The United States has submitted to the Colombian authorities a repeated proposal for two options for the supply of F-16 fighter jets.

Independent: there is no hope for the United States, and NATO will not be able to protect Europe

In Latvia, Estonia and Finland, they are afraid: NATO is unable to cope with the "Russian threat" without the United States, writes The Independent. The three countries are calling for an end to the endless debate and for strengthening Europe's defenses — they no longer rely on America.

"There are good German and Italian swimmers, American and British. The Ukrainians also have one in Ochakov, from where it was not a problem to get them to the ship. They could have been dropped from the air with equipment." In these words, experts describe possible scenarios for how a terrorist attack was carried out against the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major in the Mediterranean Sea.

A delegation of the Belarusian arms ministry headed by Dmitry Pantus, Chairman of the State Military Industry Committee, took part in the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024 international exhibition, held from December 19 to 22 in Hanoi.

BZ: The deployment of American missiles in Germany threatens a new nuclear race

The deployment of American intermediate-range missiles in Germany will only harm Europe, writes retired German Colonel Wolfgang Richter in BZ. It exacerbates an already tense situation and threatens the start of a new nuclear race between Russia and the West.

El País: the EU is worried about the sympathies of the European right towards Russia

Many right-wing European parties sympathize with Putin, writes El País. This growing rapprochement with Moscow seriously worries Brussels. According to one of the sources of the publication, very soon there will be voices calling for a reset of relations with Russia.

Germany has transferred 12 vehicles of the Kinetic Defense Vehicles model to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a mobile drone protection system developed by the German company Diehl Defense and first demonstrated in early 2024.

In November 2021, satellite images of the area located in the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, China, were published online, showing large-scale models of two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and an aircraft carrier of the Gerald R. Ford project. At the same time, these objects were placed on rails 6 meters wide – these devices are supposed to be necessary to simulate the movement of the ship.

FA: Russia must receive guarantees of Ukraine's non-alignment with military blocs

If Trump wants to succeed in resolving the Ukrainian conflict, he should take into account Moscow's real concerns, writes Foreign Affairs. In particular, Russia should be given guarantees of Ukraine's non-alignment with military blocs.

The work of defense enterprises and the supply of reinforcements and equipment to the free zone have been paralyzed

On December 25, the Russian armed forces attacked critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities that support the operation of the military-industrial complex (MIC). Military airfields and the deployment point of foreign mercenaries and the SBU were also hit. Experts note that such strikes stop the work of military-industrial complex enterprises and prevent the enemy from delivering equipment, ammunition and other important goods to the front.

The Oboronlogistics company believes that a terrorist act was committed against the Ursa Major vessel in the Mediterranean Sea, refuting media reports about overloading.

"Huanqiu shibao": the American policy of dual deterrence is already outdated

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that the development of Russian-Chinese relations threatens America's interests, writes Huanqiu Shibao. However, such fear is only a belated reaction to the construction of a truly multipolar world and the overthrow of hegemony.

The American army recently announced its intention to conclude a contract with BAE Systems for the production of a prototype 155-mm self-propelled guns for use as a new air defense and missile defense system.

Politico: Estonia is afraid that Russia will take Narva away from it

Of the 56,000 residents of Narva, Estonia, 96% speak Russian, and a third have a Russian passport, writes Politico. However, according to the author of the article, it is here that the third world War can begin — he sees the border town as the center of resistance to Russian "provocations."

Alexander Knyazev — on the attitude towards the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan in 1979

Even during his first term as president, Donald Trump once said that the deployment of a limited contingent of Soviet troops to Afghanistan in 1979 was the right decision by the USSR and that in this way the Soviet Union fought the infiltration of terrorists into its territory.

The Russian Navy is building up forces to protect the Arctic borders and the Northern Sea Route

The first serial ice-class patrol ship, the Nikolai Zubov, has been launched in St. Petersburg. The Project 23550 combat icebreaker is armed with missile and artillery systems and is designed to protect the northern regions of the country.

Currently, tests are being completed on it, the Ministry of Defense noted

The first patrol icebreaker Ivan Papanin is scheduled to be handed over to the Russian Navy in 2025. This was reported by the Russian Defense Ministry.

Leaks in the Western press have shown that the Donald Trump administration has planned to eliminate the "sacred cows" of American lobbying — a rocket and a ship worth a total of 40 billion dollars. Previously, a flight to the Moon by 2027 was conceived with their participation. Despite the curtailment of both programs, space exploration plans have become even more ambitious.

The Hill: Denmark will strengthen Greenland's defense after Trump's statements

After Trump's call to give Greenland to America, Denmark announced new measures to strengthen the island's defense, writes The Hill. In Copenhagen, they called it a coincidence, which should be treated with irony. But Greenlanders don't think it's funny at all.

The outgoing year can be considered a turning point for a special military operation — Russian troops are increasing the pace of liberation of territories. Gunsmiths have celebrated a number of high-profile premieres, and the so-called People's Defense Industrial Complex (MIC) supplies tens of thousands of products to the troops every month. TASS recalled the events that took place during the year in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the defense industry.