Latest
on top (updated regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
April 9
***
RFI
spoke with Mr. Burilkov of Leuphana University in Lüneburg, Germany,
who co-authored a report on 'Defending Europe without the US'
(https://www.bruegel.org/analysis/defending-europe-without-us-first-estimates-what-needed), published
by the Bruegel think tank and the Kiel Institute for
the World Economy. [Audio incl.]
https://www.rfi.fr/en/podcasts/international-report/20250408-eu-struggles-for-defence-independence-as-trump-turns-up-the-heat-on-security
***
A
newly published Russian military research report has concluded that
the #US-manufactured M2A2 Bradley ODS SA infantry fighting #vehicle
surpasses the #Russian BMP-3 in most key characteristics.
https://www.defensemirror.com/news/39232/U_S__Bradley_Infantry_Vehicle_Outperforms_BMP_3__Russian_Experts
***
Dutch government
wants security screening for scientists/students before letting them
work on sensitive technologies or conduct research with implications
for national security. The plan is in the early stages of the
legislative process.
The government hopes to roll out the
screenings in mid-2027.
https://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-government-scientists-tech-national-security-espionage/
***
CEO at
#Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry Ihor Fedirko has announced
that Ukraine is rapidly increasing its weapons production, now
manufacturing more #howitzers than all other #European countries
combined.
https://caliber.az/en/post/ukraine-s-weapons-production-soars-outpaces-entire-europe-in-howitzer-manufacturing
***
#EDGE Group’s
Beacon Red and #UAE-based #AI company #Presight have signed a
strategic MoU at the LAAD arms fair in Rio de Janeiro. The agreement
aims to sell AI-powered security and digital transformation solutions
in key markets, including Latin America.
https://defensehere.com/en/edge-beacon-red-sign-mou/
***
As global
conflicts escalate & #arms #transfers reach record highs, the
American Society of Int. Law #ASIL 2025 annual meeting will close
with a critical #discussion on weapons procurement, arms transfers,
and international law’s capacity to regulate them.
https://www.asser.nl/about-the-asser-institute/news/asil-2025-closing-plenary-can-arms-trade-bring-about-peace/
***
#Belgium
pledges € 1 billion annual #military aid to #Ukraine, signs defense
production deals
Belgian Prime Minister De Wever announces ten defense companies has established manufacturing ties in Ukraine as Brussels seeks to bolster European security.
***
Chip workshop
of the world, #TSMC, could face #penalties exceeding $1 #billion due
to a US export control probe involving a chip used in a Huawei AI
processor. The investigation focuses on TSMC's collaboration with
Sophgo.
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/technology/3339673-tsmc-faces-billion-dollar-penalty-over-huawei-chip-controversy
***
Protest bij
de #aandeelhoudersvergadering van #Airbus. Het protest wordt
ondersteund door Bij1, Justice Now, BDS, Stop de Oorlog Amsterdam &
SP Amsterdam.
Waar: Ferdinand Bolstraat 333 (Okura
Hotel) A'dam.
Tijd: Dinsdag 15 april van 12.30-13.30
uur
https://stopwapenhandel.org/airbus-het-grootste-wapenbedrijf-van-europa-the-biggest-european-arms-company/
***
Dutch
government tightens arms exports to Israel.
But a policy of case by case controle
is installed instead of General Licenses (c-b-c is common for large
parts of Dutch arms exports). How control will be implentated, tight
or loose, is something else.
https://www.jns.org/dutch-government-tightens-arms-exports-to-israel/
Correct title: The Netherlands amends general licenses for
dual-use and military items. And an addition to the article above.
https://sanctionsnews.bakermckenzie.com/the-netherlands-amends-general-licenses-for-dual-use-and-military-items/
April 8
***
Italian
#Leonardo has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Kingdom of #Saudi Arabia to deepen industrial collaboration across
the aerospace and defence sectors, building on the momentum of an
earlier agreement signed in 2024.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/leonardo-expands-saudi-defence-ties-with-new-agreement/
***
European
activists have besieged Maersk Copenhagen, protesting its role in
transporting military equipment to Israel. They are calling for an
immediate halt to shipments and for the Danish government to impose a
comprehensive ban on arms exports to Israel.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGd_S1iKwzf/
***
Kort geleden
gangbaar beleid; nu al 'n kleine maar belangrijke stap.
Aangenomen wordt ook dat beleid betekent dat geen wapens via Rotterdam naar Israël zullen gaan. https://www.trouw.nl/politiek/strengere-nederlandse-controle-op-militaire-export-naar-israel~be79da81/
Bekend wat de US Flag Privately‐Owned Merchant Fleet vervoert? https://www.maritime.dot.gov/data-reports/us-flag-fleet-current
April 8
De volgende protest actie in #Papendrecht?
Gewraakte fabriek staat niet meer in #Hoogerheide
Protest tegen #Fokker #Elmo onderdelen voor de F-35 van #Israel. Alleen is Elmo in 2023 van Hoogerheide naar Papendrecht verhuisd. https://www.pzc.nl/bergen-op-zoom/demonstranten-blokkeren-in-hoogerheide-totaal-verkeerde-fabriek-van-fokker-om-f-35-onderdelen-maar-we-komen-terug~abeb6f3d/
***
Is the new
#GCAP fighter developed by the UK, Italy, & Japan a way #Saudi
Arabia’s can buy itself into this air capability? #Participation
could help fund & lower development costs for all. It offers
Ryadh a modern jet without US strategic restrictions.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/snubbed-by-f-35-deal-saudi-arabia-fractures-global-fighter-jet-alliances-with-gcap-pivot/
While stocks have generally sold off after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his plan for “reciprocal tariffs”, European and Asian arms manufacturers are still posting respectable gains on a year-to-date basis, with some rising over 100%. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/08/lack-of-trust-in-the-us-boosts-european-and-asian-defense-stocks.html
***
Easier said than done.
Europe wants to redouble its efforts to make steel “green” – producing the key ingredients for tanks, shells and ships in an environmentally conscious way.
April 7
***
https://minutemirror.com.pk/afghanistan-becomes-black-market-for-weapons-un-releases-shocking-report-378433/
It seems to be this report instead: https://smallarmssurvey.org/sites/default/files/resources/SAS-BP-2025-Taliban-Arms-Markets-EN.pdf
***
Bulgarianmilitary
website on potential long term effects of #India-#South Korea pact on
producing a larger part of K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzers
locally in India.
Korea: #Hanwha
India: L&T’s Armored Systems
Complex in #Hazira
https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2025/04/06/next-generation-artillery-rises-from-india-south-korea-pact/
***
Documents
reviewed by Declassified & The Ditch have revealed that #Maersk,
the world’s largest shipping company, is continuing to transport
military cargo to #Israel, incl critical components for the #F35
fighter.
https://slguardian.org/maersk-continues-to-transport-fighter-jet-components-to-israel/
Ships named: Maersk Detroit & Nexoe
Maersk
***
#French
naval players flood Abu Dhabi market. They have been expanding their
presence in the #UAE as Abu Dhabi pursues its long-term goal of
establishing a sovereign #naval industry. Some have landed new
contracts or are lying in wait for more. [Paywall]
https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2025/04/07/french-naval-players-flood-abu-dhabi-market,110409279-art
April 6
***
Liegen voor
de veiligheid?
Militairen moeten onder ede worden gehoord over de Nederlandse aanval op #Hawija, vindt Winnie Sorgdrager. Ze deed onderzocht naar de aanval en werd verteld dat cruciale video's ervan waren vernietigd. Ze blijken tóch te bestaan. https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/binnenland/artikel/5502790/militairen-horen-onder-ede-dodelijk-bombardement-irak-hawija
***
After
acquiring BrahMos missiles in 2022, the Philippines is now at the
brink of purchasing India’s Akash missiles in a $200 million deal.
The Philippines increasingly turns to India for defense equipment
amid its maritime disputes with China.
https://www.inkl.com/news/philippines-eyes-200m-akash-missile-deal-with-india-amid-china-tensions
***
Op 22 april stemt de Eerste Kamer over 'n
defensieverdrag met Israël. Zo wordt de samenwerking met een leger
dat verantwoordelijk is voor talloze ernstige oorlogsmisdaden
geformaliseerd. Een petitie hiertegen die The Rights Forum samen met
PAX, DeGoedeZaak en Stop Wapenhandel opzette is bijna 40.000 maal
ondertekend.
https://boeddhistischdagblad.nl/nieuws/945634-the-rights-forum-geen-defensieverdrag-met-israel/
Over twee weken (opm gemaakt 9/4/25) zou de
Eerste Kamer in debat gaan over het defensieverdrag (SOFA-verdrag)
met Israël. Het debat is nu uitgesteld. De directe aanleiding: debat
over de begroting van Buitenlandse Zaken krijgt voorrang .
https://rightsforum.org/eerste-kamerdebat-over-defensieverdrag-met-israel-uitgesteld/
***
#Microsoft's
50th anniversary party in Redmond, Washington, was disrupted when 2
employees staged solidarity with #Palestinian protests, voicing
opposition to the company's ties to the Israeli military and its use
of #AI in conflict zones.
https://www.thedailystar.net/tech-startup/news/stop-using-ai-genocide-says-microsoft-employee-ai-ceo-solidarity-palestine-3864516
April 5
***
How Europe
has spent £22,304,000,000 on weapons so far in 2025. The spending spree was said
to be a reaction on a growing Putin threat.
https://metro.co.uk/2025/04/03/europe-spent-22-304-000-000-weapons-far-2025-amid-growing-putin-threat-22836995/
Let’s organize a European movement against ReArm Europe! https://stoprearm.org/
***
Stop
Wapenhandel blog:
The NATO Innovation Fund is a multibilllion-euro initiative designed to invest in emerging technologies with dual-use military and civilian applications. Although the fund bears the name of the NATO, the alliance is not involved financially or organisationally in the fund. Instead, the fund operates as as standalone venture capital fund that receives its capital from twenty four different NATO countries.
Stichting NATO Innovation Fund,
Westermarkt 2, 1016 DK Amsterdam.
https://stopwapenhandel.org/to-stay-military-top-dog-nato-innovative-warfare-funding/
***
A number of
reaons not to deliver or cooperate with Turkey on fighter
aircraft.
https://caat.org.uk/news/heres-why-the-uk-must-stop-its-warplane-deal-with-fascist-erdogan/
***
#Bosnia's
foreign trade chamber said the #arms industry will be the country's
economic sector worst affected by the newly-imposed #US #tariffs of
35%. The military industry accounts for over 60% of Bosnia and
Herzegovina's total exports to the US.
https://seenews.com/news/bosnian-arms-sector-faces-biggest-hit-from-u-s-tariffs-trade-chamber-1273348
***
Krijgsmacht
voor veiligheid, maar wiens veiligheid eigenlijk?
Donderdag ontstond op de Ginkelse Heide
bij Ede een enorme natuurbrand. De oorzaak was het gebruik van een
rookgranaat. De laatste tijd werd juist gewaarschuwd voor droogte.
Niet opgelet?
https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6351513/brand-bij-ede-wake-upcall-voor-defensie-protocollen-misschien-achterhaald.html
***
15 out of 100
#US Senators voted down a pair of resolutions introduced by @BernieSanders to block $8.8bn in arms to #Israel.
0 Republicans;
14 Democrats voted
1 Senator Sanders
voted to restrict the sale of massive
bombs and other military equipment.
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/4/4/headlines/15_senators_vote_against_88_billion_arms_sale_to_israel
Can Bernie stop billions in new US weapons going to Israel?
The real #Signalgate scandal is the
fact that we are bombing #Yemen instead of finding a way to end the
carnage in #Gaza.
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/signal-yemen/
***
Luckely
hunger and the climate crisis are under control, so back to toys for
the boys.
Germany's antitrust authority approved
the creation of a joint venture between defense groups KNDS,
Rheinmetall and Thales for the production of main battle tanks.
https://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/202504042347/germany-approves-tank-production-joint-venture
***
Journalistic
investigations has drawn attention to Rheinmetall Denel Munition
#RDM, the #SouthAfrican subsidiary of German Rheinmetall.
#Denel is suspected of violating SA legislation by sending weapons to conflict zones —namely, Yemen, Israel & Ukraine.
April 4
***
Colombian
President Petro announced that #Colombia intends to acquire Saab
#Gripen E/F fighter jets from #Sweden to replace the country’s
aging fleet of Israeli-Kfir aircraft. However, uncertainty remains
due to the risk of a potential #veto by the #US.
https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/colombia-selects-saab-gripen-us-engine-veto
***
Germany
set to ease arms sales to Middle East. New government expected to
focus on defence and economic needs as UAE-friendly politicians vie
for foreign minister role.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/2025/04/03/germany-set-to-ease-arms-sales-to-middle-east/
***
#HegsethGate
continues
The Pentagon’s top watchdog has begun an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of #Signal, a commercial messaging app, to plan military strikes on #Yemen.
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2025/04/03/watchdog-to-investigate-hegseths-sharing-of-airstrike-info-on-signal/
***
Karol
Nawrocki, a right-wing candidate in #Poland’s upcoming presidential
election, has voiced support for a strong relationship between
the Polish and #US military sectors, describing such #cooperation as
a "strategic national interest."
https://www.polskieradio.pl/395/7784/Artykul/3506057,polish-presidential-contender-praises-us-defence-firms-at-amcham-meeting
***
#Russian
national sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison nu a US judge for
conspiracy to #export controlled aviation tech to Russia & to
launder money in connection with the illegal export scheme. Late 2024
another Russian national got 2 years for his role.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/leader-export-control-evasion-scheme-sentenced-70-months-prison
April 3
***
Report by the
murky Kharon institution (focussed on sanctions policy) with CEO
Matthew Epstein.
"According to a Kharon investigation, the flow of dual-use technologies from Ukraine to Sudan began before the civil war broke out." https://www.kharon.com/brief/ukraine-sudan-civil-war-arms-trade
***
Up in arms
#France is calling for a new European plan to ramp up #ammo production, including of complex ordnance such as missiles, & wants to move forward at a meeting of #EU defence ministers in Warsaw this week, French MoD Sébastien Lecornu said. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2025/04/02/france-calls-for-new-eu-ammo-plan-speeding-up-satellite-constellation/
***
Upcoming
Event
Under the Radar: Corruption's Role in Fuelling Arms Diversion
Report launch by Transparency International, co-sponsored by the Forum on the Arms Trade. https://www.transparency.org.uk/events/under-radar-corruptions-role-fuelling-arms-diversion
***
Following a
massive arms deal with Poland, S. #Korea has now set its eyes on
#Egypt, a new potential suitor seen as the next biggest #export
market for military products after the US.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/learningenglish/national/20220808/egypt-emerges-as-new-market-for-korean-arms-exports
***
US Officials
oppose #Europe’s move to buy local #weapons.
The US concern about limits on arms purchases reflects a tension at the centre of the #Trump administration's Europe policy.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-officials-object-european-push-buy-weapons-locally-2025-04-02/
Here
an article reporting on the current situation of European depencence
on the US.
Euro NATO states increased arms imports by 105% between 2020-24 compared to the previous 5 years. The US supplied 64% of these weapons, up from 52% in 2015-2019. Etc.
April 2
***
#Philippines
cleared to buy #F16's at estimated $5.6B.
https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/philippines-f-16-aircraft
It comes just days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Manilla and pledged greater defence ties between the two countries. https://breakingdefense.com/2025/04/philippines-cleared-to-buy-f-16s-at-estimated-5-6b/
***
Nijmeegse
#Radboud Universiteit moet samenwerking met 2 universiteiten in
#Israël voorlopig #opschorten. Dat adviseert een commissie die op
verzoek van het universiteitsbestuur de banden met de Hebrew
University en Tel Aviv University heeft bestudeerd.
https://www.gelderlander.nl/nijmegen/radboud-universiteit-moet-samenwerking-met-israelische-universiteiten-opschorten-adviseert-commissie~a77742b0
***
Links moet
zich keren tegen internationale potvertering en pervertering rond
defensie, aldus Literatuurwetenschapper Den Boef op Joop.nl.
Onder die titel veegt hij een verzameling gedachten bij elkaar als een start naar een andere aanpak.
***
Swap aside:
#Europe is deepening security ties with #Turkey despite Erdoğan’s authoritarian crackdown, prioritising defence amid tensions with the US and the threat from Russia.
- https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/europe-turkey-alliance-defense-trump-2c85217b
***
https://www.moneycontrol.com/europe/?url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/europe-deepens-security-ties-with-turkey-despite-democratic-backsliding-amid-trump-putin-reset-article-12981523.html
***
#Unions are
facing a process of reverse defence #conversion: with sources &
productive activities being shifted from a civilian-oriented economy
towards a military-oriented one, and traditional positions on #peace
policy are at risk of being #swept #aside.
https://www.rosalux.de/en/news/id/53248/organized-labour-against-the-new-cold-war
***
In the
interest of European military capabilities, isn't it, #Poland has
signed a major agreement with the US for long-term support for its
#Patriot missile defence systems, in a move seen as strengthening the
country’s military ties with the #US. #NATO
https://www.polskieradio.pl/395/7786/Artykul/3504261,poland-signs-2bn-patriot-missile-support-deal-with-us
***
Whispering in
the direction of a #nuclear Eurobomb becomes louder. The #German rol
may be to co-#finance the nuke capabilities of London and Paris,
stated Karl-Heinz Kamp, an associate fellow of the German Council on
Foreign Relations.
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2025/04/01/germany-can-co-finance-european-nuclear-deterrence/
***
Rights or
power politics
UK rights and anti-arms trade movements pressures government to end arms sales to Israel. Trump's nominee to be ambassador to London said Tuesday he would ask Britain to reverse a partial suspension of arms exports to Israel. https://www.spacewar.com/reports/Trump_nominee_says_to_press_UK_on_Israel_arms_999.html
