In a heated Oval Office exchange, NATO chief Mark Rutte counters President Trump’s claim that hundreds of U.S. aircraft flew from Italian bases to support operations against Iran, with Italy insisting those flights were strictly technical and logistical under bilateral basing agreements.

Trump has long pressed allies to hit defense-spending benchmarks, including a goal of 5% of GDP by 2035, and has floated provocative ideas, such as the notion of annexing Greenland.

The summit will feature senior representatives from the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the event’s global significance.

Le Monde, reporting with AFP, covers the developments.

The clash occurred during a White House meeting with reporters present, where Trump challenged alliance unity while Rutte defended European cohesion and contributions.

Beyond diplomacy, the coverage touches on global interest in FIFA World Cup 2026 and features Congo’s living statue Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who participated in the group-stage match against Colombia.

In domestic politics, Mamdani-aligned allies won at least two Democratic primaries in New York, signaling shifts within the party as part of a broader realignment.

The USPS warns it could become insolvent without congressional reform and is seeking emergency funding and pension loan provisions.

The briefing links NATO tensions, U.S. strategic calculus, China-Taiwan dynamics, Peruvian electoral forecasts, and broader geopolitical shifts.

Israel and Lebanese authorities discuss a U.S.-assisted plan to transfer control of occupied areas to the Lebanese army, with a buffer zone kept by Israeli forces to pursue a long-term ceasefire.

Analysts warn the Ankara summit must carefully manage frictions to avoid a public rupture and sustain alliance cohesion.

U.S. military reports striking a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific, with casualties and plans to release additional video for lawmakers.