The bloc should build up its defenses by 2030 to deter Russia even without US backing, Frederik Vansina has said European nations have around four years to build up their defenses enough to deter a Russian attack without US backing, Frederic Vansina, Belgium’s Chief of the General Staff, has said. Moscow has dismissed speculation that it plans to attack NATO as nonsense. In an interview with Le Soir published on Friday, Vansina acknowledged that Russia does not pose an immediate threat to the West. “I don’t want to scare the population. The Russians are not going to attack us imminently, anytime soon,” he said – adding, however, that the world is “going through the most unstable period since the end of the Cold War… with everyone arming themselves to the teeth.” Vansina underscored the necessity of European militarization within a few years, stressing that the Ukrainians are “buying time for us,” and “that’s why we support them so strongly.” Read more Russian security chief is...
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Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger flight cancelations and higher energy costs, Fatih Birol has told the AP Europe could run out of jet fuel within weeks if oil supplies continue to be disrupted by the Iran war, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said. In an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol warned of far-reaching global consequences from what he described as “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,” triggered by disruptions to oil, gas, and other critical supplies flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The US-Israeli bombing campaign prompted Iran to close the critical route, a conduit for roughly 20% of global oil, to “enemy ships,” triggering a breakdown in supply chains. US President Donald Trump declared a blockade of the strait on Sunday after failed talks with Tehran, a move that caused tankers to turn back and pushed oil prices back toward $100 a barrel. Read more Trump wants to ‘re...
Baltic and Scandinavian countries could be among those affected, sources have told the agency US officials have warned their European counterparts that the supply of previously contracted American arms could be delayed due to dwindling stockpiles as a result of the war on Iran, Reuters has reported, citing sources. Tensions have been mounting between Washington and its NATO allies since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, with President Donald Trump branding the Europeans “cowards” for their unwillingness to join the military operation. Trump has also warned of a possible American withdrawal from the bloc. Several European nations, including those in the Baltic and Scandinavia, are now unlikely to receive promised US arms deliveries in time, Reuters reported on Thursday. The sources declined to name the exact countries because some share a border with Russia, making the news of possible delays in deliveries “sensitive defense information,” Reuters said. R...
The EU Commission president cannot be voted out, unlike Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Alice Weidel has said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen can ignore voters’ opinions as she essentially cannot be voted out like recently defeated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Alice Weidel, co-chair of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has said. Speaking at a press conference this week, Weidel acknowledged that Peter Magyar’s landslide victory in the Hungarian election, which ended 16 years of Orban’s rule, was “absolutely legitimate,” but raised concerns about democratic accountability among the EU leadership. Praising Orban as “an important, critical voice” within the EU, Weidel then agreed with a German journalist from Die Welt, who said that “Orban could be voted out; Ms. von der Leyen cannot be voted out.” Read more Von der Leyen pushes abolition of veto power in EU Magyar’s conservative and pro-EU Tisza party secured 53.6% of the vo...
The likelihood of a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program has improved significantly, Al Jazeera has reported The US-Iran talks being mediated by Pakistan to end the latest Middle East conflict are nearing a breakthrough, Al Jazeera has reported. The likelihood of a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program has improved significantly, the news outlet reported, citing Pakistani sources. Iran’s nuclear program has been the bone of contention in talks with the US to end the Middle East conflict after Washington announced a ceasefire on April 7. Negotiators from the US and Iranian sides have been at odds over the duration of any uranium enrichment freeze by Tehran as part of its nuclear program. Pakistani sources say there has been a 'major breakthrough' over a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme. https://t.co/Ehyfs0l5Ue — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 16, 2026 The country’s stockpile of 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium also remains a sticky issue. Read more What everyo...
Output drops of around 25% are expected as the US aims to shift energy flows, Tom Luongo has said US President Donald Trump is making “a big move towards controlling the marginal barrel of oil,” attempting to shift the world’s energy focus from the Persian Gulf region to the Gulf of Mexico, “where oil tankers are now lining up,” geopolitical analyst Tom Luongo told RT in an interview on Wednesday. A sharp drop in OPEC oil production is an expected result of US strategy to reshape global energy flows away from the Strait of Hormuz, he said. Luongo, publisher of the Gold Goats ‘n Guns newsletter, warned the fallout would hit countries reliant on Middle East crude the hardest, with Europe being the biggest loser. According to him, Trump is trying to “rewire the world in some fundamental way” by challenging the reliance on the Hormuz choke point. Read more Iran considering easing Strait of Hormuz restrictions – Reuters “If you can’t move the oil, then it ...