MACRON OFFERS TO MEDIATE BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIAN KURDS

Sourced: Reuters France has offered to mediate between Turkey and the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces, and assured the SDF of Paris’ support in stabilising northern Syria, President Emmanuel Macron’s office said on Thursday. Speaking after Macron met a delegation from northern Syria that included the Kurdish YPG militia, Khaled Eissa, a Kurdish official based in… Continue reading MACRON OFFERS TO MEDIATE BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIAN KURDS

KOSOVO PM SAYS ARRESTED EDUCATORS DEPORTED TO TURKEY

Sourced: Balkan Insight Several employees of Turkish colleges in Kosovo, allegedly linked to the exiled cleric Fetullah Gulen and arrested on Thursday, have been reportedly rapidly deported to Turkey – in a move criticised by Kosovo high officials. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, took to Facebook on Thursday to say that the operation was undertaken… Continue reading KOSOVO PM SAYS ARRESTED EDUCATORS DEPORTED TO TURKEY

CHINA CARRIER GROUP LEADS MASSIVE SHOW OF FORCE IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

(121125) -- LIAONING AIRCRAFT CARRIER, Nov. 25, 2012 (Xinhua) -- This undated photo shows China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, sailing on the sea. China has successfully conducted flight landing on its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. After its delivery to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Sept. 25, the aircraft carrier has undergone a series of sailing and technological tests, including the flight of the carrier-borne J-15. Capabilities of the carrier platform and the J-15 have been tested, meeting all requirements and achieving good compatibility, the PLA Navy said. Designed by and made in China, the J-15 is able to carry multi-type anti-ship, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, as well as precision-guided bombs. The J-15 has comprehensive capabilities comparable to those of the Russian Su-33 jet and the U.S. F-18, military experts estimated. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

Sourced: Asia Times China’s Liaoning carrier group has appeared in the South China Sea off Hainan, satellite photos show, after it was said to pass through the Taiwan Strait, in what analysts are describing as an “unusually large display of the Chinese military’s growing naval might.” That is according to Reuters, which obtained the photos… Continue reading CHINA CARRIER GROUP LEADS MASSIVE SHOW OF FORCE IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

EU PUSHES NEW PLANS TO RAPIDLY MOVE COMBAT GEAR ACROSS EUROPE

Sourced: Defence News By Sebastian Sprenger The European Union wants to quicken the pace of moving military equipment across countries on the continent to prepare for future crises, according to a planning document unveiled Wednesday. The project is billed as a key prerequisite for an ambitious project to build European defense capabilities outside of NATO,… Continue reading EU PUSHES NEW PLANS TO RAPIDLY MOVE COMBAT GEAR ACROSS EUROPE

RUSSIAN MILITARY CHIEF LAYS OUT THE KREMNLIN’S HIGH-TECH WAR PLANS

Sourced: Defence One By Patrick Tucker The U.S. military isn’t alone in its plans to pour money into drones, ground robots, and artificially intelligent assistants for command and control. Russia, too, will be increasing investment in these areas, as well as space and information warfare, Russian Army Gen. Valery Gerasimov told members of the Russian… Continue reading RUSSIAN MILITARY CHIEF LAYS OUT THE KREMNLIN’S HIGH-TECH WAR PLANS

CHINA SHOWS OFF LONG-RANGE BOMBERS IN AIR FORCE DRILL

Sourced: Defence News By: Mike Yeo China’s air force announced Tuesday that it had conducted a large-scale exercise involving 12 of its long-range bombers. According to a news release issued by the Ministry of National Defense, 12 Xian H-6K bombers belonging to the Shenwei Unit took part in the exercise, which involved missions into the… Continue reading CHINA SHOWS OFF LONG-RANGE BOMBERS IN AIR FORCE DRILL

NORTH KOREA’S VISIT PROVES THAT CHINA HAS LEVERAGE

Sourced: The National Interest By Robert E Kelly North Korean leader Kim Jong-un just met Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This comes on the cusp of Kim’s meetings with South Korean president Moon Jae-in in April and, possibly, U.S. president Donald Trump in May. Much of the initial analysis has focused on the importance of North… Continue reading NORTH KOREA’S VISIT PROVES THAT CHINA HAS LEVERAGE

MATTIS: RUSSIA HAS CHOSEN TO BE A “STRATEGIC COMPETITOR”

Sourced: The National Interest By Dave Majumdar The United States places the blame on Russia for the breakdown in relations between NATO and Moscow. In the view of U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Russia chose to be strategic competitor to the United States and NATO. “The NATO alliance tried to create a partnership—so, there’s a… Continue reading MATTIS: RUSSIA HAS CHOSEN TO BE A “STRATEGIC COMPETITOR”

SOUTH KOREA EYES FRENCH DESIGN FOR INDIGENOUS NUCLEAR SUBMARINE

Sourced: Defence News By: Jeff Jeong South Korea’s Navy is reviewing a plan to build a 5,000-ton nuclear-powered submarine in an effort to boost its deterrence against North Korea’s sub-based nuclear attack capability. Last October, the service commissioned from the Korea Defense Network five months worth of research on the feasibility of developing an indigenous… Continue reading SOUTH KOREA EYES FRENCH DESIGN FOR INDIGENOUS NUCLEAR SUBMARINE

CHINA PREPARES AIRCRAFT CARRIER FOR SEA TRIAL

Sourced: Global Times By Yang Sheng China’s first domestically built carrier, known as the Type 001A, is undergoing preparations for its first sea trial, while discussions about its name show that Chinese people hold high expectations of the carrier’s ability to resolve the Taiwan question. According to the latest online photos from the Dalian Shipbuilding… Continue reading CHINA PREPARES AIRCRAFT CARRIER FOR SEA TRIAL