The United States on Wednesday informed NATO allies that it plans to scale back and reorganize its role in the NATO Force Model, as part of a wider strategy to shift more responsibility for Europe’s conventional defence to European countries and Canada. According to a press release from US European Command (EUCOM), officials from the US Department of War told allies that Washington would “rightsize” its contributions to NATO forces in line with the “burden sharing” goals outlined in the 2026 National Defense Strategy and the Department’s vision for a “NATO 3.0.”
The effort is being overseen by Under Secretary for War for Policy Elbridge Colby and aims to ensure that Europe takes the lead in handling conventional security challenges on the continent. Alexander Velez-Green, Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor to the Under Secretary for War Policy, formally conveyed the message during a NATO defence policy officials meeting in Brussels on May 22.
Commander of US European Command and US Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich said NATO had become overly dependent on American military support. He noted that President Trump and Secretary Hegseth had made it clear that this arrangement must change, especially given the possibility of simultaneous conflicts in multiple regions.
Grynkewich stated that the planned changes would make NATO’s defence strategy more practical by reducing reliance on US forces that may be required elsewhere, while also reflecting the growing military strength of non-US NATO members. He added that the transition had been coordinated for months between USEUCOM and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). Grynkewich said Canada and European allies could immediately increase contributions in areas such as manned and unmanned aircraft as well as naval forces, as the US redirects some of its military resources to other regions.
The matter was discussed again during a NATO force sourcing conference held from June 2 to 3 at SHAPE headquarters in Mons, Belgium, chaired by UK Air Chief Marshal Sir Johnny Stringer, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Addressing representatives from NATO’s 32 member states, Grynkewich said SHAPE is continuing to work with allies to compensate for the reduced US role. He added that allied nations now have an opportunity to demonstrate unity and commitment to collective defence ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara next month.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from @US_EUCOM.
A Parliamentary panel has expressed concern over sluggish private investment despite a sharp rise in government capital expenditure, calling it a major challenge for the Indian economy. Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Chairman Bhartruhari Mahtab on Thursday said the issue was discussed extensively during a meeting of the panel with senior government officials, including Chief Economic Advisor V. Ananth Nageswaran.
Mahtab said the committee reviewed the evolving economic situation, including inflation, growth trends, foreign investment flows and global developments affecting India. “The challenge is that while government investment and capital expenditure are increasing, private investment is not picking up at the same pace. This is something that needs to be addressed,” the Lok Sabha MP said. The panel also discussed opportunities emerging from global companies seeking to diversify manufacturing operations away from China. Mahtab said India would need policy reforms and targeted support measures to attract such investments.
“That is a concern, and certain policy changes are required. We also need to decide what kind of support should be provided to companies moving out of China to help them set up industries in India,” he said. According to Mahtab, discussions also covered China’s recent industrial protection measures, inflationary pressures, the impact of the West Asia conflict and their implications for the global economy.
Despite global headwinds, the committee noted that India’s economic outlook remains positive, supported by improving domestic indicators. “Household savings have increased compared to last year, and investment is also rising,” Mahtab said. The panel further reviewed foreign direct investment trends and raised concerns over capital outflows despite robust inflows into India.
“While India is attracting large amounts of FDI, there is also a flight of investment from the country,” he said. Quoting the Chief Economic Advisor, Mahtab said such movements are cyclical in nature, with phases of increased inflows often followed by periods of outflows. He also pointed out that developed economies, particularly the United States, are currently attracting significant global investment. Rising interest rates in countries such as Japan are also influencing capital flows, he added.
On concerns over inflation due to the West Asia conflict, Mahtab said the government had already taken several measures, including the creation of a corpus fund, to address potential economic pressures. Responding to questions on the rupee, he said the Reserve Bank of India was taking steps to stabilise the currency. The Parliamentary panel is expected to meet again in the third week of June and prepare a report outlining key economic challenges along with policy recommendations for the government.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from
Residents of Quetta are facing growing difficulties as a worsening petrol shortage has severely disrupted everyday life, revealing significant weaknesses in the provincial administration’s handling of essential fuel supplies. Long lines have appeared outside the few fuel stations still operating, while many petrol pumps have halted sales after running out of stock, according to ARY News.
The crisis has left motorists stranded and commuters increasingly frustrated, with queues of cars, motorcycles, and heavy vehicles extending for long distances at the limited stations continuing to provide fuel. Many residents said that even though they are prepared to pay the official rate, obtaining petrol has become extremely difficult, forcing them to wait for hours.
Public frustration has intensified as citizens question why authorities failed to foresee and address the shortage before it worsened. Commenting on the issue, Mehar Ullah Badini acknowledged the crisis and stated that the widespread sale of illegally imported Iranian petrol across the city had disrupted the regular fuel distribution network. He added that the administration had contacted petrol pump owners and taken urgent steps to respond to the situation.
Badini also said that fuel shipments to Quetta had been increased and expressed hope that normal supplies would soon return. However, many residents remain doubtful, saying repeated official assurances have done little to reduce the hardships being faced by the public. The shortage comes amid rising prices of Iranian fuel in Balochistan. Traders reported that smuggled Iranian petrol, which previously sold for around Rs170–180 per litre, has now risen to nearly Rs200–210 per litre in several border and coastal areas, especially in Gwadar District. Fuel dealers blamed the increase on restrictions affecting commercial activities in the Kuntani Hor border region, an important route used for transporting smuggled goods.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
India and Venezuela on Thursday held high-level talks to strengthen bilateral ties, with a major focus on energy security and boosting economic cooperation across various sectors. During a special MEA briefing on the visit of Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon said the visiting leader was accompanied by a large ministerial delegation and held official discussions, including a working lunch, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tandon highlighted that Venezuela has emerged as India’s third-largest crude oil supplier this month, adding that both sides focused on building a stronger long-term energy partnership. He noted that India and Venezuela share “perfect complementarity” in the energy sector, covering both upstream and downstream activities, with Venezuela viewing India as a reliable long-term demand partner.
Apart from energy, discussions also covered expanding economic engagement in sectors such as mining, animal husbandry, transportation, agricultural equipment, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals. Tandon described Venezuela as a resource-rich nation moving toward sustained economic growth, offering significant opportunities for Indian businesses and investments.
Describing the talks as “businesslike and substantive,” Tandon said the Venezuelan side appreciated India’s consistent support during both difficult and prosperous times. The MEA further stated that Venezuela considers India a preferred partner for the future, reflecting the growing strength and continuity of bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Acting President Delcy Rodriguez held wide-ranging discussions on expanding cooperation in energy, trade, investment, healthcare, and the automotive sector. According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues and reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing the interests of the Global South.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from YouTube/MEA.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) on Thursday said it aims to make Tamil Nadu its flagship EV hub in India by boosting localisation and strengthening the supply-chain ecosystem. The company plans to increase procurement from Tamil Nadu-based suppliers by around ₹4,000 crore over the next five to six years, creating nearly 2,000 additional jobs. HMIL reaffirmed its investment commitment of over ₹26,000 crore in the state between 2023 and 2032 and announced that two new models, including its first mass-market dedicated EV, will be launched from its Chennai facility this year. The company also partnered with the Tamil Nadu government on a skill-development initiative to improve youth employability in areas such as EVs, robotics, automation and AI-enabled manufacturing. The programme is expected to begin operations in December 2027. HMIL plans to raise localisation levels from 82 per cent to 90 per cent over the next few years to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence. The company has already set up Tamil Nadu’s first battery sub-assembly plant for EV powertrains and continues to expand EV charging infrastructure across the state.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.
A second batch of more than 1,000 pages of documents concerning Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador has been made public. The files were expected to shed light on what ministers knew about Mandelson’s connections to Epstein and the vetting process behind his approval. Instead, they exposed internal government tensions and early concerns over Keir Starmer’s leadership. Lucy Hough talks with the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
On Saturday, Donald Trump stated that negotiations with Tehran were progressing positively and that a deal to end the conflict was largely in place. Just a day later, the United States carried out strikes in southern Iran. By Thursday, Trump had shared a draft peace proposal for the Iran conflict with allied nations. As the future of a US-Iran agreement remains uncertain, Jonathan Freedland speaks with Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group to explore why Trump has repeatedly shifted his approach to ending the war.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has kept its GDP growth forecast at 2–4%, supported by stronger-than-anticipated economic performance in the first quarter. At the same time, core inflation eased more than expected in April. Economists caution that geopolitical uncertainties and weaker external demand continue to pose risks. Susan Ng and Hairianto Diman discuss the strength of Singapore’s economy and its outlook for the coming months with Jeff Ng from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey respond to reader questions on whether Andy Burnham could outperform Keir Starmer, whether Makerfield matters more for Reform UK than for Labour, and whether the UK could realistically rejoin the EU.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
