Source: FT By Guy Chazan Germany’s defence ministry has said a planned increase in spending on the military was not enough and warned it might have to axe an international arms project. The ministry said the proposed €2.5bn rise in 2019 was “insufficient” considering the “massive” need to modernise the Bundeswehr. It said that if… Continue reading GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER DEMANDS BIGGER BUDGET
Category: Security and Strategy
GREEK FM: TURKEY HAS COME CLOSE TO “STEPPING ACROSS RED LINES”
Source: Ekathimerini Greece’s “calm and composed” manner has possibly averted unpleasant developments in Greek-Turkish relations, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has said. Speaking to Kathimerini’s executive editor Alexis Papachelas on Skai TV’s “Istories” program, which will be aired on Tuesday night, Kotzias said Turkey has “come close” to stepping across Greece’s “red lines” since a spike… Continue reading GREEK FM: TURKEY HAS COME CLOSE TO “STEPPING ACROSS RED LINES”
FORMER TURKISH PRESIDENT GUL WILL NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT
Source: Hurriyet Daily News Former Turkish President Abdullah Gül on April 28 ruled out running for the presidency in June, dousing fevered speculation he would challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “There is no longer the question of my candidacy,” Gül told reporters, blaming a lack of “wide consensus” between opposition parties. Erdoğan announced early presidential… Continue reading FORMER TURKISH PRESIDENT GUL WILL NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT
RUSSIA, TURKEY, IRAN STRESS UNITY AT SYRIA TALKS
Source: Hurriyet Daily News Russian, Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers on April 28 talked up their successes in brokering a political solution to the Syrian conflict at a meeting in Moscow. The three nations have been attempting to resolve the Syrian conflict at talks that started last year in Astana, Kazakhstan, in competition with a… Continue reading RUSSIA, TURKEY, IRAN STRESS UNITY AT SYRIA TALKS
CHINA’S DEFENCE BUDGET: WHAT EVERYONE IS MISSING
Source: The National Interest By Nan Li The recent session of China’s National People’s Congress approved an increase of China’s defense budget by 8.1 percent, which translates into an annual spending of $175 billion for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for 2018. Chinese analysts state that the increase keeps pace with China’s annual economic growth… Continue reading CHINA’S DEFENCE BUDGET: WHAT EVERYONE IS MISSING
HAFTAR IS IN GOOD HEALTH SAYS BROTHER AS HE REMAINS OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW
Sourced: Middle East Eye By Nadine Dahan Osha Mohamed Libyan military commander Kahlifa Haftar is in “good health”, despite rumours suggesting his condition was critical, according to his younger brother. Omran Haftar told Egyptian magazine Rose Youssef on Tuesday that his brother had assured him of his good health in a phone conversation, allegedly also… Continue reading HAFTAR IS IN GOOD HEALTH SAYS BROTHER AS HE REMAINS OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW
US TO PRESS NATO ALLIES TO SPEND MORE WARN ABOUT RUSSIA
Sourced: Jerusalem Post The United States will press NATO allies, especially Germany, to increase military budgets and will underscore the heightened threat from Russia, a senior State Department official said on Wednesday before Friday’s meeting in Brussels. Asked whether US Secretary of State nominee, Mike Pompeo, would attend the meeting if he was confirmed by… Continue reading US TO PRESS NATO ALLIES TO SPEND MORE WARN ABOUT RUSSIA
NEVER MIND VIETNAM, US SHOULD BOLSTER NAVAL DEFENSE OF TAIWAN
Sourced: Asia Times By Stephen Bryen Instead of sending an aircraft carrier to Vietnam, the US should send a carrier task force to circle around Taiwan. This would send a message to China and President Xi Jinping that Washington understands Taiwan not only as a democratic friend, but as a crucial link in Western Pacific… Continue reading NEVER MIND VIETNAM, US SHOULD BOLSTER NAVAL DEFENSE OF TAIWAN
AUSTRALIAN WARSHIPS CHALLENGED BY CHINESE WARSHIPS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA
Sourced: ABC News By Andrew Greene Three Australian warships were challenged by the Chinese military as they travelled through the disputed South China Sea earlier this month, the ABC can reveal. The confrontations with the People’s Liberation Army are believed to have occurred as China was conducting its largest ever naval exercises in the hotly… Continue reading AUSTRALIAN WARSHIPS CHALLENGED BY CHINESE WARSHIPS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA
CHINA SENDS WARNING TO TAIWAN WITH NAVAL DRILLS NEAR ISLAND
Sourced: Defense News By: Gillian Wong, The Associated Press China’s navy held live-fire exercises near Taiwan on Wednesday in a warning to the democratic, self-ruled island against what Beijing describes as “dangerous” remarks on independence. Few details about the drills in the Taiwan Strait have been released by the Chinese government. State broadcaster China Central… Continue reading CHINA SENDS WARNING TO TAIWAN WITH NAVAL DRILLS NEAR ISLAND