Following in-depth consultation with France and the Nexter group, the Danish authorities announced on January 19 that they would transfer their entire fleet of CAESAR motorized guns, i.e. 19 8×8 systems heavier and better armored than the models in service within the Army as well as in Ukraine, in order to reinforce the defensive capacities of Kyiv. This announcement, rightly welcomed by the Ukrainian armies, given the performance of the system, is part of an unprecedented dynamic of European countries to support their ally, Sweden having promised 50 CV90 infantry combat vehicles and a number…
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President Erdogan raises the stakes for Sweden's NATO membership
A few days ago, President Joe Biden publicly announced that he expected the United States Congress to accept the acquisition of 40 new F-16V Viper fighters, as well as 80 modernization kits to enable the Turkish Air Force to carry a part of its F-16 C/D fleet to this new, significantly more efficient standard, in particular due to the AESA AN/APG-83 radar. For the White House, it was a question of obtaining from President Erdogan that he withdraw his veto concerning the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, following the request made by these countries after the Russian aggression against Ukraine. We would have…
Read the articleLeopard 2, Mamba, Patriot, Marder… Europeans are massively increasing their military support for Ukraine
For several days now, the atmosphere of an imminent decisive battle has prevailed in European chancelleries. Indeed, after months and months of procrastinating on the offensive or defensive nature of this or that equipment, or multiple pas de trois to justify certain decisions, it seems that a majority of the major European capitals are now moving towards support massive contribution to the Ukrainian defense effort, within shorter timeframes than usual. The beginning of the year was thus marked by the French decision to deliver Bastion troop transport vehicles, and especially light tanks (or armored reconnaissance vehicles for those…
Read the articleGermany under pressure to accept delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
" Why me ? This is probably a phrase that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz must be saying to himself, as the war in Ukraine began just weeks after he formed his coalition government. Indeed, beyond the difficult consequences from the economic and energy point of view of this conflict, in particular in Germany which depended considerably on Russian gas before the war, it has been the subject, since the beginning of the conflict, of numerous criticisms and pressures about Berlin's military aid to Kyiv. And while Germany has already made a certain conceptual revolution by agreeing to deliver small arms,…
Read the articleOnce again, President RT Erdogan opposes NATO membership of Sweden and Finland
Not surprisingly, Turkish President RT Erdogan announced last Friday that he would oppose Sweden and Finland joining NATO, despite recent efforts by Stockholm and Helsinki to meet the requirements of the Turkish authorities. As before, the Head of State explains his decision, which turns out to be a blocker for the accession of the two Scandinavian countries to the Atlantic Alliance since it requires unanimity of votes, by the policies followed by the two countries. in matters of asylum, and in particular with regard to certain members of the Turkish Workers' Party or designated as such by Ankara, but also with regard to…
Read the articleFinland formalizes order for 38 additional South Korean K9 Thunder self-propelled guns
With more than 850 artillery systems in service, the Finnish Army is undoubtedly the one which, in Europe, has the most impressive density of firepower. However, the majority of these systems, such as the H63 122mm gun and the H83 155mm gun, are towed systems, which are known to be particularly vulnerable on a modern battlefield. It suffices to note the comparative losses of American towed M777s in Ukraine, vis-à-vis self-propelled systems such as the Caesar or the Pzh2000 to be convinced of this. In addition, 3 quarters of this artillery were still composed, in the mid-2010s, of acquired systems…
Read the articleWhy is the German European anti-aircraft shield a terrible failure for France?
On August 29, in Prague, the German Chancellor Olaf Sholz announced the launch of an initiative centered around Germany for the constitution of an anti-aircraft shield in Europe. It took less than two months for German diplomacy to give substance to this initiative. Indeed, on October 13, Germany as well as 14 other European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania, United Kingdom, Slovakia and Slovenia) , have jointly signed a declaration of intent aimed at giving birth to the “European Sky Shield” programme. This undeniable success of Berlin will probably make it possible to considerably strengthen the anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense capabilities...
Read the articleDeprived of F-16V, the Turkish president threatens to reinstate his veto on the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO
3 days ! That's how long it took President RT Erdogan to once again threaten a Turkish veto on Sweden's and Finland's membership of the Atlantic Alliance, after the US Congress voted , on the occasion of the vote of the 2023 finance law of the US armed forces, two amendments which hinder the possibilities of exporting the F-16 Viper but also other defense technologies to Ankara. Of course, the subjects not being supposed to be officially linked, President Erdogan publicly takes umbrage at the lack of “responsiveness” of the Swedish authorities concerning the request for the extradition of 33 refugees to…
Read the articleFinland and Sweden will be able to join NATO, but the concessions to Turkey are high
Since Turkey is the subject of numerous European sanctions following its intervention in Syria, Libya and its deployment of forces in the Eastern Mediterranean against Greece and Cyprus, President Erdogan knew that Finland's and Sweden would be, for him, a formidable means of pressure to attenuate these sanctions, and to force the hand of the two Scandinavian countries in their support for the Kurdish movements. By standing firm on his opposition to the accession of the two countries to the Atlantic Alliance, RT Erdogan has indeed achieved his ends, and if the official press releases welcome the lifting…
Read the articleSweden joins Finland to join NATO
Since the end of the Second World War, Sweden and Finland have shared a common destiny in Europe. The two countries thus maintained a neutral posture throughout the Cold War, joining neither NATO nor the Warsaw Pact, and not even joining the European Economic Community despite a deep democratic culture and ties close links with the countries of Western Europe, and dramatic episodes such as the assignat of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. After the collapse of the Soviet bloc, Stockholm and Helsinki jointly joined the European Union in 1995, but with no threat from the East, neither...
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