Europe

[The Bread Guy]

A bit of leadership by example among some of Europe's royals.

Queen Maxima of Netherlands joins country’s army as reservist - National | Globalnews.ca

Footage shows the royal swimming in a pool wearing goggles that obscure her vision, as well as abseiling down scaffolding and descending a rock climbing wall.

globalnews.ca

Dutch Queen Máxima training to become army reservist

Expected to be sworn in later this month, the incoming Dutch coalition government has plans to boost the nation's military from some 80,000 to 122,000 personnel. And the Queen wants to help.

www.euronews.com

 

[Kirkhill]

I don't know if anyone has seen this yet

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/10/trump-gives-up-control-of-three-nato-bases/

Britain is taking over NATO's Atlantic Command HQ in Virginia, Italy is taking over the Naples office and Germany and Poland are jointly taking over Joint Force Brunssum in the Netherlands.

 

[Kirkhill]

The EU tightening the screws on Ireland.

They have decided that Eire's Border Counties aren't as hard done by as they used to was and don't need as much EU money.

Border counties to lose key EU supports despite low incomes

Border counties are set to lose out on favourable European Union funding available to other poorer districts because the European Commission is upgrading the wider northern and western region of Ireland to a “more developed region” from a “transition region” for the next EU funding period.

www.independent.ie

 

[daftandbarmy]

The EU tightening the screws on Ireland.

They have decided that Eire's Border Counties aren't as hard done by as they used to was and don't need as much EU money.

Border counties to lose key EU supports despite low incomes

Border counties are set to lose out on favourable European Union funding available to other poorer districts because the European Commission is upgrading the wider northern and western region of Ireland to a “more developed region” from a “transition region” for the next EU funding period.

www.independent.ie

It's almost as if they're deriving an economic benefit from being so close the colonial master they apparently dislike so much.

Ironic

 

[Kirkhill]

It's almost as if they're deriving an economic benefit from being so close the colonial master they apparently dislike so much.

Ironic

And the Brits didn't get much in the way of thanks when they bailed them out with the banks in 2008. Nor do they get much apprection for the RAF and the RN stooging around their waters to keep the unwanted at bay.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I'm happy about this, I'm worried about this

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022311893281440038

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Words that should send reflexive shivers down the spines of everyone living in France…

 

[Czech_pivo]

I'm happy about this, I'm worried about this

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022311893281440038

Now if Poland says to this, 'Marek, hold my pivo', then things will get interesting.

 

[daftandbarmy]

We'll see how that goes

European NATO allies to take on expanded leadership roles in command structure
'The agreement is part of a shift to more fairly share responsibility within NATO,' the alliance says

ISTANBUL

NATO announced Tuesday that its European allies will take on new leadership roles within its Command Structure.

"On 6 February 2026, Allies agreed on a new distribution of senior officer responsibility across the NATO Command Structure in which European Allies, including NATO’s newest members, will play a more prominent role in the Alliance’s military leadership," NATO said in a written statement.

The statement noted that the UK and Italy will take over command of Joint Force Command Norfolk and Joint Force Command Naples, respectively, both of which are currently led by the US. Germany and Poland will share command of Joint Force Command Brunssum on a rotational basis.

"The United States will lead all three theater component commands, newly taking up responsibility for Allied Maritime Command, and maintaining leadership of Allied Land Command and Allied Air Command," the statement added.

It noted that the changes will be implemented "incrementally in the coming years, in line with the existing scheduled rotation of personnel."

European NATO allies to take on expanded leadership roles in command structure

'The agreement is part of a shift to more fairly share responsibility within NATO,' the alliance says - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

 

[Good2Golf]

Words that should send reflexive shivers down the spines of everyone living in France…

If France hadn’t agreed earlier with Germany to include DEU underneath its nuclear umbrella. These aren’t the Germany and France of immediately post-45.

Now if Poland says to this, 'Marek, hold my pivo', then things will get interesting.

Poland already (very discretely) said as much last year when it formed an agreement with France that implicates the aforementioned ‘parapluie française’ in assuring deterrence-based protection from malign actors. Hint: is the French detachment of Rafale nuclear-capable strike fighters still deployed from France’s nuclear force base in Istres, to Poland?

It will be very interesting to see the outcome from the Munich Security Conference…from a variety of sources…not just Marco Rubio’s perspective.

 

[Czech_pivo]

We'll see how that goes

European NATO allies to take on expanded leadership roles in command structure
'The agreement is part of a shift to more fairly share responsibility within NATO,' the alliance says

ISTANBUL

NATO announced Tuesday that its European allies will take on new leadership roles within its Command Structure.

"On 6 February 2026, Allies agreed on a new distribution of senior officer responsibility across the NATO Command Structure in which European Allies, including NATO’s newest members, will play a more prominent role in the Alliance’s military leadership," NATO said in a written statement.

The statement noted that the UK and Italy will take over command of Joint Force Command Norfolk and Joint Force Command Naples, respectively, both of which are currently led by the US. Germany and Poland will share command of Joint Force Command Brunssum on a rotational basis.

"The United States will lead all three theater component commands, newly taking up responsibility for Allied Maritime Command, and maintaining leadership of Allied Land Command and Allied Air Command," the statement added.

It noted that the changes will be implemented "incrementally in the coming years, in line with the existing scheduled rotation of personnel."

European NATO allies to take on expanded leadership roles in command structure

'The agreement is part of a shift to more fairly share responsibility within NATO,' the alliance says - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

Germany has been just as blunt and open today in speaking at the NATO leadership meeting as Carney was at Davos.

Here are some snippets coming from Merz in his speech today:

""I fear we must put it even more bluntly: this order, however imperfect it was even at its best, no longer exists in that form."

"...."a rift, a deep divide has opened between Europe and the United States. Vice-President JD Vance said this very openly here in Munich a year ago".

"....The culture war of the Maga [Make America Great Again] movement is not ours. Freedom of speech ends here with us when that speech goes against human dignity and the constitution. We do not believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade."

The German leader also revealed that "confidential talks" were ongoing with French President Emmanuel Macron on creating a joint European nuclear deterrent. He gave no further details.

World's rules-based order 'no longer exists', Germany's Merz warns

"Our freedom is not guaranteed" in an era of big powers, the German chancellor tells Munich's security summit.

www.bbc.com

 

[RangerRay]

Words that should send reflexive shivers down the spines of everyone living in France…

And Poland. And Russia!

 

[daftandbarmy]

Germany has been just as blunt and open today in speaking at the NATO leadership meeting as Carney was at Davos.

Here are some snippets coming from Merz in his speech today:

""I fear we must put it even more bluntly: this order, however imperfect it was even at its best, no longer exists in that form."

"...."a rift, a deep divide has opened between Europe and the United States. Vice-President JD Vance said this very openly here in Munich a year ago".

"....The culture war of the Maga [Make America Great Again] movement is not ours. Freedom of speech ends here with us when that speech goes against human dignity and the constitution. We do not believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade."

The German leader also revealed that "confidential talks" were ongoing with French President Emmanuel Macron on creating a joint European nuclear deterrent. He gave no further details.

World's rules-based order 'no longer exists', Germany's Merz warns

"Our freedom is not guaranteed" in an era of big powers, the German chancellor tells Munich's security summit.

www.bbc.com

"We live in a wondrous time in which the strong is weak because of his moral scruples and the weak grows strong because of his audacity."

Otto von Bismarck