As armed forces across Europe remain stretched and defence budgets constrained, could European nations reinstate compulsory military service? NATO allies are considering conscription.
The euro surged for the second consecutive trading day amid the EU’s plan to boost defence spending by hundreds of billion euros.
The increase, the same as last year, and far below the double-digit percentage figures of previous years, reflects an overall slowdown in the economy but keeps pace with the fast changing trend in defence spending across the world.
PM François Bayrou opened the debate by denouncing what he called “a stunning scene marked by brutality, and a desire to humiliate,” referring to last week’s bitter spat between US President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The probe, which found Israel’s military had misjudged Hamas’ intentions, is likely to put further pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Moscow says the attack has been repelled, Kyiv doesn’t comment on the developments, while Russian military bloggers say another surprise attack is on its way.
The EU needs to invest €500 billion over the coming decades to shore up its defence and kickstart its defence industries but member states remain divided over what and where to buy crucial equipment and how to finance it all.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he had ordered airstrikes on ISIS targets in Somalia on Saturday.
Israel says its increased military raids are aimed at combating rising Palestinian militant attacks against Israelis, including shootings.
The French president said that while he does not want to reinstate mandatory military service, he wants to see more young people volunteering.