European security policy

Sources: US wants Europe to take over NATO responsibilities by 2027

Europe must take over the bulk of NATO's conventional defense capabilities by 2027, including most of the forces and weapons deployed in the EU.

The Pentagon is said to have given the news to European delegations this week, Reuters news agency reports, citing sources.

This could mean that large forces and weapons that the US currently has in European countries would have to be replaced with personnel and equipment from EU countries and the UK, writes TT.

If Europe does not meet the deadline, the US is threatening to stop participating in some of NATO's mechanisms. The tight deadline was perceived by European officials as unrealistic, according to Reuters. 

Controversial Military Law Passed in Germany

The German Bundestag has voted in favor of a new military service law that aims to increase the number of active soldiers to 260,000 from the current 183,000, while also aiming to reach 200,000 reservists by 2035.

The bill has been controversial, and the vote was preceded by four months of intense debate, Reuters reports.

According to the new law, all men born after 2008 must undergo medical assessments, and both men and women must declare their willingness to serve. Men are also required to respond to the dispatch.

The new law allows the Bundestag to vote on introducing a needs-based conscription if the number of registered soldiers is deemed too low.

Mysterious drones in the air during Zelensky's visit to Ireland

The Irish Navy raised the alarm about several mysterious drones near the route that Ukrainian President Zelensky took when he flew to Ireland, Irish media reports. The incident occurred on Monday and there were concerns that the drones were there to disrupt the trip, writes the Irish Times.

It is unclear where the drones came from and who was flying them, but RTE reports that the warship that raised the alarm saw that they were not ordinary drones.

Investigators' theory is that the drones were intended to disrupt the trip and that they were not intended to attack the plane, Irish Times sources say. The plane was never in danger, according to the information.