1 week ago Russia eyes defense cuts as FM Lavrov predicts NATO may implode under budget strain

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Moscow planned to cut its defence spending, but that he thought a decision by NATO members to increase their own defence spending could ultimately lead to the alliance’s collapse. NATO leaders on Wednesday backed a big increase in defence spending that U.S. President Donald Trump had […]

Events

2 w. ago Nato commits to higher spending sought by Trump and mutual defence

NATO leaders on Wednesday backed the big increase in defence spending that U.S. President Donald Trump had demanded, and restated their commitment to defend each other from attack. While Trump got what he wanted at the brief summit, tailor-made for him, his NATO allies will be relieved that he committed to the fundamental principle of […]

Politics

2 w. ago Russia’s Medvedev calls EU an enemy, says Ukrainian membership would be dangerous

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that the European Union had evolved into an enemy of Russia that posed a direct threat to its security, and Moscow was now opposed to Ukraine joining the bloc. Russia has long been opposed to Ukraine joining the NATO Western military alliance – one of the reasons […]

Politics

2 w. ago With defence spending set to rise, Trump reassures NATO allies

NATO leaders were set to sign up on Wednesday to a big increase in defence spending at a short summit tailor-made for U.S. President Donald Trump, who struck a reassuring tone on his commitment to protecting fellow members of the alliance. The summit is expected to endorse a higher defence spending goal of 5% of […]

Politics

2 w. ago Mitsotakis says all NATO members should commit to defence spending target

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday that all 32 members of the NATO alliance should do their part in defence spending and commit to the agreed target so that there would be no sense of “free-riding”. NATO members agreed in principle on Sunday to boost their defence spending target to 5% of gross […]

Events

2 w. ago Spain does not expect repercussions from not meeting NATO’s 5% spending target

Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said on Wednesday his country does not expect any repercussions from its refusal to meet the defence spending target of 5% of gross domestic product to be set by NATO member countries in a Summit held in The Hague. “Spain will be a responsible ally,” Cuerpo said in an interview […]

Events

2 w. ago Russian missile attack kills 17 as Zelenskiy presses Nato allies for support

A Russian missile attack in southeastern Ukraine on Tuesday killed at least 17 people and caused sweeping damage, officials said, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Kyiv’s allies at a Nato summit to bolster Ukraine‘s defence industry. The two-part strike killed 15 and wounded more than 200 in the regional capital Dnipro, said governor Serhiy Lysak, […]

Events

2 w. ago Nato summit aims to focus on Trump’s spending goal but Iran looms large

The NATO alliance has crafted a summit in The Hague this week to shore itself up by satisfying U.S. President Donald Trump with a big new defence spending goal – but it now risks being dominated by the repercussions of his military strikes on Iran. The two-day gathering is also intended to signal to Russian […]

Politics