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Thursday, December 18, 2025
9 minutes ago
Health
News

House Approves Nationwide Ban on Transing Kids.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The House passed a bill prohibiting transgender surgeries and hormone treatments for minors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced the bill; 216 House members voted in favor, including three Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bill was approved on Wednesday in the U.S. House of Representatives.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Most Americans agree that kids just need to grow up before they do anything radical, like a mastectomy on a 15-year-old girl, castrate themselves through surgery, or even take dangerous drugs that have lifelong effects.” – Marjorie Taylor Greene

🎯IMPACT: The bill now moves to the Senate, where similar proposals have stalled in the past.

IN FULL

The House of Representatives passed legislation that would bar physicians from conducting gender-transition surgeries on minors or providing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children. The measure, titled the “Protect Children’s Innocence Act,” was sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who is leaving Congress, and it advanced on a 216-211 vote.

The bill would impose severe penalties on doctors who carry out these treatments, including heavy fines or imprisonment for up to 10 years. Greene remarked, “Most Americans agree that kids just need to grow up before they do anything radical, like a mastectomy on a 15-year-old girl, castrate themselves through surgery, or even take dangerous drugs that have lifelong effects.”

Three Democrats—Enrique “Henry” Cuellar (D-TX), Donald Davis (D-NC), and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX)—voted in favor alongside 213 Republicans. In contrast, four Republicans—Reps. Gabe Evans (R-CO), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mike Kennedy (R-UT), and Mike Lawler (R-NY)—joined the opposition.

The bill targets treatments such as providing cross-sex hormones, including estrogen to males identifying as female and testosterone to females identifying as male. Such interventions can significantly affect fertility, sexual function, and cardiovascular health. It additionally prohibits puberty blockers, which may impair bone growth, along with surgical procedures like genital modifications and mastectomies on minors.

Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, commended the House vote, declaring, “Republicans showed today that they are as committed to protecting children as Democrats are to disfiguring them. Bipartisan supermajorities support commonsense protections for at-risk children, and yet only three Democrats had the moral courage to stand up to a multi-billion-dollar industry that profits off of the misery of American kids.”

Image by Ted Eytan.

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2 hours ago
News
UK

Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Anti-Immigration Social Media Posts.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: A British X (formerly Twitter) user was sentenced to 18 months in prison for anti-immigration posts that were viewed just 33 times.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Luke Yarwood, 36, was the man the courts sentenced, with his brother-in-law reporting him to police.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The posts were sent between December 21, 2024, and January 29, 2025, in Bournemouth, England.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Start off burning every migrant hotel then head off to MPs’ houses and Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE.” – Luke Yarwood on X.

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights ongoing tensions around immigration, asylum, and censorship in the United Kingdom.

IN FULL

Luke Yarwood, a British X (formerly Twitter) user, has been imprisoned for 18 months after posting anti-immigration messages online that were viewed just 33 times. The posts were sent following a car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, by a Saudi immigrant in December 2024.

Yarwood was reported to the police by his brother-in-law, with whom he had a strained relationship. The case has drawn comparisons to that of Lucy Connolly, who was previously imprisoned for saying she would not care if hotels housing asylum seekers were set on fire following a mass stabbing targeting young girls, perpetrated by the son of two Rwandan migrants.

During sentencing, prosecutor Siobhan Linsley told the court that Yarwood’s messages, despite their limited audience, “had the potential to incite disorder,” particularly in areas around migrant hotels in Bournemouth. The defence argued that the posts were the “impotent rantings of a socially isolated man” and posed no realistic threat, pointing to his mental health struggles and lack of influence.

“Violence and murder is the only way now. Start off burning every migrant hotel then head off to MPs’ houses and Parliament, we need to take over by FORCE,” Yarwood wrote in one of the posts.

Judge Jonathan Fuller described the posts as “odious” and stated they were clearly intended to incite racial hatred and violence. He said immediate custody was required because of the risk such messages could pose if acted upon. Notably, crimes that most members of the public would consider far more serious, such as a hotel migrant sexually assaulting a child, have not resulted in prison terms in recent months, leading to complaints of two-tier justice.

The case comes amid growing scrutiny of how the British authorities police online speech. Thousands of people are arrested annually under communications and public order laws for social media posts deemed threatening or offensive. For instance, earlier in 2025, comedy writer Graham Linehan was arrested over social media posts critical of transgender activists, sparking criticism from civil liberties advocates.

British police faced backlash after officers visited the home of an American cancer patient over Facebook posts, and a retired police officer was arrested following an X post, with commentators likening the raid on his home to “Stasi-style” tactics.

Image by Carlosgg1961.

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15 hours ago
Science

Interstellar Object Dubbed ‘Alien Mothership’ By Harvard Physicist Is Accelerating Due to ‘Non-Gravitational’ Forces.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Comet 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar object, is accelerating as it nears its closest approach to Earth.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: NASA and Harvard physicist Avi Loeb.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Closest approach to Earth expected on December 19, following its discovery in July by NASA’s ATLAS telescope in Chile.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If 3I/ATLAS is not enshrouded in a much more massive gas cloud after perihelion than it had in the months preceding perihelion, then its recent non-gravitational acceleration must have resulted from a different cause than cometary evaporation,” claims Loeb.

🎯IMPACT: The comet is being closely studied for its interstellar origins and behavior, but seemingly poses no danger to Earth.

IN FULL

The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is accelerating due to non-gravitational forces as it approaches its closest point to Earth along its trajectory through our solar system. In recent weeks, scientists studying the object have taken note of “significant” accelerations and shifts in its trajectory, which they attribute to gas releases from the object caused by heat from the Sun.

While most of the scientific community believes 3I/ATLAS is a comet originating from deep space, Harvard physicist Avi Loeb has—in what some consider a publicity stunt—posited that the object could be an extraterrestrial mothership releasing small alien probes. Loeb previously argued that astronomers have yet to find sufficient evidence of gas emissions from the object, which would typically indicate a cometary nature.

“If 3I/ATLAS is not enshrouded in a much more massive gas cloud after perihelion than it had in the months preceding perihelion, then its recent non-gravitational acceleration must have resulted from a different cause than cometary evaporation,” he claimed. Last month, NASA discovered that the object had accelerated its speed from over 130,000 mph to around 152,000 mph after its closest approach to the sun on October 29.

However, NASA’s lead scientist for solar system small bodies, Tom Statler, has dismissed Loeb’s theory, stating, “It looks like a comet. It does comet things. It very, very strongly resembles, in just about every way, the comets that we know.” Loeb himself has also acknowledged that the likelihood of 3I/ATLAS being of technological origin is slim, but emphasized the importance of evidence-based science.

3I/ATLAS is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on December 19, coming no closer than 170 million miles.

Image: Olivier Hainaut et al./European Southern Observatory (processed by Nrco0e).

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15 hours ago
News
War

Putin Threatens Territorial Expansion in Ukraine Amid Stalled Peace Talks.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow would expand its territorial gains in Ukraine if peace talks fail to progress.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. officials, and NATO allies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Statements were made during Putin’s annual meeting with military officials and amid peace talks in Berlin, Germany.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.” – Vladimir Putin

🎯IMPACT: Territorial control and Ukrainian NATO membership remain key points of contention in the peace talks.

IN FULL

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia will seek to expand its territorial gains in Ukraine if Kiev and its Western allies reject what Moscow sees as reasonable terms in peace negotiations, signaling that the Kremlin remains prepared to pursue its objectives through military force.

Speaking at an annual meeting with senior military officials, Putin said Russia favors diplomacy but will not hesitate to continue the war if talks fail. “If the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means,” he said. Putin also claimed that Russian forces currently hold the strategic initiative along the front line and boasted about ongoing military modernization, including the deployment of the new nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile.

The remarks come amid continued fighting nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, widespread destruction, and deepened tensions between Russia and NATO countries, which have provided Ukraine with extensive military and financial support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been working closely with U.S. and European officials on a potential peace framework. He described the current draft proposal as “not perfect” but “very workable,” while acknowledging that territorial control remains the most difficult unresolved issue. Zelensky has rejected Russia’s demands that Ukrainian forces withdraw from areas not currently occupied by Moscow and continues to push for strong, binding security guarantees from the West for Ukraine.

The Kremlin has insisted that any peace deal must include Ukraine abandoning its NATO membership ambitions and formally recognizing all territories seized by Russia, including Crimea, as Russian. Moscow has also warned that any NATO troops deployed to Ukraine would be treated as a “legitimate target.”

Recent diplomatic discussions have raised the possibility that Ukraine’s future integration could focus more on European Union (EU) membership rather than NATO, a shift some analysts see as a potential compromise aimed at reducing Russian opposition while still anchoring Ukraine in Western institutions.

Meanwhile, the United States continues to play a central role in supporting Kiev. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a major defense bill that includes roughly $800 million in additional assistance for Ukraine, despite growing domestic debate over the wisdom of American involvement in the war.

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16 hours ago
Lawfare

Dems Are Suing Trump for Ending Biden’s EV Charger Boondoggle.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: A coalition of Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that the federal government unlawfully halted funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure authorized by Congress.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The plaintiffs include attorneys general from 16 states and the District of Columbia, along with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D), California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), and other state agencies. The defendants include the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and senior officials from the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

🎯IMPACT: The case could shape how future administrations handle federally funded programs and determine whether the executive branch can withhold congressionally mandated funds.

IN FULL

The Trump White House is facing a new lawsuit brought by 16 Democrat attorneys general and the District of Columbia seeking to prevent the slashing of federal funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and other infrastructure. In the lawsuit filed on Tuesday with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the plaintiffs—joined by Governors Josh Shapiro (D-PA) and Gavin Newsom (D-CA)—contend that the funding halt is unlawful, as the federal money was already appropriated by Congress.

According to the Democrat state officials, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) indefinitely suspended funding approvals for new obligations under two EV charging programs authorized through former President Joe Biden‘s 2021 “stimulus” bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The specific programs halted by the DOT are the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Program, which have provided billions of dollars in federal funding to expand and maintain a nationwide EV charging network.

The plaintiffs, including attorneys general from California, Colorado, Washington, Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia, contend that the DOT has “categorically and indefinitely” suspended funding approvals since the spring of 2025, violating the separation of powers outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

In March of 2024, it was revealed that the EV infrastructure program had become a wasteful boondoggle. Despite the $7.5 billion investment authorized by Congress, only seven electric vehicle stations were built in the two years following the authorization.

The lawsuit follows a similar legal challenge over the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, in which a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in June, ruling that the administration’s suspension of funding was likely unlawful. The current case seeks to permanently block the administration from withholding EV charger funding and to require the DOT to resume approvals.

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16 hours ago
World

Jewish Businesses Are Shutting Down in Australia Following Bondi Beach Massacre.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Jewish bakery in Sydney, Australia, announced its closure following a mass shooting targeting Jews at Bondi Beach, citing concerns for the safety of its staff and customers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Avner’s Bakery, owned by celebrity chef Ed Halmagyi, and the Jewish community in Sydney. The attack was allegedly carried out by Indian immigrant Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Sunday. Avner’s Bakery announced its closure on Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We have made the only decision available, one that truly breaks our hearts. Avner’s is closed.” – Avner’s Bakery statement.

🎯IMPACT: The attack has prompted members of Sydney’s Jewish community to consider leaving Australia.

IN FULL

Avner’s, a Jewish bakery in Sydney, Australia, owned by celebrity chef Ed Halmagyi, has closed its doors following a mass shooting targeting Jews at Bondi Beach. The bakery cited its inability to ensure the safety of its staff and customers as the reason for the closure.

The attack, which took place during a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured. Indian immigrant Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son, Naveed Akram, were identified as the alleged attackers. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police, while his son was critically injured and is currently in hospital under guard.

In a statement, Avner’s Bakery said it had endured “almost ceaseless antisemitic harassment, vandalism and intimidation” over the last two years. “We have made the only decision available, one that truly breaks our hearts. Avner’s is closed,” the statement read. The bakery had initially closed earlier in the week to process the events at Bondi Beach.

The attack has left Sydney’s Jewish community shaken, with some members now considering emigrating to Israel. Chavi, a 27-year-old mother who was at the event with her baby, described using her body as a shield to protect her child during the attack. “I love Australia, I was born here, and I know [Israel] is in the Middle East… but we were just sitting ducks here,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Image by Sardaka.

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17 hours ago
Crime
News

HHS Investigating Walz, Minnesota Dems Over Potential Misuse of Federal Funds to Support Illegal Immigration.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued demand letters to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), and the Somali-linked nonprofit Feeding Our Future as part of an investigation into potential misuse of federal funds to support illegal migration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tim Walz, Jacob Frey, Feeding Our Future, and HHS Assistant Secretary Alex Adams.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The letters, covering fiscal years 2019 to 2025, demand a response by December 26, 2025, in Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re trying to get data from them that will help give us confidence that there’s not fraud.” – Alex Adams

🎯IMPACT: The investigation raises serious questions about oversight and potential fraud in Minnesota’s use of federal funds for social services programs.

IN FULL

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey (D), and the Somali-linked nonprofit Feeding Our Future have received demand letters from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a federal investigation into whether taxpayer funds were improperly used to support illegal immigration. HHS Assistant Secretary Alex Adams confirmed the inquiry, saying the agency is seeking detailed information about how federal money was spent.

The letters request records related to approximately $8.6 billion distributed through more than 1,000 federal grants covering fiscal years 2019, when Walz became Governor, through 2025. State and local entities have been ordered to respond by December 26, 2025.

Programs under scrutiny include Parents in Community Action, the Community Services Block Grant, the Social Services Block Grant, Title IV-E Foster Care, Refugee Cash Assistance, Refugee Medical Assistance, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and the Child Care and Development Fund. The letters seek extensive personal data, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and state identification numbers, to allow federal officials to check for irregularities. Adams said, “We’re trying to get data from them that will help give us confidence that there’s not fraud.”

The correspondence also references allegations from Minnesota Department of Human Services employees who allege that repeated warnings about fraud were ignored, whistleblowers faced retaliation, and misuse of federal funds continued under current leadership. The U.S. Treasury Department and the Republican-led House Oversight Committee are also conducting separate investigations.

The HHS probe comes amid heightened scrutiny of Minnesota following a series of high-profile fraud cases, including the Feeding Our Future scandal, in which federal prosecutors allege more than $250 million in child nutrition funds were stolen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Court filings show that many defendants in that case were connected to nonprofits serving Minnesota’s Somali community, with prosecutors alleging funds were diverted to shell companies, luxury purchases, and overseas accounts, potentially including al-Qaeda franchise al-Shabaab.

Additional whistleblower accounts have alleged that state officials were alerted as early as 2019 to potential fraud tied to Somali-run organizations but failed to intervene. Federal authorities have since charged dozens of suspects in multiple cases involving welfare, Medicaid, and pandemic-era aid programs, with total losses exceeding $1 billion. The investigations have intensified political pressure on Walz’s administration as federal agencies continue reviewing Minnesota’s handling of social services funds.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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17 hours ago
News

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino Set to Resign Early Next Year.

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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bongino will step down from his position early next year, President Donald J. Trump confirmed.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dan Bongino, FBI Director Kash Patel, and President Trump

📍WHEN & WHERE: Bongino is expected to announce his departure as early as Friday, with his official exit slated for early 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.” – President Trump

🎯IMPACT: Bongino’s exit marks the first significant departure by a Trump administration official, though staff turnover after the first year in government is not unusual.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Dan Bongino, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Deputy Director, will be stepping down from the position early next year. Bongino, a former police officer and Secret Service agent, has reportedly informed people close to him of his decision, but has not yet made a formal public announcement—though it is believed that could come as soon as Friday.

“Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show,” Trump said. Bongino was recently credited by colleagues with the FBI finally bringing in a suspect in the January 6 pipe bomb case, following a thorough reexamination of evidence that had been neglected under the former Biden regime.

When asked by MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) about the reports of his resignation prior to Trump’s statement, Bongino declined to confirm or deny them, stating, “Print whatever you’d like. No one believes you anyway. Thanks.”

Before being appointed by President Trump as Deputy Director of the Bureau, Bongino was prominent in conservative media circles and hosted a popular political commentary show, The Dan Bongino Show.

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18 hours ago
William Upton
War
World

Venezuelan Navy Begins Escorting Oil Tankers After Trump’s Blockade Order.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Venezuelan Navy has begun escorting oil tankers following U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s blockade order on Tuesday.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, President Trump, and Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA)—a state-owned oil and natural gas company.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, from Venezuela’s east coast.

💬KEY QUOTE: According to PDVSA, vessels carrying its petroleum byproducts are departing Venezuela “with full security, technical support and operational guarantees in legitimate exercise of their right to free navigation.”

🎯IMPACT: The move by the Maduro regime marks a significant escalation in the simmering conflict between Venezuela and the United States, with the risk of armed confrontation between the naval forces rising significantly.

IN FULL

Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has ordered his regime’s small navy to begin escorting vessels carrying oil and petroleum byproducts as they depart the country’s ports. The escorts began late Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning, coming in response to U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s December 16, 2025 announcement of a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers attempting to either enter or depart Venezuelan waters.

According to ship-tracking data, the vessels were transporting urea, petroleum coke, and other oil-based products from the Port of José, destined for Asian markets. It is believed the ships are operating on behalf of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA)—a state-owned oil and gas company. In a statement, PDVSA said its vessels continue to depart Venezuela “with full security, technical support and operational guarantees in legitimate exercise of their right to free navigation.”

The presence of Venezuelan Navy vessels alongside oil tankers significantly raises the risk of a direct conflict with the U.S. Navy forces operating throughout the Caribbean. Notably, Venezuela possesses only a small number of combat-capable ships, including just one submarine, one frigate, over two dozen patrol boats, and several landing craft and auxiliary vessels. Many of the ships are several decades old, and international sanctions on the Maduro regime have prevented the import of equipment and parts necessary for regular maintenance.

U.S. officials have indicated that the Trump administration is currently considering potential responses to Maduro’s actions. Whether the PDVSA vessels or other escorted ships are subject to U.S. sanctions remains unclear.

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18 hours ago
News
War

NATO Chief Says Alliance ‘Stronger Than Ever’ Thanks to Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte has credited alliance members pledging to spend five percent of their GDP on defense as a major foreign policy success for U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Mark Rutte, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The NATO summit in The Hague in June and ongoing discussions into 2023.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Thanks to Donald Trump, NATO is stronger than it ever was.” – Mark Rutte

🎯IMPACT: NATO’s increased defense spending aims to counter long-term threats such as Russia and terrorism.

IN FULL

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte has described NATO member states’ commitment to increase defense spending to five percent of GDP by 2035 as President Donald J. Trump’s “biggest foreign policy success.” During a BBC interview, Rutte attributed the alliance being “stronger than it ever was” to the America First leader.

The spending commitments build on longstanding pressure from Trump, who had repeatedly faulted European partners for not meeting prior spending targets and suggested reducing U.S. commitments. The pledge emerges against a backdrop of escalating strains with Russia, although Russian President Vladimir Putin has brushed off warnings about a wider war in Europe as “hysteria.”

Although Putin has expressed openness to negotiations in the ongoing war in Ukraine, he has cautioned that Russia is prepared to pursue its objectives militarily if it does not receive the concessions it feels entitled to. Under Trump’s leadership, U.S. officials have put forward a settlement framework that includes de facto concessions of land in eastern Ukraine to secure a compromise peace.

European partners are considering the establishment of a “multinational force” aimed at supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine’s armed forces and protecting its frontiers after a peace settlement. Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, argues that “Russia will see that, with the security guarantees in place, [Putin] should never ever try again to attack Ukraine because our reaction will be devastating.”

However, Western Europe’s arms manufacturing trails Russia’s significantly, despite its larger population and combined economy.

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