CTG's Threat Intelligence Podcast

October 7, 2023, will be remembered as a day an additional deadly conflict arose on the global stage. On that date, Hamas forces crossed into Israel and produced carnage that will be replayed in the minds of the survivors for many years to come. The Israel-Hamas war has split the opinions and positions of millions across the world. Many protests have taken place throughout the globe, echoing support and rage. But what have been the positions taken by governments during the Israel-Hamas war? Today’s conversation will focus on the responses of the superpowers and regional powers. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helupka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to try to get a deeper understanding of today’s topic.

Today, the US, Russia, and China lead the world as superpowers. These countries play an important role in many sectors, from technology to food to raw materials. Each nation has marked its supremacy and leadership both regionally and globally. Each country is known for having an advanced military and technical advantage. Many fear that a potential conflict among these nations could lead to a devastating end where no side wins. Though a battle among these superpowers is unthinkable, a discussion about their military might is imperative. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Arnold Koka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the superpowers’ militaries and their impact today.

This year, Ethiopia’s federal government declared a six-month-long state of emergency in Amhara, the second-largest region, after days of violent confrontations between the army and the local Fano militia. The Amhara government sought assistance from Ethiopia’s federal government to help re-impose order, allowing authorities to ban public gatherings, enforce curfews, and make arrests or searches without warrants. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Sophia Ritscher, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of Ethiopia’s six-month state of emergency and its impact on the region.

For the past couple of years, a specific concept has dominated discussions in the field of extremism. What is currently known as the “Great Replacement Theory”  has been displayed on news channels and social media platforms almost endlessly. Many have used this ideology to mask their intentions, while others have become victims of such beliefs. This idea has led some proponents to advocate for a distinction among all people, a claim that teeters on the edge of separatism and exclusionism. But what exactly is the “Great Replacement Theory”? What can we learn from this concept? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Jayde Dorland, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the Great Replacement Theory.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas, a terrorist group, invaded Israel via land, air, and sea. The violent assault, which started at about 6:30 am local time, began with Hamas unleashing about 5,000 rockets into Israel. About an hour later, Hamas’ soldiers entered the Gaza border by using paragliders and boats, walking into Israel. By 11:00 am, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared, “We are at war and we will win”. This assault on Israel exemplifies the regional historic instability. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helpuka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of Israel’s war with Hamas.

The year 2023 has witnessed several French protests. The rise of French citizens and their chants of uproar in their cities plagued all forms of media. Social media displayed their marches and echoed their shouts of protest. It seemed like the only news from France was primarily about the French objections. Several videos appeared of cities in awful conditions, some due to violence, others due to the clashes between the citizens and the police. But what can be learned from these protests? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Gabriel Helpuka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the protests in France.

Warfare has been changing since the very beginning, but its evolution has experienced a drastic change since the start of the 21st century. The land, air, and sea armaments employed by the military have seen the amalgamation of technology, science, and defense. Many weapons have become synonymous with war, like the B-29 Superfortress famously used in World War Two, or the M1 Abrams, or the AK-47, still commonly used today. But one particular weapon that has caught the attention of the world is the drone, specifically the sea drone. Today, the Ukrainian-Russian war has become the global stage, where sea drones have become the protagonist. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Arnold Kola, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the sea drones in the Ukrainian-Russian war and their impact on naval warfare worldwide.

Africa is a vast continent containing almost 20% of the world's population. According to the UN, Africa holds 40% of the world's gold and up to 90% of its chrome and silver. These features have attracted the interest of foreign groups and governments. How have these groups impacted the continent? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth speaks with Agathe, an intelligence analyst at the Counterterrorism Group, to gain further insight into outside forces' involvement and impact on Africa today. _________________________________________________________ África es un continente amplio que contiene casi el 20% de la población mundial. Además, África posee el 40% del oro del mundo y hasta el 90% de su cromo y plata, según la ONU. Estas características han atraído el interés de grupos y gobiernos extranjeros. ¿Cómo estos grupos han impactado el continente?  En este episodio, Salomon Montaguth habla con Agathe, un analista de inteligencia aquí en el Counterterrorism Group para adquirir mayor conocimiento sobre la participación de fuerzas externas y su impacto en África hoy en día.  

On June 20, 2023, reports broke about negotiations between China and Cuba regarding possibly establishing a Chinese military base in Cuba. Opening a military base in Cuba would result in Chinese troops stationed less than 100 miles from the coast of the United States. The US government is currently in conversations with the Chinese and Cuban governments. Neither the Chinese nor the Cuban government has commented on the reports. In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Iris Forsberg, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to get a deeper understanding of the impact a Chinese military base in Cuba may have.

The South China Sea and the Pacific region have been hot topics for many years and have drawn the attention of several governments. The US Department of Defense has claimed that “China continues to expand exploration activities in the SCS (South China Sea) as part of its hunt for much-needed energy and is now receiving oil and gas from the SCS (South China Sea). Other nations like the Philippines have confronted China regarding their questionable behavior in the Pacific region. As a result, such events have introduced many people to something called “maritime warfare”. But what exactly is maritime warfare and why is it important? In this episode, Salomon Montaguth is joined by Arnold Koka, Intelligence Analyst at The Counterterrorism Group, to better understand maritime warfare and its impact in the Pacific region.