In the Spotlight
Share
Spain’s Pedro Sánchez Blocks U.S. Jets – But Still Depends on U.S. Power
Spain’s decision to slam shut its airspace to American military aircraft en route to the Iran theatre is being dressed up in Madrid as a principled stand for international law. In reality, it looks far more like a familiar European…
Diplomat or Spy? Inside the latest UK-Russia Intelligence Clash
The expulsion of a British diplomat from Moscow this week is the latest twist in a long-running cycle of espionage accusations, retaliations, and diplomatic brinkmanship between Russia and the United Kingdom—one that stretches back through the Cold War and has…
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…
Flames of Deception: Czech Factory Attack Raises Fears of Russian Sabotage
The arrest of a fourth suspect in the arson attack on a Czech defence facility has deepened an already murky and politically charged investigation—one that sits at the crossroads of Middle Eastern tensions, Europe’s security anxieties, and the shadow war…
Russia’s Oil Export Arteries Under Strain as Ukrainian Strikes Knock Out 40% of Export Capacity
Russia’s vast oil export network—long the financial backbone of the Kremlin—has suffered one of the most significant disruptions in its modern history. According to Reuters calculations, at least 40% of the country’s oil export capacity is currently offline following a…
Ukraine strike on Ust-Luga exposes pressure point in Russia’s Baltic oil exports
A Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga has developed into one of the most consequential attacks yet on Moscow’s energy export infrastructure, with traders, refinery sources and transport operators now assessing the extent of the disruption…
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…
Russia moves to rearm Iran with drones as alliance deepens
Russia is close to completing a phased shipment of drones, medicines and food to Iran, according to a Financial Times report citing western intelligence assessments and officials. The deliveries, said to have begun in early March, would mark a further…
Europe’s Space Ambitions Risk Splintering as Germany Pushes Ahead Alone
At a time when Europe is under growing pressure to take responsibility for its own defence, a new German initiative is exposing familiar fault lines at the heart of the European Union. Berlin’s plan to develop a €10 billion military…