Category: Defense

On Tuesday, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed that India is ready to help Bhutan strengthen its defense. He met with Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering, the Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army, who is visiting India for six days.

During their talks, they discussed how India can provide military equipment and training to help Bhutan enhance its defense abilities. Singh emphasized that this support aligns with India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, which focuses on close ties with neighboring countries.

Lt Gen. Tshering expressed his gratitude for India’s ongoing help in building Bhutan’s defense skills. He also committed to continuing close cooperation with India for peace and prosperity in the region.

Moreover, their discussions included the current situation in the Doklam region. This area has been a point of tension between India and China since 2017 when China tried to build a road there, which Bhutan claims as its own, and India supported Bhutan’s position.

Overall, Tshering’s visit is seen as an important step in strengthening the defense relationship between India and Bhutan

China’s leader, Xi Jinping, has warned that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) needs to be ready for war. This message is taken seriously. We can see it in the big changes happening at military bases around the country.

Recently, satellite images showed a new and huge command center being built near Beijing, about 25-30 kilometers away from the city center. This site is enormous, covering about 1,500 acres—ten times the size of the Pentagon! The new command center is expected to be a safe place for military leaders to operate during a war and even protect against nuclear attacks.

The construction site looks like a fortress with deep underground bunkers and tunnels. It might include its own subway system for moving around safely. Despite the lack of direct military presence at the site, security is very tight, preventing anyone from getting close to the construction. Nearby homes have been cleared to make way for this secret project.

This builds on Xi’s ambition to have a powerful military by 2027, especially concerning Taiwan. Xi has pushed for modernization across various military areas, including advanced technology and weaponry.

China is also increasing its nuclear capabilities at a fast pace. They currently have around 600 nuclear warheads, but by 2030, this number could reach 1,000. This means China is not only preparing for traditional battles but also boosting its nuclear fighting abilities.

The Pentagon has noted China’s rapid military growth, including new missile launch sites. They are also making their air bases more secure from attacks. This means the PLA is readying itself to defend China and attack if necessary.

Experts are concerned that these developments suggest China is gearing up for a possible confrontation, particularly involving Taiwan, and the U.S. might not have enough defense in place to counter China’s military capabilities.

In recent successful operations, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles worked closely with Manipur Police and other security teams to recover 10 weapons and other dangerous items in the Manipur districts of Kakching, Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, and Thoubal.

On January 26, acting on specific information, the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police started a joint operation in the Nepali Basti area of Kangpokpi. They found a 5.56 mm rifle, a 7.62 mm rifle, a modified .303 sniper rifle, a .22 pistol, a single-barrel rifle, two homemade mortars, grenades, and other ammunition.

In the same area and date, another operation led to the arrest of a member of the Kangleipak Communist Party (Taibanganba) in Waithou, Thoubal, where more ammunition was seized.

On January 28, in Churachandpur, the Indian Army, CRPF, and Manipur Police worked together based on specific intelligence. They found six long rockets and a launcher, along with a homemade mortar and more ammunition on the road between Loilamkot and Nalon villages.

A few days later, on January 30, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police launched another operation in Kakching district. They recovered a 9 mm rifle, a 9 mm pistol, two grenades, and more ammunition.

All the seized items and the arrested individuals were handed over to Manipur Police. These successful operations show how well the Indian Army and local law enforcement work together to keep the region safe

On Monday in Brussels, leaders from the European Union met with the British Prime Minister and NATO’s chief to talk about making Europe safer from Russia’s aggressive actions. This is the first time in two years that all 27 EU leaders have come together since the U.S. election, their first talk solely about defense, and the first meeting with a British leader since Brexit.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago, European countries have been increasing their military spending. However, officials admit they still need to do more because there are fears that Russia might attack a European nation soon.

Donald Trump, the former U.S. president, is back and is pushing Europeans to spend more on their defense, suggesting they should spend 5% of their GDP — a big jump from what many are currently spending. This has raised concerns that he may negotiate a quick end to the war in Ukraine that could harm Europe’s interests.

There are worries about Trump making threats against European nations, like wanting Greenland and imposing tariffs. Denmark’s Prime Minister, who recently visited several countries, is expected to discuss these issues and work toward a common response.

Despite the threat from Russia making it clear that investing in defense is crucial, EU countries still have various disagreements. They need to figure out how to fund this increased investment — with estimates showing Europe would need around 500 billion euros in the next decade. Some countries want to borrow money as a group, but Germany has tried to avoid this sensitive topic.

When it comes to buying weapons, France believes purchases should be made within the EU, while other countries think buying from the U.S. might be quicker. The relationship with NATO is also being discussed, as some EU members think they should help set defense goals.

As concerns grow about ties with the U.S., leaders are eager to strengthen cooperation with the UK. Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK will attend a dinner with EU leaders, advocating for continued pressure on Russia and discussing a potential UK-EU defense deal. However, issues like fishing rights and a youth mobility scheme proposed by the EU still need to be resolved before significant progress can be made.

Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering, who is the Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army, started a six-day visit to India on Saturday. The goal of his visit is to strengthen the close friendship and defense ties between Bhutan and India.

During his trip, Lt Gen. Tshering will meet important Indian leaders, including Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and others. They will talk about how both nations can work together in defense and find new ways to cooperate.

This visit comes shortly after Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck visited India. One of the topics they might discuss is the situation in the Doklam plateau, an area that has caused tension between India and China in the past. In 2017, there was a 73-day standoff at Doklam between the Indian and Chinese armies after China tried to build a road that Bhutan claimed belonged to it.

In the last two years, Bhutan and China have been trying to resolve their boundary issues quickly. Lt Gen. Tshering will start his trip in Gaya, visiting the Officers Training Academy and important Buddhist sites. From February 2 to February 5, he will be in Delhi, visiting key military institutes like the National Security Guard.

Before finishing his visit, Lt Gen. Tshering will also go to Kolkata to see the headquarters of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command. This trip will help both countries continue to work together and strengthen their friendship.

On Thursday, Hamas confirmed the death of its military leader, Mohammed Deif, after an Israeli airstrike. The announcement came months after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed they killed him on July 13 during a strike in Khan Younis, a city in Gaza.

A spokesperson for Hamas, Abu Obeida, shared in a video that not only Deif but also several other important Hamas leaders were killed in this strike. These included the deputy commander Ghazi Abu Tama’a, Raad Thabet who was head of combat support, and commanders Ayman Nofal and Ahmed Ghandour, who led different brigades in Gaza.

Along with this news, Israel also announced the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal involving hostages. This came after the safe return of three Israeli hostages and five people from Thailand. Israel had delayed this prisoner release until it was sure that hostages were safely out.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to make sure that future releases would also keep everyone safe. This comes after a terrible attack on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking more than 200 others as hostages. In response, over 46,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza during Israel’s military actions against Hamas.

On Thursday, Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) announced that it has laid the keel for the seventh Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC). This is part of a deal to build eight such ships for the Indian Navy. The special ceremony happened on Wednesday at CSL and was attended by Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, the Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command, along with other senior naval officers, CSL officials, and representatives from the DNV Classification Society.

The contract to make these eight ships was signed in April 2019 by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and CSL. These new ships, called the Mahe-class, will replace the older Abhay-class ASW Corvettes. They are designed for anti-submarine operations in coastal water, low-intensity maritime operations, mine-laying activities, and for monitoring under the sea.

The vessels will be equipped with the latest SONARS, which are devices used to detect submarines. They can go as fast as 25 knots (about 28.8 miles per hour) and can travel up to 1800 nautical miles (about 2077 miles) without needing to refuel. Building these advanced ships with a lot of Indian-made parts shows India’s strength and commitment to being self-reliant or ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’

So far, five out of the eight ships have been launched and are in different stages of being completed. The sixth ship’s keel was laid in December last year. The first of these new ships is expected to be ready by March 2025.

In October 2024, India and China pulled back their troops at Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh. However, China isn’t slowing down. Intelligence reports show that the Chinese military, known as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), is building more military facilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which separates Indian and Chinese territories.

An army source told The Times of India that the PLA is working on new roads and military camps in various areas. For example, in the Yangtse region of Arunachal Pradesh, which is very important strategically, China has been upgrading roads and building camps. The new concrete road from Tangwu village to the LAC will help China move its troops more quickly.

A satellite imagery expert, known as @NatureDesai, shared that two new roads are being built in Yangtse, including one that leads from Lampug to Tangwu. This will give Chinese troops a better view of Indian positions in the region.

An official from the Indian Army responded that both China and India are working on their infrastructure along the border, but they must stick to agreed guidelines. India is watching for any changes in Chinese activities and will raise concerns through proper channels.

China’s military construction isn’t just happening in Arunachal Pradesh; it’s happening all along the LAC, which stretches almost 3,500 kilometers. This includes parts in Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Reports mention new roads, bridges, and military positions being set up.

The recent talks between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in Beijing aimed to calm tensions that have been high since the Galwan Valley clashes in 2020. While there was some agreement to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and restore direct flights, both sides still need a plan to reduce troop presence along the LAC.

Although the disengagement at certain friction points has allowed some normal activities to resume, areas like Depsang and Demchok still see high military tensions. China’s hesitance to pull back its troops has kept the situation tense.

In Chaibasa, located in West Singhbhum district, a clash happened between security forces, including Jharkhand Police and the 209 CoBRA battalion, and naxals (members of a rebel group). So far, the body of one naxal has been found, and a few others are believed to be hurt.

The police reported that they recovered two INSAS rifles from the scene. The operation is still ongoing as they continue to search the area for more information. More updates are expected soon, according to the police.

In Beijing, China, officials stressed the importance of solving differences and improving India-China relations during talks with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Misri met Chinese Foreign Minister Sun Weidong to discuss ways to rebuild the strained ties caused by a military standoff in Eastern Ladakh that lasted for over four years.

The meeting led to key decisions, including the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage for Indian travelers and direct flight connections between the two countries. Both leaders, who had previously served as ambassadors to each other’s countries, discussed important agreements made by their leaders during a meeting last year at the BRICS summit in Kazan. They emphasized the need for friendly talks, trust, and cooperation, stating that finding common ground would help develop healthy and stable relations.

India showed its support for China during its presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) this year and promised to participate in various events hosted by China. Both sides agreed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with cultural exchanges and media discussions. They also plan to facilitate easier travel for people and journalists from both countries after a two-year break.

The talks included discussions on resuming the traditional pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar, in Tibet, and sharing vital water data from rivers that flow between them. India has expressed concerns about a major dam being built by China on the Brahmaputra River.

During his visit, Misri met other top Chinese officials to discuss these matters further.