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13 Feb 25. Hegseth Tells NATO Hard Power Provides Deterrence, Defense. Following a meeting today of NATO defense ministers, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that America’s allies must do more to defend Europe. And that “doing more” means spending more money, contributing more guns, missiles, troops and hardware, and taking more leadership responsibility. NATO’s European partners, Hegseth said, should take primary responsibility for defense of the continent, which means security ownership by all allies, guided by an understanding of the strategic realities.
“Our expectation of our friends — and we say this in solidarity — is you have to spend more on your defense, for your country, on that continent, understanding that the American military and the American people stand beside you, as we have in NATO,” he said.
President Donald J. Trump set a target for NATO-nation defense spending at 5% of gross domestic product, Hegseth said. The defense secretary noted that NATO allies Estonia and Lithuania are already there.
But money isn’t enough. Increases in troop readiness, weapons production and force contributions are also included.
“We can talk all we want about values. Values are important,” Hegseth said. “But you can’t shoot values, you can’t shoot flags, and you can’t shoot strong speeches. There is no replacement for hard power.”
Hard power includes demonstrating military readiness and equipping military forces with the right weapons and tools — provided by a strong, functioning defense industrial base with adequate capacity. The secretary said every NATO ally must revive their defense industrial bases.
“One of the self-evident conclusions of the war in Ukraine was … the European continent and America'[s] underinvestment … in defense industrial base[s] — the ability to produce munitions [and] emerging technologies rapidly and field them, was a blind spot exposed through the aggression against Ukraine,” he said.
The U.S., Ukraine and Europe are all expanding their industrial bases, but more must be done.
“Deep and dramatic reforms are coming at the Defense Department with the leadership of President Trump to ensure that we’re investing robustly in our defense industrial base,” he said. “A great example is shipbuilding. We need to vastly increase our ability to build ships and submarines. Not just for ourselves, but to honor obligations to our allies as well, and we will do that.”
Hegseth said the Foreign Military Sales program — the system by which American allies can purchase American-made ships, missiles and aircraft — also needs reform to ensure the U.S. can provide weapons more quickly to partners, Hegseth said.
“Part of being a good faith partner is we’re going to invest in our defense industrial base, [and] we’re going to make sure foreign military sales are as rapid as possible, which, again, is a force multiplier for American power, which is something we want to do in a contested world,” he explained.
The U.S. has been a NATO partner for more than 75 years now — last year was the alliance’s 75th anniversary. Hegseth promised the U.S. would continue to be a strong NATO partner in the years ahead. He also said that for NATO to continue to be as strong as it has been, every partner would need to commit more.
“NATO is a great alliance, the most successful defense alliance in history,” Hegseth said. “But to endure for the future, partners must do far more for Europe’s defense. We must make NATO great again. It begins with defense spending. It must also include reviving the trans-Atlantic defense industrial base, rapidly fielding emerging technologies, prioritizing readiness and lethality and establishing real deterrence.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
13 Feb 25. Starmer told his defence budget ‘won’t touch the sides.’ ‘Many billions more’ need to be spent beyond current pledge of 2.5pc of GDP, say military chiefs. Military chiefs have warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Government’s defence spending plans “won’t touch the sides”, Whitehall sources have revealed. Labour has pledged to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP, but is yet to set a date to implement the increase. Donald Trump has called on Nato nations to spend 5 per cent on defence in his effort to force Europe to take on more responsibility for Ukraine. The Telegraph understands that the Government’s delay in raising defence spending and its refusal to agree to more than 2.5 per cent has led to fears among military chiefs that the Armed Forces will be unable to meet current targets. “This 2.5 per cent figure won’t touch the sides,” a senior Whitehall source told The Telegraph.
“But the figure depends on what you want the British military to do. The figure could be less, but then we do less.”
They said ambitions for the Armed Forces would have to be reined in unless the Ministry of Defence secured “big, big lumps of money needed for defence over a sustained period of time”.
It is understood that there is a “constant conversation” between the chiefs and the Defence Secretary about how much the defence budget should be raised to fulfil all the department’s demands, from meeting its Nato obligations, to having the money to operate as an effective military in the immediate term, while also shouldering more of the responsibility in Ukraine if Mr Trump pulls out of Europe.
Senior military sources refused to comment on the claims. It comes after Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin held a 90-minute phone call on Wednesday night in which the two leaders agreed to “immediately” begin peace talks on how to end the war in Ukraine. The phone call has raised concerns that any negotiations would be favourable to Moscow, with Ukraine and Europe frozen out of talks. Russia has repeatedly warned that it wants America’s presence in Ukraine to be reduced, while Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, told Nato allies on Wednesday that they must stop relying on Washington to provide security in Europe. Mr Hegseth also refused to commit US troops to any peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. Instead, he said such a task would need to be carried out by “capable European and non-European troops”. (Source: Daily Telegraph)
14 Feb 25. Norway may need to let $1.8trn sovereign fund take stakes in arms makers, says central bank chief. Policymakers in Norway should be open to the idea that the country’s $1.8trn wealth fund be allowed to invest in weapons makers that are currently banned from its portfolio on ethical grounds, the central bank chief said on Thursday. The fund follows rules decided by parliament that prevents it from buying stakes in the likes of Airbus, Boeing, BAE Systems , Lockheed Martin and Safran on the grounds that they contribute to the making of nuclear arms. (Source: Reuters)
13 Feb 25. German parties’ election pledges on defence. Germany holds elections on February 23, with its army’s battle-readiness less than when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 – a precarious position as Europe faces a new geopolitical era under U.S. President Donald Trump read more . The conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) led by Friedrich Merz are expected to win, but there are wide divisions between some parties on defence. Here is a summary of parties’ plans for the armed forces and for German policy on the conflict in Ukraine.
* Help Europe defend itself but anchor it firmly in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
* Defence spending at least 2% of gross domestic product (GDP), the current NATO target
* Re-introduce military service, which was suspended under a previous CDU government in 2011
* Create an internal market in the European Union for defence goods with common export rules
* Streamline defence procurement processes (Source: Google/Reuters)
12 Feb 25. Norway extends NASAMS deployment in Poland until summer. The extension will see the continued presence of Norwegian NASAMS air defence forces in Rzeszów. Norway has confirmed decision to extend its commitment to Nato’s air and missile defence initiatives in Poland, with a new end date set for the summer period 2025. From December 2024, Norwegian forces were tasked with protecting the airspace in Poland using NASAMS air defence systems and Royal Norwegian Air Force’s (RoNAF) Lockheed Martin-built F-35A fighter jets, with approximately 100 soldiers deployed for this mission. This deployment was originally scheduled to conclude post-Easter 2025. With the new extension agreement, Poland will see the continued presence of Norwegian NASAMS air defence forces in Rzeszów, tasked with safeguarding supply routes into and out of Ukraine. During a recent visit to Poland, the Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Sandvik, conveyed the Labour government’s decision to extend the mission to his Polish counterpart, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Sandvik said: “Our air defence in Poland contributes to European security and ensures that vital civilian and military supplies reach Ukraine. Poland has made a remarkable effort to support Ukraine. We see closer Norwegian-Polish cooperation as a strength for Nato.”
The current plan outlines that the fighter jets will return to Norway following the completion of this extended mission. The NASAMS Air Defence System, developed in partnership between Kongsberg and Raytheon, is designed with a net-centric architecture that allows for multiple engagements simultaneously and has beyond visual range capabilities. It includes the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace’s Fire Distribution Centre, a launcher, and Raytheon’s range of effectors, such as the AMRAAM missile, AMRAAM-ER, and AIM-9X missile. The current NASAMS customer base includes 13 countries, comprising both air force and army customers. The mission sees Nato allies rotate in providing air and missile defence support to Poland. The Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defence System at Redzikowo, Poland, which Nato assumed command of in November 2024, is also operational, and contributes to a crucial component of Nato’s collective defence strategy. (Source: Google/airforce-technology.com)
12 Feb 25. Sir Keir Starmer has summoned defence chiefs for crucial talks over the future shape of Britain’s armed forces as he resists pressure for higher spending given the tight public finances. (Source: FT.com)
11 Feb 25. Romania: President’s resignation underscores heightened political tensions ahead of election re-run. On 10 February, President Klaus Iohannis tendered his resignation, effective as of 12 February, in order to pre-empt an effort led by the hard-right opposition to impeach him. Iohannis, who has served as president since 2014, was due to leave office after the presidential election in late 2024. However, his term was temporarily extended after the Constitutional Court annulled the election which is now set to take place in May due to concerns that election interference helped nationalist candidate Călin Georgescu win the first round. Although unlikely to worsen government stability, Iohannis’s resignation underscores the ongoing ramifications of the decision to annul the election. Also on 10 February, supporters of Georgescu clashed with police in the capital Bucharest. Polls indicate that Georgescu will possibly win the election in May. We assess that a key trigger for increased unrest in the coming months will be any decision to ban Georgescu from running in the election. Another will be Geoergescu failing to win the second round vote after winning the first round. (Source: Sibylline)
10 Feb 25. Greece to protest Italy over defence deal with Turkiye. Athens plans to submit a diplomatic protest to Italy because of its defence arrangement with Turkiye, Hurriyet Daily News reports. According to the report, Greece plans to file an official diplomatic complaint regarding Italy’s defence pact with Turkiye after Italian authorities approved the purchase of Piaggio Aerospace by Turkiye’s Baykar. The report says Athens claims that Rome skipped the required EU notification for the transaction which they consider to be a breach of EU investment rules. The Greek government believes that expanded defence collaboration between Turkiye and European countries threatens regional security dynamics. Greece continues its efforts to keep track of and respond to Turkiye’s expanding military strength with this action. The agreement between Italy and Turkiye raises particular concerns in Athens because Baykar manufactures the Bayraktar drones Turkiye employs in local conflicts. Greece has already voiced its apprehension regarding these transactions because they might boost Turkiye’s military strength in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean areas. Greece’s current strategy includes a formal protest but excludes any legal measures to stop the deal. The situation may lead to increased tensions between Athens and Rome in the context of EU relations. The Greek protest represents a component of their wider diplomatic efforts to stop arms and technology transactions that would boost Turkiye’s military strength. Greek Defence Minister, Nikos Dendias, raised new concerns about France’s prospective Meteor missile sale to Turkiye which demonstrates Athens’ ongoing attention to defence deals with its neighbouring rival. Greece plans to submit a formal diplomatic protest to Italy to make it reconsider its decision in support of European Union security interests. This action reveals continuous regional tensions and Greece’s careful strategy towards changing European security partnerships. (Source: Google/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/)
10 Feb 25. NATO laggard Belgium vows defense boost with more F-35s, third frigate. Belgium’s new government vows to boost the defense budget over the coming years to ensure the country, notoriously one of NATO’s worst performers on military spending, starts pulling its weight in the alliance. The government of Prime Minister Bart De Wever plans to set the Belgian defense budget on track to reach current NATO spending targets by 2029, and the coalition agreement underpinning the government calls for investing in air defense, more F-35 fighter jets and a third frigate.
“The time of rebuilding our defense has started,” Minister of Defence Theo Francken, who was sworn in last week, said in a speech to Belgian ambassadors on Feb. 7. “This will put an end to what I can safely call a ‘period of national disgrace.’ A period in which Belgium was not loyal to its status as a founding member of NATO, but acted as the most notorious free rider of the entire alliance.”
Belgium spent 1.3% of GDP on defense last year, near the bottom of the NATO pack together with Spain, Luxembourg and Slovenia. The alliance had agreed in 2014 to move towards 2% spending within a decade, and 23 of the 32 allies met that target last year, NATO estimates. In his speech, Francken cited the Latin adage Si vic pacem, para bellum, or ‘If you want peace, prepare for war,’ saying many appeared to have forgotten that lesson. The coalition agreement states “it’s finally time” for Belgium to meet its obligations under Article 3 of the NATO treaty – which calls for capacity both at the country level and collectively to resist armed attack – and to address Belgium’s vulnerability to threats from air and sea. Francken says Belgian spending last year included 0.16% of GDP on support for Ukraine, leaving actual spending on the armed forces at less than 1.2%. Belgium spent 15% of its defense budget on major new equipment, the lowest share within the alliance, according to NATO estimates. The government plans for Belgian defense spending to reach 2% of GDP in 2029, and 2.5% by 2034 at the latest. Belgium will set up a Defence Fund within the federal investment company, which Francken says could raise €2.4bn, or $2.5bn. Belgium spent an estimated €7.9bn on defense in 2024, according to NATO. That’s less than Denmark and Norway, each of which has about half the population of Belgium, and compares to €21.4bn for the Netherlands. The current climate of geopolitical tension and tight budgets means other countries are raising the issue of Belgian underinvestment, Francken told broadcaster Radio 1 last week. “And with Donald Trump, that will happen in a brutal manner, so I’m fully prepared for that.”
The Ministry of Defence aims to present a new investment plan ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague in June, where the alliance spending target will probably be raised, Francken said in a parliamentary discussion of the coalition agreement last week. Investment will be guided by NATO and European Union capability targets, the coalition agreement states. An immediate priority will be to buy munitions, where Belgium has a major shortage, according to Francken. Other priorities include layered air defense, additional F-35s, small transport aircraft in addition to the country’s seven A400M freighters, armed drones, a helicopter fleet and a third frigate, as well as maritime minehunting capacity, according to the coalition agreement. Francken has been a defense spending hawk for years, and the coalition agreement covers many of his demands, including more F-35s. Belgium ordered 34 of the fighters in 2018 for €3.8 bn to replace its fleet of F-16s, with the first aircraft scheduled to arrive in the country this year. The government also plans to ensure the Belgian Navy can deploy at least one frigate at any given time. The navy operates two frigates from the late 1980s that were acquired second-hand from the Dutch in 2005, with plans to replace the vessels in the early 2030s. Francken has repeatedly argued Belgium needs a third frigate, something that now looks set to happen. Belgium announced the purchase of two anti-submarine warfare frigates from Damen Naval and Thales for around €2 bn in April 2023, in a joint deal with the Netherlands, which was buying the same number of vessels. The first Dutch frigate is scheduled for delivery end-2029, while Belgium is scheduled to receive its first vessel in the second half of 2030. The Netherlands in September announced plans to buy two more anti-submarine warfare frigates, doubling its order, and six more F-35 fighter jets on top of 52 aircraft already announced. The new Belgian government will also invest in air defense. De Wever, a party colleague of Francken and previously mayor of Antwerp, last year argued the port city needs dedicated air defense. Antwerp is the second-largest port in Europe after Rotterdam and a military mobility hub, with several U.S. Army combat brigades using the port for rotational deployment in recent years. The new government aims to strengthen cooperation with the Netherlands and Luxembourg in the maritime domain, ground-based air defense, air power and special forces. The country plans to expand partnerships such as the CaMo land forces cooperation with France, and strengthen the existing motorized brigade in CaMo with deep-strike capability and rocket artillery. The medium-term target is to stand up a second brigade that can be put at the disposal of NATO, according to the coalition agreement. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
12 Feb 25. Austria: Possible collapse of coalition talks underscores heightened government stability risks. Government coalition negotiations between the hard-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) and the centre-right People’s Party (ÖVP) are possibly close to collapsing. According to the outlet Der Standard, the FPÖ submitted a final proposal on 11 February regarding the distribution of ministries, in which the party insists on controlling the interior and finance portfolios. Earlier on 12 February, the ÖVP reportedly rejected the proposal, insisting that control of the interior ministry should be divided. FPÖ control of the interior ministry would raise the risk of reduced intelligence sharing between Austria and its Western partners given the party’s open links to Russia. Other areas of dispute include immigration and sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the liberal Neos have both indicated they are open to re-entering negotiations with the ÖVP, despite talks previously failing. We assess that the protracted negotiations indicate that once a government if formed, it will likely be susceptible to in-fighting and possibly even a breakdown. (Source: Sibylline)
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