DefenceTalkGeorgia’s acting prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday appointed a staunchly pro-Western politician as his new defence minister in a move aimed at boosting the country’s efforts to join NATO. “Underscoring Georgia’s strong commitment to Euro-Atlantic and European integration, the Prime Minister has nominated as Minister of Defence Mrs Tinatin Khidasheli,” the Government Chancellery said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/georgia-pm-appoints-pro-west-defence-chief-with-eye-on-nato-64086/

DefenceTalkA new defence strategy bid set to be unveiled by the Swedish government on Friday calls for increased co-operation with Nato, Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet reports. Nato membership is a long-running debate in Sweden, with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven’s ruling center-left coalition among those against it. But the Svenska Dagbladet daily reports that it has […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sweden-eyes-closer-defence-ties-with-nato-63957/

DefenceTalkThe United States is “deeply concerned” by some of China’s behavior but the top world powers do not need to be adversaries, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Monday as he prepared to head to Asia for key talks with regional allies. Speaking at Arizona State University before a trip aimed at underscoring President Barack […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-concerned-by-china-but-not-adversary-pentagon-chief-63737/

DefenceTalkBarack Obama pilloried Republicans Monday over an incendiary letter to Iran’s leaders that warned a nuclear deal with the United States could be scrapped by the next president. Forty-seven Senate Republicans — including several potential 2016 presidential candidates — made the unprecedented move of directly and publicly addressing leaders of the Islamic Republic in a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/letter-inflames-us-feud-over-iran-talks-63448/

DefenceTalkIndia’s defence ministry Saturday cleared a project worth Rs.32,000 crore for 12 mine sweeping vessels to be made in the country, along with some other projects including one for buying 38 basic trainer aircrafts. In a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the government also cleared acquisition of 38 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-to-buy-mine-sweeping-vessels-trainer-aircraft-63324/

DefenceTalkRussia is highly likely to intervene in the Baltic states to test NATO’s collective defense commitment, the former head of the Atlantic alliance was quoted as saying by Britain’s Daily Telegraph on Friday. “This is not about Ukraine. Putin wants to restore Russia to its former position as a great power,” Anders Fogh Rasmussen told […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ex-nato-chief-says-russia-likely-to-act-in-baltics-62773/

DefenceTalkTurkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced five defense projects on Wednesday, following a Defense Industry Executive Committee meeting in Ankara. Davutoglu said that Turkey would order four more fifth generation stealth F-35s, which will be the new front line fighters of the Turkish Air Force. “We will have four more next generation F-35 fighters, of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-prime-minister-announces-major-defense-projects-61805/

DefenceTalkIndia’s defence ministry cleared Wednesday proposals worth nearly $700 million to buy military equipment but deferred a key multi-billion dollar decision on replacing the country’s aging air transport fleet. India, the world’s largest buyer of weapons, is in the midst of revamping its aging military equipment and recently lifted a cap on foreign investment in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-clears-700-million-defence-purchase-61183/

DefenceTalkReports claim that Southeast Asian nations are investing in their defense sector in response to increasing tensions with Beijing over the South China Sea. But will that be able to keep China at bay? Experts believe that nations in Southeast Asia can depend on US military support only to certain degree; in the end they […]https://www.defencetalk.com/southeast-asia-boosting-homegrown-defense-60383/

DefenceTalkAs fears grow that China is on an aggressive South China Sea territorial grab, a sleepy Philippine village is being transformed into a major naval base that may host US warships. Ulugan Bay, a small, picturesque cove encircled by thick mangroves, has suddenly become a vital part of the Philippine military’s efforts to shore up […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-fears-spur-philippine-naval-upgrade-59901/