DefenceTalkFrench arms exports fell by 41 percent in 2020 to 4.9 billion euros, with negotiations for major contracts disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, a defence ministry report showed Wednesday. The report, submitted to parliament and seen by AFP before publication, said the sharp drop “does not reflect a fundamental trend”, with significant new deals clinched […]

DefenceTalkChina on Thursday suspended an economic agreement with Australia, worsening an already-troubled relationship fractured by spats over the Covid-19 pandemic and human rights abuses. Tensions between the two sides have have soared after Canberra called for an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and banned telecoms giant Huawei from building Australia’s 5G […]

DefenceTalkThe United States on Wednesday warned China against what the Philippines and Taiwan see as increasingly aggressive moves, reminding Beijing of Washington’s obligations to its partners. “An armed attack against the Philippines’ armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, will trigger our obligations under the US-Philippines Mutual […]

DefenceTalkUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken will launch a European charm offensive on his first official trip to Brussels on Tuesday, looking to rebuild ties with NATO allies and the EU. Washington’s top diplomat will attend a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers and hold talks with EU chiefs as he tries to mend relations […]

DefenceTalkThe UK government was preparing to unveil its much-anticipated military modernization plans on Monday, vowing to bolster its defence of British interests “across multiple domains and in all corners of the globe”. The long-awaited proposals, detailed in a report entitled “Defence in a Competitive Age”, focus heavily on boosting the country’s navy and global footprint, […]

DefenceTalkChina’s foreign ministry said on Thursday it would not make concessions to the US on key issues including Xinjiang and Hong Kong, ahead of high-level meetings between the two countries’ diplomats in Alaska. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan are set for talks with senior Chinese official Yang […]

DefenceTalkThe number of international arms transfers has levelled off in the last five years, but a more peaceful world is not necessarily the reason as some nations shun imports and have begun producing their own weapons, researchers said on Monday. Comparing the period of 2011-2015 to 2016-2020, three of the world’s five largest exporters — […]

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkFour retired Taiwanese military intelligence officers — including a major general — have been indicted for spying for China, prosecutors said Saturday. The quartet were charged with developing a spying network and collecting confidential information for Beijing, the Taipei district prosecutors’ office said. The two sides have been spying on each other since the Nationalists […]https://www.defencetalk.com/four-taiwan-ex-intelligence-officers-charged-with-spying-for-china-76803/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkSaudi Arabia’s state arms producer signed an agreement Sunday with US contractor Lockheed Martin to form a joint venture, a statement said, as Washington reviews weapons sales to the kingdom. The deal was announced by Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), which said it will own 51 percent of the venture, as it seeks to boost […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saudi-arms-producer-in-defence-venture-with-lockheed-martin-76799/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkUS President Joe Biden said he won’t lift sanctions against Iran as long as the Islamic republic is not adhering to its nuclear deal commitments. Asked whether he would halt sanctions to convince Iran to return to the bargaining table, Biden offered a clear reply in a CBS interview aired Sunday: “No.” The journalist then […]https://www.defencetalk.com/biden-says-us-wont-lift-sanctions-to-bring-iran-to-talks-76779/