Netanyahu hails Trump talks as US weighs force on Iran and crude prices slide
US President Donald Trump said Washington halted further strikes on Iran at Tehran’s request. Iran, however, denied that any talks with the US were underway. Trump is also set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to hold talks in Rome from August 4–6. Global oil prices fell as shipping activity through key chokepoints, including the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Strait of Hormuz, declined over the weekend.
US begins review of force presence in Europe
The United States began reviewing its military presence in Europe on Monday, officials said, after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told his NATO counterparts last month that Washington was planning such an analysis.
“As the Secretary (Hegseth) laid out then, this will be a real review, designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe taking primary responsibility for its conventional defense,” US Defense Under Secretary Elbridge Colby wrote on X.
“The outcome of this Review will be an acceleration of NATO’s transition to a stronger, more equitable, and sustainable alliance,” Colby added.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly lashed out against European allies over their response to his war in Iran, including the refusal to allow US forces to use their bases during the start of the conflict.
Hegseth has also threatened to reduce Washington’s NATO spending unless allies reached defense spending targets.
As part of that process the Pentagon has already told allies it is reducing the number of assets worldwide that it makes available for NATO operations.
Source: Gulf News
