defense

Tomahawks, Trump and the Perilous Calculus of Escalation In a development that could reshape the next phase of the war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump is reported to be preparing to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a working lunch in Washington this week as discussions intensify over the possible provision of long‑range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv. The meeting, disclosed to reporters by multiple U.S. sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because plans have not been publicly announced,…

Somali Politics Spill Into Nairobi Again — And Mogadishu Pushes Back It is a familiar scene in East African diplomacy: Somali politicians gathering in a Nairobi hotel to hash out the country’s future far from Mogadishu’s checkpoints and political heat. This week, that well-worn script met a forceful rebuttal from Somalia’s defense minister, who said enough is enough. In a sharply worded post, Defense Minister Ahmed Macallin Fiqi condemned a Nairobi meeting of opposition figures and regional leaders — among them Puntland…

On Turkey’s Victory Day, new Somali officers step forward in Ankara Under a late-summer sky in Ankara, the brass of military bands mingled with the steady tap of parade boots and the low murmur of families craning for a better view. On a day when Turkey commemorates its hard-won independence, a new class of officers—including a cohort from Somalia—crossed the stage at the National Defence University’s War College to collect their diplomas. Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Somalia’s ambassador to Turkey,…

Strengthening Somalia: Defense Partnerships Pave New Paths In a noteworthy development, Somalia is forging forward with strategic defense agreements that promise to reshape its national security landscape. During a critical meeting chaired by Acting Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, Somalia's cabinet approved several international defense agreements aimed at bolstering the country's armed forces. Forging Global Partnerships The spotlight of this diplomatic maneuvering falls on the newly signed memorandums of understanding…

In an engaging rendezvous in Ankara, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Somalia's Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur convened to amplify military and security cooperation between their two nations. Their conversation revolved around supercharging their collective endeavors in defense and counterterrorism, directly tackling the regional security hurdles, notably Somalia’s ongoing tussle with Al-Shabaab. A lot of time was also spent tossing ideas for extending ties in trade, energy, and humanitarian assistance.…

Next week, NATO and Ukraine will convene in Brussels to discuss Russia's recent launch of an experimental hypersonic missile, according to diplomatic sources. This assembly of the NATO-Ukraine Council is scheduled for Tuesday and will take place at the ambassadorial level. The meeting was initiated by Ukraine in response to the missile strike that struck the city of Dnipro, officials reported. A NATO spokeswoman stated, "The deployment of such a missile won't alter the conflict's trajectory or dissuade NATO allies from…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Recently, whispers fluttered about on social media like a misinformed breeze, suggesting a military helicopter had met its demise in Bahir Dar. The Ethiopian Ministry of Defense quickly stepped in, waving away these tales as "groundless and misleading," according to a statement shared with the public. Apparently, the hullabaloo was nothing but a misunderstanding about routine maneuvers. The Ministry clarified that it was the Western Air Command just going about their regular training shenanigans on…

On a lively Tuesday in Mogadishu, something noteworthy unfolded! The European Union was in the spotlight as it graciously handed over an array of military vehicles and equipment to the Somali government. This significant gesture took place at the bustling General Dhagabadan Training Camp. Among those present were Somalia's State Minister for Defense, Omar Ali Abdi, and a host of top-notch representatives from the EU. The primary drive behind this handover? Bolstering Somalia's initiative against the disruptive insurgent…

Yoav Gallant, the recently ousted defence minister of Israel, once commanded respect as a former general who played a critical role in strategizing Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza. However, tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arose regarding the direction of the campaign, leading to Gallant's surprising dismissal. Known for his hardline views on Lebanon, Gallant was removed from his position on the same day as the U.S. elections, where support for Israel is a notable theme. His disagreements with…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, the Defense Minister of Somalia, has sharply critiqued Ethiopia, advocating that the neighboring country focus its efforts on managing its internal security issues rather than interfering in Somali matters. Amid rising tensions between the two nations, Nur brought attention to Ethiopia's internal unrest, emphasizing that insurgents have reportedly advanced to within 40 kilometers of Addis Ababa. "Ethiopia ought to concentrate on safeguarding its own capital and populace, instead…