NATO
🇺🇸 President-elect Trump selects former Senator David Perdue as ambassador to China, aiming to navigate complex relations marked by mistrust and trade tensions.
🇬🇧 UK foreign minister supports Trump’s call for NATO members to increase defense spending.
🇳🇱 NATO’s Mark Rutte criticizes arms firms for producing too little, charging too much, and delivering too slowly amid efforts to support Ukraine and strengthen defenses against Russia.
🇷🇴 Romanians vote in a presidential runoff where far-right NATO critic Calin Georgescu could defeat pro-European centrist Elena Lasconi. A Georgescu victory may isolate Romania from the West and weaken support for Ukraine.
🇱🇹 Lithuania’s foreign minister states that NATO members must provide guarantees to achieve peace in Ukraine.
🇱🇻 NATO members await the new U.S. administration’s decision regarding Ukraine’s invitation to join the alliance, as noted by Latvia’s foreign minister.
🇺🇦 Ukraine criticizes the 30-year-old nuclear disarmament deal that promised security assurances but failed to deliver. The country is now actively seeking an invitation to join NATO.
🇺🇸 U.S. Senate confirms promotion of Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who commanded during the Afghanistan withdrawal. His promotion was briefly blocked by a Republican senator.
🇺🇦 NATO unlikely to extend a membership invitation to Ukraine at Tuesday’s meeting, according to diplomats. This comes as Kyiv seeks political support amidst ongoing battlefield struggles and the anticipation of Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House.
🇺🇦 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has requested NATO to issue an invitation for membership during a meeting in Brussels next week, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
🇷🇺 Russia warns that cutting U.S. aid to Ukraine would be a “death sentence” for its military. The deputy U.N. ambassador claims Ukraine is attempting to escalate tensions with NATO against Russia.
🇩🇪 German intel chief warns that Russia’s hybrid attacks on Western targets heighten the risk of NATO invoking Article 5 mutual defence clause.
🇷🇴 The far-right presidential candidate in Romania, who won the first round of elections, has stated he does not intend to leave NATO or the European Union, amidst ongoing protests over his victory.
🇺🇦 NATO reaffirms support for Ukraine amid rising tensions following Russia’s launch of an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile. Talks with Ukrainian officials emphasized commitment to Ukraine’s security.
🇬🇷 Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis calls for a stronger EU defence role and enhanced cooperation with NATO following discussions with Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
🇷🇴 Romanian coalition government supports centrist candidate in presidential run-off, amid fears of an anti-NATO candidate winning. The election could shift the country’s political landscape significantly.
🇷🇴 Calin Georgescu, a far-right outsider, leads the first round of Romania’s presidential election, surprising allies. He is critical of NATO and Ukrainian President Zelenskiy.
🇷🇴 A hard-right NATO critic who has praised Russia advances to Romania’s presidential run-off against a centre-right leader. The outcome of this election could challenge Romania’s pro-Western stance following a surprising first-round vote.
🇷🇴 Calin Georgescu, a hard-right NATO critic, ties with leftist PM Marcel Ciolacu in Romania’s presidential election first round. This unexpected outcome poses a challenge to Romania’s strong pro-Ukraine position.
🇬🇧 Britain and NATO allies must lead in the “new AI arms race,” warns UK minister Pat McFadden. He cautions that Russian cyber criminals are increasingly targeting nations supporting Ukraine.