u/No_Feature_1184

SS: Following Pashinyan's election win a few weeks ago, the promise of a rapprochement between the EU and the CSTO member-nation seems to be on track. The European Commission President is set to travel to Armenia next week to further develop strategic EU-Armenia relations.

Von der Leyen’s visit will take place following a new announcement by the European Commission last Friday that it “disbursed €34 million to Armenia to help mitigate the impact of Russia's trade restrictions on the country's private sector,” as “the EU is delivering swiftly on its commitments to support Armenia and its people.”

“Additional support will be provided to sectors affected by the trade restrictions, including agri-food products, flower production and other export-oriented industries, through trade initiatives, business matchmaking events and targeted market access initiatives,” the European Commission said in a statement.

SS: France and Cyprus have concluded an agreement under which French forces can be stationed, train and operate in Cyprus while respecting national sovereignty. This is undoubtedly intended to reinforce Cyprus' defence position after efforts by the UK (which has a far great defensive presence on the island) were particularly slow in their Deployment of HMS Dragon following iranian Missiles being fired in the eastern Mediterrenean.

The agreement has not been well received by Ankara which 'expressed concerns that it could alter the balance of power on the island, disregard the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and create tensions. '

SS: Currently Serbia offers visa-free travel to russia, they may change soon though as recent rapporchements with the EU and recruitment efforts by Russian PMCs within serbian territory have strained relations between the two european nations.

The spokesman of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, said in Moscow that Serbia's decision to abolish the visa-free regime with Russia could not be unilateral, without reciprocal measures.

SS: In another blow to russian global influence it appears that despite recent threats from Moscow, Armenia appears set to continue its westwards shift. This follows a general sense of frustration in Russia's refusal to support its CSTO partner nation when it came to blows with neighbouring Azerbaijian.

The latest survey ahead of Armenia’s decisive elections on 7 June has projected that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party could win nearly 65% of decided voters.

SS: The African Defense Forum is arguing that despite 'spending nearly $1 billion' on securing Russian mercenary support, the Malian government has not seen enough bang for its buck. In fact it has suggested that the Russian mercenary group (Africa Corps) has perhaps exacerbated the situation by driving divided groups against the Junta through its brutality.

The article estimates that 'Each Wagner fighter cost Mali $10,000 per month' and that the group's main accomplishment was taking the town of Kidal in 2023 'But that achievement unraveled during the joint JNIM-FLA attack on Kidal at the end of April.'

Translation via Deepl:

In Pakistan, too, the first anniversary of the victory of “Marka-e-Haq”—the Urdu name for Operation Sindoor, which is viewed in India as a triumph—was celebrated. Long-range missiles, cyber drones, AI… current and future wars will be multi-domain, warned the head of the Pakistani armed forces, Asim Munir, during the ceremony commemorating the conflict between the two nuclear powers, threatening the “enemy” with extremely “dangerous” consequences.

French defense contractors could not have found a better “sales pitch” for New Delhi than the one from Islamabad. Since MBDA missiles and Dassault Rafale jets supported India’s counteroffensive against Pakistan, doors have opened even wider at the world’s second-largest arms importer (behind Ukraine), which is preparing to sign a record order for the French fighter jet. India has become by far the leading recipient of French arms technology license transfers.

Drop in Russian Imports

A market historically dominated by Russia, which was New Delhi’s leading supplier between 2021 and 2025, according to SIPRI. With 40% of imports, Moscow remains far ahead of Paris (29%). But in India, the unreliability of Indo-Russian cooperation—despite the very attractive terms offered—is a source of frustration. In 2018, the country withdrew from the joint fifth-generation fighter jet program aimed at co-developing a variant of the Russian Su-57 fighter.

“Over the past decade, India has shifted its defense procurement relationships, moving away from Russia toward Western suppliers, notably France, Israel, and the United States,” notes SIPRI. Russia’s share of Indian arms imports fell from 70% between 2011 and 2015 to 51% between 2016 and 2020, eventually losing its dominant position.

A partner of the Indian Armed Forces for over fifty years, MBDA has just announced a new agreement with the Indian Air Force aimed at developing local maintenance and mid-life overhaul capabilities for Mica air-to-air missiles. This initiative responds to New Delhi’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” self-reliance plan to strengthen operational capabilities for one of the primary weapons carried by the Mirage 2000 and Rafale.

The missile manufacturer, which has had its largest office outside Europe in India since 2006 and operates there through a joint venture with the Indian conglomerate Larsen & Toubro, will provide industrial equipment, tools, data, training, and technical support. From Meteor and SCALP on the Rafale, Asraam on Jaguar aircraft, Mistral Atam on LCH helicopters, and Exocet SM39 on Scorpène submarines… MBDA has become a key partner for New Delhi.

In ten years, the share of French exports to India has risen from 1.5% to 29%, moving into second place behind Russia, which has seen a sharp decline.

Several years ago, MBDA signed an agreement with Bharat Dynamics for the assembly, integration, and final testing of Mistral and Asraam missiles in India. And this fall, the Indian Air Force confirmed that the Asraam will be integrated into the Tejas Mk-1A light fighter and will eventually replace the Russian R-73 missile across the entire fleet.

A First Outside France for Dassault

For Dassault, India—the first country to operate all three Rafale variants (B, C, and M) and one of the few to have ruled out the American F-35—is, in effect, a strategic partner. A year ago, New Delhi signed a contract for the Indian Navy to acquire 26 Rafale jets, and since then, exclusive negotiations have been confirmed for 114 fighters intended for the Indian Air Force.

The group led by Eric Trappier is ramping up its operations there. Dassault has taken a majority stake in its joint venture, Dassault Reliance Aerospace, to strengthen the development of its production activities and its industrial footprint in India. Signed in 2025, its partnership with Tata marks the start of construction on a factory to manufacture Rafale fuselage sections in Hyderabad. An agreement was also reached with Hical for the supply of precision parts for the Falcon and Rafale flight control systems.

According to Eric Trappier, Dassault is “naturally” bringing together its “major partners”—Thales and Safran—around its fighter jet, in addition to the entire supply chain, which includes some 30 partners providing local support. A future final assembly line is being considered. “We know how to achieve 50% local content,” the executive asserts.

Thales has opened an avionics maintenance center in Gurugram and, in November, signed an alliance with the Indian industrial group SFO to produce complex radar cable assemblies for the 26 Rafale jets destined for the Indian Navy.

Safran's Board in New Delhi

Safran, which has also launched an M88 Rafale engine maintenance center in Hyderabad, has equally ambitious goals. The group, led by Olivier Andriès, aims to triple its revenue there to exceed 3 billion by 2030—with half of that generated locally—and to increase its local procurement fivefold.

In late 2025, it signed an agreement to establish a joint venture in India with Bharat Electronics to produce the AASM Hammer guided bomb. This air-to-ground weapon can be adapted for both the Rafale and the Tejas aircraft from the HAL group. And if India’s major additional order is confirmed, Safran will establish an assembly line for the Rafale’s M88 engine in India. Should this be seen as a sign of things to come? For a week in November, the entire Safran board of directors was invited on a trip to New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore to meet with key figures, including Prime Minister Modi, at his office on Lok Kalyan Marg.

Hello all,

I've been unemployed for a while now despite my best efforts. I'm trying to get my mental health back in the right place by being consistent with good habits and trying to limit negative ones.

To this end, I'd welcome someone to be my accountability partner as a therapist has told me in the past that I externalise my sense of self-worth and perhaps that extra presence might give me the push I need. Maybe a check in or a quick chat or something couple times a week would be grand.

I'm still drafting specific targets but for now I'm looking to:

- Sleep before midnight or at least 7 hours each night.

- Get two Job applications sent off a day.

- Keep up with some form of excercise 5 times a week. ( I've lost just over 10 kg since this time last year but I'd like to keep it up)

- Read 30 mins a day

- Ironically I'm also looking to spend less time fruitlessly online.

Now re-posted after ticking the 'read the rules' box.