logo
ENع
#

Latest news with #transatlantic

FM: Presence of Trump at NATO summit ‘changed everything'
FM: Presence of Trump at NATO summit ‘changed everything'

Budapest Times

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • Budapest Times

FM: Presence of Trump at NATO summit ‘changed everything'

Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said the presence of US President Donald Trump at the summit of NATO leaders 'changed everything' from the previous years' summits, shifting the focus from supporting Ukraine to strengthening the alliance's defense capabilities. Speaking at a press conference after the summit in The Hague, Minister Szijjártó said that if he had to summarise the difference between this year's summit and the ones in the last three years in just two words, he would say 'Donald Trump'. Minister Szijjártó said Trump's return to office 'changed everything', and now everyone was 'free to use words like peace, ceasefire and peace talks without fear of immediate public shaming'. 'With Donald Trump, peace efforts have also made a comeback,' Minister Szijjártó said. 'Today's summit finally had NATO and the strengthening of the transatlantic community's own defense capabilities on the agenda rather than unrealistic support to be given to Ukraine and its NATO membership.' He noted that the closing statement from Wednesday's summit is 'unusually short' at just eight pages long,' yet it says more and is better than the previous one'. Minister Szijjártó said the statement reaffirms member states' commitment to Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty as well as to Article 3 on national resilience obligations. Hungary, he said, was a frontrunner when it came to the development of defense capabilities, as it accounts for 45 percent of the country's military budget. Minister Szijjártó welcomed that NATO did not exacerbate tensions with Russia, as this year's statement 'doesn't contain any lengthy details when it comes to Moscow'. He said it was important that NATO has identified the growing threat of terrorism as a serious challenge which had been made more significant by the tensions in the Middle East, as it increased the risk of attacks in Europe. Member states also agreed to raise their defencs spending to 5 percent of GDP, investing 3.5 percent in core defense and 1.5 percent in building critical infrastructure and networks, maintaining civil preparedness, as well as developments and innovation, Minister Szijjártó said. The allies have also agreed to submit annual national plans detailing how they will increase their defense capabilities, he said, adding that there was no set amount of progress member states were required to make each year. 'We will review the situation in 2029 and determine how we are doing in light of the security situation at the time,' he added. Member states also agreed that it was their sovereign right to support Ukraine, he said, adding that this was a welcome outcome given that the Hungarian government did not want NATO 'to cross certain red lines and end up in a direct confrontation with Russia'. The allies also affirmed their commitment to strengthening their defense industries, and a decision was made on holding next year's summit in Turkiye and the following one in Albania, he added. They also adopted resolutions on bolstering NATO's southern strategy and recognising illegal immigration as a risk factor, he said. Also, they approved recommendations on the swift implementation of innovative technologies in order to reduce bureaucracy and administration, he added. Minister Szijjártó also highlighted the renewal of the strategy on countering hybrid threats, adding that it had to be made clear that it was each member's responsibility to take the necessary steps to implement the strategy as a national competence in order to bring collective defense to an acceptable level.

'We Built This to Fly Forever': Engineers Unveil Solar Drone With 224-Foot Wingspan Capable of Month-Long Flights
'We Built This to Fly Forever': Engineers Unveil Solar Drone With 224-Foot Wingspan Capable of Month-Long Flights

Sustainability Times

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • Sustainability Times

'We Built This to Fly Forever': Engineers Unveil Solar Drone With 224-Foot Wingspan Capable of Month-Long Flights

IN A NUTSHELL 🌍 Skydweller Aero and Thales unveil a solar-powered drone with a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747, aiming for month-long flights. and Thales unveil a solar-powered drone with a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747, aiming for month-long flights. 🔍 The drone integrates AI-enabled AirMaster S radar for rapid situational awareness across air, land, and sea domains. for rapid situational awareness across air, land, and sea domains. 💡 Powered entirely by solar panels, the drone operates with zero carbon emissions , enhancing maritime surveillance capabilities. , enhancing maritime surveillance capabilities. 🌐 This collaboration highlights growing transatlantic cooperation in aerospace technologies, offering new strategic and commercial opportunities. In a groundbreaking collaboration, the French defense electronics giant Thales and the American aerospace startup Skydweller Aero have unveiled the world's first solar-powered drone capable of month-long flights. This innovative aerial system boasts a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747 and promises to revolutionize long-range maritime surveillance and strategic overwatch. As global tensions in maritime regions escalate, the need for persistent, autonomous systems has never been more critical. This article delves into the remarkable features of this solar drone, its strategic implications, and its potential to redefine surveillance missions. Revolutionary Solar Drone with Boeing 747 Wingspan The Skydweller solar-powered drone stands out with its impressive wingspan, which surpasses that of a Boeing 747. Capable of carrying payloads up to 881 pounds, this drone marks a significant advancement over previous solar UAVs that were limited by their load-carrying capacity. Operating at medium altitudes, the aircraft offers near-permanent surveillance over vast maritime areas, including Exclusive Economic Zones and contested regions. Thales integrates its cutting-edge AirMaster S radar into the drone, enhancing its strategic capabilities. This lightweight, AI-enabled sensor suite, originally designed for manned aircraft, operates in the X-band with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology. The combination of AI-driven data processing and advanced radar technology ensures rapid situational awareness across air, land, and sea domains. This integration sets the stage for a new era of autonomous, zero-emission surveillance platforms. Swiss Startup Stuns the World by Powering Trains With the First-Ever PV Solar Plant Built Directly on Active Railway Tracks Month-Long Flights: A New Era for Surveillance The capability for month-long flights is a major breakthrough. The AirMaster S radar system's auto-tuning features allow it to adapt dynamically to changing mission profiles and environmental conditions. This level of autonomy means the drone can remain airborne over regions of interest without needing to return to base or requiring frequent ground interventions. Sébastien Renouard, Thales' Chief Commercial Officer for EMEA, emphasized the significance of this development: 'The combination of Thales' AirMaster S Smart Radar with the MAPS Skydweller changes the paradigm for surveillance missions.' The drone's construction from lightweight carbon fiber and its reliance on solar panels eliminate the need for fossil fuels, dramatically reducing operational costs and environmental impact. With the ability to monitor entire ocean regions, track illegal trafficking, and conduct anti-piracy operations, this platform offers a sovereign, autonomous solution to persistent ISR challenges. World's Largest Solar Telescope Unleashes 5.6-Ton Tech Beast to Capture Unprecedented Images of Massive Sunspot Activity Strategic Implications and Global Cooperation This development highlights the growing transatlantic cooperation in dual-use aerospace technologies. Oklahoma City-based Skydweller Aero, with operations in Spain, has its roots in the Solar Impulse program. Backed by venture capital and private equity, the company focuses on building high-endurance ISR platforms for military and commercial markets. As tensions rise in regions such as the South China Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, AI-enabled ISR platforms like MAPS-Skydweller become crucial. These systems help maintain deterrence, enforce sovereignty, and provide real-time domain awareness. By enabling continuous surveillance and reducing dependency on traditional aircraft, this drone offers strategic flexibility to NATO, EU, and Western-aligned forces. 'Eco-Friendly Solar Cell Shocks the World': Record-Breaking 16.65% Efficiency Ignites Global Race Toward Clean Energy Domination Future Prospects and Technological Advancements The introduction of the Skydweller drone represents a significant leap forward in unmanned aerial systems. Its ability to conduct prolonged missions without human intervention sets a new standard in the industry. The collaboration between Thales and Skydweller Aero has resulted in a technological marvel that not only enhances military capabilities but also opens up new possibilities for civilian applications. This autonomous platform's potential extends beyond military use. It can be adapted for environmental monitoring, disaster management, and commercial surveillance, providing valuable data and insights. As Skydweller continues to innovate, the future of solar-powered flight looks promising, offering sustainable solutions to complex challenges. As we look towards a future shaped by technological advancements, the Skydweller drone stands as a testament to human ingenuity and collaboration. How will this groundbreaking technology influence the global landscape of surveillance and defense in the coming years? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.3/5 (28)

Anand says the ‘timeline' is up for debate as NATO pursues higher defence spending
Anand says the ‘timeline' is up for debate as NATO pursues higher defence spending

Hamilton Spectator

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • Hamilton Spectator

Anand says the ‘timeline' is up for debate as NATO pursues higher defence spending

THE HAGUE - Canada is committed to increasing its defence spending but has questions about the 'timeline' for hitting a new, higher NATO spending target, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Tuesday. NATO leaders are expected to decide at the summit in the Netherlands this week whether to raise the spending target from two per cent to five per cent of GDP. When asked if Canada accepts that proposal, Anand said Canada has consistently supported NATO's spending targets. 'The question, really, is the timeline,' she told reporters in The Hague. She added some allies have proposed a 2029 deadline for meeting the target. 'We'd like to see steps along the way where there can be a re-examination of whether this is the right approach, augmenting at this rate in terms of domestic spend.' U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have both said they expect alliance representatives at the summit to commit to a new five per cent target, up from the current two per cent target set in 2014. Anand said Canada's new defence and security partnership with the European Union will expand Canada's defence industrial base. Asked if she had any concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's previous disparaging comments about NATO, Anand said Trump is engaging with NATO in a 'meaningful way.' Earlier this year, Trump suggested that the U.S. might abandon its commitments to the alliance if member countries don't meet defence spending targets. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Anand are in the Netherlands for the NATO summit, where allies are set to debate the five per cent target. The main talks in The Hague won't happen until Wednesday. In The Hague Tuesday morning, Carney met with Edgars Rinkēvičs, president of Latvia, and Dick Schoof, prime minister of the Netherlands. He was also set to meet with leaders of Nordic countries for talks focused on Arctic and transatlantic security later in the day. The prime minister will also have an audience with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. None of NATO's 32 members spent five per cent of GDP on defence in 2024, according to the alliance's own data. All of them are pledging to meet the two per cent figure this year; Canada is expected to hit the target for the first time since it was established. A Canadian government official who briefed reporters on background before the trip said the spending target and its timeline are still up for discussion. Some allies have indicated they would prefer a seven-year timeline, while others want a decade to reach the five per cent target. Canada's defence spending hasn't reached five per cent of GDP since the 1950s. NATO estimates that Canada spent $41 billion in 2024 on defence, or 1.37 per cent of GDP. In 2014, Canada spent $20.1 billion, or 1.01 per cent of GDP, on defence. In 2014, when the current two per cent target was first set, only three NATO members hit the mark — the U.S., the U.K. and Greece. Any new spending guidelines have to be made with the consensus of all 32 NATO member states, and no member is currently anywhere close. At 3.38 per cent, U.S. defence spending as a share of GDP was the highest in the alliance in 2024. But President Trump has said the figure shouldn't apply to the United States — only to its allies. The plan Rutte is expected to put forward at the summit contains some wiggle room to help allies reach that high figure. It would commit members to spending 3.5 per cent of annual GDP on core defence needs — like jets and other weapons — and 1.5 per cent on defence-adjacent areas like infrastructure, cybersecurity and industry. Internal divisions have emerged in the lead-up to the summit. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Sunday that Spain reached a deal with NATO to be excluded from the new spending target. Like Canada, Spain has long struggled to meet the two per cent target and has rejected the new proposal. Rutte warned Monday that no country can opt out of the target and that progress made toward the new target will be reviewed in four years. NATO's defence buildup is also controversial in Italy, where defence minister Guido Crosetto said recently the alliance 'no longer has a reason to exist.' Defence Minister David McGuinty said 'stay tuned' when asked earlier this month if Canada would agree to the five per cent plan. Jan Techau, a senior fellow with the transatlantic defence and security program at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said the overall level of ambition in Europe on defence has 'massively' increased over the last several years in response to Russian aggression. 'The closer to Russia you are, the more ambitious you are,' he said. Lauren Speranza, a fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said the NATO summit is coming at a 'very precarious moment,' marked by uncertainty about the U.S. commitment to Europe, the grinding conflict between Russia and Ukraine and ongoing tensions over transatlantic trade. Speranza said the meeting will offer some insights into how the Trump administration will approach the alliance going forward, following its criticisms of NATO and calls for Europe to take more responsibility for its own defence. Carney said in a social media post Tuesday that Canada welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. 'With the reported reduction in Iran's nuclear capacity, we urge parties to adhere to the ceasefire, return to the table and negotiate a diplomatic resolution,' he said. 'That resolution should lead to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.' Tuesday's schedule also includes a reception and a social dinner hosted by the king and queen of the Netherlands. — With files from Kyle Duggan in Ottawa and The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store