Spain is a "reliable partner" in NATO, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump criticised Madrid for falling short on its financial contributions to the defence alliance.

A pair of United States fighter aircraft, which have received electronic warfare upgrades, were deployed to a NATO air base in Europe, enhancing the alliance's defense. Russia's relations with the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War.

An Army fuel tanker driver said country music had helped while away on a 1,400-mile (2,250km) trip to Romania as part of a major Nato training exercise. About 2,500 British personnel, along with hundreds of vehicles,

Sweden was spurred to join NATO in response to the security threat posed by Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. It has sent its troops to Latvia, which borders Russia and its ally Belarus. As a former Soviet republic, Latvia has highlighted the threat posed by Moscow after the war in Ukraine.

European countries have ramped up defense budgets since Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022. And many leaders have said the increased spending must continue to counter the growing military threat from Moscow.

Russia is rearming faster than first thought for a potential attack on Nato, Germany’s military pointman on Ukraine has warned.

The mission, dubbed Baltic Sentry, follows worry over increased Russian military activity near key undersea communication cables.

President Trump vowed that the State Department will have an "America first" foreign policy. Nick Schifrin discussed how the world is responding to Trump's inauguration with Jens Stoltenberg, the most recent secretary general of NATO who will become the chairman of the Munich Security Conference next month.

Congress passed legislation that a president cannot unilaterally withdraw from NATO, setting up a major legal fight if Trump tries to pull the US out.

Slovakia’s pro-Russian prime minister has raised the prospect of his country leaving the European Union and Nato, arguing that world events could consign them to the “history books”.

Russia is believed to be behind dozens of hybrid attacks, like arson or sabotage, on NATO soil since the Ukraine war started.