@victorjack.bsky.social
NATO Reporter @ POLITICO Europe
@victorjack.bsky.socialIn a new poll across 8 European countries, 46.2% opposed higher defense spending if it meant higher taxes; 35.5% supported it.
NATO officials worry far-right parties could turn cost-of-living concerns into opposition to rearmament and aid for Ukraine.
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
@victorjack.bsky.socialNEW: Arrests at an RAF base in the UK that Donald Trump linked to Iran are fuelling fears of attacks on other NATO bases, especially those linked to U.S. operations against Tehran.
w/ @paulmcleary.bsky.social
@victorjack.bsky.socialNEW: France and Turkey are blocking NATO's new partnership plans with Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The two programs have been stalled for more than a year, even as both countries seek closer ties with the alliance.
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
@victorjack.bsky.socialRussia threatened nuclear escalation in a letter to NATO over alliance activity near Kaliningrad.
Mark Rutte’s reply: “NATO is so much stronger than Russia is, so there’s no way they can ever beat us.”
@victorjack.bsky.socialNEW: Fears are growing that Russia could test NATO on Svalbard — Norway's remote Arctic archipelago where Moscow already has a presence.
Oslo is bolstering its Arctic surveillance and naval capabilities, while Svalbard strengthens its infrastructure.
@victorjack.bsky.socialNATO’s top commander wants allies to share more information on Russian hybrid attacks.
The eventual aim: faster attribution and a clearer picture of vulnerabilities. But sharing remains voluntary, as allies weigh how to respond without risking escalation. pro.politico.eu/news/224977
@victorjack.bsky.socialNEW: NATO’s 32 chiefs of defence vote today on the next chair of its Military Committee: Germany’s Carsten Breuer or Canada’s Jennie Carignan.
The secret ballot comes as Europe is pushed to take charge for its defence — and transatlantic tensions persist.
@victorjack.bsky.socialUrsula von der Leyen today proposed an EU consultation mechanism for hybrid attacks, modeled on NATO’s Article 4, and a European Security Council.
But NATO allies warn of duplication — and excluding non-EU allies like Turkey.
@victorjack.bsky.socialNEW: Europe is debating how far to toughen its response to Russian hybrid attacks without triggering an escalation.
Some allies feel NATO should open a debate about whether an accumulation of attacks could cross the Art. 5 threshold.
w/@jacopobarigazzi.bsky.social
@victorjack.bsky.socialNEW: The U.S. asked NATO allies to help “systematically dismantle” the ICC, according to three NATO diplomats.
In July, Washington requested allies quit the international body as part of its campaign to take down the court. www.politico.eu/article/us-p...
@victorjack.bsky.socialUkraine is running out of Patriot interceptors.
NATO and EU countries made no concrete pledges this week as Russia says it is preparing “massive strikes” — all while Kyiv faces a €23B defense funding gap.
@victorjack.bsky.socialNEW: A senior Russian official has called for more NATO-Russia dialogue to reduce the risk of miscalculation.
NATO says channels remain open, but it’s unclear whether both sides' top commanders have actually spoken.
@victorjack.bsky.socialThe U.S.' Deputy Pentagon chief on Thursday probed NATO allies, in a first test ahead of a review of American forces in Europe.
Washington wants more European spending and predictable base access. Some allies fear a loyalty test.