German defence minister and SPD politician
France and Germany have announced they will end plans to build a joint sixth-generation fighter jet, after industrial deadlock between Dassault and Airbus blocked progress. Leaders say work on associated drones and a shared combat data network will continue, but the core €100bn fighter programme has been abandoned this week.
Germany has agreed with France to take a large stake in Franco‑German defence group KNDS and to set joint governance, clearing the way for a potential IPO. Berlin has said it intends to buy roughly 40% from family shareholders to secure long‑term influence over a firm that supplies tanks and armoured vehicles and supports European rearmament.
The US defence secretary has announced a six-month Pentagon review of American force posture in Europe and warned that NATO members that fail defence‑spending targets will face reduced US contributions and access. He has criticised allies that limited basing or overflight during US strikes on Iran and said US dues will be contingent on allies meeting spending commitments.
NATO leaders have met in Ankara after months of U.S. threats to scale back forces in Europe and repeated U.S. demands that allies raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Tensions over the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and U.S. troop reviews have strained transatlantic ties, while European governments are increasing procurement and planning to assume more conventional defence responsibilities.
Germany is pursuing a four-track plan to build a scalable long-range arsenal, including U.S.-made Typhon launchers and European projects, as Berlin seeks to reduce reliance on U.S. stockpiles after political shifts and battles over Tomahawk deployments.
Indirect talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan are pressing to implement the Islamabad Memorandum and to restart shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say progress is being made, with a monitoring channel set to report violations, and discussions on how part of Iran’s frozen assets could be used to purchase needed goods.
Oil prices have risen this week after U.S. officials narrowed a waiver to the Jones Act for energy shipments and data showed U.S. crude stocks have fallen to multi-decade lows. Traders are parsing mixed statements from Washington and Tehran about talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while reparations demands have emerged, keeping markets volatile on 11 Aug 2026.
Netanyahu has met with Trump at the White House for discussions on Iran’s nuclear ambitions amid ongoing US-Israeli hostilities. Talks aim to coordinate strategy on Iran, with emphasis on preventing nuclear development and managing wider regional tensions. The week features high-stakes diplomacy and looming electoral tests in both countries.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russian forces have used ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea in strikes that hit the Zaporizhstal steel plant and other Ukrainian cities, killing at least seven workers and wounding others. Kyiv has also said Moscow is receiving more North Korean missiles and preparing to deploy more North Korean personnel on Russian territory. Allies are being urged to send more air-defence systems.
Germany has announced it is urgently sending Patriot Pac-2 interceptors to Ukraine, while allies including the UK commit funds and missiles from stockpiles. Kyiv warns that most missiles will arrive only in coming years, prompting appeals for immediate shipments. Ukraine is also pursuing EU loans to fund air-defence and drone supplies amid ongoing Russian attacks.