Laura Kayali

a cartoon of two spidermans standing in front of a nypd van ALT: a cartoon of two spidermans standing in front of a nypd van

FCAS in a nutshell:
Emmanuel Macron: It's up to Dassault and Airbus to agree and make this work.
Eric Trappier: It's up to France, Germany to agree on what to do.
Eric Trappier: The stalemate is Airbus' fault.
Airbus: The main problem is Dassault.

French nukes: It's hard to overstate how much of a sea change it is that countries such as the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Germany are open to talking with France about nuclear deterrence. We have been getting used to it — but it's a major, major shift.

Macron shifts French nuclear doctrine by boosting arsenal and involving allies The French president pointed to threats from Russia and China as well as changing U.S. defense priorities as reasons for the atomic buildup.

Emmanuel Macron broke several decades of French nuclear taboos by promising to increase the number of warheads and making explicit France's role in European security. Aware that the clock is ticking, he also pledged to move fast. www.politico.eu/article/macr...

Iranian drones hit French naval air base in UAE — French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed on X that "a hangar at our naval base adjacent to the Emirati base was hit in a drone attack targeting the port of Abu Dhabi." Damage is material damage and no injuries reported.

After decades sheltering under the American umbrella, EU allies are warming to Emmanuel Macron’s offer of nuclear protection.

But the French president is running out of time to deliver the major strategic shift needed to lock it in.

www.politico.eu/article/emma...

Poland’s US Ties at Risk With EU-First Defense Plan, Aide says A top Polish official called into question a core financing instrument designed to boost the European Union’s defense capabilities, saying the €150 billion ($177 billion) loans-for-weapons program ris...

Poland's dispute about the SAFE loan (i.e. the president's reluctance to sign the bill) is actually about fear of the US if Warsaw favors European defense companies.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Macron’s last shot to extend France’s nuclear umbrella over Europe EU allies — most importantly Germany — are warming to the French president’s offer of nuclear protection, but Macron is running out of time to deliver a major strategic shift.

With only 14 months left in power, Emmanuel Macron is in a race against the clock to chart how France can wield the full force of its nuclear arsenal to guarantee Europe's security.

Much will boil down to how far he goes in a landmark speech on Monday.

Macron’s last shot to extend France’s nuclear umbrella over Europe EU allies — most importantly Germany — are warming to the French president’s offer of nuclear protection, but Macron is running out of time to deliver a major strategic shift.

With only 14 months left in power, Emmanuel Macron is in a race against the clock to chart how France can wield the full force of its nuclear arsenal to guarantee Europe's security.

Europeans’ expectations are very high. www.politico.eu/article/emma...

France warns against risk of nuclear proliferation Arms control treaties are expiring and countries are looking to develop their own arsenals in the face of geopolitical uncertainty, a French official tells reporters.

There is a risk of nuclear proliferation in the world today, according to a French official from the Elysée Palace.

France announced as Preferred Partner for Armoured Fleet Programme Minister McEntee Confirms France as Preferred Partner for Armoured Fleet Programme

Confirmation du Gouvernement d'Irlande - "Minister McEntee Confirms France as Preferred Partner for Armoured Fleet Programme"

www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

Pentagon aggressively lobbies EU against Buy European weapons push In previously unreported remarks, the U.S. administration warned Brussels that it will retaliate if Europeans “strong-arm American companies out of the market.”

The Trump administration has threatened to retaliate against European countries if the EU favors domestic weapons-makers in an expected update of EU defense procurement rules. www.politico.eu/article/wash...

Macron, Merz openly disagree on joint fighter jet program France’s president says Europeans need to standardize their warplanes, while the German chancellor is open to having two different models.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have openly disagreed this week on the future of the embattled fighter jet program developed by France, Germany and Spain.

🇧🇪 has entered the chat.
Belgian defense minister posted on X that Merz has actually now declared the death of FCAS, and Belgium will "reassess" its observer position.

Franco-German fighter jet project in turmoil as Merz raises doubts “This isn’t a political quarrel. We have a real problem in the requirement profile. And if we can’t solve that, then we can’t maintain the project,” says German chancellor.

Again, on FCAS, deux salles deux ambiances as we say in French
🇫🇷 Macron in Munich: « I believe in FCAS »
🇩🇪 Merz: « There are others in Europe, the Spanish anyway, but also other countries interested in talking with us »
www.politico.eu/article/frie...

This year's Munich Security Conference showed that while the U.S.-Europe alliance continues to function, the old order that bound the two sides for decades has broken down.

And there is no consensus on how the relationship can move forward.

🔗 www.politico.eu/article/muni...

#MSC2026

A relationship on the rocks: Europe and America need each other but trust is gone  This year’s Munich Security Conference was milder than last year’s, but Donald Trump has fundamentally changed transatlantic ties.

European and American leaders spent three days pledging cooperation and offering to slap a new coat of paint on the façade of the transatlantic relationship at the Munich Security Conference.

But the cracks are still showing.

Nuke-talk is heating up among Europeans in Munich ‘Nuclear deterrence can give us new opportunities. Why not?’ Latvian PM tells POLITICO.

Multiple European countries are publicly backing talks on a homegrown nuclear deterrent to complement American atomic weapons following an erosion of trust in a Donald Trump-led U.S.

Nuke-talk is heating up among Europeans in Munich ‘Nuclear deterrence can give us new opportunities. Why not?’ Latvian PM tells POLITICO.

NEW: More European countries are publicly backing talks on a homegrown nuclear deterrent to complement American atomic weapons following an erosion of trust in a Donald Trump-led U.S.

w/ @laukaya.bsky.social

www.politico.eu/article/euro...

I'm headed to the @munsecconf.bsky.social for @politico.eu -- if you're around, do reach out!

Slightly different enthusiasm for FCAS:
🇩🇪 Boris Pistorius: "Those declared dead are known to live longer. Whether that applies here will certainly become clear in the coming days."
🇫🇷 Emmanuel Macron: FCAS is not dead. It's a good project.

The transatlantic alliance is down but not out The Munich Security Conference will serve as a gut check of the frayed relationship, and whether Europe can hold on to its emerging self-assurance.

The alliance between Europe and America is deeply wounded 一 but it’s not dead yet.

The Munich Security Conference this week will serve as a gut check of the transatlantic tie, notably frayed but still bound together. With @paulmcleary.bsky.social , Felicia Schwartz www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

NEW: A major pullback of U.S. troops from European soil is unlikely in the near future.

Since the start of the year, the U.S. has told allies any withdrawal would be very limited, govt officials from 7 European countries said.

w/ @paulmcleary.bsky.social & Jack Detsch
pro.politico.eu/news/212852

Emmanuel Macron : « C’est le moment pour l’UE de lancer une capacité commune d’endettement, à travers des eurobonds » A deux jours d’une rencontre des chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement de l’UE à Bruxelles, le président de la République appelle les Vingt-Sept, dans un entretien au « Monde » et à plusieurs journaux europ...

There will be no MGCS if there is no FCAS, Emmanuel Macron hints: "If ... the German partner were to call into question the joint fighter project, we would be forced to call into question the joint tank project." www.lemonde.fr/economie/art...

Trump’s Greenland gambit pushes Europe to look to its own nuclear arsenals European nations wanting “insurance” against Russia are looking to France and Britain to share their nuclear deterrents.

Donald Trump’s Greenland gambit pushes Europe to look to its own nuclear arsenals. European nations wanting additional “insurance” against Russia are increasingly looking to France and Britain. With @victorjack.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/us-d...

Paris Playbook – 5 ans anniversaire Paris Playbook fête ses 5 ans au cœur du pouvoir | POLITICO

Playbook Paris à cinq ans ! 🎂🥹 Pour fêter ça, on vous a concocté une page spéciale, avec coulisses, rétrospective, et même un quiz. www.politico.eu/paris-playbo...

The long-troubled Future Combat Air System is on the verge of collapse, officials in Paris and Berlin told POLITICO. “An announcement that [the project] is over is more likely than a relaunch,” said one of them. With Chris Lunday, Clea Caulcutt More for subscribers pro.politico.eu/news/212697

Only this week:
🇸🇪Swedish PM confirms talks on nuclear deterrence with France, UK
🇩🇪German chancellor confirms early discussions about a European nuclear deterrent
🇳🇱Dutch coalition agreement pledges to “take a constructive stance on strengthening a European nuclear deterrent”
What a time to be alive!

Switzerland will raise VAT to boost defense spending The neutral country started a rearmament push after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Switzerland will raise its value-added tax rate for a decade to boost defense spending, its government announced today.

« Not a single mention » — there are actually two mentions, did you actually read the article? 😏

France’s far-right National Rally is split over Russia Marine Le Pen’s party leads the polls before the country’s 2027 presidential election, and its strategic vision on Russia could have major implications for NATO.

France’s far-right National Rally is split about Russia.

A traditionalist old guard that still echoes Kremlin talking points is now pitted against a new generation more supportive of Ukraine. With Sarah Paillou and @msolletty.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/fran...