• Armed drones, manufactured by Israel or Turkey, were also deployed by Azerbaijan against Armenia in the recent conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

• British fishermen are disgruntled at a compromise to allow continued access for EU boats in British waters.

• The EU is thus losing a powerful member, but will France find it easier to build the case for a more independent EU global strategy?

• This month Washington sanctioned Turkey over its acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defences.
• Erdogan said "artificial agendas" tested Turkey's ties with the EU and United States in 2020, but he hoped things would improve.

• The combined NATO troop presence in the country outnumbers that of the United States; for the first time in the history of the conflict.
• As of yet, there are nearly 4000 American troops deployed in Afghanistan, while a multi-lateral contingent of NATO troops numbering 11,000 (from several nations including the United States) remain in the country.

• The NATO official said the Belgium-headquartered organisation used SolarWinds software in some of its systems.

• "Rockets were fired towards Bagram Airfield this morning. Initial reporting is there were no casualties and the airfield was not damaged," the official said.

• In a televised video conference address, Erdogan said the sanctions showed a hostile stance by the United States against its NATO ally, but that problems created by them would be overcome.

• Washington on Monday imposed sanctions targeting Turkey's Presidency of Defence Industry (SSB), its chairman and three other employees. Cavusoglu "conveyed our reaction to the decision by the United States," the ministry said.

• Earlier on Monday the United States acted on its long-threatened move and imposed sanctions on the top Turkish defense development body, its president and three employees.

• "In light of that we will talk more about our relations with Turkey, which is marked on the one hand by strategic dependencies - many of us are members of NATO - and on the other hand by tensions," she said.

• The AMAN-2021 anti-piracy drills are set to be held in waters near Karachi in February 2021 and will involve British, U.S., Turkish, Chinese, Japanese and other forces, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

• Two sources familiar with the matter, including a U.S. official speaking on the condition of anonymity, said President Donald Trump had given aides the blessing for the sanctions.

• NATO members Turkey and Greece have been at loggerheads over maritime territory in the eastern Mediterranean, believed to be rich in energy resources including natural gas.

Dany Fortin recently served as the chief of staff for the Canadian Joint Operations Command. He was also commander of the NATO military training mission in Iraq from November 2018 until last fall.

• Erdogan's statement came a full three days after US media called the election in Biden's favour, underscoring the close personal bond the Turkish leader enjoyed with Trump.

• Last year NATO declared space to be a new "area of operations", the fifth such zone after land, air, sea and cyberspace, which was added in 2016.

• The United States and Germany, both allies of Turkey, have labelled the gas exploration mission a "provocation" and urged Ankara to recall the ship.

• "We decided to go into Afghanistan together, we will make decisions on future adjustments together, and when the time is right, we will leave together," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

• Speaking alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara, Stoltenberg said there was no military solution to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

• "My best wishes to @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS. I hope they both have a speedy recovery from COVID-19," Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter, using the handles of Trump and his wife.

• New clashes broke out on Sunday in decades-old conflict.
• France and Turkey trade recriminations over fighting.
• Dozens of people reported killed in Caucasus flare-up.
• Fears for pipelines bringing oil, gas to world markets.

• Demonstrators have daily flooded the streets of the ex-Soviet republic demanding Lukashenko's resignation.

• He said China was undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy.

• Since security and maritime deals were signed late last year, Turkey has stepped up its support of the GNA with drones, military advisors and sending Syrian fighters.

• But he stressed that the details of the plan are still not finalised.

• NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said China was coming closer to the West in various ways - in the Arctic, in cyberspace and in critical infrastructure, including telecommunications.

• Berlin has voiced concern at the proposal reported by US media to cut the 34,500 American military personnel posted in Germany by nearly a third.