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 STEPHEN McGRATH and NICOLAE DUMITRACHE Associated Press
Romanian authorities say a Russian drone that was part of an overnight attack on Ukraine crashed into an apartment building in eastern Romania. Two people had minor injuries and several were evacuated. The Defense Ministry said Friday the drone was tracked by radar in Romanian airspace and crashed onto the roof of a building in Galati. Russia has been using long-range ballistic missiles and drones to damage Ukraine's power grid and hammer cities, and Ukraine has braced for further heavy bombardments. Romania's Foreign Ministry said the country is asking NATO for a faster transfer of anti-drone capabilities to its military.
By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, EMMA BURROWS, BEN FINLEY and CLAUDIA CIOBANU Associated Press
The Pentagon is drawing down thousands of troops in Europe by stopping units from deploying to Poland and Germany as opposed to yanking those already stationed there. Several U.S. officials confirmed that 4,000 troops from an Army brigade are no longer en route to Poland this week. The Trump administration had previously said it was cutting U.S. forces only in Germany. The deployment was canceled after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo directing a brigade combat team to be moved out of Europe. That's according to two U.S. officials. One of them said the choice of which unit was left to military leaders. The memo also led to the cancellation of an upcoming deployment to Germany.
European leaders say President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Germany is just the latest signal that Europe must take more responsibility for its security. The Pentagon announced last week that 5,000 troops would leave, but Trump said the number would be higher. The move surprised many, and comes amid tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war. The leaders of Norway and Britain sought to downplay the impact of the troop reduction while acknowledging it provides a useful nudge for the continent to step up its role within NATO. European nations have increased defense spending over the past year in response to Trump's threats.
In Baltic skies, there's a regular ballet of posturing between pilots from NATO nations and Russia. The military alliance regularly sends up fighter jets to intercept Russian flights that NATO says fail to adhere to international norms and endanger other flyers. The Associated Press spoke to French and Romanian pilots serving on a NATO mission in Lithuania. With spring bringing better weather for flying, they're being kept busy, taking to the skies to identify and watch Russian planes. Alliance members take turns policing Baltic skies around the clock, seven days a week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country's top priority is securing help to buy and build more air defense systems. Russia continues its attacks on civilians and infrastructure, and warns that European sites that make drones and other equipment for Ukraine were "potential targets." Zelenskyy is visiting European capitals to secure military and financial support. He aims to boost air defense capabilities, including the Patriot system. Britain plans to send 120,000 drones to Ukraine this year. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues long-range drone attacks on Russia. Defense leaders from over 50 nations are meeting online to coordinate aid for Kyiv.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is refusing to say whether President Donald Trump wants to quit the military organization. Trump's threat to leave this time comes over the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, which NATO is not a party to and was not consulted about. Trump has criticized NATO allies as "cowards." He complains that NATO ignored his call for help when Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz. Rutte has won acclaim as a "Trump whisperer," but he's struggling to keep Trump engaged in NATO. He's been praising Trump for successes in the war, and for boosting defense spending. At the same time, Rutte insists NATO will not join the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump says he's strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO. Trump remarks have ratcheted up his criticism of European allies and exposed a wider rift in the trans-Atlantic alliance. This time over the Iran war. Trump's talk of a possible NATO pullout dates back years. But the comments to The Telegraph newspaper in the U.K. published Wednesday were among the clearest and most disparaging yet. Trump was asked whether he would reconsider U.S. membership in the alliance after the conflict in the Middle East ends. Trump replied: "Oh yes, I would say (it's) beyond reconsideration." NATO didn't provide immediate comment when contacted by The Associated Press.
By MATTHEW LEE and SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press
Deep divisions were apparent over the Iran war as top diplomats from the Group of Seven countries have met in France. But they agreed to call for an immediate halt to attacks against civilian populations and infrastructure after meeting Friday in France. The G7 meeting follows U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated complaints that allies have ignored or rejected requests for help confronting Iran's retaliation, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most international shipping. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined his G7 counterparts a day after Trump lobbed his latest round of insults at NATO countries.
With U.S.-brokered Ukraine peace talks on hold due to the war in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to try to expand his military gains via new offensives against his southern neighbor that will put even more pressure on Kyiv. Windfall revenues from surging global oil prices are filling Moscow's war coffers and U.S. air defense assets are being drained quickly by Iranian attacks across the Gulf, leaving little available for Ukraine in the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine's European allies have promised to maintain their steadfast support, but bickering over a major 90 billion euro ($106 billion) European Union loan to cover Kyiv's military and economic needs for two years has reflected the mounting challenges.
