The presidential electoral victory of Rodrigo Duterte on 9 May could have seismic implications for not only the Philippines, but also the whole region.
Duterte, former mayor of Davao City in Mindanao, raced to victory on the back of tough talk against crime and corruption. However, he has sent mixed messages regarding defence policy and how to deal with the country’s South China Sea territorial dispute with Beijing.
Malcolm Davis, senior analyst for defence strategy and capability at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), told Shephard that Duterte is ‘throwing a spanner in the works’ by his disinclination to support
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The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.
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