Nato secretary general Mark Rutte is in Ankara for a summit marked by tricky diplomacy, as leaders aim to mollify an unpredictable Donald Trump over his demands for increased defense spending. The US president has pressured allies to raise their budget contributions, calling the current situation 'ridiculous' and 'one-sided' in a Truth Social post comparing the vast US spend of $999m (£747m) with smaller European figures.
Trump's Demands and Nato's Response
Trump has called for Nato members to spend 5% of GDP on defense, a target far above the current 2% guideline. Rutte urged allies to present 'clear, concrete and credible plans' to reach spending targets. 'President Trump fully expects that all allies will step up immediately and get on the path to 5% and do it with urgency,' he said. The US is planning to cut troops and materiel assigned to Europe in the event of a war with Russia, adding urgency to the talks.
New Arms Contracts and Industry Forum
On the sidelines of the summit, Nato members will announce tens of billions in new arms contracts at an industry forum. This move aims to demonstrate commitment to defense spending and modernize capabilities amid rising tensions with Russia.
Wider Tensions Between US and Allies
Beyond spending, Trump has strained relations with allies by threatening to take control of Greenland from Denmark, failing to consult European leaders before the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran, and complaining that countries like the UK did not allow US jets to bomb Iran from their territory. He also accused Italy's Giorgia Meloni of being obsessed with him, and relations with Canada's Mark Carney are tense after Trump voiced interest in a US takeover of Canada.
Calls for Graham Platner to Drop Out After Sexual Assault Allegation
Calls for Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for US Senate in Maine, to withdraw his candidacy intensified after a woman accused him of sexual assault. Jenny Racicot, 41, who previously dated Platner, alleged he forced her to have sex despite repeated objections, according to an exclusive Politico report. The report cited accounts from a man Racicot later confided in, therapist emails, and messages where she warned an acquaintance about Platner in 2023.
Platner denied the claims, stating, 'These allegations are troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.' However, top Democratic figures, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic senatorial campaign committee chair Kirsten Gillibrand, called for him to withdraw. 'The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot,' they said in a joint statement.
US Airman Avoids British Trial Over Indecent Exposure
A US airman, Hannes Marschalek, who allegedly exposed himself to a 16-year-old girl and four young women in England, avoided the English justice system after the US military took control of the case. Cambridgeshire police received complaints in 2022 that Marschalek had indecently exposed himself to women as they walked past his home in a small Cambridgeshire town.
Marschalek was eventually court-martialed at his airbase in 2023, where he negotiated a plea bargain. He later won an appeal in a US military court that quashed his conviction on technical grounds. The case echoes that of Capt Jacob Wulfson, a US fighter pilot who strangled a British woman in Cambridge. In both cases, Cambridgeshire police ceded responsibility to the US military, even though the crimes occurred on English soil while the perpetrators were off duty. Wulfson's victim described the ordeal as 'degrading'.
Other News
The USMNT crashed out of the World Cup in Seattle after a 4-1 loss to Belgium, following controversy over Trump's intervention in a key player's suspension. Utah prosecutors began presenting their case in the killing of Charlie Kirk, with a five-day preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for trial. An Idaho woman who said her infant twins died from vaccines has been charged with murder; Andrea Shaw and her husband appeared on a RFK Jr-linked podcast after the deaths. Staff for Mitch McConnell said the Kentucky senator was 'continuing his recovery' in hospital, but details remain scarce.
Stat of the Day: Microsoft Cuts 4,800 Jobs
Microsoft is eliminating about 4,800 jobs, roughly 2% of its global workforce, in a cost-cutting move. The cuts include the deepest overhaul in Xbox's history, with approximately 3,200 gaming jobs shed and four game studios spun off or sold.
Culture Pick: The Pitt
At a time of wars and political divisions, the gritty US hospital drama 'The Pitt' offers optimism. The show interweaves life-or-death medical cases with personal crises in a real-time format, as reviewed by Michael Hogan.
Climate Check: Oil Companies Profiting Amid Climate Crisis
Despite scientific consensus that burning fossil fuels drives the climate crisis, the world's biggest oil companies plan to increase production, as reported by Jonathan Watts. This increases the risk of severe climate events, illustrated by wildfires raging across southern Europe.
