The Trump Administration has okayed a $2 billion sale of Guardian MQ-9B unarmed drones to India for maritime surveillance. The approval comes during the time when leaders of both the nations prepare for their first face-to-face meeting
China is looking to expand its military ports in countries with which it has a longstanding friendly relationship and similar strategic interests, such as Pakistan, a report by the Pentagon has said. China is "expanding its access to foreign ports to pre-position the necessary logistics support to regularize and sustain deployments in the 'far seas," the country will most likely pursue opportunities to build bases elsewhere, naming Pakistan an interesting location, the Pentagon annual report to Congress says
Pirates have hijacked an Indian commercial ship ‘Al kaushar with 11 crew members off the coast of Somalia while it was on its way to Al Mukala port in Yemen from Dubai on 1 April. Information has been received that a dhow en route to Bosasso from Dubai had been hijacked "in the vicinity of Socotra (Island)", United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), that coordinates the management of all merchant ships and yachts in the Gulf of Aden area, was quoted as saying by
India has signed White Shipping agreement with France to share information on maritime traffic and maritime domain awareness (MDA) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The agreement was signed on January 19 in the wake of China's expanding naval attacks in the area where India is looking to establish itself as the net security provider
Japan is eyeing to lease additional land by next year to expand its military base in Djibouti to counter Chinese influence in the region. Japan is considering deploying C-130 transport aircraft, Bushmaster armored vehicles and extra personnel to the base but has not yet decided on how many,
China is making inroads into the African defense market by setting up a military base and exporting military equipment to almost two thirds of African countries. Countries including Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Chad, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Uganda, Ghana and Zambia have bought military equipment from China in the recent past
The US ally Saudi Arabia has signed a deal with China to buy drones that are capable of carrying missiles and laser guided bombs. The drones Wing Loong (Pterodactyl), which are also capable of using other modern methods of firing, are beneficial to Saudi kingdom in its operation against rebels
Culmen, Defense Technology, Multinational Defense Services, Sierra Four and UDC US were awarded a $49 million contract for the production of nonstandard weapons parts and accessories for multiple countries under foreign military sales. The weapon parts and accessories will be for Chad, Afghanistan, Iraq, Romania, Somalia, Niger, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Pakistan, Peru, Congo, Jordan and Colombia, US department of Defense said in a statement Thursday
China has clarified that it will use Djibouti as a logistics support base to handle difficulties encountered by its peacekeeping fleet. “China had sent escort fleets to the Gulf of Aden and Somalia in recent years and these fleets had experienced difficulties that affected the rest and reorganization of servicemen and the supply of oil,” the Foreign Ministry told
China is planning to set up a naval facility in Djibouti, East Africa, to strengthen the nation's counter-piracy and peacekeeping efforts. "The construction of the relevant facilities will assist China's navy and army to participate in UN peacekeeping operations, carry out escort missions in the waters near Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, and provide humanitarian assistance," Spokesman for Chinas Foreign Ministry Hong Lei said