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NATO’s summit plan to keep Donald Trump happy: short summit & statement avoid clash with Zelenskiy, who may only get dinner invite back Trump call for 5% of GDP on defence (3.5% on ‘traditional’ defence, 1.5% on other security-related items) W/ @sasilink.bsky.social & @liliebayer.bsky.social

submitted 16 hours ago • 2 comments

Following our story last week that Trump had told NATO he would nominate a new Supreme Allied Commander Europe: NATO’s North Atlantic Council has approved the nomination of Lieutenant General Alexus G. Grynkewich. www.nato.int/cps/en/natoh...

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

New from Reuters: Donald Trump has told NATO allies he'll nominate a new Supreme Allied Commander Europe, quelling fears he might relinquish a key post that also symbolises US commitment to Europe's defence. Scoop from @phildstewart.bsky.social, me, @idreesali114.bsky.social @sasilink.bsky.social

submitted 7 days ago • 2 comments

Scoop from @sasilink.bsky.social! NATO will ask Germany to provide seven more brigades - or some 40,000 troops - to defend the alliance, three sources told Reuters, under new targets that defence ministers are set to agree on next week. www.reuters.com/business/aer...

submitted 9 days ago • 2 comments

State of the Union: Delirious. Royal Union Saint Gilloise @rusg.bsky.social are champions of Belgium again after 90 years. Normal service will resume on this feed tomorrow.

submitted 12 days ago • 3 comments

25 years ago, Kurt and Associated Press cameraman Miguel Gil Moreno de Mora were shot in a military ambush in Sierra Leone. Shortly afterwards, the #KSMF was set up to pay lasting tribute to his memory and to keep the world aware of the debt we owe every day to brave journalists.

submitted 13 days ago • 1 comment

Pro tip for anyone planning sweeping "state of Europe" takes based on various elections today: Wait for the results.

submitted 19 days ago • 1 comment

Some clear words from new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the European Political Community summit in Tirana: "We have to undertake all efforts what we can to keep the Americans on our side. We cannot substitute or replace what the Americans still do for us in Europe."

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

Good morning from the European Political Community summit in Tirana. Ukraine likely the main subject as some 50 leaders gather here. Let's see how chatty they are on the way in with this weather.

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

Looking forward to being back in the Balkans for the European Political Community summit in Tirana. Do say hello if you'll be there too. Also looking forward to seeing how many senior EU officials will be joining me on the Ryanair flight from Charleroi to get there!

submitted 22 days ago • 1 comment

Dutch PM Dick Schoof confirms our scoop on NATO boss Mark Rutte's defence spending proposal, and adds a new detail: the timeline. Per Schoof, Rutte proposes 3.5% of GDP on defence, plus 1.5% on broader security-related spending like cyber and infrastructure. Deadline: 2032 H/t @vreij.bsky.social

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

Some very different takes on Merz's remarks on eurobonds for defence in Brussels today. Some reckon he said "nein", others (like me) think he left the door open. Partly because he spoke a bit differently on the same topic in two different pressers. But also a matter of interpretation... (1/3)

submitted 28 days ago • 5 comments

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he's more optimistic about NATO today than he was in February. Back then, he questioned whether NATO would even exist in its current form by the time of the Hague summit in June. Now he says Trump admin has recognised Europe is stepping up on defence.

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

Just ICYMI, our story from Friday afternoon NATO chief Mark Rutte has proposed a new defence spending goal: 3.5% of GDP + 1.5% on broader security-related spending = Donald Trump’s demand for a 5% target From @liliebayer.bsky.social & me 👇

submitted 32 days ago • 3 comments

Good questions - we're asking them!

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

New from @liliebayer.bsky.social and me: NATO chief Mark Rutte has proposed that alliance members agree a new defence spending goal of 3.5% of GDP and a further 1.5% on other defence-related items to meet Donald Trump’s demand for a 5% target. www.reuters.com/world/nato-c...

submitted 35 days ago • 5 comments

If you're into breaking news, come and break it with the best. careers.thomsonreuters.com/us/en/job/JR...

submitted 38 days ago • 0 comments

Swedish PM says NATO members are discussing having two spending targets: One for core defence spending - could be 3.5% Another for civil defence etc - could be 1.5% (Which just happens to make 5% - goal proposed by Trump.) As spotted by our Stockholm correspondent Simon Johnson 👇

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

EU plans to increase financial support for the Palestinian Authority with a three-year package worth around 1.6 billion euros, European Commissioner for Mediterranean Dubravka Suica tells Reuters. www.reuters.com/world/eu-boo...

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

Ukraine: At today's EU summit, "there was a shared view that no real negotiations are taking place at the moment," an EU official says. Which is of course the kind of thing you would say if you're not invited to them.

submitted 78 days ago • 0 comments

What counts as defence anyway? That's what the EU is having to hastily figure out as it plans a spending surge. Great story from @reutersjans.bsky.social www.reuters.com/business/aer...

submitted 78 days ago • 0 comments

Big picture-take on today's EU defence White Paper, now subtitled "for European Defence Readiness 2030". Some language notably toned down from earlier draft. But substance much the same - and a clear target date of 2030 for Europe to rearm. With @liliebayer.bsky.social

submitted 79 days ago • 1 comment

For anyone getting excited about a "European Military Sales Mechanism" - it was proposed as part of the European Defence Industrial Strategy - a year ago. Here's what it is - or at least what it was then. ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

European Commission to suggest EU governments pool resources and agree on 'flagship' pan-European defence projects, according to draft white paper. www.reuters.com/world/europe...

submitted 85 days ago • 3 comments

From the text of the U.S.-Ukraine statement after the talks in Jeddah: "The United States committed to discussing these specific proposals with representatives from Russia. The Ukrainian delegation reiterated that European partners shall be involved in the peace process."

submitted 87 days ago • 1 comment

"Stoltenback" sounds like a Scandinavian soft-rock band. But it's a political phenomenon. The return of former NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg to Norwegian politics as finance minister has led to a surge in support for his party. Great story by @gfouche.bsky.social www.reuters.com/world/europe...

submitted 87 days ago • 0 comments

U.S. "condemns the radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis, that murdered people in western Syria in recent days" EU "strongly condemns the recent attacks, reportedly by pro-Assad elements, on interim government forces in the coastal areas of Syria and all violence against civilians"

submitted 89 days ago • 1 comment

Perhaps the only nugget of news in Ursula von der Leyen's press conference today: The scheme to borrow 150 billion euros to lend to EU member states to boost defence spending now has a name. SAFE - Security Action For Europe.

submitted 89 days ago • 2 comments

The emergence of a new European security alliance - EU plus UK, Norway, Turkey and Iceland? Coalition of like-minded allies - COLA?

submitted 91 days ago • 1 comment

NATO chief Rutte in presser with Polish President Duda: "These are uncertain times, and I know some may have concerns about NATO's future. So let me be clear, the transatlantic relationship and the Transatlantic Partnership remains the bedrock of our alliance."

submitted 92 days ago • 1 comment

EU leaders meet today for an emergency summit. Ostensibly, it's about Ukraine and defence. But it's at least as much about America. Story with @liliebayer.bsky.social

submitted 92 days ago • 3 comments

Now officials say they still hope Zelenskiy may be able to come in person after all. So seems things very much still in flux.

submitted 93 days ago • 0 comments

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will join this Thursday's EU summit via video link, according to EU officials. European Council President Antionio Costa had invited him to attend in person but, given Zelenskiy's recent heavy travel schedule, it was decided video link was more practical.

submitted 94 days ago • 1 comment

Spoke to the @reuters.com World News podcast about European plans for Ukraine and defence after Friday's Oval Office clash between Trump and Zelenskiy.

submitted 95 days ago • 0 comments

They didn’t like the Oval Office clash but when it comes to Ukraine and defence of the continent, European leaders haven’t changed their view: There’s no show without Trump. Analysis with @liliebayer.bsky.social

submitted 95 days ago • 4 comments

From Starmer's presser, it's clear UK & France now lead on Ukraine among Europeans. No mention of EU (or Germany, for that matter) being involved in peace plan that UK, France & Ukraine will develop. Just a vague "and others". It's a hard power show now. UK, France & Ukraine have it. EU doesn't.

submitted 96 days ago • 2 comments

Big story from Germany by Reuters' @andreasrinke.bsky.social The parties in talks to form Germany's new government are considering quickly setting up two special funds potentially worth hundreds of billions of euros, one for defence and a second for infrastructure...

submitted 96 days ago • 2 comments

European leaders show support for Zelenskiy after Trump clash. Prime ministers and presidents from north, south, east and west of the continent posted on social media in support of Zelenskiy and Ukraine in the war against Russia's invasion, following the extraordinary White House shouting match. 👇

submitted 98 days ago • 0 comments

We're all Gaullists now, says Dutch - yes, Dutch - foreign minister, in response to Merz remarks on Trump & European defence. "The era that started at the fall of the Berlin Wall is now over," says Caspar Veldkamp.

submitted 102 days ago • 8 comments

Dismay, disbelief and a whiff of panic. Our latest story from the Munich Security Conference: @andrewramsaygray.bsky.social @irishjreuters.bsky.social

submitted 110 days ago • 0 comments

They should not have been surprised. Yet European officials have been left shocked and flat-footed by the Trump administration’s moves on Ukraine, Russia and European defence in recent days. Analysis from Munich with @irishjreuters.bsky.social & @liliebayer.bsky.social 👇

submitted 110 days ago • 1 comment

NATO boss Rutte in response to Reuters query on latest defence spending figures: "We've crunched the numbers. They're going up. In fact, spending by Europe and Canada is up 20% in 2024"

submitted 119 days ago • 0 comments

New from us: Defence spending by NATO's European members & Canada up by 20% last year, Mark Rutte says. "We've crunched the numbers. They're going up. In fact, spending by Europe and Canada is up 20% in 2024, bringing the total additional investment in recent years from $640 to $700 billion."

submitted 119 days ago • 2 comments