A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
“I believe that the European Union more accurately reflects what the world will look like at the end of history than the contemporary United States. The EU’s attempt to transcend …
The End of the End of History: War Comes to Europe Read More
With his aggressive speech on Monday, February 21, effectively nullifying the increasingly defunct Minsk accords and laying the groundwork for absorbing a large swathe of eastern Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir …
Russia Recognizes Ukrainian Separatists, Western Allies Respond Read More
The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on February 17 that the U.S. State Department had approved a government-to-government Foreign Military Sales (FMS) request by Poland for M1A2 …
U.S. State Department Approves Poland’s Request for Abrams Tanks Read More
Greece’s parliament has cleared the way for two military procurement programs involving French-produced frigates and combat aircraft. Following approval on February 15, the Ministry of Defense may now finalize pending …
Greek Parliament Green-Lights Arms Deals with France Read More
Making official a long-rumored deal, Indonesia has announced an order for 42 French-built Dassault Rafale multirole combat aircraft, with a first phase firm order of six fighters. The signing ceremony …
Indonesia Pulls the Trigger on Rafale Order Read More
As the adage goes, sooner or later everything old becomes new again. This certainly applies to the situation in Ukraine, where European countries bordering Russia are watching a military buildup …
Ukraine Tensions and the Idea of European Strategic Autonomy Read More
With the security environment along Europe’s eastern borders with Russia worsening, the Estonian government is planning to invest more in the country’s defense capability by adding an additional EUR380 million …
As Tensions over Ukraine Rise, Estonian Government Pledges More Money for Defense Read More
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) introduced its first batch of secondhand Dassault Rafale combat aircraft on January 19. Operated by its 332 Squadron, these Rafales landed at Tanagra air base …
Greece Receives First Batch of Rafale Fighters Read More
The Philippines is preparing to order 32 additional S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters from Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky’s Polish subsidiary, PZL Mielec. A Notice of Award (NOA) was issued to PZL …
Philippines Set to Order 32 S-70i Black Hawk Combat Utility Helicopters Read More
The Indonesian National Defense-Air Force (TNI-AU) has given up its quest to acquire Russian combat aircraft. Instead, the service will shift its focus to two Western alternatives, the Boeing F-15EX …
Indonesia Drops Russian Fighter Acquisition Plans Read More