With Trump’s Backing Uncertain, Europe Scrambles to Shore Up Its Own Defenses

With Trump’s Backing Uncertain, Europe Scrambles to Shore Up Its Own Defenses

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago convinced Europe’s leaders that they needed to spend more money on defense. On Monday, leaders from across the European Union and Britain will meet in Brussels to debate a vexing question: how to pay for it. It is a concern made more acute by President Trump’s return … Read more

Norway Seizes Russian-Crewed Ship Suspected of Cutting an Undersea Cable

Norway Seizes Russian-Crewed Ship Suspected of Cutting an Undersea Cable

The authorities in Norway have seized a Russian-crewed ship that is suspected of damaging an undersea cable in an act of sabotage in the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian police said on Friday. They were acting on a request from the Latvian authorities and on an order issued in Norwegian courts, the police said in a … Read more

Faced by Trump’s Interest in Greenland, Denmark Will Increase Military Spending in Arctic

Faced by Trump’s Interest in Greenland, Denmark Will Increase Military Spending in Arctic

Responding to President Trump’s insistence that he wants to acquire Greenland, Denmark’s government has announced that it will increase military spending in the North Atlantic by the equivalent of $2 billion. “Greenland is facing a changing security landscape,” Vivian Motzfeldt, a member of Greenland’s government, said in a statement on Monday announcing the increased spending. … Read more

Sweden Suspects ‘Gross Sabotage’ After Damage to Cable Under the Baltic Sea

Sweden Suspects ‘Gross Sabotage’ After Damage to Cable Under the Baltic Sea

The Swedish authorities on Monday boarded a ship in connection with what they described as “gross sabotage” after an undersea communications cable in the Baltic Sea was damaged a day earlier. The ship was escorted to the coast of Sweden for an investigation, the authorities said. “We suspect that a serious act of sabotage was … Read more

As Trump and Putin Circle Each Other, an Agenda Beyond Ukraine Emerges

As Trump and Putin Circle Each Other, an Agenda Beyond Ukraine Emerges

They have been circling each other carefully for seven days now — sending out invitations to talk, mixing a few jabs with ego-stroking, suggesting that the only way to end the Ukraine war is for the two of them to meet, presumably without the Ukrainians. President Trump and Vladimir V. Putin, whose relationship was always … Read more

Britain Says Russian Spy Ship Returned to U.K. Waters in Sign of Kremlin Threat

Britain Says Russian Spy Ship Returned to U.K. Waters in Sign of Kremlin Threat

Britain on Wednesday warned that it faced a growing threat of aggression from Russia, asserting that a Russian spy ship had passed by the English coast for the second time in three months, in the latest incident that seemed designed to test British military capabilities. John Healey, the British defense secretary, told Parliament that two … Read more

Trump Vowed to End the Ukraine War Before Taking Office. The War Rages On.

Trump Vowed to End the Ukraine War Before Taking Office. The War Rages On.

After they win elections and move into the White House, plenty of presidents at some point eventually break a campaign promise. Donald J. Trump will not even wait that long. He will break an important campaign promise the moment he takes the oath of office. While stumping for a return to power in the fall, … Read more

Biden Made a Global Push to Constrain China. What Will Trump Do?

Biden Made a Global Push to Constrain China. What Will Trump Do?

President Biden and his aides came into office with deep experience in trans-Atlantic affairs. But over four years, they focused too on the Pacific, where China strains to be the dominant player. Their main effort: building up alliances to counter China. President-elect Donald J. Trump has already signaled a different approach to China. He invited … Read more