DefenceTalkNorwegian daily Aftenposten reported Thursday on the defence cooperation agreement involving Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark in an op-ed undersigned by their respective Defence Ministers. The background to the intensified collaboration was said to be the perceived threat posed by Russia. “The Russian aggression against the Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea are […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nordics-to-step-up-security-cooperation-on-perceived-russian-threat-63803/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force deployed 12 F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft and approximately 200 Airmen as the first Air National Guard theater security package in Europe to support Operation Atlantic Resolve this week. The aircraft and Airmen, from the 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, Jacksonville, Fla., are set to be in place and fulfilling […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-air-national-guard-theater-security-package-deploys-to-europe-63679/

DefenceTalkA Moscow-friendly Greece could paralyse NATO’s ability to react to Russian aggression, former US national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski warned Wednesday. Athens could use its veto to slow the alliance’s response if Russia set its sights on its Baltic member states, he told Poland’s Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. The Cold War-era hawk, who worked for president […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-friendly-greece-nato-63652/

DefenceTalkNATO jets were scrambled Tuesday to escort Russian fighters and nuclear-capable bombers flying near the Baltic states and Sweden with their transponders switched off, sparking protests over the danger they posed to civil aviation. Lithuania’s defence ministry spokeswoman Asta Galdikaite said NATO air policing aircraft identified two Tu-22 type bombers and two SU-27 jets. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russian-bombers-spark-nato-scramble-protest-in-baltic-63650/

DefenceTalkA Patriot missile battery from U.S. Army Europe’s 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, or AAMDC, began arriving here, March 18, after a 1,200-kilometer tactical road movement, as part of a combined air and missile defense exercise with its Polish allies. Delta Battery, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment is participating in the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-europe-air-defense-unit-deploys-to-poland-for-exercise-63611/

DefenceTalkOnce a source of irritation for the United States, France has nudged aside Britain to become the US military’s key European partner. The growing ties between the two militaries were on display this month when France’s top military officer, General Pierre de Villiers, hosted his US counterpart, General Martin Dempsey, aboard France’s aircraft carrier, the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-displaces-britain-as-key-us-military-ally-63600/

DefenceTalkEuropean Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on Sunday called for the creation of an EU army in the wake of rising tensions with Russia. Juncker said the force could help counter new threats beyond the bloc’s borders and defend European “values”, in an interview with Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper. “You would not create a European […]https://www.defencetalk.com/commission-chief-juncker-calls-for-eu-army-63413/

DefenceTalkThe US military’s top-ranking officer on Tuesday added to a growing clamor for Washington to arm Ukraine in its battle with pro-Russian forces, saying he favors doing so through NATO. It was the first time General Martin Dempsey had spoken out in support of arming Ukraine’s army against the separatists and follows similar comments by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/top-us-military-officer-backs-arming-ukraine-63355/

DefenceTalkRussia wants to secure a land corridor in eastern Ukraine that could include Mariupol but pro-Moscow rebels may wait until the spring to attack the strategic port city, the US spy chief said Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aim was not to seize all of Ukraine but to carve out territory linking up with the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-spy-chief-predicts-spring-attack-on-ukraine-port-63316/

DefenceTalkRussia could set its sights on Moldova to prevent it from “leaning to the West,” following the conflict with Ukraine, the top NATO commander warned Wednesday. Speaking to US lawmakers at a Capitol Hill hearing, General Philip Breedlove said Moldova could be a target for Moscow. “What we should do is watch first where we […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-could-target-moldova-nato-commander-63303/