Tag Archives: defense

Finland will extend the closure of its border crossing points with Russia beyond the current April 14 deadline “until further notice” due to a high risk of organized migration orchestrated by Moscow, the Finnish government said on Thursday. The Finnish Interior Ministry said in a statement that the Nordic country’s national security and public order would come under serious threat …

Germany’s defense minister on Thursday announced a plan to streamline and reorganize the country’s military command as part of efforts to make the armed forces of NATO’s most populous European member “war-capable.” Chancellor Olaf Scholz set in motion a big increase in military spending shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, which he described as a “turning …

Greece has approved the purchase of 35 UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters from U.S defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp in an effort to modernize its armed forces, two people with knowledge of the deal told Reuters. “The deal passed by the parliament’s committee is to buy 35 helicopters for $1.24 billion,” a government official told Reuters. A second person confirmed the approval, …

A senior Defense Department official who attended last year’s NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, had symptoms similar to those reported by U.S. officials who have experienced “Havana syndrome,” the Pentagon confirmed Monday. Havana syndrome is still under investigation but includes a string of health problems dating back to 2016, when officials working at the U.S. Embassy in Havana reported sudden …

Norway is to increase the number of conscripted soldiers from the present 9,000 to 13,500, the Norwegian government said Tuesday. “We must have enough people with the right skills at the right time,” Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said. “We will need more people with professional military expertise going forward.” The country’s armed forces will see a gradual increase in …

The former head of U.S. Central Command warned Sunday that the Islamic terror group ISIS has a “strong desire” to attack the U.S. and other foreign powers, a threat he suspects is growing. Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie told ABC News’ “This Week” that U.S. officials should “believe them when they say that.” “I think the threat is growing,” McKenzie said, …

The Biden administration has authorized the transfer of billions of dollars in bombs and fighter jets to Israel despite concerns from Washington about a probable military operation in southern Gaza. The weapons package includes more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, Pentagon and State Department officials familiar with the matter told The Washington Post. A State …

A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation pledged continued support for Taiwan on Thursday, days after Congress approved $300 million in military aid for the self-governed island that’s claimed by China. Congress also approved $400 million on Saturday to counter the Chinese government’s influence in the region, as part of its Defense Appropriations Act. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province to …

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan was a victim of a manure dump outside his Washington, D.C., home on Monday that ultimately led to a bomb squad response. However, it turns out he was not the only Biden administration official who had fallen victim to the foul stunt. Defense SecretaryLloyd Austinwas also targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters who poured a …

A group of military chaplains is urging the Supreme Court to stop the Department of Defense from enforcing policies that it says punish those who filed religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The Supreme Court is currently considering the chaplains’ appeal of a Fourth Circuit decision to dismiss the case. While awaiting the ruling, the chaplains argue that “interim …