to keep you up to speed this Tuesday, November 19.

Allies Urge Zelensky to Seek Peace with Putin

After nearly 1,000 days of war, Ukraine’s allies are nudging President Volodymyr Zelensky to explore peace talks with Putin.

With Donald Trump set to re-enter the White House in January, promising a quick resolution, and North Korea ramping up its support for Russia, the stakes are rising.

Germany’s Scholz and France’s Emmanuel Macron are urging dialogue, while Turkey’s President Erdogan plans to propose a ceasefire plan at the upcoming G20 Summit in Brazil this week.

Amid all this, the US has authorized Ukraine to carry out limited strikes on Russian territory, a move aimed at bolstering Kyiv’s position ahead of potential negotiations.

However, Putin isn’t showing much interest in compromise, insisting that any deal must respect Russia’s security concerns and territorial gains.

Meanwhile, Zelensky faces mounting pressure, as his peace proposal—centered on NATO membership and security guarantees—clashes with allies’ more cautious approaches.

1000 days together
1000 days of Ukraine
🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/o3FMIdEKZi

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 19, 2024

Putin Revises Nuclear Doctrine as War Tensions Soar

President Vladimir Putin, on the 1,000th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, signed a new nuclear doctrine that raises the stakes.

It declares that any conventional attack on Russia, if backed by a nuclear power, will be treated as a joint assault, possibly warranting a nuclear response.

This move comes shortly after the US gave Ukraine the green light to strike Russian targets with longer-range missiles, signaling a dangerous escalation in the conflict.

The updated doctrine, first announced in September, outlines broader scenarios for Russia’s potential use of nukes, including responses to large-scale air attacks or threats to its ally Belarus.

It also reinforces the idea that an attack by any NATO country would be seen as an attack by the entire alliance.

🇷🇺 PUTIN SIGNED NEW NUCLEAR DOCTRINE!

It contains paragraphs like:
– If a non nuclear state is supported by a nuclear state and they launch a mass drone strike, Russia may nuke in response.
– Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against… pic.twitter.com/RMgySJX32l

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) November 19, 2024

Critics in Russia had been pushing for this update, arguing that the old policy wasn’t tough enough to deter Western support for Ukraine.

Now, with a more aggressive stance, Putin seems ready to use his nuclear arsenal as leverage against the West.

North Korea Boosts Russia’s War Effort with Troops and Artillery

North Korea might be gearing up to send as many as 100,000 troops to support Russia in its war on Ukraine, according to recent assessments from some G20 nations.

While this isn’t happening right away, the plan could involve rotating batches of troops over time.

Ukraine’s ambassador to South Korea recently warned that up to 15,000 North Korean soldiers might be deployed to the front lines in Russia’s Kursk region and eastern Ukraine.

This growing partnership between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un has raised alarms among Kyiv’s allies, who fear it could worsen Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II and shift the security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.

JUST IN: 🇰🇵🇷🇺 North Korea may deploy up to 100,000 troops to fight alongside Russia in its war against Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/QvdgAMsIfp

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) November 17, 2024

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to discuss this with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Brazil this week, urging China to use its influence to prevent further escalation.

North Korea’s involvement isn’t just about manpower; they’ve already sent artillery and weapons to Russia. In return, Russia could be sharing advanced military tech, possibly including tactical nukes and missile systems.

Meanwhile, China’s silence on the issue suggests Xi might not be thrilled about North Korea’s moves, especially as Beijing faces pressure from a US-led global order.

US, UK, and Australia Expand Hypersonic Collaboration

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia recently inked a new deal under the AUKUS security pact called the Hypersonic Flight Test and Experimentation (HyFliTE) Project Arrangement.

This agreement will allow the three countries to share hypersonic weapons testing facilities and collaborate on developing cutting-edge technologies.

With a $252 million budget, they’re planning up to six joint test flights by 2028.

“Collaborative efforts are accelerating the development of underpinning enabling technologies, such as high-temperature materials, advanced propulsion systems, and guidance and control,” Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, said in a statement released on Monday. “Each of these technologies is integral to the performance of hypersonic weapon systems and provides enhanced operational capability.”

The pact is all about staying ahead in hypersonic tech, with a focus on advanced propulsion, high-temp materials, and precision guidance.

The new AUKUS arrangement to accelerate hypersonic technology development is a significant step in bolstering collective security. This collaboration enhances our capabilities and supports a #FreeandOpenIndoPacific. 🇦🇺 – 🇬🇧 – 🇺🇸 https://t.co/zDWJXRNrKn

— U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (@INDOPACOM) November 19, 2024

Leaders from all three nations are touting this as a way to boost their defense edge and ensure peace in an increasingly tense global landscape.

“The US DoD is committed to working closely with the Australian Department of Defence and the UK MOD to further the pursuit of common and consistent objectives for affordable and responsive flight testing of hypersonic technologies and concepts,” added Shyu.

Israel To Deliver Arrow 3 Missile Defense to Germany

Despite bracing for potential attacks from Iran, Israel is moving forward with a $3.5 billion deal to supply its advanced Arrow 3 air defense system to Germany as previously agreed.

The Arrow 3, part of Israel’s multi-layered air defense strategy, was developed with the US and is designed to intercept ballistic missiles.

Officials from both countries recently met to plan its “initial deployment of [Arrow 3] on German soil in 2025,” the Israeli Ministry of Defense said in a statement released on November 10, quoted from Breaking Defense.

The deal highlights Germany’s shift in defense priorities following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as European nations ramp up their missile defense capabilities.

To Ισραήλ θα παραδώσει εντός του 2025 αντιβαλλιστικό σύστημα Arrow 3 στη Γερμανία, παρά τον πόλεμο! – https://t.co/QclMqFdFDc pic.twitter.com/rNetnP0Wyi

— Flight (ΠΤΗΣΗ) (@PtisiMagazine) November 19, 2024

Meanwhile, Israel has successfully used the Arrow 3 in live combat, further proving its effectiveness.

Netanyahu Confirms Strike ‘Specific Component’ on Iran’s Nuclear Program

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in a Knesset speech that last month’s airstrikes on Iran targeted a “specific component” of its nuclear program, along with Russian-supplied missile defense systems near Tehran, reported by the Times of Israel on Monday.

While the strikes reportedly weakened Iran’s defense and missile capabilities, Netanyahu acknowledged that Iran’s nuclear program remains active.

“The programme itself and its ability to operate here have not yet been thwarted,” Netanyahu noted.

The strikes followed Iran’s launch of 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, a retaliation for Israel’s recent killings of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.

BREAKING: Element of Iran’s nuclear programme hit, says Benjamin Netanyahuhttps://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/B0TX4PUM5n

— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 18, 2024

Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise as the EU and UK imposed new sanctions on Iran for allegedly supplying Russia with weapons for its war in Ukraine.

Iran has dismissed these sanctions as baseless and vowed to respond.

US Special Forces Open $55M HQ to Counter Rising Threats

With rising tensions involving Russia and China, US Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH) is stepping into a new era, marked by the recent opening of a $55 million headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs.

The state-of-the-art facility reflects the shift in focus from counterterrorism to preparing for large-scale conflicts, including operations in challenging Arctic conditions.

Named after World War II hero Maj. Gen. Robert Frederick, the new building is more than just a workspace—it’s a hub for advanced training, coordination with allies, and even integrated mental health support for service members.

As SOCNORTH gears up for future challenges, its leaders see this as a crucial step in staying ahead of global threats.