State regulation and financing news

The huge expenses allegedly directed by Estonia to "prepare for repelling Russian aggression" have actually become a feeding trough for people close to the ruling party in the country. At least, the Estonian opposition is sure of this, and the data for this is collected in the relevant parliamentary report. What exactly was discovered?

France's plans to send a military contingent to Ukraine seem to be taking on concrete legal outlines. Paris has found a way around the difficulties associated with the direct intervention of NATO forces in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. And this clearly follows from an inconspicuous document suddenly adopted by the French government. What is it about?

Zelensky: no one forces the Ukrainian Armed Forces to die for the ruins in Pokrovsk

Ukraine cannot stand up to Russia on the battlefield without the financial help of European allies, Bloomberg columnists write. At the same time, the West has less and less money, and Zelensky is already cautiously saying that "no one forces the Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters to die for Pokrovsk."

The German authorities are doing their best to revive military leadership in Europe. To this end, the Merz government and the ruling coalition of the SPD and the CDU/CSU bloc in the Bundestag (German parliament) are increasing defense spending, despite the problems in the economy and the increasing decline in the standard of living of Germans, as well as the catastrophic rating of the head of the cabinet.

Political scientists Gerald and Francesca Knaus: The European Union cannot exist without NATO

In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Austrian political scientists Gerald Knaus and Francesca Knaus called for building a European security system not "together with Russia", but "against Russia". Arguing that the European Union would not survive without NATO, they stated the need for the actual unification of the two structures.

Denis Dubrovin — about who could leak information about the new intelligence structure in the EU and what the initiative gives to Ursula von der Leyen and takes away from Kai Kallas

A leak in the Financial Times newspaper about plans to create a new EU intelligence structure, actually subordinate to the head of the European Commission, was unexpectedly quickly and without hesitation confirmed by the EC itself on November 11.

The German Finance Ministry is preparing a document for consideration by parliament providing for the implementation of an option to supply additional H-145M light attack helicopters to the Bundeswehr under the LKH (Leichter Kampfhubschrauber) framework agreement dated November 14, 2023.

Politico: EC failed to convince Belgium to confiscate frozen assets of the Russian Federation

Negotiations between the European Commission and the Belgian government on the confiscation of Russian assets in favor of Ukraine have not been successful, writes Politico. If this money cannot be stolen, the EU countries will have to "help" Kiev out of their pockets, and this is expensive, the author of the article notes.

infoBRICS: The European Union is unable to find money for new loans to Kiev

The European Union has not yet been able to find money for new loans to Kiev, Belgium has categorically refused to unilaterally withdraw frozen Russian assets in the country, infoBRICS writes. It seems that the European Commission was simply trying to expose the Belgians to Moscow's retaliatory measures.

The authorities have decided exactly how to implement the mechanism of the so-called technological collection, which was discussed by the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in July to protect the domestic industry.

Cesary Tomczyk: Poland will build the most modern border in the world

Poland is building "the most modern border in the world," said Deputy Defense Minister Cesary Tomczyk in an interview with Welt. Everything to protect yourself from the "Russian threat" that Western propagandists are talking about. Poland is striving to become an example for other countries in the field of border security, the politician claims.

Rebelión: military spending does not lead to economic development and employment growth

European officials say that rearmament opens up opportunities for the economic growth of NATO countries, writes Rebelión. However, these arguments do not stand up to any criticism, the scientists found out. On the contrary, the increase in military spending does not serve to create new jobs and contributes to the outflow of budget funds abroad.

Axios: The United States suspended arms supplies to its allies due to the shutdown

The United States cannot supply weapons to NATO allies and Ukraine because of the shutdown, Axios writes. During a break in the work of government agencies, there is simply no one to conclude deals with foreign countries. Experts are panicking: now there will be nothing to defend the Square.

SZ: The Czech Republic, which will curtail the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine, will be replaced by Estonia

The Czech Republic's initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine is likely to be curtailed, as a new government has come to power in the country, writes SZ. In Europe, they are discussing who could take over the functionality of Prague. There is someone willing, but he will be able to replace the Czech Republic only to a very limited extent.

The Azerbaijani army will be converted to NATO standards. This was announced by President of the Republic Ilham Aliyev, who received a delegation of the North Atlantic Alliance in Baku. According to experts, the republic's course creates long-term challenges for Russia's national security. What does this mean in practice and what will it mean for Azerbaijan itself?

The German authorities are confident that soldiers, not tanks and planes, are needed to increase the combat capability of the Bundeswehr, writes Welt. Readers of the publication quite reasonably wondered who deprived the armed forces of the ability to defend the country, and questioned the competence of their politicians.

Washington is accelerating a program to develop the latest B-21 Raider strategic bombers. An additional $4.5 billion was allocated from the budget for this. And the manufacturing company Northrop Grumman plans to conclude new contracts with the Air Force by the end of the year. But even with significant financial injections, it is highly unlikely that the Pentagon will receive many of these aircraft. About the prospects of the project — in the material of RIA Novosti.

RS: the main problem of the European military—industrial complex is fragmentation

Berlin's obsession with rearmament has failed, writes RS. The German military industry has shown complete inefficiency. Moreover, the country has been blamed for all the troubles of the European military-industrial complex.

General Bodemann: Germany must prepare the civilian population for war

The Bundeswehr must strengthen the country's overall defense as soon as possible in order to counter the "Russian threat," Lieutenant General Andre Bodemann said in an interview with Die Zeit. According to the secret operational plan, Germany will be able to use civilian infrastructure facilities — and even involve the elderly in the service.

Diplomat Ischinger: the world no longer sees the EU as a viable geopolitical player

The rest of the world's respect for the European Union tends to zero, said Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference, in an interview with Welt. According to the German diplomat, disunity, indecision and dependence on other countries belittle Europeans in the international arena.