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

 

[Good2Golf]

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.

Just kidding…totally unsurprised by this. Several ‘conventional’ nations have had discussions with France about ‘robust collective deterrent’ postures.

The Brit’s have no spine in that regard. They are a nuclear vassal of the U.S., so there will be no non-conventional deterrent talk from the Isle.

 

[OldSolduer]

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

Well the French will probably taunt the Germans mercilessly...

 

[Good2Golf]

France is a proponent of Europe moving ahead without fealty to the U.S.

France's Macron says time for Europe to become geopolitical power

Europe must turn its focus to long-term strategic thinking, including creating deep-strike capabilities and assessing how France's nuclear deterrent can fit into the bloc's future security architecture, France's president said on Friday.

www.reuters.com

Particularly of note, his position on nuclear deterrence: (particularly germain to the juxtaposition of the old deterrence against the Cold War and a different situation now - unspoken, but whispered that the U.S. is now soft, if not supportive, of Soviet 2.0)

"We have to reshuffle and reorganise our architecture of security in Europe. Because the past architecture of security was totally designed and framed during Cold War times. So it's no longer adapted," he said.

"We have to rearticulate nuclear deterrence in this approach. And this is why we are conceiving, and in a few weeks' time I will detail that, but we engaged a strategic dialogue, obviously with Chancellor Merz, but with a few European leaders, in order to see how we can articulate our national doctrine, which is guaranteed and controlled by the Constitution," he said.

 

[Good2Golf]

And if you had any doubts that France isn’t buying Rubio’s ‘Brooklyn Bridge’ any time soon, read what France’s Foreign Minister, Noel Barrot:

European reaction to Rubio's speech on transatlantic ties at Munich Security Conference

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cast the United States as the "child of Europe" in a message of unity on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, offering some reassurance as well as more criticism to allies after a year of strained ties.

www.reuters.com

"Referring to (our) common legacy can only be welcomed with applause in Europe. The second thing that Secretary Rubio mentioned that I think is also very important and that is very consistent with the view of European countries is that some challenges cannot be addressed by a single nation, as powerful and as rich as it may be…Is it going to change our strategy? Of course not. Because, you know, what we're hearing today, we heard already in the past, and we heard this from Democratic administrations, Republican administrations. Build a strong and independent Europe. We will deliver a strong and independent Europe. Independent, of course, irrespective of the speeches that we hear at the Munich Security Conference, however right they may be."

Barrot stopped short of using a Seinfeldian “Yadda, yadda, yadda….” about America’s hegemonic word salad, but it’s right there in clearly and deliberately spoken words.

We will deliver a strong and independent Europe. Independent, of course, irrespective of the speeches that we hear at the Munich Security Conference

If Rubio and his team are high-fiving great success on their way home from Munich, they are likely to find reason in the months to come to think, “Ahhhh, those belligerent Europeans. How dare they…”

 

[FJAG]

Canada has some strong choices to make in the coming months and years.

I'm glad JT is gone. I wish Poilievre was too.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Europe finally wakes up from its self-indulgent 30+ year post cold war snooze on the lido deck.

Looking forward to strong and independent Europe that does not revert to spheres of influence of France and Germany.

 

[brihard]

Europe finally wakes up from its self-indulgent 30+ year post cold war snooze on the lido deck.

Looking forward to strong and independent Europe that does not revert to spheres of influence of France and Germany.

France has Europe’s only fully sovereign and non-Russian nuclear deterrent. They’ll be central to whatever new security order emerges.

Poland, by virtue of location, army, and state of economic growth will also be a key player. If I was them I would also be developing nukes.

The UK has to make some hard choices about whether they want to realign with Europe or potentially find themselves a wallflower.