DefenceTalkWashington: Secretary of the Army Mark Esper, who was chosen by President Donald Trump to be the new acting Pentagon chief, is a former military man who moved to the defense industry. “I know Mark, and have no doubt he will do a fantastic job!” Trump wrote in a tweet announcing his appointment. Unlike his […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-pentagon-chief-an-ex-soldier-who-moved-to-the-defense-industry-72339/

DefenceTalkThe European Union warned Saturday that US President Donald Trump’s rejection of a UN treaty designed to regulate the global arms trade would hamper the global fight against illicit weapons trafficking. “A decision by the US to revoke its signature would not contribute to the ongoing efforts to encourage transparency in the international arms trade, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eu-slams-trumps-withdrawal-from-un-arms-trade-treaty-72283/

DefenceTalkRussian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia has suspended its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, one day after the United States made a similar announcement. Putin met in Moscow on February 2 with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss Russia’s reaction to the long-expected U.S. move. “We […]https://www.defencetalk.com/in-tit-for-tat-move-putin-announces-russian-suspension-of-inf-treaty-72108/

DefenceTalkNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Sunday that US President Donald Trump’s regular complaints about the alliance had not undermined it — adding that his criticism on defense spending was having a positive impact. Trump has frequently blasted members of the 29-nation western security partnership for not paying more into their national defense budgets. Before […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-chief-says-trumps-funding-gripes-having-real-results-72090/

DefenceTalkPresident Donald Trump vowed on Thursday to boost America’s missile defence systems, including by investing in technology to protect against the threat of sophisticated “hypersonic” weapons. Speaking at the Pentagon, Trump unveiled the Missile Defense Review, a long-awaited analysis of the defensive network of US interceptors that are designed to shoot down an incoming ballistic […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-vows-to-boost-americas-missile-defence-72059/

DefenceTalkNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has told DW that European defense efforts should remain within the alliance. Stoltenberg also criticized Russia over its SSC-8 missile program, saying it breached the INF treaty. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told DW in an interview on Monday that a European army as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron […]https://www.defencetalk.com/europe-should-keep-its-defense-within-nato-says-stoltenberg-71932/

DefenceTalkUS President Donald Trump´s top two envoys were expected Thursday to press India not to buy Russian military equipment or Iranian oil, while seeking to bolster ties as China grows more assertive in the region. The “2+2” meeting in New Delhi of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis with counterparts […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-envoys-to-press-india-on-russian-missiles-iran-oil-71835/

DefenceTalkSeven European countries are expected to meet a NATO defence spending pledge this year, the alliance said Tuesday, in news that is unlikely to appease US President Donald Trump on the eve of an already tense summit. Trump has repeatedly berated America’s European allies for not spending enough on their own defence and launched a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/seven-european-countries-to-hit-nato-spending-pledge-stoltenberg-71739/

DefenceTalkNorth Korea on Wednesday (May 16) called into question a much-anticipated and unprecedented summit between its leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump set for next month. Pyongyang also cancelled high-level talks due on Wednesday with Seoul over the Max Thunder joint military exercises being held between the United States and South Korea, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-casts-doubt-on-trump-summit-71681/

DefenceTalkPresident Emmanuel Macron asserted Sunday that Paris had convinced Donald Trump to stay engaged in Syria “for the long-term”, adding that French air strikes did not amount to a declaration of war against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. A day after France joined the United States and Britain in launching unprecedented strikes against regime targets, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-convinced-trump-to-stay-in-syria-says-macron-71634/