The Finnish Army will conduct the Karelian Sword 26 exercise in southeastern Finland from 22 to 29 May 2026 with around 10,000 personnel, including reserve units and allied troops and has designated hashtags to follow the exercise on social media.
Sweden is conducting the Aurora 26 military exercise with NATO allies and Ukraine, focusing on the defence of Gotland and the Baltic Sea region. The drills involve 18,000 personnel and test allied reinforcement, logistics and drone warfare cooperation.
Germany’s chancellor said the U.S. is struggling in its conflict with Iran, warning there is no clear path to end it. He said the situation is complex and affecting economies, while tensions continue to impact global trade.
Global military spending reached $2.89 trillion in 2025, according to SIPRI, marking the 11th consecutive annual increase. Growth was driven by higher expenditure in Europe and Asia, while US spending declined due to reduced military aid approvals.
Germany plans to send a minehunter to the Mediterranean ahead of a possible mission in the Strait of Hormuz. The move supports efforts to secure shipping routes after tensions disrupted global trade.
Germany says shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must remain free and toll-free under international law. The call comes after Iran agreed to reopen the key route during a two-week ceasefire.
The U.S. State Department says China carried out a nuclear test in June 2020, days after deadly clashes with Indian troops at Galwan. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation did not detect any test, which the U.S. said was conducted by a decoupling method that could minimise seismic sensitivity.
Germany has said it wants to take part in a new US-led “Board of Peace” for Gaza announced by Donald Trump. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin is ready to assume responsibility in the body, which is meant to oversee Gaza’s transitional administration and support the next phase of the peace process.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he expects the United States to take part in a stronger NATO role to improve security in Greenland. Speaking during a visit to India, he said NATO allies share concerns about protecting the Arctic territory and should address them together within the alliance.
European leaders have issued a joint statement rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed claims that the United States needs to take control of Greenland. They stressed that Greenland’s future can only be decided by Denmark and Greenland, and warned against threats to sovereignty and NATO unity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a U.S. delegation arrived in Berlin for talks on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ahead of discussions involving European partners. Russian officials have expressed skepticism about the talks, which will continue on Monday.
Foreign policy advisers from the United States, Ukraine, Germany and other partners are set to resume talks on a possible peace framework for Ukraine in Berlin, according to government sources. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to take part, with discussions following several earlier rounds of negotiations since November. The talks come as diplomatic efforts continue alongside ongoing fighting, with both Russia and Ukraine reporting casualties from drone and missile strikes.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has dismissed the Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy, which portrays freedom of expression in Europe as eroding. Speaking in Berlin, he said Germany needs no advice on free speech protections and defended the country’s constitutional safeguards and free media.
Germany has activated the first operational elements of the Arrow 3 missile defence system, giving the country and its partners an early-warning and interception capability against long-range ballistic missiles for the first time. The €3.6-billion system—developed with Israel and the US—marks Germany’s first long-range missile shield and forms a key part of the European Sky Shield Initiative.
The Ministry of Defence has signed five-year Letters of Offer and Acceptance with the U.S. for sustainment support of the Indian Navy’s MH-60R helicopters, covering spares, repairs, training and new in-country maintenance facilities.
