The Netherlands wants to invest $274 million to fortify security in the North Sea, where there are thousands of miles of cables and pipelines. In a letter to the Dutch Parliament, Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren and State Defence Secretary Christophe van der Maat said that the government will install cameras, radar systems and automatic identification...
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Category: Geopolitical Issues
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Sweden-Denmark Pact Aims at More Armored Vehicle Donation to Ukraine
The defense ministers of Sweden and Denmark signed a letter of intent in Copenhagen on Monday to extend further support to Ukraine via a donation of additional Swedish-made Combat Vehicle 90s. Sweden donated 50 CV90s to Kyiv in early 2023 and signed a preliminary agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in August for the production...
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BAE Systems Selects AMS to Repair, Restore Ukraine’s Artillery Systems
BAE Systems has signed an agreement with AMS Integrated Solutions to provide artillery systems support within Ukraine. Under the deal, finalized in Kyiv, the partner companies will repair BAE-built artillery systems donated by the United Kingdom to the Ukrainian armed forces. The arrangement calls for AMS to use its existing maintenance facilities in Ukraine to...
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US Approves Proposed $59M Sale of Tactical Missiles to Japan
The Department of State has approved a proposed $59 million foreign military sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles to Japan. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Tokyo wants to purchase 44 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block IIs and 29 AIM-9X Sidewinder captive air training missiles. The deal also involves providing Japan with missile containers,...
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NATO Increases Military Budget to $2.2B to Better Address Security Challenges
NATO has announced a 12 percent increase in its 2024 military spending, setting a budget of $2.2 billion to support defense operations across the globe. NATO member states also agreed to allocate $480.1 million for the alliance’s civil budget next year, providing for an 18.2 percent hike to cover personnel, operating costs and program expenditures...
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US Hands Sanctions to New Entities Supporting Russia’s War Campaign
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions against third-country actors identified to be materially supporting Russia’s war campaign in Ukraine. According to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the action implements the Group of Seven’s decision to take down the Kremlin’s military procurement networks, including individuals and entities that are helping secure...
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UK Deploying Minehunter Ships to Ukraine Amid Russia’s Black Sea Blockades
The United Kingdom is sending two minehunter ships to Ukraine. British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to announce Ukraine’s procurement of Sandown-class vessels from the Royal Navy on Monday. The U.K. is part of a new Maritime Capability Coalition established to increase Ukraine’s capability to operate at sea. The coalition, which includes Norway, also intends...
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Defense Allies Meet in Berlin to Discuss Advancing Space Collaboration
The Department of Defense attended the Combined Space Operations Initiative Principals Board meeting in Berlin, Germany, where participants discussed opportunities to advance operational cooperation and information sharing in space. The event brought together top defense officials from the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. For the 2023 edition, CSpO...
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US Eases Some Security Controls on Exports to Allies
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security has eased some export license requirements and expanded export license exceptions for key U.S. allies. One of the BIS measures released on Thursday removes export curbs on certain pathogens and toxins of interest to Australia Group member countries but are not under Chemical Weapons Convention...
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US Imposes New Round of Sanctions on Russian Federation Procurement Agent
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has imposed new sanctions on a Belgian businessman and his companies for the export of electronics in support of the Russian military. According to OFAC, Hans De Geetere serves as a director of several companies in Belgium, Cyprus and the Netherlands. He is a long-time...