#FCAS — Berlin declares the Franco-German fighter jet dead in blow to Emmanuel Macron. The failure is likely to tarnish his defense legacy. The Elysée hinted the decision to pull the plug for good was made unilaterally by Germany. www.politico.eu/article/berl...

France's top general said out loud what French defense circles have been whispering for months: France could fall behind Germany. "For the Americans, Germany is gradually becoming the European benchmark." www.politico.eu/article/fran...

Norway will join France's nuclear deterrence talks — alongside Germany, Poland, Sweden and several others.

Sweden announced today it has chosen France's Naval Group to provide four Luleå-class frigates — a significant milestone in the deepening Franco-Swedish defense relation.

"National Rally amendments to the French updated military planning law give a detailed glimpse into their defense ideas" www.politico.eu/article/fran...

France’s far-right National Rally is calling for even higher military spending than the current government has proposed. But its MPs insist defense policy decisions should be taken in Paris, not Brussels. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/fran...

#LPM — Le projet de loi actualisant la loi de programmation militaire est désormais en ligne www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/texte...

France's government has presented its updated military planning law, with an extra €36 billion for defense by 2030. Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the aim is to be able to face "potential major deployment" in an unpredictable timeframe.

Europe needs to develop its own artificial intelligence capabilities to ensure its militaries can’t be “turned off” by foreign adversaries, Arthur Mensch, the CEO of Europe’s leading AI company warned today.

“There is a kind of contest playing out between legacy [defense] players and new entrants," NATO's Pierre Vandier, told @politico.eu “There are 2 possible outcomes. Either the startups eventually get absorbed into the legacy world. Or the clash turns more violent" www.politico.eu/article/west...

A new generation of defense startups is taking on the world’s biggest arms-makers in a cutthroat competition — and gaining ground.

France mulls new tank (!!) and plans to increase munitions stockpiles up to 400% www.politico.eu/article/fran...

Trump says he’s considering pulling out of NATO www.politico.eu/article/us-d...

EXCLUSIVE: France is rewriting its war playbook using lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, as it prepares for a possible confrontation with Russia later this decade.

Must-read:

France is rewriting its war playbook using lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, the French air force's deputy chief told @politico.eu Both conflicts are shaping imminent decisions on what weapons Paris will develop, buy and deploy. www.politico.eu/article/how-...

Quite a few announcements from Sébastien Lecornu this week: - France will spend €8,5 billion for munitions by 2030 - Launch of a wholesale purchasing platform called France Munitions via an SPV - New powers to overlook norms and rules in case of threat www.politico.eu/article/fran...

"Sébastien Lecornu reçoit à 15 heures à Matignon ministres et hauts gradés pour parler de l’économie de guerre — une réunion prévue il y a quelques jours, puis décalée pour cause de conseil de défense" ( @laukaya.bsky.social)

The French government will propose creating a new legal framework to let the state ignore or adapt national laws when the country faces a threat, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced today.

Denmark's chief of defense staff has warned that European countries are not yet ready for war. "We have to change our mindset from diagnosis to delivery. We’re no longer very surprised but we’re not also really ready," he said.

Denmark's ambassador to France says at the Paris Defense and Strategy Forum that Copenhagen's purchase of the Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG air defense system is "the largest defense investment in Danish history"

French President Emmanuel Macron demanded that industry shift to a war footing in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, but four years on the results are disappointing.

Fighter jet plot twist! Poland is looking at joining the Global Combat Air Programme fighter jet project led by Italy, the U.K. and Japan, a Polish minister said Thursday. pro.politico.eu/news/215221

#FCAS groundhog day France and Germany will try one more time to agree on how to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet — with a deadline in April. www.politico.eu/article/fran...

Emmanuel Macron urges defense companies to "take risks" without waiting for contracts: "We need manufacturers who can sometimes anticipate future orders. The future is pretty clear: we’ll need to keep investing. Sometimes, don’t wait for the contract to be signed, we’ve always kept our word."

The Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG has a new opening in Europe. Switzerland is looking to purchase a Europe-made air defense system to make up for American delays, as Patriot deliveries are now expected to be pushed back by four or five years. pro.politico.eu/news/214368

The war in Iran will lead to delays in U.S. weapons deliveries to Europe, Poland's defense minister has said.

FCAS in a nutshell: Emmanuel Macron: It's up to Dassault and Airbus to agree and make this work. Eric Trappier: It's up to France, Germany to agree on what to do. Eric Trappier: The stalemate is Airbus' fault. Airbus: The main problem is Dassault.

French nukes: It's hard to overstate how much of a sea change it is that countries such as the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Germany are open to talking with France about nuclear deterrence. We have been getting used to it — but it's a major, major shift.

Emmanuel Macron broke several decades of French nuclear taboos by promising to increase the number of warheads and making explicit France's role in European security. Aware that the clock is ticking, he also pledged to move fast. www.politico.eu/article/macr...

Iranian drones hit French naval air base in UAE — French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed on X that "a hangar at our naval base adjacent to the Emirati base was hit in a drone attack targeting the port of Abu Dhabi." Damage is material damage and no injuries reported.

After decades sheltering under the American umbrella, EU allies are warming to Emmanuel Macron’s offer of nuclear protection. But the French president is running out of time to deliver the major strategic shift needed to lock it in. www.politico.eu/article/emma...

Poland's dispute about the SAFE loan (i.e. the president's reluctance to sign the bill) is actually about fear of the US if Warsaw favors European defense companies. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

With only 14 months left in power, Emmanuel Macron is in a race against the clock to chart how France can wield the full force of its nuclear arsenal to guarantee Europe's security. Much will boil down to how far he goes in a landmark speech on Monday.

With only 14 months left in power, Emmanuel Macron is in a race against the clock to chart how France can wield the full force of its nuclear arsenal to guarantee Europe's security. Europeans’ expectations are very high. www.politico.eu/article/emma...

There is a risk of nuclear proliferation in the world today, according to a French official from the Elysée Palace.

Confirmation du Gouvernement d'Irlande - "Minister McEntee Confirms France as Preferred Partner for Armoured Fleet Programme" www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

The Trump administration has threatened to retaliate against European countries if the EU favors domestic weapons-makers in an expected update of EU defense procurement rules. www.politico.eu/article/wash...

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have openly disagreed this week on the future of the embattled fighter jet program developed by France, Germany and Spain.

🇧🇪 has entered the chat. Belgian defense minister posted on X that Merz has actually now declared the death of FCAS, and Belgium will "reassess" its observer position.

Again, on FCAS, deux salles deux ambiances as we say in French 🇫🇷 Macron in Munich: « I believe in FCAS » 🇩🇪 Merz: « There are others in Europe, the Spanish anyway, but also other countries interested in talking with us » www.politico.eu/article/frie...

This year's Munich Security Conference showed that while the U.S.-Europe alliance continues to function, the old order that bound the two sides for decades has broken down. And there is no consensus on how the relationship can move forward. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/muni... #MSC2026

European and American leaders spent three days pledging cooperation and offering to slap a new coat of paint on the façade of the transatlantic relationship at the Munich Security Conference. But the cracks are still showing.

Multiple European countries are publicly backing talks on a homegrown nuclear deterrent to complement American atomic weapons following an erosion of trust in a Donald Trump-led U.S.

NEW: More European countries are publicly backing talks on a homegrown nuclear deterrent to complement American atomic weapons following an erosion of trust in a Donald Trump-led U.S. w/ @laukaya.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/euro...

I'm headed to the @munsecconf.bsky.social for @politico.eu -- if you're around, do reach out!

Slightly different enthusiasm for FCAS: 🇩🇪 Boris Pistorius: "Those declared dead are known to live longer. Whether that applies here will certainly become clear in the coming days." 🇫🇷 Emmanuel Macron: FCAS is not dead. It's a good project.

The alliance between Europe and America is deeply wounded 一 but it’s not dead yet. The Munich Security Conference this week will serve as a gut check of the transatlantic tie, notably frayed but still bound together. With @paulmcleary.bsky.social , Felicia Schwartz www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

NEW: A major pullback of U.S. troops from European soil is unlikely in the near future. Since the start of the year, the U.S. has told allies any withdrawal would be very limited, govt officials from 7 European countries said. w/ @paulmcleary.bsky.social & Jack Detsch pro.politico.eu/news/212852

There will be no MGCS if there is no FCAS, Emmanuel Macron hints: "If ... the German partner were to call into question the joint fighter project, we would be forced to call into question the joint tank project." www.lemonde.fr/economie/art...