DefenceTalkNATO members relaunched debate Wednesday on the thorny issue of ramping up national defence spending targets as Russia’s war on Ukraine has upended security. Moscow’s nearly year-long all-out invasion of its neighbor has seen a string of European allies commit to spending billions more on their armed forces. Some at the US-led Western military alliance […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-debates-raising-defense-spending-target-79859/

DefenceTalkUkraine’s Western backers will meet for a second day on Wednesday looking to speed up deliveries of ammunition and arms to Kyiv, which is also demanding fighter jets. After securing commitments for tanks, air defences and precision missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has doubled down on his plea for Western aircraft. But allies meeting at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukraines-allies-work-to-keep-arms-flowing-79855/

DefenceTalkThe conflict in Ukraine “has given NATO renewed purpose” and spurred Eastern Europe to ditch Soviet-era equipment, but China’s military modernization remains the United States’ chief concern, a British think-tank said Wednesday. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said that around 20 countries in Europe “announced either immediate uplifts to defence spending or a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukraine-war-boosts-nato-but-china-concerns-the-us-think-tank-79851/

DefenceTalkTwo American F-16 warplanes intercepted four Russian aircraft near Alaska, the joint US-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said Tuesday. The “routine” intercept of the Russian planes — which included Tu-95 bomber and Su-35 fighter aircraft — occurred Monday, NORAD said in a statement. “Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-jets-intercept-russian-aircraft-near-alaska-79847/

DefenceTalkA majority of Finns want to go ahead and join NATO even if Sweden’s membership is delayed, a poll suggested Thursday, after Turkey said it could accept Finland without Sweden. More than half of respondents, 53 percent, replied negatively when asked “whether Finland should wait for Sweden” even “if it takes longer to ratify Sweden’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/majority-of-finns-want-to-join-nato-before-sweden-poll-79837/

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/

DefenceTalkThe United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on a Chinese company for allegedly providing satellite imagery of Ukraine to help Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, while American lawmakers pushed for stronger action against Beijing. The Treasury Department and State Department announced a slew of actions as they formally designated the Wagner Group as a transnational criminal […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-targets-chinese-firm-for-helping-russian-group-in-ukraine-79773/

DefenceTalkGermany’s move to deliver battle tanks to Ukraine, expected to be followed by a similar announcement from the US, marks a politically weighty step that could also offer Kyiv increased ability to breach Russian invaders’ lines. After weeks of pressure from Ukraine and other allies, Berlin finally agreed to send 14 of its Leopard 2 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/western-tanks-political-and-military-boost-for-ukraine-79769/

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/

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/