One unexpected victim of Russia’s drone invasions of Poland’s airspace and the Zapad military exercise is China. Days before Russia and its ally Belarus began military exercises to practice an attack on NATO’s eastern flank, the Kremlin probed alliance air defenses in Poland. The unprecedented seven-hour long incursion seemed designed...
Is Germany joining the trend of politics shaping media freedom?
In Germany, a dispute over public broadcasting has reached the political spotlight. Julia Ruhs, a journalist and presenter of Klar, a programme that often covered right-wing themes such as immigration, has been dropped by Germany’s public broadcaster NDR. The decision triggered a strong reaction from the Christian Democrats. Their general...
Russia’s new Potemkin cities
Constant destruction from the war has brought massive challenges for people in the region, and Moscow has repeatedly botched its response, failing to deliver a decent life for those it now claims as citizens. Water supplies have suffered since the 2022 full-scale invasion, and nine out of 10 reservoirs in...
Russian’s interest in this autumn’s Czech and Moldova elections
In the coming weeks, both Moldova and the Czech Republic will hold elections. In Moldova, authorities estimate the Kremlin will spend €100m — €31 per registered voter — to influence the outcome. In the Czech Republic, Kremlin-linked outlets are pumping out more content each day than the country’s major news...
Ukraine: The Coming Storm
Ukraine must be properly financed by Europe or unthinkable consequences will follow. Decision-time is fast approaching. A crisis is drawing ever closer. It will break in Ukraine, but it won’t begin on the frontlines, where the country’s battle-weary brigades continue to impose a cost on the Russian invader. The coming...
France proposes ceiling on UK Defence components in €150bn EU fund
France has proposed limiting the share of British-produced military components in the EU’s €150bn defence fund, a move that could complicate negotiations over the UK’s entry into the scheme. According to diplomatic sources, French officials suggested a 50% ceiling on the value of UK components in projects financed through the...
Who is France’s new PM?
The political storm in France continues with new players but the same problems: paralysis in parliament, financial strain, and mounting social unrest. In the midst of this turbulence, President Emmanuel Macron once again turned to a trusted ally, Sébastien Lecornu. But what do we know about France’s new Prime minister?...
European defense cooperation: Patria 6×6 and Latvia’s drone contribution to Ukraine
Latvia has transferred another group of Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to the Latvian Ministry of Defense on September 16. Along with the vehicles, Riga supplied additional equipment to support Ukrainian units. Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds that his country will maintain its support for Ukraine for as long as necessary. “In the hands...
Trump calls for Nato allies and the EU to stop buying Russian oil
This weekend, US President Donald Trump once again made waves in Brussels with a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. In what he described as a “letter to Nato nations,” Trump demanded that every member state stop buying Russian oil and gas. His message was blunt, as long...
Russia’s Zapad-2025
Regardless of its size, Russia is once again focusing on its NATO neighbors. In September, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council claimed that Finland was preparing for war, an accusation previously made against the Baltic States, even as Moscow rebuilds a significant military presence along NATO’s eastern flank. This...