https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed European leaders, worried about threats from a nuclear-armed Russia and doubts about the future of US security commitments, are increasingly debating whether to bolster nuclear arsenals on the continent. https://www.thelocal.at/20260214/merz-says-in-talks-with-macron-on-european-nuclear-deterrence Sat, 14 Feb 2026 09:11:12 +0100 merz-says-in-talks-with-macron-on-european-nuclear-deterrence The growing threat from Russia and the risk of renewed conflict in Europe have thrown a spotlight on the continent's varied military service models. https://www.thelocal.at/20251127/threat-of-war-which-countries-in-europe-have-military-service Thu, 27 Nov 2025 13:37:47 +0100 threat-of-war-which-countries-in-europe-have-military-service Drones flying over airports, commercial sites and other sensitive infrastructure in Europe is a growing phenomenon which EU leaders blame on Russia, and preventing the disruption they cause will prove a tough technical challenge, observers say. https://www.thelocal.at/20251011/how-can-europe-protect-its-skies-against-escalating-drone-menace Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:22:49 +0200 how-can-europe-protect-its-skies-against-escalating-drone-menace Austria gives students options so military duty doesn’t cut across term time. The key is timing and a short paper trail that most people overlook. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.at/20250905/can-austrian-military-or-civil-duties-interrupt-university-studies Fri, 05 Sep 2025 14:11:00 +0200 can-austrian-military-or-civil-duties-interrupt-university-studies Frightened by the prospect of US security disengagement and three years of Moscow's war against Ukraine, European countries are debating reinstating compulsory military service to boost their defences in the face of Russian aggression. https://www.thelocal.at/20250316/spurred-by-trump-turnabout-european-nations-debate-conscription Sun, 16 Mar 2025 10:12:09 +0100 spurred-by-trump-turnabout-european-nations-debate-conscription Europe's security is at a turning point, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, as she arrived in Paris for an emergency meeting to address the US's shock policy shift on the war in Ukraine. https://www.thelocal.at/20250217/europes-security-is-at-a-turning-point-eu-leader-warns Mon, 17 Feb 2025 15:37:24 +0100 europes-security-is-at-a-turning-point-eu-leader-warns If you're a dual citizen or if you are naturalised as an Austrian, here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.at/20220412/explained-do-dual-citizens-need-to-complete-austrias-mandatory-military-service Tue, 12 Apr 2022 16:49:48 +0200 explained-do-dual-citizens-need-to-complete-austrias-mandatory-military-service Despite its commitment to neutrality, Austria has conscription. Citizens need to participate in either military or civil service. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.at/20220307/explained-how-does-austrias-mandatory-military-service-work Mon, 07 Mar 2022 16:44:15 +0100 explained-how-does-austrias-mandatory-military-service-work EU defence ministers on Wednesday discussed plans to raid their stockpiles to rush one billion euros' worth of ammunition to Ukraine and place joint orders for more to ensure supplies keep flowing. https://www.thelocal.at/20230308/eu-defence-ministers-hash-out-plan-for-sending-more-ammunition-to-ukraine Wed, 08 Mar 2023 12:34:26 +0100 eu-defence-ministers-hash-out-plan-for-sending-more-ammunition-to-ukraine Blackouts, terrorism, conspiracy theorists and the far-right. What do the Austrian military experts consider to be the most significant threats to the country in 2023? https://www.thelocal.at/20230203/what-are-the-biggest-threats-facing-austria-this-year Fri, 03 Feb 2023 13:54:00 +0100 what-are-the-biggest-threats-facing-austria-this-year Austrian explosives experts began on Wednesday blowing up 18 tonnes of unexploded ordnance from both world wars found around the country since the beginning of 2017. https://www.thelocal.at/20180426/austria-2 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 00:31:34 +0200 austria-2 Austria will “very soon” impose border checks and deploy soldiers on its frontier with Italy if the influx of migrants across the Mediterranean does not slow, Vienna's defence minister was quoted as saying. https://www.thelocal.at/20170704/austria-ready-to-deploy-army-at-italy-border Tue, 04 Jul 2017 10:23:17 +0200 austria-ready-to-deploy-army-at-italy-border The opposition Freedom Party (FPÖ) is demanding a response from Austria’s chancellor and foreign minister after nine American marines were arrested in Vienna’s airport for carrying assault rifles and handguns on board a commercial airliner without proper clearance last month. https://www.thelocal.at/20150803/call-for-strong-reaction-against-us-marines-detained-in-austria-for-weapons-violations Mon, 03 Aug 2015 16:13:32 +0200 call-for-strong-reaction-against-us-marines-detained-in-austria-for-weapons-violations Austria’s army will be drastically restructured in an effort to cut costs, Defence Minister Gerald Klug (SPÖ) and Chief of Staff Othmar Commendam announced on Friday. https://www.thelocal.at/20141003/army-announces-wide-ranging-cuts Fri, 03 Oct 2014 18:22:46 +0200 army-announces-wide-ranging-cuts One of Austria’s troubled Eurofighter jets has had to make an emergency landing at Innsbruck airport. https://www.thelocal.at/20141002/emergency-landing-for-eurofighter-at-innsbruck Thu, 02 Oct 2014 17:52:00 +0200 emergency-landing-for-eurofighter-at-innsbruck A manufacturing fault has been discovered in Austria’s controversial Eurofighter typhoon warplanes, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. https://www.thelocal.at/20141001/defect-found-in-austrias-troubled-eurofighters Wed, 01 Oct 2014 17:43:16 +0200 defect-found-in-austrias-troubled-eurofighters Austria is amending its defence act so that women who have volunteered for military service will now be treated the same as men when it comes to taking part in regular army drills. https://www.thelocal.at/20140924/women-to-have-equal-military-service-rights Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:15:00 +0200 women-to-have-equal-military-service-rights The chief of Austria’s Air Support Command, Brigadier Andreas Putz, has warned that the government’s austerity measures are having a negative effect on disaster relief. https://www.thelocal.at/20140829/army-cuts-affecting-disaster-relief Fri, 29 Aug 2014 17:07:00 +0200 army-cuts-affecting-disaster-relief The conservative People's Party's (ÖVP) military spokesman Bernd Schönegger has said that he wants to support the Minister of Defence Gerald Klug (Social Democrats/SPÖ), in demanding more money for the Austrian army. https://www.thelocal.at/20140811/austrias-army-needs-more-money Mon, 11 Aug 2014 17:11:00 +0200 austrias-army-needs-more-money According to a report in the news daily Wiener Zeitung, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) have won a major export contract to provide armored vehicles to the Australian government. https://www.thelocal.at/20140711/military-company-wins-export-success-downunder Fri, 11 Jul 2014 12:17:00 +0200 military-company-wins-export-success-downunder