Nato

US intelligence has reportedly warned Spain, France and Italy that Russia may be preparing drone attacks against targets in Southern Europe. The alert was shared with European governments following contacts involving the CIA director, according to Spain's El Mundo. The report is drawing wide attention across France, Italy and Spain as governments face renewed questions about Russian activity on European soil.

US intelligence officials have assessed that Saudi Arabia still retains the option to pursue nuclear weapons, even as the kingdom weighs an agreement with the United States. At the same time, US senators are moving against a nuclear cooperation deal tied to the Trump administration, arguing it could pave the way for Riyadh to develop an atomic arsenal. Critics warn any pact must include binding limits on uranium enrichment.

Lithuania is moving to lift its ban on nuclear weapons stationed on its territory, with proponents citing the argument that 'Russians do not attack the strong'. The move reflects growing alarm in Baltic states over Russian military threats and doubts about NATO's security guarantees, and would mark a major shift in the country's defence policy if approved.

American intelligence, according to the report, informed several European governments that Russia may be preparing a drone attack on Spain, France, or Italy. The CIA allegedly shared the warning after gathering information on Russian plans targeting one of the Mediterranean countries. The claim is circulating widely across France, Italy, Spain, and Russia, driving debate about Russian hybrid actions against NATO members and how European governments will respond to the reported threat.

European nations and NATO are preparing for the possibility that the war in Ukraine could widen into a broader conflict with Russia. Discussions centre on military readiness, defence spending and deterrence, as officials warn the fighting could spill beyond Ukraine's borders.

President Trump's NATO ambassador said Ukraine's attacks on Russian territory are pushing Vladimir Putin closer to the negotiating table to end the war. The comments add to an ongoing debate over whether Kyiv's deep strikes inside Russia weaken Moscow's position and could accelerate peace negotiations rather than escalate the conflict.

Russia claims its forces carried out large-scale strikes on Kyiv, saying the attacks hit Ukrainian military hubs and killed 'NATO specialists' in the Ukrainian capital. The claim, pushed through Russian and pro-Kremlin outlets, has drawn wide attention as the war grinds on. Ukraine has not confirmed the assertion, and independent verification of who was targeted or killed is lacking.

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to enshrine stricter neutrality rules in law, a move that would have limited cooperation with Nato. The result allows Bern to continue military partnerships with Western allies despite Switzerland's long-standing neutrality. Observers see the vote as a signal of public support for pragmatic security cooperation amid the war in Ukraine.

A defense minister says NATO must learn to break up and disperse its weapons manufacturing before it enters a major conflict, warning that concentrated defense production is a vulnerability. The comments add to ongoing debate within the alliance about whether European and NATO defense industries can produce ammunition and equipment fast enough, and safely enough, in the event of a large-scale war.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Donald Trump deserves credit for driving Ukraine peace negotiations forward, while downplaying fears of a new Russian invasion of Europe. His comments, made in remarks carried by Fox News, add a European voice to ongoing debate over US diplomacy on the war and whether Russia poses a wider military threat to NATO's eastern flank.

Lithuania is holding its largest-ever military exercises, Vyčio skliautas 2026, running until October 3. Authorities are rehearsing the evacuation of Vilnius and regions near the Belarusian border in the event of a military threat from Minsk. The drills underscore rising concern in the Baltic state over regional security and are drawing wide attention across Russian-language media.

Louisiana Republican senator John Kennedy has publicly criticized the Trump White House for spending taxpayer money on advertisements promoting Donald Trump. The rare intra-party rebuke, reported by the Guardian, is drawing attention as it highlights tensions within Republican ranks over the administration's use of public funds for what critics see as political self-promotion.

Poland is offering to pay $15,000 a year for each US service member stationed on its territory, on top of covering infrastructure costs, according to Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski. The proposal underscores Warsaw's push to deepen the American military presence in the country amid ongoing security concerns on NATO's eastern flank.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has captured a second US-made Remus 600 unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the report. The incident points to continued friction between Iranian forces and the US Navy over surveillance drones operating in one of the world's most critical oil shipping lanes, and follows an earlier seizure of the same type of equipment.

Five men have been arrested under terrorism legislation in the area around RAF Fairford, the large airbase in Gloucestershire, England. Police have not named the men, and details of the suspected plot or their nationalities remain limited while investigations continue. The arrests are drawing attention because Fairford hosts US Air Force tanker aircraft and is a key NATO airfield.

Several Republican senators facing competitive re-election contests are publicly breaking with President Trump on immigration enforcement, calling on ICE to coordinate more closely with local police departments. The move marks a rare intra-party split on a signature Trump issue, as vulnerable GOP incumbents appear to be courting moderate voters ahead of upcoming elections.

Poland has offered to host a production site for Patriot air defence systems intended for Ukraine, after Kyiv obtained a license from the United States to manufacture the systems. The move would place production of the US-made defense technology on NATO territory close to the Ukrainian border, strengthening Ukraine's air defenses against Russian attacks. The Kyiv Independent reported the offer, which highlights growing defense cooperation between Warsaw and Kyiv.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for the creation of a new Eurasian security architecture, appealing at the United Nations for a regional order that would reduce the role of existing Western-led alliances. The proposal signals Moscow's continued push to reshape security arrangements across the continent, and it is drawing attention given the ongoing war in Ukraine and wider tensions between Russia and NATO members.

France's Greens and La France Insoumise are trading blame after failing to win a third Senate seat representing French citizens abroad. LFI figures say the Ecologists' refusal to join a joint EELV-LFI list cost the left the seat, handing it to the right. Each party insists the other is responsible for the electoral misstep.

A new map charts the world's military alliances as they stand heading into 2026, showing how countries are grouped in mutual defense arrangements across regions. Visualizations of this kind are drawing attention as readers look for a clear picture of shifting security blocs, from NATO and its partners to other regional defense pacts.

Heidi Overton, President Trump's nominee for FDA Commissioner, faced questioning from Senator Maggie Hassan at her confirmation hearing. Hassan pressed her on whether she would refuse an unlawful or improper directive from Trump, but Overton declined to entertain the possibility that the president could be wrong, drawing criticism that she would not commit to independent decision-making at the agency that regulates drugs and medical products.

As Congress takes up legislation affecting college sports, senators who were once college athletes are playing a visible role in the debate. Their firsthand experience of collegiate athletics gives them standing in discussions over issues such as athlete compensation and the regulation of the NIL era, making them notable voices in the proceedings.

A group of senators and congressmen have sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations near schools. They argue parents should be able to drop their children off at school without fearing detention, framing enforcement actions at these locations as harmful to families and children.

Switzerland has voted against adopting a stricter interpretation of its long-standing policy of neutrality, a debate that has intensified since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Supporters of a harder line had argued the country's neutral status should limit cooperation with Western allies on sanctions and arms. The rejection keeps Switzerland's traditional, more flexible approach to neutrality in place, preserving room for closer ties with European partners.

Poland and Lithuania are reported to be preparing a joint cross-border evacuation plan covering the Baltic states, according to a Euronews report. The plan would outline how civilians could be moved across borders in the event of a major security crisis in the region. The report is drawing attention amid ongoing concerns about Russian pressure on NATO's eastern flank and what it could mean for regional preparedness.

Switzerland is voting on stricter neutrality rules that could restrict how far the country cooperates with NATO. The ballot asks whether constitutional neutrality limits should be tightened, a move that would constrain any deepening of military ties with the Western alliance at a time when European security policy has shifted since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Supporters argue neutrality must be legally protected, while critics warn it could isolate Switzerland diplomatically.

France is holding its Senate elections today, with 178 of the 348 seats in the upper house being renewed. The grand electors, drawn from local elected officials, are casting their votes, with the far-right RN in a position of strength in several areas. The left says it expects little from the vote, since indirect elections by local officials limit its chances.

Axios reports on which US senators are spending the most on flights, drawing attention to taxpayer-funded travel expenses in Congress. The report ranks senators by their flight spending, a topic that typically fuels debate about government spending, transparency and whether official travel is justified.