Theme

Defence

Stories related to defence, strategy and cooperation. 

Editor's choice
Monday Commentary
NATO Summit in The Hague II: everyone survived, now all eyes on Türkiye

NATO Summit in The Hague II: everyone survived, now all eyes on Türkiye

The Nato Summit held in The Hague on 24-25 June was a failure, wrapped in success. It was a success because it avoided public display of divisions, mainly by avoiding issues: it was the shortest summit anyone can remember; it also had a very short final statement that basically had two points, the first a re-commitment to article 5 of the North Atlantic Charter and the principle that an attack on one will be considered an attack on all. The fact that Nato leaders in the Hague had felt the need to re-emphasise this should be a cause of worry not celebration, but in the end, it is good that it was said. The second outcome, the one that received most attention, was the commitment of European countries to spend more on their defence: 5 per cent of GDP, of which 3.5 per cent on hard defence, and 1.5 per cent on related ancillary areas such as infrastructure. You may, if you want, believe that this was a response to US President Donald Trump's insistence. Or, if you are more prudent, understand that countries that matter – Germany, France, Poland and the Scandinavian countries had decided on this course of action quite separately, and as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which was a wake-up call. Finland and Sweden’s decision to abandon their neutrality, and join NATO was taken long before Trump returned to the White House. The EU’s decision to spend massively on defence was always to ensure that other European countries are part of this process, willy-nilly.
Editor's choice
News
Several countries bordering Russia will leave the Ottawa Convention which bans land mines

Several countries bordering Russia will leave the Ottawa Convention which bans land mines

Several countries that border Russia intend to leave the Ottawa Convention which bans anti personnel land mines. They include EU member states Finland, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as Ukraine. Russia has not signed the Ottawa treaty and continues to stockpile and use landmines. Ukraine is withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use, stockpiling and production of anti-personnel mines, according to Roman Kostenko, People's Deputy of the Golos party and Secretary of the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine . He said this is a step that the realities of war have long required. "Russia is not a party to this convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians. We cannot remain constrained in conditions where the enemy has no restrictions," the MP noted.

Filter archive

Publication date
Editor's choice
News
As battles rage in Yemen, Iran admits it has been supporting the Houthis

As battles rage in Yemen, Iran admits it has been supporting the Houthis

Iran has explicitly admitted its role in supporting the Yemeni Houthi movement as they engage in battles on multiple fronts with the Yemeni government and its Arab coalition supporters. General Rostam Qasemi, one of the commander's in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, said on Wednesday (21 April) that weapons that the Houthis possess were provided by Tehran.
Editor's choice
News
Iran raises nuclear enrichment levels

Iran raises nuclear enrichment levels

Iran has announced that it will raise its nuclear enrichment level up to 60 percent. The move, according to President Hassan Rouhani is a response to "nuclear terrorism". On Sunday (11 April) the Iranian Fuel Enrichment Plant in Natanz was attacked with Iran pointing fingers at Tel Aviv. Rouhani described the attack as a plot to weaken his country's position during the ongoing nuclear negotiations in Vienna.
Editor's choice
News
US to cut troops in the Gulf, says WSJ

US to cut troops in the Gulf, says WSJ

The Wall Street Journal reports that the US President, Joe Biden, has directed the Pentagon to cut troops present in the Gulf. The move appears to be an early step in the efforts towards a realignment of US presence away from the Middle East.
Editor's choice
News
New Army chief in Armenia says military will not interfere in politics

New Army chief in Armenia says military will not interfere in politics

After weeks of uncertainty on the issue of the leadership of the Armenian armed forces, on Monday the formal procedures for appointing a new Chief of the General Staff were completed, and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the army headquarters to introduce the new head of the army to fellow senior officers. On his part the new head of the army, General Artak Davtyan, has made it clear that the army intends to keep out of politics.
Editor's choice
News
Russia's only aircraft carrier, "the Admiral Kuznetsov" embroiled in shipyard corruption scandal whilst under repair

Russia's only aircraft carrier, "the Admiral Kuznetsov" embroiled in shipyard corruption scandal whilst under repair

Russia's biggest naval ship and only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, has been embroiled in a corruption scandal at the Murmansk shipyard where it currently is being repaired and overhauled. The ship is often used by Russia for power projection in the Mediterranean and elsewhere.