# defense
Latest news and articles about defense
Total: 5 articles found
European Leaders at Munich Call for True Strategic Autonomy — Not Just Rhetoric
At the Munich Security Conference on February 13, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European leaders publicly pressed for stronger "strategic autonomy," citing vulnerabilities exposed by war, pandemic and shifting U.S. priorities. Turning the idea into policy will require painful budget choices, industrial coordination and careful management of transatlantic ties.
At Munich Security Conference, Merz Urges Europe to Build ‘Strategic Autonomy’ Amid Great‑Power Strains
At the Munich Security Conference, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Europe to accelerate the development of strategic autonomy in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, U.S.–China rivalry, and fragile transatlantic guarantees. The call signals a shift toward concrete investment in defence, supply‑chain resilience and industrial cooperation, while highlighting the challenge of balancing autonomy with transatlantic partnership.
Washington Ploughs $1.6bn into U.S. Rare-Earth Mines — But Can It Break China’s Grip?
The U.S. is buying a roughly 10% stake in USA Rare Earth for $1.6 billion to hasten domestic rare-earth mining and processing and reduce dependence on China. While the investment is sizeable and politically significant, technical, environmental and resource-quality challenges mean breaking China’s dominance will be a slow and uncertain process.
Why Washington’s Greenland Gambit Collapsed — and Why It Still Matters
President Trump’s public retreat from paying to “buy” Greenland highlights the mismatch between strategic ambition and political, legal and fiscal reality. While Greenland’s location and mineral wealth make it strategically valuable, any change in its status would face steep constitutional hurdles, allied resistance and large, hard‑to‑define costs.
South Korea Clears Development Tests of KF-21 Fighter, Mass Production Set to Begin This Year
South Korea's KF-21 fighter has completed its development flight tests and is slated for production deliveries in the second half of the year, DAPA announced. The milestone strengthens Seoul's aerospace industry and defense capabilities but still leaves practical challenges—certification, sustainment and integration—to be resolved before the jet significantly alters regional force balances.