News brief

Amid Russian provocations, including recent airspace violations, the bloc is working to boost its capacity, from an anti-drone system to an air and missile defense shield. The goal is to “credibly deter” military threats by the end of the decade. The document does not mention the United States, which has pressured Europe to take charge of its own defenses. “Europeans must take more responsibility,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said yesterday.

Will Europe’s rising defense budgets come at the cost of welfare?