EU DEFENCE
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March launch for EU SAFE defence lending, with early tranche planned
The European Union is preparing to make the first payments under its Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence loans in March 2026, in what officials describe as an attempt to accelerate joint procurement and address shortages in key military capabilities.…
After the Paris Declaration: Can Europe Deploy Troops in Ukraine?
Europe’s discussion of a multinational military presence in Ukraine has intensified after a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris on 6 January produced a “Paris Declaration” on security guarantees for Ukraine. Issued by France, the declaration sketches…
Europe’s Defence Illusion: “Readiness 2030” Will Not Deter Anyone
On paper, Readiness 2030 is the European Union’s bold answer to a deteriorating global security landscape. The initiative, quietly rebranded from its bluntly honest predecessor, ReArm Europe, promises to channel as much as €800 billion into defence spending through loans,…
Flemish government rethinks arms trade rules in bid to strengthen defence industry and European collaboration
The Flemish government has approved a draft arms trade decree intended to simplify the legitimate trade in military goods, civilian firearms, essential components and ammunition, while also fostering a long-term industrial strategy for security and defence. The announcement, made by…
A New Era of Anxiety: Germans Reckon With the Prospect of War and the Limits of NATO
For much of the post-Cold War era, Germany’s security narrative has been one of reassurance and restraint. The Bundeswehr was kept deliberately modest; public sentiment was wary of military engagement, and political leaders stressed diplomacy over deterrence. Yet a profound…
Poland Arms Its Eastern Frontier as Europe Rediscovers the Basics of Deterrence
Warsaw has announced its intention to resume the production of anti-personnel mines, a move that underscores Poland’s determination to fortify its eastern frontier and respond to an increasingly fraught regional security landscape. The decision, announced by Deputy Defence Minister Paweł…
Europe’s Strategic Leap Forward: Embracing a “Military Schengen” for Collective Defence
In a forward-looking move this week, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted overwhelmingly in favour of laying the groundwork for what has been dubbed a “military Schengen” — a bold vision to enhance European defence capabilities and respond more…
Europe Reassured as the US Revives Long-Range Firepower on NATO’s Front Line
The U.S. Army has taken a major step forward in strengthening deterrence across Europe with the activation of a dedicated artillery battalion. This development not only reinforces NATO solidarity but also exemplifies a modern approach to strategic security in an…
Ukraine, Russia and the Future of NATO: Europe Wakes Up to a Long War
Europe’s security debate is shifting from the language of “hybrid harassment” to that of a low-intensity war. A recent Financial Times analysis argues that Russia is conducting a systematic campaign of sabotage across the continent, using parcel bombs, arson, cyber…
What the President of Finland keeps silent about and what Ukraine must shout about
Western faith in multilateralism and “value-based realism” conceals a deeper strategic crisis, Hanna Hopko argues, as Ukraine and other “in-between” states become the decisive battleground in an emerging global confrontation. Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote an article for Foreign Affairs…