Times Of London: 'Nothing' Left In UK's Military Stockpiles After Arming Ukraine

Zero Hedge: 'Nothing' Left In UK's Military Stockpiles After Arming Ukraine: Times Of London 

In part of a continuing trend of major Western publications belatedly admitting that all is not well with Ukraine policy and the state the war.

The Times of London reported Sunday that the UK has "nothing" left it its own military stockpiles after being among Ukraine's biggest weapons suppliers for nearly two years of conflict. 

British defense officials and European leaders are now busy "cranking through the gears" to ramp up weapons production, the report says, citing an unnamed staffer from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office.  

Read more ....

Update #1: After arming Ukraine, the U.K. has “nothing” left in its military stockpiles (NewsTarget)  

Update #2: Britain’s weapons stockpiles reduced to ‘nothing’ – The Times (RT)  

WNU Editor: The Brits are not the only ones who are running low in military stockpiles .... Western ammo stocks at ‘bottom of the barrel’ as Ukraine war drags on, NATO official warns (CNN).

The British Army Now Has Fewer Tanks Than Switzerland

Mirror: Exclusive: UK war fears as British Army boasts fewer tanks than neutral Switzerland  

With only 217 armoured tanks, the UK sits in 57th place for vehicle numbers - ranking worryingly behind peace-loving Switzerland who haven't fought in a war in 200 years 

The British Army now has fewer tanks than the peace-loving Swiss. We have 213 tanks while neutral Switzerland, which has not fought in a war for 200 years, boasts 380. Military experts warn our fleet is not enough – yet new Challenger 3 tanks are not due to enter service until 2027 or be fully operational until 2030. 

Armoured vehicles have proved vital in modern conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, despite high-tech advances in military weapons. Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired British Army officer, urged: “Tanks remain critically important. We must significantly increase our numbers.” 

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WNU Editor: Wow! The British army is definitely not what it use to be.

Senior US General Tells UK Defense Minister That The British Army Is No Longer A Top-Level Fighting Force

 

SKY News: US general warns British Army no longer top-level fighting force, defence sources reveal  

Rishi Sunak risks failing in his role as "wartime prime minister" unless he takes urgent action given the growing security threat posed by Vladimir Putin, it has been warned, with calls for a significant hike in spending. 

A senior US general has privately told Defence Secretary Ben Wallace the British Army is no longer regarded as a top-level fighting force, defence sources have revealed. 

They said this decline in war-fighting capability - following decades of cuts to save money - needed to be reversed faster than planned in the wake of Russia's war in Ukraine.  

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Update: US general warns British Army no longer among world’s top tier fighting forces: report (FOX News)  

WNU Editor: I would love to know who that US General is (General Milley?). 

Some UK pundits disagree with this assessment(see video below). 

 

British Military Commanders Admit That Looking The Ukraine War Shows Their 'Guide For The Future' To Modernize The Military Has Issues

Breaking Defense: Ukraine war leaves British Army ‘very uncomfortable’ with Future Soldier capabilities  

A British defense committee meeting heard about concerns brought on by the war in Ukraine, the state of British tanks (some Ukraine-bound) and a potential recovery for the Ajax recon vehicle program.  

BELFAST — A top UK military leader revealed this week that operational analysis of the Ukraine war led the British Army to feel “very uncomfortable” with aspects of its Future Soldier modernization program. 

Lt. Gen. Sharon Nesmith, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, said the Eastern European conflict had in “the first instance” caused the army to reconsider how to address air defense, uncrewed systems, deep fires and intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability gaps. 

During the three-hour-long Wednesday UK defense committee hearing — which provided the clearest glimpse yet into the war’s impact on UK land strategy — Nesmith told lawmakers that in an attempt to fix the problems, the service has already completed an “internal balance of investment” and continues to look for opportunities to accelerate procurement. 

But the new approach could be troubled by “two realistic constraints,” Nesmith said: supply chain difficulties and industrial capacity. 

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WNU Editor: Britain's "Future Soldier Guide" is here (link here).

UK Releases Its ‘Space Power’ Doctrine

Gen. James Dickinson, U.S. Space Command commander (right) and Air Vice Marshal Paul Godfrey, United Kingdom space command commander (left), sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and United Kingdom on April 6, 2022. Credit: U.S. Space Command 

Space News: UK releases military ‘space power’ doctrine 

The UK military doctrine says space power is 'part of a wider, whole-of-government strategy' 

WASHINGTON — The United Kingdom on Sept. 1 released “UK Space Power,” the military’s keystone doctrine publication focused on the space domain. 

The 91-page public document lays out in broad terms the role of the UK military in protecting space from foreign threats and provides “a basis for understanding the utility of the space domain in the military context,” the paper says. A central message is that space is a global domain; and military, civil and commercial space activities are intertwined.  

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WNU Editor: The US military 'space power' doctrine report is here .... UK Space Power.

UK's 'Futuristic And Ambitious' Drone Squadron Has No Drones

Express: RAF left embarrassed as ‘futuristic and ambitious’ drone squadron has no aircraft 

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE has been left embarrassed as its "futuristic and ambitious" drone squadron has no aircraft, a freedom of information (FOI) request has been revealed.

One hailed by the head of the RAF Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston as delivering “futuristic and ambitious” plans to harness drone swarms, the elite group has been revealed to consist of just four personnel. Furthermore, the crew have no aircraft to operate and has yet carried out no trials with any equipment.  

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Update: UK drone squadron has no drones (RT)

WNU Editor: You have to wonder where all the money went .... Britain's military drones spending tops £2bn (The Guardian).

British Army Considering An Afghan 'Gurkha' Unit

Afghan special forces arrive in Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, September 29, 2015. Thomson Reuters  

Business Insider: After taking in Afghan commandos, the British military may try to build another elite special-operations force 

* Members of the Afghan army's special-operations forces are among the many Afghans who fled the Taliban takeover. 

* Those forces are highly trained and well regarded, and the UK is considering incorporating some into the British military. 

* The British army has a history of taking in foreign fighters, some of whom have earned their own fearsome reputations.

In the final days of the hectic withdrawal from Kabul, US and Coalition forces evacuated tens of thousands of their citizens and Afghans who had worked with them. 

Among those evacuated were Afghan special operators who fiercely fought the Taliban and faced brutal deaths if captured. The UK, which has taken in several hundred Afghans, is considering setting up a special-operations unit of former Afghan commandos in the British Army.  

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WNU Editor: In the meantime Afghan officers still stuck in Afghanistan are facing a bleak future .... Afghan officers who spied for Britain have been 'abandoned' and left at the mercy of the Taliban despite being promised safe passage to the UK (Daily Mail).

UK Space Command Officially Launched

The military emblem for Britain's new Space Command was presented to personnel, as the military agency was launched on Friday. Photo courtesy of RAF Flyingdales/Twitter 

Mirror: New £1.4billion Space Command HQ aims to guard the UK against Russia and China 

The Ministry of Defence warned attacks on UK property in space could be devastating to Britain’s defence, economy and infrastructure. It unveiled the new command centre at RAF High Wycombe 

Britain’s new Space Command HQ was launched yesterday to stop attacks on UK interests 60 miles above the earth. 

The £1.4billion cost over 10 years adds a fourth dimension to the Armed Forces and will primarily guard against Russia and China. Both countries are thought to have developed armed satellite systems as well as Israel and India.

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WNU Editor: This follows on the heels of Germany launching their own version of Space Command .... Germany establishes new military space command (Defense News). 

More News On UK Space Command Being Officially Launched  

UK Space Command officially launched -- Gov.UK  

British military launches its own Space Command with official opening -- UPI  

UK space command launched to address threats by China and Russia -- SKY News 

UK’s New Space Command to Advance the Defense’s Strategic Space Capabilities -- Auto Evolution

U.K. Ministry of Defence's Command Paper Calls For Drastic Cuts In the Army

Daily Mail: Military chiefs warn the 'huge mistake' of slashing 10,000 troops from the Army will leave Britain 'very close to not being able to contribute' on the world stage and unable to fight two wars at the same time Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will today announce a major Government shake-up of Britain's Armed Forces 

 * Ministry of Defence's Command Paper is expected to include a 10,000 troop cut to the size of the UK's Army 

 * Ex-US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen said the cut is a 'huge concern' and will leave Army 'pretty small'

 * Ex-head of Army Lord Dannatt said cut will mean UK can no longer fight two major operations at same time 

 * Former British colonel Richard Kemp said cut a 'huge mistake' and could 'endanger defence of this country' 

 * Publication of Command Paper comes amid political row over decision to increase size of UK nuclear arsenal 

The former head of the US military today warned the UK will be 'getting very close to not being able to contribute' on the world stage if it goes ahead with a 10,000 troop cut to the size of the British Army amid mounting fury over the Government's defence shake-up. 

Admiral Mike Mullen, ex-chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and the highest ranking US military officer between 2007 and 2011, said the expected cut is a 'huge concern'. He said slashing troop numbers by that much would leave the British Army 'pretty small' and roughly the same size as the US Special Forces. 

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WNU Editor: We shall see .... Joe Biden ‘unnerved’ as plans to cut British Army dubbed ‘real problem’ (Express).

 

 More News On The U.K. Ministry of Defence's Command Paper 

Defence Secretary oral statement on the Defence Command Paper -- GOV.UK 

UK Unveils Plan for Smaller, More High-Tech Armed Forces -- US News and World Report/AP 

Britain to reduce size of army to tackle "threats of the future" -- Reuters 

Army to reduce by 10,000 troops, Defence Secretary confirms -- Press Association 

Defence review: British army to be cut to 72,500 troops by 2025 -- BBC 

British Army smallest since 1800s: 10,000 troops, 80 tanks and 24 fighter jets to be cut -- Express 

'Green Beret' style special ops force revealed in defence review - but personnel and tanks will also see cuts -- SKY News 

Royal Navy warship will patrol from Gibraltar for first time under Britain's defence review - but ex-Army Colonel warns of 'huge mistake' to cut 10,000 troops as Chinese forces grow at a 'frightening rate' -- Daily Mail 

UK Army to Ditch ‘Industrial Age’ Capabilities, Slash ‘10,000 Troops’ to Forge ‘Agile Military’ -- Sputnik

Royal Marines to be Scrapped and Britain to Build Ship to 'Protect Undersea Cables From Russia' -- Sputnik

Big Cuts Are Expected In The U.K. Military

Warzone/The Drive: British Armed Forces Poised To Make Big Cuts To F-35 Plans And More 

The large-scale modernization promised under the upcoming defense review is likely to be tempered by some severe force reductions. As the United Kingdom Armed Forces brace themselves for the government’s next defense review, signs point to significant cuts to the Royal Air Force and the British Army, including a potential reduction of the planned F-35B stealth fighter fleet by around two-thirds. At the same time, the forthcoming document promises to outline a wide-ranging modernization of the armed forces, among them new space and cyber capabilities. 

While we don’t know for sure what the review, formally titled Global Britain in a Competitive Age, will contain, a preview was provided in The Times yesterday, citing sources within the U.K. Prime Minister’s office, commonly referred to as No. 10. The review itself is set to be officially unveiled in two parts beginning on March 16, followed by further details of the defense modernization effort on March 22. 

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WNU Editor: The review will be made public on March 16 .... Britain unveils date to release transformative military review (Defense News).

U.K. Ministry of Defence May Eliminate Military Ranks Such As Rifleman And Guardsman In Their War On 'Sexism'

The Ministry of Defence is considering changing the titles of certain ranks to make them more inclusive by replacing the suffix man with person 

Daily Mail: Rise of the rifleperson: Military ranks such as rifleman and guardsman could be scrapped in Ministry of Defence war on 'sexism' 

 * The Ministry of Defence is currently drawing up an 'inclusive language guide' 

 * Insiders speculate after review senior ranks will no longer be addressed as 'sir' 

 * The army has several ranks such as guardsman and rifleman using the word man 

 * This could result in ranks being changed to guardsperson or rifleperson 

Military ranks such as rifleman and guardsman could be scrapped as defence chiefs embrace gender- neutral language. 

The Ministry of Defence is drawing up an ‘inclusive language guide’ that could change many traditional titles and terms for the Army and Royal Navy. 

There is even speculation among some in the Armed Forces that the drive to modernise the services could mean personnel no longer address senior ranks as ‘sir’. 

The Army has several ranks that include the word man, such as guardsman, used by the Brigade of Guards, and rifleman, which dates back to the 19th Century and the war against Napoleon. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: You would think the Ministry of Defence has better things to do.

The British Military Is Rearming

BAE Systems is the UK's largest defence contractor 

Defense News: BAE Systems gets $3.2 billion deal so British forces can reload 

LONDON – Munitions worth $3.2 billion (£2.4 billion) are to be supplied to the British military by BAE Systems over 15 years in a single-source deal announced by the Ministry of Defence Nov 30. 

The program, known as Next Generation Munitions Solution (NGMS), will see BAE produce 39 different munitions for the armed services from five different sites across the UK. 

Small-arms ammunition, mortars, tank shells, medium-caliber gun rounds and heavy artillery rounds are included in the delivery schedule which starts at the end of 2022. 

The contract supersedes a similar £2 billion, 15-year contract known as “Munitions Acquisition, the Supply Solution,” which kicked off in 2008. 

Read more .... 

Update #1: BAE Systems: '4,000 UK jobs sustained' by £2.4bn munitions contract (SKY News) Update #2: Britain hands BAE Systems 2.4-billion-pound munitions contract (Reuters) 

WNU Editor: The expectation is that there will be more contracts in the near future .... BAE Won a Massive New Defense Contract. Why More May Come Soon (Barrons).

UK Announces Largest Military Spending Since The Cold War

 

CNBC: UK announces biggest military investment in 30 years 

 * The U.K. has announced the biggest program of investment in British defense in 30 years. 

 * Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that the government will spend £16.5 billion ($21.8 billion) more on defense over the next four years. 

 * The current budget of the Ministry of Defense is almost £41.5 billion.

LONDON — The U.K. has announced the biggest program of investment in British defense since the end of the Cold War. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday told the House of Commons, Britain’s lower house of Parliament, that the government will spend an additional £16.5 billion ($21.8 billion) on defense over the next four years. 

The current budget of the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence is almost £41.5 billion. “I have taken this decision in the teeth of the pandemic because the defence of the realm must come first,” the prime minister said ahead of the announcement, in a statement on Wednesday evening. 

Read more .... 

 More News On The UK Announcing The Largest Military Spending Since The Cold War 

Britannia rules the waves again: Boris Johnson's £16bn defence splurge will make UK 'greatest naval power in Europe' once more -- Daily Mail 

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson Pledges $32B Military Build-Up -- USNI News 

Post-Brexit UK announces largest military spending since Cold War -- Reuters 

UK announces biggest military spending boost since Cold War -- DW 

UK announces military spending boost, AI and 'Space Command' initiatives -- CNN 

UK defense spending boost stokes concerns about overseas aid -- AP 

BoJo’s £16.5 billion splurge on the UK military is part of his desperate attempt to ‘make Britain great again’ -- RT 

Everything We Know About The United Kingdom's Big New Defense Spending Plan -- Warzone/The Drive

UK Defense Secretary Says Drones Could Replace Troops In Future Wars

Mr Wallace said a future fighting force would not be about ‘mass mobilisation’ like the wars of the past but instead about speed and readiness

Daily Mail: Defence Secretary Ben Wallace signals drones could replace troops as he warns that the UK must be ready to fight 'tomorrow's battles, not yesterday's' because Britain's enemies have 'studied our vulnerabilities'

* He set out his plan for the military to become ‘relentlessly innovative’ in future
* Ex-Scots Guards officer spoke ahead of publication of a major defence review
* Said it would lead to a ‘step change’ with military reshaping never seen before

Ben Wallace signalled tonight that drones will replace troops in future wars as he warned Britain’s enemies have ‘adapted far more quickly than us’.

The Defence Secretary set out his plan for the military to become ‘relentlessly innovative’ as he unveiled new lethal autonomous kit for use by the Royal Navy.

He was flanked by a quadcopter drone carrying a torpedo – which could also be used to evacuate casualties - and a flying battering-ram drone-bashing machine.

Mr Wallace said a future fighting force would not be about ‘mass mobilisation’ like the wars of the past but instead about speed and readiness.

The former Scots Guards officer was speaking ahead of the publication of a major defence review whilst touring Britain’s newest navy ship, HMS Tamar, in London.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: You will always needs boots on the ground.

U.K. Does Not Reveal Who They Are Targeting In RAF Killer Drone Missions

Reaper drones have been used in targeted killings. Photograph: Cpl Steve Bain ABIPP/PA

The Guardian: Ministers refuse to reveal target of new RAF killer drone missions

Deployment of controversial ‘Reapers’ should be approved by parliament, say campaigners

Britain is running secret missions involving drones previously used to target and kill terrorist suspects in Iraq and Syria.

The Ministry of Defence is refusing to reveal the nature or location of the operation involving RAF Reapers, which can be armed with Hellfire missiles, leading to calls for greater parliamentary oversight of Britain’s drone programme.

Following a freedom of information request, the MoD confirmed that Reaper drones are flying missions outside Operation Shader, which targets Isis in Iraq and Syria. Since Afghanistan, there has only been one RAF Reaper mission of this type – the killing of the Isis recruiter Reyaad Khan in Syria in 2015. There were questions about the legality and proportionality of his killing.

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Update #1: RAF Typhoons and Reapers conduct airstrikes in Iraq (Air Force Technology)
Update #2: Islamic State: RAF carries out four air strikes in May (BBC)

WNU Editor: I can only assume that they are ISIS targets. But who exactly are they targeting in ISIS is still unknown.

U.K. Defence Chiefs Want To Slash The Army And Lend Aircraft Carriers To The US

The army numbered 3.1million at the end of World War Two and then shrank to 159,000 in 1980 and was at 102,120 in 2003, during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

Daily Mail: Boris Johnson vows to maintain the size of UK's military after claims that defence chiefs will slash the Army to its smallest size in a century and lend aircraft carriers to the US

* Military top brass are considering cutting the army down to between 60,000 and 65,000
* Sources said the army is pressing for an aircraft carrier to be leased to the US
* Navy chiefs are understood to be furious and want RAF numbers cut instead
* Tories pledged in 2015 to maintain force of 82,000 but it is already at 73,000

Boris Johnson has today vowed to maintain the size of the UK's military after claims that defence chiefs would slash army numbers and lend a new aircraft carrier to the US.

'We will not be cutting our armed forces in any form. We will be maintaining the size of our armed services,' Mr Johnson said as he unveiled the Tory manifesto in Telford.

A report in The Sunday Times had claimed that the Tories were scrapping a commitment to 'maintain the overall size of the armed forces' made two years ago by Theresa May.

It said that high-ranking officers are considering an army between 60,000 and 65,000, shrinking it to the smallest force in centuries.

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Update #1: British army to see number of troops slashed (The Week)
Update #2: British Army wants Royal Navy flagship super carrier 'leased to USA' (Plymouth)

WNU Editor: The U.K. Defense minister is denying these reports .... 'No Plans To Shrink British Army', Defence Secretary Says (Forces Network).

Strength Of British Military Falls For Ninth Year

Number of full-time trained personnel. Ministry of Defense

BBC: Strength of British military falls for ninth year

The size of Britain's armed forces has fallen for the ninth consecutive year, new Ministry of Defence figures show.

The Army, the RAF and the Royal Navy have all seen a decline in the number of fully-trained personnel - with the Army experiencing the biggest fall.

Labour said the government was "running down" the UK military - calling it a "crisis" in recruitment and retention.

The Ministry of Defence said the armed forces continued to meet all their operational requirements.

The latest figures showed the Army was more than 7,000 troops short of the government's target of 82,000.

In July there were 74,440 full-time and fully-trained troops, down from 76,880 last year.

Read more ....

Update #1: UK military under strength as regular troop numbers fall, MoD figures show (SKY News)
Update #2: Safety in Numbers? UK Armed Forces Slashed to Record Low – Report (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: It does not help that Britain's armed forces are falling short on recruitment goals .... U.K. Army Combat Units Are 40% Below Strength (August 10, 2019).

U.K. Army Combat Units Are 40% Below Strength

British soldiers on duty in Afghanistan in 2009. Photograph: Omar Sobhani / Reuters/Reuters

The Guardian: UK army combat units 40% below strength as recruitment plummets

Exclusive: Defence secretary Ben Wallace urged to turn ‘shocking trend’ around as matter of urgency.

Britain faces an army recruitment crisis, with frontline combat units operating as much as 40% below strength, figures obtained by the Guardian reveal.

Data released by the Ministry of Defence under freedom of information laws shows the number of soldiers in the British army’s infantry regiments has declined steadily over the past five years. There are more than 2,500 fewer personnel in frontline units than 2015, and all 16 regular regiments have shortfalls.

The figures have prompted criticism of the outsourcing company Capita, which signed a contract with the MoD to manage recruitment to the armed forces in 2012, for its “shambolic and chaotic” handling of the situation. There have also been calls for the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, to address the crisis urgently.

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WNU Editor: I guess this U.K. military Millennial recruitment campaign failed .... British Army Wants 'Snowflakes, Selfie Addicts, Gamers And Me Me Me Millennials' To Join-Up (January 4, 2019). This also does not help .... Poll: Third Of Britons Do Not Support The Military (June 26, 2019).

Poll: Third Of Britons Do Not Support The Military

Forces Network: Third Of Britons Do Not Support The Military, Claims New Survey

The lack of support seems to be linked to a widespread lack of awareness.

The Armed Forces Charity SSAFA is targeting a third of people in the UK who say they do not actively support the armed forces.

The research found one in five people in the UK would never support a military charity and almost 50 percent of those aged 16 to 34 said they do not actively support the armed forces.

The lack of support seems to be linked to a widespread lack of awareness of who the Forces are and what they do.

More than 2,000 people took part in the survey that was conducted in May this year.

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WNU Editor: These poll numbers are shocking.

A British Military Base On The South China Sea?

Google Maps

CNN: A British military base on the South China Sea

Hong Kong (CNN)When the British defense minister revealed this week that new military bases were being considered in Asia, critics questioned whether London has the money -- or strategic vision -- to carry out such a plan.

But an examination of recent British defense initiatives shows that far from being an off-the-cuff play, a base in Asia would be a logical extension of moves made over the last few years.

Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson broached ideas for a post-Brexit British military in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph.
"This is our biggest moment as a nation since the end of the Second World War," Williamson said.

"This is our moment to be that true global player once more -- and I think the armed forces play a really important role as part of that."

Read more ....

Update #1: Britain’s planned naval base in Southeast Asia seen as ‘muscle-flexing’ against China (SCMP)
Update #2: How Britain will support America with a new naval base in Southeast Asia (Tom Rogan, Washington Examiner)

WNU Editor: The British have trouble providing proper housing for their soldiers .... Army barracks 'not fit for animals', says Tory MP after leaked fire safety report (The Guardian). But they have money to build a base in Brunei/Papau New Guinea/or Singapore? I am very skeptical that this will happen.