Lithuania’s Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasciunas has invited American defense companies to invest in his country. During a recent meeting with William LaPlante, U.S. undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, Kasciunas mentioned Rheinmetall’s plan to build an ammunition factory in Lithuania and added that he hopes other defense companies will follow suit. “We...
Hello, Guest!
Category: Geopolitical Issues
Post
US, UK, Canada Issue Warning Against Pro-Russian Hacktivist Threat to Critical Infrastructure
Cybersecurity agencies from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have issued a joint warning about Russian hacktivists’ threat to operational technology systems. A new report titled “Defending OT Operations Against Ongoing Pro-Russia Hacktivist Activity” revealed that pro-Russia threat actors have compromised small-scale OT systems across North America and Europe. “This year we have...
Post
South Korea Signs Off on 4 New Weapons Programs Worth $4.6B
South Korea is looking to invest around $4.6 billion to build its defense capabilities by acquiring new weapons systems through the late 2030s. On Friday, the country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration approved defense spending plans for new SM-3 missiles and four frigates and the local development of an air-to-air missile. While DAPA said the two...
Post
US, UAE Sign Technological Security Agreement at Annual Military Dialogue
The United States and the United Arab Emirates have vowed to boost cooperation on technology security under the Cooperative Technology Security Program Execution Plan. The program mandates the U.S. Defense Technology Security Administration’s International Cooperation Directorate to guide other nations’ defense and security sectors in safeguarding critical local and U.S.-origin military technologies. DTSA Director Michael...
Post
Sweden to Send Troops to Latvia for NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, Forward Land Forces
Sweden will deploy military forces to Latvia to participate in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, Forward Land Forces. In preparation, Stockholm has ordered the Swedish Armed Forces to draft a plan for next year’s deployment. “As a NATO member, Sweden is part of NATO’s collective defense and will contribute broadly to its activities and defense of...
Post
US Treasury Sanctions Iran-Affiliated Company Supplying Drones to Russia
Sahara Thunder, a company identified as a front for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, faces sanctions in the United States for facilitating the design, development, manufacture and sale of drones in support of Russia’s war in Europe. According to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Russian government...
Post
UK to Boost Defense Budget With $109B Annual Spending Eyed by 2030
The United Kingdom plans to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product by 2030, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Tuesday. According to the prime minister, the allocation will result in an additional $94 billion in defense expenditures in the next six years and $109 billion in annual spending by the...
Post
Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan to Receive US Security, Humanitarian Assistance Under New Law
President Joe Biden has signed a bill into law providing seven federal agencies with additional funding to deliver assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The legislation also authorizes the president to transfer defense articles and services from the Department of Defense to foreign countries or international organizations and enables the implementation of sanctions against foreign...
Post
China Creates New Military Units for Information, Space, Cyber Operations
China has reorganized its principal military force to add three new units that will separately deal with information, space and cyber operations. The new units replaced the Strategic Support Force under the People’s Liberation Army to address the limitations associated with conducting such operations under a single support team. In an event on Friday, Chinese...
Post
European Commission Signs Agreement With European Space Agency to Cooperate on Actions Addressing Critical Global Challenges
The European Commission is joining forces with the European Space Agency to address global challenges with innovative technologies. Timo Pesonen, director-general for defense industry and space, for the EC and Josef Aschbacher, director general of the ESA, signed a collaboration agreement to combine resources and competence to enhance the European capacity to protect critical infrastructure,...