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Germany’s defence minister said the United States’ decision to withdraw about 5,000 troops from the country was “foreseeable,” as NATO seeks more details from Washington amid concerns over the alliance’s future. Speaking to DPA news agency, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the presence of US forces in Europe  especially in Germany  remains important for both sides. He added that Berlin still values close military cooperation with Washington. NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said the alliance is in talks with the US to better understand the scope and impact of the decision. President Donald Trump indicated that more cuts could follow. Asked about the troop withdrawal, he said the US would reduce its forces “way down,” suggesting the number could be far higher than 5,000, though he gave no specifics. The move comes after tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who recently criticised the US over its handling of negotiations with Iran, saying Washington had been “humiliated.” The US currently has more than 36,000 troops stationed in Germany — its largest military presence in Europe compared to about 12,000 in Italy and 10,000 in the United Kingdom. Trump has also floated the idea of reducing troop levels in Italy and Spain. The decision follows earlier steps to scale back US forces in Romania, part of a broader strategy to shift military focus toward the Indo-Pacific region. The latest move has raised concerns within the 32-member NATO alliance that reduced US presence could weaken collective security. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that internal divisions, rather than external threats, pose the greatest risk to the transatlantic alliance and urged members to act to reverse the trend. In Washington, senior Republican lawmakers also voiced concern. Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers said maintaining a strong US military presence in Europe is vital for deterrence. Pistorius said Europe must take on greater responsibility for its own security, noting that Germany has significantly increased defence spending in recent years. Under the current government, Germany’s defence budget is expected to rise to €105.8 billion by 2027, pushing total defence-related spending to about 3.1% of GDP, including support for Ukraine. Trump has long criticised NATO allies, including Germany, for not meeting defence spending targets, though Berlin has recently moved closer to those goals. NATO officials say the US decision highlights the need for European countries to further boost defence investment and share more of the security burden. The troop withdrawal is expected to be completed within six to twelve months, according to the Pentagon. Tensions between Trump and allies have also grown over disagreements on military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has restricted shipping following US and Israeli strikes earlier this year. With inputs from BBC

British military veterans and families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan have expressed anger over remarks by US President Donald Trump, saying his comments downplayed the role of Nato allies in the war. Trump said in a recent interview that America’s Nato partners sent “some troops” to Afghanistan but stayed away from the front lines, a claim strongly rejected by veterans and relatives of the dead. Andy Reid, a former British soldier who lost both legs and an arm after stepping on a Taliban explosive device in Helmand province, said Trump should apologise. He said British and American troops served side by side on the front lines. Many veterans said the remarks were disrespectful to those who were injured or killed during the conflict. A total of 457 British service members died in Afghanistan, while thousands more were wounded. British forces were deployed in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014 after the US invoked Nato’s Article 5 following the 9/11 attacks. At its peak, the UK had around 11,000 troops in the country, making it the second-largest contributor after the US. Andy Allen, a former soldier injured by an improvised explosive device in 2008, said he plans to write to the White House to stress that Nato troops fought alongside US forces on the front lines. Relatives of fallen soldiers also voiced their pain. Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson was severely injured in Afghanistan, said the comments were shocking and ignored the sacrifices made by allied troops. Other Nato veterans from Canada and the US also criticised Trump’s remarks, saying the mission could not have been carried out without allied support.   With inputs from BBC

Downing Street has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Nato troops stayed away from the front lines during the war in Afghanistan, calling the remarks wrong and dismissive of allied sacrifices. The Prime Minister’s office said Trump was “wrong to diminish” the role of Nato forces, including British troops, who fought alongside the United States following the 9/11 attacks. Britain joined the US-led operation in 2001 after Nato invoked its collective defence clause for the first and only time. Trump’s comments, made in an interview with Fox News, triggered strong criticism across the UK political spectrum and among veterans. Armed Forces Minister Al Carns described the remarks as “utterly ridiculous” and “a real shame,” while Defence Secretary John Healey said British soldiers who died in Afghanistan should be remembered as heroes. Opposition leaders also condemned the statement. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called it “flat-out nonsense,” and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said the prime minister should demand an apology from Trump. Veterans and families of those injured or killed expressed anger and hurt. Former soldiers said the suggestion that Nato forces avoided combat was disrespectful, noting that British and allied troops fought in some of the most dangerous regions, including Helmand province. According to official figures, 457 British service personnel were killed during nearly two decades of conflict in Afghanistan, with many more suffering life-changing injuries. Downing Street said their service and sacrifice, alongside US and other Nato allies, would never be forgotten.   With inputs from BBC

US President Donald Trump’s claim that Nato troops stayed “a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan has drawn strong criticism from UK politicians and veterans’ families. Trump made the remarks during a Fox News interview on Thursday. He said he was “not sure” Nato would support the US if needed and suggested that allied troops in Afghanistan stayed behind the front lines. UK Health and Social Care Minister Stephen Kinnock called the comments “deeply disappointing” and “plainly wrong.” He said British and other Nato troops had always stood alongside US forces and many had lost their lives in American-led missions. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described Trump’s remarks as “flat-out nonsense.” Labour MP Emily Thornberry called them “an absolute insult” to British service personnel. Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said Trump, who avoided military service five times, had no right to question the sacrifices of 457 British troops killed in Afghanistan. The UK joined the US in Afghanistan in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, invoking Nato’s collective security clause. Thousands of British soldiers served there over the next two decades. Stephen Kinnock said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer would convey the country’s position to Trump, highlighting the service and sacrifices of the armed forces.   With inputs from BBC

Nato said the issue of Greenland’s sovereignty was not discussed in a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, after Trump claimed a “framework of a future deal” had been discussed. Trump said the United States is exploring a potential deal on Greenland following the talks with Nato. He also dropped planned tariffs on eight European countries and repeated that he would not use force to take the island. Diplomatic sources, cited by US media, said there was no agreement for American control or ownership of Greenland. Rutte said he did not discuss Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland during his meeting with Trump. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark is open to talks on security, investment and the economy, but sovereignty is not negotiable. She said decisions on issues related to Denmark and Greenland can only be taken by Denmark and Greenland. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said allies have been working on ideas to strengthen Arctic security, including an “Arctic sentry” plan under Nato. She said the UK has stayed firm in supporting Danish and Greenlandic sovereignty. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is due to meet Frederiksen for talks later.   With inputs from BBC

US President Donald Trump said the United States and Nato have discussed a “framework of a future deal” linked to Greenland and the wider Arctic region, as he backed off a threat to impose new tariffs on several European allies. In a social media post after meeting Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, Trump described the talks as “very productive” and claimed they produced a framework for an agreement concerning Greenland and the Arctic, without offering specific details. Nato also termed the meeting “very productive” and said discussions among allies would focus on strengthening Arctic security through collective efforts, including the seven Arctic allies. Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff would report directly to him as discussions continue. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen welcomed what he described as a better end to the day, while stressing Denmark’s “red lines” and the need to respect sovereignty as talks address US security concerns in the Arctic. Trump later told US media the possible arrangement could involve mineral rights and elements tied to his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence concept, while repeating that he would not use military force to pursue the territory. The US president had threatened to impose a 10% tariff from Feb 1 — and raise it to 25% from June 1 — on imports from several European countries unless a deal was reached related to Greenland. After the Nato talks, he said those tariffs would not go into effect.   With inputs from BBC

President Donald Trump on Saturday called on NATO countries to stop buying Russian oil and warned of imposing tariffs of 50% to 100% on China over its continued purchases of Russian petroleum. In a post on his social media platform, Trump said NATO’s commitment to the Ukraine war has been “far less than 100%,” describing the purchase of Russian oil by some alliance members as “shocking.” Addressing NATO members, he wrote: “It greatly weakens your negotiating position and bargaining power over Russia.” Since 2023, Turkey has been the third-largest buyer of Russian oil, after China and India, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Other NATO members, including Hungary and Slovakia, also continue to import Russian oil. It remains unclear whether Trump intends to confront Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán directly. Trump’s comments came after multiple Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Wednesday, a NATO ally. Poland shot down the drones, but Trump downplayed the incursion, suggesting it “could have been a mistake.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, called the drone incident “unacceptable and dangerous,” though he said it was still unclear whether Russia deliberately targeted Poland. Trump calls 50% India tariffs a big deal, says it caused a rift with India While Trump has repeatedly pledged to end the war swiftly, critics say he has avoided pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin. His recent meeting with Putin in Alaska produced little progress toward peace. Meanwhile, Congress is pressing him to support a bill toughening sanctions against Moscow. The U.S. and its allies are moving to show firmer resolve. At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday, acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea reaffirmed that Washington “will defend every inch of NATO territory,” calling the drone incursion “a sign of immense disrespect” for U.S.-led peace efforts. Britain on Friday also banned 70 vessels linked to Russian oil trade and sanctioned 30 individuals and companies, including Chinese and Turkish businesses accused of supplying Russia with weapons components. Trump argued that a NATO-wide ban on Russian oil, combined with heavy tariffs on China, would be a decisive step. “China has a strong grip over Russia, and powerful tariffs will break that grip,” he wrote, adding that tariffs could be withdrawn once the war ends. The U.S. president has already imposed a 25% import tax on Indian goods tied to Russian energy purchases, raising the overall tariff to 50%. Still, Trump has indicated a willingness to negotiate with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tensions with China remain high. Earlier this year, Trump’s 145% tariffs on Chinese goods prompted Beijing to retaliate with 125% tariffs on U.S. exports, effectively freezing trade between the world’s two largest economies. Subsequent negotiations lowered U.S. tariffs to 30% and China’s to 10%. In his latest post, Trump blamed the war on his predecessor Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while notably excluding Putin. His remarks followed a call with Group of Seven finance ministers on Friday, during which U.S. officials urged their counterparts to cut off revenues funding Russia’s war effort.

Nato summits typically aim to present a united front, and next week's gathering in The Hague will be no different—though behind the scenes, the spotlight is firmly on one man: Donald Trump. Newly appointed Secretary General Mark Rutte has carefully orchestrated the two-day event to ensure there are no confrontations with the alliance’s most influential member, the United States. A key focus will be a renewed pledge from European members to boost defence spending, aligning with President Trump’s longstanding demand—a message he has delivered consistently since his first term, when he publicly chastised allies for falling short and claimed they owed the US “massive amounts of money.” Geneva hosts talks on Iran-Israel conflict Though Trump is only one of 32 leaders attending, his presence has shaped the entire agenda. The main deliberations have been condensed to just three hours, and the final summit declaration trimmed to five paragraphs—reportedly due to Trump’s preferences. The Netherlands is hosting what will be the most expensive Nato summit to date, with Dutch authorities deploying an unprecedented security operation costing €183.4 million. Trump’s scepticism of multilateral organisations, including Nato, remains unchanged. His America First policy continues to clash with many European leaders on key issues such as trade, Russia, and the conflict in the Middle East. Rutte, known for his good rapport with Trump, has worked behind the scenes to offer the US president a policy win. The summit’s streamlined format, some say, is partly designed to suit Trump’s aversion to lengthy meetings. But the real benefit, analysts argue, is that it limits opportunities for divisions to become visible. “Trump likes to be the star of the show,” says Ed Arnold of the defence think tank Rusi, who expects the former president to take credit for pushing European allies to act. While several US presidents have urged Nato countries to contribute more to defence, Trump has arguably been more effective than most. Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to Nato, acknowledges that not all European governments appreciated Trump’s confrontational approach—especially his demand that allies raise defence spending to 5% of GDP. Nonetheless, some have conceded that the pressure had a necessary impact. “We needed to do this, even if it’s unfortunate that it took such a kick in the pants,” Volker says. A few countries, particularly those close to Russia like Poland, Estonia and Lithuania, are now aiming for that 5% mark. But for others, even the previously agreed 2% remains out of reach. To reconcile these gaps, Rutte has proposed a compromise: increasing core defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, with an additional 1.5% earmarked for defence-related expenditures. However, critics warn the broad definition of “defence-related” spending—potentially including infrastructure like bridges and roads—opens the door to “creative accounting.” Arnold notes that the flexibility could dilute the seriousness of the target. Even if the new spending goals are adopted, many nations may not have the political will or resources to meet them by 2032 or 2035. Spain’s prime minister has already pushed back, calling the targets unrealistic and counterproductive. In the UK, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has not committed to a timeline, though the British government’s Nato-centric defence stance means he will likely support the framework. Israel and Iran exchange new strikes as US weighs military role, diplomatic efforts intensify The pressure for higher defence spending isn't just about appeasing the US—it aligns with Nato’s classified war plans, which outline responses to a potential Russian attack. Rutte has warned that Moscow could strike a Nato member within five years. In a recent speech, he detailed the alliance’s urgent needs: a 400% increase in air and missile defences, thousands more tanks and vehicles, and millions of artillery shells. Many member states, including the UK, fall short of these capability commitments. Sweden is doubling its army, and Germany plans to increase its military personnel by 60,000. US Army Europe head General Christopher Donahue recently stressed the need to reinforce Poland and Lithuania near Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave, admitting Nato’s current defences are insufficient. Despite the focus on Russia, the summit is expected to sidestep direct debate on the Ukraine war—reflecting deep transatlantic differences. “Under Trump, the US does not see Ukrainian security as essential to European security but our European allies do,” says Volker. Trump has previously undermined Nato unity by engaging with Vladimir Putin and delaying military aid to Ukraine. According to Arnold, potentially divisive issues have been stripped from the agenda, including a much-anticipated review of Nato’s Russia strategy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the summit dinner but has not been invited to participate in the main North Atlantic Council sessions. As Rutte prepares to chair his first summit as secretary general, he hopes for a smooth event. But with Trump’s views diverging from much of the alliance—especially on Russia—the outcome remains uncertain. #Source: BBC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the leaders of dozens of European countries and organizations for a one-day summit in Albania's capital Friday to discuss security and defense challenges across the continent, with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine at the top of the agenda. On the eve of the summit in Tirana, Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned an offer by Zelenskyy to meet face-to-face in Turkey to try to secure a ceasefire with Moscow, sending a low-level delegation instead. European leaders criticize Putin's decision not to met Zelenskyy “I think Putin made a mistake by sending a low level delegation,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said as he arrived for the summit under a steady drizzle. “The ball is clearly in his part of the field now, in his court. He has to play ball. He has to be serious about wanting peace. So I think all the pressure is now on Putin,” Rutte added. Zelenskyy did not make any comments as he arrived for the summit, walking with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama along the red carpet past the gathered media. European Union foreign chief Kaja Kallas said Putin was “playing games, which shows that they are not serious about peace.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was clear that “President Zelenskyy was ready to meet but President Putin never showed up, and this shows his true belief. So we will increase the pressure.” Von der Leyen said the EU is preparing a new package of sanctions. She said that the measures will target the shadow fleet of aging cargo vessels that Russia is using to bypass international sanctions and the Nord Stream pipeline consortium. Russia’s financial sector would also be targeted, she said. EU envoys have been working on the new sanctions package for several weeks, and the bloc’s foreign ministers could enact them as soon as Tuesday. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni stressed that efforts to reach a deal on Ukraine must continue. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are set to hold their first peace talks in 3 years “I think ... that we must not throw in the towel. I think we must insist, we must insist for an unconditional ceasefire and a serious peace agreement that includes guarantees of security for Ukraine,” she said. The spurning of the offer for direct talks with Zelenskyy “is clear evidence that Putin doesn’t seriously want peace. He’s dragging his heels,” said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “And that’s why today is a really important opportunity, to work with colleagues to make sure that we are absolutely united.” Summit a chance for bilateral meetings The theme of the European Political Community, or EPC, summit in Tirana is “New Europe in a new world: unity — cooperation — joint action.” The gathering of leaders from about 50 nations and organizations will also address ways to improve the continent’s competitiveness and tackle unauthorized migration. But the EPC will also be a setting for leaders to meet bilaterally, or in small groups, to weigh in on major security issues. The inaugural summit in Prague in 2022 saw the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia holding rare talks in an effort to ease tensions between the longtime adversaries. Last weekend, Zelenskyy hosted French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Kyiv, where they made a joint call for a 30-day end to hostilities. “As Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues, its consequences stretch far beyond Ukraine’s borders, straining our security and testing our collective resilience,” Albania's Rama and European Council President António Costa wrote in their EPC summit invitation letter. The last summit, hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, an ardent supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, was dominated by the concerns and opportunities that might arise in the wake of Trump's reelection. The leaders arrived in Tirana’s central Skanderbeg Square on a rainy morning and were to be greeted by a brief performance by dancers in folk costumes before heading into the temporary conference hall, set up at the foot of a monument to Albania's national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu, or Skanderbeg, who fought against the Ottoman Empire. Albania hosts a major summit days after election Rama's governing Socialist Party won Albania’s May 11 parliamentary election, attracting voters who support the country’s long and somewhat uphill effort to join the European Union. The vote secured a fourth term for Rama. The prime minister said that the summit is a point of pride for Albania, and an “inspiration and motivation to continue further on.” His Socialist Party says it can deliver EU membership in five years. The EPC forum is Macron's brainchild, and was backed by former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, aiming to boost security and prosperity across the continent. But critics claimed it was an attempt by them to put the brakes on EU enlargement. The 2022 inaugural summit involved the EU's 27 member countries, aspiring partners in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, as well as neighbors like the U.K. — the only country to have left the EU — and Turkey. Russia is the one major European power not invited, along with Belarus, its neighbor and supporter in the war with Ukraine. The next EPC meeting will take place in Denmark later this year.  54 people killed in overnight airstrikes on southern Gaza city amid Trump's Mideast trip

Spain will meet NATO's defence spending target this year, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Tuesday, as pressure grows on the eurozone's fourth-largest economy to boost its military expenditure. Sánchez said the government will raise defence spending by 10.5 billion euros ($12 billion) to reach NATO's target of 2% of GDP, AP reports. The spending will go toward telecommunications, cybersecurity and buying military equipment, he said, as well as raising salaries and adding troops. Spain spent the least of all NATO members last year on defence as a share of GDP. It previously committed to reaching the 2% target by 2029. But it has come under pressure for not spending enough amid a widening chasm in the transatlantic alliance as the Trump administration says its security priorities lie elsewhere. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly taken European allies to task for not spending enough on their own defence and has pushed NATO allies to raise defence spending to as much as 5% of GDP. Trump’s tariffs and uncertainty dampen US, global economic prospects: IMF Facing what he called a “changing era," Sánchez said it was time for Spain to “take control of our own destiny” and contribute to Europe's rearmament. “If you asked me years ago about my government's investment priorities in security and defence, it's obvious my response would have been different,” Sánchez said. “That's not because our values have changed ... it's because the world has.” The Socialist leader heads a minority government with hard-left coalition partners that oppose defence and military increases. Sánchez said his plan to boost defence spending would not go through Parliament.