NATO Summit Seeks To Keep Trump Happy -- And Alliance United
NATO leaders will seek to lock in US President Donald Trump's commitment to their alliance with a summit pledge to boost defence spending, as they gather Tuesday in The Hague with global tensions soaring over Iran.
The overriding focus of the gathering -- which kicks off with dinner hosted by the Dutch king -- has been on keeping Trump happy after his return to power sparked fears he could blow a hole in the seven-decade-old alliance.
From meeting his spending demand to limiting the participation of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, everything is being done to try to avoid the chances of a damaging confrontation with the volatile leader.
But despite the careful planning the meeting still risks being overshadowed by the fallout from Trump's decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.
Central to the effort to keep Trump on board -- given his threat not to protect lower-spending NATO allies -- will be a pledge to satisfy his insistence that members cough up five percent of their GDP on defence.
To give him a headline victory, NATO's 32 countries have thrashed out a compromise deal to dedicate 3.5 percent to core military needs by 2035, and 1.5 percent to broader security-related areas like cybersecurity and infrastructure.
"This is a quantum leap that is ambitious, historic and fundamental to securing our future," said NATO chief Mark Rutte, who warns the alliance must be ready to confront the threat of a Russian attack within five years.
"We must navigate this era of radical uncertainty with agility, speed," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday in announcing the UK's commitment to meet NATO's spending target.
In a joint Financial Times op-ed on the summit's eve, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz likewise argued that Europe must rearm "not because someone asks us to, but because we are clear-eyed and owe it to our citizens to do so".
In the run-up to the meeting, Spain had sparked fears of undermining the alliance's carefully choreographed unity by refusing to commit to the headline figure of five percent.
But Rutte stressed Spain had not been granted an "opt-out" from the pledge.
"The summit will be historic," US NATO ambassador Matthew Whitaker said.
"This summit is really about NATO's credibility and we are urging all of our allies to step up to the plate and pay their fair share for transatlantic security."
But while the promise of more spending looks like it could win Trump over, deep divisions remain over the approach to Europe's key security issue: Russia's war in Ukraine.
Since storming back to power Trump has upended the West's approach to the three-year conflict by turning his back on Kyiv and opening the door to closer ties with Moscow.
Zelensky, who had an infamous Oval Office bust-up with Trump, has been downgraded from the central role he played at recent NATO gatherings.
This time he is set to attend the king's dinner, meet EU leaders and attend an industry forum -- but he will not hold formal talks with the alliance's 32 leaders.
Rutte said the summit would still send the message that support for Kyiv was "unwavering and will persist".
The French and German leaders, in a message aimed at Trump, said they would jointly press for a ceasefire in Ukraine and ramped-up pressure on Russia "including through sanctions" while in The Hague.
But despite Rutte's insistence that Ukraine's bid for membership remains "irreversible", the alliance will avoid any mention of Kyiv's push to join after Trump ruled it out.
Allies have also had to push hard just to get Washington to name Moscow as a "threat" in a summit declaration set to be released when NATO leaders hold their main session on Wednesday.
The push to make sure the United States remains on the same page comes as Washington is weighing whether to pull forces from Europe as it focuses more on the threat from China.
The Pentagon is set to announce the results of a review of its global deployments later in the year -- but diplomats at NATO say they don't expect Trump to make any announcements in The Netherlands. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has crafted a deal on raising defence spending that is aimed at keeping Trump happy AFP Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to attend the summit, but has largely been sidelined to avoid a bust-up with Trump AFP
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DW
28 minutes ago
- DW
Israel confirms Trump-brokered ceasefire with Iran – DW – 06/24/2025
Israel says it has agreed to US President Donald Trump's offer for a ceasefire with Iran. Trump urged the two sides to not violate the suspension of hostilities. DW has the latest. Donald Trump has announced a "complete and total ceasefire" between Israel and Iran that would end the "12-day war" between the countries, though neither the Israeli nor the Iranian government commented on the accord at the time of announcement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later posted to X that no "agreement" had been reached on a ceasefire with Israel at this time. Trump's surprise announcement came after he thanked Tehran for giving the US advance notice of its limited attack on a US air base in Qatar on Monday. The Iranian strikes were a response to US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the Israeli Prime Minister's office has released a statement confirming the suspension of fighting with Iran. "After the operation's goals have been reached, and in full coordination with US President Trump, Israel has agreed to the President's offer for a bilateral ceasefire," the statement read. According to the statement, the two "existential" threats for which Israel decided to carry out the 12-day war on Iran were "removed," adding that the country would respond "fiercely" to every violation of the ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to give a statement later today. The death toll from a salvo of Iranian missile strikes in southern Israel on Tuesday has risen to four, news agencies reported, citing Israel's emergency medical services. Multiple waves of missiles from Iran hit Israel in the early hours. The Israeli military said the public could now leave bomb shelters while cautioning them to stay close to shelter for the next hours. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran has begun. "THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. There is yet to be an official statement from both Israel and Iran on the status of the ceasefire. The Israeli military said on Tuesday that Iran had launched another volley of missiles towards Israel, prompting the public to take shelter. The missile launches came after 4 a.m. (0030 GMT) in Tehran, the time Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would stop its attacks if Israel ended their aerial bombardment. Iran's official SNN news agency said that Tehran fired a last round of missiles towards Israel before a ceasefire comes into effect. Reports cited witnesses saying that they heard explosions near Tel Aviv and Beersheba. According to Israel media, a building was struck and three people died in the missile attack on Beersheba in southern Israel. The Israeli emergency service confirmed three deaths in southern Israel, making them the first casualties reported since Trump's ceasefire announcement. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that there was no "agreement" on a ceasefire, after US President Donald Trump took to social media to claim that a ceasefire had been reached. "As of now, there is NO 'agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations," Araghchi posted to X. However, he said if Israel stopped attacks by 4am Tehran time (2:30 a.m. CET), then Iran had "no intention to continue our response afterwards." Araghchi said that final decision on stopping Iranian military operations would be made later. In a follow-up post minutes after, Araghchi said that Iran's military operation had "continued until the very last minute, at 4am." Two German Air Force planes carrying 179 German nationals from Israel landed in Frankfurt in the early hours of Tuesday, news agency DPA reported, citing the German Foreign Office. Two A400M transport aircraft had flown to Tel Aviv from the Wunstorf Air Base, northern Germany, on Monday, the report said, adding that officials labeled it a diplomatic repatriation mission. The Ministry of Defense and the Foreign Office earlier said that the two planes had been able to land in Tel Aviv at short notice after close coordination with the Israeli authorities. The German military also flew 64 Germans directly from Israel for the first time last Friday. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran in a call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, according to Reuters. Trump's team was in contact with Iranian officials, Reuters said, citing a senior White House official it spoke with on condition of anonymity. The official said Israel agreed to the ceasefire so long as Iran does not launch fresh attacks. Iran signaled it would abide by the agreement, the official said. In direct and indirect contact with the Iranians were US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, the official said. The Israeli military has called on residents in two areas of the Iranian capital Tehran to evacuate, even as US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire. Trump said the ceasefire would begin in about six hours from when he announced the accord which would mean about midnight US time on Monday. The announcement by the Israel Defense Forces comes in the hours before the tentative ceasefire is set to begin. The IDF said in Farsi that residents in Tehran's District 6 and District 7 should evacuate, adding that the Israeli military "will operate in these areas." The French AFP news agency also reported a series of powerful explosions in Tehran early on Tuesday after the first Israeli evacuation warning, citing reporting by its correspondents on the ground. Marina Miron, a military analyst at King's College London, said Iran's attack on the US Al Udeid air base in Qatar was "symbolic." Speaking to DW, she pointed to the news that Qatari officials were warned about the attack. "Iran removed this element of surprise in order, perhaps, to ensure further escalation, also knowing that aircraft and staff have been evacuated from the base," she said. There were no US or Qatari casualties. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Al Udeid Air Base is the largest US military base in the Middle East, serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command, and accommodates approximately 10,000 troops. Miron said the attack on the base was presented as "a victory for Iran, helping to save its face." "This was perhaps an attack, an attempt to de-escalate," she said but added it would depend on what other actors do. "There could be potential attacks on other military bases and in the Gulf States and, of course, other measures combined with military strikes," she added. Miron said the chances of Qatar "responding militarily against Iranian targets is small." That is despite Qatar saying it reserved the right to respond. "I think Qatari officials realize that escalating at this point could ensure that a real war erupts in the Middle East, and this is something that they do not want." Iran struck a US air base in Qatar on Monday in response to US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites overnight into Sunday. US President Donald Trump described the Iranian attack as a "very weak response," which the US "expected." No casualties were reported at Al Udeid air base, according to Qatar and the US, with Trump thanking Tehran for giving it "early notice" before carrying out the strikes. The Iranian foreign minister was later quoted as saying by his ministry that his country was also ready to respond "in the event of any further action by the US." Plus, Germany's Defense Ministry said it was "continuously monitoring the security situation" in the Middle East. Bundeswehr troops deployed in the region were safe, the ministry said after the Iranian strike on the US air base. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video US President Donald Trump has announced a "complete and total CEASEFIRE" in approximately six hours, saying both Israel and Iran have agreed to it. "CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, saying the ceasefire will come after the two countries "have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!" "Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World," Trump said. Both Israel and Iran have yet to confirm the ceasefire agreement. "On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, 'THE 12 DAY WAR,'" he wrote. US President Donald Trump has announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran that he hopes will end the war. The notice comes after Trump thanked Iran for "early notice" after the country launched a limited attack on a US air base in Qatar. Iran had vowed to retaliate after a group of American B-2 bombers struck Iranian nuclear sites in a tightly choreographed operation overnight into Sunday. All of the Gulf States condemned the Iranian attack and experts said that the limited response showed that the Iranians are not interested in escalating the situation. Follow for the latest developments and analyses.
Local Germany
an hour ago
- Local Germany
How would conscription in Germany impact dual nationals and foreigners?
Germany had mandatory conscription between 1957 and 2011, when it was suspended by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel's government. In June 2025, the new government has said it will introduce a bill which could reintroduce a form of mandatory military service if too few volunteers sign up. The German public appear to be in favour of the move. The aim is to increase the size of the armed forces from 180,000 to up to 260,000. The government also wants to double the number of reservists. READ ALSO: Majority of Germans favour a return to conscription Specific details of the bill have yet to be worked out, so the precise rules for any future conscription aren't yet known. Nevertheless the provision in the constitution which allows for conscription was only suspended by Merkel, meaning the government could reintroduce the previous system relatively straightforwardly, albeit with a change to the law. What were the previous rules on conscription? Germany's Basic Law (constitution) allowed for men turning 18 to be conscripted into the Bundeswehr (armed forces), Border Force, or civil defence, for six months. Advertisement Conscientious objection was explicitly permitted. Anyone who refused to serve had to be offered alternative non-violent service. In most cases, only residents of Germany were liable for conscription. Germans living abroad weren't generally obliged to participate. The new bill proposed by the government will focus first on boosting the size of the army by recruiting more volunteers. But some members of the government, including Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, back conscription if there are too few volunteers in a given year. Under the rules, if the government declares a so-called 'state of tension' or 'state of defence' (when Germany is likely to or has already come under armed attack), every male German between 18 and 60 is eligible for military service. Who could be conscripted? Under the previous system, which could be reintroduced straightforwardly, all German men turning 18 were eligible for conscription. Advertisement The provision did not include women. The government has not suggested that any new bill would amend the Basic Law, so iit seems likely women would continue to avoid conscription. The government currently plans to introduce 'Swedish-style' conscription, meaning that school leavers could be asked to fill in a questionnaire covering questions like their level of fitness and willingness to join the military. Answering would be compulsory for men and optional for women. Answers would help determine who is then ordered to join the military. What about foreign residents and those with dual nationality? In general, dual citizens can expect to be treated like any other German when it comes to military service, according to Professor Walther Michl, chair of public law at the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich. 'Dual citizenship does not change the obligation to serve in the armed forces,' he told Frankenpost in 2023. 'If discrimination is applied, it is usually based on objective criteria such as the level of fitness determined during the medical examination, age, or experience of basic military training, not on dual nationality,' he added. READ ALSO: Military service 'could be made mandatory' says German Defence Minister Boys born in Germany to foreign parents, for example, would have to fill out the questionnaire and could be conscripted. Under the previous law, Germany had agreements with a number of third countries such as Switzerland and Turkey to avoid dual citizens having to do military service twice. Citizens of two or more countries are generally conscripted in the country in which they are resident when they turn 18. Under the Basic Law, only German citizens were eligible for conscription; so foreigners who are permanent residents could not be conscripted without a change to the constitution. Could my child be forced to serve in the army? The number of people who are conscripted is likely to be fairly low. Advertisement Military authorities prefer an army staffed by volunteer soldiers, considered more effective than conscripts who only serve for a short time. Recruitment efforts are likely to focus on them first, then on school leavers who've expressed interest in joining the army. If your child is ordered to join the army but doesn't want to serve, he can register as a contentious objector. This right is protected by the Basic Law, meaning that the authorities are legally obliged to offer your child alternative, non-violent service – such as working for a charity or the emergency services. In summary... If you're a woman, you're unlikely ever to be conscripted without a change to the Basic Law. If you're a male German citizen, including dual nationals, between the ages of 18 and 60, you could be conscripted during a 'state of defence' or 'state of tension'. READ ALSO: German military sees Russia as 'existential risk' to Germany and Europe: report These "states" can be declared by the government during times of heightened international tension, or when Germany has come under armed attack. Even in these cases, your right to object will still be protected under the constitution. If you do not want to serve in the army, you have to be offered an alternative. Foreign permanent residents who are not German nationals would not be conscripted.
Int'l Business Times
4 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Asian Stocks Up As Trump Announces Iran-Israel Ceasefire
Asian shares gained and oil prices were down Tuesday, as fears of an energy market shock eased following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Investors were relieved that Iran did not retaliate to a US attack on its nuclear facilities by throttling oil transport through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, Iran said it had launched missiles at a major US base in Qatar, which described the situation as stable, while analysts said oilfield assets were unaffected. "Tehran played it cool. Their 'retaliation' hit a US base in Qatar -- loud enough for headlines, quiet enough not to shake the oil market's foundations," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. "And once that became clear, the war premium came crashing out of crude," with Brent and the main US crude contract WTI sliding more than seven percent overnight. Both oil contracts were down over two percent on Tuesday. In Asia, the mood was largely upbeat, with Tokyo and Hong Kong up 1.4 percent, Shanghai gaining 0.8 percent and Seoul jumping 2.7 percent. Singapore gained 0.7 percent, Sydney was up 1.1 percent and Taipei put on 1.8 percent, but Jakarta was down 1.7 percent. Trump said Iran and Israel had agreed to a staggered ceasefire that would bring about an "official end" to their conflict, as strikes continued to hammer Tehran. Iran's foreign minister said Tuesday that Tehran did not intend to continue its strikes if Israel stopped its attacks. "Details of the ceasefire agreement are still sparse at the time of writing and as such the detente and de-escalation is not a done deal," wrote Michael Wan at MUFG. "Nonetheless, latest news reports suggest Iran has agreed to the ceasefire and if this is right, the left tail risk of more extreme scenarios resulting in significant oil supply disruptions have meaningfully diminished." In forex markets, the dollar gave up gains after Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman said she would support cutting interest rates at July's meeting if inflation holds steady. The market currently expects the Fed to resume cutting interest rates in September. Bowman indicated that "ongoing progress in tariff negotiations providing a less risky economic environment to adjust policy"," prompting the dollar to weaken, Wan said. Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.4 percent at 38,873.07 Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.4 percent at 24,025.13 Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.8 percent at 3,886.66 Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1590 from $1.1581 on Monday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3539 from $1.3526 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 145.66 yen from 146.12 yen Euro/pound: FLAT at 85.60 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 2.3 percent at $66.19 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 2.2 percent at $69.24 per barrel New York - Dow: UP 0.9 percent at 42,581.78 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 8,758.04 (close)
