Romania shoots down Russian drones on home soil for the first time
A Romanian F-16 destroyed a Russian-made drone over the Black Sea on July 24.
NATO
A collection of 88 posts
Defence spending is driving the Czech budget off course
Czechia's 2026 deficit is running nearly a full percentage point above what the outgoing Fiala government projected and the single largest reason is a defence-spending trajectory that Prime Minister Babiš campaigned against but has since chosen to continue.
Regional Lessons from the Romanian Drone Incidents: The Grey Zone of War Is Expanding
The two recent drone incidents in Romania have once again highlighted a growing reality: while the Russia – Ukraine war continues to be fought primarily on Ukrainian territory, its security implications are increasingly spilling over into neighboring NATO and EU member states.
How Europe's defence shield became Romania's political battlefield
The EU's €150 billion Security Action for Europe programme was designed to protect the continent's eastern flank. In Romania - its single largest beneficiary - it has instead ignited coalition warfare.
Rubio’s regional tour: Who was the U.S. signalling - and what?
Following the U.S. Secretary of State’s partial regional tour, at least as many questions remain as the trip itself answered
American claims on Greenland: where should Poland stand?
In Poland, many fear the country could be caught between two fires if the United States were to take concrete steps toward acquiring Greenland.
Romania bolsters NATO security role amid Black Sea tensions
Romanian and NATO leaders held talks focusing on strengthening Romania’s security amid ongoing regional tensions.
Von der Leyen tours NATO frontline countries
Von der Leyen's visits to frontline NATO states aims to deliver a message of solidarity while boosting Europe’s defence capacity, promoting joint procurement and galvanising industrial support through the EU’s SAFE mechanism.
NATO allies all meet defence spending target, as CEE leads
The alliance’s biggest spenders are all on the Eastern flank and neighbouring Russia, with Poland leading the pack (4.48%) ahead of Lithuania (4.0%), Latvia (3.73%), and Estonia (3.38%). The US is sixth at 3.22% of GDP.
Estonia reduces Rail Baltica scope, sets 2030 deadline
RB is the largest infrastructure project in the Baltics since independence, designed to connect Tallinn, north Estonia, Riga, north Latvia, and Vilnius, south-east Lithuania, to the European standard-gauge network. The railway has also been described as a NATO corridor.
CEE leaders split over Trump-Putin summit in Alaska without Zelenskyy
While Hungary and Slovakia welcomed the diplomatic efforts, fellow Visegrad Four members Poland and Czechia joined the Baltic states in rejecting any settlement that bypasses Ukrainian sovereignty.
Ruginiene in poll position to become Lithuania’s next PM
The 44-year-old former Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation chairwoman now awaits a parliamentary confidence vote to approve her cabinet and programme.
Dan gov’t confirms Russian election hacking, citing NATO, EU
Romania’s 2024 presidential elections marked the first instance of a national vote annulled due to foreign interference within the EU, the European Commission noted. The episode has triggered renewed calls in the EU and NATO for enhanced cybersecurity capacity and democratic resilience across CEE.
Austria should consider NATO membership - Meinl‑Reisinger
Finland and Sweden abandoned their long-standing neutrality and joined NATO in 2023 and 2024 respectively, citing heightened security threats from Russia. Austria, bordered by NATO members Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia, is increasingly the odd one out in Central Europe’s defence landscape.
Slovenia cancels NATO referendum amid rising defence cost backlash
The Slovenian referendum cancellations should stabilise Golob’s coalition, ahead of national elections in 2026. However, the episode reflects wider unease across CEE, as rising military costs challenge domestic politics and expose diverging visions of NATO’s future.