Moscow, Buenos Aires to up military ties: Russia Defense Ministry
Thu Mar 19, 2015


Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov

Moscow and Buenos Aires have agreed to upgrade their military cooperation, the Russian Defense Ministry says.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov and Argentinean ambassador to Moscow Pablo Tettamanti on Wednesday, according to the press service of the ministry,

Antonov and Tettamanti also highlighted military cooperation within the context of strategic partnership.

The participation of Argentina's Defense Minister Agustin Rossi in the fourth Moscow international security conference was aslo highlighted in the meeting, the same source noted . The conference is scheduled to be held on April 16-17.

"The Fourth Moscow Conference on International Security, an event annually organized by the Russian Defense Ministry, will take place on April 16-17. Defense ministers and delegations of defense agencies from 79 states, heads of international organizations, Russian officials, experts and academicians have been invited to the forum," Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said on February 25.

In July 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Argentinean counterpart Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to curb Western dominance in international politics in the Argentinean capital.

The two leaders discussed military cooperation and oversaw their delegations signing a series of bilateral deals, including one on nuclear energy.

Putin’s visit to Argentina was part of his six-day tour of Latin America aimed at boosting trade ties in the region, according to Russian state media.

Commenting on the results of the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s three-leg official visit to Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, the Russian deputy defense minister said in February that Moscow is ready to boost military cooperation with Latin American countries.


Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu

“There is a lot of work to do and it is clear. There is a common wish and willingness to work together. We are ready for cooperation,” said Antonov.

The Russian official also stated that Moscow has always been ready to train the military staff of the Latin American countries.

"Effective consultations are being conducted between our general staffs. Our colleagues come to Russia for military training as observers. The countries of the region have an acute need for qualified officers and the Russian agency is always ready to provide assistance,” Antonov pointed out.

Moscow has recently intensified military ties with its allies after neighboring Ukraine announced its plan to take part in a multinational military alliance with two NATO members Poland and Lithuania. Reports also say Kiev seeks NATO membership.

Moscow-Kiev relations have been extremely tense in recent months. Ukraine and NATO accuse the Kremlin of supporting pro-Russia forces in east Ukraine. Russia categorically denies the allegations, saying NATO is responsible for the flare-up in Ukraine.

IA/NN/HMV

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/03...-military-ties

Britain to bolster Falklands defences due to 'increased threat'
Matthew Weaver
Tuesday 24 March 2015


British marines after the surrender of Argentinian forces on the Falklands in 1982.

Defence secretary expected to announce reinforcements of troops and equipment after Argentina said to be buying long-range bombers from Russia

Britain is to “beef up” the defence of the Falkland Islands the government has confirmed, amid reports of an increased risk of invasion by Argentina.

The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, is expected to announce reinforcements of troops and equipment in parliament later on Tuesday after a defence ministry review suggested an attack on the south Atlantic archipelago was more likely.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Fallon said: “We have been reviewing our defence arrangements of the Falklands where there is obviously a continuing threat even 30 years after the Falklands war. I’m going to be announcing in parliament how we are going to beef up the defence of Falkland Islands – obviously I can’t go into details before I tell parliament.”

Later, on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Fallon was asked whetherthe threat to the Falklands had increased following reports that Argentina was planning to lease 12 long-range bombers from Russia.

He said: “That particularly deal hasn’t been confirmed, but all I can say is that the threat remains. It is a very live threat and I am responding to it this afternoon.”

A Whitehall source told the Sun: “The defence secretary’s decision reflects operational judgments and the increased nature of the threat.”

Fallon said: “We do need to modernise our defences there, to ensure we have sufficient troops and that the islands are properly defended in terms of air and maritime defence … The islanders have the right to remain British and have the right to proper protection.”

He also criticised Argentina’s continued hawkish claims to the Falklands. He said: “Argentina still sadly maintains its claim to the islands even 30 years or more after the original invasion and the war. We have to respond to that.”



On Tuesday, the defence select committee called for a fundamental rethink of Britain’s defence strategy in response to to numerous global threats. Its Tory chairman, Rory Stewart, said: “We might be needed in a dozen different theatres, concurrently, confronting terrorism or lightly armed paramilitaries, in one setting, and heavily armed formed units of an advanced military nation, in another. More advanced military threats, and multiple concurrent threats both require a fundamental rethinking of our strategy and our force structure.”

Fallon said: “They are right that there are a number of threats but they are wrong about our capability.”

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said: “We have sorted out the defence budget, we are investing in defence again … We have the biggest defence budget in Europe, the second biggest in Nato. I can assure that we have, and our armed forces will have, the resources and the equipment they need.”

But Fallon again refused to commit a future Conservative government to continue meeting the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence, as Ukip has promised.

“Ukip are making all sorts of spending promises,” Fallon said. “You have to balance spending across the different priorities. One of the first priorities of government is obviously defence. We have met the Nato target, we are spending 2% of our GDP on defence. We will go on meeting it next year. We are going to hold a spending review in the autumn to take decision for the spending review after that. We have already a commitment to a 10-year equipment plan ... We have a long-term commitment to defence.”

Jane’s Defence Weekly reported in December 2014 that Britain was reassessing the defence of the Falklands after reports that Russia was moving to supply Argentina with Sukhoi SU-24 strike aircraft. The Mirror linked the arms deal and Fallon’s expected announcement.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...creased-threat