Europe's defence structure is taking shape. The EU in December 2017 launched a "permanent structured cooperation" on defence agreement (PESCO) across 25 countries to stimulate the development of military projects and the design of common defence equipment. As the United Kingdom and its powerful army prepare to leave the EU, new challenges to the security of the continent are emerging with the Islamist threat, growing tensions with Russia and pressure from migration. With this new common defence structure, will European countries redefine their relations with NATO? Will the EU live up to these new challenges?
Defence and security
A continent's preparations for a world of challenges
Biden to rebuild ‘sacred’ NATO bond shaken by Trump
US President Joe Biden will seek to restore bonds of trust at NATO's first post-Trump summit, as leaders push to revitalise the alliance despite differences over dangers ahead
Growing Russia-Ukraine tensions: a timeline
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia, accused of massing troops near its border and on the Crimean peninsula it annexed in 2014, have intensified since the start of the year. A timeline.
Austria attack highlights Europe’s jihadist dilemma
The fallout from November's shootings in Vienna has shone a light on Europe's dilemma in dealing with jihadists, particularly the continent's struggles to deradicalise individuals
New START: expiring arms accord between Cold War rivals
Russia and the United States have until February 5 to prolong a key agreement to curb their nuclear arsenals, the last remaining arms reduction pact between the former Cold War rivals
Facing Biden, Erdogan extends olive branch to EU
Facing a potentially hostile US administration, Turkish President Erdogan is trying to break his isolation by mending EU relations, torn by what the bloc views as his bellicose foreign policy
Main points of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a Russian-brokered peace deal to end weeks of heavy fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh and find a long-term solution to the dispute over the region