DefenceTalkRussia sees no reason to hold a new round of security talks with the West in the coming days following a lack of progress during ongoing negotiations, a top diplomat said Thursday. “I do not see reasons to sit down in the coming days, to gather again and start the same discussions,” Deputy Foreign Minister […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-sees-no-point-in-further-west-talks-soon-lead-negotiator-77682/

DefenceTalkTaiwan’s parliament on Tuesday passed an extra spending bill of nearly $8.6 billion in its latest bid to boost defence capabilities against an increasingly bellicose China. The government proposed a five-year special defence budget of around TW$237.3 billion from 2022 as Chinese warplanes breached its air defence zone at unprecedented levels last year. Democratic Taiwan […]https://www.defencetalk.com/taiwan-passes-extra-8-6-bln-defence-budget-as-china-threat-grows-77660/

DefenceTalkNATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Russia on Monday of “severe costs” if it launches a further attack on Ukraine, saying he hoped crunch talks could chart a way towards a diplomatic solution. “We are working hard for a peaceful political path and we are ready to continue to work with Russia to try to find […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-chief-warns-russia-of-severe-costs-if-ukraine-attacked-77650/

DefenceTalkJapan moved ahead with an expansion of support to US troops as the allies held top-level talks on Friday over tensions with China and North Korea. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the two nations were signing a five-year extension of the support package provided by Japan for the hosting of around 50,000 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-extends-us-military-support-amid-china-north-korea-challenges-77639/

DefenceTalkJapan and Australia on Thursday signed a “landmark” treaty to strengthen defence ties, saying the accord would contribute to regional stability, as China expands its military and economic clout. While Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not mention Beijing directly in a statement released ahead of the signing, the agreement is seen as another step […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-australia-sign-defence-treaty-with-eyes-on-china-77634/

DefenceTalkNATO foreign ministers will hold an emergency videoconference on Friday to discuss Russia’s military build-up around Ukraine, after a raft of demands from Moscow, the alliance said. Tensions have soared in recent months as the West has warned that the Kremlin could be planning a full-scale invasion of its neighbor after massing some 100,000 troops […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-foreign-ministers-to-hold-emergency-talks-on-ukraine-77612/

DefenceTalkPresident Emmanuel Macron vowed Thursday France would work towards a strong and “sovereign” European Union when it takes over the bloc’s rotating presidency that coincides with France’s presidential election. Macron, a centrist who portrays himself as a champion of democracy against populism, may aim to use the six-month EU mandate to fill the gap in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/macron-lays-out-agenda-for-powerful-sovereign-eu-77576/

DefenceTalkNicaragua inked a deal on Friday switching diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China in a political coup for Beijing as it seeks to isolate the democratic island it has vowed to one day seize. The announcement leaves Taiwan with just 14 diplomatic allies but comes as Taipei strengthens ties with multiple unofficial Western friends including […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nicaragua-switches-diplomatic-recognition-from-taiwan-to-china-77572/

DefenceTalkIndian defence chief General Bipin Rawat was among 13 people killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, raising questions over the future of military reforms he was leading. Rawat was India’s first chief of defence staff, a position that the government established in 2019, and was seen as close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-defence-chief-among-13-dead-in-helicopter-crash-77557/

DefenceTalkChina said Monday it will take “countermeasures” if the United States called for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, hours after unconfirmed reports that the Biden administration could announce such a move this week. CNN and NBC cited unnamed sources Sunday as saying the diplomatic boycott — meaning no US government officials would […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-threatens-countermeasures-if-us-boycotts-olympics-77551/