Missiles, drones and warships the priority as Australia plans $32 billion defence boost
By Lewis Jackson SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia will boost defence spending by A$50.3 billion ($32 billion) over the next decade and reshuffle its weapons programs to emphasise missiles, drones and warships as…
Ukraine’s allies not giving enough air defence, minister says
By Andrew Gray BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Ukraine’s partners are not providing enough air defence to protect against Russian missile attacks even though they have more than 100 Patriot systems in their own…
Ukrainian defence attorneys face moral dilemma in war crime trials
By Dan Peleschuk KYIV (Reuters) – Sometimes Ukrainian lawyer Khrystyna Vrashchuk shudders when she thinks about the work she does. She is one of more than 200 attorneys who are defending suspected…
Philippines to boost diplomacy and defence capability as South China Sea ‘countermeasures’
MANILA (Reuters) – Countermeasures by the Philippines to China’s conduct in the South China Sea will entail strengthening its defence capabilities with allies and exhausting all diplomatic measures to resolve disputes, a…
Ukraine appeals for air defence aid, citing hundreds of missile attacks in March
(Reuters) – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed to Kyiv’s allies on Tuesday to supply more air defences, saying Russia had launched 130 missiles, more than 320 attack drones and almost 900 guided…
Ukraine, German manufacturer cooperate on air defence systems
(Reuters) – Ukraine’s state arms producer has entered into cooperation with Germany’s MBDA Deutschland, part of a missiles joint venture owned by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo. Ukroboronprom, the producer, said the…
European Commission outlines upcoming defence strategy proposal
By Julia Payne MUNICH (Reuters) -The European Commission will present a defence industrial strategy proposal in three weeks, commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday, and will also open a…
Trump comments show Europe must spend more on defence, Latvia says
By Andrew Gray MUNICH (Reuters) – Donald Trump’s stark comments on NATO show that Europeans should take more responsibility for their security, but they will still need the transatlantic military alliance, Latvian…
Zelenskiy appoints ex-deputy defence minister Pavliuk as new ground forces chief
KYIV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appointed Oleksandr Pavliuk, former first deputy defence minister, as the new commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, according to a decree published on Sunday. Pavliuk,…
Russia’s military drone production ramping up, says defence minister
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in footage published by his ministry on Saturday that the country’s production of military drones had ramped up in the past year, though…
Slovakia looks to buy Patriot air defence system from United States
(Reuters) – Slovakia wants to discuss buying a Patriot missile defence system from the United States as part of longer-term plans to defend its airspace, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak said. Kalinak, speaking…
Zelenskiy counts on more Western defence aid for Ukraine in next two months
By Nick Starkov KYIV (Reuters) – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that he expected a number of new Western defence packages for Ukraine to be signed this and next month. “We…
Zelenskiy and Blinken discuss defence cooperation in Davos
(Reuters) – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed defence cooperation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Davos on Tuesday. Particular emphasis was made on air defence and long-range capabilities, Zelenskiy said…
Ukraine ground commander says his troops, now on ‘active defence’, can still surprise
By Dan Peleschuk KHARKIV REGION, Ukraine (Reuters) – His demeanour is dispassionate and his message is clear: Ukraine’s ground forces are focused first and foremost on defence along the eastern stretch of…
Ukraine says consumption, defence sector to fuel growth
By Olena Harmash KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s economy grew by 5% in 2023 and will expand by 4.6% this year as a result of higher domestic consumption and expected growth in its…
Chinese ex-Navy chief, with South China Sea background, named defence minister
By Yew Lun Tian and Laurie Chen BEIJING (Reuters) – China named former Navy chief Dong Jun as its new defence minister on Friday to replace the last minister who disappeared from…
Denmark, U.S. reach defence agreement
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Denmark has reached a defence agreement with the United States that will allow U.S. soldiers and military equipment to be based on Danish soil, the country’s Prime Minister Mette…
US sees no impact on Vietnam ties from Hanoi-Beijing defence pledges
By Francesco Guarascio HANOI (Reuters) – The United States will continue to closely cooperate with Vietnam, a U.S. official said after Hanoi announced last week strengthened ties with China, including on defence…
Ukraine shoots downs 30 Russian drones over 11 regions -air force
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine’s air defence and mobile groups of drone hunters shot down 30 out of 31 Russian drones over 11 regions across the country on Saturday, the air force said. A…
Russian forces destroy 26 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, defence ministry says
(Reuters) – Russian anti-aircraft units destroyed 26 Ukrainian drones over the Crimean peninsula on Friday, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Telegram. A ministry statement said the interceptions took place between 8:30…
S.Korea’s defence minister warns North Korea of ‘hell of destruction’
By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s defence minister threatened on Wednesday to unleash a “hell of destruction” on neighbouring North Korea in retaliation for any reckless actions. The heightened rhetoric…
Safran weighs protest against Rome’s defence deal veto
By Tim Hepher and Giuseppe Fonte CASABLANCA, Morocco/MILAN (Reuters) – France’s Safran does not exclude a protest against Italy’s decision to block part of its planned $1.8 billion purchase of the flight…
JPMorgan buys a 10.6% stake in Spanish defence company Indra
(Reuters) – JPMorgan bought a 10.6% stake in Spanish defence systems maker Indra, the stock market regulator said on Thursday. Following the transaction, JPMorgan has become the second-largest shareholder after Spanish state…
Safety of defence personnel ‘utmost priority’, Australia says after China warship incident
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – The safety and wellbeing of Australian defence personnel is Canberra’s “utmost priority” and Australia expects all countries to operate militaries in a safe and professional manner, Foreign Minister…
US, China, Southeast Asia defence officials meet amid crises
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Defence ministers and officials from the United States, China, Russia and Southeast Asia gathered in Indonesia on Thursday for a meeting where they are expected to discuss geopolitical crises…
Central Europe’s defence companies spy African opportunity
By Michael Kahn and Anna Koper PRAGUE/WARSAW (Reuters) – Central European defence companies are negotiating new deals to sell more weapons, military equipment and related services in Africa as they seek to…
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