German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that the European Union must transform into a European defence union amid growing international security challenges.
He stressed that Europeans need to take new steps in response to the war in Ukraine, shifts in Euro-Atlantic relations, and China’s increasingly assertive posture.
Merz warned that relying on the US for defence, on China for raw materials, or on Russia to return to the path of peace is no longer viable. He emphasised that Europe must act collectively and strengthen its own defence capabilities.
The Chancellor also highlighted Germany’s responsibility, as the EU’s largest economy and most populous country, to take a leading role in Europe. “We bear a far greater responsibility than anyone else to assume leadership within this EU. But that remains empty rhetoric if not backed by action,” he said.
Merz described Russia as the greatest threat to Europe, noting that its actions extend beyond Ukraine’s borders through hybrid attacks targeting European liberal democracies. He added that this threat affects not only Ukraine but also Europe’s democracies, freedoms, and way of life.
On transatlantic relations, Merz pointed to tensions with the US over tariffs and policy decisions that have created a deep rift across the Atlantic. He also raised concerns about developments in Southeast Asia, saying China is becoming more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad.
Concluding his speech, Merz stressed that the global order is undergoing a fundamental shift and Europe must actively participate in shaping the new order. He called for strengthened unity among EU members and closer cooperation with partners such as the UK, Türkiye, and Norway.
The UK government has unveiled a new package of asylum reforms that will significantly tighten access to refugee status and expand enforced family rem...
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that the European Union must transform into a European defence union amid growing international securi...
Government ministers from around the world were preparing for a final few fraught days of talks at the U.N. climate summit as they bid to secure a dea...
On 18–19 November, Iran’s Gilan Province, in the city of Rasht, will bring together the leaders of the Caspian littoral regions. The two-day meeti...
An explosion that damaged a Polish railway track on a route to Ukraine was an "unprecedented act of sabotage", Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Mond...
The UK government has unveiled a new package of asylum reforms that will significantly tighten access to refugee status and expand enforced family removals. Under the new rules, successful asylum seekers will now have to wait 20 years—up from five—before applying for permanent residency.
Government ministers from around the world were preparing for a final few fraught days of talks at the U.N. climate summit as they bid to secure a deal that demonstrates global resolve amid increasing assertiveness from developing nations.
On 18–19 November, Iran’s Gilan Province, in the city of Rasht, will bring together the leaders of the Caspian littoral regions. The two-day meeting will gather delegations from all five Caspian states – Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faces a critical test on Monday when Parliament votes on his first budget, with a defeat potentially triggering a second federal election in less than a year.
Ukraine is facing a sharp escalation in fighting across several fronts, with Russian forces launching large-scale offensive operations while Kyiv intensifies long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Russia announced on Sunday that its forces had made significant advances in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, capturing two settlements as part of what it described as a broader offensive aimed at securing full control of the strategic territory.
Storm Claudia, which brought violent weather to Portugal, has resulted in the deaths of three people and left dozens injured, authorities reported on Saturday. Meanwhile, in Britain, rescue teams were organising evacuations due to heavy flooding in Wales and England.
U.S. President Donald Trump purchased at least $82 million in corporate and municipal bonds between late August and early October, including new investments in sectors benefiting from his policies, according to financial disclosures made public on Saturday.
Russia announced on Sunday that its forces had made significant advances in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, capturing two settlements as part of a broader offensive aimed at seizing full control of the area.
The number of newly enrolled international students at U.S. colleges and universities fell by 17% this autumn, a report shows, with policies under the Trump administration cited as a key factor.
The number of first-time asylum applicants in the European Union fell by 27% in August 2025, Eurostat data shows. A total of 51,465 people applied for international protection for the first time, down from 70,290 in August 2024 and 55,390 in July 2025.
The U.S. Southern Command announced on Sunday that a military strike in the Eastern Pacific killed three individuals suspected of narcotics smuggling. The operation was carried out by the Joint Task Force Southern Spear under the direction of Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday that his country will purchase 100 Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France. The deal forms part of a broader defence cooperation agreement signed with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The UK government has unveiled a new package of asylum reforms that will significantly tighten access to refugee status and expand enforced family removals. Under the new rules, successful asylum seekers will now have to wait 20 years—up from five—before applying for permanent residency.
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