DefenceTalkNATO’s US-led mission in Afghanistan is withholding key information about Taliban attacks, a US government watchdog said Friday, potentially making insights into the war harder just as the Pentagon slashes its troop presence. The Resolute Support (RS) mission previously disclosed data on “enemy-initiated attacks”, one of the few remaining public metrics of the conflict and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-withholds-key-information-on-taliban-attacks-watchdog-75352/

DefenceTalkRoyal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jets, based at RAF Lossiemouth, have today left for Lithuania to begin the UK’s latest NATO Air Policing mission. The 6 Squadron aircraft are deploying to Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania where they will carry out the Baltic Air Policing mission for the summer, along with the Spanish Air Force, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/royal-air-force-typhoons-assume-new-nato-baltic-air-policing-mission-75335/

DefenceTalkPotential adversaries might try to take advantage of the virus-triggered economic downturn by buying controlling stakes in NATO members’ strategic industries, the alliance’s chief, Jens Stoltenberg, warned on Wednesday. “The geo-political effects of the pandemic could be significant,” he told a videolink news conference following a virtual emergency meeting of NATO’s defence ministers focused on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-needs-to-protect-strategic-industries-stoltenberg-75179/

DefenceTalkBRUSSELS: North Macedonia became NATO’s newest member, upon depositing its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the US State Department in Washington DC. NATO Allies signed North Macedonia’s Accession Protocol in February 2019, after which all 29 national parliaments voted to ratify the country’s membership. Speaking in Brussels on Friday NATO Secretary […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-macedonia-joins-nato-as-30th-ally-75005/

DefenceTalkSpain’s armed forces on Tuesday asked NATO for humanitarian assistance to fight the novel coronavirus as the national death toll touched 2,700 and infections soared towards 40,000. With the pandemic spreading across the world, Spain has been one of the worst-hit countries, logging the third highest number of deaths with the latest toll standing at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/spain-seeks-nato-help-as-virus-death-toll-touches-2700-74960/

DefenceTalkNATO expects its members to keep up defence spending despite the economic turmoil caused by coronavirus, the alliance chief said Thursday, insisting they must maintain the ability to defend themselves. The global pandemic has forced NATO to curtail or cancel some military exercises but Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said its capacity to ensure security in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-expects-allies-to-maintain-defence-spending-despite-virus-74878/

DefenceTalkMadrid: Former NATO secretary-general Javier Solana is being treated at a Madrid hospital for coronavirus, a source close to the Spanish politician said Saturday. “He tested positive and is evolving favorably,” the source told AFP, confirming a report in conservative newspaper ABC which said he had been hospitalized for the disease in the Spanish capital […]https://www.defencetalk.com/former-nato-chief-javier-solana-has-coronavirus-74835/

DefenceTalkThe US Defense Department said Wednesday it was slashing participation in what was planned as the largest joint US-Europe war games in 25 years due to the threat of coronavirus transmission. “After careful review of the ongoing Defender-Europe 20 exercise activities and in light of the current Coronavirus outbreak, we will modify the exercise by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-cuts-us-participation-in-europe-war-games-74805/

DefenceTalkNATO will press ahead with large-scale military exercises mobilising thousands of troops despite worries about the coronavirus, the alliance chief told AFP on Wednesday. The 29-member alliance has more than 20 exercises planned this year, and will take part in the US-led Defender 2020 drill, which will see 20,000 troops deployed from the United States […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-exercises-to-go-ahead-despite-coronavirus-74642/

DefenceTalkBREMERHAVEN, Germany: The first combat power into the European theater for DEFENDER-Europe 20 has rolled down the ramp of the American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier The Endurance at the port of Bremerhaven in Germany, February 20. The equipment belongs to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, deploying to Germany from Fort Stewart, Georgia. The arrival […]https://www.defencetalk.com/defender-europe-20-begins-with-1st-combat-power-arrival-74290/