Issue 1 – South America
South America has a unique confluence of threats to address:a series of high profile global events to protect, a growing bio-industry, the ever present illicit narcotics production and smuggling and the explosive hazards that accompany organised crime. These challenges sit atop some of the longest borders and coasts to patrol in the world. They also have a low CBRN capability and need to turn that around fast – how will they balance challenge and capability?
Issue 2 - France
France has a strong commitment to CBRNE defence at all levels and across all domains – something it spells out explicitly with roles and responsibilities for all government and local government personnel. This commitment sits alongside a large CBRNE industry and R&D community and the regular finds of old chemical weapons from the world war. Has France become the European Model for CBRNE?
Issue 3 - USA
Unrivalled in spending on CBRNE both for domestic and expeditionary response, the US sits at the forefront of fielded technology. This long period of high research and high procurement has led to lots of lessons being identified, re-organisation and most recently to a huge focus on bio-terrorism and medical countermeasures. Yet at the same time the grant funding is dropping off – and it will be a challenge for many civilian forces to maintain capability. What will the ‘third age of CBRNE’ in the US look like and what pitfalls and successes can others take away from them?
Issue 4 – Czech republic
The Czechs are at the heart of Europe and Nato in CBRN with a proud tradition of research at the Centre of Excellence. Along with other central European countries they have often brought a dedication and professionalism other members of the alliance have been unable to maintain in CBRNE. Recently recognised by Natoas the pre-eminent force for CBRN, but with the German’s nipping at their heels, how are they going to maintain focus – and funding.
Issue 5 Singapore
Singapore is a hub of commerce and trade surrounded permanently by a swarm of islands and ships. This delicate balance can’t be disrupted by terrorism and so Singapore has pushed hard to ensure that in civil and military fields it has the total swift response to threats. This testing environment has led to exciting developments to allow rapid and swift assessment and mitigation in one of the most resilient countries in Asia.
Issue 6 US West Coast
Much of the US CBRN centre of balance is held in the East, yet this is only to tell half the story – what is the story of the other coast? With major ports, infrastructure and tourist destinations the West coast is a massive potential target. Who leads and innovates in the West? What challenges and capability are they building and how do they compare to their Eastern brothers?