DefenceTalkIn spite of closer ties and cooperation over recent years, Sweden will not seek NATO membership, the government stated on Friday. Foreign Minister Margot Wallström and Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist wrote in newspaper Dagens Nyheter that foregoing Sweden’s tradition of non-alignment would increase tensions in the Baltic region. “Changing the Swedish security policy doctrine would […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-membership-not-for-sweden-ministers-68130/

DefenceTalkRussia on Monday launched large-scale military drills on Ukraine’s eastern border and around the Crimean peninsula, in the latest exercises set to rattle Kiev and the West. The defence ministry said 12,500 servicemen are taking part in the drills across its southern military region, which encompasses Russia’s volatile North Caucasus and the annexed Crimea region. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-launches-major-military-drills-set-to-rattle-kiev-68109/

DefenceTalkLithuania has supplied 150 tonnes of ammunition to Ukrainian troops fighting pro-Russian separatists in the country’s east, the Baltic NATO member said Saturday. Defence Minister Juozas Olekas said it was Lithuania’s duty to help a “devoted friend who was attacked by Russia”. “We responded to the Ukrainian request and hope it will make their life […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lithuania-sends-ammunition-to-ukraine-to-fight-rebels-68107/

DefenceTalkThe US Air Force and the Bulgarian Air Force will jointly conduct air policing to protect Bulgarian airspace starting on 9 September 2016. Two US F-15 fighter jets will join Bulgaria’s MIG-29s for a week on this mission, which is part of NATO’s enhanced air policing measures for eastern Allies. Until now, air policing over […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usaf-to-augment-air-policing-over-bulgaria-68052/

DefenceTalkThe Ukrainian army, with the assistance of U.S. and multinational partners, continues to strive to improve the capability and capacity within its armed forces. Approximately 20 Ukrainian cadre recently completed their first rotation training Ukrainian Soldiers on individual combat skills at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center. The training is part of the ongoing operations […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-strengthens-the-ukrainian-army-68045/

DefenceTalkThe European Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) and the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence have commissioned ARTEC GmbH to supply 88 high-protection BOXER vehicles to the Lithuanian army starting in 2017. ARTEC, a joint venture between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall, will deliver the vehicles with medium-calibre weaponry in a remote-controlled turret. Consequently, the BOXER […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lithuania-boosts-army-with-88-boxer-vehicles-68030/

DefenceTalkThe US has long warned its European partners it was losing patience with paying the majority of NATO’s bills. The nomination of Donald Trump has made the threats of a US withdrawal from NATO seem real and present. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has made US dissatisfaction with NATO’s resource and funding gap a major […]https://www.defencetalk.com/would-a-trump-america-walk-away-from-nato-68009/

DefenceTalkNATO said Thursday it was watching “with concern” growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia over Crimea, and urged Moscow to defuse the situation. Ukraine earlier put its forces on high alert after Russia accused it of “terrorist attacks” into Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. A NATO official said the US-led military alliance was “monitoring […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-watching-crimea-tensions-with-concern-67999/

DefenceTalkThe German Defense Ministry has released a new plan outlining the country’s future defense and security policies. A paradigm shift is in the works. “Germany is ready to lead,” German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said as she presented the so-called “white paper” on security policy approved by the cabinet earlier on Wednesday. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/german-white-paper-unveils-new-military-roadmap-67846/

DefenceTalk“Economic giant, political dwarf” — that is how the world long viewed post-World War II Germany, the European export power reluctant to use military muscle in global conflicts. It is an image that Europe’s most populous country wants to shed as it gradually assumes a bigger defence role, within the frameworks of NATO and the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-plans-to-assume-greater-security-role-67816/