DefenceTalkUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the rivalry between the two superpowers and Russia’s war in Ukraine in a call Sunday, the State Department and Beijing’s foreign ministry said. The top diplomats talked about the need to “responsibly manage the competition between our two countries,” Blinken said in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-china-discuss-relations-war-in-ukraine-79569/

DefenceTalkRussia’s invasion of Ukraine highlights the “acute threat” posed by Moscow, but China is the most consequential challenge for the United States, the Pentagon said Thursday. The dangers are both conventional — Moscow’s aggression toward its neighbors and Beijing’s efforts to gain control of Taiwan — and nuclear, with Russia possessing an extensive arsenal and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-sees-acute-threat-from-russia-but-says-china-is-main-challenge-79549/

DefenceTalkPresident Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the war in Ukraine was part of Russia’s wider struggle against Western domination, and warned that the world is probably entering the “most dangerous” decade since the end of World War II. The Russian leader showed no sign of backpedaling on the eight-month-old invasion of Ukraine, and indeed painted […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-russia-battling-western-domination-as-ukraine-war-grinds-on-79562/

DefenceTalkThe UN’s nuclear watchdog will this week carry out an “independent verification” of Russian allegations concerning the production of so-called dirty bombs at two sites in Ukraine, it said on Thursday. Russia has accused Ukraine of preparing to use such a weapon against Moscow’s troops, but Kyiv suspects Russia might itself use a dirty bomb […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iaea-to-conduct-independent-probe-into-ukraine-dirty-bomb-allegations-79559/

DefenceTalkRussia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Sunday held rare calls with NATO counterparts in which they discussed Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said. “The situation in Ukraine, which has a steady tendency towards further, uncontrolled escalation, was discussed,” by Shoigu and French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the ministry said. Later on Sunday, the ministry said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-discusses-ukraine-in-string-of-calls-with-defense-chiefs-79543/

DefenceTalkUS F-16 warplanes intercepted two Russian bombers in international airspace near the state of Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said Tuesday. The Tu-95 bombers were intercepted the previous day after “entering and operating within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone,” NORAD said in a statement. The Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) is […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-fighter-jets-intercept-russian-bombers-near-alaska-79530/

DefenceTalkNATO on Monday launched its regular nuclear deterrence drills in western Europe, after tensions soared with Russia over President Vladimir Putin’s veiled threats in the face of setbacks in Ukraine. The 30-nation alliance has stressed that the “routine, recurring training activity” — which runs until October 30 — was planned before Moscow invaded Ukraine and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-holds-routine-nuclear-drill-amid-russia-tensions-79527/

DefenceTalkWestern backers of Ukraine on Wednesday discussed supplying it more air defences as a “top priority” as Kyiv urged bolstered protection against Russia’s missile barrages. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said just three words when asked what he hoped for from a meeting with Kyiv’s supporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels: “Air defence systems.” NATO […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukraine-seeks-more-air-defence-from-western-backers-79510/

DefenceTalkDoomsday could start with a football — the so-called “nuclear football” as the attache case carried wherever the US president goes is popularly known. The rather awkwardly stuffed black bag doesn’t look like much, the only clue to its importance being that it never leaves the hand of a uniformed military aide. But inside are […]https://www.defencetalk.com/from-football-to-biscuits-how-biden-would-launch-nukes-79497/

DefenceTalkDozens of countries have supplied military support to Ukraine since Russia invaded it on February 24, either in the form of weapons, financial aid for arms purchases or military training. The United States is by far the biggest supplier of weapons to Ukraine, followed by the United Kingdom, Poland and Germany. The Germany-based Kiel Institute […]https://www.defencetalk.com/arms-for-ukraine-us-pulls-ahead-europe-slows-79494/