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.
By JON GAMBRELL, SAM MEDNICK and JULIE WATSON Associated Press
Iran is threatening recreational and tourist sites worldwide and insisting it is still building missiles three weeks into an escalating war in the Middle East. The United States is deploying more warships and another 2,500 Marines to the region. As Israeli strikes landed in Tehran, Iran launched more attacks on Israel and energy sites in neighboring Gulf Arab states. With little information coming out of Iran, it was not clear how much damage its forces have suffered in the punishing U.S. and Israeli strikes that began Feb. 28 — or even who was truly in charge of the country. But Iran's attacks are still choking off oil supplies and denting the global economy.
By MATTHEW LEE, STEPHEN GROVES and JOSHUA GOODMAN Associated Press
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has given a full-throated defense of President Donald Trump's military operation to oust and arrest then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Rubio also used his wide-ranging congressional testimony Wednesday to touch on Greenland, NATO, Iran and China. In the first public hearing since the Jan. 3 intervention to depose Maduro, Rubio said Trump had acted to take out a major U.S. national security threat in the Western Hemisphere. Rubio said America was safer and more secure as a result and that the Republican administration would work with interim authorities to stabilize the South American country.
By GEIR MOULSON, EMMA BURROWS and JAMES BROOKS Associated Press
Leader of Denmark and its semiautonomous territory Greenland are insisting that the island's sovereignty is nonnegotiable after U.S. President Donald Trump said he agreed to a framework on Arctic security with the head of NATO. Much about the potential deal remains unclear, though Trump said that "we're going to have total access to Greenland" and "we're going to have all the military access we want." Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen voiced guarded relief that Trump abruptly dropped his tariff threats and insistence on acquiring the island, but said he knew no concrete details of the agreement Trump cited.
As tensions simmered between the United States and Europe over President Donald Trump's push to acquire Greenland, Russian officials, state-backed media and pro-Kremlin bloggers watched with a mixture of glee, gloating and wariness. Some touted Trump's move as historic, while others said it weakens the European Union and NATO — something that Moscow would seem to welcome — and that it pushes Russia's war in Ukraine to the sidelines for the West. Some noted the Arctic island held security and economic concerns for the U.S. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also drew parallels between Trump's bid for Greenland and the annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, which many nations do not recognize as legal.
By JOSH BOAK, WILL WEISSERT and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press
President Donald Trump has announced he is canceling a planned tariff on U.S. allies in Europe over Greenland. This decision follows an agreement with NATO on a framework for a future Arctic deal. Earlier, Trump insisted on acquiring Greenland but said he would not use force. His comments have sparked concerns about a potential geopolitical standoff. Denmark remains firm on its sovereignty over Greenland. Trump's tariff threats have alarmed European leaders, who warn of a strong response. The situation has overshadowed Trump's plans to address U.S. housing prices, with Greenland dominating discussions.
By JAMEY KEATEN, EMMA BURROWS and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
President Donald Trump's tariff threats over Greenland have strained relations with America's key NATO allies. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, criticized Trump's approach on Tuesday, warning of potential retaliation. The European Union's top official calls the tariffs a "mistake," questioning Trump's reliability. Trump argues the U.S. needs Greenland to counter threats from China and Russia. Greenland's leader insists on respect for international law. European leaders consider countermeasures, including tariffs and economic sanctions. As tensions rise, Trump plans to address the issue at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
By EMMA BURROWS, CLAUDIA CIOBANU and DANIEL NIEMANN Associated Press
Troops from European countries, including France and Germany, are arriving in Greenland to boost security. This comes as talks in Washington on Wednesday between Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. highlighted disagreements over Greenland's future. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the deployment of French troops, with Germany sending a reconnaissance team on Thursday. Denmark is also increasing its military presence. The talks focused on U.S. intentions to take over Greenland for its mineral resources amid rising Russian and Chinese interest. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed concerns over Trump's intentions. Greenlanders remain uncertain about the future.
