EU ambassadors agree on €150B defence lending scheme.

EU ambassadors today agreed on the €150 billion Security Action For Europe (SAFE) loans for weapons regulation.

It now needs to be formally adopted at a meeting of the General Affairs Council, made up of EU ministers, on 27 May.

Two diplomats said that Hungary abstained, but since the regulation was adopted with qualified majority Budapest wasn't able to block the initiative.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250521-eu-ambassadors-agree-on-150b-defence-lending-scheme?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

Using AI to summarise external feedback, and write a defence strategy on the use of AI, which pushes using AI for military targeting decisions, and a bigger role for Palantir systems in battlefield systems and decisions.

What could possibly go wrong?!

Let's check in on the IDF, who already use this “technology”, to see where it might end up... oh dear...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/20/uk-armed-forces-artificial-intelligence-ai-strategic-defence-review-john-healey

Satellite images show a Russian military build-up near Finland.

Russia is expanding its military infrastructure near the border with Finland, in what NATO officials describe as the early stages of a long-term build-up, The New York Times reported Monday.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250519-satellite-images-show-a-russian-military-build-up-near-finland?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

The EU and UK ink a post-Brexit deal on security, fisheries and energy.

Britain and the European Union agreed a new defence and security pact Monday, as part of a wide-ranging “reset” of relations between London and Brussels after years of Brexit bad blood.

The partnership agreement comes nearly a decade after the UK voted to leave the European Union.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250519-the-eu-and-uk-ink-a-post-brexit-deal-on-security-fisheries-and-energy?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

launched 273 drones overnight, 150 of which were aimed at #Kyiv

AFU are building new defensive lines in #Donetsk, including anti-tank ditches, dragon's teeth & barbed wire

#Pope Leo XIV called for "just peace" for , offers the #Vatican as a venue to host #peace talks, and will hold a private audience with Pres Zelenskyy & First Lady

renews call for #NATO Art 5 security guarantees for #Ukraine

announced $1 billion #defence aid package for

hold #elections

First plague, then war.

“Regardless of which measure you consult, the past year has seen a sharp increase in global #spending on #defence. Budgets totalled $2.7trn in 2024—up by 9.4% from 2023, the biggest jump since at least 1988.

#Military outlays now account for 2.5% of countries’ gdp on average, and 7.1% of government budgets. But the increase is even steeper when adjusted for purchasing power (see chart 1). With help from #PeterRobertson of the #UniversityofWesternAustralia, we estimate that global #defence #spending rose by 10% in real terms.”

What got me to read the article? The notation, “$bn, log scale” graph. #Graphs shown in log #scale.

Meaning the economist pitch to readership is high in statistical education OR it’s from an Academic source.

<https://archive.md/I8SBL> / <https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2025/05/16/how-do-countries-rank-by-military-spending> (paywall)

Macron is open to deploying French nuclear weapons in Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that any shared nuclear deterrence would not come at the expense of France's own defence capabilities

France, the European Union's only nuclear power, wouldn't pay for the security of others, and its own defence capabilities must remain fully intact, he stressed.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250514-macron-is-open-to-deploying-french-nuclear-weapons-in-europe?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

INTERVIEW: Austrian chancellor says ‘nein’ to #NATO, but is eager for French nuclear protection: Can Christian Stocker get one of Europe's weakest #defence spenders to pay its fair share with extremists breathing down his neck? https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/interview/interview-austrian-chancellor-says-nein-to-nato-but-is-eager-for-french-nuclear-protection/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=dlvr.it

https://www.europesays.com/uk/93958/ bne IntelliNews – Poland and France seal landmark defence and cooperation treaty #bne #Defence #EU #Europe #France #NATO #Poland #Science #Security #Space #trump #Tusk

regained positions near #Lyptsi, bordering #Belgorod

advanced near Romanivka, Oleksandropol and Nova Poltavka

lost another 1,310 soldiers

Starmer, Macron, Merz and Tusk visit #Ukraine on the 80th anniversary of VE week, honour the memory of fallen soldiers in the Independence Square in #Kyiv, discuss defence cooperation and a 30-day ceasefire proposal

sign historical treaty that includes a guarantee of mutual #defence

expels two diplomats after uncovering spy network

France and Poland pledge mutual defence in a new cooperation treaty.

France and Poland on Friday signed a treaty with a clause committing both countries to mutual support in case of an attack by an aggressor.

French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that the treaty be added to the protections in place under the countries' EU and NATO membership as he appeared alongside his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk in Nancy, France.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250509-france-and-poland-pledge-mutual-defence-in-a-new-cooperation-treaty?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

"Warsaw has long relied exclusively on the US and Nato for its security and has resisted any #EU role in #defence. But with Donald Trump pursuing rapprochement with Russia, Poland’s arch-foe, and his willingness to let Moscow prevail in Ukraine and reduce US military exposure to Europe, #Tusk is rushing to build closer ties with Paris, Berlin and London in a quest for extra security insurance" #europeday #politicsfromtheeuropeanpointofview https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/08/france-and-polands-reconciliation-is-a-sign-of-europes-alarm-over-us-disengagement

Rheinmetall’s sales surge as soaring defence demand continues.

Rheinmetall, Germany’s largest arms manufacturer, reported a 46% year-on-year surge in sales to €2.3 billion during the first three months of the year, driven by a 73% increase in its defence business due to increased defence spending across Europe.

The company noted that 70% of its sales were generated abroad, with defence revenue rising to €1.8 billion.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250508-rheinmetalls-sales-surge-as-soaring-defence-demand-continues?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

EU €800 billion #defence push hit with tepid response: Just over half of the bloc's 27 member states have heeded the European Commission's call to request more fiscal space to ramp up #defence spending. https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-e800-billion-defence-push-hit-with-tepid-response/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=dlvr.it

EU €800 billion #defence push hit with tepid response: Just over half of the bloc's 27 member states have heeded the European Commission's call to request more fiscal space to ramp up #defence spending. https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-e800-billion-defence-push-hit-with-tepid-response/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=dlvr.it

Lithuania will spend €1.1 billion to fortify its borders with Russia and Belarus.

Lithuania and its fellow Baltic states Latvia and Estonia fear they could be next in Russia's crosshairs.

All three countries have been ramping up defences since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and boosting their border security measures over what they allege was a Russia-inspired influx of migrants at the border.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250505-lithuania-will-spend-11-billion-to-fortify-its-borders-with-russia-and-belarus?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

#Australia votes – but what does it mean for Europe?: Labor vs Liberal-National Coalition: #Australia's next government is set to shape the country’s path on #defence and international trade. https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/australia-votes-but-what-does-it-mean-for-europe/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=dlvr.it

The US approves the sale of €1.17 billion worth of missiles to Poland.

The United States announced on Tuesday that it had approved the sale of €1.17 billion worth of air defence missiles to Poland. The package includes 400 AIM-120D medium-range air-to-air missiles.

In addition, Warsaw will also receive guidance systems kits, spare parts, shipping containers, as well as access to the US software needed to operate the missiles.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250430-the-us-approves-the-sale-of-117-billion-worth-of-missiles-to-poland?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

Australia’s next prime minister will inherit a ‘world in disarray’ and must adapt quickly https://www.byteseu.com/966595/ #America #Australia #ccp #China #CostOfLiving #defence #economy #election #FederalElection #future #UnitedStates

‘Oceans 11’: The Case for Canada Joining the Joint Expeditionary Force | RUSI https://www.byteseu.com/966062/ #Arctic #Atlantic #Canada #canadian #council #defence #Denmark #DSRB #eu #euro #Europe #European #GREENLAND #However #JEF #NATO #north #Russia #trump #UK