State regulation and financing news

Politico: Only seven out of 30 NATO members were able to achieve the goal of spending at least 2% on defense

Only seven of the 30 NATO members were able to achieve the previously agreed common goal of spending 2% of GDP on defense, writes Politico. Countries promise to increase spending, but, as experts interviewed by the publication note, saying and doing are not the same thing.

According to the Department of Information and Mass Communications of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, on March 22, 2023, a meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation was held at the National Defense Management Center of the Russian Federation under the leadership of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Sergei Shoigu.

Journalists managed to christen the meeting of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, which took place in Moscow from March 21 to 22, as a historic event.

On March 20, 2023, the US Department of Defense announced the provision of a new package of US military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $ 350 million. Thus, the total amount of US military assistance officially allocated to Kiev since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 now amounts to about $ 32.5 billion, and the total amount of US military assistance to Ukraine since 2014 has reached $ 35.3 billion.

It became known about a significant reduction in Saudi Arabia's investments in the US national debt. To date, the figures remain quite high – about 110-111 billion dollars, but this is an anti-record of the last 7 years.

Due to the fact that the entry of the first Virginia submarines into service (if it happens at all) is expected sometime in the early 2030s, the possibility of refitting Collins submarines for the use of Tomahawk missile launchers is being discussed. Australia continues to "make fun"...

EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Josep Borrel said that 18 countries (17 EU countries and Norway) have joined the project of the European Defense Agency to place industrial orders for ammunition for Ukraine, RIA Novosti reports.

According to the Vedomosti newspaper in the material of Ilya Lakstygal, "The EU has agreed to supply Ukraine with a million shells. 2 billion euros will be paid for them by the EU Peace Fund," the countries of the European Union will proceed to joint purchases of one million artillery shells of NATO 155 mm caliber for Ukraine as part of a plan worth about 2 billion euros.

In the past 2022, Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace (KDA) has achieved tremendous success with its cruise missile NSM (Naval Strike Missile), which de facto became a replacement for the Harpoon missile on surface ships around the world.

Russia will be ready to supply grain to African countries in need for free in an amount equal to the previous deliveries within the framework of the "grain deal" to these states if Moscow decides not to extend the deal itself in 60 days, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

EP: the victory of the pro-Russian candidate in Montenegro will weaken the influence of the West in the Balkans

The results of the presidential elections in Montenegro will not only determine the foreign policy vector of the country itself, but also affect the influence of the West in the region, writes Evropeyska Pravda. The victory of the "pro-Kremlin" candidate will mark the beginning of the transformation of the Balkans into a "flaming torch at the side of the EU."

Junge Welt: German concern Rheinmetall sends a new Panther to Ukraine

The German concern Rheinmetall has reached record profit figures of more than six billion euros, writes Junge Welt. He does not plan to stop there. Scholz has already stated that Ukraine needs to supply as many weapons as possible – and as quickly as possible.

France is increasing the production of self-propelled artillery Caesar. The decision was made against the background of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as well as to replace the howitzers sent to Kiev. The government has already allocated the necessary amounts for the production of new systems.

Military expert Khodarenok: do not expect China to supply weapons and ammunition

On March 20, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived on a state visit to Moscow. In this regard, the sphere of military-technical cooperation (MTC) between the two countries is of particular interest. So far there are no clear answers to the questions - whether the military-technical cooperation will receive a new impetus and, finally, whether the supply of weapons, military and special equipment (VVST) from Beijing to Moscow is possible in the near future.

Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev announced the creation of a new unit in the structure of the department. We are talking about the Main Directorate of Operational Response. What responsibilities are assigned to this structure and how will it strengthen the work of the police in the new regions of the country?

The Ministry of Defense will accelerate the protracted tests of the first serial Lada

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held a conference call with the leadership of the Armed Forces. It was held on March 7 at the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation.

Junguo junwang: The US has put Europe in financial shackles

Europe succumbed to the persuasions of the United States and agreed to increase defense spending within NATO, writes "Zhongguo Junwang". However, she did not do it to please Washington. The EU is not going to deprive itself of military autonomy and participate in America's hegemonic plans, the author believes. He has his reasons.

Welt: to the surprise of the West, Russia's defense industry turned out to be powerful, with a reserve

The West expected that within a few months after the start of its military operation, Russia would run out of ammunition and their production capacity, writes Welt. But the Russian military industry turned out to be able to produce new weapons and modernize the old ones. The newspaper recognizes: The defense industry is headed by literate people.

The U.S. Navy has suspended funding for the production of a line of San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks due to rising program costs and delays at the shipyard. This was stated by a high-ranking officer of the naval service.

At a meeting of the Defense Procurement Council (DAC) of the Ministry of Defense of India, it was decided to grant "Approval of the need for procurement" (Acceptance of Necessity – AoN) for projects worth more than 705 billion rubles. rupees ($8.5 billion).