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
KOSOVO SERBS TO QUIT PRISTINA GOVERNMENT AFTER DEPORTATION
Sourced: Balkan Insight By Filip Rudic, Erjone Popova Goran Rakic, the president of the main Kosovo Serb party, Srpska Lista, said on Tuesday that an Association of Serbian Municipalities will be set up independently from Pristina and that the party will leave the Kosovo government. “We informed President Aleksandar Vucic of this, and he said… Continue reading KOSOVO SERBS TO QUIT PRISTINA GOVERNMENT AFTER DEPORTATION
POWER PLAYS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: THE “GREAT GAME” GOES TO SEA ?
Sourced: Offiziere By Paul Pryce Even as tensions simmer between India and China on the Doklam Plateau, where troops from both sides engaged in a two-month standoff in 2017 over Chinese efforts to build a road through territory disputed by India and Bhutan, the rivalry continues unabated at sea — namely, in the Indian Ocean… Continue reading POWER PLAYS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: THE “GREAT GAME” GOES TO SEA ?
TURKEY PREPARES FOR A POMPEO PROBLEM
Sourced: The National Interest By Gonul Tol The tension between Turkey and the United States appeared to have diminished after the outgoing Secretary Rex Tillerson’s visit to Turkey in February. The two countries had been at loggerheads over a number of issues, particularly U.S. support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, seen as terrorists by… Continue reading TURKEY PREPARES FOR A POMPEO PROBLEM
HMS OCEAN DECOMMISSIONED FROM THE ROYAL NAVY, SOLD TO BRAZIL
Sourced: UK Defence Journal By George Allison HMS Ocean was the Royal Navy’s Landing Platform Helicopter and Fleet Flagship. A helicopter carrier and amphibious assault ship, Ocean was designed to deliver troops to the centre of the action by helicopter or by landing craft. Aviation capabilities include six helicopter operating spots on her flight deck… Continue reading HMS OCEAN DECOMMISSIONED FROM THE ROYAL NAVY, SOLD TO BRAZIL
TURKISH REPORTS SAY GREEK OFFICERS COULD FACE UP TO 5 YEARS PRISON
Sourced: EKathimerini There is concrete evidence to support charges against the two Greek soldiers detained in Turkey after crossing the border earlier this month, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency said Tuesday citing an unnamed judicial source. According to the same source, the sentence for the alleged offense is five years in prison. No more details… Continue reading TURKISH REPORTS SAY GREEK OFFICERS COULD FACE UP TO 5 YEARS PRISON
ITALY PLANS TO SPEND $951 MILLION ON 20 SURVEILLANCE DRONES
Sourced: Defence News By Tom Kington Italy is edging closer to acquiring a new surveillance drone based on a business aircraft design. The UAV will offer 24-hour endurance and have a top speed of 330 knots. Italy’s Ministry of Defence last month sent an acquisition request to Parliament’s defense commission for 20 Piaggio Aerospace P.2HH… Continue reading ITALY PLANS TO SPEND $951 MILLION ON 20 SURVEILLANCE DRONES
EU LEADERS CONDEMN TURKEY FOR ILLEGAL ACTIONS AS TRANSGRESSIONS CONTINUE
Sourced: EKathimerini European Union leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday unanimously condemned Turkey for its aggression toward Greece and Cyprus and called on Ankara to release two Greek soldiers who have been in Turkish custody for more than three weeks. In a draft common statement, the European Council “strongly condemns Turkey’s continued illegal actions in… Continue reading EU LEADERS CONDEMN TURKEY FOR ILLEGAL ACTIONS AS TRANSGRESSIONS CONTINUE