All articles tagged with #defence
Kyiv and Washington are negotiating a draft statement of intent to temporarily export Ukrainian drones for US testing and evaluation to shape US military requirements, a potential first step toward broader defense cooperation. The agreement is non-binding, lasts two years, and does not commit funding or transfers.
The Iran war and Hormuz disruptions have boosted energy volatility and prices, lifting profits for European oil majors (BP, Shell, TotalEnergies) and boosting bank trading revenues; defense contractors report strong demand and backlogs as governments replenish stocks. Renewables firms like NextEra, Vestas and Orsted benefit from a push toward cleaner energy, with solar, heat pumps and EV demand rising as households face higher fuel costs.
An Independent editorial argues that Trump’s suggestion of withdrawing US troops from Europe would threaten the postwar settlement and deterence. Europe should urgently accelerate plans for a self-reliant defence, seek clear clarification from Washington, and avoid acting on off‑the‑cuff remarks, since any withdrawal could delay weapons deliveries and embolden Russia while timelines for US–Europe defence plans diverge.
Former NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen says Trump’s hostility toward NATO allies is painful to witness and urges Europe to accelerate independence from US security, preferring European-made weapons where possible and building a stronger European defence pillar. He warns the alliance could be endangered if the trend continues, notes Iran-related stock strains and the Strait of Hormuz as pressure points, and suggests using this moment to secure Ukraine guarantees and a more stable US–Europe trade relationship.
Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius unveiled the Bundeswehr's first national military strategy, shifting to capability-based planning with a focus on speed, air defence, long-range precision strikes, and greater use of AI. The plan calls for a significant expansion to 460,000 personnel (active plus reserves) and a more agile bureaucracy, with deep-strike assets like long-range missiles to hit targets behind front lines; many details remain secret and the strategy is described as a living document responsive to evolving threats and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s defence ministry published a list of European manufacturers allegedly producing drones for Ukraine, calling joint ventures an escalatory step and saying the sites could become potential targets for Russian forces; the list covers branches in multiple EU countries and notes coordinates for several companies in Germany, Spain, and Italy. The move comes amid Europe’s expanded drone production and Kyiv’s drone partnerships, with Zelensky signing joint drone production deals with Germany and Norway as European leaders emphasize defense cooperation.
Former NATO chief Lord Robertson warns UK security is in peril as the armed forces shrink since 1990, with the army down from 153,000 regulars to about 74,000, reservists reduced, the navy and RAF reduced in major assets, and drones becoming part of defence. The government pledges the largest defence spending increase since the Cold War and NATO targets, but critics point to procurement delays and question whether spending will keep pace with new threats.
Italy will not renew its five-year defence agreement with Israel, suspending the pact in view of the current situation. The move follows recent tensions with Israel, including incidents involving UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, and comes as Rome recalibrates its stance ahead of next year’s elections while remaining a key arms exporter to Israel.
Australia named Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, currently chief of joint capabilities, as chief of army from July, making her the first woman to lead the Australian Army in its 125-year history; the historic appointment coincides with a push to boost female representation in the ADF amid modernization efforts and ongoing leadership reshuffles that also see Vice Admiral Mark Hammond named head of the ADF.
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki vetoed legislation that would have allowed Warsaw to access about €44 billion in EU defence loans from the SAFE programme, fueling a clash with Prime Minister Donald Tusk over how to finance defence spending. The loans would have accelerated military modernization, border security and domestic arms production, but Nawrocki argued they would increase Poland’s dependence on Brussels and urged funding from domestic resources, including central bank reserves; Tusk promised a Plan B and said the veto squandered a patriotic opportunity, while other officials warned blocking SAFE funds could weaken Poland’s defence capabilities.
UK's aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales remains on high readiness but is unlikely to sail to the Middle East; sources say it will instead take part in NATO Arctic exercises with no deployment decision yet made, as Britain has already bolstered forces around Cyprus and other regional assets amid ongoing tensions with Iran.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged the UK to authorise RAF strikes on Iranian missile launch sites, arguing that targeting the source is necessary to stop attacks. The government says current actions are defensive and rely on US strikes from British bases, with no plans to strike Iran itself. Labour and Liberal Democrats called for clarity amid a broader debate over defence spending and UK involvement as the crisis unfolds, while additional UK assets and measures are being deployed in the region.
Poland, Germany, France, Italy and the UK agreed at a Kraków summit to jointly develop LEAP—Low-Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms—aimed at fielding affordable drones and air-defense systems to counter Russian threats, boost NATO readiness, and share burdens. The first LEAP project is expected by 2027, with the five nations pledging defence spending toward roughly 5% of GDP.
Sunak relays Zelensky’s Munich assessment that drones have reshaped warfare, with unmanned weapons responsible for about 80% of Ukraine’s casualties; the piece argues Europe must adapt by massively scaling drone production, training, and procurement, tackling defence-plant fragmentation, and boosting SME and UK manufacturing to become a leading supplier while planning a Baltic drone wall.
Russia’s FSB alleges Polish intelligence aided last week’s attempt on General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia’s GRU, in Moscow, claiming the operation was ordered by Ukraine’s SBU; Kyiv denies involvement and Poland has not commented. A suspect, Lyubomir Korba, was detained in Dubai and handed to Russia, along with accomplice Viktor Vasin in Moscow; the FSB says both admitted their roles and that Korba’s Polish son Lubos helped recruit via Polish intelligence. No independent evidence has been released and Poland has yet to respond.