EU abruptly shelves Kallas-led defense panel after pushback from Berlin, Paris, Rome
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas scrapped plans to launch a high-level advisory group on European defense just hours before its scheduled unveiling.
Europe
Croatia buys South Korean rocket artillery after HIMARS purchase from the US
In the aftermath of the Iran war, the U.S. government has flagged possible delays in deliveries of military gear, including HIMARS ammunition.
European NATO nations reduce reliance on US arms imports: SIPRI data
European governments are spending more defense money in South Korea, France and Israel, according to a new analysis.
Patriot production delays prompt Switzerland to seek European air-defense fallback
The country will also buy fewer Lockheed Martin F-35 jets than initially planned after unit costs of the fighter increased.
Italy, allies send warships to protect Europe’s southeastern edge from Iran strikes
“With Spain, France and Holland, we will send naval assets to protect Cyprus in the next few days,” Guido Crosetto told Italy’s parliament in a statement.
France, Germany create panel to advance shared nuclear deterrence plans
The Franco-German initiative appears to carry the tacit backing of the Trump administration, according to comments by a top Pentagon official.
Novel interceptor drones bend air-defense economics in Ukraine’s favor
Artificial intelligence plays no role yet in interception missions — today it is still manual ramming or close-in detonation.
French-German fighter program on life support as Dassault blames Airbus
“If Airbus maintains its position of not wanting to work with Dassault, the matter is dead,” said Dassault boss Eric Trappier.
Pending tanker purchase spotlights choice for Poland: buy European or US?
Warsaw is lining up military acquisitions under an EU loan scheme that comes with a preference for European vendors as a prerequisite.
France sends aircraft carrier to Mediterranean as Middle East flares up
France is also working on a coalition to pool assets, including military, that will allow shipping traffic to resume through key chokepoints in the region.
Greece deploys warships, jets to Cyprus after drone strikes on UK air base Akrotiri
The U.K. also is considering sending one of its own air-defense warships to the region, The Times of London reported.
