DefenceTalkThe US State Department has approved the potential sale to Taiwan of $2.2 billion in arms, including Abrams tanks and Stinger missiles, the Pentagon said on Monday. The announcement is likely to anger Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has previously expressed “serious concerns” about the possible sale. Congress has been […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-approves-possible-2-2-billion-arms-sale-to-taiwan-72371/

DefenceTalkThe UAE denied Tuesday it shipped US missiles to Libya, which is under a UN arms embargo, after a democratic senator warned Washington could cut off arms sales to the Emirates. The foreign ministry “denied the ownership of weapons found in Libya and reiterated the UAE’s commitment to fully cooperate with United Nations experts,” in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uae-denies-shipping-weapons-to-libya-despite-embargo-72369/

DefenceTalkThe Swiss government on Wednesday reversed a decision to loosen restrictions on weapons exports to countries wracked by internal conflict following outcry over the planned move. Switzerland’s government, known as the Federal Council, said in a statement at it had decided “not to amend the War Material Ordinance”. That marked a reversal from its highly […]https://www.defencetalk.com/swiss-backtrack-on-selling-weapons-to-conflict-states-71922/

DefenceTalkUS President Donald Trump´s top two envoys were expected Thursday to press India not to buy Russian military equipment or Iranian oil, while seeking to bolster ties as China grows more assertive in the region. The “2+2” meeting in New Delhi of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis with counterparts […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-envoys-to-press-india-on-russian-missiles-iran-oil-71835/

DefenceTalkTurkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday warned the US against blocking planned weapons sales to his country, insisting that Ankara would respond to such an action with reprisals. Cavusoglu’s comments came in reaction to the release of the annual defense policy bill Friday by the US House of Representatives. The $717 billion (€598.62 billion) […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-threatens-retaliation-against-us-if-washington-halts-weapons-sales-71657/

DefenceTalkWeapons imports to the Middle East and Asia have boomed over the past five years, fuelled by war and tensions in those regions, a new study showed on Monday (Mar 12). In the period between 2013 and 2017, arms imports to the conflict-ridden Middle East more than doubled, jumping by 103 per cent compared with […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sipri-conflicts-fuel-weapon-deliveries-to-middle-east-asia-71561/

DefenceTalkGerman lawmakers are set to hear about how Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, has access to less than 50 percent of many major weapons systems. The findings are the latest to underscore problems in the armed forces. Many primary weapons systems in the Bundeswehr are not available for training exercises or deployment, according to a new […]https://www.defencetalk.com/limited-number-of-weapons-in-german-military-ready-for-action-report-71514/

DefenceTalkRussia has tested over 200 new types of arms in Syria during its campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad, a senior lawmaker said Thursday, as Moscow was accused of taking part in air strikes against rebel-held Eastern Ghouta. “As we helped the brotherly Syrian people, we tested over 200 new types of weapons,” said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-tested-over-200-new-weapons-in-syria-mp-71503/

DefenceTalkSouth Korea may develop its own nuclear-powered submarines or purchase then from the U.S. to better deal with North Korean submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) threats. President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to begin consultations on South Korea’s acquisition and development of cutting-edge weapons that would include nuclear-powered submarines and surveillance assets. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/south-korea-may-develop-nuclear-powered-submarine-70774/

DefenceTalkThe United States on Monday (Jun 5) gave the Philippines hundreds of machine guns, pistols and grenade launchers, which a local commander said would be used against militants battling troops in a southern city. The weapons, including machine guns capable of firing thousands of rounds a minute, were handed over at a ceremony in Manila […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-gives-philippines-anti-terror-weapons-70116/