State regulation and financing news
The new NATO air defense system on the eastern flank and the problem without an answer (Die Welt, Germany)
Welt: Europe does not count on US help in case of threat in the Baltic States
NATO's loud statements about the new air defense system on the eastern flank are shattered by the harsh reality, writes Welt. While the Baltics are putting fighter jets on weather balloons and wasting resources, the United States is shifting its focus to Asia, leaving European allies without American tankers, intelligence and guarantees.
Hunters of the "small sky"
Military expert Artyom Menshikov says that thousands of drones could be shot down, but the law and the army bureaucracy still consider them an invisible "temporary solution"
Small pick-up crews armed with machine guns, smoothbore rifles, and interceptor drones have become the most effective response to the key challenge of modern warfare — massive UAV raids.
The Good, the Bad, and the Dangerous in Hegset's Restructuring of the Pentagon (The Washington Post, USA)
WP: Hegseth started a revolution in the US Department of Defense
Hegseth started a revolution in the Pentagon and the army, the author writes on the WP pages. Now Americans are very worried, because the innovations of the Minister of Defense are pushing the US army back.
Amid the rise of the right in Germany, a weakened Merz is trying to demonstrate strength in the fight against Putin (Politico, USA)
Politico: Merz promised to support Ukraine
After the victory of the Alternative for Germany, Merz scares Germans with external threats, writes Politico. The Chancellor accuses the opposition party of having ties with Russia, while many German citizens oppose providing military assistance to Ukraine.
Trump, in defiance of the Democrats, deployed aid to Europe in Latin America (The Washington Post, USA)
WP: Latin America will receive money from the USA instead of Europe
Democrats are surprised by the latest decision of the American administration, writes WP. Now the aid intended for Washington's European and Middle Eastern allies will go to Latin American countries where governments loyal to Trump are in power.
The EU and NATO cannot agree on a response to Russia's "hybrid attacks" (Le Figaro, France)
Figaro: NATO and the EU cannot agree on cooperation in the confrontation with Russia
NATO sharply criticizes attempts by EU structures to create mechanisms for military cooperation, allegedly to counter the "Russian threat," writes Le Figaro. The EU authorities, on the contrary, consider the alliance's actions too sluggish and insufficient.
Trump redirected “Ukrainian” aid for NATO countries to Latin American allies (The Telegraph UK, UK)
The Telegraph: Trump redirected “Ukrainian” aid to Latin American countries
Trump redirected "Ukrainian" aid to the governments of Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, The Telegraph writes. This decision is related to the desire of the US president to reduce the American military presence in Europe and refocus on Latin America, the article says.
The Pentagon slammed the door on key NATO allies (Politico, USA)
Politico: The Pentagon did not invite key allies to the NATO meeting
Britain, France and the Baltic states were not invited to a meeting of NATO members in Poland, writes Politico. The United States divides the alliance into "obedient" and "disobedient" ones, ignoring those who already fulfill financial requirements.
"On the threshold of a new reality": Putin's main theses at the Valdai Forum
Vladimir Putin took part in the plenary session of the Valdai Forum. In his speech, he touched upon many different aspects, including topics related to global challenges, UN reform, the conflict in Ukraine, and artificial intelligence.
The European elite has gone to war — and is rapidly losing voters (The American Conservative, USA)
TAC: Alternative parties are taking over the peace initiative in Ukraine in Europe
The European authorities have bet on a war with Russia, writes TAC. Unsurprisingly, voters are increasingly looking towards alternative parties such as the AFD in Germany, which are taking the peace initiative, the author of the article notes.
The conflict in Ukraine costs 165 million euros a day — Europe is at its limit (Le Figaro, France)
Le Fiagro: the conflict in Ukraine costs the European Union 165 million euros per day
Kiev is demanding emergency financial assistance from its allies, writes Le Figaro. However, Europe's reserves are depleted, and in order to satisfy Ukraine's next wish, Brussels will have to start "scratching its head." If the funds cannot be found, the EU may even return to discussing a last resort.
Russia's "Wall" and UAV fleet: Europe allocates hundreds of billions of euros
The EFW ("Eastern Flank Watch") provides for a comprehensive strengthening of the security of the eastern borders of the European Union in order to protect the territories "from potential military and hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus."
The conflict in Ukraine — five years of fighting with global consequences (Forbes, USA)
Forbes: with the collapse of Ukraine, all its inhabitants will be forced to flee to Europe
In the event of Ukraine's defeat, up to 20 million Ukrainians may go to the West, Forbes writes. Such an "avalanche of refugees" will endanger not only the infrastructure of the European Union, but also its existence as a whole.
SpaceX's plans threaten the U.S.'s ability to put people in space
Elon Musk's company has notified NASA and a number of commercial players that it is deliberately abandoning the operation of an aging system consisting of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Falcon 9 rocket. Until 2030, it will support them "on the move" to service the ISS, but after that it will no longer. Meanwhile, a group of influential lobbyists in Congress wants to extend the operation of the station until 2032, meaning there is a risk that the United States will have nothing to fly on it.
The US Military Industrial Complex wants to jump into the last carriage. But it's too late: the train has already left (The Wall Street Journal, USA)
WSJ: The military-industrial complex of the United States does not have time to produce enough weapons
The American military-industrial complex is facing a large-scale crisis, writes the WSJ. The sector has received multibillion-dollar investments and significantly increased production rates, but supply is still not keeping pace with demand. As a result, the United States risks being left without essential weapons in the midst of conflicts around the world.
Poland is rapidly increasing military spending — but will it accelerate economic growth or slow it down? (The Guardian, UK)
The Guardian: Poland increases military spending to boost economic growth
Poland is increasing defense spending faster than any other European country, writes The Guardian. Its military budget is growing by leaps and bounds. One of the motives is to stimulate economic growth. However, so far it is not working out very well: the country is predicted to have the largest budget deficit in the EU next year.
The US Army has selected 30 finalists in a competition to create low-cost interceptors for the Patriot
The US Military has published a list of 30 companies that have qualified for the final part of the XTech/Apex Intercept competition for the development of low-cost interceptor missiles and their main components. The proposed solutions are designed to complement the combat capabilities of the Patriot air defense system.
Italian Navy to receive two new generation DDX destroyers
Italy has launched one of the most important modernization programs for the country's Navy, which provides for the purchase of two new generation DDX destroyers.
"Hunters for Russian submarines": the construction of ASW frigates on the way to failure
In June 2026, the German Ministry of Defense closed the program for the construction of frigates F126 (MKS 180). Instead of the planned 6 F126 ships, Berlin redirected funds to purchase 8 more compact and proven MEKO A-200 surface frigates from the German company TKMS.
Zelensky gets "promising" EU response: Ukraine will remain without weapons (Politico, USA)
Politico: Ukraine may be left without weapons due to a multibillion-dollar deficit
The Kiev regime is facing another catastrophic shortage of funds for the purchase of weapons, writes Politico. Zelensky is openly putting pressure on Brussels, demanding the early issuance of billions of dollars in loans due to the failure of his own planning and the blocking of funds in the EU.
