Category: Europe
Coverage of geopolitics, international relations, and current affairs from across Europe, including EU policies, NATO strategies, elections, and Europe’s influence on global politics.
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Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has warned Russia that any missile strike on Brussels would trigger a strong NATO retaliation. Speaking to De Morgen, Francken reaffirmed the alliance’s collective defence under Article 5, stressing: “If Putin launches a missile at Brussels, we will wipe Moscow off the map.” Francken dismissed European concerns about US commitment…
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The Netherlands votes in a pivotal national election today (Oct. 29), seen as a test of whether Europe’s populist surge is gaining ground or reaching its limit. Geert Wilders, leader of the ‘far-right’ Freedom Party (PVV), leads by a narrow margin but faces strong resistance from centrist rivals. Despite topping the 2023 election and forming…
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he is “frustrated and angry” at the “mess” inherited by his government after a Home Affairs Committee report accused the Home Office of wasting billions on asylum accommodation through years of mismanagement. The report found that costs for asylum housing contracts between 2019 and 2029 have surged from…
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The UK Home Office, responsible for immigration, policing, and national security, has been accused of wasting billions of pounds in taxpayer money on asylum accommodation, according to a report by the Home Affairs Committee. The committee found that costs for asylum housing contracts from 2019–2029 have tripled from £4.5bn to £15.3bn, citing “flawed contracts”, poor…
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Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said Lithuania has drafted plans to shut border crossings with Belarus indefinitely, after repeated airspace incursions by balloons said to be used to smuggle cigarettes disrupted flights. • Vilnius Airport halted traffic on three consecutive evenings; Kaunas Airport was also affected. • Crossings at Medininkai and Šalčininkai were repeatedly closed; a…
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The Swedish government has proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13, aiming to curb a surge in gang-related violence. If approved, 13- and 14-year-olds could face prison sentences for serious crimes, marking a major shift in Sweden’s justice policy. The proposal follows growing concerns over criminal gangs recruiting minors for shootings…
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A Belgian investigating judge has warned that organised crime has deeply infiltrated national institutions, describing the threat as one that could turn Belgium into a narco-state.• The anonymous Antwerp judge, currently under protection, said mafia structures had established a “parallel force” challenging both police and judiciary. • Antwerp’s port, one of Europe’s largest, has become…
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Britain has agreed to sell 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye in a landmark £8 billion defence deal, signed by Prime Minister. Keir Starmer during his visit to Ankara. The agreement marks the largest UK fighter jet export in nearly two decades, securing thousands of jobs across the UK’s defence sector. Starmer described the deal…
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has reiterated that Moscow’s actions in Ukraine are driven by cultural and humanitarian concerns rather than territorial ambitions. Speaking on recent Western statements, Lavrov said the conflict “is not about territories but the people who have lived there for centuries,” accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of attempting to erase historic ties…
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Russia has conducted a long-range test of its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, according to Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. Speaking to President Vladimir Putin, Gen Gerasimov said the missile flew for 15 hours, covering 14,000km, and demonstrated manoeuvrability designed to evade air and missile defences. First unveiled in 2018, the low-flying Burevestnik—codenamed Skyfall by…
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