Italian PM says suspends defense agreement with Israel

Italy has suspended its defense agreement with Israel, which involves the exchange of military equipment and technology research, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and diplomatic sources said Tuesday.

Putin welcomed in Mongolia despite ICC arrest warrant

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Mongolia, his first visit to an International Criminal Court (ICC) member since it issued a warrant for his arrest last year.

Russia to boost relations with North Korea in all areas — Dmitry Peskov

Moscow intends to boost relations with Pyongyang in all areas, including sensitive ones, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Russia's Iskander missile systems in Armenia to maintain balance in region

The deployment of Russia’s Iskander missile systems in Armenia was a necessary step designed to maintain balance in the region, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan told the Rossiya 24 TV channel on Thursday.

Russia and Armenia to create joint defense force in Caucasus

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a proposal by the Russian government to establish a joint group of Russian and Armenian forces in the Caucasus region to deal with potential attacks on either country.

British former army chief declares support for Brexit

Fears for the creation of a Brussels-led European Army has prompted one of British former military leaders to back the leave camp in next week's EU referendum.

Egypt signs military cooperation agreement with Cyprus

Egypt's defence minister Sedki Sobhi and his Cypriot counterpart Christophoros Fokaides signed a joint military cooperation agreement Monday in Cairo, an Egyptian army spokesman said.

Turkish, Ukraine defense firms in talks for tank upgrades

Turkey and Ukraine's biggest defense firms have started negotiations that will most likely end up in a cooperation deal for tank modernization programs, according to DefenseNews.

Japan PM voices WW II 'repentance' in US speech

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed "deep repentance" over Japan's role in World War II, in a landmark speech to the US Congress.

Self-defense agreement opens way for New Zealand troop deployment in Iraq

The New Zealand government has reached an agreement with Iraq to give New Zealand troops the right to defend themselves during deployment there, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said Tuesday.

Ukraine condemns Russia-'Abkhazia' deal

 The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the country does not recognize the alliance between Russia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia.

Russia and the self-proclaimed independent area in Georgia on Monday signed a strategic alliance agreement, which includes a controversial collective defense pact.

Japan able to aid U.S. ships under attack, says defense minister (the hypothetical scenario)

WASHINGTON —Japan’s new policy on military action would allow its forces to come to the aid of a U.S. naval ship under attack, Japan’s defense minister said Friday.
In a visit to Washington, Itsunori Onodera cited the hypothetical scenario as he sought to explain the Japanese government’s controversial decision to ease decades-long restrictions on the country’s military.
If U.S. warships were sent to defend Japan, and those ships were attacked, the Japanese “constitution was interpreted to say we could not help that ship,” Onodera told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.
But taking action to assist an ally was “what an ally should naturally do,” he said through an interpreter. “That’s how this change in policy should be understood.”

Navires US en mer Noire : Moscou pourrait déployer des bombardiers en Crimée

L'entrée d'un destroyer américain en mer Noire risque de contraindre la Russie à déployer des bombardiers supersoniques Tu-22M3 en Crimée et à accélérer la construction de nouvelles frégates et de nouveaux sous-marins, a annoncé mercredi le rédacteur en chef du magazine Défense Nationale Igor Korotchenko.

"La Russie pourrait profiter de cette occasion pour renforcer ses infrastructures navales en mer Noire en déployant des systèmes supplémentaires Bastion dotés de missiles antinavires Iakhont", a déclaré M. Korotchenko à RIA Novosti.

Hagel to China: US Committed to Defense of its Asia Allies

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is warning that the U.S. will defend its Asian allies in the event of any conflict with China.
The Pentagon chief made his comments Tuesday after meeting in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Chang Wanquan.
Hagel said Washington is "fully committed" to treaties obliging it to protect its longtime allies Japan and the Philippines.
Japan and the Philippines are among several Asian countries that accuse China of using intimidation to advance its maritime claims.

Moscow may deny NATO Afghan transit in retaliation. -Russian legislator

MOSCOW, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Moscow has a right to deny NATO transit to and from Afghanistan in response to the alliance's decision to suspend cooperation with Russia, a senior Russian legislator said Friday.

"If our cooperation comes to a halt, we'll have the right to suspend (NATO's) transit, and the alliance will have to find other routes," Viktor Ozerov, head of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council, or upper house of parliament, told Interfax news agency.

As NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) withdrawal from Afghanistan in the end of 2014 approaches, the alliance will have to find routes bypassing the Russian territory, Ozerov said.

Russia seeks deeper defense cooperation with Belarus after Ukraine crisis

Moscow seeks deeper defense industry cooperation with neighboring Belarus following the developments in Ukraine, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday.

During talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Rogozin said, "The purpose of my visit is to see what else we can do with our Belarusian colleagues, taking into account the situation in Ukraine."

A recent military-industrial commission with Belarusian partners in the Tatarstan capital of Kazan has discussed ways to " establish stable work so that production can be planned," he was quoted by the ITAR-TASS news agency as saying.

NATO Foreign Ministers to reaffirm commitment to collective defence.

NATO Foreign Ministers will show their steadfast commitment to Allied collective defence in the wake of the Ukraine crisis and agree on ways to support Ukraine, said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the start of the two-day ministerial on Tuesday (1 April 2014). “Defence starts with deterrence so we will take the necessary steps to make it clear to the world that no threat against NATO Allies will succeed,” he said.

Hellenic MOD: Defence Minister of the Russian Federation pays an official visit to Greece

On Tuesday, December 3, 2013, the Defence Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoygu will pay an official visit to our country following an invitation by the Minister of National Defence, Dimitris Avramopoulos. 

Tomorrow morning the delegations of the two Ministries will have talks in the Ministry of National Defence and the two Ministers will sign a defence agreement between Greece and Russia. Afterwards, Mr. Avramopoulos and Mr. Shoygu will have a private meeting and, later, they will make statements to the media.