Andrew Gray
@andrewramsaygray.bsky.social
European Affairs Editor at Reuters, covering EU & NATO from Brussels. Previously: Lanark, London, Germany, Geneva, Balkans, Iraq, West Africa & Washington. Ex-Politico editor/podcaster.
ICYMI - quietly damning official report on EU's defence efforts so far.
Andrew Gray@andrewramsaygray.bsky.social · 2w agoEurope is not rearming quickly or effectively enough to meet its goal of being ready to defend against Russia by 2030, according to the exec summary of an EU report for the bloc's leaders and seen by @liliebayer.bsky.social (2/2)
2 top stories today from Reuters' European foreign+security policy team: NATO's top commander tells @sasilink.bsky.social it's stepping up intelligence-sharing in response to hybrid incidents apparently linked to Russia but should be "calm and confident" it can handle any threat from Moscow. (1/2)
NATO steps up intelligence-sharing over Russia threat, top commander says
NATO is stepping up intelligence-sharing in response to a wave of sabotage and other incidents apparently linked to Russia but should be "calm and confident" that it can handle any threat posed by Mo...
reuters.com
Our story on the blowback against the EU for lifting sanctions on Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. @jpaynenews.bsky.social @liliebayer.bsky.social @irishjreuters.bsky.social
EU faces backlash after lifting sanctions on Russian billionaires
The European Union faced a growing backlash on Wednesday for lifting sanctions on two Russian billionaires, with some of its members saying the move undermined a pillar of support for Ukraine’s war e...
reuters.com
Ursula von der Leyen today threw her weight behind a European Security Council. But what would it do? Who would be in it? And will it get support to become reality? @liliebayer.bsky.social & I gathered initial reactions: some positive, some warning of another talking shop & duplication with NATO.
EU's von der Leyen backs European Security Council and 'playbook' against sabotage
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday backed the creation of a European Security Council, bringing together leaders from the EU, Britain, Norway, Ukraine and Canada, as she...
reuters.com
Good story. Deserves bullet points. Turkey's Erdogan gives NATO leaders revolver conundrum after summit - www.reuters.com/lifestyle/tu...
Turkey's Erdogan gives NATO leaders revolver conundrum after summit
Belgium's prime minister was a little surprised on landing back home from Wednesday's NATO summit in Turkey to find that he had a handgun and ammunition in his luggage.
reuters.com
I asked Mark Rutte if he’d change his approach to Donald Trump. “No, they knew what they got when they hired me,” he said. “If people are doing good stuff, I will say so. If I do not agree, I will also say so, but then probably not out in the open, and try to maintain the unity of the alliance.”
EXCLUSIVE: NATO's Rutte says alliance reunited at Ankara summit after Trump 'quarrel'
Disputes between U.S. President Donald Trump and other NATO leaders showed the alliance's democratic strength and should serve as a lesson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, NATO Secretary Genera...
reuters.com
Analysis after Ankara: NATO weathers another Trump storm but braces for more. With @liliebayer.bsky.social
NATO weathers another Trump storm but braces for more after Ankara summit
NATO has weathered another storm from Donald Trump but European members of the military alliance are bracing for more turbulence ahead in relations with the U.S. president.
reuters.com
Anchored down in Ankara for the NATO summit on Tuesday and Wednesday. Follow @reuters.com for previews, news and analysis.
NATO leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump are set to affirm an "ironclad commitment" to collective defence under the alliance's Article 5 pact at a summit in Ankara next week, according to a text approved by NATO ambassadors on Friday and seen by Reuters. With @liliebayer.bsky.social
NATO leaders including Trump to affirm 'ironclad commitment' to collective defence in Ankara, summit text says
NATO leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump are set to affirm an "ironclad commitment" to collective defence under the alliance's Article 5 pact at a summit in Ankara next week, according to ...
reuters.com
Our preview of NATO’s Ankara summit: Europeans aim to set aside strife with U.S. President Donald Trump over Iran and Greenland and show they are stepping up to defend the continent as Washington cuts back on its commitments to the alliance.
NATO leaders to gather in Ankara, aiming to smooth over tensions with Trump
NATO leaders gather next week in Ankara, where Europeans aim to set aside strife with U.S. President Donald Trump over Iran and Greenland and show they are stepping up to defend the continent as Wash...
reuters.com
After Ankara, Albania? Not so fast. At next week's NATO summit, leaders are set to avoid endorsing a previous decision to meet next time in Albania. Trump admin and some allies keen to end annual summits & many unhappy with Tirana's low defence spending. Our story:
Next NATO summit in Albania in doubt amid US reluctance and low defence spending
As NATO leaders prepare for a summit in Turkey next week, plans for an alliance summit in Albania next year have been thrown into doubt due to resistance from the Trump administration and dissatisfa...
reuters.com
Even as NATO leaders prepare for a summit in Turkey next week, plans to hold their next gathering in Albania in 2027 have been thrown into doubt. The reasons: resistance from the Trump administration & dissatisfaction with Tirana's low defence spending.
Next NATO summit in Albania in doubt amid US reluctance and low defence spending
As NATO leaders prepare for a summit in Turkey next week, plans for an alliance summit in Albania next year have been thrown into doubt due to resistance from the Trump administration and dissatisfa...
reuters.com
New from us, based on French paper that sets out three options for an overhaul of the EU diplomatic service: France floats revamp of EU diplomacy with 'reinforced' role for Kallas
France floats revamp of EU diplomacy with 'reinforced' role for Kallas, paper shows
French officials have suggested an overhaul of the EU's diplomatic service that could include boosting the role for foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in a bid to improve the bloc's response to crises,...
reuters.com
Germany's Merz pitches 'associate' EU membership for Ukraine Story by @liliebayer.bsky.social and me on the chancellor's push to find a middle way between fast-track membership and Ukraine's current status as candidate at start of process.
Germany's Merz pitches 'associate' EU membership for Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed giving Ukraine a direct role in European Union structures as an interim step to EU membership that he said could help facilitate a deal to end the war t...
reuters.com
Re-posting for European morning readers.
Andrew Gray@andrewramsaygray.bsky.social · 5mo agoNEW: The Trump administration plans to tell NATO allies this week it will shrink the pool of military capabilities it would make available to help in a crisis, three sources tell Reuters. By @gramslattery.bsky.social @jonathanlanday.bsky.social & Reuters colleagues on both sides of the Atlantic.
NEW: The Trump administration plans to tell NATO allies this week it will shrink the pool of military capabilities it would make available to help in a crisis, three sources tell Reuters. By @gramslattery.bsky.social @jonathanlanday.bsky.social & Reuters colleagues on both sides of the Atlantic.
Exclusive: US plans to shrink forces available to NATO during crises, sources say
The Trump administration is planning to tell NATO allies this week that it will shrink the pool of military capabilities that the U.S. would have available to assist the alliance's European nations ...
reuters.com
Toot toot! The EU’s Kaja Kallas reckons she could handle talks with Russia, although she says Moscow does not seem ready to engage. "When a politician doesn't toot his own horn, the horn usually remains untooted. So I have to say I think I could see through the traps that Russia is presenting."
EU ministers dismiss Putin's idea of role for Schroeder in future security talks
European governments on Monday rejected a suggestion by Russian President Vladimir Putin that former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could represent them in possible future talks with Moscow on t...
reuters.com
Schroeder as a European negotiator for Russia talks? That's a nein. Some kind of Russia talks at some stage, with a European envoy or team? That's more of a maybe or a 'depends who you talk to'. Story with @liliebayer.bsky.social & colleagues.
EU ministers reject Putin's idea of role for Schroeder in future security talks
European governments on Monday rejected suggestion by Russian President Vladimir Putin that German former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could represent them in possible future talks with Moscow on the...
reuters.com
Just in case anyone was wondering whether Spain’s call for an EU army is new, here is our story on the proposal from January by my colleague Victoria Waldersee. (Not much enthusiasm for the idea from other EU countries so far.) www.reuters.com/business/dav...
Europeans have been working on ways to convince Donald Trump to stick with in NATO despite tensions over the Iran war. But his abrupt move to cut US forces in Germany is the latest sign that such efforts have their limits and are far from certain to succeed. Analysis with @liliebayer.bsky.social
Trump's Germany troop cuts show limits of NATO efforts to keep US on board
European officials have been working on ways to convince Donald Trump to keep the United States in NATO despite severe tensions over the Iran war. But his abrupt move to cut U.S. forces in Germany is ...
reuters.com
Summit less to worry about? ICYMI, one more push for our story: NATO is considering ending its recent practice of holding annual summits - which could avoid a final tense encounter with Donald Trump in his last year in office. Ankara summit goes ahead in July as planned… (1/2)
NATO alliance, bruised by Trump, considers end to annual summits
NATO is considering ending its recent practice of holding annual summits, six sources told Reuters, a move that could avoid a potentially tense encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump in his final...
reuters.com
New from Reuters: NATO is considering ending its recent practice of holding annual summits, six sources told Reuters — a move that could avoid a potentially tense encounter with President Trump in his final year in office. Story from @humeyrapamuk.bsky.social, me and @liliebayer.bsky.social
NATO alliance, bruised by Trump, considers end to annual summits
NATO is considering ending its recent practice of holding annual summits, six sources told Reuters, a move that could avoid a potentially tense encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump in his final...
reut.rs
Interesting day for NATO to post this guide to how it takes decisions.
Hi from sunny Cyprus, where EU leaders will discuss their mutual assistance pact, the snappily named Article 42.7. Tricky for EU. Many feel discussion needed, given Trump’s questioning of NATO’s commitment. But no one wants to signal they’re ready to go it alone. @liliebayer.bsky.social explains:
EU leaders to discuss mutual assistance pact amid NATO doubts
European Union leaders will discuss the bloc's mutual assistance clause at a summit in Cyprus on Thursday, as U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of traditional allies raises concerns over his co...
reuters.com
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has compared Viktor Orban's electoral defeat to Hungarian uprisings against Soviet communism. "I really want to say to the Hungarian people: You've done it again. Against all odds. Like you did in 1956 when you couragerously stood up." (1/2)
From our story on the NATO crisis triggered by the Iran war: Trump's comments have provoked unprecedented concern that the U.S. will not come to the aid of European allies should they be attacked, whether or not Washington formally walks away.
Trump's anger over Iran thrusts NATO into fresh crisis
The 76-year-old alliance has in recent years survived existential challenges, ranging from the war in Ukraine to pressure and insults from Trump. But it is the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that has near...
reuters.com
Super piece on the rich history of Brussels' Résidence Palace by @goodclimate.bsky.social
A city within a city: The secret life of Brussels' Résidence Palace
The iconic Résidence Palace marks its centenary this year – a Jazz Age experiment in luxury living that helped reshape Brussels long before the EU arrived.
brusselstimes.com
To lift his block on the big Ukraine loan: Hungarian PM Viktor Orban not only wants Russian oil flowing again through a war-damaged pipeline - but also a guarantee it won't stop. EU summit chair Antonio Costa said only Russia could give such a guarantee. Story with @liliebayer.bsky.social
EU leaders vent anger after Hungary's Orban keeps blocking Ukraine loan
European Union leaders failed to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday to lift his blockade on a 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) EU loan to help Ukraine keep up its fight against ...
reuters.com
