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.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in the informal Gymnich meeting alongside European Union Foreign Ministers, where he discussed opportunities for cooperation and strengthening ties with the EU. In a post on X, Jaishankar said the discussions focused on practical collaborations and shared interests in an increasingly multipolar world order.

He wrote, “Great to be in Limassol to join the informal #Gymnich meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers. Our partnership with the EU and the region continues to deepen across a wide range of domains. Discussed opportunities, practical collaborations and our shared interests in the emerging multipolar order.”

During his visit to Cyprus, Jaishankar held meetings with the Foreign Ministers of France, Poland, Romania, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Estonia, as well as the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Jaishankar attended the Informal Meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers at the invitation of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos. The Gymnich meeting, organised under Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was co-chaired by Kombos and Kallas, with discussions centred on current regional and global developments.

Earlier, Jaishankar met Kaja Kallas and reviewed bilateral relations while also exchanging views on the evolving situation in West Asia. EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin highlighted the meeting on X, saying it reflected the strong and growing relationship between India and the European Union.

The External Affairs Minister also met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, with whom he discussed the ongoing Ukraine conflict and bilateral cooperation. Sharing details on X, Jaishankar described the interaction as useful and said both sides exchanged perspectives on the conflict. He met Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss developments in West Asia. Jaishankar appreciated the Saudi minister’s insights and assessment of the changing regional situation.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@DrSJaishankar.

During his three-day official visit to Canada, Piyush Goyal visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and attended a community reception organised by the Consulate General of India. In a post on X, Goyal said he prayed for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of everyone. He described the temple as a representation of spirituality, harmony, service, and shared values, adding that it reflects the strong cultural and people-to-people connections that continue to deepen ties between India and Canada.

At the community event, Goyal highlighted India’s rapid economic progress under the leadership of Narendra Modi. He spoke about the growing opportunities in trade, investment, innovation, and people-to-people engagement through the proposed India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). He also praised the Indian diaspora for acting as a strong bridge between the two countries through contributions in business, technology, academia, innovation, and community leadership while preserving Indian cultural values abroad.

Goyal paid homage at the Kanishka Memorial in memory of the victims of Air India Flight 182 bombing and met their family members. Calling it one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in aviation history, he said India and Canada are working together to ensure such incidents are never repeated. Goyal’s visit to Canada from May 25 to 27 comes as New Delhi and Ottawa intensify discussions on the proposed CEPA, which is seen as crucial for revitalising bilateral economic ties. During the trip, he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald, and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, among others.

He also interacted with leading Canadian business figures to explore investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation. Discussions mainly focused on financial services, infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and critical minerals processing, while underlining the importance of stronger trade, investment, and technology partnerships between the two nations.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@PiyushGoyal.

India, Australia, Japan, and the United States on Tuesday launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework, committing to mobilise up to USD 20 billion in government and private sector funding to build secure and resilient critical minerals supply chains across the Indo-Pacific. The announcement followed the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where the four countries agreed on the framework aimed at strengthening critical mineral supply chains that are vital for advanced technologies, economic development, and industrial resilience.

According to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the initiative seeks to leverage coordinated investments and economic policy measures to promote diversified, transparent, and reliable critical mineral markets while ensuring steady supplies essential for regional economic growth and security. The framework outlines cooperation in three major areas: investment and project development, regulatory coordination, and recycling and recovery of critical minerals.

Under the initiative, the Quad partners plan to mobilise up to USD 20 billion through existing and new government and private sector efforts focused on mining, processing, and recycling. This includes identifying strategic projects linked to Quad countries, supporting critical mineral ventures, and exploring new methods to attract private investment and reinforce supply chains across the region.

The countries also aim to improve the regulatory environment for critical mineral development in line with their domestic laws by exchanging best practices on licensing, permitting, and regulatory procedures, including ways to streamline approvals. They will additionally cooperate on technology development, geological mapping, and resource assessment.

The statement added that the Quad members will examine coordinated responses to non-market policies and unfair trade practices, including the possibility of high-standard marketplaces and pricing mechanisms. The partners further intend to strengthen the recovery and recycling of critical minerals from e-waste and scrap materials by encouraging investment in recycling technologies, collection systems, and recovery infrastructure in collaboration with the private sector. The Quad countries will promote innovation in e-waste recycling and explore ways to simplify export and import procedures for relevant waste and scrap materials, while remaining consistent with domestic regulations and international obligations.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

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.

An Ebola outbreak has been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, with around 400 confirmed cases and over 100 deaths. To understand its possible origin, containment measures, and why it is especially concerning, Ian Sample speaks with clinical epidemiologist Daniela Manno from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

On the eve of Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy explore how the US president’s stance on relations with Xi Jinping has evolved since his first presidential campaign, and what both leaders are likely hoping to gain from the meeting. The discussion also highlights the group of technology CEOs accompanying Trump, including Elon Musk of Tesla and Apple chief Tim Cook, and explains why trade issues are expected to dominate the agenda. The segment examines how Trump’s ballroom project escalated to an estimated billion-dollar cost and questions who is ultimately expected to fund it.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Jonathan Freedland talks with law professor and author Leah Litman about the recent rulings of the conservative-majority Supreme Court, upcoming cases, and the debate over whether the court is now being seen more as a political body than a purely judicial one.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.