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Washington Pulls Back — Then Calls Allied Adaptation a ‘Distraction’ — National flags of participating countries displayed during the opening ceremony of Sea Breeze 2026 in Portland, United Kingdom, on July 13, 2026. The US co-sponsored exercise focuses on interoperability among NATO maritime and ground forces operating in the Black Sea region. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Leon Vonguyen.

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Washington Pulls Back — Then Calls Allied Adaptation a ‘Distraction’

The United States is reducing its physical commitments while asking allies to assume more responsibility. As Europe, Canada and Ukraine build mechanisms to fill the gaps, Washington is warning them not to become "too independent".

By Olga Nesterova • 8 min read

Ukraine and European Partners Launch Joint Anti-Ballistic Missile Program — Coalition of the Willing "Family Photo" | Credit: The Office of the President of Ukraine

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Ukraine and European Partners Launch Joint Anti-Ballistic Missile Program

The Coalition of the Willing also agreed to expand air defense support, coordinate operations against Russia’s shadow fleet and test a multinational force designed to operate in Ukraine after a ceasefire.

By Olga Nesterova • 8 min read

US Launches Campaign to ‘Dismantle’ International Criminal Court — Credit: ICC | https://www.icc-cpi.int/

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US Launches Campaign to ‘Dismantle’ International Criminal Court

The United Nations defended the ICC as a critical part of the international justice system after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would use diplomatic and economic pressure to weaken the Court “brick by brick.”

By Olga Nesterova • 6 min read

Macron and WHO Chief Warn Childhood Is Being Rewritten by Screens — But Bans Alone May Not Be Enough

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Macron and WHO Chief Warn Childhood Is Being Rewritten by Screens — But Bans Alone May Not Be Enough

French President Emmanuel Macron and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned Wednesday that digital platforms are no longer just communication tools, but public health environments shaping how children learn, sleep, socialize and understand the world. In a joint commentary published by Project Syndicate and the World Health Organization on

By Olga Nesterova • 4 min read

UN Counter-Terrorism Conference Turns to AI, But the Bigger Question Is Governance

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UN Counter-Terrorism Conference Turns to AI, But the Bigger Question Is Governance

United Nations Headquarters | New York

By Olga Nesterova • 4 min read

Why One Fighter Jet Has Become NATO's Biggest Political Test — Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

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Why One Fighter Jet Has Become NATO's Biggest Political Test

Why Trump's comments on Türkiye's F-35 request could shape the NATO Summit in Ankara

By Olga Nesterova • 5 min read

The Climate Cost of the 2026 World Cup: When Politics Makes the Carbon Footprint Even Bigger

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The Climate Cost of the 2026 World Cup: When Politics Makes the Carbon Footprint Even Bigger

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was already expected to become the most carbon-intensive tournament in the competition's history. Now geopolitics may make it even worse. According to estimates cited by Deutsche Welle and climate researchers, the expanded tournament could generate roughly 7.8 million metric tons of

By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read

The U.S. Is Pulling 900 Sensors Out of the Ocean. The Consequences Will Last Decades. — The U.S. Is Pulling 900 Sensors Out of the Ocean

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The U.S. Is Pulling 900 Sensors Out of the Ocean. The Consequences Will Last Decades.

Built to operate for 25 years, one of the world’s most advanced ocean monitoring systems is being dismantled after just a decade, ending a scientific record that researchers hoped would last generations.

By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read

Europe Wants to Be Less Reliant on American Tech. Here’s Why.

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Europe Wants to Be Less Reliant on American Tech. Here’s Why.

The European Union has unveiled a sweeping new “Tech Sovereignty Package” aimed at reducing its dependence on American technology companies and building more of its own digital infrastructure. The plan focuses on three areas where Europe believes it has become strategically vulnerable: cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor production. At

By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read

Trump Targets Forced Labor Abroad. Americans May Feel the Cost at Home.

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Trump Targets Forced Labor Abroad. Americans May Feel the Cost at Home.

The Trump administration plans tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from 60 economies, arguing that weak enforcement against forced labor creates unfair competition for American workers.

By Olga Nesterova • 1 min read

Bangladesh Wins UN General Assembly Presidency as UN Enters a Defining Year — Photo: UN News / UN Photo

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Bangladesh Wins UN General Assembly Presidency as UN Enters a Defining Year

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has been elected President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, defeating Cyprus’ Andreas Kakouris in a surprisingly competitive vote of 99 to 91. On paper, the role is largely procedural. In reality, Rahman will preside over one of the most consequential

By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read

Rubio’s Foreign Policy Has a Results Problem — Photo: shared by Sen. Cornyn on X

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Rubio’s Foreign Policy Has a Results Problem

Marco Rubio’s testimony before Congress was built around a familiar Washington trick: present activity as achievement. Ceasefires were restored. Agreements were signed. Routes were announced. Compacts were launched. Countries were brought into new coalitions. Aid was made “faster,” “leaner,” and more “results-driven.” But not every result is positive

By Olga Nesterova • 2 min read