Author: staff
By Andreas Rogal with AP, EBU Published on 06/02/2026 – 6:15 GMT+1 Queen Máxima, the 54-year-old Argentine-born wife of King Willem-Alexander, has started training this week to become a reserve member of her adopted homeland’s army as the Dutch military seeks to boost recruitment. “Because the security of the Netherlands can no longer be taken for granted, Máxima has decided to become a reservist,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement after she began training on Wednesday. Expected to be sworn in later this month, the incoming Dutch coalition government has announced plans to grow the nation’s militaryfrom some 80,000 to 122,000…
Mitten in Doha, bei über 20 Grad und zwischen Museumsbesuch und Wirtschaftsdelegation, begleiten unter anderem Gordon Repinski und Markus Preiß den Bundeskanzler auf einer seiner zentralen Auslandsreisen. Die beiden reden darüber, wie sich deutsche Außenpolitik gerade neu sortiert und warum sie sich das auch leisten muss. Es geht um den deutlichen Kurswechsel hin zu einer konsequent interessengeleiteten Außenpolitik. Katar, Saudi-Arabien, der Nahe Osten: Regionen, die lange vor allem unter dem Blickwinkel von Menschenrechten betrachtet wurden, werden nun zu strategischen Partnern. Der Kanzler nimmt dabei kognitive Dissonanzen bewusst in Kauf. Ein Gespräch über Außenpolitik im Umbruch und die Grenzen deutscher Gestaltungskraft.…
Can the European Union really decouple from Donald Trump’s America — economically, politically, and strategically? In this episode of EU Confidential, host Sarah Wheaton speaks with Mateusz Morawiecki, former Polish prime minister and president of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party about his call for an “Economic NATO,” an even stronger economic and political alliance between the EU, the U.S. and others as counterbalance to China and Russia. His vision goes against a mainstream trend we’re observing across European capitals as they seek to decouple from Trump’s America. To explain what this EU-U.S. divorce looks like in practice, Sarah is…
Rose also responded to Tusk’s later criticism, saying the PM should have sent the message to Czarzasty, a member of the New Left party that is part of the ruling coalition. He denounced the speaker’s “despicable, disrespectful and insulting comments about President Trump. “ The U.S. ambassador added he had “nothing but the greatest respect and admiration” for Tusk, who he called “a model ally and great friend of the United States.” However, in a later response to Polish online criticism, Rose undermined the close military ties with Poland, writing: “Should we take all our soldiers and equipment with us?”…
They must win the support of 5 percent of Labour’s constituency parties, or at least three of the party’s formal “affiliate” bodies including two trade unions. This is not always a formality, as Emily Thornberry — now chair of the Commons’ foreign affairs committee — discovered when she failed to reach the local party threshold when running against Starmer in 2020. Two of the four officials noted above suggested that Wes Streeting — despite being widely seen as a frontrunner — could struggle during this stage, as many unions and constituency parties regard his politics as not left-wing enough. A…
Bundeswehr-Update: Auslandseinsätze auf dem Prüfstand – mit Henning Otte – POLITICO Skip to main content
“This is not a spontaneous defense of democracy. It’s political theater,” he said, stressing that Agrofert is not receiving any subsidies until the trust is in effect. “You invented the conflict of interest because you’re incapable of beating me.” Lawmakers from Babiš’s ANO party have rallied behind him, rejecting assessments of unresolved conflicts of interest. In a joint statement to POLITICO, MEPs Ondřej Knotek and Klára Dostálová said the prime minister had taken steps “well beyond what is required by Czech and European law.” He has relinquished ownership and control of Agrofert permanently, they said, and would not benefit from…
The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged on Thursday, with President Christine Lagarde saying policymakers are “in a good place” despite inflation falling below target, stressing that the ECB “cannot be hostage to one data point” as it sticks to a data-dependent, meeting-by-meeting approach. Bulgaria becomes 21st euro area member The meeting opened with a symbolic gesture as the ECB welcomed Bulgaria to the euro area, effective 1 January 2026. Dimitar Radev, Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, joined the ECB’s Governing Council with voting rights, marking the culmination of Bulgaria’s long path toward monetary union. Lagarde praised the…
Two EU diplomats, granted anonymity to speak candidly about the delicate talks, confirmed to POLITICO that Bonne visited the Russian capital Tuesday to lay the groundwork for Putin and Macron to resume speaking with each other. The leaders have not spoken directly since shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. One of the diplomats said Bonne met with top Putin aide Yury Ushakov, who is part of Russia’s delegation in ongoing peace talks with Ukraine brokered by the United States. French officials declined to confirm or deny Bonne’s visit. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did the same Thursday at…
National security exceptions The ISC has specified that papers which are national security related should be sent to them unredacted, and the government should provide an explanation as to exactly why pieces of information are prejudicial. “We believe the motion is clear that those papers which the government is required to provide to the ISC must be disclosed, unredacted, to the ISC,” the committee said in a letter to the PM and cabinet secretary. “The government may not decline to disclose any in scope material altogether” Kevan Jones, chair of the committee, told the BBC that the panel would put…