DefenceTalkThe United States said Tuesday that Russia was not complying with New START, the last remaining arms control treaty between the world’s two main nuclear powers, as tensions soar over the Ukraine war. Responding to a request from Congress, the State Department faulted Russia for suspending inspections and canceling talks but did not accuse Moscow […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-says-russia-not-complying-with-last-remaining-nuclear-treaty-79805/

DefenceTalkFinland’s foreign minister said Wednesday he hoped Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO ratification process would be completed ahead of the alliance’s Vilnius summit in July, despite a row with Turkey. Ankara on Tuesday postponed NATO accession talks with Sweden and Finland, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Stockholm for allowing weekend protests that included the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/finnish-fm-hopes-for-nato-ratification-by-july-79765/

DefenceTalkTurkey on Tuesday postponed NATO accession talks with Sweden and Finland, further denting the Nordic neighbors’ hopes of joining the Western defence alliance after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ankara announced its decision one day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Sweden for allowing weekend protests that included the burning of the Koran […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-postpones-nato-talks-with-sweden-finland-79745/

DefenceTalkEU foreign ministers agreed Monday to spend an extra 500 million euros ($540 million) from their common coffers on arms for Ukraine, diplomats said, as Kyiv pleads for heavier weapons. The accord will take the total committed to supplying Ukraine’s military from common EU spending to 3.6 billion euros, which is separate from national spending […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eu-agrees-extra-500-mn-euros-to-arm-ukraine-79737/

DefenceTalkTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Sweden on Monday that it should not expect his backing to join NATO following the burning of the Koran outside Ankara’s embassy in Stockholm. Erdogan’s furious comments further distanced the prospects of Sweden and Finland joining the Western defence alliance before Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary polls in May. Turkey […]https://www.defencetalk.com/erdogan-warns-sweden-on-nato-after-koran-burning-79733/

DefenceTalkEuropean powers must do more to dissuade China from invading Taiwan, including being prepared to unleash painful economic sanctions and train Taiwanese troops, the former head of NATO said Thursday. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who is visiting Taipei, said European and NATO powers were “too naive” in the run-up to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and risked […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ex-nato-chief-says-europe-too-naive-on-chinas-taiwan-threats-79690/

DefenceTalkFreshly arrived at Cincu army training camp, 120mm cannons loaded on French tanks are already booming out across the muddy firing range as NATO bolsters its forces in Romania, a member country bordering Ukraine. “The Ukrainian crisis shows that what’s going on in the east can threaten all of Europe. We’re showing that NATO is […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-tanks-join-nato-defensive-line-in-romania-79658/

DefenceTalkRussia’s ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday the country was ramping up production of new-generation weapons to protect itself from enemies in Europe, the United States and Australia. “We are increasing production of the most powerful means of destruction. Including those based on new principles,” Medvedev said on messaging app Telegram. “Our enemy dug in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-ramping-up-production-of-most-powerful-weapons-medvedev-79654/

DefenceTalkHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called EU sanctions against Russia “a step towards war” on Friday, describing the bloc’s Russia policy as dangerous. Orban has sought to take a neutral position since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, refusing to send Kyiv military aid and opposing an 18-billion-euro EU support package for Ukraine. Although Budapest didn’t […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eus-russia-sanctions-a-step-towards-war-hungary-pm-79619/

DefenceTalkThe explosion that killed two Polish civilians in a village near the Ukraine border was probably caused by Ukrainian air defence units firing at incoming Russian missiles, the Belgian defence minister said Wednesday. “The missile strikes in Poland last night are being fully investigated by our intelligence service, which is in close contact with NATO […]https://www.defencetalk.com/poland-blast-was-likely-caused-by-ukraine-air-defence-belgian-defence-minister-79610/