EU DEFENCE
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Rheinmetall chief’s drone remarks expose a wider defence-industry argument
Comments by Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger about Ukrainian drone production have opened a broader argument about innovation, industrial scale and the future balance between heavy armour and cheaper unmanned systems. In an interview with The Atlantic, Papperger dismissed much…
Drone activity near Estonia and Latvia renews focus on NATO’s eastern flank
Estonia and Latvia reported foreign drone activity near their borders with Russia overnight, the latest in a series of incidents raising concern about airspace security and the risk of spillover from the war in Ukraine. Estonia and Latvia said they…
MBDA plans 40% output rise as Europe races to rebuild missile stocks
Europe’s largest missile maker says it will raise production by 40% in 2026, with Aster output set to double, as demand from Ukraine, the Middle East and NATO rearmament continues to strain Western stockpiles. MBDA, Europe’s largest missile manufacturer, plans…
NATO says European allies and Canada sharply increased defence spending in 2025
NATO’s latest annual report says European allies and Canada increased defence spending by 20 per cent in real terms in 2025, with all 32 allies now at or above the alliance’s long-standing 2 per cent benchmark. European allies and Canada…
Europe’s Defence Industry Accelerates as MBDA Bets €1 Billion on Future Demand
Europe’s defence industry is undergoing a profound shift, one that reflects not only the changing nature of modern conflict but also the urgency now gripping policymakers across the continent. At the centre of this transformation is missile manufacturer MBDA, whose…
Russian drone strikes chimney of Estonian power station after crossing from Russian airspace
A drone that entered Estonian airspace from Russia struck the chimney of the Auvere power station in Ida-Viru County in the early hours of Wednesday, in an incident now under investigation by Estonia’s security and prosecutorial authorities. Officials said no…
Latvian defence minister cuts short Kyiv visit after second drone incident on NATO’s eastern flank
Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds cut short an official visit to Ukraine after a drone entered Latvian airspace from Russia, in a second cross-border unmanned aircraft incident affecting the Baltic region in as many days. The development added fresh urgency…
UK and EU back on course for SAFE defence fund deal
European Council President António Costa says Britain and the EU are moving towards an agreement on UK participation in the bloc’s SAFE defence-financing instrument, reopening a file that had stalled and giving new weight to the wider reset in defence…
Allegations over Szijjártó’s contacts with Lavrov raise wider NATO security concerns
Fresh reporting alleging that Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó shared details of closed-door EU foreign ministers’ discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov has sharpened a question that goes well beyond Brussels politics: whether Viktor Orbán’s Hungary has become a…
NATO meetings with Romania and Bulgaria sharpen focus on Black Sea and eastern flank
Meetings at NATO headquarters on Thursday placed Romania and Bulgaria at the centre of the Alliance’s eastern flank posture, underlining the Black Sea’s continued strategic importance and the pressure to sustain investment, readiness and support for Ukraine. NATO used a…