Yesterday the Belgian #Army held its annual Land Day, with as highlight the presentation of our first Griffon vehicle.
In his speech, the commander of the Army stressed that deterrence is not the same as threatening. We must show force without facilitating escalation.
Too often, the media translate this as “preparing for war”. This is exactly the opposite of what we’re doing.
We are preparing for peace. An armed peace from a position of strength. 
Is NATO ready for drone warfare?
After recent drone incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace, NATO has launched Operation Eastern Sentry to strengthen its eastern flank.
How serious is the threat from Russia? And can NATO deter future provocations?
The EU's new strategy to lure India away from Russia's orbit.
The EU has proposed better strategic ties with India to pull New Delhi closer to Europe and away from Russia.
While a trade deal is currently in focus, the EU also looks to boost defence cooperation.
The EU has nominal limits on members' spending.
It enforces budget limits for nurses and public services; and authorizes overreach for the military.
It enforces budget limits on countries like Greece and Portugal; and authorizes overreach of Germany:
https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-approves-germanys-mega-spending-plan/
As negotiations for the UK to enter the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence funding scene remains stalled, Rebecca Christie, senior fellow at Bruegel notes:
'Defence is the UK’s best hope for a serious new collaboration with the EU. To make it work, the UK should be more proactive & quickly offer Brussels a fair fee for joining the EU’s new joint procurement scheme so that British firms can be eligible for a greater share of contracts'!
In other words stop haggling!
Zelenskyy calls for European air defence amid deadly Russian strikes.
“Now is the time to implement the joint protection of our European skies with a multilayered air defense system. All the technologies for this are available,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Zelenskyy said on Tuesday.
Losing the quiet war
China’s greatest success in its decades-long quiet war is its systematic erosion of the ability of US allies and partners to defend themselves and its aim of ‘winning without fighting’ is now within sight. #defence
Losing the quiet war
China’s greatest success in its decades-long quiet war is its systematic erosion of the ability of US allies and partners to defend themselves and its aim of ‘winning without fighting’ is now within sight. #defence
Through a glass, darkly
NATO forecaster Florence Gaub says that strategic foresight isn’t about guessing the future, it’s about equipping leaders to face it with agility, humility and imagination. The more you think about the future in a structured way, the more optimistic you become. #defence
Through a glass, darkly
NATO forecaster Florence Gaub says that strategic foresight isn’t about guessing the future, it’s about equipping leaders to face it with agility, humility and imagination. The more you think about the future in a structured way, the more optimistic you become. #defence
Special forces
Observers and practitioners of intelligence and special operations would do well to study the activities of Israel’s clandestine services and elite military units since 7 October 2023. They demonstrate the potency of creative clandestine operations, strategic patience and operational aggression. #defence
Special forces
Observers and practitioners of intelligence and special operations would do well to study the activities of Israel’s clandestine services and elite military units since 7 October 2023. They demonstrate the potency of creative clandestine operations, strategic patience and operational aggression. #defence
Von der Leyen: Economic boost just as urgent as #defence spending https://www.euractiv.com/news/von-der-leyen-economic-boost-just-as-urgent-as-defence-spending/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon
Brussels approves Germany’s mega spending plan.
Germany has received the European Commission’s blessing to massively expand its budget – even though its proposed plan will initially exceed EU spending limits – to allow more investment in defence and infrastructure.
Von der Leyen: Economic boost just as urgent as #defence spending: Italian technocrat Mario Draghi warned Europe's economic challenges have 'grown more acute' over the past year https://www.euractiv.com/news/von-der-leyen-economic-boost-just-as-urgent-as-defence-spending/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=dlvr.it
Sweden to boost #defence spending to meet NATO target https://www.euractiv.com/news/sweden-to-boost-defence-spending-to-meet-nato-target/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon
Given that most defence contractors need to employ UK nationals, the expansion in employment driven by the Military Keynesianism of the current Labour Govt. has (further) exposed the country's dependence on migrant labour.... it appears that often UK defence firms are finding they are turning away the best potential applicants due to their nationality.
Once again this emphasises the need for the UK to get a grip on workers' training & pre-employment skills training.
Russian drones over Poland: NATO response as it happened through the night.
German newspaper WELT reconstructs events the night of NATO’s most serious security incident in decades.
How #trump policies are directing billions of dollars of #defence spending away from the US to Europe. https://youtu.be/3I0dJQV0r2o?feature=shared
Kyiv puts #defence needs for 2026 at $120 billion – even if Russia’s war ends https://www.euractiv.com/news/kyiv-puts-defence-needs-for-2026-at-120-billion-even-if-russias-war-ends/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon
