NATO allies plan to provide Ukraine with around $60 billion in military and security assistance in 2026, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Berlin. On Wednesday, Rutte said the assistance would be delivered in addition to the €90 billion loan package agreed by the European Union and … Read more
Key U.S. Allies Humiliate Trump With War Call Snub The Daily Beast Starmer speaks to Trump about importance of reopening Strait of Hormuz BBC Starmer resists Trump’s call to send warships to Strait of Hormuz The Times Starmer refuses to send warships to Strait of Hormuz The Telegraph Trump tells Britain he does not need its help to win … Read more
Merz needs close ties with both the British prime minister and Sánchez. Starmer is an important ally in the “E3” format that Germany, France and the U.K. use to coordinate European strategy toward Ukraine. Sánchez, meanwhile, represents the largest faction within the center-left Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament, with whom Merz’s conservatives … Read more
Canada announced on Aug. 8 that it will join allies in lowering the price cap on Russian oil in response to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The news follows the EU statement on implementing a new dynamic ceiling on Russian oil prices beginning Sept. 3 as part of its 18th sanctions package against Moscow. The … Read more
US demands to know what allies would do in event of war over Taiwan Financial Times China-Taiwan Weekly Update, July 11, 2025 Institute for the Study of War Getting Inside the Mind of Xi Jinping The Cipher Brief The 8-point buzzsaw facing any invasion of Taiwan Responsible Statecraft US demands clarity from allies on their role in potential war … Read more
Spain hosts key European and Arab nations to pressure Israel to halt Gaza assault. The Madrid Group has convened in Spain’s capital for a fifth time, in a meeting attended by major European and Arab nations. Pressure on Israel this year has been ramped up, with Spain calling for an arms embargo on Israel and … Read more
Britain and France have promised to muster a “coalition of the willing” to secure a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Now comes the acid test for Europe: How many countries will step up, and does that even matter, given Russia’s rejection of such a coalition as part of any settlement? Prime Minister Keir Starmer … Read more
A surprise rebel offensive surges onwards after taking control of the city of Aleppo. A lightning offensive by opposition fighters in Syria is sweeping ahead after Aleppo has fallen. President Bashar al-Assad said they will be defeated despite little resistance from his forces. So what is next for Syria and the other countries involved in … Read more
Israel and its key ally the United States have attacked the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Several European nations say they would execute the warrants if either man steps on their soil. So what might happen next? Presenter: Bernard Smith Guests: … Read more
Over the past month, Kyiv’s government has urged the U.S. and other Western partners to send more air defenses to Ukraine as Russia bombards the country with missiles and drones. If the conflict in the Middle East escalates, some observers believe it will hurt the backing for Kyiv’s war efforts. A wider conflict “could severely … Read more