Zelenskiy to Meet Trump to Advance Ukraine Peace Talks and Security Guarantees 
Mark Carney Reaffirms Canada’s Support for Ukraine as Peace Talks With Russia Gain Momentum 
U.S. Judge Blocks Deportation of British Anti-Disinformation Campaigner Imran Ahmed Amid Free Speech Dispute 
Israel Recognizes Somaliland as Independent State, Sparking Regional and Global Reactions 
U.S. Shifts Strategy Toward Economic Pressure With Venezuelan Oil Quarantine 
Bolsonaro Undergoes Phrenic Nerve Block Procedure After Surgery-Related Complications 
California Drops Lawsuit Over Federal Funding Cuts to High-Speed Rail Project 
Palau Agrees to Accept Up to 75 U.S.-Transferred Migrants in Deal Tied to Increased American Aid 
U.S. Prioritizes Economic Pressure With Venezuelan Oil Quarantine as Sanctions Intensify 
Hanwha Signals Readiness to Build Nuclear-Powered Submarines at Philly Shipyard for U.S. Navy 
Canada Announces $2.5 Billion Economic Aid Package to Support Ukraine’s Financial Stability 
China’s One-Child Policy Legacy Resurfaces After Death of Former Population Chief 
Argentina Congress Approves 2026 Budget Under Milei, Marking First Legislative Passage Since 2023 
Democratic Governors Urge Trump Administration to Lift Halt on East Coast Offshore Wind Projects 
White House East Wing Ballroom Plans Face Scrutiny Ahead of January Hearing 
Zelenskiy to Meet Trump in Florida as Ukraine-U.S. Peace Framework Nears Completion 
Najib Razak Jailed 15 More Years in Landmark 1MDB Verdict With Major Political Impact 
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he is expecting the alliance’s member countries to raise their current defense spending target of two percent of its national output. The move is expected to happen during the NATO summit in July.
In an interview with German newspaper Die Welt, Stoltenberg said he is expecting NATO countries to raise their defense spending targets in the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius in July. Stoltenberg added that he could not say what the member countries would agree on. Many countries have increased their defense spending following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
“I assume that there will be a new target for defense spending when we meet for the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July this year,” said Stoltenberg. “The two percent target was initially for a decade, so until 2024, so we have to update it now.”
“I assume that it will be a more ambitious target than before because everybody sees that we need to invest more,” Stoltenberg said, referring to what the alliance’s members may agree on.
On Tuesday, the administration of US President Joe Biden reiterated its support for Finland and Sweden joining the NATO alliance. Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and nearly all the alliance’s members have ratified their applications for accession. Only the parliaments of Hungary and Turkey remain.
“This has always been a discussion about Finland and Sweden…moving from an alliance of 28 to 30. That’s what we want to see happen,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters when pressed on the possibility of Finland getting accepted into the alliance without Sweden. Price added that such a possibility is not “a question” Washington is entertaining.
Washington’s response follows comments by Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto, saying that a temporary pause for a few weeks is needed for the talks between Finland, Sweden, and Turkey for NATO accession. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Sweden should not expect Turkey’s approval for its accession after Stockholm expressed support for a protest near the Turkish embassy in Sweden over the weekend.
“A time-out is needed before we return to the three-way talks and see where we are when the dust has settled after the current situation, so no conclusions should be drawn yet,” Haavisto told Reuters.
