EUROPE
Share
German officials suspect AfD used parliamentary tools to seek sensitive data useful to Russia
German federal and state officials have alleged that Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) lawmakers have systematically used parliamentary inquiries to elicit sensitive information on the Bundeswehr and critical infrastructure, amid concerns that such material could be of value to Moscow. The…
Europe’s Achilles’ Heel: How China’s Grip on Rare Earths Undercuts the Continent’s Defence Ambition
Europe’s defence ambition in the 2020s has often been framed as a matter of military hardware, joint procurement and interoperability. But a far subtler—and far more existential—vulnerability now lies in the raw materials that underpin modern weapons: rare earths. The…
Belgium orders military to shoot down unidentified drones over bases
Belgium’s armed forces have been instructed to shoot down any unidentified drones detected over military bases, following three consecutive nights of incursions above sensitive sites including the Kleine-Brogel air base. The order was issued by Chief of Defence Frederik Vansina…
Rheinmetall to build propellant plant in Romania as EU expands defence production
Rheinmetall will build a new ammunition and propellant plant in central Romania under a joint venture with the state-owned Pirochim Victoria, as EU member states move to expand industrial capacity for artillery supplies amid the war in Ukraine. The agreement…
€305 Million Compensation? Europe’s Defence Procurement Mess Just Got Costlier
When Norway and NHIndustries (NHI) announced a settlement over the cancelled NH90 submarine-hunting helicopter contract, one might have expected a quiet footnote in defence-industry circles. Instead what we see is a symptomatic collapse of Europe’s ability to execute multi-national defence…
Why a Rosatom-linked foundation helped build a Russian Orthodox church beside a Swedish airport
A newly built Russian Orthodox church on the outskirts of Västerås has become a test case for how European municipalities manage sites located near strategic infrastructure. The Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, inaugurated in 2023,…
Drones reported over Belgium’s Kleine-Brogel air base; police deploy helicopter
Multiple drone sightings were reported over the Kleine-Brogel air base near Peer, Limburg, on the nights of Friday 31st October and Saturday 1st November. Police deployed a helicopter after the second incident, but the devices and their operators were not…
From Treaty Collapse to Battlefield: Russia Tests Europe’s Defences With Iskander
Kyiv confirms deployment of 9M729 – Iskander missiles – vindicating Donald Trump’s warnings and rattling Europe’s defences. When Ukraine confirmed this week that Russia had deployed the 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile – Iskander -the very weapon that led Donald Trump…
Polish MiG-29s again intercept Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic
Polish Air Force MiG-29 fighter jets have intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea for the second time this week, Poland’s defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Thursday, 30 October. Speaking at a press conference in Kartuzy, he…
Rome Bets on Tanks and Hungary — But Can Europe Trust Its Eastern Partner?
Rome’s plan to use EU “SAFE” loans for German-built tanks, in collaboration with Hungary, highlights both Italy’s ambition and the fragility of European defence, however Orbán’s Kremlin ties fuel scepticism. Italy’s striking proposal to channel European Union “SAFE” defence loans…