Britain, France, Germany and several other European countries will invest more than $50 billion over the next decade to develop long-range precision strike weapons, in a major effort to strengthen NATO's military capabilities and reduce reliance on the United States.
The British government announced on Wednesday that the new programme will focus on developing advanced weapons capable of accurately striking targets at distances of at least 300 kilometres (186 miles), with some systems expected to have ranges exceeding 2,000 kilometres.
The initiative will be developed without U.S. involvement and is intended to enhance Europe's ability to deter potential threats while reinforcing NATO's collective defence posture.
Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the project would deepen military cooperation among European allies and ensure the alliance remains prepared for future security challenges.
“This UK-led initiative will allow us to step up our cooperation, bringing European allies together to ensure NATO remains safe and secure for years to come,” Starmer said in a statement.
The announcement comes as NATO leaders gather in Ankara for the alliance's summit, where defence spending and military readiness are expected to dominate discussions.
Starmer is scheduled to present the British-led proposal to allied leaders on Wednesday as European governments continue efforts to expand defence capabilities amid growing security concerns.
The programme marks one of the largest collaborative European defence investments in recent years and reflects a broader trend among NATO members to increase military spending, modernise weapons systems and strengthen the alliance's deterrence capabilities.
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil refinery in Siberia and a seaport in Dagestan in the past 24 hours, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy s...
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Oil has crossed the $100-a-barrel mark again, but for Gulf countries this is not simply good news. Brent reached about $100.07 on Wednesday, its hi...
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched two ballistic missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship over the past two days.
Wildfires have broken out in Türkiye’s Antalya province, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate as strong winds fuelled the flames.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, calling the strikes a response to a U.S. attack on five Iranian tankers.
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil refinery in Siberia and a seaport in Dagestan in the past 24 hours, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He will meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday to discuss air defences for Ukraine over winter.
Oil has crossed the $100-a-barrel mark again, but for Gulf countries this is not simply good news. Brent reached about $100.07 on Wednesday, its highest level since July, as the U.S.-Iran war and attacks on Saudi energy facilities raised fresh fears about supplies.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Daily Brief. Here are the top stories for the 10th of September, covering the latest developments about AI and technology.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to send every American adult a $5,000 payment if the Republicans keep control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in November's midterm elections.
At least five people have died and more than 80 others remain unaccounted for after a passenger ferry caught fire off the western Philippines, prompting a major search-and-rescue operation involving the coast guard, government agencies and local fishing communities.
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