All posts tagged: Globsec Forum 2026

Lithuania calls for frozen Russian assets to return to Ukraine funding debate – POLITICO

Lithuania calls for frozen Russian assets to return to Ukraine funding debate – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The EU ultimately opted for a €90 billion interest-free loan for Ukraine for 2026 and 2027, financed through EU borrowing rather than the direct use of frozen Russian sovereign assets, after the asset plan ran into legal concerns from Belgium and political resistance from Hungary amongst other countries. Hungary later lifted its veto on the loan after Viktor Orbán was voted out of office, clearing the way for approval, but the compromise left the frozen-assets question unresolved: EU leaders reserved the right to use the assets for repayment if Russia does not pay reparations. Budrys said the issue had effectively been postponed by the loan deal, but should now return to the political agenda. Asked whether he wanted frozen assets back on the table, he replied: “Yes.” “I’m looking forward to discussing it,” he said. “It’s not closed.” Budrys argued that Ukraine will continue to need major financing even after the current support package runs its course. “Who believes that there will be no need for money for the upcoming years after these two years?” …

Sweden backs Ukraine’s path to NATO, defense minister says – POLITICO

Sweden backs Ukraine’s path to NATO, defense minister says – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The question of Ukraine’s NATO future remains one of the most sensitive issues inside the alliance. Several allies support keeping the door open to Kyiv, while others fear that moving too quickly could escalate tensions with Russia or import an active war into NATO. Jonson acknowledged that there was no consensus among allies. “I recognize that there are allies that are against it,” he said. “But if you ask me for our position, that is our position.” The Swedish minister sees Ukraine as a future security asset for Europe. He pointed to the scale of Ukraine’s armed forces, its wartime innovation and its defense industrial capacity as reasons to bring the country closer to NATO. “Where else in Europe can we find 110 brigades?” Jonson said. “Where else in Europe can we find the innovation system that Ukraine has provided? Where else can we find the industrial capacity as well?” Jonson also argued that Ukraine’s defense market had become one of Europe’s most efficient, saying Kyiv had deregulated, privatized and opened up competition after Russia’s …

Despite ‘chaotic communication’ Polish aide says Trump is committed to troops in Europe – POLITICO

Despite ‘chaotic communication’ Polish aide says Trump is committed to troops in Europe – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The confused U.S. messaging dismayed Poland and European allies, but was a boon to Russian President Vladimir Putin, retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges said at the POLITICO Speakeasy, adding that Hegseth “should probably resign.”  While Trump has backtracked on how many U.S. soldiers will be in Poland, the broad direction of the Pentagon scaling back its forces on the continent will continue, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a meeting of fellow alliance foreign ministers in Sweden. “It’s well understood in the alliance that the United States troop presence in Europe is going to be adjusted, that that work was already ongoing, and it’s been done in coordination with our allies,” Rubio said. “I’m not saying they’re going to be thrilled about it, but they certainly are aware of it.” The result will be a “collective product” and based on an “ongoing process involving other countries,” he said. A NATO diplomat said that the U.S. line “is much clearer now,” but added that the timeline for the new U.S. force posture is …

Morgan McSweeney swaps UK government for Ukraine-watching – POLITICO

Morgan McSweeney swaps UK government for Ukraine-watching – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

McSweeney, who was credited with meticulously devising Labour’s election success in 2024, is convinced that AI has not yet been used to the full extent of its capability to manipulate elections, and that any polls in Ukraine following a ceasefire will be a lightning rod for malign influence, according to people familiar with his thinking.  His allies say he is conscious of the potential for the use of AI to ramp up in British elections, where public trust in institutions is already low and Nigel Farage’s Reform Party is on the march. The ex-Downing Street aide is expected to appear on a panel alongside media executives and polling specialists Friday. McSweeney is the most prominent figure associated with British politics appearing at the Prague summit, after the Ministries of Defence and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office opted not to send any ministers. The conference is not yet seen as a “must-attend” event by government leaders in London, despite the British government’s stated commitment to integrate more closely with European allies on defense and security.  McSweeney’s …

Europe must make big changes to compete with US, space chief warns – POLITICO

Europe must make big changes to compete with US, space chief warns – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The war between Russia and Ukraine has illustrated the dependencies. SpaceX — whose dominance in low-Earth orbit through systems such as Starlink has raised concerns over wartime connectivity for countries relying on it like Ukraine — should be “a wake-up call to really think about what Europe needs for its own autonomy,” he said. Aschbacher referred to Europe as a “sleeping beauty” with “excellent capacities,” citing Galileo and Copernicus — the EU’s satellite navigation and Earth observation programs — as successes, but said Europe needs more funding, faster decision-making and “defragmentation.” He pointed to the U.S. accounting for 60 percent of global public space funding, with Europe trailing behind at just 10 percent. “I would ask the decision-makers to multiply our investment by a factor of two, at least, if not three,” he said. “There is no alternative. We have to do it. This is not, for me, a plan B,” Aschbacher said. Source link