Italy plans 40,000-troop army expansion in major defence overhaul
Italian forces would grow in stages between 2030 and 2033, the reports said, filling personnel gaps that have opened up over recent years.
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Popular articles tagged "defence spending"
UK Defence Secretary unexpectedly resigns in major blow to Starmer over ‘inadequate’ defence spending plan
Healey announced his departure in a resignation letter, submitted to Starmer amid a deadlock between the defence and finance ministries.
British military chief takes rare step of writing directly to Starmer, warns defence investment plans are underwhelming
The letter was sent ahead of a long-awaited announcement on the Defence Investment Plan.
EU foreign affairs chief Kallas: ‘Huge defence funds but European industry not increasing output’
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has warned that Europe’s defence industry is not increasing production…
Belgium’s sovereign wealth funds invests in the arms sector
Belgium is making a strategic shift by investing public money into the defence industry, marking what officials describe as a “historic turning point”.
Investments in nuclear weapons production surge: study
Financial institutions are increasing their investments in atomic weapons production, anti-nuclear campaigners said Friday, warning the trend risked fuelling already…
EU’s €44bn defence loan for Poland would mean it paying back twice that amount
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has submitted a bill to parliament that would enable Poland to avoid taking out a loan from the European Union’s Security Action…
Polish President proposes funding rearmament from central bank profits, not EU loan
Poland’s President and the head of the central bank have proposed a “sovereign, Polish” alternative to the government’s legislation to facilitate borrowing…
EU gives Austria fiscal leeway to boost defence spending despite ballooning deficit
Austria can spend billions on buying new equipment for its military, even though the budget deficit is soaring and the country is under a European Union deficit…
Europe is not re-arming: It’s a fraud, a fake and a lie
Europe is back. At least, that’s the message Europeans brought to Davos.
US defence stocks jump after Trump calls for 50 per cent boost in military spending
The shares of US defence contractors have risen to multi-year highs following an announcement by US President Donald Trump that he was demanding a 50 per cent increase…
Canada joins EU’s €150bn defence programme
The European Union and Canada announced an agreement allowing Ottawa to join a €150 billion European defence financing programme called Security Action for Europe…
US pharma tariffs push EU chemical firms towards defence investment
Following the US decision to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals, more European Union chemical and industrial firms are turning their focus towards the defence sector.
Lithuanian defence minister dismissed after clash over spending
Dovilė Šakalienė, Lithuania's Minister of National Defence, has been dismissed amid ongoing tensions over budget priorities and internal government dynamics.
Spanish PM Sánchez tries to sell climate change spending as security investment
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is seeking to classify climate change spending, along with the management of emergencies and natural disasters, as defence…
ECB U-turn: Defence spending ‘now good for growth’
Defence spending can help growth if done correctly, according to the European Central Bank (ECB).
Belgian forces get more ammo, ‘can fight for 20-25 days now’
Ex-Lieutenant General Marc Thys, former Belgian Vice-Chief of Defence, has told local media that the ammunition shortage in the Belgian army has improved.
Spain favours European options over US-made F-35 fighter jets
Spain has decided against purchasing US-made F-35 fighter jets and will instead opt for European-made options, the defence ministry said August 6, confirming a report…
‘To be free, you must be feared’: France to pump €6 billion more into military
"To be free in this world, you must be feared," French President Emmanuel Macron declared on the eve of Bastille Day in Paris.
Europe’s make-believe defence ‘pledges’
Last month’s NATO summit in The Hague gave off the disturbing impression of an alliance finally crossing the fine line between serious defence policy into the…
EU’s boost in GDP military spending ‘may not fuel economic growth’
Europe is spending more on defence than it has in decades, yet most of that money may simply leave the continent.
Trump fumes as Spain goes rogue on NATO defence spending
All NATO 32 members agreed on an increased defence spending target, reaching 5 per cent of GDP in 10 years.
Belgium is leaving NATO free-riders’ club, but ‘not just to please Trump’
Belgium’s defence spending is "about to leap" — and not just to stay in US President Donald Trump’s good books, the country's defence minister has said.
New Romanian President Dan aims to boost defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP
Romania's new President Nicușor Dan said he wanted to drastically increase military spending for his country. Dan proposed that 3.
Swedish PM believes NATO defence spending target will hit 3.5 per cent of GDP
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he anticipated that the NATO members' defence spending norm would sharply rise in the short term.
European arms suppliers set to miss out on EU defence budget surge
Foreign weapons and defence technology makers seem poised to cash in on Europe's defence boom, side-lining the continent’s own industry despite soaring military…
Germany seeks exemption from EU fiscal rule to aid defence spending
Germany’s outgoing finance minister Jörg Kukies has asked the European Commission to allow Germany temporarily to ignore strict European Union rules that limit…
World military spending hits record as German minister urges Kyiv not to accept US peace plan
World military expenditure reached $2.72 trillion (€2.38 trillion) in 2024, an increase of 9.
‘EU must spend more on defence or risk war with Russia,’ says Lithuanian minister
Europe must remove borrowing limits for defence spending or face the prospect of war with Russia, according to Lithuanian defence minister Dovile Sakaliene.
Belgian minister Francken: ‘Transfer some social security funding to defence’
Belgium’s defence minister Theo Francken has sparked debate after proposing that a portion of its social security budget be reallocated to strengthen national…