Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., has welcomed Turkey’s decision to ratify Sweden’s bid to join NATO. Cardin, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised the Turkish Parliament for voting in favor of Sweden’s accession protocol and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who signed the legislation on Thursday. “My approval of Turkey’s request to purchase F-16 aircraft...
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Category: Geopolitical Issues
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US Approves Sale of F-16 Fighting Falcons to Turkey for $23B
The administration of President Joe Biden has approved the sale of F-16 aircraft and related equipment to Turkey. In a Friday press release, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it notified Congress about the potential foreign military sale of 40 new F-16 aircraft and the modernization of Turkey’s 79 existing fighters for $23 billion. Lockheed Martin...
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US OKs Potential $500M Deal to Provide Croatia With 8 Black Hawk Helicopters
The Department of State has approved a proposed sale of eight UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Croatia. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the potential Foreign Military Sale has an estimated cost of $500 million. The FMS deal will boost Croatia’s ability to deter current and future threats, support coalition operations, and promote interoperability...
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Australia, Japan To Explore New Robotic, Autonomous Capabilities for Undersea Warfare
Australia said it will work with Japan on a research project to advance the two nations’ capabilities in robotic and autonomous systems for undersea warfare. Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group and Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency will spearhead the inaugural research project to enhance undersea communication and interoperability under a signed collaboration agreement....
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US, Partner Nations Unveil New Programs to Boost Ukraine’s Armor, Drone Capabilities
The U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group has launched new projects to further build up Ukraine’s armor and drone capabilities. At a news briefing on Tuesday, Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary for international security affairs at the Pentagon, said the capability coalition will advance efforts by the UDCG to build a Ukrainian force that can repel Russia’s...
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US, UK Join Australia in Sanctioning Russia-Backed Medibank Hacker
The United States has joined Australia and the United Kingdom in imposing sanctions on Russian hacker Alexander Ermakov over his role in the ransomware attack against health care insurer Medibank. In 2022, Ermakov infiltrated the Medibank network and stole personally identifiable and sensitive health information of approximately 9.7 million former and current customers. The cyberactor...
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US Sanctions Iraqi Airline Over Alleged Ties to Militia Groups
The United States has sanctioned the Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad and its CEO Basheer Abdulkadhim Alwan al-Shabbani over its ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force. According to a press release from the Department of the Treasury, the airliner has supported the IRGC-QF and proxy groups across the Middle East for years. ...
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NATO Outlines Vision for Quantum Technology Use in Defense, Security
NATO has published a summary of its quantum strategy, which outlines the alliance’s vision of using the technology for defense and security purposes. The military alliance’s foreign ministers approved the plan in November to ensure that the bloc is ready for quantum’s anticipated benefits and downsides. Under the strategy, the organization also seeks to be...
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Canadian Navy Takes Command of Multinational Maritime Task Force in Persian Gulf
Canada has assumed command of Combined Task Force 150, a unit of Combined Maritime Forces that conducts maritime security operations in sea areas outside the Persian Gulf. The Royal Canadian Navy took over from its French counterpart on Wednesday, in which Capt. Yannick Bossu welcomed his successor, Capt. Colin Matthew, during a turnover ceremony. Under...
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Ukrainian Troops Get Support From Milrem Robotics TheMis Unmanned Ground Vehicles
The THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles from Estonian manufacturer Milrem Robotics have delivered “the most important benefit” of avoiding casualties in the Ukrainian armed forces, according to Juri Pajuste, in charge of the company’s Ukrainian program. The ground-based armed drone is used for anti-tank mine clearing and unexploded ordnance removal, as well as transporting equipment to areas...