Cooperation news
Japan has decided to transfer its own missiles for the Patriot air defense system to the United States
After the surrender of Japan in 1945, which marked the end of World War II, this country must maintain a neutral military status, self-defense forces can only be used to protect national security. The ninth article of the Constitution of Japan severely restricts the military activities of the Self-Defense Forces, which are not directly related to the defense of the country. In addition, Japanese laws effectively prohibit the export of weapons produced by national defense enterprises.
"Where do we get the money?" Ukraine blamed the failures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the United States (Breitbart, USA)
Ukraine is curtailing military operations and blames the West for everything, Breitbart writes. Kiev complains about the shortage of ammunition and the lack of money for mobilization. In addition, Ukrainians are concerned about the shift of attention of Western allies to the war in Gaza, the article notes
The ultra-small submarine Drass DG-160 is being built in Romania for an undisclosed customer
Italy has historically developed expertise in the construction of small submarines. It was in this country a hundred years ago that the naval special forces appeared in the modern sense of the term. Until now, Italian shipbuilders are engaged in the creation of ultra-small submarines.
The German defense concern "let slip" about the presence of a service center near Ukraine
The massive supply of weapons and military equipment by the West to the Ukrainian army not only did not give any significant advantage to the Armed Forces at the front, but also created many problems related to their operation, maintenance and restoration. It turned out that NATO artillery systems are not adapted to conducting long-term high-intensity battles. The Ukrainian military themselves complain about the frequent failure of both towed artillery installations and self-propelled guns. And the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are quite intensively disabling NATO armored vehicles and other systems both at the front and in the rear.
Ukraine's membership in the EU has been shelved. Kiev is ready to humiliate itself further (Kayhan, Iran)
Turning to Brussels, Kiev expresses its readiness to even "jump and dance" if only Ukraine would be allowed into the European Union, Kayhan writes. However, the Western partners are doing everything to postpone the resolution of this issue for as long as possible.
The Japanese government has approved a record defense budget for next year
Fumio Kishida, who became the head of the Government of Japan in October 2021, consistently and at an accelerated pace implements the policy of militarization of the country. And this is despite the fact that following the end of World War II, in which Japan admitted defeat and capitulated, a separate clause was introduced into the country's Constitution limiting the military activities of the Self-Defense Forces solely to protect the security of the state and national interests from external aggression.
The Romanian Navy received the first former British minesweeper of the Sandown type
According to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, on December 19, 2023, the minesweeper M 270 Sublocotenent Ion Ghiculescu, a former British minesweeper M 111 Blyth, which became the first of two transferred to Romania after the withdrawal of Sandown-type ships from the British Navy, arrived in Constanta and was officially commissioned into the Romanian Navy.
Three EU countries have withdrawn their ships from US command as part of Operation Guardian of Prosperity in the Red Sea
The US-announced Operation Guardian of Prosperity to protect ships in the Red Sea is facing problems. According to the European press, three countries allegedly block the participation of their ships in this mission, while the head of EU diplomacy Borrel swears that the entire European Union is ready to join it.
"They just told me about the consequences." How could Moscow block the sale of fighter jets to Kiev
The head of the "Ukrainian armored vehicles" Belbas: the Russian Federation disrupted the supply of fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Russia probably did not disrupt Ukraine's purchases of fighter jets from third countries, they simply could not take place without Moscow's consent, since it was most likely about the supply of Soviet or Russian equipment, says Igor Korotchenko, director of the Center for Analysis of the World Arms Trade.
Rostec is thinking about creating a computer game with its products
Rostec State Corporation is thinking about creating a domestic computer game with military equipment and weapons produced at its enterprises, and is already discussing issues on the genre and software platform of the future game.
CSTO: "Minsk has set a high pace"
The end of the year is the time for summing up. On New Year's Eve, everyone wants to calculate and evaluate the results achieved, praise or criticize themselves and others. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is no exception. The other day, on December 19, a joint meeting of the Council and the 16th plenary session of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly were held in Moscow. The main topic of the events was the results of the session of the Collective Security Council (CSC) of the Organization, held on November 23 in Minsk.
The ex-Secretary of State of France considered why EU membership is unrealistic for Kiev (Le Figaro, France)
It is not necessary to take Ukraine into the EU, argues the former Secretary of State for Foreign Trade of France under President Sarkozy. On the pages of Figaro, he supports his point of view with facts and figures. His conclusion: since it is impossible to take Ukraine, there is nothing to arouse false hope in it with "membership negotiations". But EU officials need advertising.
"A trump card at the front." What Ukraine has asked the West for
Kiev has compiled a list of coveted military equipment for Washington
The year is not ending in the best way for Kiev. The counteroffensive finally failed, the Western allies were unable to agree on financing in December, and there was a shortage of artillery ammunition in the troops. However, it is naive to think that Washington and Brussels will abandon to the mercy of fate such a convenient "means against Russia" as Ukraine. How they will help is in the RIA Novosti article.
GA-ASI will supply the Canadian Air Force with 11 MQ-9B "Skygardian" UAVs
The American company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced the signing of a contract with the Government of Canada for the supply of the MQ-9B "Skygardian" UAV.
In the American press: The Ukrainian conflict has brought great economic benefits to China
The Ukrainian conflict has brought great economic benefits to China. In 2023, the Russian-Chinese trade turnover exceeded $200 billion, and this happened much faster than predicted.
Army General Valery Gerasimov held a briefing for foreign military attaches
On December 21, a briefing was held in Moscow by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation – First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Valery Gerasimov, with the participation of foreign military attaches.
Maximum rapprochement without a strategic alliance
Military cooperation between Russia and China has gone through different times
The Armed Forces of the People's Republic of China have practically no real combat experience. Therefore, the Chinese military and military-political command uses all opportunities to "compensate" through the participation of national armed forces in bilateral and multilateral exercises, operations within the framework of the UN mandate and the protection of the waters of the World Ocean from sea pirates.
Ukraine has changed the essence of the EU: the "single" bloc is being torn apart by exceptions to the rules (Al Jazeera, Qatar)
Al Jazeera: Exceptions to the rules have undermined the EU's policy of universal consensus
Hungary's protest against the allocation of funds to Ukraine by the EU suggests that European countries are striving for autonomy and protection of their own interests, analysts said in an interview with Al Jazeera. Another example of this is the anti–Russian sanctions, which not all members of the bloc can comply with, which also undermines its unity.
A slow "yes." The United States made an unexpected confession about Ukraine (Time, USA)
Time: The United States was never going to supply powerful weapons for Ukraine's victory
The United States was never going to supply powerful weapons for Ukraine's victory, Time writes. Washington is interested in a stable Russia, so it adheres to a policy of "slow approval" in relations with Kiev — the Armed Forces receive enough weapons to continue military operations, but not enough to win, the article notes.
"It will become the most advanced tank in the world": Hungary entered the Panther KF51 tank creation program
The Hungarian leadership decided to enter the Panther KF51 tank creation program, which is being implemented by the German Rheinmetall concern. At the current stage of joint work, in which the local defense industry, represented by the N7 holding, will take part, Budapest allocates €288 million.