Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at the biggest issues on NATO’s agenda, China test-firing a ballistic missile, and a funeral procession for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Future of NATO
It’s a precarious time for the world’s largest military alliance. U.S. President Donald Trump continues to undermine NATO with threats of withdrawal. Several member states are struggling to meet new defense spending requirements. Russia’s war against Ukraine remains a threat to European security. And differences over how to handle the Iran war risk exacerbating tensions among allies.
Welcome to NATO 3.0.
Dozens of foreign leaders will convene in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday for this year’s NATO leaders’ summit. According to NATO chief Mark Rutte, the two-day conference will focus on bolstering Europe’s defense responsibilities in an effort to keep Washington engaged in the alliance. This summit will be the beginning of a trans-Atlantic “defense industrial revolution,” Rutte said at the Atlantic Council last month.
