Author: Press Room
The tanker deal is not just a competition won; it is a decision that shifts the balance. Behind the purchase of the new Airbus A330 MRTT lies a shift in the centre of gravity of Italy’s air defence, which is now looking increasingly to Europe within the NATO framework, leaving behind the US option linked to the Boeing KC-46. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In this context, Italy has formalised the acquisition of six Airbus A330 MRTT tanker aircraft, in a deal with a total value of around 1.39 billion euro, including long-term logistic support. The news emerges from publication on the European…
A raft of viral social media posts claims that Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, has announced the complete withdrawal of troops from Europe. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The posts on X have racked up more than a million views altogether, and all feature the same clip of Rubio giving an interview to Fox News. The captions say that the US spends 100,000 troops and $60 billion defending Europe every year, and that this, combined with Europe’s supposed lack of help to the US in the Strait of Hormuz crisis, justifies their complete withdrawal. They also say that NATO’s dissolution is…
Published on 21/05/2026 – 15:01 GMT+2 Five Italian nationals who died while scuba diving in the Maldives may have become lost while exploring an underwater cave, the CEO of the company that recovered their bodies said on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The four remaining bodies were reportedly found earlier this week by a team of Finnish divers working for Dan Europe. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously said that the divers had gone missing while “attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres.” An early reconstruction of events showed the cave the divers entered was divided into “three…
Published on 21/05/2026 – 12:33 GMT+2•Updated 13:38 Russia delivered nuclear munitions to field storage facilities in Belarus as part of major nuclear drills, the defence ministries in Moscow and Minsk announced on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT They have also released what they described as “video evidence” — a clip showing military vehicles driving into a forested area at an undisclosed location and missiles being loaded onto launchers. The Iskander-M, a mobile guided-missile system code-named “SS-26 Stone” by NATO, is intended to replace the Soviet-era Scud. Iskander-M’s guided missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometres and can carry conventional or…
Published on 21/05/2026 – 11:07 GMT+2•Updated 11:17 The Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) has issued an alert to residents after detecting “at least one” unmanned aerial vehicle in its airspace. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In a statement posted to X, the NBS initially warned of a “possible threat” to airspace over the eastern regions of Ludza, Krāslava, Rēzekne, and Augšdaugava, before confirming it had detected a UAV. “Seek shelter indoors, close windows and doors—follow the two-wall principle,” it told residents. “If you notice a low-flying, suspicious, or dangerous object, do not approach it and call 112. We will inform you when the…
The European Commission on Thursday cut its 2026 growth forecast for the European economy, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East drives energy prices sharply higher. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The EU economy is now expected to grow by just 1.1% in 2026, down from the 1.4% projected in the Commission’s autumn forecast. The eurozone outlook was revised down further to 0.9%. In its report, the Commission warned that disruption to global energy markets — caused by escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key oil and gas shipping routes — has significantly worsened Europe’s economic outlook.…
The European Parliament and EU countries have failed to reach an agreement on new rules for migrants’ returns, with lawmakers and diplomats clashing over when it will come into force. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The new law, called the “return regulation”, is set to introduce stricter measures to speed up the return of irregular migrants, among them deportation centres outside the EU, longer detention, and entry bans for third-country nationals who have no right to stay in Europe. After three sessions of talks in Strasbourg, negotiators gave up and decided to resume talks on 1 June. According to multiple sources in the…
Published on 21/05/2026 – 9:43 GMT+2 Montenegro marks 20 years of independence from a union with Serbia this week, with concerts and various celebrations being held in the capital Podgorica and other towns across the country. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Split between the supporters of independence and those backing the union with Serbia, Montenegro held a referendum on 21 May 2006 to choose its future path after a decade of wars and NATO bombing in 1999 aimed at stopping the war in Kosovo. The result: 55.5% chose independence. Splitting from the joint state was divisive given that Montenegro has historically close ties…
Good morning. This is Angela Skujins, penning today’s newsletter from Brussels. And yes, your eyes don’t deceive you. I was just on Europe Today speaking about unmanned aerial vehicles. I am proof you can have your cake and eat it too. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Before we dive in, news has just come in that the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants a “new dynamic” when it comes to the pace and style of negotiations surrounding Ukraine and Moldova’s bid to join the European Union (EU). “Enlargement of the European Union is a geopolitical necessity. However, the enlargement process takes much too long,”…
Published on 21/05/2026 – 7:56 GMT+2•Updated 8:02 Also on today’s show hosted by Mared Gwyn: ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Euronews’ Sasha Vakulina reports on the political reactions to the drone incursion row. Interview with Henna Virkkunen, Commissioner responsible for tech sovereignty, security and democracy. Explainer by Jakub Janas: Why is German Chancellor Friedrich Merz increasingly disliked in Germany? Shona Murray reports on the gathering of NATO foreign ministers in Sweden today, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected. We report on global reactions on a video from Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showing him taunting handcuffed activists from the…