Business live: Ryanair first-quarter profits more than double
Europe's largest low-cost carrier reported a net profit of €820 million for its first quarter, up from €360 million in the same period last year when Easter was in March. Analysts had expected profits of €716 million.
Average fares rose 21 per cent from the same quarter last year, the company said.
Michael O'Leary, chief executive, said: 'We . . . cautiously expect to recover almost all of last year's 7% full-year fare decline, which should lead to reasonable net profit growth in FY26.'
Ryanair shares closed at €23.12 on Friday, down 7.5 per cent from a high of €24.98 on July 8.
Japan's ruling coalition lost control of the upper house in an election on Sunday, further weakening prime minister Shigeru Ishiba's grip on power.
Japan's prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, is under intense pressure to resign after his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost control of the upper house of the Diet, in an election on Sunday that saw a dramatic surge by a far right anti-foreigner party.
Markets in Japan were closed for a holiday on Monday, but the yen strengthened slightly against the dollar, while Nikkei futures rose slightly as the election results appeared to be already priced in.
Japanese government bonds fell last week, sending yields on 30-year debt to an all-time high, while the yen slid to multi-month lows against the dollar and the euro.
Ishiba pledged to remain party leader as the country tries to get a tariff deal with. President Trump before the August 1 deadline.
The election saw a surge in support for a far right anti-foreigner party, Sanseito. It seeks to restrict the rights of foreigners under the slogan 'Japanese First' and second in the number of seats allocated by proportional representation, tying with the two main opposition parties.
• Read in full: Japan's PM under pressure after losing upper house majority
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The Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Sun
Chelsea have spent eye-watering £360MILLION on defenders in three years – but how many of them were worth it?
THE arrival of £37million Jorrel Hato takes Chelsea's spending on defenders under their new owners past a record-shattering £360m. Yet the Blues back four which lines up against Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the new season may well include just one player who cost a fee. Marc Cucurella, who came in from Brighton three years ago in a deal worth up to £62m, is the biggest success of Chelsea 's hit-and-miss defensive recruitment. The signing of Hato is a major coup for the Blues, with Liverpool and Arsenal among the other major clubs who wanted the talented and versatile teenager. The young Dutchman is the 12th defender brought in since the consortium led by Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly took over the club in May 2022. But Cucurella, a Euro 2024 winner with Spain, is the only member of the current Chelsea back four that you would describe as world class. And if Chelsea are to win domestic and European titles, they will need more defenders to reach that level. To be fair, Enzo Maresca 's side can already claim to be world champions. To beat a flair-filled Paris Saint-Germain side 3-0, just weeks after they had spanked Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final, was an impressive achievement. The back four which started the Club World Cup final was left back Cucurella, homegrown centre backs Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah, and right back Malo Gusto. The Frenchman, now 22, could end up costing Chelsea £30.7m after signing from Lyon in January 2023 and spending the rest of that season on loan back at the French club. Gusto has done a decent, sometimes very good, job at right back. He covered for the long injury-related absences of Reece James over the last two seasons and kept his place when James was employed in midfield - as he was against PSG. 8 8 But if you believe Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez will start the biggest games in front of the defence, and James will mostly play as an inverted right back when he is fit, then Gusto will not be in Enzo Maresca's strongest 11. Chalobah did well after returning from half a season on loan at Crystal Palace, but could yet find himself being sold this summer. As a product of the Chelsea Academy, he would generate pure profit for financial rules purposes and there could be clubs willing to pay £40m for him. If Chalobah left, his replacement as right-sided centre back at the start of the season would almost certainly be Tosin Adarabioyo. The free transfer from Fulham last summer has carved a niche for himself off the pitch as well as on it. At just 27 he is one of the senior members of the squad, and plays an 'Uncle Tosin' role to the youngsters, enjoying a particularly close relationship with fellow Mancunian Cole Palmer. But no-one, not even Tosin himself, would claim that he is one of Europe's best defenders. If Wesley Fofana is able to put his injury hell behind him and rediscover his previous form, he could yet meet those standards and become a Chelsea stalwart for years to come. Fofana, still just 24, has made only 34 appearances for the Blues since arriving from Leicester in the summer of 2022 in a deal worth up to £75m. He is the most expensive of all Chelsea's defensive signings and that means, through no fault of his own, he has also been the biggest let down. But only just. The Blues really have had trouble finding a settled and satisfactory centre back pairing. Within weeks of the 2022 takeover, Kalidou Koulibaly became the new regime's first defensive signing. The Napoli star's £35m fee felt a little steep for a player about to turn 31, but the Senegal international was highly-rated and on the radar of other big clubs. Koulibaly failed to live up to his billing, although he could point to the chaos of playing under three different managers and a hamstring injury as decent explanations. He was offloaded after just one season to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal - and played for them in this year's Club World Cup. When Chelsea set a new record for winter window spending in early 2023, Benoit Badiashile 's £35m arrival from Monaco went a little under the radar in the wake of massive deals for Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk. The Frenchman did fine in a struggling team in the remainder of the 22/23 season, but not well enough to seal his spot. And when injury kept Badiashile out of the start of the following campaign, Colwill took his chance after returning from loan at Brighton. 8 8 8 Meanwhile the unfortunate Fofana had suffered the second major knee injury of his short Chelsea career in the summer of 2023. Within weeks, the Blues had gone back to Monaco to bring in Axel Disasi for another £38m. The France international was a first choice under Mauricio Pochettino for much of the 2023/4 season. But new boss Maresca did not fancy Disasi, and he was sent on loan to Aston Villa for the second half of last season. The signing of Hato, 19, fits Chelsea's current transfer philosophy of signing the best young players and trying to turn them into superstars. If they fail, they can usually be sold on for a profit, as is likely to be the case with Renato Veiga. The versatile Portuguese was signed only last summer, did well enough to earn a loan to Juventus for the second half of the season and could find himself joining Atletico Madrid for a chunky fee. In addition to Veiga, Chelsea signed two teenage defenders last summer in centre back Aaron Anselmino and left back Caleb Wiley. The latter has now returned to Watford for a second season on loan, while Anselmino may well also leave on a temporary deal after recovering from injury. Mamadou Sarr, 19, is likely to be loaned back to Strasbourg after the Blues paid £12m to their sister club. Hato is also 19 but at a fee of £37m, he will surely need to deliver for Chelsea this season. The Blues will probably ease him in, perhaps initially as cover for left back Cucurella. In the longer term, Hato should end up challenging Colwill for that left-sided centre back slot or forming a partnership with the England international. And finally, after spending more on defenders than any club, Chelsea could end up with a world-class back four to show for it. 8
Telegraph
25 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The 23 best things to do in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's diversity is reflected in the wide variety of things to do and see, from relic-rich cultural sites, atmosphere-laden temples, colonial-era forts, wildlife reserves home to elephants, leopards and sloth bears, and acres of lush tea plantations. There are cycling routes, scenic walks and opportunities to surf, paddleboard and raft along pristine rainforest-edged rivers. Plus cookery classes, hosted foodie tours and history walks for those keen to learn a little more about the culture of this welcoming nation and meet some friendly locals. All our recommendations below have been hand-selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best things to do in Bali. Find out more below, or for more Sri Lanka inspiration, see our guides to the best hotels, restaurants, bars and beaches. Find things to do by type: Best for families Idle Bikes bicycle rides Uncover Galle's hinterland on two wheels These tours are as culturally enriching as they are a way to let off steam, as you discover a rural world of centuries-old temples, paddy fields and nature reserves. Guides are warm, well-spoken and eager to point out kingfishers, langur monkeys, peacocks and dinosaur-like monitor lizards to the delight of younger riders. Bicycles are well-maintained and there are baby seats, tag-alongs and junior bikes. Insider tip: Ask to add a clay-potted feast of traditionally-cooked rice and curry at Tiger Hill Rock – Idle's three-acre paddy-view garden home to resident hornbills and tropical trees. South coast surfing Seek out southern surfing spots Sri Lanka is a firmly established surfing destination with breaks to suit all ages and abilities, plus a raft of options for inexpensive lessons and board hire. Head to Weligama's sandy bay if you're a beginner, or Ahangama and Midigama for more serious surfing. The southern surf season is from November to April (after which the focus turns to the east coast's Arugam Bay). Insider tip: Stay in one of Shoreditch-meets-Sri Lanka boutique hotel PALM 's A-Frame cabanas (or the more substantial three-bedroom Palm Haus) and you'll get 10 per cent off surf lessons (with post-surf video analysis) at top-rated local surf school Ticket To Ride. Scenic train journeys Ride the hilly Main Line Railway One of the best ways to experience Sri Lanka's vertiginous hill country is to hop on the scenic Main Line Railway. Focus on the dramatic two-and-a-half-hour stretch between Nanu Oya and Demodara, which passes Pattipola Station (at 6,225ft/1,897m, this is the railway's highest point), tea estates, cloud forests and terraced farmland, and takes you over the Nine Arches Bridge. Insider tip: This is a popular route, and tickets for reserved seats sell out quickly. It's marginally quieter (which means more chance of getting tickets) if you travel from east to west. Travel west from Hali Ela if you'd also like to experience Demodara's 360-degree sub-station loop. Uda Walawe National Park Elephant-spotting in the south You're almost guaranteed to spy wild elephants amongst the grassy plains of Uda Walawe, backed by the misty hills of the Southern Highlands. Children will enjoy seeing maternal herds and tussling calves from customised open-sided jeeps (available for hire at the entrance), alongside a supporting cast of water buffalo, crocodiles, deer and more than 200 bird species. Insider tip: Uda Walawe is within easy day-tripping distance of southern beaches such as Hiriketiya and Mawella, and an afternoon safari here is a good way to break up the long journey between Weligama or Galle and the southern hills. Address: Uda Walawe. The main entrance is located off Thanamalvila Road, five miles east of the Uda Walawe Reservoir. Opening hours: Daily, 5.30am to 6.30pm (the ticket counter closes at 5pm) Price: ££ Mask making in Galle Fort Craft your own kolam mask Sri Lanka's colourful, balsa-wood masks grace doorways and souvenir stalls across the island, and at workshops within Galle Fort's Sudharmalaya Buddhist temple, you can craft your own. Your host will demonstrate how to chisel the soft wood into traditional kolam (folk) characters – children can sculpt or paint ready-made masks depending on their age. Insider tip: There are mask museums in the west coast town of Ambalangoda, an hour's drive from Galle, but to see the kolam masks in action, ask social enterprise Ceylon Soul to organise a puppetry play. White water rafting in Kithulgala Adventures along the jungle-edged Kelani River The Kelani River, Sri Lanka's fourth longest, originates in Adam's Peak and passes adventure hub Kithulgala on its journey to the ocean. From this hamlet, enveloped by rainforest and mist-wrapped hills, rafting trips voyage a four-mile section of the river, navigating class two and three rapids, as well as languid stretches where you can jump in for a swim. Insider tip: There are many rafting operators in Kithulgala, but Borderlands is the longest-standing, takes safety seriously and has well-trained instructors. They also offer canyoning as a tag-on, where you can abseil and creep along crevices. Best free things to do Discover Galle Fort Potter around a 17th-century fortress You don't need a ticket to enter the 130-acre Galle Fort, one of Sri Lanka's eight World Heritage Sites. Its heady, incense-perfumed grid of streets is a joy to explore. For the best views, walk atop the mighty Indian Ocean-washed ramparts in a clockwise direction from behind the Galle Dutch Hospital – a restored colonial building which is now a popular shopping district – to its wider western basions, home to grazing cattle, daring cliff jumpers and impromptu afternoon cricket games. Insider tip: The fort's northern bastions, Sun and Moon, loom above Galle's International Test Cricket Stadium. This is a great (and free) place to view a match. For big games, hawkers conveniently appear, selling beers, local snacks and ice creams. Climb Adam's Peak Walk in the footsteps of pilgrims You need determination, not rupees, to summit 2,300-metre-high Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka's fourth-highest mountain and sacred pilgrimage spot for all four of Sri Lanka's religions. Marked by a temple, which protects a footprint-shaped indentation, you start the rewarding (yet tough) three-hour climb at night from the village of Nallathanniya, also known as Dalhousie, aiming to reach the top for sunrise. Insider tip: Start early to avoid the inevitable bottleneck as you approach the temple and bring warm socks (and layers) to wear at the top, as it can feel very cold. Area: Dalhousie, Central Highlands Contact: Freelance guide Mohamed Nawas Thalal (known to locals as Jim), for a local-led walk; 0094 77 062 3147 Opening times: n/a (but best between December to May) Chase waterfalls Paddle in crystal-clear mountain pools The summit of the 220-metre veil of water of Diyaluma Falls (Sri Lanka's second tallest), found in the island's mid-hills, secretes a series of pools for paddling with views of forested hills. It's a 30-minute walk through swaying grass from the trailhead (and tuk tuk drop-off point) off the B236 near Poonagala to the upper pools, where a path descends to rock-hewn ponds with an infinity edge. Insider tip: Stay at Living Heritage Koslanda, less than a mile away, and ask them to package up a picnic of rice and curry (or sandwiches) and organise tuk tuks. Area: Badulla Website:. Opening times: n/a Return to index Best for cultural immersion Polonnaruwa Tour an exquisite ancient city You could visit either one of Sri Lanka's Unesco-protected ancient cities (the other being Anuradhapura), though Polonnaruwa's site is shady, more compact and its treasured collection of Buddha statues, ruined temples, palaces and tombs is much better preserved. Hire bicycles at the entrance for peddling around the grassy site and beyond to Gal Vihara's four serene rock-carved Buddhas. Insider tip: Nature lovers can join researchers from the Smithsonian Primate Research Centre on a 5.30am or 7.30am walking tour in Polonnaruwa (£63 per person; excludes entry tickets to Polonnaruwa). Address: The main entrance is off Polonnaruwa Road, but you'll need to buy your ticket first at the museum, half a mile to the south. Opening times: 7am to 6pm daily Price: ££ Summit Sigiriya Hike to the top of a former rocktop palace Thanks to the 1,200-odd steps, a hike to the summit of the 180-metre granite so-called Lion's Rock will get your heart racing, as will the 360-degree views from the ruins of the short-lived palace at its peak (best at sunrise). Places to pause on the way up include a 'Mirror Wall' with centuries-old graffiti, a pair of giant brick lion's paws and the fifth-century frescoes of bare-breasted maidens. Insider tip: For equally impressive panoramas and fewer crowds, take a dawn hike up neighbouring rock Pidurangala to watch the sun ascend over Sigiriya. Book through Pepper, who can arrange a guide and breakfast picnic worthy of the views. Address: The ticket office is close to the main entrance, three miles northeast of Kimbissa. Opening times: 5am to 6.30pm daily (last tickets issued at 5pm) Price: ££ Dambulla's Cave Temples Serene art-adorned caves The artistry of these five cave temples eked out of a 160-metre-high granite outcrop is quite astonishing. Murals cover nearly every undulating curve and crevice, while elegantly carved statues of the Buddha, his disciples and former kings, are particularly dramatic in the largest, Cave 2. It's best to work backwards, starting from Cave 5 (leaving the best two for last). Insider tip: There are two routes to the top (20-30 minutes' walk each) – neither is particularly easier than the other and both involve flights of stairs. You must remove your shoes at the summit, so bring socks if you would prefer not to walk barefoot. Address: The ticket office is located opposite the Rangiripaya Temple and a large car park. Opening times: 7am to 7pm daily (ticket counter closes at 5.30pm) Price: ££ Nallur Kandaswamy Visit Jaffna's most vibrant Hindu kovil Much of the culture of Sri Lanka's far north has been influenced by its proximity to India, and this vast temple dedicated to Lord Murugan opens your eyes to the region's Tamil Hindu culture. Ornate passageways and life-sized murals transport you to another realm. It feels deeply peaceful, even during the immersive cacophony of pooja, when bells, chanting and heady incense permeate the air (occurring seven times a day). Insider tip: You'll learn a lot more by booking Visit Nallur Like a Local, whose Tamil host talks you through Hindu rituals and points out key sights inside. Footwear must be removed and men must enter bare-chested (women should cover their shoulders and legs). Address: Kovil Road, Nallur, around two miles northeast of Jaffna Fort. Opening times: Saturday to Thursday: 4am to 5.30am, 7.30am to 12.30pm, 3pm to 6pm. Fridays: 4am to 6pm. Price: Free (donations appreciated) Walk with a Veddha Discovery walks with a local chieftain Sri Lanka's first inhabitants were forest-dwelling Veddas, who still exist in small tribes in the island's remote eastern jungles. Their way of life is fascinating yet fragile, so village visits are discouraged. Instead, follow an axe-wielding chieftain on an ethical walk through their farmland and hunting grounds, as he points out medicinal herbs, foods for foraging and ancient caves. Insider tip: This is one of a number of local experiences (others include jungle picnics, viewpoint treks and boat safaris where you might see elephants) curated by off-grid Gal Oya Lodge, which uncovers a rarely visited part of the island. Return to index Best for nature and adventure Hot air ballooning Bird's eye views of the Cultural Triangle Float above vast paddy fields, flag-festooned villages and coconut palms, with potential views of Dambulla's Golden Buddha and Sigiriya (if the wind's in your favour), on these balloon flights that launch from the Kandalama Lake. Flights usually start high (often grazing clouds – if there are any) before descending low enough for you to pick out tree-jumping monkeys, grazing water buffalo and playgrounds of surprised, waving school children. Insider tip: Many families enjoy this experience; however, the intermittent roar of the burner could frighten children. Consider also the height of the basket – children less than 4 feet tall will not be able to see out (and they cannot be held). Whale watching Seeking out whales responsibly Sri Lanka's seas harbour a vast repository of marine life, including spinner dolphins, marine turtles and blue and sperm whales. Mirissa is the most reliable (but busiest) place to spot whales (from December to April), though you can also see them from Trincomalee (May to September). Choose a responsible operator like Sail Lanka Charter, which covers both regions. Insider tip: Book Sail Lanka Charter' s modern catamaran exclusively for a seven-hour charter, which starts with cetacean-seeking before sailing back towards shore for free time snorkelling and paddleboarding in Weligama's bay. Hike the Pekoe Trail Self-guided hill country trails The hilly, tea-dominated Central Highlands are visually stunning yet also hold rich cultural value. Each of the 22 stages of the 186-mile Kandy to Nuwara Eliya Pekoe Trail takes you deep into undulating tea estates, pine forests and tradition-steeped communities. A guide will enhance your walk, though the Trail Pass (£7.50 per stage) unlocks an app with GPS-enabled maps. Insider tip: Six-mile-long Stage 16, from Ella to Demodara, is one of the easiest and most family-friendly stages, taking you right past the Nine Arches viaduct and Demodara's 360-degree sub-station loop. Kumana National Park Leopard spotting away from the crowds Yala National Park is well known for its density of leopards, but it can get crowded in peak season. Consider venturing further east to Kumana National Park instead (beyond Yala's fluid eastern border). Its scrub forests, rocky outcrops and lakes also foster a healthy population of leopards (plus elephants, crocodiles and more than 250 bird species), but with far fewer jeeps. Insider tip: For an immersive three-night safari experience, book Kumana Under Canvas, a mobile safari camp in Kumana with stylish tents pitched in a wooded lakeside glade over an hour's drive from the park entrance. Includes food and expert-led game drives. Return to index Best for food and people Cook like a local Hosted cookery experience in Galle Having catered to royal families, mayors and sea captains over the years, Shahira now shares her cherished family recipes (peppered with first-hand foodie tales) from the kitchen of her home in Galle. Don't miss the chance to learn her southern-style biriyani recipe, a heady cardamom-spiced Muslim dish of slow-cooked meat and cashew nuts with saffron rice. Insider tip: You might meet Shahira's son, Atheeq, from Ceylon Soul around the lunch table, the architect of other insightful Galle Fort experiences, such as hosted walking tours and treasure hunts. Kandy Food Trail Hosted food experience in Kandy Discover Kandy's diverse regional cuisines and fresh food markets on Pepper's Kandy Food Trail. Tuck into curries, deep-fried snacks and kithul-sweetened treats from street vendors, curry houses and restaurants as part of a multi-sensorial walk hosted by local Ujith. It usually ends with cold beers or G&Ts at a 19th-century bar. Insider tip: Alternatively, end your tour at Kandy's Temple of the Tooth – aim to get there around 6.15pm for the evening pooja when the chamber housing the Buddha's tooth is ceremoniously revealed, and drums, chanting and incense fills the air. Area: Kandy Website: Price: ££ Orange Field Tea Factory Exclusive owner-hosted tea tour Many tea factories dot the Central Highlands, but this tidy factory near Kandy, which processes tea from 750 small-scale growers, cares for its workers, sees few tourists and there's no hard selling of tea. Better still, it is the factory owner, Sebastian, who expertly guides you past juddering, oscillating machinery, taking time to explain each intricate process. Insider tip: One of the closest hotels to the factory is Ellerton, 20 minutes away. Owner Luca has a good connection with Sebastian and organises tours for his guests in advance. Colombo City Walks History-focused walking tours If you have a day in Colombo, join a walking tour hosted by passionate history-loving guide Mark Forbes (or his lovely wife, Ruvi). On these three-hour ambles, you'll visit Colombo Fort's colonial-era relics, such as the Former General Post Office and time-warped Grand Oriental Hotel, before seeking out Bombay sweets and hidden temples in the chaotic streets of the neighbourhood Pettah. Insider tip: Alternatively, join Sensory Indulgences' fun Food Coma experience, which explores Colombo's multi-ethnic cuisine by night. On these after-dark misadventures, sample arrack in 'dodgy' Second World War bars, snack on street food and visit legendary curry houses. Lunuganga Garden Tour Visit Geoffrey Bawa's iconic garden Lunuganga was the country residence of the late visionary architect Geoffrey Bawa, a fiercely private refuge where he experimented with Tropical Modernism and fine-tuned his designs. It's now a boutique hotel and while resident guests can potter at will, the daily guided tours – hosted by those who knew Bawa personally – add depth and context as you are regaled with amusing anecdotes, and shown hidden statues, easily missed follies and secret views. Insider tip: Brief, the enigmatic house and garden of Geoffrey's brother Bevis (a landscape architect) is nearby. Its intimate series of gardens are enlivened by statues, mossy arches and urns; indoors are fantastical Donald Friend-painted murals. Return to index How we choose Every activity or experience to do in this curated list has been expertly chosen by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of areas and styles, from popular city beaches to lesser-known corners, to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations. Emma Boyle A holiday to Sri Lanka turned into an epic 16-year adventure in the country, during which I developed a love for leopard-spotting, coconutty curries and single estate teas.
The Guardian
25 minutes ago
- The Guardian
The Guardian view on an EU army: leadership and unity remain elusive
The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, called for the creation of a European army earlier this year, suggesting that, this time, the continent might finally be serious. Defence budgets are rising. Threats are mounting. The US is distracted. Surely now is the moment. Except, of course, it isn't. For all the political soundbites that rattle sabres with increasing confidence, Europe is probably no closer to fielding a unified military force than it was when the French rejected the European Defence Community in 1954. The problem is not one of capacity. Europe, including the UK, collectively boasts about 1.5m active military personnel, and some of the world's most successful defence firms. The problem, as ever, is politics. Or more precisely: who leads? Germany, claiming a Zeitenwende (turning point), and asking the EU to exempt military investment from budget rules, might be the frontrunner. Poland is spending more as a share of GDP than anyone. The French would like to think they would be at the front of any queue. But their Gaullist, unilateral instincts run deep. Italy has industrial knowhow but lacks the economic heft. Post-Brexit, the UK is building bridges with the EU's military powers but it still sees itself as Nato's keystone. And the Baltic states? They want no European project that might scare off Washington. Even defining a European army is difficult. Would it be a single force under the EU flag, combining the 27 national armed forces of the EU members into one common force? Or something looser, to keep Irish and Austrian neutrality intact? Could it be a smaller European intervention force? Or a joint effort by regional groupings in a new hat? The short answer is no one can agree on anything but disagreement. Squabbling might not be the best response to an increasingly assertive, hawkish and unpredictable Russian giant. Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine made territorial defence a pressing concern. Suddenly, Europe remembered why armies exist. Brussels pins its hopes of an industrial renaissance on a five-year rearmament plan that is meant to reduce reliance on US contractors. European firms like Rheinmetall and MBDA are scaling up, but the economies of scale found in the US military industrial complex elude the continent. Everyone wants to protect their local champion. No wonder the bloc has appointed a commissioner for defence whose role is about overseeing the companies making drones, shells and missiles – not the armed forces per se. A Gallup poll in 45 countries last year showed deep ambivalence toward war among Europeans. Four of the five least willing to fight were in the EU – including Spain, Germany, and Italy, where only 14% said they'd take up arms. Even in frontline states like Poland and Lithuania, fewer than half were willing to fight. This pacifist mood reflects an EU integration designed to make war between member states unthinkable. The irony is that the European army is seen as a symbol of independence from the US – while quietly relying on American satellites, command structures and munitions. Many European countries have upped defence spending, but they are not ready to go it alone. An integrated force would demand pooled sovereignty, unified command and a level of political consensus that don't currently exist. That may change. But for now, Europe continues to depend on Washington's capricious leadership – even as it dreams of 'strategic autonomy'.
