SOFREP Daily: Biden Approves $385M Arms Deal for Taiwan, Syrian Forces Retreat Amid Aleppo Jihadist Advance, Protesters Clash with Police Over Georgia’s EU Talks

Good morning, and welcome to the weekend edition of the Morning SITREP! Stay informed with the latest key updates in defense and global affairs for Saturday, November 30.

Biden Greenlights $385M Arms Deal to Support Taiwan

The US just gave the green light to a $385 million arms deal with Taiwan, providing spare parts for F-16 fighter jets, radar systems, and tactical communications gear.

The move, announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Friday, is aimed at helping Taiwan maintain its defensive edge amid increasing military pressure from China.

Deliveries are expected to start in 2025.

This is the 18th time the Biden administration has approved arms sales to the self-ruled island, despite China’s opposition to US military support for Taiwan.

Beijing continues to claim Taiwan as its territory and has been stepping up its military presence near the island, including fighter jet flyovers and naval deployments.

Taiwan’s defense ministry expressed gratitude for the sale, saying it would help keep their F-16 fleet combat-ready and strengthen air defenses.

🇺🇸🇹🇼 US approves $385 million arms sale to Taiwan

The US State Department has approved the potential sale of spare parts for F-16 jets and radars to Taiwan for an estimated $385 million, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the sale… pic.twitter.com/UPIXGN3LfW

— Indo-Pacific News – Geo-Politics & Defense (@IndoPac_Info) November 30, 2024

President Lai Ching-te is currently visiting Pacific allies, with stopovers in Hawaii and Guam, signaling Taiwan’s commitment to bolstering its international partnerships.

As tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait, this arms deal underscores Washington’s ongoing support for the island’s security, even without official diplomatic ties.

Meanwhile, China has ramped up its military maneuvers, with Taiwan reporting 18 Chinese aircraft and seven naval vessels near its borders in just the past 24 hours.

Syrian Government Retreats as Jihadists Advance in Aleppo

In a shocking turn of events, jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies stormed into Aleppo on Friday, taking over half the city with little resistance from the Iranian- and Russian-backed regime forces.

The fighters advanced rapidly, capturing dozens of towns and villages in northern Syria before entering Aleppo’s western districts.

While some clashes were reported, many regime troops simply pulled out, leaving key areas undefended.

Observers say the Syrian forces were caught off guard, despite having Russian air support.

Even with heavy airstrikes targeting the rebels around Idlib, the fighters kept advancing, taking strategic spots like Saraqib and cutting off a crucial highway connecting Aleppo to Damascus.

The fighting has displaced over 14,000 people, with locals fearing another full-blown war.

Residents of Aleppo report hearing constant shelling, and there’s growing concern over rising fuel prices and supply shortages as roads get blocked.

International players are scrambling to respond. Russia continues bombing rebel positions, while Turkey has called for an end to the airstrikes.

Meanwhile, Iranian-backed militias, usually key players in Aleppo, seem distracted by tensions in Lebanon.

Analysts believe the rebels launched this offensive to preempt a potential government-led campaign in Aleppo.

For now, the regime forces appear unprepared, raising questions about whether their reliance on allies like Russia and Hezbollah is backfiring.

Protesters Clash with Police Over Georgia’s Suspended EU Talks

Protests in Georgia are heating up Friday after the government’s controversial decision to pause negotiations to join the European Union (EU).

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets for a second night in Tbilisi, clashing with police outside the parliament.

Riot officers used water cannons to hold back protesters, some of whom were trying to break down the gates or build barricades out of trash bins.

In the port city of Batumi, tensions also boiled over with similar clashes. This comes after the EU condemned Georgia’s October elections as unfair, citing voter intimidation and even violence.

Critics are accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of cozying up to Moscow, especially after passing laws similar to those used in Russia to restrict freedoms.

Many see this latest move as a step away from the country’s pro-European aspirations, which were already put on ice earlier this year when the EU cut financial aid.

President Salome Zourabichvili has joined protesters, slamming the government for “declaring war on its own people.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze is pushing back hard, accusing the EU of blackmail and insulting Georgia’s sovereignty. He even announced that Georgia will reject EU grants until 2028.

Germany Orders $5B Submarines to Strengthen NATO Defense

Germany’s Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, wants to invest big in bolstering NATO’s defenses.

According to reports Friday, Pistorius is pushing for 4.7 billion euros ($5 billion) to buy four U212CD submarines from Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, adding to the two already on order.

This move is part of a broader effort to revamp Germany’s military, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlighted the need for stronger defense capabilities.

The submarines are critical for meeting NATO’s new security requirements, particularly for protecting the alliance’s northern flank. However, since the submarines aren’t included in Germany’s 2024 budget, Pistorius is asking for special funding approval.

“Germany’s Defence Ministry has announced plans to procure four additional Type 212CD submarines, in a deal valued at over EUR 4.7 billion.”

4,7 miliardi di € per 4 sottomarini.
Mi auguro che ci sia compreso dell’altro in quella cifra…
🤔https://t.co/jrYmPWr9vp

— Giovanni Martinelli (@giovamartinelli) November 30, 2024

To make this happen, he’ll need to get the conservative opposition on board, especially as Chancellor Olaf Scholz leads a minority government ahead of elections in February.

The deal is seen as a key step in modernizing Germany’s armed forces and fulfilling its NATO commitments, but the hefty price tag means it’s getting plenty of scrutiny from lawmakers.

Reef Collision Sinks New Zealand Navy Ship, Inquiry Reveals Errors

A series of human mistakes led to the sinking of a New Zealand (NZ) Navy ship, HMNZS Manawanui, off the coast of Samoa last month, according to a preliminary inquiry released Friday.

The NZ military Court of Inquiry reported that the crew didn’t realize the ship’s autopilot was still on, mistook the problem for a thruster failure, and failed to switch to manual control.

Their missteps caused the ship to crash into a reef, catch fire, and sink.

Luckily, all 75 people on board made it off safely, but the incident marked a huge loss for New Zealand, as this was the first navy ship they’d lost at sea since World War II.

Rear Admiral Garin Golding admitted the errors and vowed to rebuild public trust, saying the Navy “will learn from this situation.”

“I want to reassure the public of New Zealand that we will learn from this situation and that it is on me, as the Chief of Navy, to earn back your trust,” Golding said.

Three crew members, including the officer in control, the supervisor, and the commanding officer, may face disciplinary action once the inquiry wraps up next year.

The ship had been surveying the reef it ultimately hit and was one of New Zealand’s nine naval vessels.

The sinking sparked fears about fuel leaks, but officials say most of the diesel burned off in the fire, and there’s no major environmental damage. However, divers are monitoring a slow leak, and special equipment is being sent to address potential pollution.

NEWS 📢 Details from the interim court of inquiry report about the HMNZS Manawanui incident have been released.

HMNZS Manawanui grounded and sunk off the coast of Samoa as a result of human error, the interim Court of Inquiry report shows.#Force4NZ https://t.co/sBR9ebdRMd

— NZ Defence Force (@NZDefenceForce) November 29, 2024

Adding to the controversy, New Zealand’s Defense Minister condemned misogynistic comments online targeting the ship’s captain for being a woman.

Golding acknowledged the damage to the navy’s reputation and assured the public that they were taking steps to fix the situation and prevent it from happening again.

Taiwanese Military Truck Crashes with Patriot Missile Equipment

A military transport truck carrying critical Patriot missile defense equipment crashed in southern Taiwan on Thursday, leaving two people injured and raising concerns about the condition of the equipment.

The “toppled off” accident happened in Pingtung County, and while authorities quickly launched a rescue and recovery operation, they haven’t yet reported on the state of the US-supplied equipment.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, and officials are keeping tight-lipped about whether it will impact an ongoing air defense drill where the Patriot system is likely a key player.

This high-tech system, designed to intercept missiles and advanced aircraft, has been a cornerstone of Taiwan’s defense since the late 90s.

This isn’t the first Patriot-related hiccup for Taiwan; just a few months ago, a missile malfunctioned during a live-fire drill, sparking questions about the system’s reliability.

Sources: AP News, AFP News