- Luchtafweer, luchtafweer en luchtafweer
Volgens de Poolse premier Tusk zal de oorlog in Oekraïne de komende 100 dagen beslist worden. Volgens Tusk zijn de kansen op een gunstige afloop voor Oekraïne 50%. Maar dan moet de aanvoer van militaire hulpmiddelen sterk worden verhoogd. Zie 5.
Polen treft tevens voorbereidingen om de Coalitie van Bereidwillige Europese landen op gang te brengen. Zie 6.
In de nasleep van de NAVO-top leek Oekraïne een vergunning te hebben gekregen voor de co-productie van Patriot-luchtafweerraketten. Trump liet die belofte vorige week weer in het midden. Hij had liever vrede dan raketten. Een beetje beteuterd artikel over de Oekraïense inspanningen om zo’n vergunning te krijgen de afgelopen twee jaar. Want ze hadden zoiets met de komst van Trump al gevreesd. Zie 7.
De politieke crisis in Oekraïne raakt ook het leger zelf. De afgezette minister Fedorov had kritiek op het beleid van de ook afgezette stafchef. Inmiddels heeft de nieuwe topgeneraal een audit (diepgaand onderzoek) aangekondigd en de verhalen over wrede misstanden komen nu in de krant, de Engelstalige pers. Zie de beschuldiging dat een elite-eenheid 791 vluchtende (‘terugtrekkende’) soldaten hebben ‘geblokkeerd’. Deserteurs worden als de vijand beschouwd. Zie 3.
En de ontkenning. Zie 4.
Oekraïne wilde heel graad het Amerikaanse THAAD luchtafweer-systeem van Israël. Netanhay weigerde, formeel omdat ie bang was dat de geheimen van dat systeem in handen van Iran zouden komen. Zie 8.
De Amerikaanse top-generaal voor Europa en Israël luidt de noodklok. Hij komt in het huidige tijdperk van meerdere oorlogen tegelijkertijd een ‘destroyer’ tekort. Het was Amerikaanse destroyer die het meerendeel van de Iraanse luchtaanvallen op Israël afving. Met de blokkade van de Straat van Hormuz en het gedoe in de Rode Zee gaat dat niet meer, als ook de Russen in de gaten moeten worden gehouden. Afijn, escalatie en het ontbrekende medicijn van luchtafweer. Zie 9.
De VS trekt voor eind september de luchtafweer terug uit Iraaks-Koerdistan. Conform afspraak. Onbekend is waar de Patriots heen gaan. Zie 13.
Iran zegt het bijna een deal heeft met Oman. De Amerikanen moeten weg. Zie 9.
Trump is natuurlijk kwaad, hij raakt de trappers kwijt, de politieke controle over de situatie. Zie 10.
Denemarken heeft vervroegd de dienstplicht verlengd. Zie 14.
Deze week is het 81 jaar geleden dat de atoombommen op Japan werden gegooid. In Volkel, waar de Nederlandse atoombommen liggen, had gisteren een symbolische blokkade plaats. Zie 15.
Zie voor een uitgebreider overzicht van deze actie ook de volgende persartikelen;
https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/6021331/ingang-vliegbasis-volkel-geblokkeerd-door-protestactie-tegen-kernwapens of https://www.telegraaf.nl/video/demonstrant-eerlijk-bij-blokkade-vliegbasis-volkel-ik-weet-niet-wat-ik-hier-doe/159561995.html.
De ontwikkelingen van 3 augustus 2026 aan het front in Oekraïne volgens het ISW via de link
https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-3-2026/. Dit zijn hun hoofdconclusies:
- Russian forces are replicating aspects of their Summer-Fall 2025 battlefield air interdiction (BAI) campaign that set conditions for late 2025 advances near Pokrovsk and Hulyaipole to prepare for offensive operations against the Fortress Belt in Donetsk Oblast.
- The main objective of the ongoing Russian BAI campaign against the Fortress Belt — as with previous BAI campaigns — is to isolate Ukrainian forces defending the Fortress Belt from sustained logistics.
- The ongoing Russian BAI campaign aims to shape the battlefield ahead of planned Russian offensive operations against Slovyansk and Kramatorsk in the future, although Russian forces remain unlikely to advance quickly to or through these cities in the near term.
- Russian forces appear to be more heavily relying on glide bomb strikes in their 2026 BAI campaign compared to their 2025 campaigns.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced more personnel changes within the Ukrainian government and security services on August 3.
- Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces made confirmed advances on August 3.
- Russia launched 181 drones against Ukraine overnight. Ukrainian forces continued striking Russian military assets on August 3.
- Assault regiment commander ordered troops to fire on retreating comrades, media investigation alleges
Kyiv Independent, 30 juli 2026, ‘Oleh Shyriaiev, commander of Ukraine’s 225th Assault Regiment, allegedly ordered troops to open fire on retreating fellow soldiers, according to an investigation by the Ukrainian investigative outlet Texty.’ Zie bijlage of
- The 225th Assault Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has refuted claims about “blocking detachments” near Hulyaypole
Liga.net, 29 juli 2026, ‘Nearly 800 soldiers from the TDF abandoned their positions near Hulyaypole without authorization during the Russian offensive in 2025, according to the 225th OSG.’ Zie bijlage of https://news.liga.net/en/war/news/the-225th-assault-regiment-of-the-ukrainian-armed-forces-has-refuted-claims-about-blocking-detachments-near-hulyaypole.
- ‘Next 100 days may decide this war,’ Poland’s Tusk says, as he doubles down on pledge to support Ukraine
The Guardian, 30 juli 2026, Recalling his conversation with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, last night, he said: “the matter is quite clear: the next 100 days may decide the outcome of this war, and it’s a 50/50 chance.” Zie bijlage of https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jul/30/europe-ukraine-russia-poland-wildfires-france-spain-greece-latest-news-updates.
- Poland readies Ukraine ‘Coalition of Willing’ drills, eyes NATO support for border defense
Defense News, 3 augustus 2026, ‘As Europe seeks a role in future security guarantees for Ukraine, Poland is preparing to host the first military drills for the so-called Coalition of the Willing with British and French forces.’ Zie bijlage of
- Exclusive: Inside Ukraine’s 2-year effort to secure Patriot missile production
Kyiv Independent, 3 augustus 2026, ‘As U.S. President Donald Trump backs away from giving Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot air defense missiles, Ukrainian officials say Kyiv had a chance to solve the problem years ago — but Washington rejected the idea back then as well.’ Zie bijlage of https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-how-washingtons-no-left-ukraine-defenseless-against-russias-ballistic-missiles/.
- Israël blokkeerde levering van Amerikaanse Iron Dome-systemen aan Oekraïne
Busisness.am, 3 augustus 2026, ‘Israël heeft de overdracht van door de VS gefinancierde Iron Dome-systemen naar Oekraïne geblokkeerd. De voorgestelde defensiesamenwerking met Israël zou het land invloed kunnen geven op Amerikaanse wapenleveringen. Tweeledige tegenstand in de Senaat waarschuwt dat het voorstel voor nauwere defensiesamenwerking met Israël de Amerikaanse soevereiniteit kan aantasten.’ Zie bijlage of https://businessam.be/israel-blokkeerde-levering-van-amerikaanse-iron-dome-systemen-aan-oekraine/ (zie ook House push to integrate defense industries of Israel, U.S. draws scrutiny, Wall Street Journal, 31 juli 2026, https://archive.ph/L7dYf#selection-287.0-789.94)
- Iran says deal with Oman to manage shipping through Hormuz is close
Financial Times, 2 augustus 2026, ‘Iranian diplomats said Tehran was close to reaching a new arrangement with Oman to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a deal that is deemed critical to preventing the US-Iran war from escalating.’ Zie bijlage of https://archive.ph/trxzc#selection-1465.0-1921.250.
- Trump Lashes Out at Iranian Leadership After Tehran Says Talks With the US Aren’t Taking Place
Antiwar.com, 3 augustus 2026, ‘Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that talks are underway with Oman but that the situation in the strait won’t change as long as the US continues its blockade. President Trump on Monday attacked Iranian leadership after Tehran denied his claim that talks with the US were taking place.’ Zie bijlage of https://news.antiwar.com/2026/08/03/trump-lashes-out-at-iranian-leadership-after-tehran-says-talks-with-the-us-arent-taking-place/.
- U.S. general warns Pentagon he lacks sufficient forces to protect Israel
The Wall Street Journal, 1 augustus 2026, ’A shortage of Navy destroyers, used to defend against Iranian ballistic missile attacks, will force the head of U.S. European Command to prioritize the U.S. homeland instead, officials said.’ Zie bijlage of https://archive.ph/EVHzr#selection-648.1-660.0.
- Board of Peace says no Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before Hamas disarms
Al Jazeera. 4 augustus 2026, ‘The US-led Board of Peace has said that an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will only take place after the disarmament of Hamas is complete, following a meeting between the body’s director, Nickolay Mladenov, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.’ Zie bijlage of https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/4/board-of-peace-says-no-israeli-withdrawal-from-gaza-before-hamas-disarms.
- US nears full withdrawal from Iraq as bases in Kurdistan Region face attacks from Iran, proxies
Al-Monitor, 31 juli 2026, ‘The United States military has started to draw down its last remaining forces from Iraq stationed in the vicinity of Erbil’s airport in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, well-placed sources with close knowledge of the process confirmed to Al-Monitor.’ Zie bijlage of https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/us-nears-full-withdrawal-iraq-bases-kurdistan-region-face-attacks-iran-proxies.
- Langere dienstplicht vervroegd ingegaan in Denemarken, ook voor vrouwen
NOS.nl, 3 augustus 2026, ‘De nieuwe dienstplicht in Denemarken is ingegaan. Vanaf vandaag is de dienstplicht elf maanden in plaats van vier. Het land kende al een vrijwillige dienstplicht van vier maanden maar het aantal vrijwilligers dat zich aanmeldde, was niet voldoende. Ook kunnen vrouwen sinds vorig jaar worden opgeroepen om te dienen in het Deense leger.’ Zie verder bijlage of https://nos.nl/artikel/2625399-langere-dienstplicht-vervroegd-ingegaan-in-denemarken-ook-voor-vrouwen.
- Actievoerders blokkeren poort van Vliegbasis Volkel: ‘Hier liggen wapens die nooit hadden mogen bestaan’
Algemeen Dagblad, 3 augustus 2026, ‘Exact 81 minuten duurde de blokkade. Zo’n veertig actievoerders blokkeerden maandagmorgen de toegang tot Vliegbasis Volkel. Met een vreedzame zitactie, het zingen van liederen en het tekenen van vredestekens.’ Zie bijlage of https://archive.ph/eHLb3.
Colofon:
Vredespolitiek verschijnt elke werkdag en wordt samengesteld door Guido van Leemput met dagelijkse medewerking van Kees Kalkman en diverse los-vaste tipgevers.
Voor meer berichten, met name over bewapening, als deze zie ook Vredessite.nl; https://vredessite.nl/index.php.
Bij 3. Assault regiment commander ordered troops to fire on retreating comrades, media investigation alleges
Kyiv Independent, 30 juli 2026, https://kyivindependent.com/assault-regiment-commander-ordered-opening-fire-on-retreating-friendly-soldiers-investigation-says/
Oleh Shyriaiev, commander of Ukraine’s 225th Assault Regiment, allegedly ordered troops to open fire on retreating fellow soldiers, according to an investigation by the Ukrainian investigative outlet Texty.
Ukrainian journalist Anna Kaliuzhna’s investigation, published on July 30 in both text and video form, includes a voice message allegedly from Shyriaiev that was sent to one of the unit’s chats while the regiment was fighting in Russia’s Kursk Oblast from late 2024 to early 2025.
“A reminder to those referring to ‘our own’ — there are no ‘our own,’“ the voice, allegedly belonging to Shyriaiev, says. “There is only a specific request over the radio: ‘permission to move.’ Everything else is the enemy. Anything that’s moving is the enemy. Anyone fleeing their positions is a deserter — and they’re the enemy too. Stick to this rule.”
The voice note, sent to Kaliuzhna by multiple sources within the unit, is one example of the alleged use of “blocking forces,” in which soldiers who retreat without orders are shot or systematically threatened with being shot, though the vast majority of such cases occur in the Russian army.
Over the course of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the practice, sometimes called “nullifying,” first became notorious through its use by Russia’s Wagner mercenary group during the battles for Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast and has since become widespread across much of the Russian army.
In addition to the voice message from Shyriaiev, the investigation includes accounts from several soldiers — some named and some speaking anonymously — who had served in the regiment. They described soldiers being threatened before assaults with being shot if they turned back.
Soldiers quoted in the story, many of whom came from the regiment’s Shkval prisoner battalion, also described systemic beatings, and the holding of soldiers against their will in makeshift basement prisons, in testimonies that resemble those in a similar investigation into the 425th Assault Regiment, better known as Skelia.
Asked by the Kyiv Independent to comment on the specific allegations in this story, the 225th Regiment declined.
The 225th Assault Regiment — which fought as a battalion in Chasiv Yar before helping lead the lightning incursion into Kursk Oblast in 2024 — is one of the largest units of the Ukrainian military, having been expanded to at least 15 battalions.
In autumn 2025, after also conducting cross-border raids into Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, the unit was moved to the southern front line, where Russian forces were making rapid gains around the city of Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The Ukrainian defenses in this area, held by undermanned and often unmotivated Territorial Defense brigades, were in a state of relative chaos when then-Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi sent in the 225th to stabilize the situation.
Although reports emerged that an entire Territorial Defense brigade had retreated chaotically and that soldiers from the 225th had kidnapped Territorial Defense service members who had apparently been transferred to the regiment without their knowledge, the defense of the area around Huliaipole was successfully stabilized over the winter.
In a preemptive Facebook post the day before Kaliuzhna’s investigation was published, the regiment denied allegations that it had used blocking forces while fighting in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The post acknowledged an incident involving a beating in the Shkval battalion, adding that an internal investigation was underway.
In the investigation itself, Shyriaiev is cited as claiming that his voice message from Kursk Oblast was referring to the practice of Russian soldiers of dressing in Ukrainian uniform to infiltrate through the front line, which is why any movement not warned of in advance would be treated as made by the enemy.
Shyriaiev served in the Ukrainian nationalist formation East Corps at the onset of Russia’s war in 2014. From 2018 to 2019, he was also a close associate of pro-Russian politician Illia Kyva, who fled to Russia a month before the full-scale invasion and was later assassinated in Moscow in 2023.
The Texty investigation is the latest in a series of revelations about conditions inside some of Ukraine’s assault regiments, which were expanded into some of the country’s largest units on Syrskyi’s orders throughout 2025.
On July 29, the General Staff under new Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi announced an audit into the staffing of combat units and the distribution of manpower between them, an effort likely intended to reverse the disproportionate prioritization of units such as the 425th and 225th regiments.
Bij 4. The 225th Assault Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has refuted claims about “blocking detachments” near Hulyaypole
Liga.net, 29 juli 2026, https://news.liga.net/en/war/news/the-225th-assault-regiment-of-the-ukrainian-armed-forces-has-refuted-claims-about-blocking-detachments-near-hulyaypole
Nearly 800 soldiers from the TDF abandoned their positions near Hulyaypole without authorization during the Russian offensive in 2025, according to the 225th OSG
The military has denied reports that blocking detachments were present during the stabilization of the situation near Hulyaypole in the Zaporizhzhia region in 2025. This is stated in statement 225th Assault Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
It states that, in light of information circulating on social media regarding preparations for an investigation into the alleged presence of blocking detachments within units of the Defense Forces, the OSHP wishes to address any questions that may arise regarding the stabilization of the situation near Hulyaypole.
Military officials said the regiment had been redeployed there from the Kursk sector. This happened after the Territorial Defense units that had been holding that sector lost control.
They claim that Russian forces have already crossed the Yanchur River near the villages of Poltavka and Maliivka, and that the 102nd Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces was retreating. In just one month, nearly 300 square meters of territory were lost near Huliaipole.
The regiment added that the Territorial Defense Forces had lost control of 20 command and observation posts, nine company-level strongpoints, and 18 platoon-level strongpoints.
They mentioned a Russian video from one of the command posts. The officers left behind maps, computers containing documents, and data on the defenders.
“This is the first time in the history of the war in Ukraine that the enemy has entered an active battalion command post and filmed its own propaganda video. Amid this chaos, the TrO infantry remained at their positions without communication, without an understanding of the situation, and without command. As a result, the TrO soldiers decided to abandon their positions without authorization,” the statement reads.
The regiment added that 781 soldiers from the Territorial Defense Forces had left their positions without authorization. Virtually the entire brigade withdrew from the front line. And this withdrawal began at positions that had already been taken by assault units. Soldiers of the 225th Separate Mechanized Infantry Brigade encountered groups of people in uniform and carrying weapons who were moving toward them.
“In this situation, the 225th Assault Unit acted in accordance with the Statute of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the rules of engagement: first, they issued a verbal command to stop, followed by warning shots fired into the air, after which they detained and disarmed the servicemen for subsequent handover to the Military Law Enforcement Service for identification,” they stated.
To prevent casualties resulting from unauthorized withdrawal from positions, commanders of the 225th Special Forces Battalion had to manually establish communication with the brigade commander and the military ombudswoman By Olga Reshetilova.
“No soldier from the TrO was injured as a result of so-called ‘friendly fire.’ Therefore, any statements regarding blocking detachments are untrue,” the regiment stated.
Assault regiments in Ukraine have repeatedly have been the subject of public debate due to reports of significant losses, training conditions, and disputes over their use. They are designed to carry out the most difficult offensive operations as well as counteroffensive missions, breaking through enemy defenses, and responding rapidly in critical sectors of the front.
- On December 27, 2025, Putin was briefed on the alleged The capture of Hulyaypole and Myrnohrad, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces denied this.
- Syrsky reported that the VSP launched an investigation following a video released by the occupiers allegedly showing the capture of the Defense Forces’ command post in Hulyaypole. No details were reported regarding the outcome.
Bij 5. ‘Next 100 days may decide this war,’ Poland’s Tusk says, as he doubles down on pledge to support Ukraine
The Guardian, 30 juli 2026, https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jul/30/europe-ukraine-russia-poland-wildfires-france-spain-greece-latest-news-updates
Tusk also said today’s incident has only increased his determination to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. “Poland’s security depends directly and unequivocally on the effective actions of the Ukrainian military, including in the air. If the Ukrainians had much more of what they’ve been asking for all along, perhaps that ballistic missile wouldn’t have been launched toward Poland.”
He said Poland was determined to do whatever it could “for Ukraine not to lose this war.”
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, flanked by defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and interior minister Marcin Kierwiński, speaks to the media in a field near the village of Tarnawa Kolonia, near Lublin, Poland.
Recalling his conversation with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, last night, he said: “the matter is quite clear: the next 100 days may decide the outcome of this war, and it’s a 50/50 chance.”
He pointed to the US president, Donald Trump, “some other people,” and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk as some of the most influential people who could decide the outcome of the conflict.
Bij 6. Poland readies Ukraine ‘Coalition of Willing’ drills, eyes NATO support for border defense
Defense News, 3 augustus 2026, https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/08/03/poland-readies-ukraine-coalition-of-willing-drills-eyes-nato-support-for-border-defense/
As Europe seeks a role in future security guarantees for Ukraine, Poland is preparing to host the first military drills for the so-called Coalition of the Willing with British and French forces.
Meanwhile, the Polish military is strengthening cooperation with Germany’s Bundeswehr under the East Shield project to boost the resilience of its eastern borders to attacks and hybrid warfare from Russia and Belarus, while negotiating with the United States, France and the United Kingdom to also involve their forces.
A spokesperson for the Polish Ministry of National Defence told Defense News that the military exercise, which is scheduled to be held this fall, is part of the group’s preparations for the post-war reality in Ukraine. Before the conflict ends, coalition nations want to reach a higher level of force coordination, and the drills are expected to contribute to their increased interoperability.
“The exercise planned on the territory of Poland is part of the preparatory activities of the Coalition of the Willing as part of future security guarantees for Ukraine. Its objectives include testing the command-and-control system, the organization of logistical support, and the deployment of troops, thereby confirming the force’s ability to operate once hostilities have ended,” the spokesperson said.
The decision to hold the forthcoming exercise in Poland reflects the country’s particular role as the logistical and infrastructure hub for the Multinational Force Ukraine (MNF-U), according to the Polish ministry representative. “The core participants in the exercise on Polish territory will be France and the United Kingdom, acting as the framework nations of the Coalition of the Willing,” the spokesperson said.
The coalition is an informal group of nations led by London and Paris, established in 2025 to coordinate military and political support for Kyiv. While coordinating efforts with its French and British counterparts, the Polish ministry is also negotiating the participation of further allies in the fall drills. “At the same time, military-to-military discussions are underway regarding the participation of other countries that are members of the Coalition of the Willing,” according to the spokesperson.
Under the country’s 10 billion zloty ($2.6 billion) East Shield initiative, the Polish military is advancing projects to bolster defensive infrastructure, including fortifications and natural terrain obstacles along the roughly 800 km (497 miles) of border with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus.
In a statement, the Polish military said that rather than a single continuous line of trenches, bunkers and reinforced concrete anti-tank obstacles, the East Shield is a diversified defensive infrastructure system that incorporates the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, including the rapid increase in the use of drones and other unmanned systems.
“Depending on operational requirements, the project will also include the construction of logistics hubs, material storage facilities, fortification elements and shelters, as well as drone detection and tracking systems using radar, thermal imaging and acoustic sensors,” the statement said. “These capabilities will help effectively counter unmanned aerial systems, which, as the war in Ukraine has demonstrated, are being used with increasing frequency.”
Poland is seeking to make East Shield a priority project for NATO, and, as part of its discussions with allies, the nation’s military has established cooperation with Germany’s Bundeswehr.
In July 2026, the Polish Army said that a German military engineering unit had been deployed to Poland on a rotational basis to participate in developing the infrastructure.
“At the invitation of the Polish side, German soldiers are supporting the Polish Armed Forces in expanding defensive infrastructure on NATO’s north-eastern flank,” said Colonel Marek Pietrzak, a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces. “The involvement of the German contingent is a practical demonstration of Allied solidarity and the result of the steadily expanding military cooperation between Poland and Germany. The initiative forms part of NATO’s broader efforts to strengthen deterrence and defense capabilities on the Alliance’s eastern flank.”
Meanwhile, Polish defense officials say they are in talks with Baltic and Nordic states, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland, to exchange experiences and join forces on border strengthening efforts.
Deputy Prime Minister and National Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz says that Poland also wants to strengthen its cooperation with the United States, the UK and France.
“Polish and German soldiers are working side by side to strengthen defensive infrastructure along the border and reinforce deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said in a July 22 social media post. “This is only the beginning. Reconnaissance is underway ahead of support from French troops, and in September, reconnaissance involving American soldiers will begin.”
Bij 7. Exclusive: Inside Ukraine’s 2-year effort to secure Patriot missile production
Kyiv Independent, 3 augustus 2026, https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-how-washingtons-no-left-ukraine-defenseless-against-russias-ballistic-missiles/
As U.S. President Donald Trump backs away from giving Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot air defense missiles, Ukrainian officials say Kyiv had a chance to solve the problem years ago — but Washington rejected the idea back then as well.
The Ukrainian side has been trying to secure the licenses for almost two years. Officials told the Kyiv Independent that if the previous U.S. administration had approved the proposal, Ukraine could already be producing the interceptors needed to defend its cities from Russia’s escalating ballistic missile attacks.
“We tried to do this and suggested various options, but we were simply told ‘no’ without any explanation,” one Ukrainian official familiar with the discussions said.
Kyiv saw the problem coming
Long before Patriot missiles ran out, Kyiv was already searching for a way to reduce its dependence on U.S. deliveries.
As former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration entered its final months, Ukrainian negotiators feared that Donald Trump’s return to the White House could reshape Washington’s support for Kyiv. Rather than waiting to see what would happen, they tried to build a long-term safety net.
One of the proposals was to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles under license, either domestically or jointly with European partners.
Patriot interceptors are the only weapons capable of reliably destroying Russian ballistic missiles. Ukrainian officials believed relying entirely on future American deliveries carried obvious risks.
Senior negotiators pitched the proposal directly to then-U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and then-National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. What Ukrainian officials received in response was a simple “no.”
“No explanations — they didn’t tell us anything,” the Ukrainian official said. The Kyiv Independent contacted both Austin and Sullivan, but recieved no response so far.
Years later, the same conversation
Nearly two years later, Ukraine has returned to exactly the same request — only now under far more difficult circumstances. Russia has dramatically intensified missile attacks against Kyiv and other cities, while Ukraine faces a critical shortage of Patriot interceptors.
The urgency was on full display during Russia’s Aug. 1 attack. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Moscow launched 35 missiles, including 27 ballistic missiles. Most of the missiles targeted Kyiv. Ukraine intercepted only two of them.
The renewed push for production licenses came just as Trump appeared to retreat from earlier signals that he might approve them. The U.S. president said on July 31 that the White House had not made a final decision on allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles.
Weeks before, Trump said he would grant Ukraine its request to produce Patriot missiles. The comments also marked a notable shift from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s account of their July 28 meeting at the White House, after which the Ukrainian leader said Trump had “accepted that he will give us licenses (for Patriots).”
Even buying missiles has become harder
The licensing issue has become even more pressing because obtaining Patriot interceptors through existing channels is no easy task. Ukraine can still receive missiles through the NATO-led procurement mechanism, but officials say deliveries have slowed significantly.
Washington’s military campaign against Iran has depleted U.S. stockpiles, making the White House increasingly reluctant to transfer additional interceptors to Kyiv.
During his July 28 meeting with Trump, Zelensky told the U.S. president that Ukraine would need at least 300 Patriot missiles before winter to prevent Russia from crippling the country’s energy infrastructure.
According to Ukrainian officials familiar with the talks, Trump stopped short of committing to provide them.
A decision that still echoes
For officials in Kyiv, today’s shortage is not just the result of limited production or shifting U.S. priorities. They see it as the consequence of a decision made years earlier.
Had Washington approved the proposal when it was first presented, they argue, Ukraine would already have an independent supply of Patriot interceptors and Russia’s campaign of ballistic missile terror would have far less leverage. “By now, we would be producing as many missiles as we need and wouldn’t have this problem,” one Ukrainian official said.
Bij 8. Israël blokkeerde levering van Amerikaanse Iron Dome-systemen aan Oekraïne
Busisness.am, 3 augustus 2026, https://businessam.be/israel-blokkeerde-levering-van-amerikaanse-iron-dome-systemen-aan-oekraine/ ( zie ook House push to integrate defense industries of Israel, U.S. draws scrutiny, Wall Street Journal, 31 juli 2026, https://archive.ph/L7dYf#selection-287.0-789.94)
Israël heeft de overdracht van door de VS gefinancierde Iron Dome-systemen naar Oekraïne geblokkeerd. De voorgestelde defensiesamenwerking met Israël zou het land invloed kunnen geven op Amerikaanse wapenleveringen. Tweeledige tegenstand in de Senaat waarschuwt dat het voorstel voor nauwere defensiesamenwerking met Israël de Amerikaanse soevereiniteit kan aantasten.
De Israëlische regering heeft de levering van door de VS gefinancierde Iron Dome-luchtverdedigingssystemen aan Oekraïne verhinderd, een besluit dat binnen de Verenigde Staten tot heftige reacties leidde. Ondanks inspanningen van senator Lindsey Graham in 2023 om deze overdracht mogelijk te maken, blokkeerde premier Benjamin Netanyahu de stap. Dat meldt de Washington Post.
Patriot-systemen
Hoewel de systemen met Amerikaans overheidsgeld waren aangekocht en onderhouden, stelden Israëlische functionarissen dat de overdracht een veiligheidsrisico vormde. Ze vreesden dat gevoelige technologie via Oekraïne in handen van Iran zou kunnen vallen. In plaats van de Iron Dome-systemen heeft Israël Patriot-systemen teruggegeven aan de VS, die vervolgens naar Oekraïne werden gestuurd om de verdediging van dat land te versterken.
Voorgestelde defensiesamenwerking
Nieuwe wetgevingsinitiatieven in het Amerikaanse Huis van Afgevaardigden willen de samenwerking tussen de defensiesectoren van beide landen verder uitbreiden. Volgens critici kunnen zulke plannen toekomstige geschillen over wapenleveringen vergroten.
Tegenstanders van het voorstel waarschuwen dat een dergelijke overeenkomst Israël in feite vetorecht zou kunnen verlenen over de manier waarop de VS andere Amerikaanse wapens aan buitenlandse bondgenoten verstrekt. Het wetsvoorstel, dat deel uitmaakt van een defensiebegroting van 1,15 biljoen dollar (ongeveer 1 biljoen euro), richt zich op het uitbreiden van gezamenlijk onderzoek op het gebied van cyberbeveiliging, biotechnologie, onbemande platforms en AI.
Tegenstand in de Senaat groeit
Hoewel de maatregel al door het Huis van Afgevaardigden is aangenomen en steun heeft gekregen van het American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), stuit hij op verzet in de Senaat. Een tweepartijencoalitie van senatoren zet zich in om het wetsvoorstel tegen te houden, met het argument dat het de nationale soevereiniteit van de VS in gevaar brengt.
Deze beraadslagingen zullen naar verwachting voortduren tijdens hoorzittingen in de Senaat en kunnen tot in de herfst aanslepen. Deze spanning volgt op eerdere berichten, zoals die van de voormalige Britse minister van Defensie Ben Wallace, waarin werd opgemerkt dat Israël weigerde Oekraïne te helpen om zijn diplomatieke banden met Rusland niet te schaden. (lv)
Bij 9. Iran says deal with Oman to manage shipping through Hormuz is close
Financial Times, 2 augustus 2026, https://archive.ph/trxzc#selection-1465.0-1921.250
Negotiations on agreement seen as critical to preventing the US-Iran war from escalating said to be in ‘final stages’
Iranian diplomats said Tehran was close to reaching a new arrangement with Oman to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a deal that is deemed critical to preventing the US-Iran war from escalating.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told a cabinet meeting on Sunday that the negotiations with Oman — whose territorial waters flow through the strait — “were in the final stages”.
His comments came a day after Donald Trump said he had decided not to push ahead with a fresh assault on Iran after Gulf allies asked Washington to hold off. The US President’s renewed threats to launch attacks have stoked fears in the region of a return to full-blown conflict.
Securing a deal between Oman and Iran to allow ships to resume transiting the strait has been a key stumbling block to mediators’ efforts to revive a June 17 memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran and prevent a further escalation.
Under the MoU, the warring parties agreed to extend an April ceasefire by 60 days and for shipping through the waterway to gradually return to prewar levels. They were then supposed to begin negotiations on a final settlement to end the war.
But the interim deal unravelled after Iran began attacking ships transiting through the strait’s so-called southern route that traces Oman’s coastline. Tehran, which has sought to retain control over the chokepoint as its main source of leverage with the US, said the ships were using an “unauthorised” channel.
The US responded to the attacks on vessels by striking Iran, which prompted Iranian forces to retaliate by firing missiles and drones at bases across the region used by American forces.
There was a brief pause in the fighting as diplomatic efforts were stepped up to revive the MoU, with Oman holding talks with Iran in a bid to reach a provisional arrangement to allow shipping to resume.
But those negotiations have struggled to make headway as Iran has sought to maintain control over the strait, while Oman has been reluctant to cede its sovereign territory in relation to the waterway.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Sunday that Iran and Oman would agree on a “new route” that would be different from those used before. He said Tehran would not allow ships to use the southern route, which he described as “unsafe and harmful to our security and national interests”. Baghaei added that the new route was separate from the issue of the strait’s reopening or continued closure.
Mediators have previously thought they were close to a deal, only for the diplomatic process to break down. As Trump has become increasingly frustrated with failed attempts to reopen the strait, he has stepped up his threats to launch a new round of attacks against Iran.
On Friday he warned: “We’ll be hitting them very hard and at some point they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it any more’.”
Hours later, CBS News reported that the US and Israel were preparing to launch an aggressive joint bombing campaign against Iranian energy infrastructure. Trump said in a social media post on Saturday that the US remained “locked and loaded and ready to go”, but that he had decided to cancel a threatened strike “subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL”.
A diplomat briefed on the talks said officials from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates called US counterparts in a co-ordinated bid to convince Washington to stick to diplomacy and hold off on strikes.
Saudi Arabia said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had spoken to Trump to stress “the importance of making every possible effort to achieve calm that paves the way for diplomatic solutions”.
Gulf states feared that a resumption of US strikes against Iran would trigger intense fighting that would spread and plunge the region into further chaos, the diplomat said.
There is also concern that a new flare-up would lead to Iranian-backed Houthis, who have escalated their conflict with Saudi Arabia, attempting to close the Bab al-Mandab, another key waterway which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and ultimately the Indian Ocean.
Seven Opec+ countries, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, on Sunday called for a de-escalation in attacks against energy infrastructure and said that opening sea routes was essential for world markets.
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel first launched strikes against the Islamic republic on February 28 has triggered a global energy crisis. About a fifth of the world’s oil and gas transited the chokepoint before the war.
Bij 10. Trump Lashes Out at Iranian Leadership After Tehran Says Talks With the US Aren’t Taking Place
Antiwar.com, 3 augustus 2026, https://news.antiwar.com/2026/08/03/trump-lashes-out-at-iranian-leadership-after-tehran-says-talks-with-the-us-arent-taking-place/
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that talks are underway with Oman but that the situation in the strait won’t change as long as the US continues its blockade
President Trump on Monday attacked Iranian leadership in a post on Truth Social after Tehran denied his claim that talks with the US were taking place.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that the only negotiations underway were between Iran and Oman, but that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz wouldn’t change unless the US lifts the blockade of Iranian ports. In his post, Trump vowed the blockade would continue.
“Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous! They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg,’ talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ‘Oman,‘” Trump wrote.
“They then go on to give their usual blather in saying, the Strait of Hormuz will be operated powerfully by them, when it is already completely controlled by the United States Navy and our “Blockade” or, as some say, “The United States Wall of Steel!” Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished,” he added.
Trump concluded the post by claiming that whether “Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused, for decades. It is very simple, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”
The president told reporters later in the day that Iran was facing its last chance for a deal “before decapitation.”
Over the weekend, Trump said he decided to hold off on an attack that would have inflicted “military terror” on Iran over claims that Tehran requested the US back down and wanted talks, claims that were quickly rejected by Iranian officials. The climbdown from the US president follows a pattern of him threatening major escalations against Iran, such as massive strikes on its civilian infrastructure, then backing down while claiming a deal is close, only for Iranian officials to deny it.
The threat of escalation and more US strikes on Iran is still on the table as the US continues enforcing the blockade. US Central Command said on Sunday that since the blockade was reimposed, its forces have “redirected 35 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2.”
Bij 11. U.S. general warns Pentagon he lacks sufficient forces to protect Israel
The Wall Street Journal, 1 augustus 2026, https://archive.ph/EVHzr#selection-648.1-660.0
A shortage of Navy destroyers, used to defend against Iranian ballistic missile attacks, will force the head of U.S. European Command to prioritize the U.S. homeland instead, officials said.
The top U.S. general in Europe privately warned the Pentagon this week that he lacks sufficient naval forces to continue protecting Israel from incoming ballistic missiles, officials said, illustrating how the ongoing Iran war has imposed constraints on the military.
Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the head of U.S. European Command, sent written notification to senior Pentagon officials saying that without another Navy destroyer he will be forced to choose defense of the United States “homeland” over that of Israel, said the officials, who like some others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the correspondence.
A U.S. defense official said Grynkewich’s notification appears consistent with past outreach to the Pentagon from the military’s top generals when they see certain risks that require Washington’s consideration. This can occur, the official said, as commanders compete for finite resources and weapons.
The Pentagon declined to comment. U.S. European Command did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington could not be reached for comment.
The general’s warning comes at a tenuous moment in the five-month conflict, as near-daily attacks have resumed following the collapse of peace talks between Washington and Tehran and the operation’s intensity has drained U.S. supplies of key defensive weapons.
The Navy has been particularly taxed, as the Trump administration has directed a blockade of Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The standoff has stymied the movement of Middle Eastern oil and other commodities through the narrow waterway, upending the global economy.
U.S. naval destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea have been employed as a part of Israel’s defense for many years. The vessels, equipped with powerful radar and armed with an array of missiles, have downed missiles aimed at Israel not only by Iran, but by Houthi militants in Yemen that are equipped by Tehran.
European Command is central to this mission, as it coordinates military operations in the Mediterranean. At the same time, its forces must remain ready for any Russian incursion into territory protected by the NATO military alliance. Russia also poses a ballistic missile threat to the United States, with missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
The Navy has five destroyers that deploy from a U.S. port in Rota, Spain, with a sixth expected to arrive there later this year, Pentagon officials have said. But maintenance issues have piled up due to the Iran war’s tempo, complicating matters for Grynkewich, officials said. The Washington Post withheld specific details about the ships’ availability at the request of military officials, who cited security concerns.
As The Post reported in May, Pentagon assessments conducted earlier in the war showed that U.S. forces have shouldered the brunt of defending Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles. The assessments found that American weapons, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and naval interceptors launched from the eastern Mediterranean, were used far more frequently than Israeli air defense weapons.
Two destroyers, the USS Paul Ignatius and the USS Roosevelt, were in the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, a U.S. official said. Three destroyers were in Rota: the USS Arleigh Burke, the USS Bulkeley and the USS Oscar Austin.
Closer to Iran, an armada of additional vessels was in the Arabian Sea, including two aircraft carriers, the USS George H.W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln, and at least 15 other warships, this official said. Eleven are destroyers.
The fleet has been central to the Trump administration’s blockade of Iranian ports. It also has been involved in an effort called “Project Freedom,” in which the U.S. military has helped protect vessels in the contested Strait of Hormuz.
Another destroyer, the USS Gonzalez, is in the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthis have attempted to enforce their own blockade of commercial shipping in a bid to further the economic pressure facing the U.S. and its allies in the region. Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. partner, has sought to thwart the Houthis, a longtime adversary, by developing a military coalition to ensure freedom of navigation.
The Iran war is increasingly unpopular among the U.S. public, and members of Congress — from both political parties — have grown frustrated with the administration as top officials struggle to articulate a plan for ending the conflict on terms deemed favorable to the United States. There is a deepening worry among many Republicans, particularly, that the war’s impact on the price of gas, food and other goods will cost the party in November’s midterm elections.
Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank, said the warning issued by Grynkewich highlights the scope of the Pentagon’s challenges. “Being on a wartime footing is going to take a toll in terms of readiness and munitions inventory levels,” he said. “Now the question is: What’s the strategy here?”
Bij 12. Board of Peace says no Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before Hamas disarms
Al Jazeera. 4 augustus 2026, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/4/board-of-peace-says-no-israeli-withdrawal-from-gaza-before-hamas-disarms
The US-led Board of Peace has said that an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will only take place after the disarmament of Hamas is complete, following a meeting between the body’s director, Nickolay Mladenov, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The meeting on Monday in West Jerusalem came as Israeli politicians signalled their displeasure with the deal, announced by US President Donald Trump last Thursday.
“Contrary to inaccurate reports, we note that the withdrawal of the [Israeli military] beyond the Yellow Line will take place only once decommissioning is complete, as Hamas committed to the mediators,” the Board of Peace, established by Trump in January to oversee the administration of Gaza after Israel’s genocidal war, said. “This applies to light weapons, heavy weapons, and the tunnels alike.” The “Yellow Line” is the term used to refer to the demarcation line behind which Israeli forces continue to base themselves in Gaza.
“The goal is clear and is not in question: the complete decommissioning of weapons in the Strip and the transition away from rule by the gun to civilian governance,” the Board of Peace added in a social media post after the meeting.
For its part, Hamas has insisted that the deal will not be implemented unless Israel implements its part of the agreement.
During the talks, Mladenov urged Netanyahu to stop attacks on Gaza, two people familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press news agency. Israel has steadfastly refused to do so, despite an October 2025 “ceasefire”, since which it has killed more than 1,200 Palestinians, including more than 36 after the disarmament deal was announced.
Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians in Gaza since its genocidal war began in October 2023.
Before the meeting, Netanyahu’s office said that the version of the agreement made public “does not reflect Israel’s positions”, and that its concerns had been shared with the US.
Members of the Israeli prime minister’s far-right government have already signalled that they want to backtrack on the deal.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the agreement was “completely different” to the one the Israeli government had approved, and demanded a new vote “immediately”.
Israel has repeatedly flouted agreements and has been accused of being unwilling to make concessions during negotiations. The latest reversal comes despite a push from Trump to secure a deal, but months ahead of an Israeli election in which the government is under pressure from its base to demonstrate it has achieved total victory in Gaza.
Mladenov criticised the strikes over the weekend, without directly naming Israel. Achieving a lasting peace is hard but achievable if everyone makes their best efforts,” he wrote.
Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye, which mediated the disarmament deal, issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s targeting of civilians and healthcare facilities as a “flagrant violation of international law”.
Hamas said it and other Palestinian factions remained committed to the completion of the second phase of the ceasefire, and were awaiting a clear, official response from Mladenov and the mediators.
Bij 13. US nears full withdrawal from Iraq as bases in Kurdistan Region face attacks from Iran, proxies
Al-Monitor, 31 juli 2026, https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/us-nears-full-withdrawal-iraq-bases-kurdistan-region-face-attacks-iran-proxies
The United States military has started to draw down its last remaining forces from Iraq stationed in the vicinity of Erbil’s airport in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, well-placed sources with close knowledge of the process confirmed to Al-Monitor.
Patriot mobile air-to-surface air-defense systems that detect and shoot down incoming missiles, drones and other airborne enemy equipment have already been removed from the military compound, the sources said, without providing further details. The pullout started last week and is ongoing, with the bulk of the US forces and their heavy equipment out, the sources said. “All” of the Patriot anti-missile batteries had been redeployed to an undisclosed destination, they said, adding that other defensive weapons systems remained in place as of the time of publication.
Regional officials described the pullout as routine and in line with the US commitment to withdraw all its forces from Iraq by a Sept. 30 deadline that was agreed with Baghdad.
However, coming amid sustained attacks by Iran and its Shiite proxy militias, and on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in particular, the withdrawal has left the Kurds feeling badly exposed.
CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins declined to comment on any ongoing troop movements. Kurdistan Regional Government officials did not respond to Al-Monitor’s request for comment.
While the Patriot systems were deployed to protect US forces, the Kurds have benefited immensely from the security umbrella as well. Erbil’s airport has come under constant attack from Iran and Iran-backed militias since the start of the Iran conflict in February, including this week. US interceptors successfully deterred at least 95% of those attacks, the sources said.
The bulk of Iranian and militia attacks have targeted armed Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region. However, the Erbil compound has also been targeted multiple times. The Patriots have an operational range of between 60 to 100 miles (100-160 kilometers).
Removing the Patriots is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they defend ground troops, but on the other they have become targets themselves. The US pullout will not necessarily spell an end to US Iraqi military cooperation, with US special forces deployed at discrete low-profile locations, Michael Knights, head of research at New York-based consultancy Horizon Engage, told Al-Monitor.
US forces in Iraq are particularly vulnerable due to Iraq’s shared border with Iran and the continued aggression of the Iran-backed groups that are actively engaged in the conflict, hitting targets in Iraq and in the Gulf. Despite pledges to rein in the Iran-backed militias and disarm and demobilize them by Sept. 30, Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, has so far failed to do so, as witnessed by their recent attacks on Saudi oil fields, prompting Saudi Arabia to overtly team up with US forces to carry out retaliatory strikes across Iraq this week.
The removal of the Patriots in advance of a withdrawal of US troops on the ground has raised further questions about US stockpiles of interceptors and how the US military is now prioritizing their deployment to protect troops elsewhere in the region. “The Kurdistan Region is not a priority; the Gulf and Jordan clearly are,” said one of the sources, speaking on strict condition of anonymity.
A study published by the Center for International and Strategic Studies based in Washington shed light on the diminishing resources amid the breakdown of the US-Iranian ceasefire and of the ensuing memorandum of understanding struck between the sides in May. Building on an earlier study that was issued in April, when the ceasefire was reached, showing that 55% of the Patriot stockpile had been lost, this week’s report noted that their numbers had gone down by a further 10%. The Foreign Policy Research Institute estimated in a recent report that the United States produces around 600 Patriots per year, noting that stockpiles had already been drained due to transfers to Ukraine.
Bij 14. Langere dienstplicht vervroegd ingegaan in Denemarken, ook voor vrouwen
NOS.nl, 3 augustus 2026, https://nos.nl/artikel/2625399-langere-dienstplicht-vervroegd-ingegaan-in-denemarken-ook-voor-vrouwen
De nieuwe dienstplicht in Denemarken is ingegaan. Vanaf vandaag is de dienstplicht elf maanden in plaats van vier. Het land kende al een vrijwillige dienstplicht van vier maanden maar het aantal vrijwilligers dat zich aanmeldde, was niet voldoende. Ook kunnen vrouwen sinds vorig jaar worden opgeroepen om te dienen in het Deense leger.
De nieuwe regeling zou pas begin volgend jaar ingaan, maar volgens de legerleiding is die vervroegd vanwege de dreiging vanuit Rusland. Ook de oplopende spanningen in het Arctische gebied hebben de defensieplannen in een stroomversnelling gebracht. Begin dit jaar dreigde de Amerikaanse president Trump herhaaldelijk Groenland in te lijven en uitte daarbij aan de lopende band dreigementen aan het adres van NAVO-bondgenoot Denemarken.
Lotingsysteem
De dienstplicht in Denemarken werkt met een lotingsysteem. Alle 18-jarige jongeren krijgen hiervoor een oproep en de loting bepaalt wie er daadwerkelijk moet opkomen. Daarnaast melden zich alsnog veel vrijwilligers aan.
Zo’n 1600 dienstplichtigen zijn vandaag begonnen aan de verlengde dienstperiode, onder wie de Deense prinses Isabella. Eerst krijgen de nieuwe rekruten vijf maanden lang basistraining, daarna volgt zes maanden operationele dienst.
Uitzending naar Groenland
Naast het vernieuwde systeem introduceert het Deense leger ook nieuwe onderdelen binnen de dienstplicht, zoals een speciaal dronepeloton voor militaire operaties. Ook worden ruim honderd dienstplichtigen later deze maand uitgezonden naar Groenland. Dat is voor het eerst. Zij zullen daar een maand lang taken overnemen van beroepsmilitairen. Dat zal daarna ook op roulerende basis doorgaan.
Bij 15. Actievoerders blokkeren poort van Vliegbasis Volkel: ‘Hier liggen wapens die nooit hadden mogen bestaan’
Algemeen Dagblad, 3 augustus 2026, https://archive.ph/eHLb3
Exact 81 minuten duurde de blokkade. Zo’n veertig actievoerders blokkeerden maandagmorgen de toegang tot Vliegbasis Volkel. Met een vreedzame zitactie, het zingen van liederen en het tekenen van vredestekens.
Tijdens het afgaan van het maandelijkse luchtalarm begon de blokkade van de toegangspoort van Vliegbasis Volkel. Het tijdstip, de dag en de duur van de actie staan voor de ongeveer veertig vredesdemonstranten symbool voor de bombardementen met kernwapens op de Japanse steden Hiroshima en Nagasaki, exact 81 jaar geleden.
„Deze actie is om die verschrikkelijke en allesvernietigende bombardementen te herdenken. Maar vooral ook om de complete waanzin van de kernwapenindustrie aan de kaak te stellen”, aldus actieleider Frits ter Kuile. Hij tekent, als lid van de Amsterdamse geloofs- en leefgemeenschap Jeannette Noëlhuis, voor de organisatie van het protest.
Andere deelnemers aan de actie waren leden van actiegroepen als Artsen tegen Kernwapens, Nieuwe Vredesbeweging, Vrouwen voor Duurzame Vrede en diverse ongeruste burgers. Zoals de 75-jarige Sophia Maria (‘achternaam zeg ik niet in deze wereld van mega-opslag’): „Deze actie heeft zeker zin. We laten toch zien dat er gelukkig nog mensen zijn die het niet met die kernwapenwedloop eens zijn.”
De actie begon maandagmorgen bij de Sint-Antonius Abtkerk in Volkel. Na het zingen van een aantal liederen en een opbeurend woord van de actieleider gingen de actievoerders wandelend richting de vliegbasis. Toen ze bij de poort aankwamen, vlogen er net een aantal F-35’s over, terugkerend van hun oefenrondjes.
Vredelievend
De aanwezigheid van kernwapens op de basis in Volkel was jarenlang een publiek geheim, maar inmiddels is die aanwezigheid al verschillende keren uitgelekt en bevestigd, onder andere tijdens debatten in de Tweede Kamer. Verschillende keren was de basis het toneel van acties. In 2023 werden op de vliegbasis nog tien mensen aangehouden, die over het hek waren geklommen en op de start- en landingsbaan gingen zitten.
De 81 minuten durende actie van maandagmorgen was vredelievend. Zittend op het wegdek bij de gesloten poort werden de slachtoffers van de twee bombardementen met kernwapens herdacht. Verschillende actievoerders vertelden tijdens de zitactie hun overwegingen om actie te voeren voor de vrede.
Zoals Nicky, die verklaart dat vrede nooit en te nimmer afgedwongen kan worden door te dreigen met geweld. „En zeker niet met wapens die nooit hadden mogen bestaan.” Frits ter Kuile vindt het aantal demonstranten ‘zeer bemoedigend’. Wijzend op de toegangspoort van de vliegbasis, zegt hij: „Misschien leidt het tot een klein beetje reflectie of bezinning. Dat is al winst.”
De actie werd gadegeslagen door vertegenwoordigers van de media, maar ook door politie, marechaussee en een handvol bewakers en militairen. Twee van de militairen van de luchtmacht – werkzaam op de basis – stellen absoluut geen probleem te hebben met de actie. „Het recht om te demonstreren is een groot goed. Deze mensen hebben daar het volste recht toe.”
Ook doden zonder oorlogen
Terwijl Ter Kuile met gekleurd krijt een groot vredesteken op het wegdek tekent, worden er nog wat liederen gezongen, onder andere Bella Ciao, het opzwepende lied over het verzet tegen onrecht. Hij zegt, terwijl de marechaussees aan een ijsje likken: „Kernwapens zorgen voor groot onrecht. Want het grote probleem is dat ze ook kunnen doden zonder oorlogen.”
Guido van Leemput
