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Kharkiv rail strike raises questions over Russia’s civilian targeting and negotiation pressure on Ukraine
A Russian drone strike on a civilian passenger train in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on 27 January 2026 has sharpened attention on the targeting of civilians as diplomatic contacts continue in parallel. Ukrainian prosecutors said five people were killed when drones…
Britain’s Bold Bid to Spawn the Next Defence Unicorn: A £20m Fund Aims to Transform National Security and Tech Innovation
The UK government has launched a targeted £20 million initiative designed to unearth and accelerate the country’s next “defence unicorn”. Announced this week by Defence Secretary John Healey, the fund is tailored to fast-track small, innovative British firms into the Ministry…
From BAE to Rheinmetall: The Industrial Surge Behind Europe’s “Buy European” Push
Europe stands at a strategic crossroads. A continent long reliant on its transatlantic ally for security hardware may finally be confronting an uncomfortable truth: major geopolitical shifts demand a robust, autonomous defence industrial base. This week in Brussels, France’s Minister…
Iran: Washington’s latest drills send a message Tehran cannot ignore
In Washington’s corridors of power, where rhetoric often alternates between bravado and caution, the announcement this week of a multi-day aerial military exercise in the Middle East has been portrayed by the Pentagon as a routine demonstration of readiness. Yet…
Latvia intelligence: Russia is starting to view Latvia as it viewed Ukraine before the invasion
Latvia’s Constitution Protection Bureau (Satversmes aizsardzības birojs, SAB) has warned that Russia is beginning to regard Latvia as it regarded Ukraine before the invasion, even though the service assesses that Moscow does not pose a direct military threat to Latvia.…
Donbas Withdrawal Emerges as Reported Condition in US–Ukraine Talks on Guarantee
Washington has signalled that any US security guarantees for Ukraine may depend on Kyiv accepting a peace deal that would involve relinquishing control of the Donbas, according to a Financial Times report. The report said US officials had also raised…
Estonia Poised to Strengthen NATO’s Eastern Flank with Major Missile Buy
Estonia is poised to select a long-range missile defence system by the end of March 2026, a move that marks a major enhancement of its deterrent posture amid rising regional tensions. The decision, which follows years of sustained investment in…
Chopping off the predator’s paws: what Europe’s new security requires
Between Davos and Munich In a few weeks, the theme of the 56th World Economic Forum will have slipped off the front pages, though references to “Trump in Davos”, “Carney in Davos”, “Zelenskyy in Davos” and the rest will remain.…
Indonesia’s Rafale Deal Shows Europe’s Defence Industry Is Back in the Game
When Indonesia’s first Rafale fighter jets touched down at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base this month, the moment carried significance far beyond Southeast Asia. Three French-built aircraft arriving on the tarmac in Sumatra may appear, at first glance, to be a…
Military Recruitment in Europe: A Continent Under Strain
Europe’s military recruitment landscape is in flux. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and rising geopolitical tensions worldwide, European states have sought to expand and modernise their armed forces. Despite significant increases in defence spending and…