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Africa
Kenya
11/05/2026 - 07:41 France is bringing together French and African business and political leaders in Nairobi, Kenya, today at the Africa Forward summit – the first time it has staged such an event in an English-speaking country with the desire to diversify France's alliances, in light of the recent diplomatic crises in the Sahel. 7 million French people have connections to Africa – from those of African descent to those married to Africans, or born on the continent. Macron wants to embody a new generation with many shared interests, particularly concerning youth, culture and the diaspora, Confavreux, spokesperson for France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said. Alongside French President Macron and his Kenyan counterpart Ruto, some 30 heads of state and between 1,500 and 2,000 French and African business leaders and stakeholders are expected to attend. Young people, artists and athletes have also been invited. On the agenda will be artificial intelligence and digital transformation ecosystems, as well as health sector investments and local manufacturing of essential commodities, discussions on creative and cultural industries as economic drivers, sport as an emerging frontier for investment and job creation, the energy transition, infrastructure development, regional connectivity, agriculture and food systems. The two-day event conference will pay attention to promises on investment and 'climate justice' issues. Macron may rhetorically commit some money for new climate initiatives, but this will be heard with some scepticism, as African leaders know very well that France is facing its own internal issues. The choice of Kenya to host the summit could add credibility to Macron's promises, Marchal, a senior research fellow at Sciences Po Paris covering Africa told. "We must consciously move away from pre-written narratives that have historically defined this relationship. The Africa Forward Summit is about breaking these barriers and focusing on solutions," SingOei, principal secretary of state in the country's Department for Foreign Affairs, said. In the past decade, France has invested an estimated €1.8 billion in Kenya. France currently ranks as Kenya’s fourth largest foreign direct investment partner, as well as the leading bilateral partner in the country's energy sector. More than 140 French enterprises operate in Kenya. Nairobi is a central hub for transport and logistics, infrastructure investment expert Odumade told. It has a booming financial industry as well as a technology start-up environment, she said. The Kenyan government has really started capitalising private sector investments within various key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure. The gap between what African countries need on climate adaptation finance and what has been delivered is widening, not narrowing, Juma, a Kenyan independent policy advisor, said. "Summits like this one are increasingly being judged on whether they close that gap or add to a long list of pledges.' He added that one issue that should most definitely be on the agenda is the current Iran-United States conflict. 'Any escalation affects global oil prices, shipping routes and the cost of refined imports into African markets,' he said. "That's not just a foreign policy story – it hits household livelihoods directly via transport fuel, food prices and the operating costs of critical infrastructure.' (Source: RFI - France)
Europe
Austria
(Tuesday), 12 May 2026 Austria scrambled Eurofighter jets twice Sunday and again Monday after two US Air Force PC-12 aircraft, a turboprop model often used for surveillance and reconnaissance missions entered Austrian national airspace without permits required for military transit. After the Austrian jets intercepted, the US military planes reportedly turned back and returned to Munich. Last month, Austria barred US military aircraft involved in the war against Iran from using Austrian airspace, citing the country’s neutrality law. Austrians „wanted nothing to do with US President Trump’s politics of chaos and his war’, Vice Chancellor Babler wrote on social media, adding, “Neutrality is a precious asset in our country. No to war.” (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Belgium
12 May 2026 Tens of thousands march in Brussels against pension and wage reforms. Protesters voiced opposition to government measures affecting pensions, automatic wage indexation, and rising energy costs. Trade unions accused the federal government of dismantling key elements of the social model. According to police, around 40,000 protesters joined the march. Trade unions said the number reached approximately 75,000. Public transport across Belgium is heavily disrupted by national strike. Brussels and Charleroi airports experienced limited capacity during the day. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
France
11/05/2026 - 11:49 GMT+2 First protests against high fuel prices. ’Producing is more expensive than ever, and prices are not keeping pace’ - around 50 farmers mobilised in the Lyon region today morning following a call by the Coordination Rurale union to protest soaring fuel costs linked to the crisis in the Middle East. With around 20 tractors demonstrators headed along the A7 motorway towards the Rhône prefecture under police escort, moving towards Lyon’s Confluence district, where significant traffic disruptions were reported. A prefectural order issued yesterday was banning any procession, march or demonstration in the area today. Authorities cited industrial safety concerns linked to the storage and transport of flammable and hazardous materials near major infrastructures in the hydrocarbon distribution chain. The Coordination Rurale (CR), which organised the mobilisation, is demanding stronger government support in response to what it describes as exploding production costs and unsustainable fuel and non-road diesel (GNR) prices. The price of agricultural diesel had almost doubled since the start of the Middle East crisis. Agricultural diesel already benefits from preferential taxation that costs the French state nearly €1 billion annually. On 21 April, the French government ’unveiled €20 million in emergency support measures for struggling farmers’, including a temporary increase in the GNR rebate to 15 cents per litre throughout May. The package also includes deferred social security and tax payments, a flash fuel loan for small and medium-sized farms, and the suspension of excise duties on tractor fuel in April. ’GNR prices have risen by between 60% and 80% for all farmers, while the government’s targeting will only benefit a minority,’ France’s largest farming union FNSEA president Rousseau said last Thursday. The FNSEA is calling for fuel aid of 30 cents per litre. (Source: Euronews - based in Lyon, France)
Germany
11/05/2026 - 14:42 GMT+2 German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom and defence firm Rheinmetall plan to jointly develop a defence shield to protect cities and critical infrastructure across Germany - a system capable of detecting, disrupting and intercepting drones in emergencies, the companies announced today. The system would use sensors to detect drones and could disable them using jamming technology or interceptor drones. Rheinmetall chief executive Papperger said drone defence required a combination of sensors, countermeasures and secure communication systems. Deutsche Telekom said it would contribute expertise in cloud computing, connectivity and data analysis. The companies say laser technology could also be used to stop drones near industrial sites, power stations and other sensitive infrastructure. Germany has passed legislation allowing the armed forces to shoot down drones in some high-risk situations. Deutsche Telekom has been developing a sensor network since 2017. It said its systems use a combination of video, audio, radio-frequency and radar sensors to detect drones. One method uses passive radio-frequency detection, which does not emit signals itself. Telekom said the technology could detect more than 90% of drones operating at low altitude. The companies say detection systems now need to adapt because more drones are being controlled via mobile phone networks rather than traditional radio controllers. Together with Helmut Schmidt University/University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Deutsche Telekom is researching ways to detect such drones. Researchers are studying whether mobile networks themselves can help identify drone activity by detecting unusual data traffic patterns. The research is based on an Ericsson 5G standalone network installed on the university campus. Rheinmetall is also expanding its civilian drone defence operations. In December 2025, Rheinmetall, Hamburg police and the Hamburg Port Authority entered into a strategic partnership to help protect the port, where dense infrastructure and heavy radio traffic can make drone detection more difficult. Rheinmetall, whose defence systems are already in use in Ukraine and the Middle East, said it would develop customised solutions for critical infrastructure. (Source: Euronews - based in Lyon, France)
11/05/2026 - 14:01 GMT+2 German Defence Minister Pistorius and his Ukrainian counterpart Fedorov signed an agreement in Kyiv today to launch joint programme ’Brave Germany.’ After a visit to Berlin last month, Fedorov announced on Telegram that Germany and Ukraine had agreed on a new €4 billion defence package. Berlin accounted for around a third of all assistance provided to the country. The package includes funding ’for several hundred’ Patriot missiles and 36 IRIS-T launchers, alongside €300 million ’in investment for Ukrainian deep-strike capabilities’. ’ ’ It also includes the joint production of AI-enabled medium-range strike drones’ ’ , with an initial batch of 5,000 earmarked for the Ukrainian armed forces. Pistorius arrived in Kyiv today. Speaking to German news agency dpa, he said the trip would focus on expanding joint arms projects and developing new weapons systems together as part of the countries' strategic partnership. ’ ’The main focus is the joint development of cutting-edge unmanned systems across all ranges, particularly in the area of deep strike. In doing so, we are strengthening the security of both our countries.’ ’ At today's signing ceremony in Kyiv, Fedorov said ’Germany had begun financing mid-strike and deep-strike capabilities’. Despite Germany's massive military spending drive, the Bundeswehr still lacks one crucial capability: deep strike - the ability to carry out precision strikes against high-value military or infrastructure targets located hundreds – or even thousands – of kilometres 'behind the frontlines'. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz had agreed with then US President Biden that American Tomahawk cruise missiles would be stationed in Germany as part of NATO's ’deterrence strategy’ against Russia. The missiles had originally been due to arrive in Germany in 2026, but that now appears increasingly unlikely. According to a report by the Financial Times, Pistorius is planning a trip to Washington to try to convince the Trump administration to sell Germany Tomahawk cruise missiles and the Typhon launch systems needed to fire them. At present, the Bundeswehr only has one weapon system that could be considered part of the lower end of the deep-strike category: the Taurus cruise missile, which has a range of more than 500 kilometres. Kyiv unveiled a potential long-range option last year that ’could help address Germany's deep-strike shortfall’: the FP-5 Flamingo ground-launched missile. The system's warhead carries more than 1,000 kilograms in total weight, equivalent to an estimated 450-550 kilograms of explosives. The impact radius is estimated at around 21 metres against heavily fortified targets such as reinforced concrete buildings, and up to 38 metres against softer infrastructure like refineries. The Ukrainian military has reportedly used the Flamingo to strike targets deep inside Russia, including a factory in the town of Votkinsk, more than 1,300 kilometres from Ukraine in February 2026. Russia is believed to manufacture Iskander missiles at the site, which is located near the city of Izhevsk. It remains unclear which specific weapons systems Germany and Ukraine are planning to develop under the new investment and cooperation agreements. (Source: Euronews - based in Lyon, France)
Latvia
(Monday), 11/05/2026 - 9:27 GMT+2 Latvian Defence Minister Spruds resigned yesterday following a recent incursion by two Ukrainian drones into the Baltic country's territory. On Thursday, two drones crossed over the Russian border into Latvia. A fire briefly broke out at an oil depot, but was quickly brought under control by firefighters, according to the national police. Latvia's Prime Minister, Evika Silina, had called for Spruds's resignation, and said anti-drone systems had not been deployed quickly enough to counter Thursday's incursion. "The drone incident that occurred this week clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defence sector has failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our country," Silina wrote. The country is allocating nearly 5% of its GDP to defence, she added. Colonel Melnis is now set to take the position of defence minister, Silina said. (Source: Euronews; „Additional sources: AFP” = France)
Poland
11/05/2026 - 14:50 GMT+2 Poland has escalated its opposition to the Mercosur trade deal by filing a complaint with the EU’s top court and demanding that the agreement be suspended. Deputy Foreign Minister Bosacki stressed that Poland expects the Court’s ruling to lead to a suspension of both the validity and implementation of the agreement. In his view, the current version of the deal with the Mercosur countries would be harmful to both Polish and wider EU agriculture. Poland was the only EU member state to take legal action against the agreement before the EU’s top court, Agriculture Minister Krajewski said. He said that the Polish farming sector could count on the government’s full support. He added tghat the government’s priority was to protect both farmers and consumers, stressing that Polish producers were not afraid of competition provided it took place under fair conditions and high standards. The agreement was agreed by a majority of the EU Council on 9 January, with Poland, France, Ireland, Hungary and Austria opposed. The full partnership agreement will only enter into force after ratification by all EU member states. (Source: Euronews - based in Lyon, France / The Associated Press - U.S.)
European Commission
May 11, 2026 9:48 AM CET High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, EU’s Kallas rejects Gerhard Schröder as Russia-Ukraine negotiator. „Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is unfit to represent Europe in any peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war’, the EU’s chief diplomat said on her way into a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, today. Russian leader Putin has said he would like the ex-German chancellor to negotiate on Europe’s behalf. ’I think Gerhard Schröder has been the high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies so it’s clear why Putin wants him to be the person, so he would be sitting on both sides of the table, she said. So far, the U.S. has acted as the chief mediator in Russia-Ukraine talks while Europe has been on the sidelines - though some leaders have called for Europe to take a more active role. Over the weekend, German Foreign Minister Wadephul said Europe should participate in the talks, represented by officials from the so-called E3 group of powers - Germany, France and the U.K. Asked under what conditions the EU could accept entering direct talks with Putin, Kallas said that Moscow needed to make concessions, she was last week in Moldova and mentioned the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova as one possible step to get Europeans more involved. (Source: Politico – U.S.)
European Union
13/05/2026 - 8:20 GMT+2 For the first time since 2017, Trump visits China. For Europe it’s a crucial happening. Trump needs a win. In Brussels, the ’centre-right’ EPP is rushing to settle, as a weakened Trump could turn his attention toward Europe next. Trump is under pressure to relax chip export controls for quick business deals. If he trades away this edge, Washington and Beijing will set the global standards for AI alone with Europe becoming just a rule-taker, not maker. European firms are already struggling to compete with cheap Chinese goods at home. If Trump relaxes tariffs for China, the flood of cheaper electric vehicles and steel might result in European exporters losing their competitive advantage in the US to the same Chinese rivals that are already flooding European shores. If Trump treats Taiwan’s security as a bargaining chip ’to secure China’s help in ending the Iran war, he might hollow out Europe’s own strategic commitments in the Indo-Pacific’. (Source: Euronews - based in Lyon, France)
Russia
13 May 2026 19:48 BST Russia has added Wallace, the former British defence minister, who was a close ally of Boris Johnson to a wanted list in connection with an unspecified criminal investigation. Mr Wallace served as the UK’s defence secretary from before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 until August 2023. This development follows a call last October from a regional Russian lawmaker for Mr Wallace to be placed on Russia’s international wanted list. This demand stemmed from comments he made at the Warsaw Security Forum in September, where he suggested assisting Ukraine in carrying out a military strike on the bridge connecting southern Russia to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. 'We have to help Ukraine have the long-range capabilities to make Crimea unviable. We need to choke the life out of Crimea. And if we do that, I think Putin will realise he's got something to lose. We need to smash the cursed bridge,' he said. (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom)
13 May 2026 10:25 (UTC +04:00) The United States wants to take control of gas transit from Russia to the European Union through Ukraine, said Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. According to him, the Americans are also planning to buy the part of the Nord Stream pipeline owned by European companies for a small amount and restore the damaged pipelines. “If you look at other parts of the world, I would mention Venezuela, with which the Rosneft Group cooperates. Now the Americans want to take over this cooperation. This will no longer be an equal partnership,’ the Russian foreign minister said in an interview with RT India. (Source: APA - Azerbaijan)
Tuesday 12 May 2026 18:18 BST Russia today test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of efforts to modernize the country's nuclear forces. Putin said that the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year. It was built to replace the aging Soviet-built Voyevoda. The combined power of the Sarmat’s individually targeted warheads is more than four times higher than that of any Western counterpart, the Russian leader said. The Sarmat - designated “Satan II” in the West - is meant to replace about 40 Soviet-built Voyevoda missiles. Its development began in 2011. Before, the missile had only one known successful test and reportedly suffered a massive explosion during an abortive test in 2024. Putin said today that the Sarmat is as powerful as the Voyevoda but with a higher precision. It is capable of suborbital flight, he said, giving it a range of more than 35,000 kilometers and an extended capability to penetrate any prospective missile defenses. Moscow's new weapons include the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, capable of flying 27 times faster than the speed of sound. The first vehicles have already entered service. Russia has also commissioned the new nuclear-capable Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, and used its conventionally-armed version twice to strike Ukraine. Oreshnik's range is of up to 5,000 kilometers. Putin also announced Russia was in the final stages of the development of the nuclear-armed Poseidon underwater drone and the Burevestnik cruise missile powered by miniature atomic reactors. The Poseidon is designed to explode near enemy coastlines and cause a radioactive tsunami. The Burevestnik has virtually unlimited range thanks to nuclear propulsion, allowing it to loiter for days, circling air defenses and attacking from an unexpected direction. Putin has described those new weapons as part of a Russian response to the U.S. missile shield that Washington developed after its 2001 withdrawal from a Cold War-era U.S.-Soviet pact that limited missile defenses. "We were forced to consider ensuring our strategic security in the face of the new reality and the need to maintain a strategic balance of power and parity,” Putin said. The last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the U.S. expired in February, leaving no caps on the world's two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century and fueling fears of an unconstrained nuclear arms race. (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom)
Ukraine
(12 May 2026) Zelensky's former right-hand man, close friend Yermak appeared in a Kyiv court today, named by Ukraine's two anti-corruption agencies as a suspect in a money-laundering scheme, caught up in a corruption scandal surrounding a $10.5m luxury construction project outside Kyiv. Ukraine's Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap) said it was asking the Kyiv court to either place the ex-chief of staff in preventive detention or give him bail of about $4m. Yermak, Zelensky’s closest adviser became caught up into an alleged $100m embezzlement scheme in Ukraine's nuclear energy sector. The swirling allegations have cast a shadow over Ukraine's bid to join the European Union. As part of Operation Midas, ex-Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshov was charged with abuse of office, while businessman Mindich reportedly fled the country after he was flagged as a suspect and ex-Energy Minister Haluschenko was detained while trying to leave. Like the former chief of staff Yermak, Mindich was once part of Zelensky's inner circle and co-owned the president's former TV studio Kvartal95, before sanctions were imposed on him. Mindich now lives in Israel and denies wrongdoing. The latest claims centre on an elite housing project called Dynasty in a village outside Kyiv where millions in construction funds were allegedly laundered. Six more people had been identified as suspects. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)
See also: May 12, 2026 7:01 pm CET Corruption scandals during wartime threatens Zelenskyy’s EU push (Source: Politico - U.S., owned by a German company)
May 12, 2026 / 10:05 AM EDT The governments of the U.S. and Ukraine have drafted a memorandum outlining the terms of a potential new defense deal between the countries. The draft hashed out by the U.S. State Department and Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Stefanishyna is a first step toward a defense agreement that would allow Ukraine to export military technology to the U.S. and to manufacture drones in joint ventures with American companies. Technology pioneered by Sine Engineering, ’a Ukrainian defense firm that recently received a multi-million dollar investment from the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund’, allows drones to fly without GPS guidance to evade signal-jamming. A broader defense agreement, which would potentially bring more Ukrainian technology to the U.S., has faced political roadblocks. Ukrainian officials told they felt a "lack of buy-in" on a drone deal from senior figures within the Department of Defense and the White House, particularly since the war in Iran began. President Trump has publicly rebuffed Ukraine's efforts to supply counter-drone technology to the Middle East. "We don't need their help in drone defense," Mr. Trump told Fox News in early March. "We know more about drones than anybody. We have the best drones in the world, actually." ’But the memorandum drafted between Kyiv and Washington on an early-stage drone deal appears to suggest those obstacles may be falling away’. (Source: CBS News - U.S.)
United Kingdom
13 May 2026 In the last ten years, the UK has had six failed prime ministers: David Cameron promised “full on treaty change with the EU,” came back from Brussels with less than Mr. Chamberlain brought back from Munich, lost the Brexit referendum and his office. Theresa May defined leaving Europe as remaining within it while claiming to leave, and lost the leavers and the remainers. Boris Johnson got Brexit done, lied to Parliament, and forgot to leave his diverting circus buffoonery at the door of Downing Street and the majority government that he had achieved evicted him. Liz Truss brought in a Thatcherite budget she could not defend, and was given the boot after 45 days. Rishi Sunak tried to run a Labour government for the Conservative Party and was overwhelmingly disembarked by the voters. Because the Reform Party chopped the Conservatives off at the knees, the Labour Party won a huge parliamentary majority with only a slight rise in popular support and Keir Starmer has been a disaster. Nothing like this has ever happened in British history since Walpole’s time: A series of failed prime ministers in quick succession, five of them from the same party. The result of this is that Britain has had no influence in the world. It is not in Europe and it does not have a special relationship with the United States and it has no particular association with the old Commonwealth led by Canada and Australia. It is adrift, unable to prevent illegal immigration, failing to provide housing for new immigrants and representing the legitimate concerns of lower income British citizens about the resulting increase in housing costs and racism, and devising outrageous and authoritarian measures to suppress legitimate concern. Historic Britain would have rejected anti-Semitism and a powerful national majority would have demanded respect for minority rights. Instead the cowardly Labour government, intimidated by extremist Muslim voters in many districts, has abdicated, and effectively encouraged the despicable and profoundly un-British practice of Jew-baiting and scapegoating. The world misses British political wisdom. A feeble and waffling Europe misses it, and resurgent America, astounded at Britain treating it with equivalence to the terrorist-sponsoring murderous despotism of Iran, is close to washing its hands of the British relationship. Britain has shut down its oil exploration in deference to insane climate alarmists, has stormed out of Europe, insulted its greatest ally and benefactor, and transformed Shakespeare’s “sceptered Isle” into an inert and spiteful relic with only the statues in and near Parliament Square of great figures of the nation’s past to remind the living of what the British had been. (Source: Brussels Signal - Belgium)
by Black
12 May 2026 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure within the Labour Party as speculation over his future intensified after as many as 70 members of parliament either called for him to resign or urged him to set out a timetable for his departure. The growing unrest comes after a difficult set of election results for Labour across the UK. The elections, held across Scotland, Wales and 136 English local authorities, were the largest electoral test since Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 general election. In Wales, the party suffered a historic defeat in the Senedd elections, while in Scotland the Scottish National Party retained power for a fifth consecutive term in the Scottish Parliament. ’Far-right’ Reform UK also continued its recent rise, winning more than 1,450 council seats and building on gains made in local elections last year. According to The Times, Home Secretary Mahmood is among at least four ministers who have privately urged the prime minister to consider outlining a timeline for stepping down from Downing Street. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Europe
May 11, 2026 Drones, counter-drone systems. Drones dominate tactics, not outcomes. Will counter-drone systems ultimately be able to neutralize the drone threat? The development of high-energy lasers is seen as one of the decisive developments in this regard. The large-scale introduction of AI also creates the possibility of unintended escalation. (Source: Geopolitical Intelligence Services AG - Liechtenstein)
By de Wijk, the founder of The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies.
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