STRATEGIC AUTONOMY
Share
Norway to Join French Nuclear Umbrella as Europe Reassesses Deterrence
Oslo says the decision reflects Russia’s rearmament and its war against Ukraine, while stressing that no nuclear weapons will be stationed in Norway in peacetime. Norway is to come under France’s nuclear umbrella after Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre travelled…
NATO Ukraine Funding Plan Exposes Uneven Burden-Sharing Among Allies
Mark Rutte’s proposal for NATO members to allocate 0.25 per cent of GDP to military support for Ukraine has failed to secure unanimous backing, exposing divisions over how the Alliance should finance Kyiv’s defence ahead of the Ankara summit. NATO’s…
Ukraine Looks to Europe After Stalled US Talks on Anti-Ballistic Missile Production
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv has seen no recent progress with Washington on expanding anti-ballistic missile production, sharpening the question of whether Europe can develop the capacity Ukraine says it urgently needs. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine has seen…
Le Pen’s NATO Command Pledge Reopens France’s Strategic Autonomy Divide
Marine Le Pen’s call for France to leave NATO’s integrated military command has turned a long-running French debate over sovereignty into a live question for European defence planning, at a time when allies are already assessing the reliability of US…
Russian Threat to NATO Remains Serious, But Baltic Attack Warnings Require Caution
Moscow is increasing pressure on NATO’s eastern flank through nuclear signalling, drone allegations and exercises with Belarus, but an imminent Russian attack on the Baltic states is not yet supported by the kind of military indicators seen before the full-scale…
Italy’s SAFE Fund Dispute Exposes the Budget Politics Behind Europe’s Rearmament Plans
Rome says it needs EU defence loans to rebuild military capacity, but the dispute over energy costs shows how Europe’s rearmament plans remain tied to national budget pressures. Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has said Rome has an “essential” need…
US troop cuts in Europe put pressure back on NATO’s missing capabilities
Washington’s planned reduction of its force presence in Europe has reopened questions over whether European allies can replace critical US military capabilities quickly enough. The planned reduction of US forces in Europe has placed renewed pressure on NATO’s European members…
Pentagon Cuts US Brigade Presence in Europe as Poland Rotation Is Delayed
The Pentagon says the reduction returns American brigade combat teams in Europe to their 2021 level, while Polish officials say no decision has been made to cut US military capability in Poland. The Pentagon has confirmed that the United States…
Trump Administration Halts Planned US Brigade Deployment to Poland Amid Wider European Troop Cuts
The cancelled rotation of more than 4,000 US troops has raised questions over Washington’s military posture in Europe and the future of deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank. The United States has halted the planned deployment of more than 4,000 troops…
Italy Faces Decision on EU Defence Loans as SAFE Deadline Approaches
Italy is under pressure to decide whether to draw on the EU’s Security Action for Europe loan instrument, with Rome eligible for around €14.9bn as Brussels seeks to accelerate joint defence procurement and industrial readiness. Italy is approaching a decision…