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/

DefenceTalkChina would probably gain air superiority very quickly in any attack on Taiwan, something Russia crucially failed to do in its invasion of Ukraine last year, leaked US intelligence documents show, according to media reports Saturday. The classified documents, allegedly leaked by a US national guardsman in the worst US security breach in a decade, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-would-gain-swift-air-superiority-over-taiwan-us-leaks-show-80019/

DefenceTalkChina sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day on Friday and insisted the island remains “an inseparable part of China”, after President Tsai Ing-wen angered Beijing by meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, while a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-sends-warships-and-aircraft-around-taiwan-for-second-day-80015/

DefenceTalkJapan will begin offering aid to the militaries of “like-minded countries” under new rules announced Wednesday, as Tokyo builds a more proactive defence strategy to address growing regional threats. The new framework will be separate from other types of aid offered by Japan, and will specifically target “enhancing the security and deterrence capabilities of like-minded […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-changes-rules-to-allow-aid-to-foreign-militaries-80010/

DefenceTalkTikTok was dealt fresh setbacks Tuesday as Australia joined a list of Western nations banning the Chinese-owned apps from government devices and Britain fined it for allowing children under 13 to use the social media platform. The popular video-sharing app has come under growing pressure in Western countries, with the United States urging TikTok to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/tiktok-hit-with-uk-fine-australia-government-ban-80006/

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/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Center has selected Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) to develop an advanced propulsion Long Range Maneuverable Fires (LRMF) missile. The missile can be fired from existing Army launchers to defeat distant threats at ranges that significantly exceed those of the PrSM baseline. “Lockheed Martin is partnering with the U.S. Army […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-developing-long-range-maneuverable-fires-missile-for-us-army-79988/

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/