#defense-spending

#defense-spending

Spain is joining the joint purchases of U.S. military equipment by NATO countries for shipment to Ukraine. The decision was confirmed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez upon arriving at the meeting of the European Council this Thursday in Brussels. This is a proposal that NATO launched a few weeks ago. I had the opportunity to speak with President Zelenskiy [] and I informed him that we were going to join this program, the Spanish leader stated in response to questions from the media.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has once more vowed that his conservative CDU/CSU alliance would distance itself "clearly and explicitly" from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of five state elections next year. "We will now also be very clear and very explicit about where the AfD stands in terms of content, and we will distance ourselves from them very clearly and very explicitly," he said after a party conference in Berlin.

Defense stocks are gaining traction in 2025, driven by heightened global security concerns and robust investor interest. A post from The Kobeissi Letter on X highlights FactSet data showing aerospace and defense exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows reaching $8.2 billion in the first three quarters of 2025 - a 573% surge compared to 2024. This spike reflects growing unease over geopolitical tensions and optimism about long-term sector growth, fueled by increased defense spending and new fund launches.

Europe has long been known for its military history, partly because it was the site of the largest war the world has ever seen. Since then, Europe's defense landscape has changed into a mix of NATO allies and nations with some of the strongest militaries globally. Here, 24/7 Wall St. looks at the largest military forces in Europe. Right now, Europe's military strength is even more important due to changes in U.S. foreign policy.

"places absolute priority on ensuring that economic growth returns to Germany, that jobs here are secured"

WASHINGTON - Congressional defense hawks in the Senate are once again pushing to boost the topline of the defense budget in fiscal 2026, but as lawmakers return to Capitol Hill in September, they will have to face an even more pressing question: Will they be able to pass a full-year spending bill at all? Congress failed at passing FY25 appropriations after talks between Republicans and Democrats broke down, resulting in the approval of a full year continuing resolution in March. The bill marked the first time the Defense Department will have been funded under a CR for an entire year.

Hall warned that Vladimir Putin is completely invested in conquest and will attempt to take as much territory as possible unless there is strong pressure on him.

"This damage, in turn, affects the rate of military innovation and R&D. More importantly, it determines how the Kremlin will wage war in the future."

Australia is making significant financial contributions to the US shipbuilding industry, totaling $1.6bn thus far, as part of the Aukus agreement for future submarine production.

Housing remains far and away the biggest concern in every opinion poll. The Government is under pressure to allocate funds to alleviate the housing crisis, alongside health.

A US intelligence assessment indicates that President Trump's bombing campaign in Iran may have delayed its nuclear program temporarily, although doubts linger about long-term effectiveness.

After the Second World War, the United States approved funding - which would eventually rise to more than $12 billion - for the rebuilding of western Europe. Known as the Marshall Plan, it was not merely an act of generosity. It was a calculated effort to rebuild economies, stabilize democracies and contain the spread of extremism. Building resilient societies abroad will similarly make people safer in their own nations today.

The review emphasizes the necessity for active preparation against the direct threat to the UK homeland, highlighting potential wartime scenarios amid rising global tensions.