DefenceTalkNATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday a meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers will focus on the need for members to increase the amount of money they spend on defense. He told reporters in Brussels ahead of the meeting that countries boosted defense spending by $10 billion last year, but that only five of the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-defense-ministers-focusing-on-boosting-spending-69151/

DefenceTalkTop US generals warned lawmakers Tuesday that aging equipment, chronic underfunding and understaffing have severely impacted military readiness, as the Republican-led Congress hopes to usher in a spending bonanza under President Donald Trump. The president has repeatedly said the vast US military is suffering from massive shortages and has vowed a “great rebuilding” of the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/tales-of-woe-from-us-military-ahead-of-likely-spending-boost-69014/

DefenceTalkThe greatest threat to most Latin American governments is internal. Even though transitioning to a democracy and using effective counterinsurgency strategies have successfully defeated – or at least defused – several insurgencies, the risk of guerrilla activity remains. This is especially true in Colombia and, to a lesser extent, Peru. In Mexico and Central America, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/crime-and-internal-strife-remain-greatest-drivers-of-military-spending-in-latin-america-68902/

DefenceTalkGerman Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has called on the US to clarify its foreign policy agenda. Questions on transatlantic relations abound as Donald Trump prepares to take over the White House. Von der Leyen defended NATO and the transatlantic relationship on Wednesday while calling for clarification from the incoming Trump Administration regarding its […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-raises-defense-spending-as-it-demands-clear-agenda-from-us-68846/

DefenceTalkThe EU unveiled ambitious plans Wednesday to boost joint defence spending including on shared assets like drones and helicopters, as concerns grow that President-elect Donald Trump may downgrade the US security commitment. Trump shocked long-time NATO allies in Europe when he suggested on the campaign trail be would think twice about coming to their aid […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eu-to-boost-joint-defence-spending-68633/

DefenceTalkThe military service chiefs today unanimously named budget uncertainty and reduced funding levels leading to gaps in readiness as their most critical long-term budgetary challenges. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee were Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-military-chiefs-budget-uncertainty-funding-levels-are-biggest-challenges-68176/

DefenceTalkChina on Saturday announced the country’s lowest defense budget increase in six years in the wake of rising economic headwinds and last year’s massive drawdown of service people. According to a budget report to the national legislature annual session, the government plans to raise the 2016 defense budget by 7.6 percent to 954 billion yuan […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-announces-defense-budget-rise-66962/

DefenceTalkChina will raise its defense spending by 7.6 percent this year, a budget report to the country’s Communist-controlled parliament showed on Saturday, a smaller increase than past years as it seeks a more efficient military. It was the “lowest defense budget increase in six years”, the official news agency Xinhua said, adding it came “in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-raises-2016-defence-spending-by-7-6-percent-66946/

DefenceTalkThe Army would like to see a few more Soldiers in the ranks, if it were authorized by Congress — but only if those additional Soldiers are funded to keep them war-ready, said Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Mark A. Milley. The Army has been directed to reduce its total end strength, across […]https://www.defencetalk.com/increased-manpower-must-come-with-funding-us-army-66874/

DefenceTalkThe Pentagon plans to spend an additional $900 million in the coming year to boost cyber defense measures, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Thursday. US officials are still reeling from last year’s revelation that personal data from some 20 million federal employees, contractors and others had been hacked in a massive breach at the Office […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-boosts-spending-to-fight-cyber-attacks-66866/