Defencematters.eu Correspondents
Share
Defencematters.eu Correspondents
EU Weighs Wider Naval Role as Strait of Hormuz Risk Rises
The EU’s foreign policy chief has said Operation ASPIDES could be extended towards the Strait of Hormuz through a change to its operational plan, as Europe assesses the risk to trade and energy routes in the Gulf. The European Union…
EU Defence Ministers Move to Strengthen European Defence Agency as Procurement Pressure Grows
EU defence ministers have agreed to reinforce the European Defence Agency, including through new structures for innovation, experimentation and collaborative procurement, as member states face pressure to turn higher defence spending into usable military capability. EU defence ministers have agreed…
Russia Fires 731 Aerial Weapons at Ukraine as Kyiv Becomes Main Target
Ukraine says its air defences intercepted or suppressed most of the missiles and drones launched by Russia overnight, but confirmed impacts across 24 locations after one of the largest combined attacks in recent months. Russia launched 731 missiles and drones…
Britain’s £1bn Artillery Scramble Exposes Decades of Decline
For years British politicians comforted themselves with the illusion that major land warfare belonged to the past. Terrorism, cyber threats and fashionable theories about “light footprint” operations became the buzzwords of Whitehall. Heavy armour was dismissed as outdated. Artillery was…
Putin’s Sarmat Missile Claim Leaves Questions Over Russia’s Strategic Deterrent
Moscow has presented the latest Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile launch as a strategic success. Yet the limited wording of the official announcement, the system’s troubled record and the timing of the claim leave important questions unresolved. Russia has sought to…
NATO Eastern Flank Summit Puts Ukraine and Regional Deterrence Back on the Agenda
Leaders from NATO’s eastern flank met in Bucharest on 13 May, alongside Nordic partners, Ukraine and the NATO Secretary General, as the Alliance prepares for its July summit in Ankara and faces continued pressure from Russia’s war against Ukraine. Leaders…
Ursa Major Sinking Reopens Questions Over Russia, North Korea and Possible Nuclear Cargo
The December 2024 sinking of the Russian cargo vessel Ursa Major has resurfaced after new reporting cited a Spanish parliamentary document referring to possible nuclear reactor components on board. The claims remain unproven, but the incident has renewed scrutiny of…
Ukraine Warns of Daytime Russian Drone Attacks as Air Defence Faces Renewed Pressure
Ukraine says Russia launched 139 drones from the evening of 12 May, with air defence units shooting down or suppressing 111 by 08:00 on 13 May, as Kyiv warned that Moscow is increasingly using daylight drone attacks to disrupt civilian…
Greece Says Sea Drone Found off Lefkada Was Ukrainian-Made
Athens says an explosives-laden unmanned surface vessel recovered near Lefkada was of Ukrainian origin, raising concern over the possible extension of Black Sea naval drone operations into the Mediterranean. Greek authorities have said they are “certain” that an explosives-laden sea…
Saudi Arabia’s Covert Strikes Against Iran
For decades, the unspoken bargain in the Gulf was simple: Saudi Arabia bought security, and the United States supplied it. The kingdom funded vast arsenals, hosted Western forces and relied on Washington’s protective umbrella whenever tensions with Tehran threatened to…