Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Turkey and Russia are inching towards an accord for the first major Turkish weapons purchase from Moscow, troubling Ankara’s allies in NATO even though the deal may not ultimately materialise. According to Turkish and Russian officials, all preparations have been made for the purchase of a …
Read More »Trump, Moon agree to boost S.Korean missile capabilities
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | The United States and South Korea agreed Friday to strengthen Seoul’s defenses and Washington gave a nod to billions in arms sales to the country, the White House said, days after North Korea fired a missile over Japan and threatened further launches. In Seoul, the …
Read More »US shoots down missile in test off Hawaii coast
Washington, United States | AFP | The US military shot down a medium-range ballistic missile target off the coast of Hawaii early Wednesday, in a successful test of a missile interception system Japan is seeking to bolster its defense against North Korea. The test was performed by the US Missile Defense …
Read More »India says military stand-off with China ends
New Delhi, India | AFP | India said Monday it had agreed with China to end a months-long military stand-off at a strategically important disputed area in the Himalayas and troops were disengaging. The foreign ministry said it had reached an “understanding” after talks with Beijing about the tense confrontation in …
Read More »Erdogan says top Turkish general must accept demotion
Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Tresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday warned a top Turkish general who played a key role in defeating last year’s failed coup and led a cross-border operation in Syria that he must accept a surprise demotion without rancour. In a rare show of tension between the …
Read More »China urges halt to US-S.Korea military drills
Beijing, China | AFP | China on Monday renewed its call for the United States and South Korea to suspend joint military drills as the two nations began annual war games that have infuriated nuclear-armed Pyongyang. “The current situation on the Korean peninsula is highly sensitive and fragile, which requires the …
Read More »US military to create separate unified cyber warfare command
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump ordered the US military on Friday to elevate its cyber warfare operations to a separate command, signaling a new strategic emphasis on electronic and online offensive and defensive operations. The move means the US Cyber Command, or Cybercom, will eventually become its …
Read More »Joint exercises could send Korea tensions soaring again
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | After North Korea and the United States traded bellicose threats of nuclear conflagration, all eyes will be on an annual war game in the South next week that could send tensions spiralling back upwards, analysts say. Pyongyang tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) last month …
Read More »Pentagon adjusts to life under unpredictable commander-in-chief
Washington, United States | AFP | After days of fiery talk of possible military intervention in the North Korea nuclear stand-off, Pentagon officials late last week suddenly found themselves digesting a surprising piece of breaking news. President Donald Trump, in the middle of a working vacation, stood before cameras and said …
Read More »US Army chief of staff Gen Milley condemns racism after deadly protests
Washington, United States | AFP | US military leaders have been denouncing racism and intolerance since a white supremacist rally in Virginia — with condemnation mounting after President Donald Trump said counter-protesters also were to blame for the violence. Trump on Tuesday held a New York press conference in which he …
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