#NATO
709 articles
-72a00e320188b20ad9d439fd66c506df.jpg "Palantir CEO Alex Karp during an interview with UNITED24 Media, May 12, 2026. (Source: UNITED24 Media/Joshua Olley)")
-13b4e493b1c56711969dbcbb289d3df5.jpg "Illustrative image. RAF RC-135W Rivet Joint and F-35B Lightnings. (Source: Wikimedia)")
![NATO eastern flank military readiness European defense regional security]( "Which Countries Are Most Battle-Ready on Europe’s Eastern Flank in 2026?")
- Author
![Joseph Place]( "Joseph Place")
- Category
- World
European defense capabilities are constantly changing and improving, but not at an equal rate. Across the eastern flank, some countries are building credible, layered deterrence, while others are still catching up. Who is actually ready, and what needs improving?![The Aurora emblem with the exercise flag in yellow and blue colors on the arm of a Swedish soldier during a press day for the military exercise Aurora 26 at the Revingehed training field in Skåne, Southern Sweden, on April 29, 2026. (Source: Getty Images)]( "The Aurora emblem with the exercise flag in yellow and blue colors on the arm of a Swedish soldier during a press day for the military exercise Aurora 26 at the Revingehed training field in Skåne, Southern Sweden, on April 29, 2026. (Source: Getty Images)")
![Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen before the start of an EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting, in the Europa building, the EU Council headquarters on March 16, 2026, in Brussels, Belgium. (Source: Getty Images)]( "Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen before the start of an EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting, in the Europa building, the EU Council headquarters on March 16, 2026, in Brussels, Belgium. (Source: Getty Images)")
![Portuguese F-16 near Russian Su-35 fighter and An-12 transport airplane over the Baltic Sea, May 6, 2026. (Source: NATO Allied Air Command)]( "Portuguese F-16 near Russian Su-35 fighter and An-12 transport airplane over the Baltic Sea, May 6, 2026. (Source: NATO Allied Air Command)")
![155mm shells. (Source: Rheinmetall)]( "Rheinmetall to Supply Ukraine With 100,000 Long-Range Artillery Shells Annually")
![Royal Navy RFA Tideforce and a Wildcat helicopter (not pictured) shadow a Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich (front) in the Channel, April 2026. (Source: Royal Navy)]( "Royal Navy RFA Tideforce and a Wildcat helicopter (not pictured) shadow a Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich (front) in the Channel, April 2026. (Source: Royal Navy)")
-605be766de04ba3d21b67fb76a76786a.jpg "Joseph Place")
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
