China has increased its military budget despite facing economic constraints and corruption scandals within the People's Liberation Army. The move comes as China remains the world's second-largest military spender behind the US, which plans to allocate $850 billion for its military in 2025. This decision by Chinese authorities is likely driven by strategic priorities, with the International Institute for Strategic Studies noting that they face "increasingly sharp questions" about where to focus their resources.
https://www.voanews.com/a/china-maintains-defense-spending-increase-at-7-2-/7998242.htmlProfessor Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London, warns that China's increasing defence budget comes at a critical moment due to escalating competition with the US under the Trump administration and growing security threats. He notes that the world is becoming increasingly chaotic, with the US picking fights with its allies and competitors, making most countries defensive. China is already defensive but now feels heightened insecurity from its environment and the unpredictable nature of America's actions.
https://channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/china-expands-defence-budget-military-modernisation-regional-tensions-4975981South Korean Foreign Minister Cho and Polish Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation on transregional security, including NATO-IP4 partnership with South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Poland is the largest recipient of Korean military equipment, and the two nations aim to further develop this cooperation by relocating production and technology transfer to Poland. They also discussed concerns about Ukraine, which lies on Poland's eastern border, and North Korea's support for Russia in the war. South Korea will provide an assistance package of over $2 billion to address Ukraine's urgent needs, building on last year's $400 million aid. Additionally, they explored expanding access to Polish food products in the South Korean market, with Poland becoming Korea's fifth largest trading partner within the EU and Korea the largest Asian investor in Poland as of 2024.
https://www.voanews.com/a/south-korea-poland-sign-deal-to-boost-economic-defense-cooperation/7999007.htmlTurkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu's counterpart from Croatia, Gordan Grlić Radman, is set to visit Turkey for a meeting with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan. The two ministers will discuss regional and global developments, particularly in the Balkan region, as well as cooperation between their countries within NATO and the EU. Fidan is expected to highlight Turkey's commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region, while also discussing efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, and situations in Gaza and Syria. The meeting will also touch on defense industry cooperation, including a recent deal between Croatia and Turkish company Baykar, which marks the first direct supply from Turkey to Croatia.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/croatian-top-diplomat-due-in-ankara-for-talks-with-fidan-206550The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a strategic pact on security and defence between India and the EU, similar to the ones with Japan and South Korea. The two sides also agreed to hold high-level strategic space dialogue and are set to finalize negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year. They will also meet to renew the current Strategic Roadmap for 2020-2025.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-good-destination-for-production-an-example-of-smart-regulation-eu-commissioner/article69295325.eceEuropean Union officials should maintain a strong relationship with Turkey, focusing on areas such as defense and security, rather than solely addressing migration issues, according to recent statements made by EU officials.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/chp-leader-visits-brussels-to-promote-turkiyes-eu-accession-206555The article discusses the implications of NATO nuclear sharing on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its potential impact on European countries like Germany. The NPT prohibits new countries from developing nuclear weapons, but it does not explicitly address NATO nuclear sharing. Key points: 1. NATO members argue that nuclear sharing does not violate the NPT because the weapons remain under U.S. control in peacetime. 2. Critics argue that stationing French or British nuclear weapons in Germany would stretch the limits of the NPT and potentially violate its spirit or articles. 3. Russia's recent deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus has sparked debate over the implications for the treaty. 4. Any change in Europe's nuclear posture could trigger additional ripple effects, such as other regional powers strengthening their own extended deterrence arrangements or pursuing independent nuclear arsenals. To foster meaningful discussions on nuclear deterrence, Germany and other European countries can: 1. Engage with the United States within the NATO framework to request additional information on Washington's strategy regarding extended deterrence. 2. Suggest addressing U.S. expectations regarding European involvement in reinforcing NATO's conventional posture. 3. Open bilateral dialogues with France and the United Kingdom regarding their nuclear contributions. 4. Raise public awareness about the importance of nuclear deterrence in Europe's defense. By taking these steps, Germany can enhance solidarity within Europe, foster a sense of shared responsibility among NATO members, and build a stronger European voice on nuclear deterrence issues.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/can-france-and-united-kingdom-replace-us-nuclear-umbrellaIndia's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is meeting US officials in Washington to discuss the first phase of their Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The talks aim to cut tariffs in various areas, following India's previous tariff cuts on bourbon whiskey, wines, motorcycles, and electric vehicles. The goal is to reach $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, more than doubling last year's value of around $200 billion, under "fair-trade terms" that prioritize fairness, national security, and job creation.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/no-response-from-india-on-trump-tariffs-so-far-all-eyes-on-commerce-ministers-meetings-in-washington/article69295283.eceExternal Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar stated that the Indian government has had a "very open conversation" with the US administration about the need for a trade agreement, in response to US President Donald Trump's threat to impose reciprocal tariffs on India. This development was expected as it was what Trump promised to do after assuming office in January this year.
https://www.news18.com/india/we-had-an-open-conversation-jaishankar-sees-opportunities-in-india-us-ties-amid-trumps-tariff-threats-9251155.html