ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 7, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 7, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Dutch Chip Maker ASML Blocked from Shipping Chip-Making Equipment to China Ahead of Deadline
• BRICS Welcomes 5 New Members
• U.S. Helicopters Sink 3 Houthi Ships After Red Sea Attack

Dutch Chip Maker ASML Blocked from Shipping Chip-Making Equipment to China Ahead of Deadline

On January 2, 2024, Dutch computer chip equipment maker ASML announced that the Dutch government had partially revoked an export license to ship some of its machines to China. ASML had been operating under a January 1 deadline, after which it could not export certain machines that make semiconductor chips. However, that deadline was pushed forward without notice, meaning China likely missed out on importing some of the machines. There was a reported 1,050 percent surge in imports from the Netherlands in the last year. U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly requested that ASML cancel the shipments of DUV systems weeks ahead of the new rules coming into force. Two weeks before this, China banned the export of certain machines that process rare-earth metals. The U.S. depends on China for rare-earth metals, much like China depends on the U.S. and its allies for semiconductors.

BRICS Welcomes Five New Members

The upcoming BRICS summit in Russia witnesses the expansion of its membership to include five new nations — Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — in addition to the original five members. Argentina, under its new President Javier Milei, has decided to withdraw from joining BRICS, viewed as a strategic move to continue supporting existing bilateral ties.

U.S. Helicopters Sink 3 Houthi Ships After Red Sea Attack

American helicopters have reportedly thwarted an attack on a Maersk container vessel by Houthi militants—sinking three ships and killing 10 militants. The encounter took place after the attackers attempted to board the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou. Maersk decided to halt sailing through the Red Sea for 48 hours after the attack. This was the second attack on the Maersk Hangzhou in recent days; the ship carrying 14,000 containers from Singapore was hit by a missile near Al Hodeidah (Yemen) last week.