Romania's Defense Minister Ionuț Moșteanu resigned today over false claims on his resume, marking the second time in recent weeks that a NATO country close to Russia has had to change its defense leadership.

"After a hiatus of nearly 30 years, France is set to announce the reintroduction of military service on Thursday in a further sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is remapping Europe’s security landscape." @politico.eu www.politico.eu/article/fran...

NEW: Europe is looking at joint offensive cyber operations and surprise military drills as Moscow steps up its campaign to destabilize NATO allies. w/ @laukaya.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/euro...

As US pulls back, NATO flexes its muscles in Romania. A large-scale military exercise on Europe’s eastern flank, dubbed Dacian Fall, aimed to deter a Russian aggression. With takes from @oanalungescu.bsky.social and Anca Agachi. www.politico.eu/article/unit...

This year’s annual military drill in Romania known as Dacian Fall carried extra weight. Part of NATO’s race to reinforce Europe’s eastern flank, it comes just a few weeks after Washington’s announced it will sharply reduce US troop levels in the country.

A Germany with Europe’s largest army, armed with cutting-edge tanks and missiles, is a far cry from the shambolic Bundeswehr once mocked for low morale and outdated gear. That new power comes with political and economic heft — and the bloc will have to adapt. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/germ...

Washington should scrap its plan to withdraw hundreds of troops from Romania, the country’s deputy defense minister Sorin Moldovan told POLITICO, arguing the decision could fuel Russian propaganda around NATO disunity.

Finally someone says out loud what everyone's been whispering for days. Washington should scrap its plan to withdraw hundreds of troops from Romania, the country’s deputy defense minister told @victorjack.bsky.social, arguing it sends the wrong political signal. www.politico.eu/article/roma...

Romania wants Europe's rearmament push to benefit all EU nations, not just the largest ones.

For Russia, France presents both a prime target and a weak flank to target in its hybrid war against Europe. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/red-...

France’s social, economic, cultural, religious and political divisions offer fertile ground for the Kremlin’s interference, several policymakers, academics and military officers told POLITICO. Story with @msolletty.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/red-...

France's newly appointed chief of defense, Gen. Fabien Mandon is preparing the nation's armed forces to be ready for a "shock, that would be a kind of test" from Russia.

Donald Trump threatened to slap tariffs on Spain over its lax defense spending, calling Madrid's refusal to meet NATO's 5 percent defense spending target “unbelievably disrespectful.” www.politico.eu/article/dona...

🇫🇷 Two women will lead defense policy in the new government: Catherine Vautrin as armed forces minister and Alice Rufo as her deputy.

It's Monday. There's a political crisis in France. We've got a live blog going if — like us — you're wondering WTF just happened. www.politico.eu/article/fran...

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu unveiled key members of his new government today, ending weeks of uncertainty following his appointment last month.

France’s new armed forces minister is France’s old economy minister, namely Bruno Le Maire

Turns out, some EU members are more directly threatened by Russia than others and their different threat perceptions affects their openness to common spending on counter drone measures. www.politico.eu/article/ursu...

Emmanuel Macron is currently working on "updating" France's nuclear doctrine and will make a speech about it in early 2026. www.faz.net/aktuell/poli...

East-West divide on EU's drone wall The project is backed by frontline nations including Baltic states and Poland, but criticized by France, Germany and Italy. www.politico.eu/article/fran...

The European Commission yesterday proposed four key defense projects — including a drone wall to block Russian aerial aggression.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed skepticism about the concept of a “drone wall” to protect eastern countries against Russian aerial incursions — a project currently being pushed hard by the European Commission. www.politico.eu/article/germ...

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius pours cold water on the drone wall at the @warsawforum.bsky.social: "We won't have a drone wall in 3 or 4 years."

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur says at the @warsawforum.bsky.social that Estonia "had to unclassify some of the radar information to show that Russia is lying" about violating the country's airspace.

I am at the @warsawforum.bsky.social with @jancienski.bsky.social — come say hi if you’re around!

The European Commission will work on technical and financial details to build a drone wall to protect Europe against Russia, after a series of airspace violations by Moscow's warplanes and unmanned aerial vehicles.

FCAS latest — France is now also floating a plan B in case talks with Germany fail on the next generation fighter jet: Build the warplane alone www.politico.eu/article/fran...

What are NATO’s rules of engagement? How can they be changed? Why didnt NATO shot down the Russian warplanes last week? Read our explainer, with @victorjack.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/nato...

How is NATO balancing deterrence and defense in responding to Russia’s repeated airspace violations? Read this @politico.eu article by @laukaya.bsky.social with my take ✈️ @rusi.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/nato...

Donald Trump caught officials off guard with his most pro-Ukraine statement to date — a bold assertion that Kyiv can not only win its war against Russia, but also take back every inch of territory it’s lost.

Russia's repeated violations of NATO airspace in the past few weeks are raising a difficult question for the alliance: Whether to respond by shooting down Russian aircraft.

Pouring fuel to the FCAS fire anyone? www.politico.eu/article/dass...

🚨 BREAKING: Three Russian fighter jets flew into Estonian airspace today in a serious escalation on NATO’s eastern border. Read the developing story: ow.ly/rBwh50WZpov

Russia has significantly escalated strikes on Ukraine since President Trump took office, data shows, defying his call for peace by increasing the range of buildings hit, including civilian ones.

The German military is pressing for a dramatic expansion of its ranks by 2029 and beyond as it looks to become Europe's dominant army, according to a classified memo obtained by POLITICO.

Denmark has chosen the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system over US Patriots, in a massive win for Paris and a blow to Donald Trump.

NATO isn’t ready yet for Russia’s drones. More than three years after the war in Ukraine started, allies don’t have cost-effective counter-measures to deal with cheap Russian attacks. www.politico.eu/article/russ...

Denmark has chosen the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system over the US Patriot. Massive win for Paris and first clear consequence of Trump's European policy on arms sales. www.fmn.dk/da/nyheder/2...

Revealed: Apple is teaching its AI to adapt to the Trump era www.politico.eu/article/appl... By @heroceane.bsky.social

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants the EU to help front-line countries monitor and defend their borders against potential Russian aggression — backing a long-standing request from Poland and Baltic nations. www.politico.eu/article/von-...

Newly appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will have to hit the ground running, taking the reins of government just as protesters seek to bring France to a grinding halt.

I am old enough to remember that Hungary originally abstained on the SAFE regulation (as the only EU country). Buy Orban is certainly not one to say no to EU money if it comes without rule of law conditionality.

SAFE: The European Commission published a tentative allocation of the €150 billion loans-for-weapons scheme among EU countries. Poland, Romania, France and Hungary are set to receive the biggest sums — respectively €43.7 billion, €16.6 billion, €16.2 billion and €16.2 billion.

Qui est Sébastien Lecornu ? Le « survivant » politique de la France – et peut-être le prochain Premier ministre. septembre 4, 2025 5:02 pm CET Par @laukaya.bsky.social @politico.com www.politico.eu/article/seba...

France's prime minister is likely to be ousted — again — and political turmoil risks delaying the country's pledge to boost defense spending, amid increasing worry about the Russia threat and Donald Trump's commitment to European security.

Donald Trump vowed today to keep American troops in Poland, adding he could even increase their numbers. “We’ll put more there if they want,” Trump told journalists at a meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. “They’ll be staying in Poland.” www.politico.eu/article/dona...

I dug into the Israeli entities that have received EU funding. Here’s what I found - www.irishtimes.com/world/middle...

Growing international instability is prompting France and Germany to break a decades-old taboo by opening talks on how France’s nuclear deterrent could underpin Europe’s security.

France and Germany will open a "strategic dialogue" on how French nuclear weapons can contribute to Europe's security. www.politico.eu/article/fran...