In the Spotlight
Share
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…
€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…
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…
America’s Naval Forces Shift and What It Means for the Atlantic Neighbourhood
When the Pentagon confirmed on 24th October that the carrier strike group led by the Gerald R. Ford would deploy to the waters of the Caribbean under the aegis of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) it signalled more than another…
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…
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…
Bulgaria Bets on Rheinmetall to Reignite Europe’s Ammunition Industry
Bulgaria’s decision to tie itself to Rheinmetall in a €1 billion ammunition venture marks more than an industrial deal: it is a geopolitical bet that Budapest’s and Sofia’s recent flurries of defence contracts will now be matched by rapid, hard-nosed capacity-building…
France Strengthens Its Nuclear Deterrent with New Submarine-Launched M51.3 Missile
France has quietly advanced its nuclear deterrent in a way that will reverberate far beyond the Atlantic. On 28th October 2025 the French Ministry of the Armed Forces confirmed the deployment of the third version of its strategic submarine-launched ballistic…
Shield AI’s X-BAT: A Leap in Autonomous Air Combat or a Step Too Far?
In a significant development for unmanned aerial technology, Shield AI has unveiled the X-BAT, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) autonomous fighter jet designed for expeditionary and maritime operations in contested environments. The company touts the X-BAT as a revolutionary…