Lithuania’s intelligence says its security depends on Russia’s war in Ukraine: as long as Moscow focuses resources there, its ability to directly threaten Lithuania and NATO stays limited, per the annual national security threat report: www.vsd.lt/en/reports/n... 1/3
Spoke to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte today. First story below, more to come.
⚡️ NATO reiterates collective defense as alliance shoots down Iranian missile heading toward Turkey.
"Our deterrence and defense posture remains strong across all domains," NATO spokesperson Allison Hart told the Kyiv Independent.
The UK, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden & Denmark “would also share in the development of ‘auxiliary’ capacities under the new nuclear doctrine: space-based alarm systems; air defence to shoot down incoming drones and missiles; and long-range missiles.”
bbc.com/news/article...
This is how the Republicans will frame it for the MAGA movement:
For Trump, everything is personal and only personal. All traditional drivers of military or foreign policy strategy or decision making are irrelevant in the case of the US today except the mood, impulses, ego and greed of the president.
A United States senator from the president's own party, one who serves on the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has no idea what's going on as America goes to war with Iran.
Another blast from the past. But Gabbard doesn’t seem to be in the Trump admins inner circle anyway. As the Director of National Intelligence…
So it looks like the old-school Neocons like Lindsay Graham won this administration internal standoff…
Trump Tweet from 2013 Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly-not skilled!
2013
4 years of bravery.
4 years of sacrifice.
4 years of unbreakable spirit.
4 years of defending freedom.
For us. For you. For #Ukraine. For Europe.
We 🇩🇪🇫🇷🇵🇱 stand behind you 🇺🇦 - as long as it takes.
"The report, reviewed by the FT, decided against using Palantir technology for Swiss military data since there was a risk that US authorities could gain access to the sensitive files."
Yet here Labour continues to shove public money down its throat.
!!!
EU demands Russia withdraw troops from Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, and Transnistria, pull nukes from Belarus, pay reparations, and hold free elections — all as conditions for a Ukraine deal.
"We pay back to Russian maximalist demands on Ukraine."
🔗 euromaidanpress.com/2026/02/19/e...
EXCLUSIVE: Washington is pressing NATO to end its mission in Iraq and scale down its peacekeeping operation in Kosovo, in a push internally known as a “return to factory settings.”
Yet the campaign is prompting blowback from some allies.
🔗 politi.co/4aJVzml
Outlet Berlingske reports that Lindsey Graham called Danish Prime Minister a "little lady" during a meeting in Munich on Saturday. "Eyewitnesses describe Graham's "rant" as extremely degrading to both Denmark and Greenland."
A different kind of geostrategic enlargement - foreign minister of Iceland is calling for speeding up work for a referendum to restart the country's EU accession process (via @andreasrinke.bsky.social):
Zero confusion about what Europeans should do.
Acquire capabilities necessary for defense of Europe. Smartly reduce vulnerabilities to coercion & blackmail by China & US. Invest in revival of European industry & technology. Work together where interests are aligned.
It‘s quite simple.
How is this speech interpreted as a good sign for transatlantic relations? Because Rubio chose nicer words to criticize us? Seriously? This is not a turning point and it really shouldn’t be a sign of relief.
So as many have predicted this speech was more about proving his loyalty to Trump than mending transatlantic relations or what Rubio might *actually* stand for. First and foremost he doesn’t want to be seen as „weak on the Europeans“ by Trump. Let’s hope for more productive talks w/ U.S. delegation
(KS) NATO-Verbände sind offensichtlich mit aktueller Drohnenkriegsführung völlig überfordert. Ukrainischem Drohnenteam (10 Soldaten) gelang es bei „Hedgehog 2025” in Estland an einem Übungstag zwei ganze #NATO -Bataillone simuliert kampfunfähig zu machen. #Drohne
militaeraktuell.at/ukrainische-...
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte:
President Putin is trying to break the people of Ukraine, hoping to weaken their resolve.
But Ukraine and Ukrainian people have shown, time and again, that they will not be broken.
Quite the chart
The Trump administration's continued attacks on NATO may cause long term damage to U.S. security if allies downgrade their cooperation with the U.S. @j-dren.bsky.social and @atabatabai.bsky.social explain the benefits that NATO allies provide that would significantly harm U.S. security if lost.
Greenland is an island with the right to independence, which may store up legal problems – as the UK’s experience with the Chagos Archipelago shows.
France has asked NATO to hold an exercise in Greenland and will participate, Reuters reports. Macron, speaking in Davos, said Europe “won’t give in to bullies,” rebuking Trump’s threats over Greenland. #NATO
We will need to talk about US presence in Europe. And it would be good if we Europeans drove the discussion and didn’t wait for the other shoe to drop.
www.reuters.com/world/us-cut...
Etwas late to the party aber wie kann man die geopolitische Lage & Fremdwahrnehmung so schlecht einschätzen wie Jens Spahn? WIR dürfen nicht rhetorisch eskalieren? WIR dürfen die NATO nicht in Frage stellen? Merz sei einer der wenigen, der mit Trump auf Augenhöhe sprechen kann? Wunschdenken beenden.
