Author: staff
It named France’s Arcadia as an example, as well as “comparable German solutions.” The French armed forces has been keen to pitch its AI-powered military command-and-control platform Arcadia as an alternative to Palantir’s Maven software, which is also used by NATO. A top alliance commander recently told POLITICO there was no real European alternative. Friday’s declaration does not mention FCAS, the troubled Franco-German-Spanish project to develop a next-generation fighter jet. Instead, France and Germany said they would create a “European collaborative combat standard” so fighter jets, combat drones and other aircraft developed by different countries can communicate and fight together.…
Published on 17/07/2026 – 13:45 GMT+2 The leaders of France and Germany met on Friday for critical talks on the future of their defence cooperation after the collapse of a flagship joint fighter jet project last month. For French President Emmanuel Macron there is an urgent need to make progress in this area before next spring’s presidential election in which far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen is a frontrunner to be his successor. The prospect of a Le Pen presidency adds yet more uncertainty for European countries already scrambling to boost defence capabilities in the face of the Russian…
Sánchez’s government has also refused to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, a target other NATO allies adopted last year at Trump’s urging. During July’s NATO summit in Ankara, the U.S. president briefly threatened to cut off all trade with Spain, calling the country “a wasted cause.” He appeared to walk back the warning a day later. Emphasizing the brevity of the World Cup visit, the spokesperson additionally told POLITICO that it was highly unlikely that Sánchez would hold bilateral meetings with U.S. officials on the sidelines of the match. Sánchez’s attendance at the final had been in…
By Greta Ruffino with AP Published on 17/07/2026 – 21:51 GMT+2•Updated 22:11 Protesters greeted the American ambassador’s luxury yacht in Venice on Friday with inflatable water toys, beach balls and a sign reading “Venezia non si USA,” a play on words meaning “Venice is not to be used.” Several hundred protesters marched against Tilman Fertitta’s arrival, briefly clashing with riot police as they neared the vessel. Activists described his visit as an unwelcome display of American wealth and influence at a time when many Italians see the Trump administration as upending the post-World War II international order. During the protest, people raised their…
“The implementation plan has to move as quickly as possible and as vigorously as possible,” Macron said. “This is crucial for us — it is vital — just as it is for Europe.” Merz underscored that urgency. “Work between Germany and France is essential at a time when Russia threatens our security, when the People’s Republic of China poses a challenge to our economy and when the transatlantic partnership is no longer taken for granted,” the German leader said. The prospect of France’s next president coming from the far-right National Rally has cast a shadow over Franco-German relations for months.…
The European Union’s push to approve a new round of sanctions against Russia has bumped into a formidable roadblock: Greece. The country, which hosts the world’s largest merchant fleet, has put its foot down and demanded an adjustment to the EU-wide ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), scheduled to take full effect on the first day of 2027. The ban, as agreed last year, will prohibit the “purchase, import or transfer, directly or indirectly,” of LNG that “originates in Russia or is exported from Russia”. Greece now seeks to reopen the measure and insert an exemption to allow the…
Polanski — whose political broadcasts have used the slogan “let’s make hope normal again” — said “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” but argued that Burnham’s “vibes-based” hope is “a distraction from actually doing the policies.” He told POLITICO that the Green agenda — which includes promised wealth taxes, rent controls, and measures to tackle climate change — makes for “the most popular policy platform with the under-50s.” “By saying we’re not going to out-Green the Greens, what I’m really hearing them say is I’m going to continue to sit on the fence and not really keep anyone happy,…
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that Germany will take part in a French nuclear exercise later this year, following a joint meeting of the French and German governments near Cologne. “Alongside this work on a shared doctrine, German conventional forces will this year take part in a nuclear exercise of the French military,” Merz said. Speaking at a press conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, the Chancellor said a “strategic steering group” created by the two countries would examine how to strengthen deterrence in the future. “This is complementary to our nuclear participation and deterrence within NATO, which…
Published on 17/07/2026 – 17:23 GMT+2 China on Friday said it has never interfered in US elections and has no interest in doing so, after US President Donald Trump accused Beijing of meddling in the 2020 election. “The relevant allegations by the US are entirely fabricated and aimed at vilifying China,” said China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian. “We have no interest in interfering in US elections and have never done so.” Asked whether Trump’s comments could affect Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to the US in September, Jian replied: “As I just said, we urge the US to…
The highly anticipated Odyssey by Christopher Nolan, based on Homer’s epic, is out today and being shown in cinemas around the world. Teacher Philippos Mantzaris will be going to see the film, but for himthe Odyssey is part of his work. Every day in the classroom, he talks to his pupils about the adventures of the king of Ithaca and tries to convey to them the beauty and value of Ancient Greek. “It is a wonderful piece of literature that children can identify with, perhaps even see Odysseus within themselves, and also see their own homeland. The Odyssey is a…