Georg von Harrach

@georgvh.com

Reporting on European affairs for @channel4news.bsky.social & international broadcasters. Pundit. Posts may not reflect my views. #EU #NATO #C4News #EUsky https://www.channel4.com/news/by/georg-von-harrach

Incoming British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband promises to "deepen and strengthen our strategic alliance with the European Union" whilst simultaneously to "nurture our strong, enduring and essential alliance with the United States."

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Andy Burnham appoints John Healey as Chancellor. Surely a signal that UK is going to put even more into defence than the £15 billion Keir Starmer pledged. Healey resigned as Defence Secretary last month arguing Starmer's defence investment plan fell "well short" in a dangerous world.

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UK and EU finally sign #brexit deal for Gibraltar. From tomorrow, dual Gibraltar and Schengen border checks will be carried out at Gibraltar Airport and the port. Checks at the land border between Gibraltar and Spain will be abolished.

Coalition of the Willing personnel, including British and French troops, will start training in Poland in the autumn, Donald Tusk has confirmed. The Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNF-U) will be reposition to Ukrainian territory "once hostilities have ceased", allies said. #Ukraine #Russia #Trump

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Defence spending on table at Nato summit amid Trump pressure European countries are likely to struggle to hit the spending target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035, including the UK, writes @georgvh.com ✉️ Read our latest newsletter:

Defence spending on table at Nato summit amid Trump pressure

European countries are likely to struggle to hit the spending target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035, including the UK, writes Georg von Harrach.

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Our minesweepers will not wait in the Gulf indefintely for US/Iran to be ready, warns German defence minister Maybe our sailors can spend the summer at 40°C in Berlin rather than in 50°C in Djibouti, quips Boris Pistorius #Hormuz #Trump

UK govt has told EU counterparts it wants to hold the UK-EU summit at the "earliest opportunity" still this year. Ministers admit planned date of 22 July is postponed, but realistically no decision will be made until a new prime minister is in place. #Brexit #Burnham

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British Prime Minister asks tech firms to introduce "vice controls" to protect children. If industry doesn't self-regulate, "we will change the law", says Keir Starmer

"It's really important that we restore some of the positives that we lost [with Brexit]...we shouldn't be expecting to have everything, all of the benefits" without rejoining the EU. But most effort should be on new EU deals, said UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle in Brussels

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Russia’s war of aggression has crossed yet another line. A Russian drone incursion struck a densely populated area in Romania, injuring civilians. On EU territory. We stand in full solidarity with Romania and its people.

Rutte concedes that he has failed to convince European allies to commit to spending 0.25% of GDP on #Ukraine. But the NATO chief says there is now an open discussion (others would call it an argument) about a few countries "doing the heavy lifting" in support of Ukraine.

Allies should not be surprised if Trump takes more troops out of Europe, says NATO supreme commander. The redeployment of 5,000 soldiers will not undermine NATO security in Europe, General Grynkewich insisted.