The Golden Dome would never be completed within three years, as Trump has stated. He'd be long dead before any Golden Dome would exist. Still, a Golden Dome in a decade or so might not be a bad thing. "The Canadian military has been talking with American officials about participating in the U.S.­led Golden Dome missile defence system for the past “few years,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said" #goldendome #canada #military #NATO #defence https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/canada-has-discussed-a-role-in-u-s--led-golden-dome-missile-defence-for/article_a579b814-9c06-41f7-a025-2bc0995f6ea2.html

#Defence #Collaboration #DefenceCollaboration
"Access to the EU's €150bn defence fund strengthens UK-EU security ties. Could this be a new era of cooperation? #DefenseDeal #UKEU
https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/james-ball-its-taken-a-remainer-to-fix-the-brexiteers-mess/

EU ambassadors agree on €150B defence lending scheme.

EU ambassadors today agreed on the €150 billion Security Action For Europe (SAFE) loans for weapons regulation.

It now needs to be formally adopted at a meeting of the General Affairs Council, made up of EU ministers, on 27 May.

Two diplomats said that Hungary abstained, but since the regulation was adopted with qualified majority Budapest wasn't able to block the initiative.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250521-eu-ambassadors-agree-on-150b-defence-lending-scheme?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

Using AI to summarise external feedback, and write a defence strategy on the use of AI, which pushes using AI for military targeting decisions, and a bigger role for Palantir systems in battlefield systems and decisions.

What could possibly go wrong?!

Let's check in on the IDF, who already use this “technology”, to see where it might end up... oh dear...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/20/uk-armed-forces-artificial-intelligence-ai-strategic-defence-review-john-healey

Satellite images show a Russian military build-up near Finland.

Russia is expanding its military infrastructure near the border with Finland, in what NATO officials describe as the early stages of a long-term build-up, The New York Times reported Monday.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250519-satellite-images-show-a-russian-military-build-up-near-finland?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

This! _THIS!_

Now DUMP #AUKUS, tell the US where to shove it, and grab this EU deal with both hands!

https://www.9news.com.au/national/european-union-seeks-defence-pact-with-australia/ce1fbe59-0cb6-4756-9f85-946d9eb9cf4b?ref=BP_RSS_ninenews_3_european-union-seeking-defence-pact-with-australia_190525

launched 273 drones overnight, 150 of which were aimed at #Kyiv

AFU are building new defensive lines in #Donetsk, including anti-tank ditches, dragon's teeth & barbed wire

#Pope Leo XIV called for "just peace" for , offers the #Vatican as a venue to host #peace talks, and will hold a private audience with Pres Zelenskyy & First Lady

renews call for #NATO Art 5 security guarantees for #Ukraine

announced $1 billion #defence aid package for

hold #elections

First plague, then war.

“Regardless of which measure you consult, the past year has seen a sharp increase in global #spending on #defence. Budgets totalled $2.7trn in 2024—up by 9.4% from 2023, the biggest jump since at least 1988.

#Military outlays now account for 2.5% of countries’ gdp on average, and 7.1% of government budgets. But the increase is even steeper when adjusted for purchasing power (see chart 1). With help from #PeterRobertson of the #UniversityofWesternAustralia, we estimate that global #defence #spending rose by 10% in real terms.”

What got me to read the article? The notation, “$bn, log scale” graph. #Graphs shown in log #scale.

Meaning the economist pitch to readership is high in statistical education OR it’s from an Academic source.

<https://archive.md/I8SBL> / <https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2025/05/16/how-do-countries-rank-by-military-spending> (paywall)

Puolustusalalla muhii bisneksiä, joihin yritys ei yksin pääse kiinni – siksi Etelä-Savon yritykset perustivat verkoston

Etelä-Savossa Savo Defence -yritysverkosto edistää yhteyksien luomista eri maiden puolustusviranomaisiin. Suosittu verkosto sai alkunsa yrittäjien aloitteesta.

https://yle.fi/a/74-20161824

An absolutely riveting interview with the two F-16 pilots seeking the jets attacking America on 9/11, as it all was unfolding. They were both prepared to do a kamikazi strike on the hijacked jets.

If you are a #UK voter who wants a tough line against #immigration, to cut international #aid in favour of #defence, to defend the biological definition of a #woman, to stand with #Israel, and to insist on lower #taxes and tight control of government #spending, understanding that #netzero cannot be a priority, you now have three choices of who to vote for.

Choice is important.

#AI has sparked a renewed arms race. In this context, where does #Europe stand? In this article, we go through the latest report on #defence and AI, issued by the European Parliamentary Research Service.

While the #EU is ramping up its military spending, including research on AI, it still endorses a ban on lethal autonomous weapons.

We also mention some of the report's blind spots, such as AI's use in the ongoing #war in #Gaza and #India 's role in AI governance.

https://the-debugger.ghost.io/defence-and-artificial-intelligence-where-does-europe-stand/

INTERVIEW: Austrian chancellor says ‘nein’ to #NATO, but is eager for French nuclear protection: Can Christian Stocker get one of Europe's weakest #defence spenders to pay its fair share with extremists breathing down his neck? https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/interview/interview-austrian-chancellor-says-nein-to-nato-but-is-eager-for-french-nuclear-protection/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=dlvr.it

https://www.europesays.com/uk/93958/ bne IntelliNews – Poland and France seal landmark defence and cooperation treaty #bne #Defence #EU #Europe #France #NATO #Poland #Science #Security #Space #trump #Tusk

regained positions near #Lyptsi, bordering #Belgorod

advanced near Romanivka, Oleksandropol and Nova Poltavka

lost another 1,310 soldiers

Starmer, Macron, Merz and Tusk visit #Ukraine on the 80th anniversary of VE week, honour the memory of fallen soldiers in the Independence Square in #Kyiv, discuss defence cooperation and a 30-day ceasefire proposal

sign historical treaty that includes a guarantee of mutual #defence

expels two diplomats after uncovering spy network

Following VE Day 80th, let's recognise the very thin current state of our UK armed forces. There'll be a Strategic Defence Review (SDR) published soon, and it will take spending decisions to rebuild quickly enough to meet reality.
Our MPs have impartial high quality briefings that are also free to read, like this one.
#UKpol #defence #SDR2025 #JustTheFacts #HouseOfCommonsLibrary #librarians
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10257/

Rheinmetall’s sales surge as soaring defence demand continues.

Rheinmetall, Germany’s largest arms manufacturer, reported a 46% year-on-year surge in sales to €2.3 billion during the first three months of the year, driven by a 73% increase in its defence business due to increased defence spending across Europe.

The company noted that 70% of its sales were generated abroad, with defence revenue rising to €1.8 billion.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250508-rheinmetalls-sales-surge-as-soaring-defence-demand-continues?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

Romania rediscovers its hidden treasure: Minerals.

The EU’s push to reduce dependence on critical materials is giving a second life to several abandoned mining projects.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250505-romania-rediscovers-its-hidden-treasure-minerals?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

EU €800 billion #defence push hit with tepid response: Just over half of the bloc's 27 member states have heeded the European Commission's call to request more fiscal space to ramp up #defence spending. https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-e800-billion-defence-push-hit-with-tepid-response/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=dlvr.it