NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is meeting with President Donald Trump, advocating for the military alliance that the U.S. leader has sharply criticized. Trump argues that his country bears too much of NATO's financial burden, especially after the Iran conflict. Rutte is known for his ability to charm Trump and he aimed to ease tensions during their White House meeting on Wednesday. Trump has renewed threats to leave NATO, raising stakes before next month's summit in Turkey. Rutte emphasizes European support, noting U.S. military activity in Europe. The Pentagon is reviewing U.S. forces in Europe, echoing Trump's critiques of NATO allies.
By MICHELLE L. PRICE, MATTHEW LEE, JON GAMBRELL, SAMY MAGDY and MIKE CATALINI Associated Press
A memorandum of understanding to be signed Friday by the United States and Iran calls for Tehran to at minimum dilute its enriched uranium and would waive but not permanently end sanctions on the country. That's according to U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to read the draft language, which Iran has not released. The deal would also open the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for two months and affirm a commitment to Lebanon's territorial integrity in the face of Israel's invasion against Hezbollah. U.S. officials dictated the language to journalists on Wednesday after days of secrecy.
By SYLVIE CORBET, AAMER MADHANI and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press
President Donald Trump has started his visit to the G7 summit by hailing an agreement aimed at ending the U.S. conflict with Iran. Trump met Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron and called the deal a potential breakthrough for global security. The Republican U.S. president says the deal could lead to positive changes in the Middle East. The agreement has yet to be fully detailed but might alter the dynamics of the summit, where Trump has faced criticism from European leaders for his decision to start the war without consulting them. Macron is among the leaders who've criticized Trump over the war but congratulates him for finding an agreement with Iran.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to be more muted in his criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump at an upcoming summit in Europe. Carney's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos helped make him an international political star in January, when he declared the global rules-based order over and condemned coercion by great powers on smaller countries. But the Group of Seven summit of industrialized democracies that begins Monday in France comes ahead of the scheduled July 1 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. That's the latest iteration of the North American free-trade pact.
U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey has resigned, saying the government is not willing to spend enough on the military at a time of rising threats. Healey told Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday that the government's defense investment plan falls "well short of what is required at this dangerous time." Publication of the plan has been delayed amid reports of disagreement between the defense ministry and the Treasury. Healey wrote in a letter to Starmer that "I am now left with no other option to submit my resignation." Analysts said the departure both undermines Starmer and sends a worrying message about the UK's ability to defend itself.
By HYUNG-JIN KIM and KEN MORITSUGU Associated Press
Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have underscored their commitment to deepen cooperation in a closely watched summit. Xi traveled to Pyongyang on Monday in a likely attempt to reassert China's unique influence over its socialist neighbor. In a meeting with Kim, Xi expressed China's willingness to expand cooperation in a wide range of areas including trade, agriculture and technology. Kim said consolidating a new era of friendship between the two countries is the "unchanging strategic choice" of North Korea, according to Chinese state media.
By KEN MORITSUGU and HYUNG-JIN KIM Associated Press
Chinese leader Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea next week in what will be his first visit in years. His trip will the latest in a series of steps by China to reinforce its close ties with its nuclear-armed neighbor, whose leader Kim Jong Un has reached out to Russia in recent years, notably by sending troops and conventional weapons to support its war against Ukraine. The announcement was made by both countries Friday a day after North Korea unveiled a new facility to produce nuclear fuel. Experts say the plant's disclosure implies that Kim is eager to cement his country's status as a nuclear weapons state ahead of Xi's visit.
President Donald Trump is asserting that Iran is "negotiating on fumes" and insisting November's midterm elections won't make him rush into a deal to end the nearly 3-month-old conflict that's spurred unease across the global economy. Speaking at the start of a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, Trump expressed confidence that an agreement is near. Over the weekend, he even declared that his administration and Tehran had "largely negotiated" a settlement, but the negotiations were still in flux. The president is looking for a settlement that will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide him a credible argument that Iran's nuclear capability has been diminished enough to declare victory, winding down a conflict that's been politically unpopular for Republicans.
