Defence and security
Erdogan says Turkey not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday (13 May) it was not possible for NATO-member Turkey to support plans by Sweden and Finland to join the pact, saying the Nordic countries were “home to many terrorist organisations”. Finland’s plan to apply...
Swedish security report says NATO membership would deter conflict
A day after Finland’s leaders said the country must seek NATO membership for its own security’s sake, Sweden published a revised security policy review from parliamentary parties on Friday (13 May), highlighting the advantage of becoming a member of the...
Pushing Finland and Sweden into NATO was Putin’s key geopolitical miscalculation
What advocates of NATO membership in both Sweden and Finland failed to do in seven decades, Vladimir Putin achieved in a couple of weeks, and the geopolitical impact of their accession to NATO should not be underestimated, writes Tomi Huhtanen.
Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay, leaders say
Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Thursday (12 May) officially endorsed the idea that their country should join NATO.
NATO to welcome Nordic members as Ukraine pushes back Russian forces
Finland is expected to announce on Thursday (12 May) its intention to join NATO with Sweden likely to follow soon after, diplomats and officials said, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine reshapes European security and the Atlantic military alliance.
MEP: Finland’s mistrust towards Russia is increasing
In an interview with EURACTIV, Finnish Green MEP Alviina Alametsä said that a majority in parliament and the public in her country are now in favour of NATO membership, for which it hopes to have “some signals and symbols of support during a possible membership application”.
NATO says it’s ready to back Kyiv for years in war against Russia
NATO is ready to maintain its support for Ukraine in the war against Russia for years, including help for Kyiv to shift from Soviet-era weapons to modern Western arms and systems, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday (28 April).
Ramstein meeting gives birth to global ‘contact group’ to support Ukraine
Washington on Tuesday (26 April) said it would hold talks on a roughly monthly basis in Germany with allies inside and outside NATO to coordinate bolstering Ukraine's defence capabilities as it battles Russia's invasion.
US to host Ukraine-focused defence talks at Germany’s Ramstein air base
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will host Ukraine-focused defence talks with allies at Ramstein Air Base in Germany next week, the Pentagon said on Thursday (21 April).
The Brief – A brief guide to nuclear anxiety
Those who read this text have survived COVID and COVID anxiety. The pandemic is no longer such a threat but there is a new malady on the horizon: nuclear anxiety.
To face the Russian threat, Europeans need to spend together – not side by side
If European states are to make good on their promises to protect their interests and their continent, they will need to stand side by side, but invest together, write a group of scientific advisers to the Armament Industry European Research Group.
Finland to decide on NATO membership ‘within weeks’, Sweden could follow suit
Finland will take a decision about whether to apply to join NATO in the next few weeks, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Wednesday (13 April), underlining a shift in security perspectives since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Eyeing Russia, Finland and Sweden edge closer to a NATO future
Finland and Sweden are edging closer to joining NATO. Helsinki is expected to produce a report on the country's security policy this Thursday (13 April), which could present a key step toward its application.
Germany warns of spillover-effect of Ukraine war in Western Balkans
The German government has warned of Russia's destabilisation strategies, possibly challenging peace and stability in the Western Balkan region, most notably in the already dysfunctional Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
Benelux’ view on the implementation of the Strategic Compass
Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine and the return of war to the European continent served to sharpen the needle of the EU's Strategic Compass, write Kajsa Ollongren, Ludivine Dedonder and François Bausch.
The Brief – Towards a Central Alliance?
With Ukraine looking to secure its future, the time is ripe to rethink the future security architecture of a large part of the EU – its Eastern flank, which represents a fragile 'centre' between Russia and Western Europe.
Germany to ship additional weapons to Ukraine after weeks of stalling
Germany is reportedly preparing to provide Ukraine with weaponry worth €300 million after weeks of protracting shipments from German weapon manufacturers.
Deliver arms before the second wave comes down on Ukraine
To stop Russian imperialism and expansionism in Ukraine (which is in our best self-interest), the West must continue to deliver arms to Ukraine before it is too late. Only if Ukraine can blunt the sword of Russia’s second strike, may Vladimir Putin accept the fact that he can’t achieve his aims in Ukraine militarily, writes Gustav Gressel.
Stoltenberg’s NATO term extended by a year amid Ukraine war
NATO leaders have agreed to extend by one year Jens Stoltenberg's term as secretary-general of the alliance to avoid a lengthy leadership debate at a time when Russia's war on Ukraine poses the biggest security threat in decades.
NATO to supply Ukraine with equipment against chemical and nuclear weapons
NATO leaders will agree on additional support for Ukraine, which will also include protective equipment against a potential use of chemical and nuclear weapons in the country, the alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday (23 March).
The Brief – Where is the industrial force of Germany in this war?
Amid all the pacifist talk in Germany, those of us who are not defence reporters could easily forget that Germany is one of the world’s largest arms exporters. Whether this has been brought to bear in support of Kyiv is another question entirely.
Russia says will attack Slovakia’s S-300 missile supplies to Ukraine
Russia said on Friday (18 March) it will attack potential supply chains of S-300 air defence systems to Ukraine, following Slovakia’s statement that it is ready to send them to Ukraine if they are immediately replaced.
Russian invasion spurs European demand for US drones, missiles
European governments have approached the US government and defense contractors with a shopping list of arms including drones, missiles and missile defenses as the Russian invasion of Ukraine drives renewed demand for US weaponry.