NATO takes over key asset before start of Trump term
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story NATO takes over Polish air defenses
NATO turned to elite divers to test sabotage protections for critical undersea cables increasingly at risk
NATO shared new footage of a recent test of new sensors able to shield undersea cables by special operations divers.

NATO, Trump

NATO won't back Trump's new defence spending target but will raise its sights
Analysis-NATO won't back Trump's new defence spending target but will raise its sights
UK foreign policy chief says Trump is right to urge higher military spending from NATO
NATO needs to focus on southern flank to counter Russia, Italy says
NATO needs a stronger focus on the south and Africa, Italy's prime minister told a news conference on Thursday, saying Russia might boost its presence in eastern Libya after the collapse of its allied regime in Syria.
Viktor Orban's challenger sees strong EU, NATO ties, 'pragmatic' approach to Russia
Peter Magyar, the opposition challenger to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, told Reuters he would keep Hungary firmly anchored in the European Union and NATO if he wins elections due in early 2026 and would strive for "pragmatic relations" with Russia.

Russia, Baltic Sea

NATO Beefs Up Baltic Presence With Extra Ships Amid Russia Threat
 · 5hessanews.com on MSN
NATO summit to tackle Russian hybrid threats in Baltic Sea
 · 3hLas Vegas Sun
Germany calls a Russian oil tanker adrift in the Baltic Sea a threat to security
An oil tanker believed to be part of Russia’s efforts to evade international sanctions went adrift and had to be towed ashore by a German tugboat
DPA International on MSN6h
NATO naval unit to monitor critical infrastructure in Baltic Sea
NATO's standing maritime group is to set off from its base in the German port of Kiel for the Baltic Sea to monitor critical underwater infrastructure following several suspected acts of sabotage, the group's commander said on Friday.
Zelensky Calls on NATO Allies to Deploy Troops in Ukraine
Tensions with Russia continue to escalate as the Ukrainian president shifts tactics and asks allies for help on the ground.
U.S. announces more Ukraine aid as Zelenskyy calls for NATO to deploy troops to "force Russia into peace"
Ukraine's leader says partners sending ground troops would help "force Russia into peace," as America's European allies ponder Trump's next move.
Russia monitoring Trump’s ‘dramatic’ comments on Greenland acquisition
The Kremlin said Thursday they are monitoring President-elect Donald Trump's "dramatic" comments over his desire to acquire Greenland amid other expansionist remarks, including the Panama Canal and Canada.
Russia Sabotaging 'NATO Lake' Cables to Freeze Europe, State TV Admits
Guests on Russia's NTV channel discussed how Moscow has been blamed for undersea cables being cut in the Baltic Sea.
Thousands rally across Slovakia to protest prime minister's pro-Russia policies
Thousands of Slovaks took to the streets on Friday as protests against the pro-Russia policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico spread from Slovakia's capital to towns and cities across the country and abroad.