So let me just tell you. I was able to get hundreds of billions of dollars put into NATO just by a tough attitude," the president-elect said. "I told the countries, 'I'm not going to protect you unless you pay,' and they started paying. That amounted to more than $600 billion. That's a big thing, otherwise they wouldn't be fighting, they wouldn't have any money to fight."

BRUSSELS — NATO chief Mark Rutte said Monday that North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Kursk, the Russian region where Ukrainian forces seized territory in a surprise attack over the summer.

The United States said last week that at least 3,000 North Korean personnel were undergoing combat training in Russia, though it was not yet clear if they would join the war. The U.S. announcement, which officials said was based on newly declassified intelligence, followed similar disclosures from Kyiv and Seoul.

U.S. officials "no longer have any objections in principle to a simple invitation," French daily newspaper Le Monde reported on Saturday. "If [Vice President] Kamala Harris is elected, we could imagine [President Joe] Biden moving in this direction during the transition period," the paper reported, citing an anonymous European diplomatic source.

After decades of viewing China as a distant threat, NATO on Wednesday accused Beijing of becoming “a decisive enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” and demanded that it halt shipments of “weapons components” and other technology critical to the rebuilding of the Russian military

Yoon has begun thinking about ways to send weapons to Ukraine

Zelenskiy and US have been seeking help from Yoon in war

Since its creation on 4 April 1949, the transatlantic Alliance has grown from 12 founding members to 32 member countries, all working together to keep our people safe. A community of Allies bound together by common values of democracy, individual liberty, human rights and the rule of law, NATO celebrates its anniversary on 4 April at NATO Headquarters in Brussels and at the upcoming summit on 9-11 July in Washington, D.C., where its founding treaty was signed.

When pressed on what Nato members might do about China's support of Russia, Mr Stoltenberg said there was an "ongoing conversation" about possible sanctions.

He said China was "sharing a lot of technologies, [like] micro-electronics, which are key for Russia to build missiles, weapons they use against Ukraine".

https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/2499657/nato-membership-ukraine.webp?w=900&f=cb2baa10d5b665b2f0eda64a1a51baae

For First Time, NATO Accuses China(read in harnji) of Supplying Russia’s Attacks on Ukraine

After decades of viewing China as a distant threat, NATO on Wednesday accused Beijing of becoming “a decisive enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” and demanded that it halt shipments of “weapons components” and other technology critical to the rebuilding of the Russian military

South Korea’s Ability to Arm Ukraine Elevates Its Role at NATO Summit

Yoon has begun thinking about ways to send weapons to Ukraine

Zelenskiy and US have been seeking help from Yoon in war

NATO’s 75th Anniversary

Since its creation on 4 April 1949, the transatlantic Alliance has grown from 12 founding members to 32 member countries, all working together to keep our people safe. A community of Allies bound together by common values of democracy, individual liberty, human rights and the rule of law, NATO celebrates its anniversary on 4 April at NATO Headquarters in Brussels and at the upcoming summit on 9-11 July in Washington, D.C., where its founding treaty was signed.

China should pay for propping up Putin's war - Nato chief

When pressed on what Nato members might do about China's support of Russia, Mr Stoltenberg said there was an "ongoing conversation" about possible sanctions.

He said China was "sharing a lot of technologies, [like] micro-electronics, which are key for Russia to build missiles, weapons they use against Ukraine".

He added that "at some stage, we should consider some kind of economic cost if China doesn't change their behaviour".

Beijing is already under some sanctions for its support of Russia - last month, the US announced restrictions that would target about 20 firms based in China and Hong Kong.

U.S. deploys midrange missile system in Indo-Pacific for first time

The U.S. Army has deployed its new Typhon midrange ground-based missile launcher to the Indo-Pacific region for the first time, for joint military exercises in the northern Philippines — a move likely to unnerve China.

‘Asian Nato’: How Aukus expansion could checkmate China in Indo-Pacific

China has reacted to these developments with apprehension. Beijing has criticized Japan's potential participation, urging Japan to reflect on its historical military actions and accusing it of contributing to regional militarization. This reaction underscores the tense dynamics and the stakes involved, as Aukus appears to be solidifying a coalition of like-minded nations that could challenge China's influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Yval Harari: India is in a unique postiton. Unlike China, and Russia, India is commmited to democratic ideals.

Macron switches from dove to hawk on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

What came over Emmanuel Macron to turn him from appeaser to warmonger in the matter of Russia and Ukraine?

All are confused and uncertain. How genuine is the new Macron line? Is his recent refusal to rule out sending troops to Ukraine just another of his surprises - testimony to his insatiable need to cut a diplomatic dash?

European elections are approaching, and the hard-right of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella looks set to trounce the Macronites.

So is Emmanuel Macron using Ukraine to create a fault line between his side and the opposition, setting a contrast between his own lucid belligerence and Ms Le Pen's turbid complicity with Moscow in the past?

Trump’s Threat to NATO Is the Scariest Kind of Gaffe: It is Real