Officials from NATO’s Defence and Security Cooperation Directorate met with Azerbaijan’s National Defence University in Baku last May to review ongoing reforms under NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme, or DEEP. During the two-day event, Maj. Gen. Arif Hasanov, deputy director of the university and head of the Military Research Institute, updated NATO officials on the...
Hello, Guest!
Category: Policy Updates
Post
US Treasury’s OFAC Sanctions Iran Businesses Over Alleged Ties to Revolutionary Guards
The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control has imposed sanctions on several businesses owned by three Iranian citizens over their alleged links with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. OFAC said in a statement Friday that the companies headed by brothers Mansour, Nasser and Fazlolah Zarringhalam allegedly launder billions of dollars through...
Post
Alexus Grynkewich Nominated as NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe
NATO’s North Atlantic Council has approved the nomination of U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich as the alliance’s next Supreme Allied Commander Europe. The approval follows a Thursday announcement from the Pentagon that President Donald Trump had promoted the official to four-star general and dual command of NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and...
Post
Ukraine War Forces Poland to Reassess Black Hawk Helicopter Buy
Poland has halted the procurement process for 32 S-70i Black Hawk utility helicopters from Lockheed Martin, citing a reassessment of defense priorities influenced by geopolitical developments. Polish Deputy Minister of National Defence Pawel Beja, who explained the decision in a statement Friday, said the conflict in Ukraine and Russia’s expanding military acquisitions have prompted his...
Post
Germany Eyes Gradual Increase in Defense Spending to 5 Percent of GDP
Germany is poised to gradually allocate 5 percent of its gross domestic product to defense spending over the next five to seven years, increasing the budget by 0.2 percentage points annually, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Tuesday ahead of a key European Union meeting of defense chiefs. Pistorius said his government decided on the 5...
Post
NATO, Japan Strengthen Military Cooperation During Tokyo Talks
NATO reinforced its military partnership with Japan during two days of high-level staff talks in Tokyo earlier this month. Brig. Gen. Ungüder Eray, deputy director of the Cooperative Security Division of NATO’s International Military Staff, led the delegation of NATO military experts that met with Japanese officials headed by Gen. Shirai Ryoji to discuss improving...
Post
Canada’s New Defense Minister Vows to Modernize Military, Increase Spending
Canada’s newly appointed Defence Minister David McGuinty has pledged to rebuild the Canadian Armed Forces, modernize procurement and increase investment in the country’s defense industry. The longtime Ottawa South member of Parliament was appointed last week as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet, taking over from Bill Blair amid pressure to strengthen Canada’s...
Post
South Korea Picks Projects to Build Its Chip Production for Military Use
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration has launched five priority projects to develop semiconductors for military systems. The agency announced the move on Monday as part of its efforts to reduce foreign reliance and secure domestic chip production. According to a state-funded media report, the selected projects include chip development for small satellites, synthetic aperture...
Post
US Navy’s Richard Seif to Lead AUKUS Integration and Acquisition Office
Rear Adm. Richard Seif has assumed command of the U.S. Navy’s AUKUS Integration and Acquisition Direct Reporting Program Management Office as of April 21, according to Naval Sea Systems Command. Seif most recently led the Submarine Force of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Task Force-34 in Pearl Harbor. A 1992 graduate of the U.S. Naval...
Post
US Gains $600B Investment Commitment Through Agreements in Saudi Arabia
President Donald Trump announced a commitment of $600 billion from various companies aimed at enhancing the United States’ energy security, technology leadership and access to critical minerals. The deal was disclosed during the president’s visit to Saudi Arabia as part of his Middle East tour. Saudi Arabia is among the U.S.’s major trading partners in...