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France and Germany remain deadlocked over €100bn FCAS fighter programme
Germany and France have again failed to resolve their dispute over the €100 billion FCAS fighter programme, raising fresh doubts over the future of Europe’s flagship next-generation combat aircraft project ahead of a meeting between Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron…
Ankara Summit to Decide NATO’s Strategic Future
As NATO steels itself for a summer summit in Ankara that may prove pivotal to the alliance’s future direction, its Deputy Secretary General has issued a clear message: rhetoric alone will no longer suffice. Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum,…
Estonia warns Europe is still not ready to stand alone
Estonia’s defence minister has argued that NATO will hold and the United States would still defend allies, while warning that Europe remains unable to face Russia without American backing. Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said on 17 April that NATO…
EU and NATO move to tighten coordination ahead of Ankara summit
Ursula von der Leyen and Mark Rutte have agreed to intensify EU-NATO coordination in the coming weeks, linking defence industrial output, Ukraine support and preparations for the alliance summit in Ankara. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO…
Europe’s US weapons orders at risk as Iran war drains American stockpiles
Washington has warned some European allies to expect delays in previously agreed US weapons deliveries as the war involving Iran consumes critical munitions and missile defence stocks, according to Reuters. The development sharpens European concerns over dependence on American supply…
Paris summit to examine European plan for reopening Strait of Hormuz
France and the United Kingdom are convening an international meeting in Paris on Friday aimed at preparing a future multinational effort to restore commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime chokepoint through which about one fifth of global…
NATO Finds Its Rhythm on Ukraine Aid
NATO’s latest effort to organise and fund military assistance for Ukraine marks a notable shift in both tone and structure within the alliance: less rhetorical urgency, more institutional confidence. Speaking after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in…
Portugal: Nuno Melo draws red line on EU army ambitions as Spain pushes strategic autonomy debate
Portugal has firmly rejected the idea of a separate European army, placing itself at odds with Spain and reopening a long-running debate over the future of Europe’s defence architecture at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Speaking in Lisbon, Portugal’s…
Keir Starmer Under Fire as Defence Doubts Grow
A senior Labour grandee has delivered one of the most pointed critiques yet of Sir Keir Starmer’s approach to defence, raising not only questions about funding, but about the coherence—and, in some quarters, the competence—of the government’s wider security posture.…
Ankara presses case for inclusion in Europe’s defence projects
Turkey is pressing for a wider role in Europe’s defence architecture as NATO allies reassess capability, industrial resilience and the future balance of responsibility between Europe and the United States. The issue has gained renewed relevance because of Ankara’s position…