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🇪🇺 Europe • The European Union accelerates military mobility in the face of the Russian threat
The European Commission has unveiled a strategy aimed at transforming the transit of armies on the continent, with the goal of creating a “military Schengen area.” This initiative proposes to harmonize authorization procedures for troop and equipment movements, which are currently too slow and disparate, establishing a maximum time limit of three days for these operations. There are also plans to simplify the transport of hazardous materials, such as ammunition and fuel, by relaxing certain civil regulations in times of emergency.
In response to the increased risks, as recently illustrated by sabotage on the Polish rail network, the Commission is drawing up a list of critical crossing points, including bridges, tunnels, and airports, along four major military corridors. These infrastructures, sometimes considered too fragile or inadequate for military use, will need to be modernized. Stress tests will be organized to assess their practicability, while protective measures will enhance security against acts of sabotage or technological attacks, such as radio jamming or the use of drones.
According to the Commissioner for Transport, the modernization of this infrastructure should not only improve security, but also stimulate the European economy and competitiveness. The cost of this work is estimated at €100 billion. To finance this, Member States will be able to draw on the €150 billion SAFE program, as well as cohesion funds and the next European budget, which allocates €17 billion to military mobility for the period 2028-2034, ten times more than the previous budget.
Drawing lessons from the conflict in Ukraine, the Commission is also launching a roadmap dedicated to the defense industry. The focus is on bringing together major industrial players and start-ups specializing in disruptive technologies, particularly in the space and quantum sectors. The stated objective is to enable the European Union to defend itself autonomously by 2030, in a context where the level of international conflict continues to grow. Les Echos
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IN SHORT
🇺🇦 Ukraine - 🇷🇺 Russia - 🇺🇸 United States • A new US-Russian peace proposal for Ukraine, reported yesterday by the press, has been described as absurd and unacceptable by Kiev, which sees it as an attempt to sow division among its allies. The plan, drawn up without consulting Ukraine, would require the surrender of part of Donbass, a massive reduction in the Ukrainian army, and the abandonment of long-range weapons. Ukrainian officials denounce it as a disguised capitulation, and the EU insists on the importance of involving Europe and Ukraine in any lasting solution.
🇮🇱 Israel - 🇵🇸 Palestine • New Israeli raids on Gaza have killed 33 people, including many women and children, marking a sharp increase in strikes since the Washington-backed “ceasefire.” In Khan Younis, tents housing displaced persons were hit, while Gaza City suffered two deadly strikes. Israel cites fire against its soldiers, with no reported casualties, while Hamas denounces a massacre. More than 300 people are believed to have been killed by Israel since the ceasefire came into effect, against a backdrop of difficulties in establishing an international stabilization force.
🇷🇺 Russia • Since 2022, Russia has accelerated the expansion and modernization of its military sites near NATO borders, particularly around Finland, the Baltic states, and Poland. The construction of new infrastructure, the expansion of bases such as Kandalakcha and Petrozavodsk, the installation of surveillance antennas in Kaliningrad, and the creation of reinforced brigades in Karelia have been observed. This military activity, closely monitored by its neighbors, amplifies their concerns about the changing regional balance of power.
🇺🇸 United States - 🇮🇱 Israel • In July, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee received Jonathan Pollard, a former US naval analyst sentenced to life imprisonment for spying for Israel, at the embassy in Jerusalem. The meeting, which was not on the agenda, surprised and worried US officials, particularly at the CIA, and had not been reported to the White House. Pollard, who settled in Israel after his release and is admired by the right wing, says he does not regret his actions and advocates an “Israel first” doctrine.
🇺🇸 United States • Donald Trump has signed a law requiring the Justice Department to release documents related to the Epstein case within 30 days. Passed almost unanimously in Congress, the bill aims to disclose all files concerning the New York sex offender, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and those involved in the proceedings. However, the Department may withhold certain information to protect victims or in the case of ongoing investigations. This decision marks a forced reversal for Trump, who has long opposed transparency in this case.
🇸🇩 Sudan - 🇺🇸 United States - 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia • The head of the Sudanese army has declared himself ready to collaborate with Washington and Riyadh to end the war that has been raging for two years and has displaced millions of people. Donald Trump, approached by Mohammed bin Salman, has expressed his willingness to work with several regional partners to stop the violence between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), both of which have been accused of abuses.
🇦🇺 Australia - 🇹🇷 Turkey • Canberra and Ankara have reached a compromise for COP31: the UN climate conference is set to be held in November 2026 in Antalya, subject to final consensus. Turkey would host the summit, while Australia would chair the negotiations and organize the pre-COP in the Pacific, much to the chagrin of Papua New Guinea.
🇫🇷 France • Emmanuel Macron has begun a five-day tour of Africa, focused on the G20 summit in Johannesburg on November 22 and 23. Arriving in Mauritius, he aimed to renew the partnership with the island, with agreements on renewable energy, education, and maritime security. In South Africa, he will take part in a memorial ceremony and the launch of a Franco-South African business council. He will then travel to Gabon to strengthen cooperation with Brice Oligui Nguema, before ending his tour in Luanda for the European Union-African Union summit.
