DefenceTalkPoland’s President Andrzej Duda said Tuesday the NATO member plans to spend more than four percent of its gross domestic product on defence next year amid security concerns over the war in neighboring Ukraine. He announced the sum of 137 billion zloty ($33 billion) at the opening of this year’s edition of the region’s biggest […]https://www.defencetalk.com/poland-to-spend-over-4-of-gdp-on-defence-in-2024-80073/

DefenceTalkThe White House warned Tuesday that North Korea would “pay a price” if it supplies Russia with weaponry for its war in Ukraine, with Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin expected to hold talks on the issue. Sanctions-hit Russia is reportedly eager to secure more military supplies from its ally to bolster its forces as […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-to-pay-price-if-it-gives-russia-arms-us-80069/

DefenceTalkRussia will regard Western F-16 fighter jets sent to Ukraine as a “nuclear” threat because of their capacity to carry atomic weapons, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday. Modern warplanes have been at the forefront of Kyiv’s demands for military aid from its Western allies as it fights back against Russia’s offensive. Lavrov spoke […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-says-f-16-fighter-jets-in-ukraine-will-be-seen-as-nuclear-threat-80051/

DefenceTalkAfter months of deadlock, Turkey’s president has approved Sweden’s NATO membership, paving the way for the Nordic country to follow its neighbour Finland into the security alliance. Here is the current state of Sweden’s bid, which was sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. When will Sweden join NATO? While President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s green light […]https://www.defencetalk.com/the-state-of-swedens-nato-bid-after-turkeys-approval-80024/

DefenceTalkChina and Russia need to “lead the correct direction of global governance reform”, according to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who hailed the two countries’ partnership at a meeting with a top Russian politician in Beijing on Monday, state media reported. Beijing and Moscow have ramped up economic cooperation and diplomatic contacts in recent years, with […]https://www.defencetalk.com/xi-says-russia-and-china-should-lead-global-governance-reform-80028/

DefenceTalkWhile Finland Tuesday became a full NATO member, Sweden’s membership bid remains blocked, an “embarrassing” delay if short-lived but which could make Sweden more vulnerable and create problems within NATO if it drags on, experts told AFP. Finland became the 31st member of the military alliance after securing the last two ratifications needed from Hungary […]https://www.defencetalk.com/long-nato-delay-spells-trouble-for-sweden-and-alliance-experts-80002/

DefenceTalkRussia’s defence ministry said Tuesday that its navy had fired test anti-ship missiles at mock targets in the Sea of Japan during military exercises. Russia’s Pacific Fleet drills came a week after Tokyo’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Ukraine. Moscow holds regular drills off its Far East coast, but Tokyo said these were “increasing” and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-says-fired-anti-ship-missiles-at-mock-target-in-sea-of-japan-79993/

DefenceTalkGermany has delivered promised Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday, providing Kyiv with much-needed heavy weaponry against Russia. The delivery of what Scholz said were “very modern” German-made battle tanks comes some two months after Berlin finally gave the green light for them to be sent. Ukraine has appealed to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-delivers-leopard-tanks-to-ukraine-79984/

DefenceTalkThe Kremlin on Monday said Western criticism would not change plans announced by President Vladimir Putin to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus. The West condemned Putin’s weekend announcement on placing the weapons in EU and NATO-bordering Belarus, triggering calls for new sanctions on Moscow. Ukraine said it was seeking an emergency meeting of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kremlin-says-wont-change-plans-on-belarus-nuclear-weapons-79998/

DefenceTalkNATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday dismissed Russian complaints about Britain’s announcement that it will send Ukraine ammunition containing depleted uranium. Moscow on Wednesday warned of a “serious” escalation of the Ukraine crisis if London gives Kyiv the armour piercing rounds. “NATO allies are following international rules and international law in everything they do in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-rejects-russian-complaints-on-uk-uranium-ammo-79972/