EU leaders are urging Greece and Spain to provide Ukraine with air defence systems as Kyiv’s need is greater than theirs. This is in response to Kyiv’s urgent appeal to Western allies to provide seven additional air defence systems as reported by the Financial Times. Germany is the only country that has announced the supply of an additional Patriot system.

The pressure on Greece and Spain from their EU and NATO allies to provide more air defence systems to Ukraine is increasing. The urgency to enhance Ukraine’s air defence system comes after President Zelenskyy took a jab at Western allies’ “flagging political support” in the face of Russian aggression. The EU’s 27 leaders face mounting pressure to step up efforts to protect Ukraine’s skies from Russian airstrikes.

EU’s Call for Defence Aid to Ukraine

The European Union (EU) is putting pressure on Greece and Spain to provide Ukraine with air defence systems. The EU hopes that Athens and Madrid will donate a shipment of air defence systems to Kyiv, whose need is greater than theirs.

Athens and Madrid’s Potential Contributions

According to the Financial Times, Greece and Spain are under intense pressure from their EU and NATO allies to provide more air defence systems to Ukraine. The EU and its member states have already mobilised €33.1 billion in military support for Ukraine, including €11.1 billion under the European Peace Facility. However, EU leaders believe that Athens and Madrid can do more to help Ukraine defend itself against potential Russian airstrikes.

Kyiv’s Urgent Need for Air Defence

Ukraine has been facing a military threat from Russia since 2014, when Moscow annexed Crimea and supported separatists in eastern Ukraine. The conflict has killed more than 13,000 people and displaced millions. Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has been urging the EU to provide more military and economic aid to his country. He has also been calling on Athens and Madrid to donate air defence systems to Ukraine.

In conclusion, the EU’s call for defence aid to Ukraine is a clear indication of the bloc’s commitment to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU hopes that Athens and Madrid will respond to its call and donate air defence systems to Kyiv.

Military Analysis

Comparison of Defence Capabilities

Ukraine has been in a state of conflict with Russia since 2014, and the country is in dire need of air defence systems to protect its cities and infrastructure. Greece and Spain have been urged by their EU and NATO allies to donate air defence systems to Ukraine, as their need is greater than Greece and Spain’s.

Greece and Spain have modern air defence systems, including the Patriot and SAMP/T, respectively. Ukraine, on the other hand, has an outdated air defence system that is no match for Russia’s modern air force. The donation of air defence systems from Greece and Spain would significantly enhance Ukraine’s defence capabilities and deter Russia’s aggression in the region.

Impact on Greece and Spain’s Security

The donation of air defence systems to Ukraine would have a minimal impact on Greece and Spain’s security. Both countries have modern air defence systems, and the donation of a few systems would not significantly impact their defence capabilities. Furthermore, the donation would strengthen their relations with their EU and NATO allies, which is crucial in the current geopolitical climate.

It is worth noting that the donation of air defence systems to Ukraine could potentially strain Greece and Spain’s relations with Russia. However, given the current state of conflict between Ukraine and Russia, it is essential for Greece and Spain to prioritise their alliances with their EU and NATO allies and support Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

In conclusion, the donation of air defence systems to Ukraine by Greece and Spain would significantly enhance Ukraine’s defence capabilities and deter Russia’s aggression in the region. The donation would have a minimal impact on Greece and Spain’s security and would strengthen their relations with their EU and NATO allies.

Political Implications

EU Solidarity and Strategic Interests

The pressure on Greece and Spain to provide air defence systems to Ukraine highlights the EU’s solidarity with a country that has been facing territorial aggression from Russia. The EU’s strategic interests in Ukraine include the promotion of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The EU has been providing financial and technical assistance to Ukraine since the 2014 Maidan Revolution. The EU’s support for Ukraine has also been an important factor in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Bilateral Relations with Ukraine

The EU’s pressure on Greece and Spain to provide air defence systems to Ukraine also reflects the importance of bilateral relations between the EU and Ukraine. The EU’s Eastern Partnership policy aims to strengthen relations with six Eastern European countries, including Ukraine. The EU has signed an Association Agreement with Ukraine, which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, and a visa-free travel regime for Ukrainian citizens. The EU has also been supporting Ukraine’s reform efforts in areas such as the judiciary, public administration, and energy sector.

Greece and Spain’s donation of air defence systems to Ukraine would not only enhance Ukraine’s defence capabilities but also strengthen the EU’s relations with Ukraine. It would also send a strong message to Russia that the EU stands with Ukraine in the face of territorial aggression.

Logistical Challenges

Transport and Delivery of Systems

The transport and delivery of air defence systems from Greece and Spain to Ukraine pose logistical challenges due to the distance between the countries. The systems, which include Patriot and S-300 missile batteries, are bulky and require specialised transport vehicles. The transport process must also adhere to strict regulations and safety standards to ensure that the systems are not damaged during transit.

Integration into Ukrainian Defence

Once the air defence systems are delivered to Ukraine, they must be integrated into the country’s existing defence infrastructure. This process involves training Ukrainian personnel on how to operate the systems, as well as ensuring that the systems are compatible with Ukraine’s existing defence technology. Integration can be a time-consuming process, as it requires coordination between multiple agencies and personnel.

To address these challenges, EU leaders have urged Greece and Spain to expedite the shipment of air defence systems to Ukraine. The urgency is due to Kyiv’s greater need for air defence systems to protect its cities from potential Russian aggression. Despite the logistical challenges, both Greece and Spain have expressed their commitment to providing aid to Ukraine.

Public and International Response

Domestic Opinions in Greece and Spain

The pressure on Greece and Spain to provide Ukraine with air defence systems has sparked mixed reactions in the two countries. In Greece, there is a sense of reluctance to donate the systems, with some arguing that the country has its own security concerns to address. Meanwhile, in Spain, there is a growing sense of frustration at the EU’s demands, with many questioning why their country should be the one to provide the systems.

Despite these opinions, both countries have publicly expressed their willingness to help Ukraine. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez have both stated that they are open to donating the systems, provided that certain conditions are met.

Global Perspective on EU’s Defence Support

The EU’s push for Greece and Spain to donate air defence systems to Ukraine has been met with mixed reactions from the international community. While some countries have expressed support for the move, others have raised concerns about the potential impact on regional stability.

The United States has been one of the most vocal supporters of the EU’s efforts, with President Joe Biden calling on Greece and Spain to “step up and provide the assistance that Ukraine needs”. Other NATO allies have also expressed support for the move, with many arguing that it is necessary to counter the threat posed by Russia.

However, some countries have raised concerns about the potential impact on regional stability. Russia has warned that any move to provide Ukraine with advanced weapons could lead to a dangerous escalation of the conflict, while China has called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could lead to further instability in the region.

Overall, the international response to the EU’s push for Greece and Spain to donate air defence systems to Ukraine has been mixed, with some countries expressing support and others raising concerns about the potential impact on regional stability.

Japanese telecom company SoftBank is investing 150 billion yen ($960 million) by 2025 to give its computing facilities the number-crunching power needed to develop world-class generative artificial intelligence. SoftBank aims to develop a Japanese-language-specific generative AI with world-class performance and hopes that the investment will help it achieve this goal. The company plans to purchase graphics processing units (GPUs) from U.S. chip designer Nvidia, which will not only be used for SoftBank’s development of generative AI but will also be loaned to other companies.

The investment in computing infrastructure is believed to be the largest of any Japanese company. SoftBank is currently developing a large language model (LLM), which serves as the basis for generative AI. The company expects to complete development of a model with 390 billion parameters in fiscal 2024, and will start developing a high-performance model with 1 trillion parameters as early as next year. This 1 trillion-parameter model is a de facto benchmark for world-class performance, and is expected to help SoftBank achieve its goal of developing world-class generative AI.

Generative AI is becoming increasingly important in various industries, and the Japanese generative AI market is expected to grow to around $13 billion by 2030, according to the latest forecast by Statista. SoftBank’s move to create its own AI has been well-received by investors, with the company’s share price hitting a record high in late March. Although U.S. tech companies currently lead in terms of both performance and investment, SoftBank’s investment in computing infrastructure is likely to put it among the highest in Japan and help it catch up with its competitors.

SoftBank’s Strategic Investment

Japanese telecom company SoftBank has announced its plan to invest 150 billion yen ($960 million) by 2025 to enhance its computing facilities for developing world-class generative artificial intelligence models. This investment is believed to be the largest of any Japanese company in computing infrastructure.

Financial Commitment

Last year, SoftBank invested 20 billion yen in building its computing infrastructure. The additional investment of 150 billion yen will be spent this year and next. The company is confident that the investment will give it the necessary number crunching power to develop a Japanese-language-specific generative AI with world-class performance.

Infrastructure Enhancement

SoftBank’s computing power is expected to be among the highest in Japan when the investment is completed. The company is currently developing a large language model (LLM), which will serve as the basis for its generative AI. The telecom company expects to complete development of a model with 390 billion parameters in fiscal 2024 and will start developing a high-performance model with 1 trillion parameters as early as next year.

GPU Acquisition from Nvidia

SoftBank will purchase graphics processing units (GPUs) from U.S. chip designer Nvidia. The GPUs will not only be used for the company’s own development of generative AI but will also be loaned to other companies. The company hopes that the acquisition of Nvidia chips will help it develop top models.

The stock market is responding positively to SoftBank’s move to create its own AI. Investors are betting that generative AI will be good for business. According to the latest forecast by Statista, the Japanese generative AI market is expected to grow to around $13 billion by 2030, which is 17 times larger than in 2023.

While U.S. tech companies such as Open AI are currently ahead in terms of both performance and investment, Japanese companies, including NTT and NEC, have entered the market. However, the number of parameters in their models runs from several billion to several tens of billions. SoftBank is determined to develop world-class generative AI and hopes to achieve this through its strategic investment in computing infrastructure.

Development of Generative AI

Language-Specific AI Focus

SoftBank is investing 150 billion yen ($960 million) to develop world-class generative artificial intelligence (AI) with a Japanese-language-specific focus. The company aims to boost its computing facilities’ number-crunching power, which is expected to be among the highest in Japan when the investment is completed by 2025.

The company is currently developing a large language model (LLM) that serves as the basis for generative AI. The focus is on developing a Japanese-language-specific generative AI with world-class performance. SoftBank will also loan out the graphics processing units (GPUs) it will purchase from Nvidia to other companies.

Large Language Model Ambitions

SoftBank expects to complete the development of a 390 billion-parameter model by fiscal 2024. The company will start developing a high-performance model with 1 trillion parameters as early as next year. This model is a de facto benchmark for world-class performance, with the number of parameters in GPT-4, developed by OpenAI of the U.S., which performed well on a mock bar exam, reaching the trillion-parameter range.

Benchmarking Against Global Standards

At present, U.S. tech companies such as OpenAI are ahead in terms of both performance and investment. Japanese companies, including NTT and NEC, have entered the market, but the number of parameters in their models runs from several billion to several tens of billions. SoftBank’s large language model ambitions aim to benchmark against global standards and develop a Japanese-language-specific generative AI with world-class performance.

Generative AI is starting to be integrated into services and products in various industries. The Japanese generative AI market is expected to grow to around $13 billion by 2030, which is 17 times larger than in 2023, according to Statista, a German research specialist. The stock market is responding positively to SoftBank’s move to create its own AI. Investors are betting generative AI will be good for business.

Market Impact and Projections

Japanese AI Market Growth

The generative AI market in Japan is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with Statista projecting it to reach around $13 billion by 2030. This represents a 17-fold increase from the market size in 2023. The growth is driven by the increasing integration of generative AI into services and products across various industries. SoftBank’s investment of $960 million to boost computing power for generative AI is expected to further fuel the growth of the market, as the company aims to develop a Japanese-language-specific generative AI with world-class performance.

Stock Market Response

SoftBank’s move to create its own AI has had a positive impact on the stock market, with the company’s share price hitting 2,064 yen in late March 2024, the highest since its listing in 2018. Investors are betting that generative AI will be good for business, and SoftBank’s investment in computing infrastructure is believed to be the largest of any Japanese company. While U.S. tech companies such as Open AI are currently ahead in terms of both performance and investment, SoftBank’s investment is expected to position the company as a major player in the generative AI market.

International Competition and Domestic Importance

Current Global Leaders

The race to develop generative AI has become a highly competitive field among countries around the world. At present, U.S. tech companies such as OpenAI are leading the way in terms of both performance and investment. OpenAI is known for developing large language models with a high number of parameters, such as GPT-3 with 175 billion parameters, which performed well on various language tasks.

China is also making significant investments in AI, with the government setting a goal to become the world leader in AI by 2030. In 2020, China’s total AI investment reached $15.2 billion, according to a report by McKinsey & Company. The country’s leading tech companies, such as Alibaba and Baidu, are also investing heavily in AI research and development.

Japanese Technological Advancements

SoftBank’s recent investment in computing power for generative AI is a sign of Japan’s growing interest in this field. While Japanese companies, including NTT and NEC, have entered the market, the number of parameters in their models runs from several billion to several tens of billions, which is still far behind the trillion-parameter range.

However, SoftBank’s investment is expected to give the company the computing power needed to develop world-class generative AI, and the company’s share price has already seen an increase as investors bet on the potential success of the project. The Japanese generative AI market is expected to grow to around $13 billion by 2030, according to a forecast by Statista.

Domestically generated AI is also considered important by countries around the world. In Japan, the government has set a goal to create a “Society 5.0” where AI and other advanced technologies are used to solve social problems and improve people’s lives. The government is also promoting research and development in AI through various initiatives, such as the “AI Japan R&D Network” and the “AI Grand Challenge.”

In conclusion, the development of generative AI has become a highly competitive field among countries around the world. While the U.S. and China are currently leading the way, Japan’s recent investment in computing power for generative AI is a sign of the country’s growing interest in this field. Domestically generated AI is also considered important by countries around the world, including Japan, where the government is promoting research and development in AI through various initiatives.

Introduction

China’s coastal cities, home to over 400 million people, are facing a dual threat of subsidence and rising sea levels, according to a recent study. The study, published in the journal Science, found that a quarter of China’s coastal land will sink below sea level within a century, putting millions of lives and trillions of dollars in infrastructure at risk.

Subsidence and Sea Level Rise

Subsidence, or the sinking of the land, is a natural process that occurs when the ground settles or compacts over time. However, in China’s coastal cities, the process is being accelerated by human activities, such as the over-extraction of groundwater and the weight of buildings.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of California, Berkeley, analyzed satellite data and found that the rate of subsidence in China’s coastal cities has increased by up to 50% in the past decade. The researchers also found that the subsidence is linked to changes in groundwater levels and the weight of buildings.

At the same time, sea levels are also rising due to climate change. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sea levels have risen by about 3.3 millimetres per year over the past 25 years. In China’s coastal cities, the combination of subsidence and sea level rise is creating a crisis that is only expected to worsen in the coming decades.

Impact on Coastal Cities

The impact of subsidence and sea level rise on China’s coastal cities is already being felt. In Shanghai, the city’s iconic Bund waterfront has sunk by up to 2.6 meters over the past century, while in Tianjin, the city’s central business district has sunk by up to 2.5 meters.

The subsidence is causing a range of problems, from increased flooding to damage to buildings and infrastructure. In some areas, the subsidence has caused roads and buildings to crack, while in other areas, it has led to the flooding of entire neighbourhoods.

The cost of addressing the subsidence and sea level rise crisis in China’s coastal cities is estimated to be in the trillions of dollars. The Chinese government has already spent billions of dollars on measures such as building sea walls and pumping sand onto eroding beaches. However, these measures are only a temporary solution and do not address the root causes of the subsidence.

Expert Opinions

Experts warn that the subsidence and sea level rise crisis in China’s coastal cities is a ticking time bomb. “The situation is very serious and requires urgent action,” said Dr. Xiaojun Yin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and one of the authors of the study. “We need to reduce the extraction of groundwater and find ways to reduce the weight of buildings.”

Dr. Robert Nicholls, a professor of coastal engineering at the University of Southampton, agrees. “China’s coastal cities are facing a perfect storm of subsidence and sea level rise,” he said. “The Chinese government needs to take urgent action to address the root causes of the subsidence and invest in long-term solutions to protect its coastal cities.”

Conclusion

China’s coastal cities are facing a crisis of subsidence and sea level rise that is only expected to worsen in the coming decades. The crisis is being driven by human activities, such as the over-extraction of groundwater and the weight of buildings. The Chinese government needs to take urgent action to address the root causes of the subsidence and invest in long-term solutions to protect its coastal cities.

The cost of addressing the crisis is estimated to be in the trillions of dollars, but the cost of inaction is likely to be much higher. Millions of lives and trillions of dollars in infrastructure are at risk. The Chinese government must act now to prevent a catastrophic flood from engulfing its coastal cities.