New Zealand is seeking stronger ties with its Five Eyes partners under its new prime minister, Christopher Luxon. The Five Eyes was established by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to share intelligence during World War II. According to Winston Peters, foreign minister of New Zealand, the government will reinvigorate...
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Category: Europe
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Italian Navy Officially Assumes Command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two
The United Kingdom has officially handed command of the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two to Italy. The change of command took place in Taranto, Italy, on the outgoing flagship Royal Navy HMS Duncan. Present during the event were Royal Navy Cmdr. Paul Stroude, who led SNMG2 over the past five months, and Rear Adm. Pasquale Esposito...
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Rheinmetall Secures New Arms Supply Contract for Ukraine
German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall Group will supply Ukraine with artillery ammunition worth about $153 million, a procurement from an unnamed NATO ally supporting Kyiv against the Russian invasion. The new contract follows a German-funded Rheinmetall deal announced in November to supply Ukraine with 32 battle tanks, driver-training tanks and armored recovery vehicles. The...
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Saab to Supply Underwater Drones to Kuwait
The U.S. Navy has awarded Sweden-based defense and aerospace company Saab a contract to supply a Double Eagle Semi-Autonomous Remotely Operated Vehicle to the Kuwait Naval Force. The SAROV order, which was processed through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, is worth $16 million and expected to be delivered by September 2025, according to the online...
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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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Lockheed Martin Presents Belgium’s First F-35A Lightning II Jet Fighter
Lockheed Martin presented to Belgian government officials Belgium’s first F-35A Lightning II jet fighter during an official rollout ceremony on Sunday. Belgium is buying a total of 34 Lockheed F-35As, with the first aircraft dubbed AY-01 for delivery to the Belgian Air Force in 2024. The first fighter plane will be initially kept at Luke...
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International Initiatives Blue Dot Network, FAST-Infra Group Partner to Promote Sustainable Infrastructures
Two international initiatives are working together to mobilize private sector investment to promote sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure projects. During the Sustainable Infrastructure Panel at the Conference of the Parties 28 on Thursday, Blue Dot Network and Finance to Accelerate the Sustainable Transition – Infrastructure announced plans to coordinate their respective programs and identify complementary areas for...
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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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UK Agency Working on Secret Technology Launches Initiative to Collaborate With Industry
A secretive U.K. government organization and the former workplace of computing pioneer Alan Turing is opening its doors to collaborate with the private sector. On Wednesday, His Majesty’s Government Communications Centre launched an initiative to work closely with technology companies and academic institutions on innovations that support national security. HMGCC Co-Creation, launched in partnership with the...