DefenceTalkUS Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday that NATO was building a “robust” defensive posture on its eastern flank, as the alliance faces an increasingly aggressive Russia. Speaking after the first day of ministerial talks at the Alantic alliance’s Brussels headquarters, Kerry urged member states to meet pledges to increase defence spending. “A […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-calls-for-robust-nato-posture-on-eastern-flank-67504/

DefenceTalkThe Pentagon acknowledged for the first time Friday it has deployed US troops to Yemen since the country’s collapse last year to bolster government and Arab coalition forces battling Al-Qaeda. Spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the US military has also stepped up air strikes against fighters with Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-positions-troops-in-yemen-steps-up-anti-qaeda-strikes-67414/

DefenceTalkRussia’s defence minister said on Wednesday that Moscow will set up three new divisions in the west and south of the country by the end of the year to counter NATO forces close to its border. “The defence ministry is taking a range of measures withthe aim of countering the build-up of NATO forces in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-says-bolstering-forces-to-counter-nato-67397/

DefenceTalkThe dwindling US troop presence in Afghanistan is hampering the Pentagon’s ability to train and monitor local security forces, a government watchdog report warned Friday. Since local Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) assumed responsibility for their country’s security, taking over from NATO forces at the start of 2015, US troop numbers have dropped […]https://www.defencetalk.com/shrinking-us-presence-in-afghanistan-creates-security-concerns-report-67378/

DefenceTalkThe latest in military technology and the addition of up to 450 more U.S. troops announced yesterday will enhance the U.S.-led coalition’s efforts to enable ground forces in the campaign to defeat Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorism in Iraq and Syria, the deputy commander for operations and intelligence for Operation Inherent Resolve […]https://www.defencetalk.com/additional-troops-new-technology-enhance-counter-isil-battle-67341/

DefenceTalkThe United States will send Apache attack helicopters and more troops to Iraq, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in Baghdad Monday, as the coalition weighs retaking second city Mosul from the Islamic State group. President Barack Obama hailed the 2011 withdrawal of American troops from Iraq as a major accomplishment of his presidency, but […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-to-deploy-more-forces-to-back-iraqs-anti-is-war-67277/

DefenceTalkIn a sign of Indonesia’s increased focus on its economic interests in the country’s Natuna Islands region, the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara, or TNI-AU) is readying the deployment of four units of its Korps Pasukan Khas (PASKHAS) special forces ground corps to the largest of the island cluster, Pulau Natuna […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indonesia-shifting-more-defense-resources-to-south-china-sea-67240/

DefenceTalkChief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, speaking at the Peace and Prosperity seminar on Tuesday, said Indian intelligence agency RAW is actively involved in destabilizing Pakistan. “Hostile intelligence agencies are averse to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” said the chief of army staff. Let me make it clear that we will not allow anyone to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indias-raw-involved-in-destabilizing-pakistan-says-general-raheel-67225/

DefenceTalkHMEIMIM AIR BASE (SYRIA): Around a dozen Russian warplanes stand on the tarmac at the Hmeimim base inside government-held territory on Syria’s Mediterranean coast. Nearby the giant radar of an S-400 air defence system — the most modern in Russia’s arsenal — whirs non-stop. A month ago Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised the West by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fewer-russian-jets-on-ground-in-syria-key-to-fighting-67222/

DefenceTalkIran’s defence minister poured scorn Saturday on US Secretary of State John Kerry’s accusations that Tehran is “destabilizing” the Middle East, countering that America should get out of the region. The broadside illustrated new tension between Iran and the United States, despite last year’s nuclear deal, with contrasting stances on the conflicts in Yemen and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-says-us-not-tehran-damaging-the-middle-east-67205/