TOP NEWS Northcom commander cites arctic as area of concern US. Department of Defense South Korean jets fire warning shots toward Russian military plane New York Times Giving Saudi Arabia guided munitions tech could have huge consequences War on the Rocks U.S. Nuclear Policy Northcom commander cites arctic as area of concern US. Department of Defense7/23/19 Increased activity in the Arctic is a concern for national security and for U.S. Northern Command. Middle East Even as tensions with Iran rise over seized ship, U.K. stays ‘committed’ to nuclear deal New York Times7/22/19 Britain took new steps to distance itself from the Trump administration’s escalating confrontation with Iran, even while pushing for the release of an oil tanker seized by Tehran three days earlier. Remaining Iran nuclear deal signatories to meet in Vienna Al Jazeera7/23/19 Representatives from the nations that are still parties to the Iran nuclear deal will meet on Sunday in Austria’s capital, to discuss to what extent the agreement can be salvaged. Giving Saudi Arabia guided munitions tech could have huge consequences War on the Rocks7/24/19 Washington is granting Riyadh immensely valuable knowledge and experience and providing a key cog in its growing missile production endeavor. East Asia U.S. punishes Chinese company over Iranian oil New York Times7/22/19 For the first time, the Trump administration is imposing economic penalties on a Chinese company for importing Iranian oil, a decision certain to add to tensions between Washington and Beijing. South Korean jets fire warning shots toward Russian military plane New York Times7/23/19 South Korea said its air force jets fired hundreds of warning shots on Tuesday to ward off a Russian military plane that intruded upon what it considers its territorial airspace, the first such encounter between the countries in decades. China defense white paper singles out Japan over security shift and blasts U.S. for undermining global stability Japan Times7/24/19 China has singled out Japan for its shifting security policies and lambasted the United States for undermining global stability, noting rising strategic competition among major powers, in its first defense white paper in seven years. Russia/Europe China-Russia joint statement reveals disinformation on strategic arms Washington Free Beacon7/23/19 A joint statement issued last month by the leaders of China and Russia reveals growing strategic cooperation between the two nations and their disinformation themes targeting the United States. Analysis/Commentary China’s Chump: Why America Can’t Trust Pakistan The National InterestMichael Rubin 7/22/19 Trump should continue the recent bipartisan consensus to hold Islamabad responsible. Iran Is Acting Like the International Villain of Trump’s Prophecy The AtlanticMike Goglio 7/23/19 Any number of relatively mundane scenarios now have the potential to escalate U.S.-Iran tensions—from a fire at a militia base to the seizure of an oil tanker to the signal-jamming of a drone. Why Iran wants to get bombed National Review7/23/2019 Iran seeks conflict with the U.S., hoping it will hurt Trump in the election and put a more Iran-friendly president in office. What Turkey’s purchase of a Russian air defense system means for the U.S. and NATO Washington Post7/23/19 Last week, the United States removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program after Russia began delivering its S-400 missile defense system to Turkey.