US President Donald Trump has moderated his criticism of Spain after learning about the country’s recent increase in defence spending, easing tensions that had escalated during discussions over NATO commitments. Read More: Trump Orders Immediate Halt to Trade with Spain Trump had earlier described Spain as a poor NATO partner and threatened to halt trade with the […]
Defence Spending
Italy’s Meloni: No regrets over ties with Trump
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she has no regrets about building close relations with US President Donald Trump despite his recent public criticism. Speaking after the NATO summit in Ankara, she stressed that Italy would continue pursuing its national interests while maintaining its alliance commitments. Her remarks come amid renewed tensions between the two […]
Hegseth urges Nato allies to boost defence spending
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth praised Nato allies for increasing military spending but stressed that several countries must do more to meet the alliance’s defence commitments during a meeting of defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday. Speaking ahead of the talks, Hegseth welcomed what he described as significant progress by member states in strengthening […]
Debt servicing outpaces defence, development spending in H1 of CFY26
ISLAMABAD: Debt servicing in Pakistan continued to outstrip spending on defence and development during the first half of the current fiscal year (July–December CFY26), raising concerns over fiscal pressures under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, The News reported on Saturday. Read More: Pakistan hits milestone by repaying debt early According to data released by the Ministry […]
Israel sets record $35 billion defence budget for 2026
Israel’s cabinet approved the 2026 state budget on Friday, including 112 billion shekels ($35 billion) for defence. This marks a major increase from the earlier draft of 90 billion shekels. The budget now goes to parliament for an initial vote before the March deadline. The approval comes amid heightened tensions following costly conflicts with Hamas […]
NATO chief confident of defence spending deal ahead of summit
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he is confident about a deal on defence spending. He spoke during a meeting with European allies in Rome. The talks focused on boosting support for Ukraine amid rising Russian attacks. The meeting included diplomats from Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Poland, Spain, Ukraine, and the EU. Rutte urged NATO […]
EU approves €150 billion SAFE loan scheme to boost defence spending
In a landmark move to strengthen its military capabilities, the European Union on Tuesday approved a €150 billion loan programme aimed at rearming the continent and reducing dependency on external powers. Known as the SAFE (Support to Ammunition and Future Equipment) scheme, the initiative is backed by the EU’s central budget and was proposed in […]