Category: Defense

The Indian Army is heading to Japan for the 6th India-Japan Joint Military Exercise named DHARMA GUARDIAN. This important event will take place from February 24 to March 9, 2025, in the East Fuji Manoeuvre Training area of Japan, as stated by the Ministry of Defence.

This military exercise happens every year, rotating between India and Japan. The last one was held in Rajasthan from February to March 2024. This time, the Indian team will have 120 soldiers, mainly from the MADRAS Regiment, along with some troops from other units. On the Japanese side, their team will also consist of about 120 members from the 34th Infantry Regiment.

The main goal of Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN is to help both countries work better together. They will practice skills like urban warfare and counter-terrorism, following United Nations guidelines. The exercise will involve lots of physical training, joint planning, and tactical drills.

During the exercise, they will work on various things like tactical drills, joint exercises, and ways to respond to disasters. All of these activities aim to improve their skills and teamwork.

This exercise builds on the strong relationship between India and Japan, which was reinforced by the Chief of the Army Staff’s visit to Japan from October 14 to 17, 2024. It highlights the commitment of both nations to maintain peace and stability in the region, supporting their shared vision of a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN is an essential part of strengthening the military ties between India and Japan, helping build friendship, trust, and cultural understanding. This event is not just about military skills; it’s a celebration of the close bond between the two nations, showing their dedication to working together for a better tomorrow.

Donald Trump has recently changed his stance towards Ukraine by calling President Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator. This shift has raised worries about Ukraine’s future, especially since Trump is echoing many of Russia’s views about the war.

Tensions have been rising since Trump decided to hold talks with Russia while leaving Ukraine out of the conversation. This led to a heated exchange between him and Zelensky. Analysts believe Trump might be preparing to cut support for Ukraine and focus more on building a relationship with Russia.

When Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago, Zelensky was seen as a hero in the U.S. But Trump, who has had a rocky relationship with Ukraine ever since he was impeached for pressuring Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, has always opposed sending aid to Ukraine.

Trump’s recent comments, including blaming Ukraine for starting the war and calling Zelensky a “comedian,” upset many people. While some Republicans defended Trump, others, like former Vice President Mike Pence, criticized him.

For Ukrainian officials and European leaders, the situation is worrying. They are scrambling to respond and offer support to Ukraine. While some believe Trump’s advice to Komedy and strongman style may lead to a deal unfavorable to Ukraine, others think it might just be part of Trump’s confusing negotiation style.

European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who have shown their willingness to send help to Ukraine, are watching closely. They continue to support Zelensky as the situation develops.

The Indian defence industry is about to grow a lot, according to Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. He spoke on Monday at a defence event and emphasized that teamwork between the government and private businesses is essential for making India a leader in advanced manufacturing for defence.

Singh highlighted that the government wants to create a strong and modern military that can handle today’s challenging battle situations. The event, held by Axis Bank, brought together people from the government, industry, and banks to discuss important topics.

He mentioned that building a self-reliant defence ecosystem is a key goal for India. The Ministry of Defence recently named 2025 as the “Year of Reforms” to make systems quicker and more efficient. Singh shared that the Indian defence exports have grown significantly, reaching Rs 21,000 crore in the last ten years.

He stressed that it’s crucial to have fewer barriers for new companies and technologies in the defence industry. This way, India’s defence sector can adapt and respond faster to the changing nature of warfare.

The defence budget is set to increase from Rs 6.21 lakh crore to Rs 6.81 lakh crore by 2025-26. Singh hopes to spend between $20-30 billion annually on modernizing the military.

He also said that the Ministry of Defence is working to make the process of buying defence equipment faster and clearer, allowing more private companies to participate and innovate. Partnerships between military and civilian sectors, along with investment in research, will strengthen India’s defence capabilities.

Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary of Defence Production, and Michael Williamson, president of Lockheed Martin International, also spoke at the event. Williamson pointed out that we are facing a complicated global situation, and Lockheed Martin has been a trusted partner in India for over 30 years.

Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir), February 16 (ANI): On Sunday around 11 AM, soldiers from Pakistan began shooting at an Indian Army post near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch area. The Indian Army quickly responded to this attack. Thankfully, there were no injuries or deaths reported on the Indian side.

This incident happened just a few days after the Indian Army assured everyone that the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan is still in place, even though there may be occasional small-scale firing. On February 13, the Army made it clear that the ceasefire is being followed and that both sides are committed to this agreement.

The Army said that while small incidents of gunfire may happen from time to time, the situation remains stable. They are carefully watching the situation and keeping their soldiers ready for any challenges. The Indian forces continue to patrol and keep control over the area along the LoC.

Guwahati: On Sunday, security forces in Mizoram found a huge stash of dangerous explosives. They discovered 3,000 electric detonators and 700 meters of cordtex, which is used for detonating explosives, along with other military items. Two people from Myanmar were taken into custody.

The authorities acted on tips that there were explosives hidden in the Vokte Kai area of Zokhawtar, a border town in Champhai district. The Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police worked together to find the dangerous materials.

Earlier, on February 3, they stopped two vehicles and found 800 detonators and 2,000 gelatine sticks, which are also used for making explosives. On February 12, the Mizoram Police intercepted a car in Lunglei Bazar and seized two AK-47 rifles, five US-made M4 carbines, 20 magazines, 504 rounds of 7.62mm bullets, and 4,675 rounds of 5.56 mm bullets. They also found cash amounting to Rs 49,550, along with documents, SIM cards, ATM cards, and five mobile phones.

On January 15, Mizoram police found a large amount of weapons and ammunition in Saithah village, which is close to the Bangladesh border

In Jerusalem, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and showed strong support for Israel’s goals in Gaza. He stated that Hamas, the group controlling Gaza, “must be destroyed” and emphasized that a peaceful future is impossible as long as Hamas exists as a fighting force.

Rubio’s visit comes at a crucial time, just two weeks before a ceasefire plan is set to change. The upcoming phase of the plan could involve Hamas releasing some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, leading to a longer-lasting peace agreement.

While meeting Netanyahu, Rubio said that Hamas “cannot continue as a military or government force.” He said Israel and the U.S. share the same vision for handling Gaza, which may make future talks with Hamas more difficult since the group is still in power despite suffering losses in the conflict.

The Israeli military reported it carried out airstrikes in southern Gaza, claiming it was in response to threats. Hamas criticized these strikes as a violation of the ceasefire agreement. They warned that restarting the conflict could put the remaining hostages in danger.

Rubio hinted that if Arab nations have better ideas for the future of Gaza, they should propose them, but he believes that fighting Hamas is essential. He remarked, “Hamas has guns.” Therefore, someone must confront them. However, he stated it wouldn’t be American soldiers.

Arab leaders, facing big decisions, are concerned about the potential mass movement of Palestinians and its consequences for their own countries. Egypt plans to hold a summit on February 27 to discuss rebuilding Gaza without removing its people.

Rubio is scheduled to continue his regional tour, but he won’t meet with any Palestinians. His visit is significant as Arab nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia have rejected displacing Palestinians. These countries are critical for any future negotiations.

On Sunday, Israel’s defense ministry announced that a shipment of heavy American-made bombs arrived overnight. This came as Marco Rubio, the top U.S. diplomat, started his first visit to Israel. The bombs, called MK-84 munitions, were approved for sale by former President Donald Trump.

According to Defense Minister Israel Katz, these bombs are very important for the Israeli air force and show how close the relationship is between Israel and the United States. Earlier this February, the Trump administration had allowed the sale of over $7.4 billion worth of bombs, missiles, and other military equipment to Israel. This deal is supposed to help Israel protect itself and deter threats from other countries in the region.

Recently, Israel launched a large military operation against Hamas in Gaza. This resulted in a lot of destruction, displacing many of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents. Since January 19, there has been a ceasefire allowing some hostages taken by Hamas to be freed.

Concerns about civilian deaths led former President Joe Biden’s administration to block a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, but Trump had allowed them after taking office. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio is in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials to talk about the ceasefire in Gaza and a controversial plan that suggests moving Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, which has caused worldwide anger.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S., he and President Donald Trump made important strides to improve defense relations between India and America. After meeting at the White House, the two leaders shared a plan to create a new defense partnership that will last for 10 years. This partnership will focus on making key weapons together and will include more military sales from the U.S. to India, like the advanced F-35 fighter jets.

During a press conference, Trump emphasized the growing friendship in defense, saying, “We will be selling many billions of dollars in military equipment to India starting this year.” He also mentioned that the U.S. is working to allow India to buy the F-35 jets, known to be among the best fighters in the world. However, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that discussions about acquiring the F-35 are still just ideas for now and no official steps have been taken yet.

Facing the challenge of China’s increasing military activities, Modi and Trump agreed to focus on buying new equipment and making Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stryker infantry vehicles in India this year. They want to work together to handle the growing security concerns in the region, especially in the Indo-Pacific area, by improving logistics and intelligence sharing for military actions.

They also plan to negotiate a Reciprocal Defense Procurement (RDP) agreement, which will make it easier to buy and supply defense equipment between both countries. India and the U.S. will speed up cooperation in important areas like space, air defense, and underwater technology. The U.S. has also agreed to review its rules on selling advanced fifth-generation fighter jets and underwater systems to India.

In his remarks, Modi highlighted the growing role of the U.S. in India’s defense plans, saying both countries are working as trusted partners towards joint development and technology sharing. He concluded by stating that new technology and equipment will strengthen India’s defense capabilities.

This week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth caused a stir in NATO, the big military group of countries that work together to keep peace, especially in Europe. At a meeting with Ukraine’s supporters, he made it clear that the U.S. must focus more on protecting its own borders rather than just helping European nations.

Hegseth stated that Ukraine will not be able to reclaim all the land it lost to Russia, nor will it be joining NATO anytime soon. This membership would usually mean stronger protection against attacks, but Hegseth said NATO won’t send troops to help Ukraine in the future if there’s any trouble—European nations will have to handle that on their own and pay for it too.

He also pointed out that if any European country taking part in peacekeeping gets attacked by Russia, NATO won’t intervene. This raised concerns about how committed the U.S. is to help its allies in Europe. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu expressed that NATO is at a critical point and questioned if it will remain strong in the future.

NATO, formed in 1949 to oppose the Soviet Union, has 32 members, including Sweden, which joined last year because of Russia’s growing aggression. The heart of NATO’s strength is Article 5, which states that if one member is attacked, the rest must help.

Hegseth’s comments have sparked worries about the U.S.’s commitment to NATO, even though he clarified that the U.S. isn’t leaving the alliance. Ukraine’s bid to join NATO was also ruled out at this meeting.

The U.S. is the most important member of NATO as it spends more on defense than all other countries combined. Mark Rutte, a former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, leads NATO’s day-to-day activities, working to keep all member nations united.

Even though NATO doesn’t arm Ukraine as a group, it helps them in other ways, such as providing food, medical aid, and training to become more modern. While some NATO countries provide weapons to Ukraine, the organization mainly focuses on defending its own member countries.

Recently, NATO has stationed 500,000 troops near its European borders to deter possible attacks, especially from Russia. This comes as many nations increase their defense budgets. NATO set a goal for each member to spend 2% of their income on defense, with more countries aiming to reach this target each year.

India is planning to sell short-range missiles to the Philippines this year. This deal is expected to be worth over $200 million and is part of India’s efforts to strengthen defense ties with the Philippines, especially as tensions with China rise. The missile system they want to sell is called the Akash, which can hit targets up to 25 kilometers (about 16 miles) away. The Philippines is very interested and has said it will place an order when its new budget starts in April.

Last year, India sold the Akash system to Armenia for $230 million, making the upcoming Philippine deal even bigger. The exact number of missiles and other equipment, like radar systems, hasn’t been shared by the sources, who asked to remain anonymous for privacy reasons.

India’s Bharat Dynamics Ltd., the company that makes these missiles, showcased its products at an Asian Defense Exhibition in Manila last year. While Indian officials could not confirm this deal, a Philippine defense spokesperson mentioned that the military is looking to improve its capabilities.

This missile sale follows India’s $375 million sale of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines in 2022, showing that the Philippines is focused on building up its military. The country and China have had ongoing disagreements about territory in the busy South China Sea.

While India is known for being a major arms importer, it is now working on making more weapons at home and selling them abroad. This shift was partly influenced by clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in 2020. The Philippines is also planning to buy more military gear, including more BrahMos missiles from India and at least two submarines.