Politico | Defense
NATO chief’s playbook with Trump: Show him the money
26 June 2026 at 17:00

NATO chief’s playbook with Trump: Show him the money

26 June 2026 at 17:00

Mark Rutte's visit to Washington foreshadows the upcoming alliance summit, which will likely try to paper over U.S. antagonisms.

Mark Rutte doubled down on a familiar strategy this week to keep the relationship with the U.S. calm.

Politico | Defense
Rutte’s balancing act between Trump and 31 NATO allies
24 June 2026 at 17:00

Rutte’s balancing act between Trump and 31 NATO allies

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Victor Jack

24 June 2026 at 17:00

The two leaders have a history of working well together, but Rutte has a narrow lane to work with between Trump’s demands and the alliance’s fiscal realities.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with NATO's Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos on Jan. 21, 2026.

Politico | Defense
Trump’s missile diplomacy strategy backfires
12 June 2026 at 05:10

Trump’s missile diplomacy strategy backfires

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary， Nahal Toosi and Jack Detsch

12 June 2026 at 05:10

“You’re bombing what to get what at this point?” said a former Trump administration official.

A Hezbollah supporter chants slogans while holding an Iranian flag during a gathering against the U.S.-Israeli military operation with Iran in Dahiyeh, Lebanon on June 10, 2026.

Politico | Defense
Pentagon likely to cancel missile deal with Germany over fears of Russia
5 June 2026 at 03:30

Pentagon likely to cancel missile deal with Germany over fears of Russia

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary， Stefanie Bolzen and Chris Lunday

5 June 2026 at 03:30

The decision is part of a broader American retrenchment from the NATO alliance.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner fires a Tomahawk missile at sea on March 1, 2026 during the Iran war.

Politico | Defense
Pentagon puts building blocks in place for Cuba invasion
28 May 2026 at 05:15

Pentagon puts building blocks in place for Cuba invasion

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

28 May 2026 at 05:15

The Navy’s presence in the Caribbean has not reduced despite the Iran war.

A worker points to the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz docking in the Gulf of Panama, March 30, 2026.

Politico | Defense
Hegseth enters the war between Donald Trump and Thomas Massie
19 May 2026 at 04:33

Hegseth enters the war between Donald Trump and Thomas Massie

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Lisa Kashinsky

19 May 2026 at 04:33

The Defense secretary’s remarks are highly unusual for a civilian military leader.

Ed Gallrein, Kentucky Republican congressional candidate, greets Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on stage during an America First Workers Special Event in Hebron, Kentucky, on May 18, 2026.

Politico | Defense
Pentagon officials stunned by Hegseth decision on troops in Poland
15 May 2026 at 05:05

Pentagon officials stunned by Hegseth decision on troops in Poland

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Jack Detsch

15 May 2026 at 05:05

It wasn’t clear why the Defense secretary issued the order not to send troops on a routine mission to a country the administration refers to as a “model ally.”

Soldiers of the U.S. Army 2nd Cavalry Regiment Stryker Brigade watch Apache helicopters engage during NATO military exercises near Bemowo Piskie, Poland, on May 7, 2026.

Politico | Defense
Hegseth says battle for Hormuz is ‘separate and distinct' from the Iran war
5 May 2026 at 22:41

Hegseth says battle for Hormuz is ‘separate and distinct' from the Iran war

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Jack Detsch

5 May 2026 at 22:41

The Defense secretary distanced Project Freedom, the latest effort to reopen the strait, from the rest of the Iran war.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks toward Joint Chiefs of Staff chair Gen. Dan Caine, as they speak to the media at the Pentagon on April 8, 2026.

Politico | Defense
US and Iranian boat attacks threaten ceasefire
5 May 2026 at 02:52

US and Iranian boat attacks threaten ceasefire

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary， Jack Detsch and Cheyanne M. Daniels

5 May 2026 at 02:52

The exchange occurred a day after President Donald Trump announced the Navy would help commercial vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz.

A patrol boat moves through the water as cargo ships sit in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran on May 2, 2026.

Politico | Defense
Hegseth declares victory while preparing for more war with Iran
24 April 2026 at 23:59

Hegseth declares victory while preparing for more war with Iran

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

24 April 2026 at 23:59

The administration is still sending more forces to the region — and asking for help from allies — even as the White House says the conflict is over.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the media during a press briefing at the Pentagon on April 16, 2026, in Washington.

Politico | Defense
Navy plays deadly game of hide-and-seek with Iranian mines
16 April 2026 at 05:41

Navy plays deadly game of hide-and-seek with Iranian mines

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

16 April 2026 at 05:41

As more American warships head to the Middle East, the mine-hunting mission might be the next big job.

More than a dozen American warships are already in the region, and more are on the way.

Politico | Defense
Hegseth again skipping Ukraine meeting, will send top lieutenant instead
14 April 2026 at 22:36

Hegseth again skipping Ukraine meeting, will send top lieutenant instead

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

14 April 2026 at 22:36

As the U.S. continues to look away from Europe, fewer top officials are visiting longtime allies.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the media during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, April 8, 2026.

Politico | Defense
Allies try to puzzle out US blockade of Iran
14 April 2026 at 07:18

Allies try to puzzle out US blockade of Iran

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary， Jack Detsch and Phelim Kine

14 April 2026 at 07:18

President Donald Trump is trying to ramp up the pressure on Tehran — but allies and officials are scrambling to understand how the blockade will help.

In this Nov. 19, 2019, photo made available by the U.S. Navy, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, left, the air-defense destroyer HMS Defender and the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut transit the Strait of Hormuz with the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf.

Politico | Defense
NATO chief insists Europe is ‘scrambling’ to help with Iran war after latest Trump attacks
10 April 2026 at 01:15

NATO chief insists Europe is ‘scrambling’ to help with Iran war after latest Trump attacks

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

10 April 2026 at 01:15

The head of the alliance tried to thread the needle between an irate U.S. president and NATO members who feel unfairly maligned.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks at the Ronald Reagan Institute on April 9, 2026, in Washington.

Politico | Defense
‘Seems like losing’: What the US hasn’t won in Iran
9 April 2026 at 06:07

‘Seems like losing’: What the US hasn’t won in Iran

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Jack Detsch

9 April 2026 at 06:07

As negotiations begin this weekend in Pakistan, the war has reaffirmed Iran’s regional significance.

Politico | Defense
Pentagon’s new plans in Iran give Trump a way out of war crime accusations
7 April 2026 at 06:45

Pentagon’s new plans in Iran give Trump a way out of war crime accusations

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Leo Shane III

7 April 2026 at 06:45

Defense officials are expanding a list of strike options.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks with reporters during a news conference with President Donald Trump and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine at the White House on April 6, 2026.

Politico | Defense
Allies and Congress are about to lose a key window into US military plans
26 March 2026 at 06:15

Allies and Congress are about to lose a key window into US military plans

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary， Leo Shane III and Chris Lunday

26 March 2026 at 06:15

The Pentagon’s decision not to release a Global Posture Review follows the go-it-alone pattern of the Trump administration.

Americans celebrate the Army's 250th anniversary with a parade on the National Mall in Washington D.C., Saturday, June 14, 2025.

Politico | Defense
Pentagon prepares to send another 3,000 troops to Middle East
25 March 2026 at 02:10

Pentagon prepares to send another 3,000 troops to Middle East

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

25 March 2026 at 02:10

The decision to move the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the region heightens the possibility U.S. troops will enter Iran.

Politico | Defense
Pentagon weighs sending more troops to Middle East
20 March 2026 at 02:41

Pentagon weighs sending more troops to Middle East

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

20 March 2026 at 02:41

The discussions, while evolving, would mark a drastic new step in the Iran war.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon on March 19, 2026.

Politico | Defense
Hegseth, attacking press, declares victory is near amid ongoing Iran conflict
13 March 2026 at 22:01

Hegseth, attacking press, declares victory is near amid ongoing Iran conflict

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

13 March 2026 at 22:01

The Defense secretary gave little indication on how or when the war would end.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference at U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Florida, on March 5, 2026.

Politico | Defense
Ukraine’s US air defenses are at risk in Iran war
12 March 2026 at 05:30

Ukraine’s US air defenses are at risk in Iran war

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary， Jack Detsch and Chris Lunday

12 March 2026 at 05:30

Kyiv is already feeling the shockwaves of the U.S.-Israel military option.

A Russian self-propelled multiple rocket launcher fires on March 6, 2026, toward Ukrainian positions.

Politico | Defense
Hegseth gutted offices that would have probed Iran school strike
11 March 2026 at 06:19

Hegseth gutted offices that would have probed Iran school strike

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Jack Detsch

11 March 2026 at 06:19

The number of Pentagon employees who focus on mitigating civilian casualties has dropped from 200 people to less than 40.

A woman reaches out to the coffins during funeral of mostly children killed in what Iranian officials said was an Israeli-U.S. strike Feb. 28 on a girls' elementary school in Minab, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Politico | Defense
War with Iran has ‘only just begun,’ Hegseth says
4 March 2026 at 23:18

War with Iran has ‘only just begun,’ Hegseth says

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

4 March 2026 at 23:18

Top military officials said the campaign will intensify — and declined to say what victory might look like.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon on March 2, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia.

Politico | Defense
Hegseth doesn’t rule out US troops in Iran
2 March 2026 at 22:38

Hegseth doesn’t rule out US troops in Iran

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary

2 March 2026 at 22:38

The nation’s top military officials made the case for why the U.S. needed to attack now.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference on U.S. military action in Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, on March 2, 2026.

3 US troops killed in Iran attack

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Ben Johansen

1 March 2026 at 23:08

Several more troops were wounded as part of the U.S. and Israel effort against Tehran.

A plume of smoke rises near Erbil International Airport in Erbil, Iraq, on March 1, 2026.

Politico | Defense
A duo of the willing: US and Israel have few allies in initial Iran strikes
1 March 2026 at 00:44

A duo of the willing: US and Israel have few allies in initial Iran strikes

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary， Jack Detsch and Nahal Toosi

1 March 2026 at 00:44

The absence of allies in America’s massive attacks against Iran upends decades of precedent.

A plume of smoke rises over Tehran after a reported explosion on Feb. 28, 2026, after Israel and U.S. strikes.

Politico | Defense
Trump’s Iran buildup risks drowning out affordability message
21 February 2026 at 01:00

Trump’s Iran buildup risks drowning out affordability message

Politico | Defense

By: By Paul McLeary and Joe Gould

21 February 2026 at 01:00

The massive accumulation of aircraft carriers and fighter jets in the Middle East, coupled with the Pentagon’s Venezuela operation, could cost billions of dollars.