ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - July 21, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - July 21, 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

• Germany Reportedly Plans to Halve Military Aid to Ukraine
• Suspected Terrorist Attack Kills at Least Nine People in Muscat
• India Considering Ways to Boost Exports to Russia

Germany Reportedly Plans to Halve Military Aid to Ukraine

Germany reportedly plans to halve its military assistance to Ukraine in 2025, according to a draft budget. Under the proposed budget, Germany reportedly plans to decrease assistance from about EUR 8 billion in 2024 to EUR 4.35 billion in 2025. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner explained "Ukraine's financing is secured for the foreseeable future thanks to European instruments and the G7 loans", which he argued would allow Germany to decrease its support. The 2025 budget, if approved, may indicate fatigue among Ukraine's European partners. Any decrease in funding from Europe could be especially concerning for Ukraine in the event Donald Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election; both Trump and his running mate JD Vance have signaled they would cut aid to Ukraine if elected.

Suspected Terrorist Attack Kills at Least Nine People in Muscat

On July 16, a shooting at a mosque in the Omani capital of Muscat killed at least nine people, including three attackers, and wounded over two dozen. Four Pakistanis, one Indian, and a police officer were among the dead. Omani authorities are labeling the incident as a terrorist attack, a rare occurrence in the generally stable country. Islamic State (IS), the Sunni Muslim militant group, has taken responsibility for the attack, stating three of its members were involved. The attack came during Ashura, a day of commemoration that has in the past sparked tensions between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims. Oman is majority Sunni, and the attack targeted Shi’ite worshipers.

India Considering Ways to Boost Exports to Russia

The Indian government said it was exploring new ways to increase exports to Russia after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow last week. India is reportedly encouraging rupee-rouble trade and lobbying Russia to lift non-tariff trade barriers. Trade between the two countries has increased significantly since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, this boom has been mostly one way, with Russian exports to India accounting for USD 61.43 billion of the USD 65.7 billion in trade between the two countries.