East Front News #71: Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030; SAFE's problem?

London says "no" to the SAFE Programme

The British government has rejected the European Commission’s request for its financial contribution to SAFE. According to British sources, the Commission had asked London to allocate between four and nearly seven billion euros (about 7.8 billion dollars) to the initiative. 

As reported by Bloomberg, the British side considered the requested amount far higher than what it intended to spend on the new European defense program. Statement quoted by the outlet said that London would only agree to deals that are beneficial for the United Kingdom and British industry, citing the British government, which emphasized that talks between London and Brussels are still ongoing.

Author: Michał Górski

France steps into the space race

France has formally launched its Space Command in Toulouse and unveiled a new National Space Strategy, signaling a push for greater strategic autonomy and a stronger European role in orbit. President Macron’s plan focuses on independent access to space, a revamped industrial model, expanded defence and surveillance capabilities, deeper scientific engagement, and tighter European cooperation. With these steps, France positions itself not just as a participant but as an assertive driver of Europe’s space ambitions, highlighting that control of space has become a core element of national and continental security.

Author: Aleksander Olech

Preserving peace – Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030

The EU’s Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 lays out an ambitious plan to build the capabilities needed for Europe to deter threats—primarily Russia—by strengthening industrial capacity, interoperability, and rapid-response forces while complementing NATO. It sets concrete targets, pushes for collaborative procurement, and launches flagship initiatives like a continent-wide drone-defence network, an Eastern Flank Watch system, and an EU Air & Space Shield. Brussels aims to create a unified defence market, boost innovation, expand industrial production, and establish military mobility within days, all while integrating Ukraine as Europe’s „first line of defence.” The roadmap is broad and comprehensive, but success now depends on implementation: investing more, coordinating better, and doing it together—European solutions for European security.

Author: Amelia Wojciechowska

EU enlargement becomes a realistic possibility

The European Commission stated that EU enlargement is a „realistic possibility” for the first time since 2013 in its Communication on EU Enlargement Policy published last week. Montenegro and Albania are the closest candidate countries to closing accession negotiations in 2026 and 2027 respectively. Next in line are Ukraine and Moldova, which have just completed the screening process and will start negotiations with the objective of joining in 2028. Progress among other candidate countries has been much slower or has stalled entirely, as seen in Georgia.

The EU now views enlargement as a geopolitical tool and geostrategic objective to strengthen its security and economic performance. This will likely trigger the first treaty reforms since 2009, especially in decision-making, shifting the balance of power within the Union itself. Yet enlargement is still far from guaranteed. Internal dynamics in candidate countries and the EU determining the pace of progress are therefore critical to watch.

Author: Kacper Kremiec

Europe opens roads for tanks

The EU is preparing new military mobility rules aimed at rapidly moving troops and heavy equipment across the continent in the event of a conflict with Russia, addressing long-standing logistical barriers such as weak bridges, outdated rail lines, and burdensome bureaucracy that can delay tank transport to the eastern flank. The plan envisions designated land corridors and stronger protection of critical transport infrastructure, aligning closely with NATO’s own complaints about slow movement and legal hurdles—especially in air defense coordination. The initiative reflects Europe’s growing urgency to fix structural weaknesses that could slow a wartime response.

Author: Michał Górski

Chaos and control in American politics

Prof. Kenneth Cosgrove describes Trump’s presidency as chaotic, driven by loyalty and impulse, while Biden tried to restore calm but lost public confidence due to inflation, border problems, and poor communication despite strong foreign policy. Trump’s second term, he says, has no guardrails left, with loyalists replacing experienced officials and policies aimed at energizing his base rather than winning moderates. Democrats still lack a message for working-class voters, while Trump has reshaped political communication through constant direct engagement. Cosgrove predicts that Congress may eventually push back against Trump’s expanded executive power and that history will likely see Biden as decent but ineffective, and Trump as a polarizing yet highly consequential president.

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East Front News is a weekly newsletter and article on Defence24.com summarizing the past week’s most important events concerning security and the situation in the Central and Eastern Europe region. It includes original opinions and comments, along with key news items significant from a Polish perspective.