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Yf Reykers

@yfreykers.bsky.social
1.6K followers 412 following 225 posts

Associate Professor of International Relations at Maastricht University | Research on European security and defence | Co-Editor 'Contemporary Security Policy' @cspjournal.bsky.social | Wish I had more bikes

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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Why creating a European Security Council is not such a bad idea after all. www.nupi.no/en/publicati...
nupi.no
From European Coalitions to a European Security Council | NUPI
In the past years, coalitions have become the standard response to move forward when consensus is proving too time-consuming. John Karlsrud and Yf Reykers argue in this brief that it is time to move f...
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European Security @europeansecurity.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
New OA article: The EU’s evolving role in international peace and security: insights from the European peace facility by Malte Brosig, John Karlsrud & @yfreykers.bsky.social www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
The EU’s evolving role in international peace and security: insights from the European peace facility
The ongoing crisis of the liberal international order, exacerbated by the United States’ retreat from its traditional guarantor role, forces the European Union (EU) to adjust to a shifting global l...
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
🔎New article out We analyse the allocation of European Peace Facility assistance measures to third parties (2021-2025). Main finding: we see increased pragmatism, selectivity and geopolitical reasoning, but overall also (too?) much strategic ambiguity. 👇 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
🔎New article out We analyse the allocation of European Peace Facility assistance measures to third parties (2021-2025). Main finding: we see increased pragmatism, selectivity and geopolitical reasoning, but overall also (too?) much strategic ambiguity. 👇 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
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Egmont Institute @egmontinstitute.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
📣Welcome to @yfreykers.bsky.social who recently joined @egmontinstitute.bsky.social as Senior Associate Fellow in the Europe in the World programme. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 👇 egmontinstitute.be/staff/yf-rey...
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Europa is in decennia niet zo bedreigd geweest als vandaag. Wie dit najaar pleit voor minder defensie-uitgaven, is hopeloos naïef of speelt een gevaarlijk politiek spel. Mijn opinie @demorgen.be: www.demorgen.be/meningen/wie...
demorgen.be
Wie beknibbelt op defensie, speelt met onze veiligheid
Yf Reykers is professor internationale politiek aan de Universiteit van Maastricht. Hij waarschuwt voor het beknibbelen op defensie. ‘Wie de defensie-uitgaven vandaag wil milderen, ontkent de geopolit...
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
This report by the Sahaidachnyi Security Center is essential reading for anyone concerned about Europe’s security and defence readiness. It is yet another wake-up call. Time is not on Europe’s side. sahasec.org/research/the...
sahasec.org
The Battle of Norway - Sahaidachnyi Security Center
Drawing on twelve years of Ukraine’s wartime experience, including more than four years of high-intensity warfare, the study examines how Russia could challenge Norway across multiple domains, identif...
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
🆕Policy brief: Europe’s defence problem is no longer spending — it is delivery. We argue that coalition-based procurement can help turn budgets into capabilities while the EU awaits much-needed institutional reform. www.nupi.no/en/publicati... @nupinytt.bsky.social @fasosmaastricht.bsky.social
nupi.no
From spending to delivery: Coalition-based governance to scale Europe’s defence industry at speed | NUPI
Europe’s defence landscape is entering a new and decisive phase – not only in spending, but in how spending is translated into capability. After years...
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Terwijl de oorlog in Iran escaleert, dreigt Oekraïne cruciale steun te verliezen. Europa heeft de middelen — financieel, militair en institutioneel — om dat te voorkomen. Het wordt tijd dat Europa kleur bekent over Oekraïne. Opinie van Tim Haesebrouck en mezelf @tijd.be 👇
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Als PM De Wever écht de staatsman is die men van hem maakt, houdt hij op korte termijn een toespraak aan de natie: erken de impact van de Iran-oorlog, leg helder uit waarom ingrijpen niet kan, en vraag Belgen zich de komende periode aan te passen.
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De Morgen @demorgen.be · 29/03/2026
Houthi-troepen vuurden dit weekend raketten af op Israël, maar dreigen ook het scheepvaartverkeer in de Rode Zee te blokkeren. Een aanwezige EU-missie is te klein om dat te beletten. ‘We kunnen niet meer om een grotere Europese ontplooiing heen om de vrijhandel via zee defensief te verdedigen’, ...
demorgen.be
Nu ook Houthi-troepen zich in de strijd mengen: ‘Superstorm voor Europese economie als ze de Rode Zee afsluiten’
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
There may have been a strategic (if unpalatable) logic to NATO SG Mark Rutte’s sycophantic posture toward Trump in The Hague last year. What we see now, however, goes further. In whose voice is he speaking? Hard to argue this reflects a mandate from NATO’s 32 member states.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
There may have been a strategic (if unpalatable) logic to NATO SG Mark Rutte’s sycophantic posture toward Trump in The Hague last year. What we see now, however, goes further. In whose voice is he speaking? Hard to argue this reflects a mandate from NATO’s 32 member states.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Kalmte bewaren en voorwaarden tot eventuele deelname aan een maritieme operatie tot in detail doorspreken. Dat is wat het kernkabinet nu moet doen. Niet inderhaast beslissingen nemen of stoere uitspraken doen. Welke voorwaarden? Een suggestie 🧵👇
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
European hesitation to condemn the illegality of US–Israeli strikes on Iran weakens the credibility of Europe’s (entirely justified) legal critique of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Yes, one can oppose the Iranian regime and still insist international law be applied consistently.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
One year ago, I wrote this policy brief for @nupinytt.bsky.social, arguing for a stronger European maritime footprint from the Red Sea to the Strait of Hormuz. Today, calls for a sustained European naval presence sound louder than ever. Perhaps worth (re)reading: www.nupi.no/en/publicati...
nupi.no
The EU should get serious about maritime security in the Middle East and the Gulf | NUPI
To achieve its global maritime ambitions, the EU must strengthen its presence in the Middle East and the Gulf. The current geopolitical climate offers a chance to become a key maritime security provid...
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
𝟏𝟎 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 & 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 @munsecconf.bsky.social 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕: 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 1/ European defence spending has increased significantly. The real test now is output — how fast and effectively we deliver capabilities.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
𝟏𝟎 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 & 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 @munsecconf.bsky.social 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕: 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 1/ European defence spending has increased significantly. The real test now is output — how fast and effectively we deliver capabilities.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Off to Munich for some hopefully insightful discussions on industrial readiness and defence procurement 👇 @munsecconf.bsky.social
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
It hasn’t received much attention, but Hungary’s request for a 17,4 billion euros loan under the #SAFE mechanism has recently been suspensed due to risks of corruption. The country that keeps blocking EU assistance to Ukraine gets a taste of their own medicine.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
I am very pleased to co-organise this panel on Industrial Readiness and Defence Procurement as an official side event at the @munsecconf.bsky.social, together with @kiel.institute and @nupinytt.bsky.social! Sat. 14 Feb, 09:30–10:15 Bar Montez, Rosewood Hotel Get in touch if you want more info!
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
I am very pleased to co-organise this panel on Industrial Readiness and Defence Procurement as an official side event at the @munsecconf.bsky.social, together with @kiel.institute and @nupinytt.bsky.social! Sat. 14 Feb, 09:30–10:15 Bar Montez, Rosewood Hotel Get in touch if you want more info!
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Arnout van de Rijt @arnoutvanderijt.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
My colleague Kevin Munger asked me and a bunch of editors to sit and think through AI and peer review. Our take: osf.io/9sxnc/files/... We envision an increased (!) involvement of humans in the evaluation of social science.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Wie de NAVO doodverklaart, zoals CD&V-voorzitter Sammy Mahdi dit weekend, vergeet welke voordelen het bondgenootschap Europa nog biedt. De Europese bondgenoten moeten nú stappen zetten naar een NAVO die overtuigend Europees wordt. 👉 Mijn opinie @tijd.be: www.tijd.be/opinie/algem...
tijd.be
De NAVO is dood, leve de NAVO
Wie de NAVO als organisatie doodverklaart, zoals Sammy Mahdi dit weekend tijdens de CD&V-nieuwjaarsreceptie, vergeet welke voordelen het bondgenootschap Europa nog biedt.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Wie de NAVO doodverklaart, zoals CD&V-voorzitter Sammy Mahdi dit weekend, vergeet welke voordelen het bondgenootschap Europa nog biedt. De Europese bondgenoten moeten nú stappen zetten naar een NAVO die overtuigend Europees wordt. 👉 Mijn opinie @tijd.be: www.tijd.be/opinie/algem...
tijd.be
De NAVO is dood, leve de NAVO
Wie de NAVO als organisatie doodverklaart, zoals Sammy Mahdi dit weekend tijdens de CD&V-nieuwjaarsreceptie, vergeet welke voordelen het bondgenootschap Europa nog biedt.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
In plaats van scheuren en plooien, doen de EU-lidstaten er goed aan om het Anti-Coercion Instrument op tafel te leggen in de gesprekken met de Trump administratie. Tijd om een streep in het zand te trekken.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
A European Security Council is long overdue. In a Union of 27, its absence has been a structural weakness. Hopefully this is the moment it finally takes hold. Fragmentation undermines strategic coherence.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Sending European troops to Greenland under the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity is worth considering, argues @guntramwolff.bsky.social. Not a bad idea - the EU RDC has been operational since last year. Curious to learn more about the EU RDC? 👉 academic.oup.com/ia/article/1...
bruegel.org
Greenland is not marginal: the US takeover threat is a strategic test for Europe
European powers should provide backing for Nuuk and Copenhagen by establishing a greater military presence in Greenland
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
The Coalition of the Willing reaffirmed its commitment to deploy a Multinational Force Ukraine after a ceasefire. What are they are willing and able to put in place? Check our policy brief collection: www.nupi.no/en/projects-... Our intro briefing: www.nupi.no/en/publicati...
nupi.no
Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine Tracker | NUPI
This project surveys the political willingness of allies to deploy troops—on the ground, in the air, or at sea—to establish a military presence in or around Ukraine.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Good time to repost our policy brief collection on a multinational force for Ukraine 👇
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
With the decision to make available a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, the EU has lived up to its commitment to continue supporting the country. Will this be sufficient for Ukraine to win the war? No. But still, the European Council of 18 Dec. warrants cautious optimism. Why?👇
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
As negotiations about credible security guarantees for Ukraine intensify, also the idea of a Multinational Force Ukraine gains traction. Have a look at our policy brief collection, including reflections from 18 experts, to learn what this may look like: www.nupi.no/en/projects-...
nupi.no
Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine Tracker | NUPI
This project surveys the political willingness of allies to deploy troops—on the ground, in the air, or at sea—to establish a military presence in or around Ukraine.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
As negotiations about credible security guarantees for Ukraine intensify, also the idea of a Multinational Force Ukraine gains traction. Have a look at our policy brief collection, including reflections from 18 experts, to learn what this may look like: www.nupi.no/en/projects-...
nupi.no
Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine Tracker | NUPI
This project surveys the political willingness of allies to deploy troops—on the ground, in the air, or at sea—to establish a military presence in or around Ukraine.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
The benefit of all this is that we have moved beyond the phase of doubt. Europe is on its own. Now seize the momentum and move from a reactive to a proactive posture. The best security guarantee is not submission to the laws of power, but the projection of power.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
As diplomatic talks to end the war in Ukraine intensify, one question is becoming increasingly urgent: How can Ukraine’s future security be credibly guaranteed? We have a policy brief collection ready for you that engages with this question: www.nupi.no/en/projects-...
nupi.no
Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine Tracker | NUPI
This project surveys the political willingness of allies to deploy troops—on the ground, in the air, or at sea—to establish a military presence in or around Ukraine.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
“The world is in a new age of variable geometry,” writes Mark Carney, Canada’s PM, in his essay in The Economist — a phrase that captures how international cooperation increasingly depends on flexible, ad hoc coalitions. tinyurl.com/2ks7bxyf Some reflections 👇
economist.com
The world is in a new age of variable geometry, says Mark Carney
Canada’s prime minister argues that countries that build new networks and pragmatic alliances will be best placed to thrive in this new age
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
De vraag is waarom het National Airspace Security Centre nu pas operationeel zal worden. Oprichting stond immers ingeschreven in de beleidsverklaring Defensie van 4 november '20 (kabinet Dedonder) en budget voorzien in militaire programmeringswet van 8 juli '22. 👇
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
"Niets is zonder risico. Het gebruik van het confiscatie-instrument door Europa creëert risico’s. We moeten ons echter de vraag stellen of het niet-confisqueren geen grotere risico’s voor Europa betekenen." - Paul De Grauwe www.demorgen.be/meningen/nie...
demorgen.be
Niets is zonder risico, maar het niet-confisqueren van Russisch geld is dat zeker wel
Paul De Grauwe is professor aan de London School of Economics. Zijn column verschijnt tweewekelijks. Hij pleit ervoor om de geblokkeerde Russische tegoeden bij Euroclear te gebruiken om Oekraïne te st...
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Het beeld dat sommige EU-lidstaten ophangen dat België profiteert van de (belasting op) Russische tegoeden is enigszins overdreven. Wel staat vast dat verlies van die inkomsten (+/- 1.2 miljard euro/jaar) het nóg moeilijker zal maken om aan de 2% bbp defensie-uitgaven belofte te voldoen.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
In all honesty, the French defence industry isn’t exactly helping European strategic autonomy either. Trappier’s go-alone strategy on a sixth-gen fighter jet as a prime example.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Na de hevige Russische luchtaanvallen op Oekraïne en schendingen van het NAVO-luchtruim: moet Europa gevechtvliegtuigen sturen, zoals Polen voorstelt? Mijn opinie in @tijd.be over de zin en onzin van Europese gevechtsvliegtuigen boven Oekraïne. Morgen in print, nu online. 👇
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Mauro Gilli @maurogilli.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
Very happy to see our article ""Europe needs also minds, not just guns" out, which I have written with @aagilli.bsky.social, Antonio Missiroli & Niccolò Petrelli. www.ispionline.it/en/publicati...
ispionline.it
Europe needs also minds - not just guns | ISPI
Europe is rapidly rearming but risks wasting resources without a robust strategic thinking ecosystem, requiring investments
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Tentative allocation of Security Action for Europe (#SAFE) loans as agreed by the European Commission. Next steps: - submission of National Defence Investment Plans by 30 Nov. 2025. - prefinancing triggered from Feb. 2026 onwards, after Council decision (up to 15% of the loan)
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Over de samenkomst van de Coalition of the Willing voor Oekraïne: Dit is vooralsnog hoofdzakelijk politieke symboliek en een theoretische denkoefening. Macron zegt letterlijk dat zo een troepenontplooiing er pas zal komen zodra er een staakt-het-vuren is. 1/3
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
I hate to be the grump at the party. But this is all about Starmer/Macron trying to show relevance to Trump. This force is never gonna happen because 1. Russia will never say yes and if they did 2. US ain't going to go to war with Russia if it fires some missiles at some Euro troops in Ukraine. 🤷‍♂️
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Wat Gaza ons leert over het Belgisch buitenlands beleid anno 2025: met de voeten slepen onder het excuus dat we ‘te klein’ zijn. Maar wie weigert het internationaal recht actief te verdedigen, ondermijnt precies wat kleine landen beschermt. Machteloosheid als buitenlanddoctrine.
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Yf Reykers @yfreykers.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
If European defence cooperation wanted a self-sabotage manual, FCAS has it all: leadership disputes, endless workshare battles, rival programs, IP conflicts. Every structural flaw, all in one flagship project. Time to choose unity over ego. www.reuters.com/business/aer...
reuters.com
Exclusive: French industry wants sole leadership in joint fighter jet - document
French industry is blocking entry into the next phase in the development of the Franco-German fighter jet FCAS by demanding sole leadership of the project, the German defence ministry says in a document seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
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Samenleving & Politiek @sampolmaandblad.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
@yfreykers.bsky.social pleit voor meer strategische assertiviteit: 1️⃣ Een groter zelfbewustzijn dat uitgaat van de eigen sterktes 2️⃣ Een doorgedreven prioritering van de Europese defensie-industrie (1/2) www.sampol.be/2025/08/met-...
sampol.be
Met onderdanigheid bouw je geen Europese defensie
Europa moet een onafhankelijke defensie durven bouwen die niet onderhevig is aan de Amerikaanse grillen. Zonder strategische assertiviteit dreigt Europa machteloos te zijn in een gevaarlijke wereld.
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Samenleving & Politiek @sampolmaandblad.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Zonder strategische assertiviteit dreigt Europa machteloos te zijn in een gevaarlijke wereld. @yfreykers.bsky.social voor de #Zomerreeks #MakeEuropeGreatAgain #Mega2025
sampol.be
Met onderdanigheid bouw je geen Europese defensie
Europa moet een onafhankelijke defensie durven bouwen die niet onderhevig is aan de Amerikaanse grillen. Zonder strategische assertiviteit dreigt Europa machteloos te zijn in een gevaarlijke wereld.
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