EU DEFENCE
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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…
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…
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…
Rutte seeks to steady NATO after tense Trump meeting leaves alliance questions unresolved
Mark Rutte sought to calm tensions after a difficult White House meeting with Donald Trump, as fresh doubts emerged over US commitment to NATO, allied support during the Iran crisis, and the future of American military presence in Europe. NATO…
Rutte in Washington for Trump meeting as NATO burden-sharing pressure returns
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is in Washington on 8 April for talks with Donald Trump and senior US officials as pressure builds over burden-sharing, defence spending and the political direction of the alliance. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is…
Ukrainian manufacturer pitches lower-cost answer to Patriot shortage
A Ukrainian missile producer says it is working with European partners on a new air-defence system intended to provide a cheaper response to one of the most difficult problems in the current war: the cost and scarcity of intercepting ballistic…
Romania’s delayed Watchkeeper X programme moves back into delivery phase
Romania’s troubled Watchkeeper X drone programme has moved back into a delivery phase after months of delay and public pressure from Bucharest, giving the country a badly needed procurement reset on NATO’s eastern flank. The immediate news peg came on…
Kellogg questions NATO and floats new alliance including Ukraine
Retired US Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg has called for a fundamental rethinking of Western defence arrangements, arguing that NATO has failed to respond effectively to recent crises and suggesting that Washington should consider building a new military alliance with a…