DefenceTalkAs defense budgets are slashed in dire financial times, governments increasingly rely on alliances and cooperation with their partners. Instead of going solo, militaries pool resources to increase efficiency. The financial crisis has put pressure on governments all over the world to drastically cut down expenses. What started five years ago now has started to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-under-pressure-as-allies-cut-defense-costs-47387/

DefenceTalkThe White House said Tuesday that NATO would not provide Patriot missile batteries to protect rebel strongholds in Syria, following a request from opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib. Khatib asked for an extension of the umbrella provided by Patriot positions on the Turkish border designed to intercept any missiles fired from the Syrian side, as […]https://www.defencetalk.com/white-house-no-patriot-missiles-in-syria-47281/

DefenceTalkThe United States is dedicated to defending Europe from missile attacks despite a US decision to abandon the final phase of a planned anti-missile system, Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel said Friday. In a phone call to Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, Hagel conveyed his condolences over the death of a Polish soldier in Afghanistan this […]https://www.defencetalk.com/hagel-seeks-to-reassure-poland-on-missile-defense-47250/

DefenceTalkAs ISAF prepares to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, the instability of transport routes out of the country through Pakistan has opened up a powerful window of opportunity for Uzbekistan. A route northwards through the former Soviet state has become a preferred alternative to an exit via Karachi for the removal of vast quantities of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-uzbekistan-and-the-isaf-withdrawal-47234/

DefenceTalkNATO has said it is strongly considering a proposal to extend funding for a security force of Afghan troops through 2018. The proposal comes amid speculation that the US will reduce support for post-2014 operations. NATO is considering plans to continue supporting about 350,000 Afghan troops in the country until 2018, its Secretary General Anders […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-mulls-funding-afghan-troops-through-2018-46911/

DefenceTalkThe NATO Secretary General has put out his clearest statement yet that he wants defence cuts to stop before they put populations at risk. Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s words at the Defence Ministers Meeting in Belgium come as David Cameron revealed some of Britain’s aid budget could be used for defence. The Secretary General said: “If […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-chief-calls-for-defence-cuts-halt-46903/

DefenceTalkThe US military has started to withdraw equipment from Afghanistan through Pakistan ahead of next year’s deadline for combat troops to leave the war against the Taliban, an official said Monday. Two convoys, each hauling 25 shipping containers, entered Pakistan at the Chaman and Torkham border crossings on Sunday as part of the US redeployment […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-withdraws-military-equipment-through-pakistan-46747/

DefenceTalkAn Israeli air strike hit a military research centre near Damascus at dawn on Wednesday, the Syrian army said, denying reports that the raid targeted a weapons convoy near the Lebanese border. Residents who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, however, said the strike targeted a non-conventional weapons research centre some 15 kilometres (10 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/syria-says-israel-hit-military-research-center-46617/

DefenceTalkThe Royal Air Force’s Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) today assumed lead responsibility for the NATO Response Force (NRF). The current incumbents, the German Air Force, were represented by Brigadier General Nolte at a handover of the NRF lead duty to the RAF’s JFACC Air Commodore Martin Sampson at an official ceremony at HQ […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raf-becomes-nato-response-force-lead-46615/

DefenceTalk“Insider-attacks” were recognized as the number-one strategic risk in Afghanistan during a NATO conference Jan. 24, and training to mitigate the threat was discussed by members of the International Security Assistance Force. The International Insider Threat Conference was hosted Jan. 24, at the Joint Multinational Training Command in Grafenwoer. Trainers there demonstrated how behavioral cues […]https://www.defencetalk.com/isaf-nato-employ-tactics-against-insider-threats-46604/