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Joan Larroumec presented the tensions between France and Germany as a result of increasing competition, particularly in the defense industry. He indicated that Berlin planned military spending of €108 billion in 2026, compared to €57 billion for Paris, and nearly €140 billion in 2027. According to him, Germany was seeking to use these expenditures as a lever for economic transformation, while its historical industrial model was weakened. Larroumec notably cited the decline in German exports to China, which he claimed fell from €106 billion in 2022 to €81 billion in 2025, as well as a reduction of 142,400 jobs in the German automotive industry since 2019. He also wrote that German defense start-ups had received $3.5 billion in investments in 2026, compared to $375 million in France, and that Berlin had concluded a framework agreement with Helsing and Stark that could reach €4.3 billion. He estimated that this strategy heightened rivalries between the two countries and jeopardized their joint programs. He reported that Paris and Berlin acknowledged on June 8 that the SCAF could not be successfully executed, and that the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces announced Germany's abandonment of the MGCS tank program. He also mentioned competition in drones, artificial intelligence, and space, where, according to him, Germany was seeking to reduce France's position. Finally, Larroumec argued that France's financial difficulties limited its ability to invest in defense and risked weakening its industry. He stated that French and German interests were becoming increasingly misaligned and that this situation could lead to chaotic episodes in Europe. #France #Allemagne #Défense (translated)

On Thursday, Wall Street increased its losses due to the sharp rise in oil prices and the lack of support from the technology sector, with the Nasdaq falling by 1.25% and the S&P 500 by 0.47%, while the Dow Jones posted a small gain of 0.10%. #WallStreet #Pétrole #Technologie (translated)

David Lisnard believes that the SCAF and MGCS programs, launched in 2017 by Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel to develop the future combat aircraft and tank, are strategic and industrial dead ends. He criticized French leaders for prioritizing Franco-German cooperation without first verifying the convergence of military interests, technological mastery, and the distribution of industrial responsibilities. According to him, a high-level Franco-German seminar held on October 7 would have revealed a different method: starting from the needs of the armed forces and industrial interests, then allowing companies to build viable cooperations before giving them, if necessary, a political translation. Lisnard stated that during the negotiations on the MGCS, Germany was preparing for the succession of the Leopard 2, notably with the Leopard 3 project, and that the delay created a military vulnerability. He called for a break with a conception of European defense that, according to him, confuses cooperation with the dilution of sovereignties. He advocated for a distribution of roles in which the political power sets ambitions and means, the armed forces define their needs, and the industries develop solutions and partnerships. Lisnard also urged for the immediate preparation of the renewal of French ground combat capabilities, beyond the simple replacement of the Leclerc, notably by integrating armored vehicles, drones, robotics, artificial intelligence, and data management. He estimated that this required investments in industry, a recovery of public finances, and a more efficient use of military credits. Finally, he accused the current government of having caused France to lose valuable years and argued that the issue concerned its ability to prepare for future conflicts, ensure the security of the French people, and defend the nation. #Défense #Souveraineté #Coopération (translated)

An investigation by the campaign End Arms Trade with Israel has pointed to the Spanish companies Erzia Technologies and Tubos Reunidos for sending components to Israeli arms companies during the genocide in Gaza, which could violate the arms embargo imposed by the Spanish Government. #ComercioDeArmas #EmbargoAIsrael #GenocidioGaza (translated)

The article emphasizes the importance for Belgium to adapt its military preparations to the new geostrategic realities, particularly by drawing lessons from the conflict in Ukraine, where innovation and new technologies, such as drones, are reconfiguring the landscape of war, rendering traditional armament programs obsolete. #Défense #Drones #InnovationMilitaire (translated)

Elon Musk will return to the Trump administration to participate in a committee tasked with identifying the technologies and weapons that the United States will need for its future wars, announced U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. #ElonMusk #Pentagone #GuerreDuFutur (translated)

Pete Hegseth wants the commission behind the Meridian project to anticipate "future operational environments" in order to develop tools, "weapons and technologies" that will allow American "fighters" to "maintain their superiority" there. #IntelligenceArtificielle #GuerreDuFutur #ElonMusk (translated)

Commissioned by the American Secretary of Defense, Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey have 120 days to develop innovative solutions to ensure the military dominance of the United States in the future by integrating artificial intelligence and new technologies. #IntelligenceArtificielle #GuerreDuFutur #ElonMusk (translated)