DefenceTalkPoland’s President Andrzej Duda said Tuesday the NATO member plans to spend more than four percent of its gross domestic product on defence next year amid security concerns over the war in neighboring Ukraine. He announced the sum of 137 billion zloty ($33 billion) at the opening of this year’s edition of the region’s biggest […]https://www.defencetalk.com/poland-to-spend-over-4-of-gdp-on-defence-in-2024-80073/

DefenceTalkThe White House warned Tuesday that North Korea would “pay a price” if it supplies Russia with weaponry for its war in Ukraine, with Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin expected to hold talks on the issue. Sanctions-hit Russia is reportedly eager to secure more military supplies from its ally to bolster its forces as […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-to-pay-price-if-it-gives-russia-arms-us-80069/

DefenceTalkEconomic cooperation and the disputed South China Sea will be on the agenda when Southeast Asian foreign ministers meet their Chinese, Japanese and South Korean counterparts for ASEAN-plus-three talks on Thursday. China will be represented at the talks by top diplomat Wang Yi instead of Foreign Minister Qin Gang after Qin pulled out for “health […]https://www.defencetalk.com/asean-plus-three-to-meet-on-south-china-sea-economic-ties-80055/

DefenceTalkAfter months of deadlock, Turkey’s president has approved Sweden’s NATO membership, paving the way for the Nordic country to follow its neighbour Finland into the security alliance. Here is the current state of Sweden’s bid, which was sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. When will Sweden join NATO? While President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s green light […]https://www.defencetalk.com/the-state-of-swedens-nato-bid-after-turkeys-approval-80024/

DefenceTalkChina and Russia need to “lead the correct direction of global governance reform”, according to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who hailed the two countries’ partnership at a meeting with a top Russian politician in Beijing on Monday, state media reported. Beijing and Moscow have ramped up economic cooperation and diplomatic contacts in recent years, with […]https://www.defencetalk.com/xi-says-russia-and-china-should-lead-global-governance-reform-80028/

DefenceTalkJapan will begin offering aid to the militaries of “like-minded countries” under new rules announced Wednesday, as Tokyo builds a more proactive defence strategy to address growing regional threats. The new framework will be separate from other types of aid offered by Japan, and will specifically target “enhancing the security and deterrence capabilities of like-minded […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-changes-rules-to-allow-aid-to-foreign-militaries-80010/

DefenceTalkWhile Finland Tuesday became a full NATO member, Sweden’s membership bid remains blocked, an “embarrassing” delay if short-lived but which could make Sweden more vulnerable and create problems within NATO if it drags on, experts told AFP. Finland became the 31st member of the military alliance after securing the last two ratifications needed from Hungary […]https://www.defencetalk.com/long-nato-delay-spells-trouble-for-sweden-and-alliance-experts-80002/

DefenceTalkFew expect Chinese President Xi Jinping’s diplomacy to yield breakthroughs on the Ukraine war. But in Washington, there are fears Beijing may succeed elsewhere — in winning credibility on the world stage. Xi pushed forward positions on Ukraine during two days of talks in Moscow, a week after China announced the restoration of ties between […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-diplomatic-offensive-lays-down-new-challenge-for-us-79957/

DefenceTalkA surprise deal to restore ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran will reverberate across and beyond the Middle East, analysts said Friday, touching everything from Yemen’s war to China’s regional engagement. The agreement calls for the long-time rivals “to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions within two months”. It ends the rupture that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/made-in-china-saudi-iran-deal-goes-beyond-middle-east-say-analysts-79929/

DefenceTalkFinland, which has one of Europe’s longest borders with Russia, on Tuesday kicks off a parliamentary debate aimed at accelerating the country’s bid to join NATO, increasing the likelihood it will leave neighbor and military partner Sweden behind. Spooked by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden dropped their decades-long policies of military non-alignment and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/finland-moves-closer-to-joining-nato-without-sweden-79901/