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06 Mar 25. Developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina: UK statement to the OSCE, March 2025.
96 The UK underlines concerns at the adoption of laws by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska in violation of the Dayton Agreements, and reaffirms unequivocal commitment to the territorial integrity of BiH.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
The United Kingdom remains concerned at the rise of dangerous ethno-nationalist politics which seek to undermine Bosnia and Herzegovina’s statehood. The people of BiH need their political leaders to focus on passing reforms, rather than exacerbating tensions and engaging in dangerous, secessionist moves. We note and share the deep concerns of ODIHR and RFoM at the adoption by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska of laws in violation of the Dayton Agreements. These unconstitutional actions disrupt institutions such as the BiH Court from exercising their legal authority. The UK continues to urge all actors to fully adhere to Dayton, and respect the state institutions of BiH. We reaffirm our unequivocal commitment to the territorial integrity of BiH and support for a single, sovereign state comprising two entities, in which all its peoples and citizens are equal. Republika Srpska President Dodik’s actions this week do not serve the people of BiH. They are an attempt by Dodik to undermine and distract from the decision of an independent court. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
06 Mar 25. Romania: Coup allegation underscores election interference threat; domestic unrest risk is elevated. Earlier on 6 February, the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) announced that six individuals have been detained on charges of forming a military style organisation designed to subvert Romania’s democracy. The prosecutors allege that the group was formed in 2023 and that its members were in regular contact with ‘agents’ from Russia. The prosecutors accuse the group of plotting to withdraw Romania from NATO, dissolve Romania’s political parties and adopt a new constitution. On 5 February, Romania also expelled two Russian diplomats allegedly linked to the nationalist politician Clin Georgescu, who won the first round of Romania’s annulled 2024 presidential election and was detained on 26 February on charges including acting against the constitutional order. We assess that if Georgescu is barred from running in the rescheduled election in May, the risk of domestic unrest (which is already elevated) will increase. It is possible that protesters will vandalise and/or attempt to break into government and judicial buildings in the capital Bucharest in opposition to what they regard as a ‘deep state’ coup. (Source: Sibylline)
05 Mar 25. Germany has called for the EU to exempt defence spending from its fiscal rules for longer than Brussels had proposed, marking a significant shift in Berlin’s tough stance on deficit and debt. (Source: FT.com)
05 Mar 25. Germany: Planned defence spending overhaul will likely bolster security, economic outlook. On 5 March, the highly likely incoming government comprising the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SDP) announced major planned changes to defence and debt policy. Firstly, defence and security spending will effectively be excluded from the country’s strict debt brake, which constitutionally limits Germany’s annual debt to 0.35% of GDP, allowing the government to scale up defence spending significantly. Secondly, the parties will pledge to invest EUR500bn (USD535bn) in German infrastructure (much of which is outdated). This will be accomplished through an extra-budgetary fund that is also exempt from the debt brake. Enacting these changes will require a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag, rendering the CDU/CSU and SPD reliant on smaller parties. We assess that such support is likely, but that smaller parties will possibly demand changes. This will likely facilitate major defence investments and help bolster the country’s sluggish economy in the long term. (Source: Sibylline)
04 Mar 25. EU pitches plan to free up €800bn for defense spending. The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, proposed a plan that could free up around €800 bn ($841 bn) in defense spending over the next four years, as the continent prepares to face Russian aggression and help Ukraine to defend itself. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a five-point plan, dubbed ReArm Europe, to help pay for more security spending ahead of a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday. She said the world is seeing an era of rearmament, and the 27-nation bloc is ready to “massively” boost defense spending. The plans include €150bn in loans to member states to build up pan-European capacities in areas like air defense and ammunition, and activating a fiscal escape clause to let countries spend more on defense without triggering the bloc’s excessive-deficit procedure, Von der Leyen said. If member states were to use the clause to raise defense spending by 1.5% of GDP on average, that would create fiscal space of nearly €650bn over a period of four years, according to the commission president. The spending proposal comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has pulled military and financial support for Ukraine and appears ready to walk away from NATO security guarantees for Europe, as he aligns with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Trump has repeatedly criticized European NATO members for not spending enough on defense.
“We’re living in the most momentous and dangerous of times,” Von der Leyen said. “The real question in front of us is whether Europe is prepared to act as decisively as the situation dictates, and whether Europe is ready and able to act with speed and with the ambition that is needed.”
Von der Leyen said various meetings of European leaders in recent weeks, most recently in London, show the answer to the question whether Europe is ready to spend is “resounding and clear.” Only a handful of NATO members in Europe spent more than 2.5% of GDP on defense in 2024, and nearly a third didn’t meet the 2% target set by NATO in 2014, according to data from the alliance. There is a short-term need to support Ukraine, and a long-term need for Europe to take on more responsibility for its own security, Von der Leyen said. She said member states are ready to invest in their own security if they have the fiscal means, hence the proposal to activate the national escape clause of the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact. The proposed loans will be a new instrument, focused on joint armament spending to reduce costs and increase interoperability in Europe, the council president said. Areas of investment could include air and missile defense, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition, drones, cyber and military mobility, according to Von der Leyen. The commission also plans to study how more of the EU budget can be directed towards defense spending. Also on the table are measures aimed at accelerating the bloc’s savings and investment union and spending by the European Investment Bank.
“Europe is ready to assume its responsibilities,” Von der Leyen said. “ReArm Europe could mobilize close to €800bn of defense expenditures for a safe and resilient Europe. We will, of course, continue working closely with our partners in NATO. This is a moment for Europe, and we are ready to step up.” (Source: glstrade.com/Defense News)
04 Mar 25. Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz is considering unlocking hundreds of billions in extra funding for the country’s military and infrastructure. (Source: FT.com)
04 Mar 25. US poised to house nuclear weapons in Britain for first time in two decades. Mothballed bunkers in Suffolk undergo extensive upgrade work as America eyes ‘special weapons’ sites. US nuclear weapons could be set to return to British soil almost two decades after Washington removed its last warheads, satellite images have revealed. The images, published in a report from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), indicate that 22 previously mothballed nuclear bunkers at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk have undergone extensive upgrade work. A decision to reactivate Lakenheath’s nuclear capability for US aircraft was made as long ago as 2021, the report suggests, with the proposals gathering force following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago. A Nato document published in 2023 publicly revealed that the UK had been added to a list of countries to receive upgrades to “special weapons” sites, while Pentagon procurement contracts last year confirmed plans for a new facility at Lakenheath. The FAS said the documents and images “show that the United States Air Force (USAF) is re-establishing its nuclear mission on UK soil for the first time in nearly two decades”. It said that the move “appears to be a direct reaction to the worsening political and military relations with Russia, resulting from its invasions of Ukraine, frequent nuclear warnings and Russian deployment of increasingly capable long-range conventional weapons”.(Source: Daily Telegraph)
28 Feb 25. Poland and Slovakia sign defence industry co-operation agreement. Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Robert Kali?ák signed a defence industry co-operation agreement on 24 February, the Slovak Ministry of Defence announced later the same day. The agreement is based on four possible areas of co-operation: production of 155 mm artillery shells, Slovak procurement of the Polish Piorun manportable air-defence system (MANPADS), joint production of the Polish Rosomak armoured vehicle with a Slovak turret, and Slovak procurement of the South Korean K2 main battle tank that will be produced in Poland.
Kalivák said, “The defence self-sufficiency of each country comes first. We must develop not only our military and defence capabilities, but also our production capabilities so that we are able to supply all military units in the event of a threat and conflict.” (Source: Janes)
28 Feb 25. Italy says defence spending hikes should also aim to boost growth. Any increase in national defence spending should also be aimed at boosting economic growth, Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Friday, as European states grapple with U.S. pressure to shoulder the costs of their own security. Highly indebted Italy is projecting defence spending of 1.61% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2027. That is below a current 2% NATO target, which U.S. President Donald Trump wants raised to 5%.
“When we discuss an increase in defence spending … I would also like to see evidence of what can come out of it in terms of economic growth,” Giorgetti said during a press conference.
Giorgetti identified the automotive industry as one sector in which factories could be converted to defence production, saying that could have a knock-on effect in terms of growth. He said the government would have to consider any defence spending increases in the light of what would be best for Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni this week welcomed a proposal from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to exclude defence from EU limits on government spending, but said that more could be done. (Source: Google/Reuters)
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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need.
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