DefenceTalkFrance will boost defence spending next year by 1.6 billion euros, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Thursday, just two months after a row over planned cuts to the budget triggered the resignation of the armed forces chief. Philippe said it was the biggest increase in six years. “This will be continued in 2019 and 2020 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-to-boost-defence-budget-by-1-6-bn-euros-in-2018-70424/

DefenceTalkCINCU TRAINING AREA, Romania: Soldiers from Bravo Company, 2nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, are honing skills in a week of aerial gunnery training at the Cincu Training Area in Romania. The 10th Combat Aviation Brigade has presence in multiple countries in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-soldiers-hone-aerial-gunnery-skills-in-romania-70371/

DefenceTalkUS Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Thursday stressed Washington’s commitment to helping Ukraine’s military, and said sanctions against Russia would remain in place until Moscow reversed its policy on Ukraine. Mattis said a new military aid package with Ukraine would help Kiev defend itself and accused Russia of seeking to “redraw international borders” by force. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-pledges-aid-for-ukraines-army-70357/

DefenceTalkAs one of the first Soldiers to shoot a powerful 30 mm cannon from a new Stryker combat vehicle, Staff Sgt. Randall Engler was excited about what the weapon could do for his infantry squad. “It’s empowering,” said Engler, of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, which has asked the Army to give its Stryker fleet more […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-soldiers-in-europe-test-stryker-cannon-javelin-system-70294/

DefenceTalkThe government and two parties in the center-right opposition have agreed to increase the defence spending with SEK 8,1 billion until 2020. In 2015, five parties reached an agreement over defence and defence spending until 2020. But in the beginning of this year, those parties reopened talks to increase that budget, as a result of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sweden-to-boost-defense-spending-70276/

DefenceTalkNATO has held its first war games focused on defending the Suwalki Gap, a land corridor critical to the security of its Baltic allies, officials said on Monday, amid tensions with Russia. The narrow stretch of the Polish-Lithuanian border is sandwiched between Russia’s highly militarized Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, a close Kremlin ally. Military strategists […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-holds-first-war-games-on-vulnerable-baltic-corridor-70177/

DefenceTalkUS President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States remained committed to NATO’s mutual defense pledge, after he failed to endorse it in a speech in Brussels last month. Amid worries by Washington’s European partners that the US leader had not fully bought into the Atlantic alliance, Trump told reporters: “I’m committing the United […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-says-us-committed-to-natos-mutual-defense-pledge-70162/

DefenceTalkThe Defense Department’s fiscal year 2018 budget request includes nearly $4.8 billion for the European Reassurance Initiative to enhance deterrence and defense and improve the readiness of forces in Europe, the U.S. European Command director of strategy, plans and policy said today. Air Force Maj. Gen. David W. Allvin held a telephone briefing with reporters, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/2018-budget-request-for-european-reassurance-initiative-grows-to-4-7-billion-70120/

DefenceTalkThe transatlantic diplomatic rift widened on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump responded to criticism from Chancellor Angela Merkel with a new attack on German trade tactics and defense spending. Trump’s spokesman Sean Spicer insisted that the leaders “get on very well” but — as is often the case — his warm words from the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-trump-attack-on-germany-widens-transatlantic-rift-70105/

DefenceTalkMIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania: Soldiers from Task Force Fighting Eagles rolled out the first green armored vehicles to appear outside of Germany from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, matching eastern Europe’s lush springtime operating environment. The crews of 1st Battalion (“Fighting Eagles”), 8th Infantry Regiment, transformed their M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles […]https://www.defencetalk.com/rolling-in-the-green-34-abcts-forest-colors-spring-up-in-black-sea-region-70005/