September 21, 2026 · 05:02 Uhr
Carsten Breuer, who has led the Bundeswehr rearmament, will become the new Chairman of the NATO Military Committee – a historic signal as Germany aims for Europe's strongest conventional army. The appointment underscores the structural shift of power in the alliance toward European leadership. This is the highest-ranking NATO military position ever held by a German general.
At the meeting of 32 NATO defense chiefs in Copenhagen (September 18–19), a fundamental realignment of alliance strategy was decided, with concrete new air defense plans and procurement priorities. The NATO Air Commander presented a revised air defense concept that directly responds to Russian drone and cruise missile threats. The meeting marks a turning point away from political statements toward operational capability.
French President Macron has instructed the government to prepare new protective measures for critical infrastructure and sensitive defense sites against Russian drone and cyber attacks. Paris is responding to an intensification of Russian hybrid operations across Europe, with verified incidents in six NATO states in August 2026 alone. The measure signals a new level of state threat perception at the highest level.
ISW data shows that Ukraine has recaptured approximately 973 km² so far in 2026, while Russia gained only about 148 km² – a significantly more favorable ratio than in previous years. Operation Vivaldi north of Lyman uses drone strikes 30–80 km behind the contact line to disrupt Russian logistics. Meanwhile, Pokrovsk remains a critical flashpoint with the most intense fighting, and Russia is reportedly preparing a new major offensive with up to 100,000 soldiers.
Seven months after war began, rhetoric is escalating again: Iran threatens permanent retaliation against U.S. bases and interests across the region with each new U.S. strike, while Trump again announces 'very big things' and intense U.S. Air Force activity near southern Iran is reported. Polymarket sees the Israel-Iran ceasefire still at 80–94% durability until end of September, but escalation potential is rising noticeably. A new major U.S. strike could destabilize the entire Middle Eastern architecture and reactivate Hormuz risks.
Europe is in its most dangerous security situation in decades: Russian hybrid operations against NATO infrastructure are intensifying across Europe, while the Ukraine war is entering a new phase with Ukrainian territorial gains but an impending Russian major offensive. In parallel, an active U.S.-Israel-Iran war has been ongoing for seven months with renewed escalation risk, tying up global energy markets and U.S. military capacity – with direct repercussions on Europe's defense planning. The NATO Copenhagen summit and Breuer's appointment as military chief signal that the alliance is structurally shifting toward an era of reduced U.S. leadership and greater European self-responsibility. The combination of active war in the neighborhood, Russian gray-zone strategy, and a simultaneous Middle East conflict puts the European security architecture through a historic stress test.
Tokens: 2,178(1,352 in · 826 out)
This website uses cookies. Strictly necessary cookies are always active. By clicking "Accept all" you additionally consent to analytics cookies (Google Analytics). Privacy Policy →
