Former MI6 Chief: Iran Problem Not Going Away
"You can't destroy the know-how, we almost certainly haven't destroyed the partially enriched uranium," says John Sawers, former Chief of MI6, Britain's secret intelligence service. Engaging with Iran to reach a political agreement is important for the Trump administration and Europe if they want to prevent the need for strikes "over and over again," he adds. Sawers speaks with Guy Johnson and Kriti Gupta on 'Bloomberg: The Opening Trade'. (Source: Bloomberg)
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USA Today
7 minutes ago
- USA Today
NATO commits to higher spending sought by Trump and mutual defense
While Trump got what he wanted at the brief NATO summit, his allies will be relieved he committed to the fundamental principle of collective defense. THE HAGUE, June 25 (Reuters) - NATO leaders on June 25 backed the big increase in defense spending that President Donald Trump had demanded, and restated their commitment to defend each other from attack. While Trump got what he wanted at the brief summit, tailor-made for him, his NATO allies will be relieved that he committed to the fundamental principle of collective defense after less clear-cut language on June 24. In a five-point statement, NATO endorsed a higher defence spending goal of 5% of GDP by 2035 - a response not only to Trump but also to Europeans' fears that Russia poses a growing threat to their security following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. More: Israel-Iran ceasefire seems to hold as Trump lands in Europe for NATO summit The 32 allies' brief communique added: "We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to collective defense as enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty – that an attack on one is an attack on all." Asked to clarify his own stance on Article 5, Trump said: "I stand with it. That's why I'm here. If I didn't stand with it, I wouldn't be here." Macron brings up trade war at NATO summit Trump had long demanded in no uncertain terms that for other countries step up their spending on defense to reduce NATO's heavy reliance on the U.S. Despite an appearance of general agreement, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the issue of the steep import tariffs threatened by Trump, and the damage they may do to transatlantic trade, as a barrier to increased defense spending. More: Can Trump pull off peace plans, trade deals at the G7? What to know about the summit "You cannot come to us as allies and ask that we spend more, tell us we will spend more at NATO - and do a trade war. It's an aberration," he told reporters. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who hosted the summit in his home city of The Hague, said NATO would emerge as a 'stronger, fairer and more lethal' alliance. He had earlier acknowledged that it was not easy for European countries and Canada to find the extra money, but said it was vital to do so. "There is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that, given this threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative," the former Dutch prime minister told reporters in his home city of The Hague. The new spending target - to be achieved over the next 10 years - is a jump worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year from the current goal of 2% of GDP, although it will be measured differently. Countries would spend 3.5% of GDP on core defence - such as troops and weapons - and 1.5% on broader defence-related measures such as cyber security, protecting pipelines and adapting roads and bridges to handle heavy military vehicles. All NATO members have backed a statement enshrining the target, although Spain declared it does not need to meet the goal and can meet its commitments by spending much less. More: Trump says US strike impaired Iran's nukes. What does Pentagon say? Live updates Rutte disputes that but accepted a diplomatic fudge with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as part of his efforts to give Trump a diplomatic victory and make the summit go smoothly. Spain said on June 25 that it did not expect its stance to have any repercussions. Trump meets Zelenskyy after summit Rutte kept the summit and its final statement short and focused on the spending pledge to try to avert any friction with Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had to settle for attending the pre-summit June 24 dinner rather than the main meeting on June 25, although he met Trump separately after the conference ended. The Kremlin on June 24 accused NATO of being on a path of rampant militarization and portraying Russia as a "fiend of hell" in order to justify its big increase in defense spending.
News24
14 minutes ago
- News24
Trump celebrates ‘great victory' at NATO summit as allies promise spending increase
US President Donald Trump expressed a friendly tone toward NATO allies. NATO members agreed to increase military spending. NATO chief Mark Rutte praised Trump. US President Donald Trump struck a conciliatory tone toward NATO allies on Wednesday, framing an expected deal on increased defence spending as a 'great victory for everyone' at their summit. Everything has been carefully choreographed at the gathering in The Hague to keep the volatile US president on board: From chopping back the official part of the meeting to putting him up overnight in the royal palace. The strategy seemed to be working - for now - with Trump seeming keen to share the plaudits for a deal set to see the 32 countries commit to spending 5% of output on defence by 2035. 'It's a great victory for everybody, I think, and we will be equalised very shortly, and that's the way it has to be,' said Trump, as European allies seek to catch up with US spending on defence. 'I've been asking them to go up to 5% for a number of years, and they're going up to 5%... I think that's going to be very big news,' he said. Hosting the meeting, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters that Trump was in an 'excellent mood' at the dinner hosted on Tuesday by King Willem-Alexander in his royal palace, and that the US leader appeared inspired by his hosts. 'The day begins in the beautiful Netherlands. The King and Queen are beautiful and spectacular people. Our breakfast meeting was great!' he posted on the Truth Social network. Entering the meeting, leaders lined up to declare the summit's planned spending hike as 'historic'. NATO allies say the increase is needed to counter a growing threat from Russia but also to keep Trump engaged, with the US leader long complaining that Europe spends too little on its own defence. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said: 'As Europeans, we should realise that our long break from history is over.' The continent needed to take responsibility for its own security 'in a very difficult time', added De Wever. Kin Cheung/Pool/Getty Images The pledge divides up the spending into 3.5% of GDP on core defence costs - just above the current US level - plus another 1.5% to broader security-related areas such as cybersecurity and infrastructure. With that deal all but clinched, attention turned to the basic foundation of the alliance - its mutual defence clause that says an attack on one is an attack on all. Trump rattled his allies by appearing to cast some doubt on the validity of this promise - known as Article Five of the NATO treaty - telling reporters on the way to The Hague that it 'depends on your definition. There's numerous definitions of Article Five.' But Rutte played down the comments, saying he believed that Trump and the US were still 'totally committed' to Article Five. And when pressed about the collective pledge while meeting Rutte on Wednesday, Trump said: 'We're with them all the way.' Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer dodged multiple questions seeking clarity over Washington's stance. We live in a very volatile world and today is about the unity of NATO, showing that strength. Keir Starmer In an earlier message, probably not designed for public consumption, Rutte heaped flattery on Trump, praising him for bringing everyone on board for the spending hike. 'Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win,' Rutte wrote in a gushing, caps-filled missive to Trump, who promptly posted it on social media. 'You are flying into another big success in The Hague,' wrote Rutte. Underpinning the leaders' discussions on defence was Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Trump poised to meet the war-torn country's president Volodymyr Zelensky on the summit sidelines. Zelensky is playing a less central role here than at previous summits, to avoid a bust-up with Trump after their infamous Oval Office shouting match. But Trump described him as a 'nice guy' and added that he was talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war, saying: 'I think progress is being made.' Rutte said that allies would send the message that support for Kyiv was 'unwavering and will persist'. But despite his insistence that Ukraine's bid for membership remains 'irreversible', NATO will avoid any mention of Kyiv's push to join after Trump ruled it out. Hungary's Kremlin-friendly Prime Minister Viktor Orban was more categorical. 'NATO has no business in Ukraine,' he said. 'My job is to keep it as it is.'
Business Wire
26 minutes ago
- Business Wire
Gartner Says Supply Chain Leaders Must Address Three Priorities Amid Impacts From Israel-Iran Conflict
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To help organizations navigate the ongoing impacts posed by the Israel-Iran conflict, Gartner Inc. has identified three critical priorities for chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) to implement now to secure their operations. This conflict should serve as a catalyst for improving organizations' supply chain resiliency plans over the long-term. Share In response to the ongoing impacts from the conflict, CSCOs should: Assess and mitigate their exposure to new global transportation bottlenecks Prepare CFOs for continued supply chain cost volatility Review supply chain resilience strategies 'As the conflict between Israel and Iran oscillates, CSCOs must leverage the resilience they have built in recent years, recognizing that the global significance of this region makes it nearly impossible to avoid adverse impacts, even if only indirect,' said David Gonzalez, VP analyst in Gartner's Supply Chain practice. Mitigate Regional Bottlenecks The latest conflict is adding to significant bottlenecks across the region's key shipping routes (see Figure 1) and logistics hubs, including: Red Sea and Suez Canal: Container traffic remains well below pre-crisis levels, with major shipping lines avoiding the Suez Canal. Organizations must monitor transit times and adjust expectations for longer lead times and higher costs. Strait of Hormuz: Heightened risk of disruption is causing delays and congestion as companies seek alternative routes. Supply chain leaders should engage partners to identify and manage new shipping options. Regional Ports: High-volume ports such as Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port, Dammam and Haifa face increased pressure, with some having already faced service interruptions. Contingency planning for alternative ports is essential. Eurasian Rail Freight: Demand for rail freight between Asia and Europe has surged, leading to congestion and longer booking times. Organizations should trial rail options where feasible, weighing higher costs against faster transit. 'Regardless of the status of the conflict, CSCOs should continue engaging with their ecosystem of partners to identify alternative routes, assess the viability of shifting volume to less impacted regional ports, and consider multimodal transportation options for some goods after conducting a cost-benefit analysis,' said Gonzalez. 'This conflict should serve as a catalyst for improving organizations' supply chain resiliency plans over the long-term.' Prepare CFOs for Cost Volatility Ongoing disruptions in the Middle East are driving up supply chain costs across energy, transportation, insurance, inventory, and technology. CSCOs must proactively engage CFOs to assess budget impacts and prepare for increased spending. Price volatility in crude oil and liquid natural gas (LNG) are elevating energy and fuel surcharges, while rerouted shipments and longer transit times are pushing up transportation rates. Insurance premiums for goods in transit continue to climb, and higher inventory levels are needed to safeguard against supply interruptions. Underinvestment in supply chain technology has left many organizations exposed, making it critical to build the business case for new tools that enhance visibility and risk management. In this environment, close collaboration between supply chain leaders and CFOs is essential to navigate ongoing volatility and protect customer service levels. Review Supply Chain Resilience Strategies The conflict is putting previous supply chain resilience strategies to the test. CSCOs must identify risks to critical raw materials, ensure the continued flow of finished goods, and conduct cost-benefit analyses of mitigation actions in partnership with finance leaders. This includes evaluating potential impacts on margins and reviewing the product portfolio for vulnerabilities. Gonzalez noted that while many supply chain leaders have already invested in collaborative supplier relationships and risk mitigation, ongoing trade disruptions and regional tensions require a renewed focus. CSCOs should reassess existing supplier networks, confirm the viability of current mitigation plans, and address any overreliance on specific geographies to reduce exposure and ensure business continuity. Gartner clients can read more in Why the Israel-Iran Conflict Requires a Rapid Response From CSCOs. Nonclients can learn more in Top Supply Chain Risks and Mitigation Strategies. About the Gartner Supply Chain Practice The Gartner Supply Chain Practice provides actionable, objective insights for supply chain leaders and their teams, so they can respond to disruption and innovate for the future through leading-edge supply chain management practices. Additional information is available at Follow news and updates from the Gartner Supply Chain Practice on LinkedIn and X using #GartnerSC. Visit the Gartner Supply Chain Newsroom for more information and insights. About Gartner Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers actionable, objective insight that drives smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization's mission-critical priorities. To learn more, visit
