DefenceTalkDefenceTalkIran on Friday renewed its call for the US to lift all sanctions imposed by former president Donald Trump, after an offer for talks from new President Joe Biden’s administration. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that Iran would “immediately reverse” its retaliatory measures if the US lifts “all sanctions imposed, re-imposed or re-labelled by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-renews-call-to-us-to-lift-all-sanctions-imposed-by-trump-76785/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkA former US defense secretary has called on President-elect Joe Biden to reform the system that gives sole control of the nation’s nuclear arsenal to the president, calling it “outdated, unnecessary and extremely dangerous.” The call from William Perry came the same day US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke with the nation’s top military leader […]https://www.defencetalk.com/biden-urged-to-renounce-sole-control-of-us-nuclear-weapons-76655/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkWith the end of his presidency looming, Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a crusade against Chinese apps, branding them a threat to US national security. Trump ordered a ban on transactions involving Alipay, WeChat Pay and other apps linked to Chinese companies, saying they could route user information to the government in Beijing. The executive […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-targets-chinese-apps-as-his-days-in-office-dwindle-76647/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe EU will once again have a cooperative US partner when Joe Biden becomes president, but Europeans should harbour no illusions: Washington will be no globo-cop nor NATO’s big protector, leaders and analysts say. “Great day for US and Europe, we look forward to working together with new administration to rebuild our partnership,” the EU’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eu-must-learn-to-live-without-us-leadership-under-biden-say-analysts-76535/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkPresident Donald Trump said Wednesday he wants all US troops to leave Afghanistan by Christmas, speeding up the timeline for ending America’s longest war. “We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!” Trump wrote on Twitter. In a February 29 agreement reached in Qatar […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-says-wants-us-troops-out-of-afghanistan-by-christmas-76450/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkUS President Donald Trump was expected to announce further troop withdrawals Wednesday from Afghanistan and from Iraq, where several thousand US troops hunting down jihadist sleeper cells have faced increasing attacks blamed on pro-Iran factions. The deadly bomb and rocket attacks have put additional pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, who has pledged to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-to-announce-us-troop-withdrawals-from-iraq-afghanistan-76290/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkPresident Donald Trump said Wednesday the U.S. is considering selling advanced American F-35 warplanes to the United Arab Emirates over the objections of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump told reporters at a White House news conference that the Emiratis had expressed interest in buying “quite a few” of the stealth fighter jets. He said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-weighs-f-35-fighter-jet-sales-to-uae-over-israeli-objections-76200/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkUS President Donald Trump has announced sweeping restrictions against Chinese-owned social media giants TikTok and WeChat, his latest explosive move aimed at countering China’s rising global power. Trump on Thursday signed executive orders giving Americans 45 days to stop doing business with the Chinese platforms, effectively setting a deadline for a potential pressured sale of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-order-targets-chinese-internet-giants-tiktok-wechat-76140/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkPresident Donald Trump told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday that he hopes to avoid an “expensive” US arms race with Russia and China, the White House said. Washington and Moscow are preparing negotiations on a successor to the New START treaty capping their countries’ nuclear arsenals. However, China has so far rejected pressure […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-tells-putin-hopes-to-avoid-us-russia-china-arms-race-75997/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkPresident Donald Trump has approved a plan to slash the US military presence in Germany by 9,500 troops, the Defense Department said Tuesday. Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said the move, which has sparked concerns in Berlin and in the NATO alliance, is to redeploy the troops and will “enhance Russian deterrence, strengthen NATO, (and) reassure […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-approves-cutting-9500-troops-in-germany-pentagon-75791/