China slams Germany for sending naval ships through Taiwan Strait
Beijing says German navy’s first transit in 20 years “increases security risks.”
Boris Pistorius
Germanyโs defense minister on Putinโs war threat: Yawn
Berlin hasnโt provided Ukraine with long-range missiles, citing the risk of war, but suggested it would be fine for the U.S. and U.K. to do so.
Berlin wants to pump defense spending numbers by including military mobility
Germany wants to keep defense spending at 2 percent of GDP, but budget constraints make that difficult.
Philippines, Germany commit to reaching defence pact this year
The Philippines and Germany on Sunday (4 August) committed to signing a defence cooperation arrangement this year, vowing to uphold international rules-based order in the region as tensions flare over disputed areas of the South China Sea.
TEST TEST Bundestag 2025: Wer in Niedersachsen in den Wahlkampf zieht
BERLIN โ Wer es in Niedersachsen schafft, kannย Kanzler,ย Bundesprรคsidentย oderย EU-Kommissionsprรคsidentinย werden. Immerhin ist das Flรคchenland nach Nordrhein-Westfalen und Bayernย derย drittgrรถรte Landesverband im Bundestag. Die SPD Zwei Sozialdemokraten haben ihren Abschied angekรผndigt: Susanne Mittagย undย Bernd Westphal. Weitere Abgรคnge werden nicht erwartet. Dafรผr einen Zugang, der dringend einen Wahlkreis sucht:ย Boris Pistorius. Der Verteidigungsminister war 2023 ins Kabinett aus dem niedersรคchsischen Landtag berufen [โฆ]
Bundestag 2025: Wer in Niedersachsen in den Wahlkampf zieht
In 14 Monaten wird im Bund gewรคhlt. Die Landesverbรคnde haben mit der Vorbereitung auf die Wahl begonnen โ wir tauchen ein in die Welt der Wahlkreise.
Is IRISยฒ heading for a rethink?
SNEAK PEEK โ The EUโs IRISยฒ satellite communications network project is increasingly troubled. โ NATO seeks to make procuring arms faster, the allianceโs procurement agency boss Stacy Cummings told me. โ The U.K. and Germany team up on defense as fears grow that U.S. presidential contender Donald Trump will ditch Ukraine if he wins in [โฆ]
UK and Germany want to put security relations โon a new footingโ
Visiting British Defence Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius signed a declaration on Wednesday (24 July) intending to forge a comprehensive new security partnership as the new UK government seeks to build closer relations w…
Britain and Germany team up on defense as fears grow Trump will ditch Ukraine
Britain’s new Labour government is seeking deeper military ties with Germany and France.
Lockheed Martin gears up for laser wars
SNEAK PEEK โ Lockheed Martin is working on laser technology, a top executive told Josh. โ Dassault Aviation CEO รric Trappier is troubled by the uncertainty of Franceโs political situation. โ European Parliament: Renew Europeโs Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann will lead the SEDE subcommittee and the EPPโsย Borys Budka will head ITRE. Good morning, and welcome to Morning [โฆ]
Germany slashes Ukraine funding in savings push
German leaders plan to halve aid to Ukraine just as Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election looks increasingly likely.
Europe eyes Swedenโs conscription model to solve troop shortage
Germany, the Netherlands and others are looking at Swedenโs system which screens over 100,000 teenagers a year.
German senior ministers torpedo compulsory military service plans
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD/S&D) could be forced to water down a new conscription model to be introduced in 2025 after senior ministers from the junior coalition partner FDP said they would not support compulsory elements.
German defence minister deplores meagre military spending
Boris Pistoriusโ criticism comes on eve of Nato summit in Washington
Trumpโs plan for NATO is emerging
Trump advisers envision a โradical reorientationโ in which Washington takes a back seat to Europe โ and cuts a deal with Putin over Ukraine.
Germany, Poland warn against French far-right threat looming over Ukraine support
German and Polish defence ministers, meeting for talks with their French counterpart on Monday (24 June), warned against the risks of a French government coalition with the far-right and stressed that support for Ukraine was “not open for debate”.
France deepens military ties with Germany, Poland ahead of risky snap election
There is fear that a far-right victory could upend France’s foreign and military policy.
The โฌ40 billion budget gap that could kill Germanyโs coalition
Following a calamitous EU election for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition, the government may not survive a prolonged dispute over the budget.
Germans gear up for war with more paperwork
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius looks to ramp up the Bundeswehr’s ability to recruit and train young Germans.
Germany presents new military service model to start conscription from next yearย
After months of teasing the reintroduction of conscription, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Wednesday (12 June) presented a new military service model for Germany, saying he wants to start recruiting 5,000 conscripts a year from 2025.ย
Die Selenskyj-Rede und die Folgen fรผr die Politik
Prรคsentiert von eBay.
For King and country? Europeโs young may not be willing to fight
โThe price of unchecked tyranny is the blood of the young and the brave,โ Biden said at the Day-Day commemoration. But checking tyranny comes at a price โ and one the Westโs young donโt seem ready to pay.
Germany must be ready for war by 2029, defense minister warns
“We must not believe that Putin will stop at Ukraineโs ย borders,” Boris Pistorius says.
German defence minister teases โnew typeโ of conscription, reiterates โno troops in Ukraineโ
Germany’s Bundeswehr urgently needs to prepare for potential Russian attacks with a new form of conscription, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned on Wednesday (5 June) and doubled down on his opposition to sending ground troops to Ukraine.
EU defense commissioner: The flashy new job that ainโt all itโs cracked up to be
The bloc’s military powers are so weak that big names are likely to want a better Brussels post than defense chief.
Trump ally has tough love for Europe
Tipped for a major national security role if Trump is reelected, Elbridge Colby has made clear the transatlantic relationship will only be healthy if Europe pulls its weight.
Doppel-รrger fรผr von der Leyenย
Das Briefing dazu, wie sich Entscheidungen in Brรผssel auf Sie auswirken. Mit dem Wissen des grรถรten Newsrooms der europรคischen Hauptstadt. Im Browser anzeigen oder hier anhรถren von JรRGEN KLรCKNER Mit LAURA HรLSEMANN und JULIUS BRINKMANN DIE TOP-THEMEN โ Von der Leyen 1: Spaniens Umweltministerin gilt als aussichtsreiche Kandidatin fรผr einen Kommissions-Posten. An ihrer mรถglichen kรผnftigen [โฆ]
Germanyโs Pistorius uses US trip to push for more defense spending at home
As the defense minister sought to assure American leaders that Germany can defend Europe, his coalition government bickered over how to pay for it.
Ukraine reicht geplantes Milliardenpaket nicht
Das Briefing dazu, wie sich Entscheidungen in Brรผssel auf Sie auswirken. Mit dem Wissen des grรถรten Newsrooms der europรคischen Hauptstadt. Im Browser anzeigen oder hier anhรถren von JรRGEN KLรCKNER Mit LAURA HรLSEMANN und JULIUS BRINKMANN DIE TOP-THEMEN โ Ukraine fordert mehr Hilfen: Justizminister Maljuska kritisiert im POLITICO-Interview die Entscheidung der EU, nur die Zinseinnahmen auf [โฆ]
Greece, Spain will refuse to send Ukraine air defense systems
Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s launcher hopes dashed in Athens and Madrid.
As Biden, Sunak pledge more cruise missiles for Ukraine, Germanyโs Scholz adamant on Taurus refusal
The German chancellor and his defense minister have doubled down on their decision not to send long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Germany targets air defense ramp-up as Berlin corrals allies behind Ukraine
Berlin is reportedly assessing whether to boost its order of Patriot missile systems from the U.S.
NATOโs Stoltenberg asks allies to give air defense systems to Ukraine
The call comes as Germany plans an ‘Immediate Action on Air Defence’ initiative to persuade NATO partners to act.
Germany announces reforms of Bundeswehr to get โready for warโ
To bring Germany’s ailing armed forces back on track, the government is reorganising its operative command and making cyber and IT a full-fledged military branch on par with the navy, air force and ground forces, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announ…
Defense chief revamps German military to prepare for war
The goal is to make the German military more efficient as it prepares for the challenge posed by an aggressive Russia.
Germany and France announce โbreakthroughโ for joint tank project plus defence production in Ukraine
Defence ministers Boris Pistorius and Sรฉbastien Lecornu shared major breakthroughs on bilateral defence collaboration on Friday (22 March), announcing that both countries will officially start developing a new tank as well as produce military equipment…
Germany announces next โฌ500m military aid package for Ukraine
Germany will send nearly 200 vehicles and 10,000 artillery shells worth โฌ500 million to help Ukraine fight back against Russian aggression, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Tuesday.
US to Ukraine: Heed our words, not our actions
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin didn’t have much to offer Kyiv during a meeting of allies organizing military aid for Ukraine.
Germany promises more artillery ammunition for Ukraine
Berlin is promising โan aid package worth almost half a billion euros.โ
Germany mulls reintroducing conscription
Germany should return to conscription from 2025, the parliament’s armed forces commissioner said on Tuesday (12 March) as the defence ministry is working on a new model inspired by Nordic countries.
Scholz, Macron and Tusk to meet in Berlin to hash out differences on Ukraine
Summit comes amid heightened tensions between Berlin and Paris.
Germany accuses UKโs Ben Wallace of falling into โRussian trapโ by criticizing intel leak
Miguel Berger says call leaked over a hotel line was a ‘very professional talk about the use of long-range missiles.’
Ukraine war briefing: Macron says donโt be โcowardsโ as he digs in over ground troops remark
French president says he does not want escalation but allies cannot โlook away and let things run their courseโ โ what we know on day 742See all our coverage of the war in UkraineEmmanuel Macron has urged Ukraineโs allies not to be โcowardsโ in support…
Macronโs โcowardsโ remark ignites Franco-German spat
Berlin says French president’s approach ‘does not really help.’
Individual error let Moscow intercept military call, Germany says
One of the generals on conference call about Ukraine used non-secure line to dial in, says defence ministerUkraine war โ live updatesGermanyโs defence minister has said that one of the generals on a military conference call on Ukraine that was intercep…
Berlin blames Taurus call leak on officer logging in via insecure Singapore hotel line
Germany is scrambling to clean up the damage following an embarrassing leak of secret information to the Russians.
Putinโs masterful spy op leaves Scholz in the cold
Moscow’s espionage coup has divided Western allies, discredited Scholz and hampered Kyiv’s push for weapons.
Germany scrambles to plug military audio leak
As Berlin calls out “hybrid disinformation attack,” others tell it to fix its communications.
Germany warns of Russian information war after wiretapping scandal
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned on Sunday of the growing threat of a Russian information war after a phone conversation between German officials was intercepted and leaked to Russian media.
Germany accuses Moscow of โdisinformation attackโ in leaking senior officersโ call
Russia obtained a call by German officers discussing a hypothetical export of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Leaked audio shows Germany discussed possible Taurus missiles delivery to Ukraine: Reports
German military officials also discussed possible targets including the Kerch Bridge linking Russia and occupied Crimea, according to media reports.
How Germany is learning to love its army
If Germany really is coming to terms with the notion of hard power for a moral purpose, Boris Pistorius will have played no small part in that.
Trump triggers Germanyโs nuclear nightmare
German leaders fear confronting Putin’s menace without the protection of America’s nuclear umbrella.
Russia gearing up for decade-long duel with West, Estonia warns
Intelligence service notes significant rise in Russian military production.
Western Europe canโt ignore its eastern allies
The security concerns of Central and Eastern Europe need to be addressed โ albeit not in the maximalist manner some hawks seem to advocate.
We need to be ready for war withย Putin, Romaniaโs top general says
Gheorghiศฤ Vlad issued a stark warning about the state of the nation’s army, calling for immediate action.
German defence minister says military is unfit for problems Europe faces
Boris Pistorius says Germany must be ready to confront Putin as he considers allowing non-nationals to join armed forcesGermanyโs defence minister has called for a โserious national debateโ about the future of the countryโs military, arguing that in it…
German defense minister doesnโt โknow anythingโ about missile swap with UK
London reportedly wants to get Germany’s Taurus cruise missiles and then send its Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.
British public should be ready to fight Putin, UK army chief says
Brits need mental ‘shift’ to be ready for major conflict, General Patrick Sanders says.
Baltic states plan common defense zone on Russia border as security concerns mountย
Estonia to build hundreds of bunkers on eastern frontier to deter the Kremlin’s possible aggression.
Putin could attack NATO in โ5 to 8 years,โ German defense minister warns
Europe sounds the alarm amid growing concern that the Russian president’s veiled threats against the military alliance could turn real.
Breton aims for โhugeโ โฌ100B defense fund
The EU’s internal market chief also insisted the bloc will meet its target of supplying a million artillery shells to Ukraine by the spring.
Germany holds its nose, paving the way for future jet fighter sale to Saudi Arabia
Berlin had come under fierce pressure from Riyadh, the UK and arms companies to change position.
In Germany, local politics holds up weapons for Ukraine
Europe’s efforts to boost arms production and help Ukraine to fend off Russia’s invasion are facing an unexpected obstacle in a German local government.
Germany puts its troops in the line of fire if Russia attacks NATO
Berlin is moving with unaccustomed speed to station a new armored tank brigade in a Lithuanian area strategists see as being at risk of a Russian attack.
Berlin says EU should prepare for war by end of decade
Europe could face threats from Russia by the end of the decade, and EU countries need to build up their defence industries to be prepared, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said during an interview published on Welt am Sonntagย on Saturday.
Europe must boost military capacity to counter Russia threat: German defense chief
With US shifting attention to the Pacific, Europe has to increase its commitment to defense, Boris Pistorius tells Welt am Sonntag.
France backtracks on EU-only ammo for Ukraine
But before Paris throws in the towel, it first wants proof that the EU will actually miss its target of sending 1 million rounds by March.
German defense minister announces โฌ1.3B weapons package during visit to Kyiv
Germany said it will continue to stand with Ukraine, but still wonโt provide Taurus missiles.
More than 10,000 civilians killed in Ukraine in war, UN says; Berlin unveils ยฃ1.1bn military aid package โ as it happened
UN says expects real toll to be significantly higher than official tally; Germany to send IRIS-T air defence unit, defence minister Boris Pistorius says. This live blog is closedWhat we know on day 636 of the invasionRussia cannot coexist with the curr…
Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 636
Moscow has not used โpremierโ cruise missiles in two months, allowing it to stockpile weapons, UK believesSee all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageRussia has not used its โpremier air launched cruise missilesโ from its heavy bomber fleet for nearly two m…
Ukraine hopes for more air defenses from Germanyโs spending boost
Berlin will debate doubling the military aid budget for Ukraine; Kyiv is counting on help to keep its skies clear.
Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 630
Russia worse off after losses from Avdiivka battle, says Zelenskiy; occupiers erasing Ukrainian literature in Donetsk and LuhanskSee all our Ukraine war coverageGreater losses inflicted on Russian forces near Avdiivka will make Russiaโs overall positio…
EU to miss target of supplying Ukraine with 1m artillery shells, Germany says
Defence minister Boris Pistorius confirms what diplomats and officials have suspected for monthsRussia-Ukraine war โ latest news updatesThe EU will miss its target of supplying Ukraine with 1m artillery shells and missiles by next March, the German def…
Germanyโs Pistorius says EU will fall short of million shell pledge to Ukraine
Countries closer to the frontlines are taking the pledge more seriously.
Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 628
Pro-Ukraine fighters in Russia โkill colonel of security serviceโ; Russian forces try to regain territory around Bakhmut; temporary lull in Avdiivka battleSee all our Ukraine coverageReports said Russians fighting on the side of Ukraine killed a colone…
Germany aims for a โwar-readyโ military
It’s the most momentous shift in German defense priorities since 2011.
France spins its Ukraine aid
SNEAK PEEK โ The numbers show that France is a laggard when it comes to arming Ukraine, but a parliament report argues that itโs doing better than suggested. โ Airbus is complaining that the German government is blocking Eurofighter sales to Saudi Arabia. โ Germany spells out the details of its future troop deployment to [โฆ]
ESA agrees on space cargo mission
SNEAK PEEK โ After the European Space Agency agreed on a plan to launch a cargo spaceflight mission by 2028, thereโs a space-focused Competitiveness Council today. โ Russia reported damage to a telecommunications cable connecting St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, and the Finnish Coast Guard suspects it could be linked to damage sustained by other Baltic [โฆ]
European Space Agency meeting to dodge manned spaceflight
SNEAK PEEK โ The European Space Agency will hold a meeting today in Spain, to discuss the long-delayed Ariane 6 rocket system. โ France is muscling into new defense contracts in countries Russia considers its sphere of influence. โ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired his special operations forces commander without explanation. Goodย morning, and welcomeย toย Morningย Defense. Tips [โฆ]
Orbรกn wants Ukraine to โnegotiateโ for military aid cash
SNEAK PEEK โ As EU leaders meet again today, Viktor Orbรกn is still refusing to free more cash for military aid to Kyiv. โ Ammunition: Beyond the pace of production, the next biggest issue is cost. โ In Ukraine, the future of warfare is a $400 drone killing a $2 million tank. Good morning, and [โฆ]
European Space Agency mulls extra Ariane 6 cash
SNEAK PEEK โ The European Space Agency is assessing the spiralling costs of the long-delayed Ariane 6 rocket program. โ The German parliamentโs budgetary committee approved โฌ4.4 billion for air defenses and weapons to Ukraine. โ U.S. arms makers are very worried about a possible supply squeeze thanks to wars happening in both Israel and [โฆ]
Ukraine strikes Russian airfield with ATACMS missiles
SNEAK PEEK โ Ukrainian forces fired American-supplied ATACMS missiles, striking a Russian airfield in occupied Ukraine and marking the first known use of the long-range weapon. โ Multinational military exercises kicked off in Spain this week, in what is the first time the EU has led and organized wargames independently of NATO. โ An underwater [โฆ]
Breton wants more time on EU defense investment plan
SNEAK PEEK โ Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton will tell the College of Commissioners today that he needs a bit more time to draft up a long-term financing scheme for Europeโs military. โ Retired U.S. General Ben Hodges sees significant progress being made by Ukraine, despite the fact theyโve not gotten long-range strike capabilities from [โฆ]
Hungaryโs deadlock on Ukraine defense cash
SNEAK PEEK โ EU leaders could approve a further โฌ500 million payment to cover military aid to Ukraine at their summit on October 26 and 27. โ A small group of U.S. senators want Defense Secretary Loyd Austin to dispatch unused Iron Dome batteries to Israel. โ France is including Germany and Spain in its [โฆ]
NATO backs Israel and warns Iran to stay away
Western allies promised more weapons to Israel, but there were worries about a disproportionate response in Gaza.
Israelโs defense minister dials into NATO ministerial
SNEAK PEEK โ Today is Israelโs big day at the NATO summit, but on Wednesday Ukraine got to press its case for more aid. โ NATO ministers will discuss what happened to a Finnish-Estonian gas pipeline, with suspicions that Moscow may be involved. โ The French and Armenian defense ministers will talk, as Paris sticks [โฆ]
France, Germany to speed up future joint battle tank programme
The Defence ministers vowed their commitment to developing the future franco-german made battle tank and presented the next steps, after years of slow progress and rumours of Berlin’s withdrawal from the project.