Inmarsat Gains High-Speed Pacific Coverage With Final Viasat-3 Launch

The Falcon Heavy carrying Viasat-3 F3 (Courtesy SpaceX)

Published Apr 30, 2026 10:29 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

Inmarsat's high-end broadband service is fast, but its recent tie-up with U.S. satcom giant Viasat promises to make it even faster. Inmarsat's multi-orbit hybrid network is designed to integrate bandwidth from ViaSat's next-generation satellite constellation, ViaSat-3. First launched in May 2023 for service over the Americas, the VS3 satellite series should bring high speed broadband over Europe and Asia as well - and it is now one big step closer to full deployment. On April 29, the third and final ViaSat-3 satellite took flight on a SpaceX rocket, and it successfully reached orbit. 

ViaSat-3 has been years in the making. The first satellite had challenges with antenna deployment, and has not been able to attain its full data throughput rate. It serves the Americas, and is currently capable of about one-tenth of its rated one-terabit capacity. ViaSat has filed a claim with its insurers for $420 million in connection with the satellite's underperformance, a historically high request. 

The second satellite went up without issue aboard an Atlas V rocket in November 2025, and is slated to serve the EMEA region once it comes fully online. The third and most-anticipated satellite, Viasat-3 F3, launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on Wednesday. Following a dramatic flight up and out of the atmosphere, the six-tonne telecom relay was delivered successfully to a geosynchronous orbit. 

Using Viasat-3, combined with a purpose-built terminal that works with the new constellation, Inmarsat expects to add much more capacity to its bonded network. The terminal is capable of 250 mbps download speeds - enough bandwidth to provide full redundant backup for a high speed LEO service. The F3 satellite will put that coverage over the busy shipping lanes of the Pacific. 

"As ViaSat-3 capacity becomes available, we’re taking another big step forward for our customers and partners by bringing more bandwidth, better flexibility, and a forward-thinking upgrade path to ensure connected confidence for the future," said Ben Palmer, president of Viasat Commercial, in announcing the addition of Viasat-3 to the lineup last year. 

Russia launches new Soyuz-5 rocket from Kazakhstan cosmodrome in first test flight

Copyright AP Photo

By Tomiris Bilyal

Published on 01/05/2026 - EURONEWS

On Thursday, April 30, at 23:00 local time (Astana), the Baikonur Cosmodrome witnessed the first test launch of the Soyuz-5/Sunkar vehicle. The rocket lifted off from Site 45 as part of flight development tests, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of AI and Digital Development.

A new Russian medium-class launch vehicle Soyuz-5, was launched overnight on Friday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan as part of its first flight tests, Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos said.

According to Roscosmos, the Soyuz-5 is equipped with what it described as the world’s most powerful liquid-fuelled rocket engine.

The launch marked the first test flight of the new-generation rocket.

Roscosmos said the first and second stages operated normally and that a payload mock-up was placed on a planned suborbital trajectory before falling into the Pacific Ocean.

The space agency said the new rocket is designed to reduce the cost of launching payloads, double payload capacity to up to 17 tonnes and use environmentally cleaner fuel components.

Baikonur marks new era in spaceflight as first Soyuz-5 rocket is launched in test mission Copyright: Kazakhstan’s Ministry of AI and Digital Development.

The Baikonur Cosmodrome is one of the most iconic sites in space exploration history.

In 1961, it became the launch site of the world's first human spaceflight, with Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin lifting off from there in the Vostok 1.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia continued to operate Baikonur under a lease agreement with Kazakhstan.

In 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia launched the joint Baiterek project, aimed at modernising launch facilities at Baikonur and facilitating a transition to more environmentally friendly rocket systems.

Related

Kazakhstan and Russia continue close cooperation in the space sector. In 2021, the Kazakh parliament extended Russia’s lease of Baikonur until 2050.

The launch of Soyuz-5/Sunkar marks a turning point for Kazakhstan’s space ambitions, positioning the country closer to becoming a new space power.

With the development of the Baiterek launch complex and growing control over modern launch infrastructure at Baikonur, Kazakhstan is moving beyond its historical role as a spaceport operator.

 

IMO Adopts World’s Largest Emission Control Area and Other Issues at MPEC

MPEC adopted several measures including the largest emission control area spanning the Atlantic and linking existing zones in Europe (iStock)

Published May 1, 2026 7:39 PM by The Maritime Executive

While much of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MPEC 84) was bogged down with political positioning and stalling tactics, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), however, reports decisions on a number of key initiatives, including the North-East Atlantic Control Area (ECA) as well as efforts on plastics and ballast water. The new Atlantic ECA is being billed as the world’s largest emission control area, extending the efforts in Northern Europe with a far broader reach.

The efforts for the ECA had begun with 27 EU member states and had been gaining support as it moved through the process at the IMO. Iceland, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission also endorsed the launch of the ECA, which was formalized during this week’s MPEC session.

The entry into force date was set as September 1, 2027, with the ECA taking effect 12 months later in 2028. It covers an area extending 200 nautical miles into the ocean and a region spanning from Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands in the north, to encompass Ireland, the mainland of the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Portugal.  It will also link the existing ECAs in the Baltic, North Sea, and Mediterranean and connect them with the recently approved ECAs in the Norwegian Sea and Canadian Arctic.

The adoption introduces stricter emission limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx) as well as particulate matter. According to the IMO, ships within the ECA will have to use fuel with a sulfur content of no more than 0.10 percent. 

The other key initiatives adopted by MPEC include a strategy and action plan to address marine plastic litter from ships. It focuses on work to improve port reception facilities and waste processing. It updates and supersedes earlier actions in 2021 and 2025.

The focus on plastics also extends to a code for transporting plastic pellets (i.e. nurdles). They have become a key focus after several high-profile incidents where they were released into the environment. The committee agreed to develop a mandatory code governing the maritime transport of plastic pellets in freight containers.

MPEC also adopted a package of amendments to the Ballast Water Management Convention. The guidelines were revised along with the requirements for the development of ballast water management plans.

Work was also advanced on underwater radiated noise. MPEC agreed in principle to extend the experience-building phase by two years to the end of 2028. The aim is to address the barriers member states face in applying the guidelines that had previously been adopted for reducing underwater noise from shipping that is harmful to marine life.

IMO Delays Decisions but Maps Steps for Net-Zero Framework at Close of MPEC

IMO closed MPEC 84 agreeing to continue the discussions on the Net-Zero Framework and consider other proposals (IMO)

Published May 1, 2026 5:11 PM by The Maritime Executive

Two weeks of hard-fought discussions at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the approach to the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) and efforts to control greenhouse gas emissions came to a close on Friday with a general consensus that there was progress. With the opposition of the United States and others, however, the meeting concluded with the agreement to have more meetings, without selecting a framework.

The first week consisted of a working group that set the framework for constructive discussion and moved forward some of the basic principles. The full Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MPEC 84) took place this week, with all member states as well as a lot of backroom discussions and sidetracks before the closing session on Friday, May 1. The conclusion was that the working groups would reconvene in September and November, ahead of the next MPEC session starting on November 30 and a Second Extraordinary Session on December 4.

“We are back on track, but we have to rebuild trust,” said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez at the conclusion of the sessions on Friday. “I encourage you to maintain this momentum through your intersessional work and to prepare submissions that can bring the membership together,” he told member states in his closing remarks.

The IMO highlighted constructive discussions centered on the adoption of “mid-term measures” on emissions. It noted that multiple proposals had been tabled while highlighting that the intersessional working group had made progress and worked toward a broad consensus.

Many groups broadly agreed that there was progress with the World Shipping Council, for example, saying the meeting was “encouraging.” WSC President & CEO Joe Kramek said, “These are complex and, at times, difficult discussions. But continued engagement from governments is essential to keep progress moving.”

Thomas Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, also called it “a constructive dialogue.” The ICS said it welcomed the decision to convene additional negotiations in September.

The full number of member states supporting the Net Zero Framework varies by report but is generally set at between 55 and 59. The feeling was that “the pendulum was swinging back” with support building. Yet, the IMO failed to settle on a single structure, saying it would continue to consider alternatives.

Last fall, Saudi Arabia succeeded in stalling the discussions with a motion to table the discussions for another year. The United States, Liberia, Panama, and others mounted strong opposition. 

The United States continued its strong opposition, calling the focus on alternative fuel, which it insists does not exist, flawed, and the pricing structure for carbon emissions a tax on consumers. The U.S. expanded its efforts, including the attendance of the newly appointed chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, Laura DiBella. She released a statement “ensuring full FMC attention on the serious economic harm that would be caused by the NZF.” She underscored the need to consider viable alternatives submitted by several other countries while reiterating the Trump administration’s position that a carbon price “would force American consumers to pay a carbon tax for shipments transiting international waters.”

DiBella said despite the persistence of a “minority bloc” that had previously overwhelmed the “silent majority,” the “silent majority” had found its voice this week. The United States and its allies succeeded in keeping an alternative proposal from Liberia under discussion. At the closing, the chair of MPEC confirmed that they would continue to consider alternatives while telling member states that they could submit further revisions for consideration or additional proposals.

The U.S. State Department issued a statement saying it had “successfully delivered … by forcing the organization to negotiate on alternative proposals that will not harm American consumers and businesses.” It said it had forced the body to authorize future negotiations that examine multiple alternative proposals while continuing to call the NZF “fundamentally flawed.” It took credit along with  Saudi Arabia, Liberia, Panama, and Argentina for “successfully brokering a diplomatic path forward” to further discuss alternative proposals, including those from Japan, Panama, Argentina, and Liberia.

"The USA and their allied petrostates weren't successful in stopping climate negotiations at the IMO,” says Lukas Leppert, Policy Officer at NABU (Germany's largest environmental association, Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union). “However, they obstruct the final adoption of necessary and agreed measures.”

Vanuatu and other small Pacific island nations were among the strongest proponents continuing their push, saying decisive action is needed. In its official statement to the IMO, Vanuatu stressed that the decarbonization of international shipping is not optional but “a strategic necessity for the Pacific,” noting the immense vulnerability of Pacific Island countries to climate change impacts.

“What started off as a legitimate framework, with a carbon pricing at its core for a chance at a just transition, has been weakened along the way,” said Anaïs Rios, Senior Shipping Policy Officer, Seas At Risk. It was among the groups criticizing the delay, saying shipping must play its fair share in the efforts to reduce emissions.

Member states, including Australia, also expressed concern at the endless discussions and lack of a consensus and path forward. It said it fears these steps are just setting the process back.

For now, the agreement was to keep discussing and reviewing proposals. However, hope was building that the member states were moving forward and that agreements might be reached by the end of the year.

 

Product Tanker Hijacked off Yemen, Then Diverted to Somalia

Op Atalanta frigate keeping an eye on a vessel seized by pirates off Puntland (Op Atalanta)

Published May 3, 2026 10:32 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

In the continuing recent upsurge in Somali-associated piracy, the Togo-flagged oil products tanker Eureka (IMO 1022823) has been boarded off Yemen’s Shabwa governorate and redirected towards the Somali coastline. The track of the vessel suggests that the Eureka is being directed towards Qandala, in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in northeast Somalia, where without a harbor it is likely to be moored offshore.

It is not clear who has seized the vessel, which is managed by Emirati interests. Qandala lies 50 miles east of Bosaso, where the UAE armed forces maintain an outpost and DP World has a facility. It is possible that the ship has been seized on the initiative of a party with a commercial dispute with the owners.

The 88-meter coastal vessel had set off from Sharjah on February 17, and had made it through the Strait of Hormuz before the outbreak of war. It loaded its cargo in Fujairah, then made passage to the small oil terminal at Qana, in Yemen’s Shabwa governorate, an area controlled by the Internationally Recognized Government. The Eureka left Qana on April 30, heading east and lingering off the Shabwa coastline for several days before being seized by pirates on May 2.

The Dubai-based UKMTO has reported that there were two separate incidents in the same area on May 1 and 2, which the masters of the ships concerned reported as possible piracy attempts. In the first, the master of a bulk carrier said his ship was approached by a skiff, with a fishing vessel acting in concert standing off. In the second incident, the master of another bulk carrier saw seven armed men approach in a skiff. Both bulk carriers were in the Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC) at the time. The UKMTO has warned of heightened pirate activity in the Gulf of Aden area and seas off Puntland.

On April 26, the Palau-flagged oil products tanker Honour 25 and the St Kitts & Nevis-flagged cargo vessel Sward (MMSI: 511100524) were boarded and redirected towards Mareero and Gracad, respectively on the north and east coast of Puntland. The European Union Operation Atalanta counter-piracy naval force appears to have eyes on one of the hijacked vessels with a frigate close by.

Somali pirates may be attempting to take advantage of the diversion of US Navy ships away from the area. It is also possible that the withdrawal of UAE forces from some positions along the Gulf of Aden coastline has reduced oversight of the area. Additional traffic is also now passing along the MSTC, with cargo for Saudi Arabia all flowing along the corridor rather than being split with Saudi ports in the Gulf.

Bulker Evades Suspicious Approach South of Yemen

A bulker reported being approached by a skiff south of Yemen but was able to evade a likely boarding (file photo)

Published May 1, 2026 1:16 PM by The Maritime Executive

A safety warning went out to shipping on May 1 after an unidentified skiff approached a bulker sailing south of Yemen.  The authorities believe there was a clear intent to board the vessel, but it was able to evade the incident by taking defensive measures and displaying its armed guards.

The incident took place approximately 92 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla, Yemen, in the Gulf of Aden. The nationality of the attackers was not determined, but it is near the Houthis ' strongholds, and there have been reports of increased activity by pirates coming from Somalia.

The unnamed bulker reported that a skiff with a black hull and carrying seven people aggressively approached. It said the individuals appeared to be heavily armed and intent on boarding the bulker. The skiff came within 10 meters (33 feet) of the vessel.

The bulker reported that it increased speed and took other evasive maneuvers. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) is crediting the defensive maneuvers and the readiness of the crew and armed security guards for preventing the boarding.

The skiff aborted its approach and withdrew. It is unclear from the report if there was another vessel in the area working as a mothership.

EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta has issued multiple warnings over the past two weeks based on an increase in activity from Somalia. Several vessels have reported being approached, and in at least one case, the pirates and the security guards aboard a vessel departing Somalia traded fire. Two ships, a small tanker and a cargo ship, were seized and taken toward the Somali coast. Atalanta is working with the local authorities and monitoring the vessels, which continue to be controlled by the pirates.
 

Photos: Hijacked Car Carrier Galaxy Leader Has Partially Sunk

Courtesy Basha / Yemeni social media

Published Apr 30, 2026 11:55 PM by The Maritime Executive

When Houthi rebels captured the car carrier Galaxy Leader in 2023, the vessel and crew were taken to a sheltered bay in Yemen, where they were detained and forced to await the end of hostilities in the Red Sea. The crew were finally released in January 2025, but the ship was not - and by its appearance in newly-released photos, it might never leave. 
 
Galaxy Leader was hijacked by armed militants aboard a Houthi-operated helicopter on November 19, 2023. The orchestrated, carefully-filmed boarding was successful, and the terrorist group took control of the ship. The car carrier was diverted to Hodeidah, then relocated to Al Salif, both controlled by Houthi separatists. On arrival off Al Salif, Galaxy Leader became a popular tourist attraction, and at times a festival-like atmosphere persisted on board, with visitors freely coming and going via small launches. 

The Galaxy Leader was operated by Isle of Man-based Ray Car Carriers, a firm with ownership ties to an Israeli shipping industry titan. At the time, Houthi leaders claimed that they were focusing their attacks on Israel-linked tonnage in protest of the military operation in Gaza.  

The crew of Galaxy Leader were finally released in 2025, but the ship stayed on, and the Israeli government claimed that Houthi forces began using it as an observation post to track shipping in the Red Sea. The Israeli Air Force classified it as "terrorist infrastructure belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime" and bombarded it on July 6, 2025. Houthi sources also claimed two American air strikes on the vessel several months earlier, though these remain unconfirmed. 

New imagery from As Salif suggests that Galaxy Leader would be difficult to remove. Damage from the airstrikes is evident at the forecastle, and the ship has partially sunk at the stern, leaving the bow high and dry. Wreck removal by refloating the ship or demolishing her in place would require resources not currently available in war-torn Yemen. 

Energy crisis fuels calls to cut methane emissions

Paris (France) (AFP) – World officials pushed Monday for faster action to reduce methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, arguing it would both help slow climate change and boost energy security as the Middle East war chokes off supply.


Issued on: 04/05/2026 - RFI

The fossil fuel sector -- oil, gas and coal -- accounts for 35 percent of methane emissions from human activity, the IEA said in a report © AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP/File

Using its role as rotating president of the Group of Seven industrialised powers, France convened government officials, industry leaders and experts to build momentum on cutting methane emissions ahead of the UN's COP31 climate summit in November.

Methane, the second biggest contributor to climate change, stays in the atmosphere for far less time than carbon dioxide, but its warming effect is roughly 80 times more potent over a 20-year period.

"I sincerely hope that the discussions we will have today will enable us to join our forces to accelerate the implementation of effective solutions to reduce methane emissions," French Ecological Transition Minister Monique Barbut said in a speech.

"Of course, action on methane is not a fight of any single actor and nobody can win it alone," Barbut said.

Under the Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, nearly 160 countries committed to cutting global methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030 compared with 2020 levels.

But Barbut said the world remains "very far" from meeting that goal.

Around 60 percent of methane emissions are linked to human actions.

The fossil fuel sector -- oil, gas and coal -- accounts for 35 percent of methane emissions from human activity, the International Energy Agency said in a report on Monday.

"Yet there is still no sign that methane emissions from fossil fuel operations are falling, despite well-known and proven mitigation pathways," according to the IEA's Global Methane Tracker 2026.

Such emissions from the sector remained "near record highs", the report said.
Time to 'pull this lever'

Methane emissions from the energy sector come from leaks from gas pipelines and other infrastructure, or are deliberately released during maintenance procedures.

Officials at the Paris conference said that cutting leaks and flaring from oil and gas operations could increase the availability of energy while slashing planet-heating emissions.

"We could have three times more gas on the market if we eliminated this waste," the European Union's energy commissioner, Dan Jorgensen, said. "This shows that methane abatement and energy security are not competing priorities."

"Methane is the single fastest lever we have to limit near-term warming. We can no longer wait to pull this lever," Jorgensen added.

Oil prices have soared since the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran in late February and Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response.

The IEA said 20 percent, or around 110 billion cubic metres, of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) flowed through the Strait of Hormuz last year.

Nearly 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas could be made available annually through a global effort to cut methane from oil and gas operations, the IEA said.

A further 100 billion cubic metres would be unlocked through the elimination of non-emergency flaring worldwide, it added.

"Reducing methane emissions remains one of the best things we can do to slow global warming while cleaning up our air, improving public health, and increasing our energy security," British energy minister Ed Miliband said in a video message.

Agriculture is also a major emitter through livestock -- cows and sheep release methane during digestion and in their manure -- and rice cultivation, where flooded fields create ideal conditions for methane-emitting bacteria.

Discarded household waste also creates large amounts of methane if left to rot in landfills.

"We must, however, be clear the energy sector offers today the fastest and often the most cost effective reductions," Barbut said.

© 2026 AFP

European and Canadian leaders hold security talks in Yerevan amid uncertainty over US policy


European leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are meeting in Armenia on Monday for a European Political Community summit focused on security and geopolitical tensions as uncertainty grows over US policy under President Donald Trump. The talks in Yerevan come amid strains over the Iran conflict, the war in Ukraine and shifting transatlantic ties.


Issued on: 04/05/2026 - 
By: FRANCE 24
Video by: Taline OUNDJIAN

(From L) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand attend the 8th European Political Community summit in Yerevan on May 4, 2026. © Ludovic Marin, AFP
04:03


European leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney gather in Armenia Monday as they seek to navigate a fraught geopolitical environment under an unpredictable White House.

US President Donald Trump will loom large over the meeting of the European Political Community (EPC). It takes place in Yerevan, a crossroads between Russia and the Middle East – the two main issues on the agenda.

"Leaders from across the continent, with Canada as a guest, will discuss how to cooperate to strengthen security and collective resilience," European Council President Antonio Costa wrote on social media as he arrived in the Armenian capital Sunday.

The Iran war, which has rattled the global economy by sending energy prices soaring, has deepened a rift in transatlantic ties.

Following a spat between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had criticised Washington's handling of the conflict, the United States announced it would withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany.

That has added to the doubts surrounding the US commitment to defend its European allies as Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine grinds into a fifth year.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO chief Mark Rutte will be present in Yerevan, while Merz will be represented by France's Emmanuel Macron.

NATO in talks with US over troops cuts

They will be joined by Canada's Carney – the first-ever non-European leader to join the EPC talks, in a sign of the ever-closer ties between Ottawa and Europe ushered in by Trump.

The summit "in a nutshell, will be an opportunity to emphasise that Europe's security is a 360-degree challenge", said a senior EU official.

Like Europe, Canada's economy has been hurt by Trump's tariffs – but Carney has remained defiant, emerging as something of a figurehead for countries looking to stand up to the Republican president.

In a stirring speech earlier this year, he urged middle powers to join forces in the face of a new global reality defined by great power competition and a "fading" rules‑based order.

"The EPC was initially perceived as an anti-Putin club," said Sebastien Maillard, a special adviser at the Jacques Delors Institute, a think tank.

"With the invitation to Canada, this initiative – which was initially driven by geography – is now taking on an anti-Trump slant."

Moving to diversify away from its southern neighbour, Ottawa has joined the EU's defence financing scheme – the first non-European country to do so – and sought to increase cooperation on trade.

"Canada has a way of looking at the world and looking at ways to solve the challenges we have currently that Europe shares to a great extent," said the EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

'Reorientation'

A biannual political forum, the EPC was established on the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

It brings together the members of the European Union and, this time, 21 other countries, from Albania to Britain.

EPC summits do not normally produce concrete decisions but offer the opportunity for leaders to exchange in groups and bilaterally. Most leaders arrived in the Armenian capital for an informal dinner on Sunday.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was expected to join the meeting on Monday, Madrid said, after a technical problem with his plane forced him to make an emergency landing in Turkey and spend the night in Ankara.

The Yerevan gathering is the first of its kind in the Caucasus and comes as Armenia fosters closer ties with Europe while seeking to cautiously loosen itself from Russia's grasp.

It will be followed Tuesday by an EU-Armenia summit with the bloc's chief officials Costa and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who described it as a "major milestone" in the country's rapprochement with Europe.

Relations between Yerevan and its traditional ally Moscow have become strained in recent years, in part because Russian peacekeepers failed to intervene during military conflicts with neighbouring Azerbaijan.

Under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia has formally pursued a strategy of what he calls "diversification", in which the landlocked country pursues ties with both Russia and the West.

Costa says the bloc looks forward to "deepening this relationship" with the country of three million, which signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with the EU in 2017 and last year declared its intention to apply for membership.

In April the EU established a mission to help the former Soviet nation tackle foreign interference, with Russia suspected of a disinformation push ahead of June elections.

Putin has declared himself "completely calm" about Armenia's overtures to Europe -- while also warning that belonging to both the EU and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union was "simply impossible".

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Canada joins European summit in Armenia as leaders confront security challenges

European leaders are gathering in the Armenian capital Yerevan, alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, seeking to steady their footing in an increasingly fraught geopolitical landscape shaped in no small part by an unpredictable White House.


Issued on: 04/05/2026 - RFI

France's President Emmanuel Macron and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney greet each other during the 8th European Political Community (EPC) summit in Yerevan on 4 May 2026. AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN

The meeting of the European Political Community – a relatively new forum designed to foster cooperation across the continent – is taking place this in Yerevan this Monday at a symbolic crossroads between Russia and the Middle East. Both regions, and the tensions surrounding them, are set to dominate the agenda.

US President Donald Trump will loom large over proceedings, even in absence. His administration’s recent moves have stirred unease among European allies and sharpened questions about the future of transatlantic relations.

“Leaders from across the continent, with Canada as a guest, will discuss how to cooperate to strengthen security and collective resilience,” European Council President Antonio Costa wrote on social media as he arrived in the Armenian capital on Sunday.

Transatlantic strains come into focus

The ongoing Iran war – which has driven energy prices sharply higher and unsettled global markets – has widened divisions between Europe and Washington. A recent spat between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have underscored the tension, after Merz criticised the US handling of the conflict.

In response, Washington announced plans to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany – a move that has only deepened doubts about America’s long-term commitment to defending its European allies.

Those concerns come as Russian President Vladimir Putin presses on with the war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is attending the summit, alongside NATO chief Mark Rutte. Germany, meanwhile, is being represented by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Canada’s presence adds a fresh dimension, as Prime Minister Mark Carney becomes the first non-European leader to join EPC talks – a sign of strengthening ties between Ottawa and European capitals, forged in part by shared friction with Washington.

Like many European economies, Canada has felt the impact of Trump’s tariffs. Yet Carney has struck a defiant tone, positioning himself as a leading voice among so-called middle powers seeking to navigate a world increasingly shaped by great power rivalry and what he has described as a “fading” rules-based order.

For some observers, the EPC itself is evolving in response. Once viewed primarily as a forum aligned against Moscow, it is now taking on a broader geopolitical character. “With the invitation to Canada, this initiative – initially driven by geography – is now taking on an anti-Trump slant,” said Sebastien Maillard of the Jacques Delors Institute.

Ottawa, for its part, has been quick to diversify its partnerships – joining the EU’s defence financing scheme SAFE as the first non-European participant and stepping up trade cooperation with the bloc.

Armenia’s pivot westwards

Beyond the wider geopolitical backdrop, the Yerevan summit also shines a spotlight on Armenia itself – a nation navigating its own reorientation.

The EPC, launched in 2022 at the initiative of Macron in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, brings together EU member states and 21 additional countries, from Albania to Britain. While it does not typically produce concrete decisions, it offers leaders a space for dialogue – both in formal sessions and on the sidelines.

This week’s gathering marks the first time the forum has been held in the Caucasus, underlining Armenia’s growing engagement with Europe. It will be followed by an EU–Armenia summit attended by Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who has described the meeting as a “major milestone”.

Relations between Yerevan and its traditional ally Moscow have become increasingly strained. Russia’s failure to intervene during recent conflicts with neighbouring Azerbaijan has fuelled frustration in Armenia and prompted a rethink of its strategic positioning.

Under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the country has embraced a policy of “diversification” – seeking to balance ties with Russia while steadily deepening links with Europe. Armenia signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with the EU in 2017 and has since declared its intention to apply for membership.

In April, the EU launched a mission to help Armenia counter foreign interference, amid suspicions of a Russian disinformation campaign ahead of upcoming elections.

Putin has said he remains “completely calm” about Armenia’s overtures to Europe, but he has also issued a pointed reminder: membership of both the EU and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, he warned, would be “simply impossible”.

(With newswires)

Watch: The 28th EU member? Why Canada is eyeing a closer bond with Brussels

By Jakub Janas

Published on 04/05/2026 - EURONEW

Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in Yerevan for the European Political Community Summit, where he is spearheading efforts to create a Middle Powers alliance. But could the world’s "most European" non-European country actually become the 28th EU member state?

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, holding both Canadian and British passports, represents a unique bridge between the Anglophone world and a Europe increasingly wary of US isolationism.

And the summit in Armenia could offer Canada a vital opening to build new European ties.

Some 57% of Canadians now support joining the 27-member bloc, with 84% prioritising stronger economic ties as a buffer against US political turmoil.

The latest surveys show that most Germans and Spaniards back Canada's EU accession, while in Poland, France and Italy, proponents significantly outweigh those against it.

Ottawa is no geopolitical lightweight: Canada’s population is around 41.5 million, roughly 10% of the EU's.

Although it is a founding NATO member, it remains outside the European Economic Area. However, its GDP per capita remains significantly higher than the EU average, so if Canada were ever to enter the union, it would be a wealthy net contributor.

However, despite the public enthusiasm, the "Brussels bubble" has issued a polite reality check.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos recently said that Canada fails the "European state" requirement of Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union.

Unlike Ukraine, Turkey or Cyprus, Canada lacks the geographic and ancient cultural connections necessary to satisfy current treaties without a total legal overhaul.

However, the relationship could evolve toward a bespoke model mirroring Norway's or Switzerland's: a "close family" bond that provides deep integration into the single market and security programmes, while stopping just short of a formal marriage.

And for that, Canadians could one day say “yes”. Or “oui”, as both English and French are the official languages.

World leaders arrive in Armenia for eighth EPC summit

By Rory Elliott Armstrong with AP, AFP

Published on 04/05/2026 - EURONEWS

World leaders from nearly 50 countries, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, are meeting in Yerevan, Armenia for the 8th European Political Community summit.

World leaders began to arrive in Yerevan, Armenia on Sunday ahead of the 8th European Political Community meeting under the motto 'Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe'.

At a time of profound geopolitical transformation, leaders from nearly 50 countries, including all 27 members of the European Union, will meet on Monday to discuss important politics face-to-face, including the US-Iran tensions.

British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk were amongst those arriving on Sunday afternoon.

The summit will be co-chaired by European Council President António Costa and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to have sideline meeting with several countries.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will also be joining as a guest - the first time a non-European country has participated in the meeting.

"Europe and Canada are more than just like-minded partners -- together we are building a global alliance to defend peace, shared prosperity and multilateralism," said Costa.

Identifying a "rupture" in the US-led system of global governance, Carney said at the glitzy World Economic Forum in Switzerland that middle powers needed to chart a new path and rally together to defend key international values.

With Europe and Canada's relationship shifting with the United States under Trump, they have increasingly moved closer to each other in many areas.

The European Political Community (EPC) is an intergovernmental forum for political and strategic discussions about the future of Europe established in 2022 after the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine .

Armenia eyes closer European ties

Dozens of European leaders are also expected to attend the first-ever EU-Armenia summit, as the former Soviet nation hopes will bring it closer into the European fold as Yerevan seeks to gradually distance itself from Russia.

EPC takes place following the historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as both countries embarked on a pro-European course.

For Armenia, the EU summit, the first of its kind, is about telling the European Union "we are here and we are ready", said Olesya Vartanyan, an analyst on security issues in the South Caucasus.

Under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia has formally pursued a strategy of what he calls "diversification", in which the landlocked country pursues ties with both Russia and the West.

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"In reality it's a process where Armenia tries to establish relationships with the European Union," said political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan.

The country of three million people between Europe and Asia signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with the European Union in 2017, deepening its cooperation in trade and other areas.

Last year, the country adopted a law formally declaring its intention to apply for EU membership.

When the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos visited Armenia in March, she declared that "Armenia and the EU have never been closer".