Nato

US intelligence officials have assessed that Saudi Arabia still retains the option to pursue nuclear weapons, even as the kingdom weighs an agreement with the United States. At the same time, US senators are moving against a nuclear cooperation deal tied to the Trump administration, arguing it could pave the way for Riyadh to develop an atomic arsenal. Critics warn any pact must include binding limits on uranium enrichment.

Lithuania is moving to lift its ban on nuclear weapons stationed on its territory, with proponents citing the argument that 'Russians do not attack the strong'. The move reflects growing alarm in Baltic states over Russian military threats and doubts about NATO's security guarantees, and would mark a major shift in the country's defence policy if approved.

A defense minister says NATO must learn to break up and disperse its weapons manufacturing before it enters a major conflict, warning that concentrated defense production is a vulnerability. The comments add to ongoing debate within the alliance about whether European and NATO defense industries can produce ammunition and equipment fast enough, and safely enough, in the event of a large-scale war.

European nations and NATO are preparing for the possibility that the war in Ukraine could widen into a broader conflict with Russia. Discussions centre on military readiness, defence spending and deterrence, as officials warn the fighting could spill beyond Ukraine's borders.

President Trump's NATO ambassador said Ukraine's attacks on Russian territory are pushing Vladimir Putin closer to the negotiating table to end the war. The comments add to an ongoing debate over whether Kyiv's deep strikes inside Russia weaken Moscow's position and could accelerate peace negotiations rather than escalate the conflict.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Donald Trump deserves credit for pushing Russia and Ukraine toward peace talks, while playing down fears that Russia could invade Finland or other NATO countries. Stubb, whose nation shares a long border with Russia, argued that Finland's NATO membership and Western strength deter any future aggression, even as negotiations to end the war in Ukraine continue.

A group of senators and congressmen have sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations near schools. They argue parents should be able to drop their children off at school without fearing detention, framing enforcement actions at these locations as harmful to families and children.

Poland is offering to pay $15,000 a year for each US service member stationed on its territory, on top of covering infrastructure costs, according to Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski. The proposal underscores Warsaw's push to deepen the American military presence in the country amid ongoing security concerns on NATO's eastern flank.

A new map charts the world's military alliances as they stand heading into 2026, showing how countries are grouped in mutual defense arrangements across regions. Visualizations of this kind are drawing attention as readers look for a clear picture of shifting security blocs, from NATO and its partners to other regional defense pacts.

Several Republican senators facing competitive re-election contests are publicly breaking with President Trump on immigration enforcement, calling on ICE to coordinate more closely with local police departments. The move marks a rare intra-party split on a signature Trump issue, as vulnerable GOP incumbents appear to be courting moderate voters ahead of upcoming elections.

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to enshrine stricter neutrality rules in law, a move that would have limited cooperation with Nato. The result allows Bern to continue military partnerships with Western allies despite Switzerland's long-standing neutrality. Observers see the vote as a signal of public support for pragmatic security cooperation amid the war in Ukraine.

Louisiana Republican senator John Kennedy has publicly criticized the Trump White House for spending taxpayer money on advertisements promoting Donald Trump. The rare intra-party rebuke, reported by the Guardian, is drawing attention as it highlights tensions within Republican ranks over the administration's use of public funds for what critics see as political self-promotion.

France's Greens and La France Insoumise are trading blame after failing to win a third Senate seat representing French citizens abroad. LFI figures say the Ecologists' refusal to join a joint EELV-LFI list cost the left the seat, handing it to the right. Each party insists the other is responsible for the electoral misstep.

As Congress takes up legislation affecting college sports, senators who were once college athletes are playing a visible role in the debate. Their firsthand experience of collegiate athletics gives them standing in discussions over issues such as athlete compensation and the regulation of the NIL era, making them notable voices in the proceedings.

Colt Shelby, a candidate in Arkansas's gubernatorial race, appeared on Talk Business & Politics alongside longtime political columnist John Brummett. The segment covered the candidate's campaign as the state's gubernatorial contest draws attention, with Brummett offering analysis from his decades covering Arkansas politics.