Where in the world is Vladimir Putin? He hasn't been seen in about a week and western intelligence agencies aren't about to tell us what they know. That's left the rest of the world to speculate leading to some rather entertaining theories. Here are top 10 theories on where he is.
Some good Defence reads for those with a bit of spare time this weekend.
Prof. Alan Dupont has released his Lowy Institute analysis into the systemic failure of Australia's Defence Strategy process. Mandy Smithberger tells us why the F-35 is still very broken and Peter Layton also weighs into the discussion about Australia's Defence White Paper process.
Tagged under:
The premier naval and maritime industry event in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region is fast approaching - once again. Pacific 2015 will again be held in Sydney this coming 6-8 October. It comes on the back of a spectacular event in 2013 which coincided with the Australian Navy’s Centenary and Fleet Review.
More than 100 Australian Defence Force (ADF) members, together with 50 Defence civilians, families, friends and allies of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community marched in the 2015 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.
Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was gunned down on Saturday 30th February close to the Kremlin. The murder, which is likely to stir unrest, occurred a day before a planned public protest against the Russian government.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was quick to offer his condolences to the mother of Boris Nemstov and also promised to back a full and thorough investigation.
Tagged under:
New Zealand's Prime Minister has leaked Australian Government plans to send additional ADF troops to Iraq during a statement in NZ Parliament. This expansion of Operation OKRA could bring the number of Australian troops in Iraq to 400.
Under questioning the Chief of the Australian Defence Force Air Chief Marshall Mark Binskin avoided confirming the news.
"I and my New Zealand counterpart have worked very closely on developing options that were put to both governments," he told a Senate committee.
"The Government of Australia is yet to make a final decision."
It is expected that Prime Minister Tony Abbott will announce the deployment some time this week.
Tagged under:
23 Feb 2015
Australian Foreign Minister Breaks New Ground With Iran Visit
Written by Editor in Foreign AffairsForeign Minister Julie Bishop will visit Iran in April to play a pivotal role in discussions on Sunni extremism and Islamic State. The last Australian foreign affairs minister to visit Tehran was Alexander Downer in 2003 and in the past 10 years only one western official has officially visited Iran.
Aside from the significance surrounding the fast emerging extremist threat the visit also holds significant economic potential for Australia including potential opportunity to reopen trade in grains, meat and other key areas.
The visit comes as a result of a direct invitation from Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Julie Bishop will also visit Baghdad and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The current Israel Netanyahu government is likely to find this development a challenge to its hard line stance against Iran - in particular its potential nuclear ambitions. For the United States however, the engagement between Iran and Austraila comes at a critical time as it seeks to reach an important nuclear agreement with Iran in the next few weeks.
Should relations between Iran and the west thaw on the back of this agreement, Julie Bishop's visit could place Australia in a front row position for new trade and security cooperation opportunities.
Tagged under:
23 Feb 2015
Aerospace Innovators to Pitch Their Ideas at Avalon
Written by Editor in Defence IndustryBright sparks to light up Avalon 2015! Smart Australian companies and research centres exhibiting at Avalon 2015 will get a chance to sell their new ideas, technologies and products to the world.
At the Avalon 2015 Innovation Showcase scientists and researchers from DSTO and Australian Universities, research agencies, aerospace and defence companies will pitch their work to potential partners and customers.
Today the Prime Minister Tony Abbott talked tough on terrorism during his national security statement held at Australian Federal Police headquarters in Canberra. His statement included the announcement of a number of new measures focused on ISIS style threats within and against Australia.
The event was attended by fellow ministers as well as a range of agencies including AFP, State Police, ASIO, Australian Defence Force and Crimtrack. The PM identified each of these agencies as being “on the front line in the fight against terrorism.”
Turkish military forces have unilaterally launched the first known Turkish operation in Syria since the regional conflict began. Overnight around hundreds of Turkish soldiers with armoured vehicles and tanks launched a rescue operation to recover guards tasked to protect the tomb of Suleyman Shah in Syria.
Tagged under: