Military

SIPRI: Europe now world’s biggest arms importer

Europe became the world's biggest arms importer over the last five years as governments reacted to Russia's threat and waning confidence in U.S. security commitments, data from the Stockholm International…

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What are the military assets in the Arctic?

U.S. President Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland as he says it is the only way for the United States to secure its defence. Denmark and Greenland, an autonomous territory,…

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US troops could disobey questionable orders, Catholic archbishop says

The Catholic archbishop overseeing the church's work with members of the U.S. military said it would be "morally acceptable" for troops to disobey orders that went against their consciences. Archbishop…

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UK has no plan for defending nation in event of war

The UK has no plan to defend the nation in the event of war, including how to mobilise the National Health Service to deal with mass casualties, the head of…

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France launches recruitment campaign for new voluntary military service

France said on Monday it was launching a campaign to recruit thousands of young people for a new 10-month voluntary national military service, with the first participants starting their service…

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EU may need 100,000-strong army, says defense commissioner

European Union Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has said the bloc should consider establishing a standing military force of 100,000 troops and overhaul the political processes governing defense. Faced with Russian…

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Iran: Pope Leo calls for dialogue and peace as US considers military options

The ongoing unrest in Iran has triggered swift and diverse responses from leaders and organizations across the globe. As demonstrations continue to unfold throughout the country, the international community is…

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Trump calls for record $1.5 trillion defense budget, a 50 percent jump

President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared he would ask Congress for a $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, a massive $500 billion increase from this year’s Pentagon budget. The huge…

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Army Chief Concedes Switzerland Lacks Means to Defend Against Major Invasion

Switzerland cannot defend itself against a full-scale attack and must boost military spending given rising risks from Russia, the head of its armed forces said. The country is prepared for…

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Estonia plans to extend military service to 12 months

Estonia plans to extend compulsory military service to 12 months for all conscripts starting in 2027, under reforms proposed by the government. A draft bill submitted by Defense Minister Hanno…

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South Korea scrambles jets amid Chinese and Russian drill

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that Russian and Chinese aircraft entered the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) at around 10 a.m. local time (0100 UTC/GMT) on Tuesday.…

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Germany votes to bring back voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to introduce voluntary military service, in a move aimed at boosting national defences after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It marks a significant shift…

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Between Rearmament and Reality: Poll Exposes Europe’s Strategic Vulnerability

Over two-thirds of Europeans believe their country would not be able to defend itself militarily against a Russian attack, a new poll has revealed just days after Vladimir Putin said…

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Italy Weighs Return to Voluntary Military Service Amid Shifting Security Climate

Italy’s defence chief has signalled a potential return to voluntary military service, two decades after the country phased out conscription. Speaking on Thursday, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said he intends…

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France’s Macron unveils voluntary military service

President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced the creation of a new voluntary youth military service to begin by mid-2026, which would help France respond to "accelerating threats" on the global…

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EU proposes ‘military Schengen’ to speed troop movements

EU member states will have just three days in peacetime and six hours in emergencies to allow other European military troops and equipment to cross their borders under a new…

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Latvia Encourages Citizens to Strengthen National Reserve

Latvia’s National Armed Forces are encouraging citizens to apply for next year’s reservist basic military training. The course will run from August 8 to 29, 2026, and applications are open…

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Germany to introduce voluntary military service

Germany's coalition partners announced a compromise on Thursday over new rules on military service, a key element in a wider drive to rebuild the country's shrunken armed forces. The model…

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Unidentified Drones Raise Espionage Fears at Belgian Airfields

Suspicious drones spotted above Belgian military bases over the weekend are meant to spy on fighter jets and ammunition, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said Sunday. “They [the drones] come…

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Germany to order over 600 short-range air defence systems

The German government plans to order more than 600 Skyranger 30 short-range air defence systems from Rheinmetall before the end of the year, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Friday, citing…

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Kremlin Confirms Ongoing Military Expansion After U.S. Comment

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia was also working to strengthen its armed forces when asked about U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's remark that the U.S. must prepare for…

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Hegseth and Trump declare end to ‘woke’ military – as defence secretary scolds ‘fat troops’

The US defence secretary has said he is ending "woke" culture and political correctness, telling top brass: "We are done with that s***." Pete Hegseth said diversity and inclusion policies…

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Germany plans for 1,000 wounded troops per day in case of conflict with Russia

Germany's armed forces are planning how to treat a potential 1,000 wounded troops per day should a large-scale conflict between NATO and Russia break out, and amid long-standing warnings by…

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Denmark to Strengthen Military with Long-Range Precision Arms

Denmark will acquire long-range precision weapons, after years of cuts to its military budget, to counter the threat posed to Europe by Russia, even as there was no immediate risk…

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Italy unprepared for attack by Russia or anyone else – Defence minister Crosetto

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Monday that Italy would not be ready if Russia or anyone else decided to attack it. "We are not ready for either a Russian…

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Germany’s army needs to more than double in size, commander says

Germany's army needs to add 100,000 active troops to its existing 62,000 to meet new NATO targets intended to boost preparedness for the growing threat of Russian aggression, its commander…

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North Korea’s Kim Jong Un to join Putin at China military parade

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un will attend a military parade in Beijing next week alongside Russia's Vladimir Putin, China's foreign ministry has said, in what will be a landmark…

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UPDATED: German cabinet passes bill for voluntary military service

Germany's cabinet passed a draft bill on Wednesday that would introduce a voluntary military service as the country seeks to bolster national defences over Russian security concerns. The text also…

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Israel to call up 50,000 reservists before Gaza City offensive

Israel will call up 50,000 reservists before a planned offensive to take Gaza City but most forces that would operate in the Gaza Strip's largest urban centre would be active…

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Russian and Chinese navies practice destroying ‘enemy submarine’, days after Trump move

The Russian and Chinese navies have practiced hunting and destroying an enemy submarine in the Sea of Japan, Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday, days after U.S. President Donald Trump…

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Zelenskiy says ‘mercenaries’ from China, Pakistan and other countries fighting for Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that Ukrainian troops in northeastern Ukraine were fighting foreign "mercenaries" from various countries including China, Pakistan and parts of Africa, and vowed a response.…

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EU capitals ask Brussels for nearly €130B to spend on defense

Eighteen countries requested €127 billion in cheap loans from the European Commission by Tuesday’s deadline to boost their defense and potentially buy arms for Ukraine. In a major win for…

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Only 16% of Italians would fight for their country, survey shows

Almost a third of Italians believe the country will be directly involved in a war within five years, but only 16% of those of fighting age would be willing to…

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Sweden eyes extending military officers’ conscription age to 70

Sweden should raise former officers' upper conscription age limit to 70 from 47, a government-appointed review suggested, as part of the country's moves to strengthen its defence in the face…

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Germany outlines emergency draft plans

A bill to be put forward by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius would allow the Cabinet, with parliamentary agreement, to call up conscripts if a situation arises that requires a rapid…

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Greece Hosts Growing US Military Presence as Regional Focus Intensifies

The United States has increased its use of key military facilities in Greece, including the strategically located Souda Bay and the northern port of Alexandroupoli, amid heightened tensions in the…

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Germany to hire 11,000 more military personnel this year

The German government will provide funds for an extra 11,000 military personnel by the end of the year, an increase of around 4%, tabloid Bild reported, citing government sources. The…

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Germany will need thousands more troops under new NATO targets, says defence minister

Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, will require an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 additional troops to meet NATO's updated defense requirements amid the growing threat from Russia, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said…

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Britain unveils radical defence overhaul to meet new threats

A “new era” for UK defence is needed, Defence Secretary John Healey has said, as he outlined plans to boost our military capabilities and pledged to make the British Army…

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Germany steps up to replace ‘unreliable’ US as guarantor of European security

By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham Two statements from world leaders this week bear closer examination. On May 27, the US president Donald Trump took to…

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Germany warns draft may return if troop numbers fall short

Germany may return to conscription if too few people volunteer for the military, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned Wednesday. Speaking in his first parliamentary address since the new government took…

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Pentagon considers proposal to cut thousands of troops from Europe

Senior U.S. Defense Department officials are considering a proposal to withdraw as many as 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, NBC News reported on Tuesday, citing six U.S. and European officials…

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Greece announces ‘drastic’ defense overhaul

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday that the government will spend some €25 billion euros ($27 billion) on its military through 2036. Mitsotakis called it the "most drastic"…

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Vladimir Putin signs decree calling up 160,000 Russians for military service

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 160,000 into military service. The decree, which was reported by news agency Interfax and also published on the government website for…

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US appears to be significantly increasing its military presence in the Middle East

The United States appears to be significantly increasing its military presence in the Middle East with the deployment of highly sophisticated aircraft and a second aircraft carrier to the region.…

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The Netherlands wants to double army personnel

All 18- to 27-year-olds in the Netherlands are to be asked to take part in a survey to assess their interest in working for the defence ministry, junior armed forces…

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Europe launches defense push amid Russia threat, US worries

The European Union (EU) on Wednesday presented a white paper laying out plans to facilitate member states' rearmament amid growing concerns that the continent may not be able to depend…

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Why Russia’s armed forces have proven resilient in the war in Ukraine

Ukraine has agreed to a United States proposal of a 30-day ceasefire in its war with Russia following talks with United States officials in Saudi Arabia. The proposal comes with…

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Italy, Spain not ready to back EU plan to boost Ukraine military aid

Italy and Spain made clear on Monday they were not ready to back a European Union proposal to pledge up to 40 billion euros ($43.67 billion) in military aid for…

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Lithuania warns that Southern Europe must spend more on defense

It's time for the entire continent to cough up more cash for defense, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said Monday, in an apparent message to spendthrift Southern European countries. Budrys…

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Germany’s military faces severe staffing shortages and aging personnel

An official report on the state of the German military painted a grim picture this week, with a whopping 28% of positions among the lower enlisted ranks unfilled as of…

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Europe’s options for paying to bolster its defence readiness

European Union leaders will discuss on Thursday how to finance a sharp increase in defence readiness to deter any possible future attack from Russia and become less dependent for security…

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UPDATED: EU Commission proposes €800 bln defense plan

A five-part plan to bolster Europe’s defence industry and increase its military capability could raise nearly €800bn (£660bn) and help provide urgent military support for Ukraine after the US suspended…

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UPDATED: EU Unveils New Defense Spending Measures Amid Rising Security Concerns

The EU is unleashing efforts to boost defense spending, including a new tool aimed at key weapons programs like missiles, drone and integrated air defenses. Other measures will seek to…

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British PM Starmer to Meet Donald Trump in Washington Following Defence Spending Announcement

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to travel to Washington to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump after announcing plans to increase UK defence spending to 2.5% of…

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say Iran purchased Russian-made Sukhoi 35 fighter jets

Iran has purchased Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Monday, amid growing concerns in the West over military cooperation between Tehran and…

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UK warns Putin after Russian spy ship seen near British waters

The Royal Navy has been monitoring a Russian spy ship after it was spotted around UK waters earlier this week, the defence secretary has told MPs. John Healey said the…

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