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Europe
Finland
October 2, 2025 Over the past few weeks, more than 1,600 troops from across nine NATO member countries came together to hone their warfighting skills in the Arctic north and just miles from the approximately 1,600 miles long border with Russia. The US military participated in the exercise, with the 352d Special Operations Wing. Based in the United Kingdom, it operates MC-130J Commando II transport aircraft and CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. It can also deploy special tactics airmen. According to the Finnish military, the objective of Southern Griffin 25 was to reinforce combined joint operations and interoperability between the country’s special operations forces and those of the United States and the rest of NATO. The Finnish military is a small but highly trained and well-equipped force. It numbers around 30,000 troops during peacetime but can swell to nearly 300,000 troops during wartime. Where the Finnish military truly excels is in winter warfare, fighting in the snow and in frigid temperatures. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)
France
01.10.2025 They will rule out nothing if a Russian fighter jet enters European airspace, French President Macron said during an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper today. Macron also reaffirmed that he will deliver a speech in early 2026 on France’s nuclear doctrine, following a question about the strengthening of air-based nuclear deterrence. 'The French nuclear umbrella exists. I am currently working on updating our doctrine, and I want to continue deepening our strategic dialogue with the Europeans who wish to engage,' he said. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Romania
October 1, 2025 The Romanian Armed Forces continue to operate the TR-85M1 and the TR-77-580, both modernized versions of the Cold War-era T-55. In 2023, Bucharest signed a deal with Washington that would see Romania acquire 54 modernized American-made M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams, valued at $1.07 billion, along with 12 support vehicles, including four recovery platforms, four mobile assault bridges, and four mine plows. The Abrams were to come from US stock with deliveries to be completed by the end of 2028. In the second phase has called for Washington to supply Bucharest with the necessary hardware and ordnance to complete the capabilities of an Abrams-equipped battalion. The order included 54 M240 7.62 mm machine guns, explosive charges for breaching minefields, over 12,000 rounds of 120 mm ammunition, smoke grenades, training simulators, spare parts, testing equipment, technical support, and training services. The cost of the Phase Two items was estimated at $458.2 million, excluding value-added tax. A separate program would see the acquisition of 215 additional MBTs, along with 75 support vehicles that could be produced in Romania. The latter deal, which also includes ordnance, spare parts for the tanks, support, and training, was reported to be worth more than $7 billion. It is to be initiated starting in 2025, it was not indicated that all of the more than 200 MBTs would need to be the M1A2 Abrams. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)
European Council
01.10.2025 'European' leaders meet in Copenhagen to address pressing issues around defense, Ukraine's security, and sanctions on Russia. Talks focus on boosting Europe’s military strength, using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, and advancing Kyiv’s EU membership bid. Proposals include a drone wall along the EU’s eastern frontier. The European Commission has proposed unlocking sanctioned Russian assets for a €140 billion ($164 billion) ’reparations loan’ to Kyiv. The plan would give Ukraine an interest-free loan, to be repaid once reparations are settled after the conflict. Hungary and Slovakia are expected to oppose, while Belgium has raised concerns as much of the frozen Russian capital is held in its financial institutions. Leaders must decide whether the projects should be led by the European Commission or left up to individual member states. Leaders will also debate Ukraine’s application to join the EU. Accession talks require unanimous agreement from all 27 member states – but Hungary’s objections have repeatedly stalled progress. The EU’s latest sanctions package against Russia is also under discussion. It targets financial institutions and energy companies. Hungary’s reluctance could prove to be an obstacle. Denmark is also hosting a broader European Political Community summit on Thursday. Launched in 2022, the EPC brings together European countries to coordinate on issues such as security, energy, infrastructure, and migration. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Russia
Oct 2, 2025 23:16 IST Russian President Putin accused European leaders of fuelling war hysteria, dismissing claims that Moscow plans to attack Nato as baseless. He warned that Russia would respond forcefully to any provocation. ’Russia has proved more than once that we respond fast, and our response will be convincing.’ Putin said Russia was closely watching Europe’s militarisation. ’We hear, in Germany for example, that the German army should once again be the most powerful in Europe’. ’The response to these threats will be, to put it mildly, very convincing.’ ’Our history has proven that weakness is unacceptable, because it creates temptation, the illusion that some issue with us can be resolved by force’. Russia will never show weakness or indecision, Putin said, warning that there has never been a case where this did not end badly for the provocateur. Turning to Ukraine, the Russian leader described the conflict as ’a tragedy for Ukrainians and for all of us’ and argued it could have been avoided. ’The conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided if Trump had been president,” Putin claimed, while also noting that some of the US president’s initiatives on the Middle East offered “a light at the end of the tunnel.” The Russian leader accused Western elites of deliberately casting Russia as a perennial enemy to distract their citizens from domestic problems. ’They repeat this nonsense, that war with Russia is near, over and over. Honestly, I just want to say: calm down, rest easy, and focus on your own issues”. He said the West doesn’t care about Ukrainians, treating them instead as cannon fodder. Putin ridiculed advocates of the liberal world order, calling them weirdos who believed they had acquired the world but gained nothing. He also claimed Western democracies were manipulating the will of their people, warning that elections risk becoming a farce and that banning political opposition will not work, just as it didn’t in the USSR. Putin expressed gratitude to Brics nations and allies that have supported Moscow’s calls for peace, insisting that no single power can dictate terms to the world. “There is no and will be no power in the world that will dictate to everyone what to do. Every power has its limit.” Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin will travel to India in December for the annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his first visit since 2021. (Source: India Today)
02.10.2025 Putin took part in the 22nd Annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club. The name of this year’s event is “The Polycentric World: Instructions for Use.” Transcript. (Source: Valdai Club - Russia)
Ukraine
14:46 ET, Wed, Oct 1, 2025 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant 'is experiencing a blackout following Russian shelling of an energy facility in the city of Slavutych on Wednesday', according to Ukranian officials. 'The New Safe Confinement, which is a key facility that isolates the destroyed fourth power unit of the Chernobyl NPP and prevents the release of radioactive materials into the environment, was left without power supply'. Specialists work to restore power supply. (Source: Daily Express U.S.)
European Political Community
02.10.2025 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who attended the 7th summit of the European Political Community (EPC) hosted by Denmark in the capital Copenhagen, engaged in a sharp exchange with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday on the nature of threats facing Europe and the Russia-Ukraine war. Orbán argued that the main danger to Europe was not Moscow. ’Economic stagnation and losing competitiveness - this is the danger,’ Orbán said, adding that Europe remains stronger than Russia in population, GDP and military spending. ’We spend altogether, 27 countries, more on military spending than the Russians. So, why are we afraid? We are stronger than they are, he said. Orbán stressed that the challenge for Europe was a lack of leadership and unity. “The question is whether we have leadership to come together and to defend our interests together. That’s what we should do anyway,” he said. Tusk countered by stressing that the war in Ukraine is also ’Europe’s war’. ’Yes, this is also our war. In Poland, no one has doubts on this.’ (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Strait of Gibraltar
01/10/2025 - 16:52 Alleged Russian Black Sea fleet submarine – Novorossiysk, a short-range Russian stealth hunter - surfaced at Strait of Gibraltar, giving away its location. The 74-metre-long Kilo-class Novorossiysk had experienced a technical failure, the anti-Kremlin Telegram channel VChK-OGPU reported. Fuel was leaking into the bilge, the very bottom of the vessel hull. A US Navy maritime patrol plane flew over the area where the submarine was spotted for several days in a row. The diesel-electric sub Novorossiysk is relatively modern, can carry a crew of around 50 people. It was put into service in August 2014. The Novorossiysk’s main purpose is to operate in coastal waters. It joined Russia’s Black Sea fleet in September 2024. It is equipped with torpedoes, and is capable of carrying Kalibr cruise missiles – the Russian equivalent of US Tomahawk missiles. It can also deploy naval mines. With no official confirmation from the Kremlin, the extent of the reported damage – or whether there is any at all – remains unclear. The risks of an explosion are tied to the type of arms that might be onboard. Mines and missiles would make the situation much more dangerous. (Source: France 24)
Zangezur Corridor
1 October 2025 A new corridor linking Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhchivan, 40 kilometres away, across Armenia, could just easily ignite geopolitical tensions. The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) often referred to as the Zangezur Corridor, is a flat piece of Armenian land, part of this summer’s US-brokered framework agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Both countries should benefit from the development of the corridor, as will the USA, which has an exclusive 99-year lease to develop gas, oil, rail and fibre-optic links along it. Azerbaijan’s current land route to its Nakhchivan exclave is a rusty rail track and bumpy road through Iran. The Trump route will build a modern road and rail link into the exclave, which will then connect all the way to Turkey. This will unlock new trade flows for both countries and ensure substantial transit revenues for Armenia. The proposed deal has also improved Armenia’s relations with Turkey, which is notable given that their joint border has been closed since 1992. The project is one that gives Russia a headache and Iran a migraine. For several centuries, the Russians, Turks and Iranians have competed for influence in the region. If TRIPP is built, Russia’s leverage will further diminish, while Iran will see an American-built economic corridor emerge along its border, possibly with private American security personnel deployed to help guard it. Another reason Tehran is concerned is because up to a quarter of Iranians are ethnic Azeris, many of whom live in the Iranian province of West Azerbaijan, which borders Nakhchivan. If TRIPP helps to grow Azerbaijan’s power, there could be a knock-on effect in relations with ethnic kin across the border. Turkey is the rising power in the area. Moscow and Tehran will both try to undermine the deal. Moscow supplies energy to Armenia, controls its only rail company, influences the Armenian Apostolic Church (which opposes the unpopular PM Pashinyan), and has two military bases in the country. (Source: Geographical - United Kingdom)
Africa
Nigeria
October 1, 2025 Lawmakers and human rights groups continue to push for Nigeria to be listed as a Country of Particular Concern, leveraging the International Religious Freedom Act to demand greater protections for Christians and all religious minorities. International Christian advocacy group Open Doors says that 'more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined.' "The United States remains deeply concerned about the levels of violence against Christians and members of other groups in Nigeria, including the threats posed by terrorist groups like Boko Haram and isis-West Africa in northern Nigeria'. Boko Haram and isis-West Africa are designated as Entities of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act. They have engaged in massive human rights abuses, including interfering with the ability of Christians, Muslims and members of other religious communities to freely exercise their faith, the State Department said. Nigeria-based human-rights NGO International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) said in a report in August jihadists have killed 125,009 Christians since 2009 with 19,100 churches razed in that time. It also counts 60,000 liberal Muslims killed in these years. Roughly half the population of Nigeria is Muslim, while the other half is Christian. (Source: Newsweek / Miami Herald = U.S.)
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