I’m dealing with President Putin and he wants to make a deal. I believe I’m dealing with President Zelensky and I think he wants to make a deal. I’m meeting him today. He might be in the audience right now. But they got to get that war stopped. Because too many people are dying, needlessly dying. Too many souls are being lost. It’s the only reason I’m interested in doing it. But in doing it, I’m helping Europe. I’m helping NATO.

And I’ve until the last few days when I told them about Iceland, they loved me. They called me “Daddy.” The last time, a very smart man said, “He’s our daddy. He’s running it.” I was like running it. I went from running it to being a terrible human being. But now what I’m asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located, that can play a vital role in world peace and world protection. It’s a very small ask compared to what we have given them for many, many decades.

But the problem with NATO is that we’ll be there for them 100 percent. But I’m not sure that they’d be there for us if we gave them the call, “Gentlemen, we are being attacked, we’re under attack by such and such a nation.” I know them all very well. I’m not sure that they’d be there. I know we’d be there for them. I don’t know that they’d be there for us. So with all of the money we expend, with all of the blood, sweat and tears, I don’t know that they’d be there for us. They’re not there for us on Iceland, I can tell you.

I mean, our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland’s already cost us a lot of money. But that dip is peanuts compared to what it’s gone up. And we have an unbelievable future in that stock. That stock market is going to be doubled. We’re going to hit 50,000, and that stock market’s going to double in a relatively short period of time because of everything that’s happening.

Pakistani authorities have not provided any specific details on the content of the discussions. However, the Minister of Defense Production, Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj, confirmed to Reuters the existence of talks with several countries, while emphasizing their confidential nature and the fragile nature of the diplomatic balance. He indicated that “deliberations are taking place, but they could fail under international pressure,” describing the negotiations as “carefully guarded secrets .” He added that “numerous requests have been received, concerning equipment for the air force, munitions, and specialized training.”

Towards the establishment of a permanent framework between Rabat and Islamabad for military cooperation

The rapprochement between Morocco and Pakistan is not limited to the study of industrial proposals. Islamabad and Rabat plan to establish a lasting institutional framework to organize their defense relations and structure their military cooperation. During an official visit to Morocco from January 12 to 14, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif met with Abdeltif Loudiyi, Deputy Minister in charge of National Defense Administration. As we previously reported, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to govern their military relations. The Pakistani minister explained that “the agreement provides for the establishment of an institutional framework for permanent defense ties,” adding that “the memorandum will open new avenues for cooperation in various defense and security sectors, including military training, the exchange of expertise, capacity building, and other joint actions.” Mr. Asif also announced that broader discussions between delegations would be held to deepen cooperation in areas deemed priorities by both capitals. Morocco and Pakistan have long enjoyed close diplomatic, military, and economic relations, strengthened by high-level visits and numerous bilateral agreements. In April 2025, the ground forces of both countries conducted the third edition of their joint military exercise. In November 2024, Major General Mohammed Gadih, Inspector of the Moroccan Air Force, met with the Chief of Staff of the Pakistani Air Force, Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, to explore opportunities for cooperation in the aerospace sector.

Operational recognition of Pakistani equipment and the financial argument put forward to Rabat

Pakistan’s arms industry now boasts the coveted “battle-proven” designation, earned during a major air engagement with India last May. Pakistani squadrons deployed JF-17 fighters alongside newer Chinese J-10 aircraft. According to analysts interviewed by Reuters, this operational experience has increased the credibility of Pakistani equipment among states seeking alternative suppliers after the disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East. Reuters specifies that “countries are looking for new supply chains after the disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East” and that “Pakistani weapons appear as a viable option after their involvement in a large-scale air battle against India.” In addition to Morocco, other countries mentioned include Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and authorities in eastern Libya led by Khalifa Haftar. According to the same sources, Islamabad has initiated discussions with thirteen states, six to eight of which are at an advanced stage. Pakistani authorities also emphasize a financial argument, pointing out that while some American or European platforms offer superior technological performance, their cost far exceeds that of Pakistani equipment. According to his statements reported by Reuters, “Western options, while sometimes more technologically advanced, cost more than three times the price” of a JF-17, which costs between thirty and forty million dollars. He emphasized the interest shown in aircraft equipment, munitions, and training systems. Reuters also reports that its journalists consulted six sources involved in trade negotiations, three former air force officers, and a dozen analysts, who believe that attention to Pakistani equipment has increased significantly. Several of them nevertheless caution that “discussions do not necessarily lead to the signing of contracts” and that Pakistan will have to contend with diplomatic and industrial constraints in fulfilling any potential orders.

The Royal Air Force’s Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft, locally designated AEW1, has flown just four times throughout 2025. Notably, its radar has not been activated even once during this period. According to Defence Eye, this information was disclosed by military sources. Overall, this means that the first British aircraft of this type has flown only seven times since its maiden flight in September 2024, despite the fact that flight testing is officially underway. Official sources have declined to comment or to provide any final timelines for completing the tests, citing both Boeing’s commercial confidentiality and the sensitive nature of information that could potentially benefit hostile states. At the same time, unofficial sources claim that AEW1 testing has been delayed due to shortages of materials, components, and qualified personnel. These challenges are reportedly affecting the global aerospace industry as a whole.

did the Brits pull the “buy a plane but forget to buy spare parts and hire people to actually work on it” act twice?!

It is also noted that Boeing is required to undergo a complex, UK-specific acceptance procedure for the first aircraft of this type. In addition, enhanced inspections are being carried out, which appears reasonable in light of the scandals surrounding the Boeing 737 MAX. According to available information, eight additional test flights are planned, after which AEW1 is expected to be formally inducted into service in 2026, in line with earlier plans. From the Defense Express perspective, it is worth recalling that the UK has already encountered difficulties with the E-7 Wedgetail program. In particular, London reduced its order from five aircraft to three as a cost-saving measure. However, this decision resulted in a significant reduction in capabilities, which are now insufficient to ensure continuous operational coverage. Nevertheless, the UK continues to invest in the program, which NATO previously abandoned due to controversial decisions by the United States. Moreover, Britain is expected to manufacture these AEW&C aircraft for U.S. requirements. As for the extended and particularly rigorous testing process, this approach appears justified for the UK. Given the scandal surrounding the Ajax infantry fighting vehicle, which has been reported to suffer from serious structural issues, the military, government officials, and the manufacturer are keen to re-check all aspects in order to avoid another high-profile failure.

Morocco is considering the acquisition of up to 400 South Korean K2 Black Panther tanks. This interest is driven, among other factors, by the challenges of maintaining a highly heterogeneous armored vehicle inventory, from which the country previously transferred several dozen T-72B tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Information about the potential scale of the deal comes from South Korean defense industry sources, as reported by Barlamane. Morocco is also expected to procure KM-SAM air defense missile systems, also known as Cheongung. According to some sources, Moroccan officials explain their choice by arguing that reliance “exclusively on Abrams,” even in their latest variants, no longer meets the full spectrum of operational requirements. Instead, they are seeking a “flexible and multi-layered” approach to strengthening the country’s armed forces. From a Defense Express perspective, this assessment appears reasonable, as neighboring countries have been actively rearming in recent years, making additional force modernization a rational step. Algeria is a particularly notable example, as it continues to procure russian weaponry, including Su-57 fighters and Su-34 bombers.

As for Morocco’s tank fleet, it currently includes T-72B tanks being upgraded to the T-72EA standard, M60 tanks, Type-90-II tanks, and Abrams. The latter comprise 222 M1A1SA tanks already in service, as well as 162 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks on order, deliveries of which began in 2023. The result is a veritable “zoo” of armored vehicles, with U.S.-made platforms forming the backbone. However, such diversity remains difficult and costly to sustain, making the search for replacements for aging systems unsurprising. In this context, the South Korean K2 stands out as one of the most attractive options, not least because of its high production rates. In terms of air defense, the Cheongung system has also demonstrated solid export success, with contracts signed with Iraq, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, and it continues to receive improved iterations. Morocco, for its part, had already expressed interest in acquiring both K2 tanks and South Korean air defense systems as early as the spring of 2025. It should be recalled that in 2023 it became known that, at the request of the United States, Morocco transferred several dozen Soviet-made T-72B tanks to Ukraine. These vehicles were upgraded in the Czech Republic to the T-72EA standard, thereby enhancing Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities.

I joke, but there is a very small chance they may reject orders now that the target’s are white and ‘western’ but still I don’t think any boot as refused an order since 2006 and he got court-martialled for it, So imo if trump orders it they’ll do it

Dubbed the Dataroom, the secure digital environment will allow Ukrainian defense companies to train and validate their algorithms by relying on real-world intelligence on Russian aerial threats collected by the country’s military. The workspace has been envisioned with the goal of equipping interceptor drones with AI to enhance their target detection, classification and neutralization capabilities. “In the future, we plan to expand the Dataroom’s abilities to other areas related to autonomy and AI – but for now, our focus is on the most urgent task: countering the threats that appear in our skies, Shahed-type drones,” Mykhailo Fedorov, the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, wrote in a post on his LinkedIn page. The official noted that while interceptor drones have been effective on the battlefield, defending against thousands of targets requires a high degree of autonomy and the ability for the systems to identify and counter targets independently.

The Dataroom is currently only accessible to Ukrainian industry, primarily due to the sensitivity of the information used for training. Palantir Technologies, co-founded by libertarian billionaire Peter Thiel, opened an office in Kyiv and has cooperated significantly with Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation. The company’s MetaConstellation software is used by Ukraine to gather and visualize data of enemy positions and equipment via a network of commercial satellites, sensors, drones, and other systems. Ukrainian military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said in an interview with online media outlet lb.ua this week that Russia can produce more than 400 different kinds of Shahed-type drones daily and that it plans to increase this number to 1,000.

The announcement of the price hike came in a request to parliament to authorize the pay-out which prompted criticism from Italy’s opposition Five Star party. “This is the most expensive program in the history of the Italian military, overtaking the F-35 where €18 billion was spent on 90 aircraft,” Five Star parliamentarians said in a statement. Italy is a member alongside the U.K. and Japan of the sixth generation GCAP fighter team which aims to put a new jet into service by 2035. The document with the new pricing of Italy’s share in the program was sent this month to the defense commission of the Italian senate, where it is due to be discussed on Tuesday before a vote to approve the text is taken, likely next week. The document will also be voted on by the defense commission of the lower house of parliament. It will likely be approved in the commissions due to the majority enjoyed in both by Meloni’s coalition government. The document is an update on a previous version submitted to parliament in 2021, which said Italy would pay out €6 billion to cover its share of Phase1 and 2 of the program - respectively ‘Concept Assessment and Preliminary Design’, followed by ‘Full Development’. The new document states the outlay, “which was initially estimated to be €6 billion for program phases 1 and 2 has since been updated taking into account the increase in costs in technology maturation, testing and development and design, to an estimated €18.6 billion (at 2025 prices).”

The document, which has been seen by Defense News, reported that €2 billion in funding had already been secured, partially covering Phase 1. A further €16.6 billion was therefore needed to complete Phases 1 and 2, it added. The document contains a request for approval for funding worth €8.8 billion to be dispensed in annual payments stretching out to 2037. The remaining €7.8 billion required to hit the €16.6 billion total would be arranged at a future date, the document added. In its statement, the Five Star party wrote, “We don’t doubt the value of this program, but it is not acceptable that our parliamentary commissions are used as cash dispensers which issue billions like peanuts, without even supplying an in-depth and detailed explanation of this enormous increase in the expected expenditure.” During a Jan. 16 meeting in Tokyo between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, the two leaders “expressed satisfaction for the progress of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP),” and confirmed “the importance of achieving the goal of delivering the first aircraft in 2035.”