World


Australia signs $1 bln defense deal with South Korea: Prime Minister

Australia signs $1 bln defense deal with South Korea: Prime Minister

Canberra, Dec 13 (UNI/Sputnik) Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and South Korean President Moon Jae-in have signed a $1 billion defense deal, dubbed as the Hanwha Howitzer contract, to build an armoured vehicle centre for excellence in Geelong, a port city in the country's South.
"[South Korea and Australia] are also important security partners, as we have just witnessed with the Hanwha Howitzer contract, a billion dollar armoured vehicle centre for excellence to be located in the Geelong region," Morrison said on Monday during a press conference in Canberra.
The Hanwha Howitzer contract was signed during Moon's four-day visit to Australia and will see South Korean defense manufacturer Hanwha supply the Australian army with weapons, vehicles and radars.
According to Defense Minister Peter Dutton, the contract covers 30 Self-Propelled Howitzers, 15 Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles and weapon locating radars.
Morrison called this deal, which is one of the biggest between Australia and an Asian nation and as important commitment.
"It's an important further chapter in the Defence Industry story for Australia as we continue to build our sovereign capability. And Korea is an important partner in that journey, both in our security arrangements but also in the building of our sovereign capability in defence manufacturing," Morrison added.
Dutton noted that the contract was struck with the aim of protecting Australian interests and safety "in a rapidly changing global environment."
The deal comes at a time when relations between Australia and China are tense after Australia has announced last week a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
In mid-September, Australia had also announced a trilateral security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, dubbed AUKUS, under which the nation will obtain the technology for developing its own nuclear-powered submarines.
UNI/SPUTNIK RNJ

More News

DRC – Rwanda backed M23 militia sign ceasefire agreement in Doha after months of wanton violence

19 Jul 2025 | 11:46 PM

Kinsasha/Kigali, July 19 (UNI) The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel militia have signed a new ceasefire agreement, bringing a halt to the massive violence that has ravaged the DRC’s mineral-rich eastern region for months.

see more..

BNP senior leader urges interim govt to hasten its work on reforms, national charter, elections

19 Jul 2025 | 11:44 PM

Dhaka, July 19 (UNI) The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) General Secretary Fakhrul Mirza Islam Alamgir urging the interim government to speed up its work before the upcoming elections, said that the administration’s work must expediate three key things – reforms, a national charter, and elections – warning that any further delay only will only complicate matters.

see more..

BRICS countries have no interest in replacing US dollar, says Russian Deputy FM Sergey Ryabkov

19 Jul 2025 | 10:54 PM

Moscow, July 19 (UNI) BRICS countries have no desire to replace the US dollar, but rather trade in national currencies with other member and partner countries in a viable alternative, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov in an interview, reports state media TASS.

see more..

Trump mocks BRICS nations, says his 10 pc tariff threat ‘hi them very hard’

19 Jul 2025 | 8:42 PM

Washington, July 19 (UNI) Doubling down on his 10% tariff threat against all BRICS countries, US President Donald Trump in press briefing yesterday claimed that he ‘hit’ the intra-governmental organisation ‘very hard’, adding that he will never allow another any the group’s attempts at de-dollarisation, calling USD ‘the king.’

Mocking the multi-nation bloc’s attempts at de-dollarisation, Trump, while talking about his administration’s attempts at strengthening the US dollar said “You have this little group called BRICS, it’s fading out fast. But they wanted to take over the dominance of the dollar, and the standard of the dollar.

see more..
Trump signs GENIUS Act into Law, declares US ‘Crypto Capital of the World’

Trump signs GENIUS Act into Law, declares US ‘Crypto Capital of the World’

19 Jul 2025 | 12:19 PM

Washington July 19 (UNI) US President Donald Trump today signed into law the GENIUS Act, a landmark bill that establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, marking a pivotal moment in America’s digital currency policy.

see more..