Jul 25, 2026
President Trump said he would remove Syria from the state sponsor of terrorism designation during a bilateral meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the NATO summit in Turkey, clearing the way for private-sector investment in Syria.
President Donald Trump stated he will lift sanctions on Turkey and make a decision on selling F-35 fighter jets to Ankara during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a NATO summit. The move represents a significant policy shift despite concerns from Israel and questions about Turkey's S-400 missile defense system.
President Donald Trump is traveling to Ankara, Turkey, for the annual NATO summit this week, where he will focus on enforcing defense spending pledges that alliance members made at last year's summit in response to his demands.
Turkish authorities detained more than 100 people, including protesters, journalists, academics and left-wing activists, in the days before Ankara hosts a major NATO summit. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian and Syrian leaders on the sidelines of the alliance gathering.
US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a lengthy phone call discussing Ukraine and potential peace negotiations, just as NATO leaders gathered in Ankara for their summit. The call, in which Trump positioned himself as a peacemaker, comes amid uncertainty over how to bring Putin to the negotiating table.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe and sharply criticized NATO allies for failing to provide base access during the Iran war, calling their response 'shameful' and threatening to withhold NATO dues.
French Rafale fighter jets shot down a drone that entered NATO member Latvia's airspace from Russia on Monday, marking the first such interception by NATO forces. The incident highlights growing security concerns along Europe's eastern border.
The United States announced plans to pull significant military assets from NATO, including reducing fighter jets by a third, along with destroyers and submarines. No clear timeline was provided for the withdrawal as the US seeks to reduce its commitments to the alliance.
NATO fighter jets were scrambled and Lithuania's prime minister and president were moved to a safe house after a drone was detected flying over the capital city of Vilnius. The incident highlights heightened security concerns on NATO's eastern flank.
NATO's top commander General Alexus Grynkewich confirmed the US will withdraw an armored brigade (5,000 troops) from Europe and indicated additional withdrawals should be expected as European allies strengthen their own defense capabilities.
Germany announced it will deploy a Patriot air defense battery and approximately 150 troops to Turkey under a NATO mission, replacing a US deployment and reinforcing the alliance's southeastern flank amid the Iran conflict.
Russia's parliament has passed legislation that would allow President Putin to authorize military operations in foreign countries, raising concerns among NATO allies about potential testing of the alliance's commitment to collective defense.
Latvia's defense minister resigned following a Ukrainian drone strike on an empty fuel depot in Latvia. Ukrainian officials stated Russia is spoofing Ukraine's drones, causing them to strike Baltic nations instead of Russian targets. This marks the fifth eastern NATO country to see defense minister turnover recently.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO Secretary General and Danish Prime Minister, called for creation of a new European defense alliance independent of the US, warning of NATO's potential disintegration. The statement reflects growing European concerns about US commitment to collective defense amid Trump's Iran war policies.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Friday, urging European allies to take concrete action against Iran and support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while expressing frustration that allies are not backing Washington's confrontational approach.
Poland's defense minister urged NATO countries to reach the alliance's 5% GDP defense spending target by 2030, five years ahead of the previous 2035 timeline, amid growing concerns about European security and US troop withdrawals.
The Pentagon announced plans to draw down 5,000 US troops stationed in Germany, prompting criticism from senior Republican lawmakers who warn it undermines deterrence against Russia, while Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed confidence there would be no gap in NATO's conventional deterrence capability in Europe.
The Pentagon announced withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany, with Trump threatening additional cuts in Spain and Italy over disputes about the Iran war and NATO burden-sharing. The move blindsided NATO allies and drew criticism from senior Republicans who warned it sends wrong message to Russia.
Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans to significantly expand the military by adding 75,000 soldiers in response to the US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. The move represents a major shift in German defense policy amid NATO tensions.
President Trump said the US is considering reducing troop numbers in Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Trump's handling of Iran negotiations, calling the US approach 'humiliating.' The move adds to growing tensions between the US and NATO allies.
NATO is considering ending its practice of holding annual summits to avoid a potentially tense encounter with US President Donald Trump in his final year, according to six sources. The move reflects deep tensions within the alliance over Trump's policies.