Montenegro
Montenegro’s parliament approves sending troops to NATO’s NSATU mission, reinforcing support for Ukraine and elevating Podgorica’s role inside the Alliance despite domestic political tensions.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Azerbaijan is exploring new defense-industry partnerships with Bosnia and Herzegovina following a high-level meeting in Sarajevo. The Azerbaijani delegation expressed interest in ammunition producers Igman, Pretis, and Ginex, as both sides prepare a broader military cooperation framework for 2026.
Romania
Romania has unveiled its 2025–2030 National Defense Strategy, placing citizens at the center of national resilience and defining corruption as a major internal threat. The document highlights Russia, hybrid warfare, and strategic competition as key challenges.
Germany
Germany is set to bring back mandatory military service for all men aged 18 and above, combining compulsory registration with a volunteer-first model and a lottery system if numbers fall short. The plan aims to build a 200,000-strong reserve force as Berlin accelerates its defense readiness.
Czech Republic
Michal Strnad turned Czechoslovak Group into Europe’s fastest-growing defense player, expanding from regional industry roots to a transatlantic powerhouse in ammunition and aerospace.
France
France is intensifying its military focus in orbit, pledging €4.2 billion to strengthen surveillance, resilience, and strategic independence in space amid rising geopolitical tensions and Russian orbital activity.
Serbia
Serbia’s defense industry faces potential layoffs as export bottlenecks leave factories with full warehouses and unshipped orders.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s Navy has started sea trials of its first locally built modern patrol ship Hrabri, part of a €503 million deal with Germany’s NVL Group, marking a turning point in Bulgaria’s naval modernization.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Workers at Bosnia’s state-owned arms manufacturer Binas d.d. Bugojno warn of a possible strike, accusing management of refusing to pay the legally mandated minimum wage and breaching the collective agreement.
Sweden
Swedish explosives manufacturer SWEBAL has signed a strategic agreement with Scandinavian X to supply locally produced TNT for next-generation drones.
Germany
Germany has pledged an additional $3.4 billion in military aid for Ukraine in 2026, bringing its total defense-support budget to about $13.3 billion, underlining Berlin’s escalating role in Kyiv’s fight against Russia.
Startups
Israel’s XTEND has secured a U.S. Department of Defense contract for one-way attack drones, marking a major step in the Pentagon’s shift toward low-cost, AI-driven autonomous systems.
