Listeners:
Top listeners:
play_arrow

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Europe faced fresh anxiety Friday after the White House confirmed the United States will end support for a program that helped prepare Eastern European armies to counter potential Russian aggression.
A diplomat acknowledged the move was “causing a lot of concern and uncertainty,” likening it to U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s earlier cuts in international aid.
The program, part of so-called “section 333 funding,” allocated $1.6 billion in Europe between 2018 and 2022, about 29 percent of global spending. Key recipients included Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
White House officials said the decision is part of phasing out longstanding security assistance programs, which is in line with Trump’s demand that Europe take more responsibility for its defense. The cuts also follow an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office, requiring that U.S. foreign aid align strictly with his policies.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the decision “misguided” and warned it undermines efforts to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The U.S. Foreign Military Financing program — which covers major purchases such as jets, ships, and tanks — remains unaffected. However, the cuts come as Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby seeks to shift U.S. defense priorities toward the Indo-Pacific to counter China, raising new questions about Washington’s long-term commitment to Europe.
The developments also unsettled Poland, Eastern Europe’s largest NATO contributor, though Trump assured President Karol Nawrocki in Washington that U.S. troops would remain and vowed to back Warsaw “all the way.”
He said he wanted the bloodshed in Ukraine “stopped now” and warned that any Russian peace proposal would be judged bluntly: “We will either be happy about it or unhappy — and if we’re unhappy about it, you’ll see things happen.”
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
The Republican-led Senate narrowly rejected another attempt Thursday to force an end to unauthorized U.S. military operations against Iran, preserving President Donald Trump’s ability to continue the campaign without a new authorization from Congress.
Hungary’s only nuclear power plant could be forced to shut down within days after record-low water levels on the Danube River sharply reduced its cooling capacity, raising fresh concerns over Europe’s energy security amid an intense heatwave.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Hamas has agreed to a phased process leading to the “complete disarmament” of the terrorist organization and other armed factions in the Gaza Strip, calling the reported agreement a historic step toward lasting peace.
President Donald Trump openly questioned whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune should remain in his leadership post as tensions intensified over the Senate’s failure to advance Trump’s election-integrity agenda.
Senior U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that China’s alleged acquisition of American voter-registration data falls within the government’s definition of foreign election interference, according to information released Thursday by the White House.
The widening war between the United States and Iran entered a dangerous new phase Wednesday as American and Saudi forces carried out coordinated strikes against Iran-backed militias across Iraq, marking the first publicly acknowledged joint combat operation of its kind between Washington and Riyadh.
Spanish authorities warned Wednesday of an “extraordinary, exceptional situation” after hundreds of migrants swam from Morocco to the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta, overwhelming reception facilities and prompting renewed concern over migration pressures on Europe’s southern border.
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
Copyright The New Jerusalem Media.