15 h. ago The UN is our best defence against a third world war. As Trump wields the axe, who will fight to save it? | Simon Tisdall

If the US cuts off the cash it will have world-changing effects, but it’s not the only country falling short in its obligations to the United Nations The United Nations and its agencies have long struggled with funding shortfalls. Now an entrenched problem is becoming an acute crisis in the shadow of Donald Trump’s executioner’s axe. The US is the biggest contributor, at 22%, to the UN’s core budget. In February, the White House announced a six-month review of US membership of all international organisations, conventions and treaties, including the UN, with a view to reducing or ending funding – and possible withdrawal. The deadline for decapitation falls next month.Trump’s abolition of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and scrapping of most aid programmes, has already badly damaged UN-led and UN-backed humanitarian operations, which rely on discretionary funding. Yet Trump’s axe symbolises a more fundamental threat – to multilateralism and the much-battered inter...

Politics

4 d. ago US halts weapons shipments to Ukraine over fears stockpiles are too low

Some shipments have been stopped ‘to put America’s interests first’, White House saysSee all our Ukraine war coverageThe US is halting some shipments of weapons to Ukraine amid concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much, officials said Tuesday, a setback for the country as it tries to fend off escalating attacks from Russia.Certain munitions were previously promised to Ukraine under the Biden administration to aid its defences during the more than three-year-old war. The pause reflects a new set of priorities under President Donald Trump and came after defence department officials scrutinised US stockpiles and raised concerns. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Donald Trump reiterates calls for ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas – Middle East crisis live

US president says online ‘make the deal in Gaza’ and ‘get the hostages back’ as he says he believes a ceasefire can be reached within a weekDuring the 12-day war, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 627 civilians and injured nearly 4,900 others in Iran, according to official figures.The war on Iran – cast as a preemptive attack for self-defence – was launched by Israel and later joined in by the US. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Change in Nato mindset brought on by Vladimir Putin as much as Donald Trump

Allies agreed to raise defence spending to counter likely prospect of Russian remilitarisation if Ukraine war endsThe price was high, but for now, at least, a crisis in Nato has been averted. Donald Trump may like to take the credit for almost all of the 32 allies agreeing to a sharp increase in defence spending, but the reality is that the dramatic change in the Nato mindset was as much brought on by Vladimir Putin.The Russian president’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was the first jolt, but there is a second uncomfortable reality. If there is a sustainable ceasefire in Ukraine, it will mean the deployment of a European-led peacekeeping force in the country – and after a while, Russia’s military might will inevitably recover. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Nuclear attack risks to UK are rising, chilling warning from Defence Secretary John Healey at Nato summit

The Cabinet minister also told how Britain has to strengthen its homeland defences against the threat of war

Events

1 week ago Nuclear attack risks to UK are rising, warns Defence Secretary John Healey at Nato summit

The Cabinet minister also told how Britain has to strengthen its homeland defences against the threat of war

Events

1 week ago UK to buy new fighter jets for RAF’s first nuclear role since Cold War

Ministers hailed the announcement as the ‘biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation’

Events

1 week ago Did Donald Trump just become the most powerful president in modern history?

With one unprovoked strike against Iran, and a compliant Congress in tow, Trump shows that he wields the most unilateral power of any American leader since Lincoln, writes John Bowden

Politics

1 week ago UK to spend 5% of GDP on security as wars rage in Europe and Middle East, says Starmer ahead of Nato summit

The Prime Minister stressed Britain has been plunged into an ‘era of radical uncertainty’ by growing threats

Events

1 week ago Zelenskyy calls Russia, Iran and North Korea a ‘coalition of murderers’ during UK visit

Ukrainian president’s remark came on visit to discuss Moscow’s war and defence cooperation with Kier StarmerVolodymyr Zelenskyy has described Russia, Iran and North Korea as a “coalition of murderers” during a visit to London in which he held talks with Keir Starmer on defence cooperation and how to put further pressure on Moscow.Ukraine’s president arrived in the UK on Monday, hours after the Kremlin launched another big air raid on Kyiv. It involved 352 drones – half of them were Iranian-designed Shaheds - and North Korean ballistic missiles in what Zelenskyy called “a completely cynical strike”. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago US WW3 fears as officials 'do not seek war with Iran' despite missile strikes

The United States does not seek war with Iran, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday after a missile attack on the country's nuclear facilities, while Vice President JD Vance said the strikes have given Tehran a chance to negotiate

Events

2 w. ago Trump sets deadline of two weeks to decide if US will join Israel’s war on Iran

US president leaves window for negotiation after Israeli defence minister openly embraces regime change Middle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has set a two-week deadline to decide whether the US will join Israel’s war with Iran, allowing time to seek a negotiated end to the conflict, the White House has said.The decision to leave a window for diplomacy came after Israel’s defence minister openly embraced regime change in Tehran as a war aim. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump Organization unveils $499 gold phone raising new concerns on conflicts of interest

President’s family business enters sector regulated by US agencies while Trump wields executive power over themUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump has launched a mobile phone service and $499 gold smartphone, the latest monetization of his presidency by a family business empire now run by his sons.The Trump Organization unveiled Trump Mobile on Monday with a $47.45 monthly plan – both the service name and price referencing Trump as the 47th president. The company will also sell a gold-cased “T1” smartphone in September etched with the American flag. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Iran threatens US and UK and warns they could be next as Middle East descends into war and Israel warns 'Tehran will burn' following overnight missile attacks

Iran has warned the United States and UK that it could retaliate if they come to Israel 's defence, amid fears the entire region will descend into war.

Events

3 w. ago Voices: Will Israel’s war on Iran force Keir Starmer to raise defence spending even more?

Despite talking of moving Britain to ‘war-fighting readiness’, the prime minister has so far resisted Nato pressure to increase spending further, writes John Rentoul

Politics

3 w. ago Trump reveals identity of Joe Biden 'deep state' official he believes wielded the autopen to sign orders

Donald Trump has suggested which former 'deep state' official he believes may behind Joe Biden 's infamous autopen.

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Hope is not a strategy’: Why Nato is calling for Cold War levels of defence spending

Mark Rutte’s demands for a huge increase in defence spending are a necessary evil, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Events

3 w. ago Could an alliance of eight small countries turn out to be Europe’s anchor? | Paul Taylor

Amid geopolitical storms and the rise of populism, the ‘Nordic-Baltic eight’ is gaining clout as a bulwark of western resolveWith Europe’s political kaleidoscope spinning wildly in the populist winds, a group of northern countries is gaining weight as a geopolitical anchor. Known as the Nordic-Baltic eight (NB8 in diplomatic jargon), it brings together small northern European states that, individually, might have little clout in international security and politics. But since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, they have wielded growing influence as a pressure group for western resolve, offering an attractive blend of democratic security, defence integration and societal resilience.Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden established their regional cooperation format in 1992, after the end of the cold war, with regular meetings of prime ministers, parliamentary speakers, foreign and defence ministers and senior government officials. It beg...

Politics

4 w. ago Russia is already at war with Britain and we can no longer rely on Trump, defence adviser warns

‘Russia is at war with us’, one of the authors of Sir Keir Starmer’s flagship strategic defence review has warned

Events