Estonia erects first of 600-strong Baltic bunker wall on Russia border
The timeline for completion remains uncertain amid procurement and coordination snags.
Europe
Belgium doubles down on drone defenses following mystery flights
The ramp-up is part of the country’s €50 million ($59 million) anti-drone plan in the wake of a recent surge in illegal drone overflights.
Croatia buys German Leopard tanks using EU loans
Deliveries of the tanks to the Croatian land forces are to take place between 2028 and 2030.
Trump-Erdogan ties are propelling F-35 talks with once-banned partner
During Donald Trump’s first term, the U.S. removed NATO ally Turkey from the fighter program after Turkey purchased an air defense system from Russia.
Bangladesh signs up for Eurofighters in first pick of Western warplane
Earlier this year, a group from the Bangladesh Air Force visited Leonardo’s facility in Turin, Italy, to test-fly the Eurofighter.
Kongsberg, Helsing team up for European satellite-intel constellation
The cooperation will include setting up local satellite production in Germany to create “a self-reliant European defense capability,” the companies said.
In Estonia, Europe’s last road through Russia has closed for good
Across the snowy and muddy forests of eastern Estonia, NATO and Russia are locked in a staring match.
Italy’s sudden defense-spending uptick lacks details, economist finds
NATO is satisfied with Rome's proclaimed budget boost in line with alliance targets, despite questions over the internal mathematics.
The British Army’s faulty Ajax vehicles come back to rattle Parliament
The armored vehicles had been declared fully functioning after nine years of delays to the $8 billion program and repeated problems with vibrations.
Opinion
Don’t let Trump let Putin miscalculate on Europe
Taken together, Trump’s policies towards Europe have an isolationist flavor with lack of clarity about U.S. commitments
Polish rearmament plan banks on US weapons bought with EU backing
The Polish government wants to involve U.S. producers in additional procurements of weapons and equipment that could be bankrolled by SAFE loans.
Trump’s national security strategy slams European allies
The Trump administration's new national security strategy suggests long-standing U.S. allies in Europe face the “prospect of civilizational erasure."
Drones fly over French strategic nuclear submarine base, media report
The drones were “neutralized,” daily Liberation reported, with the newspaper saying the usual procedure involves jamming.
Norway to spend $6.4 billion on two more submarines, long-range strike
Norway will help finance a second production line in Germany to ensure the new submarines can be built quickly enough.
German parliament approves conscription scheme to boost the Bundeswehr
“If that is not enough, we will have no choice but to introduce partial conscription,” said German defense minister Boris Pistorius.
Slovenia stalls Patria vehicle purchase amid political wrangling
The government in Ljubljana is playing for time on buying armored vehicles in an effort to avoid rankling some supporters ahead of an election.
New projects bring German 2025 military-equipment spending near $40bn
The Dec. 3 approval includes an expansion of the Bundeswehr’s G95 assault rifle order, additional Joint Strike Missile purchases and new AI systems.
