PARIS — Following the United States capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a strike over the weekend, and renewed comments by U.S. President Donald Trump claiming Greenland, Defense News asked analysts in Europe and elsewhere to comment on the impact on the global rules-based order, the NATO alliance and Europe. Below is a selection of comments gathered via email and by phone, and…
Thailand’s tilt toward China tests treaty alliance with US
January 6, 2026
BANGKOK — On paper, the U.S. security alliance with Thailand is one of the strongest in Asia, dating back seven decades and backed up by military exercises each year with thousands of troops from both countries and many others.
Thailand’s drift toward China over the past…
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy is exploring ways to monitor subsea cables as part of larger efforts to protect underwater infrastructure from sabotage and spying.
Numerous submarine cables crisscross the Philippines’ underwater domain, including cables that…
COLOGNE, Germany — As European governments grapple to understand the implications of a proclaimed U.S. takeover of Venezuela over the weekend, renewed fears here swirl around President Donald Trump’s threats to make the Danish territory of Greenland part of the United States.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen released a statement on Sunday after The Atlantic published an interview with…
Venezuela’s Maduro never escaped his predecessor’s shadow
January 5, 2026
Nicolás Maduro, who rose from unionized bus driver to Venezuelan president and oversaw his country’s democratic undoing and economic collapse, was captured Saturday during an attack by U.S. forces on his capital.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in an early morning social…
The Air Force in December said Northrop Grumman’s new autonomous drone wingman, known as Talon, is a leading contender to join its collaborative combat aircraft program.
The service also said in a Dec. 22 release that it gave Northrop’s Talon drone the designation…
KYIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday appointed the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence as his new chief of staff, a move that comes as the U.S. leads a diplomatic push to end Russia’s nearly 4-year-old invasion.
Announcing the appointment of Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs to focus on security issues, developing its defense and security forces, and…
A year of strikes: US military operations surge under Trump
January 1, 2026
President Donald Trump has presided over a rapid surge of U.S. military activity abroad since returning to the Oval Office.
In the first year of his second term, he has authorized a series of strikes ranging from the unprecedented use of bunker-buster bombs against Iran’s…
Japan is barreling forward with efforts to significantly boost its military capabilities to stand up to China’s growing threats by doubling annual arms spending. The goal comes as Tokyo’s main ally, the United States, pushes for more military assistance in Asia and a…
PARIS — With Europe spending record amounts on defense in 2025 on everything from ammunition to battle tanks, air defenses and naval ships, local industry winners included Germany’s Rheinmetall, Sweden’s Saab and the United Kingdom’s BAE Systems.
France’s Naval Group had a less successful year, missing out on several contracts in 2025, while a joint effort by France, Germany and Spain to…
