Japan Self-Defense Forces

The Bulgarian Caretaker Government approved the Ordinance on the terms and conditions for organizing, conducting and ensuring the training of Bulgarian citizens for the defense of the Motherland.

The US Department of State has approved the potential purchase by Greece of a number of assault amphibious vehicles, noting that "(t)his proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States, helping to improve the security of a NATO ally that is an important partner for political stability and economic progress in Europe."

Greece participated in the French multinational drill Orion 2023 with the Adrias frigate from February 22 to March 7, within the context of the military cooperation between the two countries, enshrined in the agreement signed between the Greek Chief of the General Staff of the Hellenic Armed Forces Konstantinos Floros and French Chief of Defense Thierry Burkhard. 

Those changes will be made in the period from 2023 to 2026, the press service announced, after the session of the Ministry chaired by Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was on Friday confirmed dead after he was shot at during a campaign speech in Nara City, western Japan, local media reported citing officials.

"Currently there is no direct threat to the national security and sovereignty of Bulgaria, all measures are being taken in national and collective format to prevent a security breach," said on BNT, Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov.

Japanese Air Defense Forces activated fighter jets due to the take-off of Russian and Chinese helicopters from the decks of military warships, this was stated by Deputy Secretary General of the Government Yoshihiko Ishizaki.

Fifteen F-15E aircraft belonging to the U.S. Air Forces have arrived at an airbase in Greece in support of a multinational training event on the eve of the signing of the updated new protocol of the Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) between Athens and Washington.

Minister of National Defense Nicolae Ciuca and Chief of Romania's Defense Staff, Lieutenant General Daniel Petrescu, met today at the Ministry's headquarters with Bulgarian Chief of Defense, Admiral Emil Eftim, who is on a visit to Romania until Thursday, the Defense Ministry said in a release.

The world's defense expenses rose 4 percent in 2019, compared to the previous year, a report released by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) revealed on Feb. 14. 

The report -- Military Balance 2020 --, which was revealed at the Munich Security Conference, showed the year 2019 posted the largest annual increase in defense spending during the last decade.