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...

Donald Trump’s Greenland gambit pushes Europe to look to its own nuclear arsenals. European nations wanting additional “insurance” against Russia are increasingly looking to France and Britain. With @victorjack.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/us-d...

Playbook Paris à cinq ans ! 🎂🥹 Pour fêter ça, on vous a concocté une page spéciale, avec coulisses, rétrospective, et même un quiz. www.politico.eu/paris-playbo...

The long-troubled Future Combat Air System is on the verge of collapse, officials in Paris and Berlin told POLITICO. “An announcement that [the project] is over is more likely than a relaunch,” said one of them. With Chris Lunday, Clea Caulcutt More for subscribers pro.politico.eu/news/212697

Only this week: 🇸🇪Swedish PM confirms talks on nuclear deterrence with France, UK 🇩🇪German chancellor confirms early discussions about a European nuclear deterrent 🇳🇱Dutch coalition agreement pledges to “take a constructive stance on strengthening a European nuclear deterrent” What a time to be alive!

Switzerland will raise its value-added tax rate for a decade to boost defense spending, its government announced today.

France’s far-right National Rally is split about Russia. A traditionalist old guard that still echoes Kremlin talking points is now pitted against a new generation more supportive of Ukraine. With Sarah Paillou and @msolletty.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/fran...

Important announcement at #ESC2026 EU Member States already can use secure satellite communications for governmental services provided by the European #GOVSATCOM, while #IRIS² will be fully operational from 2029 🇪🇺 #EUSpace

France snaps back at NATO chief Mark Rutte after he said Europe could not defend itself without the U.S. www.politico.eu/article/fran...

Europe is incapable of defending itself without America, NATO chief Mark Rutte said, speaking just days after Donald Trump's repeated threats to seize Greenland pushed the alliance to the brink of collapse.

From career diplomats to bureaucrats, people working at European institutions are united by a belief, to some degree, in the EU project. But working in Brussels can turn into a nightmare. Here’s who we think have the five hardest jobs in town 👇

The new U.S. defense strategy formally pushes Europe down Washington's list of priorities while elevating Greenland to a core homeland security concern.

#BREAKING NATO chief tells AFP still 'lot of work to be done' for Greenland deal

Ursula von der Leyen has warned Donald Trump to keep his hands off Greenland. Follow our blog for more live updates on the escalating transatlantic crisis 👇 politi.co/4sPEbEZ

Good diplomatic reasons for Europeans to try to appeal for calm and work it out behind the scenes with the US. But just this morning Trump posted pictures of him putting the flag on Greenland, and presenting his conquests of Greenland and Canada to European leaders.

We launched a liveblog on the Greenland crisis, everything you need to know will be gathered here: www.politico.eu/article/gree...

Not the best timing to put extra tariffs on EU member states just before European Parliament will vote about approving the trade deal from this summer. www.politico.eu/article/eu-l...

The White House says the decision by several European nations to send troops to Greenland doesn't alter US President Donald Trump's plan to get his hands on the Arctic island.

Macron’s speech to the armed forces: -Wants €36 billion defense spending boost in 2026-2030 -Slams 🇫🇷 defense industry — some could be « ousted from the market » -Open to buy more european weaponry (instead of mainly 🇫🇷) -French air, land, naval assets in Greenland: www.politico.eu/article/fran...

Hi @laukaya.bsky.social @davidwcochrane.bsky.social addressed this on his show on CBC. The careful wording is b/c 🇨🇦 signed up to these exercises sometime ago & wanted to distinguish themselves from those countries who have joined the exercise today, like France! cc: @emmettmacfarlane.com

Canada denies participation in the Danish military exercise in Greenland: "As of this moment, the Canadian Armed Forces are not initiating any new operations in Greenland," said Maya Ouferhat, press secretary in the office of Canada's minister of national defense.

Emmanuel Macron confirms on X French troops to Greenland: « At the request of Denmark, I have decided that France will participate in the joint exercises organized by Denmark in Greenland, Operation Arctic Endurance. The first French military elements are already on their way. Others will follow. »

Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and France will participate alongside Denmark to expanded military exercises in Greenland. Scoop with @victorjack.bsky.social and Chris Lunday www.politico.eu/article/denm...

Yesterday’a editorial in Sweden’s leading newspaper DN: ”This [situation] also calls for a discussion about nuclear weapons that goes beyond how the French and British can protect the entire continent. Is there a need for such capability in northern Europe?”

NEW: NATO countries today asked the alliance to strengthen its Arctic flank amid U.S. threats to seize Greenland, NATO diplomats said. Envoys raised better use of intel, shifting assets, more defense spending & military exercises. w/@jacopobarigazzi.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/nato...

The idea that the US can only be secure if Greenland is part of the United States is an effective declaration of the end of NATO, I told @richardquest.bsky.social on @cnnipr.bsky.social i just now. open.substack.com/pub/ivodaald...

When we published this story a year ago, I received lots of hate mail — including one message saying I was "worse than Hitler" for even considering that Trump could actually annex Greenland by force. Fast forward to today: That's a very real risk. www.politico.eu/article/dona...

Good luck invading Greenland in February, the coldest month of the year