The D Brief: More sanctions on Russia; US talks space nuke; Manta-ray sub drone; Australia’s ship plan; And a bit more.
Defense OneMAY 2024
Spain: Police Seize Russia-Bound Chemicals
Spain: Police Seize Russia-Bound Chemicals
Above: Mossos police officers are seen on surveillance duties at the Port Olimpic in Barcelona, Spain, on September 1, 2024. Image copyright: Paco Freire/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Spin
It's terrifyingly sad that Russia, which took part in the chemical weapons prohibition treaty over 30 years ago, has decided to reinstitute such atrocious warfare against the Ukrainian people. Moscow is already known to have allegedly used a chemical agent, showing that Putin will violate even his own country's human rights laws to destroy Ukraine.
When the West falsely accuses Russia of using chemical weapons, it's not ironic or hypocritical, but rather a distraction from their supply of deadly materials to Ukraine. While Moscow destroyed its chemical weapons stockpile years ago and still adheres to the prohibition treaty, the UK just recently sent Kyiv riot control gases to use against Russian troops, which is prohibited by international law.
Metaculus Prediction
There is a 32% chance that synthetic biological weapons will infect 100 people by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.