Eastern Frontline

Europe is increasing defence spending at an unprecedented pace. But is it making Europe more secure?In this episode oft the Eastern Frontline Group's podcast, Latvian MEP Reinis Pozņaks and Dutch MEP Reinier van Lanschot are joined by economist Guntram Wolff to examine the economics behind Europe’s defence push.They explore the key question at the heart of the debate: is defence spending truly an investment, or simply government expenditure with limited long-term returns?The conversation looks at how Europe is spending its money, why a significant share still flows to non-European suppliers, and what that means for both security and economic growth.It also examines the structural challenges facing Europe’s defence market, from fragmentation and lack of competition, to the difficulty of integrating small innovative firms into procurement systems.They discuss:why higher spending does not automatically mean greater securitythe case for a more integrated European defence markethow competition can reduce costs and increase productionthe role of startups and innovation in modern defenceand whether Europe needs to rethink its approach to defence as part of a broader economic strategyAt a time of rising geopolitical pressure, the episode asks a fundamental question: how can Europe spend better, not just spend more?

Innovation is changing warfare faster than ever before.In this episode of Eastern Frontline, MEP Reinis Pozņaks and MEP Rasa Juknevičienė are joined by Nikos Loutas, NATO’s Director of Innovation, to explore how new technologies — from drones to artificial intelligence — are reshaping the battlefield.Drawing on lessons from Ukraine, they discuss how rapid innovation cycles, commercial technologies and new defence startups are transforming modern conflict. What once took years to develop can now evolve in weeks.But while technology is accelerating, procurement systems and defence structures are struggling to keep up.We find out: how NATO is working to integrate new technologies into defence planningwhy small and medium-sized companies are now central to military innovationthe challenge of turning innovation into deployable capabilitythe growing role of artificial intelligence in future warfareand why speed — not just spending — is now the decisive factor in defenceIt is a timely discussion on the race to adapt, and what it will take for Europe and NATO to stay ahead.

Cyber attacks are happening every day across Europe — often thousands of times per minute. But how serious is the threat? And how prepared is Europe to deal with it?In this episode of Eastern Frontline, Latvian MEP Reinis Pozņaks and Estonian MEP Jaak Madison are joined by Juhan Lepassaar, Executive Director of the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).They discuss how cyber threats are evolving, why artificial intelligence is making attacks more sophisticated, and why Europe’s digital economy was never designed with security in mind.The conversation explores the growing role of state-backed cyber actors, the vulnerabilities in global technology supply chains, and the challenge of building resilience across Europe’s critical infrastructure, from energy networks to hospitals.They also examine what governments, businesses and citizens can do to protect themselves in an era where cyber attacks are no longer exceptional events, but part of everyday geopolitical competition.

Hybrid attacks are no longer isolated incidents. They are constant, deliberate and designed to test the limits of European security.In this episode of the Eastern Frontline Podcast, MEPs Reinis Pozņaks and Merja Kyllönen speak with Jamie Shea, former Deputy Assistant Secretary General at NATO, about how hybrid warfare is reshaping the strategic landscape in Europe.From cyberattacks and sabotage to disinformation, drones and attacks on critical infrastructure, these operations operate below the threshold of traditional war — but their cumulative impact is profound.Together, they explore:·         What hybrid warfare really means, and why it has become a central tool of modern conflict·         Why these attacks are becoming more frequent, coordinated and sophisticated·         The strategic goal of undermining trust, solidarity and political cohesion in Europe·         The dilemma of escalation: when does a hybrid attack trigger a collective response?·         Why Europe must move from reactive crisis management to long-term containmentThe conversation offers a clear, practical and timely look at the “grey zone” between peace and war — and what it means for European resilience and deterrence.

In today’s conflicts, some of the fiercest battles are not fought with weapons, but with information.In this episode, MEP Reinis Pozņaks and MEP Petras Auštrevičius are joined by Sarah Wheaton, Chief Policy Correspondent at Politico Europe, to explore the role of journalism in times of crisis and the growing pressure on independent media.Together, they discuss:How disinformation and polarisation are reshaping public debate in EuropeThe challenge of verifying truth in an era of AI, deepfakes and viral contentWhy trust in traditional media is eroding, and what that means for democracyHow foreign influence operations fuel division Whether governments should regulate information in wartimeThe uncomfortable reality that journalists themselves are now targetsIt is a candid, timely conversation about power, perception and the line between information and manipulation.

Europe faces a strategic reality: deterrence requires more than political will — it requires the ability to finance it.In this episode of the Eastern Frontline podcast, MEPs Reinis Pozņaks and Roberts  Zīle speak with Rob Murray, the CEO of the Defence, Security & Resilience Bank, a former Head of Innovation at NATO and architect of the NATO Innovation Fund, to unpack why Europe’s defence financing model is no longer fit for purpose.Murray explains:Why the defence industrial base cannot scale without access to creditHow regulatory constraints block SMEs from entering defence supply chainsWhy the Defence, Security & Resilience Bank could be a game-changerThe limits of the EIB’s mandate — and why complementary instruments are neededThe strategic risk of defence inflation and multi-year procurement uncertaintyHow a transatlantic, Indo-Pacific coalition of shareholders could accelerate productionA clear message emerges: Europe needs new financial architecture if it wants real deterrence.

In this episode of the Eastern Frontline Podcast, MEPs Reinis Pozņaks and Virginijus Sinkevičius speak with Prof. Ilse Derluyn about the hidden side of resilience. The discussion explores the long-term challenges Ukraine and Europe must prepare for — covering the mental health of youth, the post-war reintegration of veterans, and the role of diaspora. Prof. Derluyn warns that winning the war is only the beginning — healing society will take generations. She discusses why:- Veteran reintegration will be a decades-long challenge, requiring therapy, jobs, and community dialogue.- Children and youth will carry war trauma alongside the scars of COVID. Mental health must be a pillar of Ukraine’s recovery.- Different survival choices (fight, flee, freeze) are normal — but can fracture cohesion.- Diaspora and returnees will bring both skills and tensions — policies are needed to manage reintegration.- Post-war “blame cycles” are inevitable. Societies need mechanisms to evaluate mistakes without tearing themselves apart.

In this first episode of the Eastern Frontline Podcast, host MEPs Reinis Pozņaks and Katri Kulmuni are joined by European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, to discuss the urgent challenges facing Europe’s security.Warning that Russia has the potential to test NATO within three years, Kubilius says improving defence readiness must be "our daily priority". The conversation covers:Europe’s €131 billion defence budget and what it means in practiceHow drones are reshaping modern warfare - and how Eastern Frontline states must prepareWhy defence spending is also an investment in economic growthThe role of startups, SMEs, and cooperation with Ukraine in defence innovationWhy the European Parliament and governments must act faster to deliver readinessKubilius is clear: “We are not at war, but neither are we at peace. We are living in a period of defence readiness.”🎧 Listen now for an unflinching look at Europe’s security challenges — and the choices policymakers must make.