Europe – Page 12 – Lone Candle

Russian defense spending overtakes Europe, study finds

Posted on April 12, 2025April 12, 2025 by Lone Candle

In purchasing power parity terms, Russia’s military spending is higher than Europe’s.

https://www.politico.eu/article/russian-defense-spending-overtakes-europe-study-finds/

EU takes revenge on Trump’s tariffs as countries approve €20B+ retaliation

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Lone Candle

“The EU can apply retaliatory tariffs on nearly €21 billion of U.S. products like soybeans, motorcycles and orange juice after the bloc’s 27 countries assented to the measures on Wednesday, the European Commission announced.

“The EU considers U.S. tariffs unjustified and damaging, causing economic harm to both sides, as well as the global economy. The EU has stated its clear preference to find negotiated outcomes with the U.S., which would be balanced and mutually beneficial,” the EU executive said in a statement.

Hitting back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, the European Union’s countermeasures will apply in three rounds. Measures covering €3.9 billion in trade will go into force next week, with a further €13.5 billion from mid-May and a final round of €3.5 billion following in December.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-takes-revenge-on-trumps-metals-tariffs-approved-as-countries-close-ranks/

Russia – Ukraine War. Operational Report Q1’25 [Mapped]

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Lone Candle

Ukraine’s biggest problem is a lack of manpower. Russia’s manpower advantage is growing. Russia doesn’t want a ceasefire, because Putin believes he has the advantage and can gain more by continuing the war.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK1N1nTjbic

JD Vance’s role in Signal chat angers senior Republican lawmakers

Posted on April 1, 2025April 1, 2025 by Lone Candle

““I think we are making a mistake,” Vance wrote in the Signal chat, later published by The Atlantic. Vance argued that although Trump wanted to send a message with the strikes, “I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.” He did say, though, that he was “willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself,” but went on to say “there is a strong argument for delaying this a month.”

Minutes later, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller shut down the conversation, writing, “As I heard it, the president was clear.””

…

“The senior Republican official added: “It’s one thing to have a healthy interagency debate before a decision is made. It’s another to try and undo a Commander-in-Chief decision once Trump gives the execute order. This is the latter, and it’s very [John] Bolton-esque.”

Some Republicans believe Vance raising questions about an action the president had already agreed to amounted to a form of obstruction, the same senior Republican official said.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/jd-vances-role-signal-chat-130008838.html