DefenceTalkRomanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday welcomed French counterpart Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of a possible troop deployment on NATO’s Eastern flank as fears rise of a Russian attack on Ukraine. Macron on Wednesday expressed France’s “readiness to go further, and within the framework of NATO to commit to new missions … in particular in Romania”. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/romania-ready-to-host-french-troops-president-77712/

DefenceTalkOver 2,000 Russia-led troops began withdrawing from Kazakhstan on Thursday after being deployed when peaceful protests over an energy price hike in the Central Asian country turned into unprecedented violence claiming dozens of lives. The decision to despatch peacekeepers was a first for the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), often touted by Russia as […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-led-troops-begin-pullback-from-kazakhstan-77674/

DefenceTalkTurkey Saturday warned against “provocative acts” ahead of talks between Russia and the United States next week to quell tensions over Russia’s military buildup on the Ukrainian border. NATO, of which Turkey is a member, has warned of real risks that Russia will invade Ukraine after Moscow amassed tens of thousands of troops on the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-urges-against-provocative-acts-before-us-russia-talks-77647/

DefenceTalkThe United States said Friday a diplomatic solution was possible with Russia but that it would not give in to its demands in talks next week, as NATO warned of real risks Moscow will invade Ukraine. Top Russian and US diplomats meet Monday in Geneva after Moscow amassed tens of thousands of troops on the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-nato-take-firm-line-ahead-of-russia-talks-on-ukraine-77644/

DefenceTalkA Moscow-led military alliance said Thursday it had sent its first troops to Kazakhstan after its government requested help to quell mounting unrest. “Peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization were sent to the Republic of Kazakhstan for a limited time to stabilize and normalize the situation,” the CSTO secretariat said in a statement […]https://www.defencetalk.com/moscow-led-alliance-sends-first-troops-to-kazakhstan-77623/

DefenceTalkA group of US lawmakers on Tuesday called for pre-emptive sanctions on Russia and expanded arms shipments to Ukraine, fearing that action so far may not dissuade President Vladimir Putin from invading. After a weekend visit to Ukraine, the three lawmakers — all military veterans — said they were convinced Putin was serious about an […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-lawmakers-urge-pre-emptive-sanctions-ukraine-arms-to-deter-putin-77589/

DefenceTalkIn the northern Iraqi hamlet of Hassan-Jalad, almost every family has a story to tell about a time when a child, nephew or brother was lost to wartime munitions. Located near Mosul, a former stronghold of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, the area is littered with unexploded ordnance, sometimes dubbed UXO. “We are afraid […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iraqi-wars-deadly-legacy-unexploded-ordnance-77564/

DefenceTalkFighting between armed groups aligned with government and opposition forces in South Sudan this year subjected civilians to “unimaginable violence” that could amount to war crimes, Amnesty International said Thursday. The rights watchdog documented fighters on all sides indiscriminately murdering and mutilating civilians and razing entire villages during an upsurge in fighting between June and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/south-sudan-violence-could-amount-to-war-crimes-amnesty-77561/

DefenceTalkThe United States will impose “severe economic harm” on Russia and boost its military presence in Eastern Europe should Moscow invade Ukraine, the White House warned Monday, laying out the high stakes on the eve of talks between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin. Ahead of his virtual meeting with Putin, Biden also spoke with the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-vows-to-boost-military-presence-if-russia-attacks-ukraine-77554/

DefenceTalkAfghanistan’s Taliban government on Sunday rejected condemnation by Western nations over dozens of alleged “summary killings” of former security force personnel documented by rights groups since the Islamists returned to power. The US, other Western nations and allies on Saturday said they were “deeply concerned” by allegations by Human Rights Watch and others that point […]https://www.defencetalk.com/taliban-reject-claims-of-summary-killings-of-ex-security-forces-77538/