world

Washington: A U.S. F-35C stealth fighter jet intercepted and destroyed an Iranian drone approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, the U.S. military confirmed. Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), stated, “An F-35C fighter from the Abraham Lincoln took defensive action to neutralize the Iranian drone.” The carrier is deployed in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran. The F-35C: America’s Most Advanced Carrier-Based FighterThe F-35C is the only variant of the Joint Strike Fighter designed for catapult launches and arrested landings on nuclear-powered supercarriers. With a flight range of 1,200 nautical miles, it can carry substantial internal and external weapon loads, making it highly effective for long-range operat...

Riyadh: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in Riyadh on Tuesday, marking a significant development in regional defense diplomacy. The high-profile meeting drew global attention, particularly from Pakistan, which had sought to involve Turkey and Saudi Arabia in forming a NATO-like military alliance dubbed the “Islamic NATO.” Erdoğan, however, chose to bypass Islamabad and engage directly with MBS. According to Middle East Eye, the joint declaration issued by Turkey and Saudi Arabia emphasized strengthening defense cooperation. The statement highlighted activating existing defense agreements, enhancing regional security and stability through multilateral platforms, and collaboration in counterterrorism and cybercrime. From Rival...

Dhaka: A major defense deal is reportedly in the works in Bangladesh, involving the purchase and supply of advanced military equipment. Officials from the Pakistan Navy and China’s NORINCO defense company are currently in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, signaling potential strategic collaboration ahead of the upcoming elections. The Pakistani delegation, led by Commodore Nasir Mahmood, consists of 13 members from the Navy. Simultaneously, a Chinese team from North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO) is also present in Dhaka, led by Ding Weimin, General Manager for Asia-Pacific operations. Both delegations arrived in Dhaka on 1 February. According to reports, Bangladesh’s interim government, under Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, is aiming to finalize defense agreements with Pa...

The recently announced India-US trade deal is expected to accelerate military technology projects in both countries. Improved bilateral relations will help India secure timely deliveries of fighter jet engines and facilitate technology transfers. Washington: The India-US trade agreement has sparked widespread discussion, particularly regarding India’s continued oil imports from Russia and opening its market for American agricultural products. However, a crucial aspect of the deal also pertains to defense. The agreement could give a significant boost to India’s military sector, ensuring access to advanced US technology and fighter jet engines, thereby enhancing defense capabilities. According to The Tribune, the announcement of the India-US trade deal is particularly welcome news for ...

New Delhi: The Indian Navy is silently waging an “invisible war” in the Indian Ocean, protecting at least 1,000 commercial ships daily from GPS disruptions and cyber threats that could endanger maritime trade. The Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) monitors these critical sea lanes, ensuring the safety of vessels navigating through a region responsible for nearly 80–90% of global trade and significant energy shipments. Notably, about one-fifth of internationally traded oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz alone. Targeting Ships Through GPS InterferenceRecent reports indicate that ships in the Indian Ocean are increasingly affected by GPS jamming, causing their Automatic Identification System (AIS) positions to shift up to 295 nautical miles inland. This misrepr...

The long-standing Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) dispute between India and Pakistan has once again intensified, with India taking a firm stance by refusing to comply with the summons issued by the arbitration tribunal. India’s PositionIslamabad: India has firmly rejected the intervention of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. New Delhi has stated that it considers the tribunal to be unlawful and will not adhere to its supplementary awards or respond to requests for operational data. Last week, the Hague-based court had issued a summons requesting India to share sensitive operational records and data related to the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Kashmir. India refused, asserting that the tribunal’s authority is not recog...

India and the United States have recently announced a major trade agreement, but official comments from the Indian government remain limited. U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gore also refrained from providing detailed information on the matter. Former Swedish PM Comments on the DealStockholm: Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt remarked that the India-European Union trade deal reportedly unsettled former U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting a swift policy adjustment in Washington. Bildt shared an interview of Ambassador Gore on his social media platform X, where Gore discussed the India-U.S. trade deal with an Indian news channel. As a key diplomat in the agreement, Gore had hinted at the deal before its official announcement, saying, “President Trump has spoken with PM Modi on the phone....

Moscow has responded to claims made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that India has stopped importing Russian oil. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that Russia has received no official communication from India indicating a halt in crude oil purchases. Kremlin Comments on Russian Oil PurchasesSpeaking to journalists in Moscow, Peskov addressed reports following a new trade agreement announced between the U.S. and India. The deal reportedly includes a reduced reciprocal tariff of 18% on Indian goods, the lowest in the Indian subcontinent. Peskov said, “So far, we have not heard from Delhi whether the trade agreement includes any commitment from India to reduce imports of Russian energy.” His comments come amid speculation on whether closer U.S.-India trade...