INTERNACIONAL
Trump’s NATO Turnaround: From threatening to pull US out to ‘daddy’ of the alliance
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump delivered a resounding endorsement of NATO this week, marking a sharp turnaround in his years-long, often contentious relationship with the alliance.
Once known for blasting allies over defense spending and even threatening to pull out of NATO altogether, Trump now appears to have had a change of heart.
«I left here differently. I left here saying that these people really love their countries,» Trump said after the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague.
The pivot comes as NATO nations more than doubled their collective defense spending target – raising the bar from 2% to 5% of GDP.
WORLD LEADERS FLOCK TO MEET WITH TRUMP AT NATO SUMMIT
NATO leaders pose for a photo at the 2025 summit. (Reuters/Claudia Greco)
From Hostile Rhetoric to Royal Receptions
The president’s renewed embrace of the alliance follows years of friction, high-profile clashes with world leaders and controversial comments. Yet at this year’s summit, the tone was strikingly different.
Trump was welcomed by Dutch royals, praised by the NATO secretary-general – who even referred to him as «daddy» – and returned home lauding European allies for their patriotism. «It’s not a rip-off, and we’re here to help them,» Trump told reporters.
The transformation is as dramatic as it is unexpected.
The Iran Factor: Military Action with Global Impact
Trump arrived at the NATO summit on a high note, following U.S. strikes that crippled Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. According to American and allied intelligence sources, the operation set back Tehran’s nuclear ambitions by several years.
The strike was widely seen as both a show of strength and a strategic warning – not just to Iran but to NATO adversaries like Russia and China.
WORLD LEADERS FLOCK TO MEET WITH TRUMP AT NATO SUMMIT
«He really came in from this power move,» said Giedrimas Jeglinskas, a former NATO official and current chairman of Lithuania’s national security committee.
«Among some, definitely Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Nordic Europe, this attack, the use of those really sophisticated weapons and bombers, was the rebuilding of the deterrence narrative of the West, not just of America.»
Trump was welcomed by Dutch royals, praised by the NATO secretary-general – who even referred to him as «daddy» – and returned home lauding European allies for their patriotism. «It’s not a rip-off, and we’re here to help them,» Trump told reporters. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Timeline: Trump’s Rocky Road with NATO
2016 Campaign Trail
Trump repeatedly called NATO «obsolete,» questioning its relevance and slamming allies for failing to pay their «fair share.»
«It’s costing us too much money… We’re paying disproportionately. It’s too much,» he said in March 2016.
He criticized NATO for lacking focus on terrorism, later taking credit when it created a chief intelligence post.
February 2017 – Early Presidency
Trump softened his tone after becoming president.
«We strongly support NATO,» he said after visiting Central Command. «We only ask that all members make their full and proper financial contribution.»
He continued to push for members to meet the 2% target by 2024.
2018 Brussels Summit
Trump privately threatened to pull the U.S. from NATO unless allies increased spending.
«Now we are in World War III protecting a country that wasn’t paying its bills,» he warned.
Despite the posturing, he called NATO a «fine-tuned machine» after extracting new spending commitments. He also accused Germany of being a «captive of Russia» over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
TRUMP HEADS TO NATO SUMMIT AS EUROPE AGREES TO HEED HIS DEFENSE SPENDING DEMANDS
President Donald Trump, pictured with Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, delivered a resounding endorsement of NATO this week, marking a sharp turnaround in his years-long, often contentious relationship with the alliance. (AP Photo Kin Cheung, Poo)
2019 London Summit
The drama continued, this time with French President Emmanuel Macron calling NATO «brain-dead.»
«NATO serves a great purpose. I think that’s very insulting,» Trump responded.
He also clashed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – calling him «two-faced» after Trudeau was caught mocking Trump on camera.
2020 – Troop Withdrawal from Germany
Trump ordered 12,000 U.S. troops out of Germany, citing Berlin’s defense shortfalls.
February 2024 – Russia Controversy
Trump ignited backlash after suggesting he’d let Russia «do whatever the hell they want» to NATO countries that failed to meet spending obligations.
The remark sparked urgent contingency talks among European leaders about the future of the alliance if the U.S. did not step up to its defense.
June 2025: A Different Trump, a Different NATO
The 2025 summit in The Hague unfolded with surprising calm. Trump’s hosts rolled out the red carpet. «He’s the man of the hour and the most important man in the world,» Jeglinskas said.
Jeglinskas credited Trump’s blunt diplomacy – however unorthodox – for helping drive real reform «He’s brought in tectonic change to the alliance’s capabilities by… being himself,» he added. «It’s a gift for the alliance.»
Trump is greeted by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima at Paleis Huis ten Bosch at the NATO summit. (Brendan Smialowski – Pool/Getty Images)
Two Forces Behind NATO’s Revival: Russia and Trump
Experts agree NATO’s recent revitalization stems from two major catalysts: Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Trump’s relentless pressure on allies to boost defense.
«President Trump is riding high this week with two major foreign policy victories,» said Matthew Kroenig, vice president at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center, referencing NATO and the recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. «It’s terrific. I hope he can keep it up.»
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He added, «Every president since Eisenhower has complained that NATO allies aren’t doing their fair share.»
Now, Trump was the one who finally got them to listen, he said.
INTERNACIONAL
Iran moves hundreds of millions in crypto during nationwide internet blackout, report reveals
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
EXCLUSIVE: Cryptocurrency infrastructure linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continued operating during the country’s nationwide internet blackout after the Feb. 28 U.S.–Israeli strikes, a cyber intelligence report reviewed by Fox News Digital claims. It allowed hundreds of millions of dollars in crypto to move out of the country.
Omri Raiter, founder and CEO of RAKIA, a cyber intelligence firm that develops data analysis platforms used by governments and security agencies, told Fox News Digital his team began monitoring Iranian cryptocurrency activity in real time after the attacks and quickly detected a surge of funds leaving Iranian-linked crypto accounts.
«We’ve seen a surge of funds since the first hours of the war,» Raiter said. «It started with tens of millions in the first hours, and it grew to hundreds of millions and more. Money was just flowing out from Iranian crypto accounts.»
Wallets linked to the IRGC received more than $3 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, according to the internal report based on blockchain intelligence data cited by RAKIA. The report also cites publicly available data from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, which estimated Iran’s cryptocurrency ecosystem reached $7.78 billion in activity in 2025.
IRAN PROXIES WAGE WAR ON ISRAEL, THREATEN US INTERESTS AS IRAQ SLAMMED FOR NOT DISARMING THEM
Strikes on the Iranian leadership, the IRGC and Iranian naval vessels and oil infrastructure have roiled the markets. ( Sasan/Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)
Raiter said the data suggests Iran has developed a significant crypto-based financial infrastructure capable of operating even during heavy sanctions and communications shutdowns.
«The IRGC has been financing proxy operations through the very same crypto corridors that sanctions were designed to shut down,» Raiter said.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned cryptocurrency exchanges tied to Iranian actors Jan. 30, marking one of the first times the U.S. targeted entire digital asset platforms rather than individual wallets for sanctions evasion linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move was part of a broader effort to disrupt financial networks connected to Tehran, Iran.
«The Treasury will continue to pursue Iranian networks and corrupt elites who enrich themselves at the expense of the people,» Bessent said in a Treasury press release in January. «This also applies to attempts by the regime to use digital assets to circumvent sanctions.»
The recent surge appears to reflect two parallel trends: funds moving to support Iran’s regional proxy networks and money being moved by individuals connected to the regime seeking to protect their personal wealth, according to RAKIA’s analysis.
«The proxy war funding and the personal capital flight are two sides of the same coin,» Raiter said. «They move through the same pipelines.»
IRAN WAR, 11 DAYS IN: US CONTROLS SKIES, OIL SURGES AND THE REGION BRACES FOR WHAT’S NEXT
Tehran’s skyline, including the Azadi Tower, became the backdrop to a crisis shaped as much by cyber disruption as by missiles in the sky. (Kurt «CyberGuy» Knutsson)
Raiter said the firm identified cryptocurrency flows connected to networks previously associated with Iran-backed groups.
«Some of the accounts we saw are connected to areas where money historically flows to proxy wars,» he told Fox News Digital, citing activity linked to Lebanon and Yemen.
«Some of it could be people inside the IRGC trying to move their own money,» Raiter said. «But when you see the scale and the timing, it looks coordinated.»
The report produced by RAKIA claims the activity continued even after Iran imposed a sweeping internet shutdown across the country. National connectivity dropped to roughly 1% of normal levels during the blackout, according to internet monitoring group NetBlocks.
FROM MISSILES TO MINERALS: THE STRATEGIC MEANING BEHIND THE IRAN STRIKE
Military members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in western Tehran, Iran (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Despite that shutdown, RAKIA researchers said they detected more than 1,100 active cryptocurrency nodes operating inside Iran.
«When the internet is at one percent and you still see over a thousand active crypto nodes, you’re not looking at retail users,» Tom Malca, RAKIA’s head of cyber and AI research, said in the report. «Those nodes require dedicated bandwidth, stable power and deliberate exemption from the shutdown.»
RAKIA researchers said the activity suggests specialized infrastructure continued operating even as millions of Iranian civilians were cut off from the internet.
Most of the nodes were concentrated in the Tehran–Qom corridor, according to the report, an area that includes major government and IRGC institutions. Smaller clusters were detected in Iranian cities, including Isfahan, Mashhad, Tabriz and Kermanshah, according to the analysis.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps special forces walk on the U.S. flag during a rally commemorating International Quds Day, also known as Jerusalem Day, in Tehran, Iran, March 28, 2025. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
RAKIA said its investigation relied on a combination of network monitoring and publicly available blockchain intelligence.
The Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York declined to comment on the report’s claims.
war with iran,terrorism,cybercrime
INTERNACIONAL
Florida Republicans send SAVE Act–style proof-of-citizenship voting bill to DeSantis’ desk
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Florida lawmakers are sending Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis a strict elections bill modeled after the federal SAVE America Act strongly championed by President Donald Trump that mandates voters verify their citizenship when registering.
Lawmakers in Tallahassee, Florida, in the GOP-dominated state House approved the measure in a 77–28 vote Thursday, hours after the bill passed the Republican-controlled state Senate 27–12. The votes in both houses of the Florida legislature were nearly entirely along party lines.
DeSantis, a supporter of what he calls «the Florida version of the SAVE Act,» is expected to sign the measure when it reaches his desk.
«Although Florida has already enacted much of what the federal legislation contemplates, this will further fortify our state as the leader in election integrity,» the governor highlighted in a social media post.
SENATE GOP EYES BLAME GAME AS TRUMP-BACKED SAVE ACT HEADED FOR DEFEAT
The developments in Florida come as the federal bill faces an uncertain future in Congress.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida supports a bill approved by his state’s legislature which mandates proof-of-citizenship when registering to vote. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
The SAVE Act, which stands for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, narrowly passed the GOP-controlled House in February mostly along party lines. But it’s stalled in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53–47 majority in the chamber, far short of the 60 vote threshold needed to pass the bill.
The federal bill would require strict voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements across the country. Republicans say the bill is necessary to secure election integrity.
While polls indicate the vast majority of Americans — regardless of the political affiliation — support voter IDs at the polls and preventing noncitizens from voting in federal elections, Democrats argue the bill is not needed, since citizenship already is a requirement to vote and instances of noncitizen voting are rare.
THUNE GUARANTEES VOTER ID BILL TO HIT THE SENATE DESPITE SCHUMER, DEM OPPOSITION: ‘WE WILL HAVE A VOTE’
Democrats and voting rights groups also claim that the federal bill would create unnecessary barriers, making it harder for voters to cast a ballot.
President Donald Trump has said that passing a federal bill that mandates proof-of-citizenship to register to vote should be the number one priority for Congress. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Trump, who is intent on holding the Republican congressional majorities in the 2026 midterm elections, said earlier recently that the federal bill should be the top priority in Congress and that if passed, it «will guarantee the midterms» for Republicans.
But the Florida bill’s proof of citizenship requirement wouldn’t take effect until January, after the November 2024 midterm elections. And the bill also doesn’t limit the Sunshine State’s allowance for excuse-free mail-in-voting.
Trump has long railed against mail-in-balloting.
SCHUMER DOUBLES DOWN ON GOP VOTING BILL ‘JIM CROW 2.0’ DESPITE DEMOCRATIC VOTER SUPPORT
The Florida measure also would prevent college students from using their student IDs when voting in person, but that provision wouldn’t take effect until 2027.
«This bill creates real barriers for everyday Floridians, especially those with the fewest resources,» Democratic state Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis of Orlando argued in a social media post. «It will disproportionately impact working families, seniors, and college students who want to exercise their voice and right to vote.»
A view of the Florida State Capitol building in Tallahassee, Florida. (Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)
And Florida Democratic Party Chair, Nikki Fried charged, «In the cover of night, Florida Republicans made it harder for U.S. citizens to vote.»
«While Democrats, civic groups, and voters voiced their concerns to stop this harmful policy, Republicans decided citizens’ voices didn’t matter and voted to disenfranchise hardworking Floridians,» she added.
The bill would make Florida the most populous state in the nation to mandate proof-of-citizenship to register to vote.
Arizona and Kansas enacted similar requirements in the past two decades, and Louisiana passed a law two years ago.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Proof-of-citizenship bills passed recently in the South Dakota and Utah legislatures, and are awaiting the governors’ signatures.
And in 2024, New Hampshire mandated that all first-time voters show proof of citizenship when registering.
donald trump,ron desantis,voting,elections,midterm elections,florida
Panamá y Ucrania dieron un nuevo paso en su relación bilateral con la firma de una hoja de ruta para el periodo 2026-2029 y un memorando de cooperación académica, durante la primera visita oficial al país de un ministro de Asuntos Exteriores ucraniano.
En paralelo, el gobierno panameño reiteró su posición de respaldo a la soberanía de Ucrania y su rechazo al uso de la fuerza contra otro Estado. El conflicto entre Ucrania y Rusia se remonta al 24 de febrero de 2022, cuando Moscú lanzó una invasión a gran escala sobre territorio ucraniano, desencadenando la mayor guerra en Europa desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Desde entonces han transcurrido más de cuatro años de combates que han dejado decenas de miles de muertos entre fuerzas militares de ambos bandos y miles de víctimas civiles.
La agenda del canciller ucraniano Andrii Sybiha incluyó una reunión con el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Panamá, Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, en el Palacio Bolívar, sede de la Cancillería.
Allí ambos funcionarios sostuvieron primero un encuentro privado y luego un diálogo ampliado con sus respectivas delegaciones, en el que abordaron temas bilaterales, regionales y multilaterales, además de asuntos vinculados con la seguridad internacional y la cooperación entre ambos países.
Un antecedente relevante de este acercamiento bilateral fue la reunión que sostuvieron en septiembre de 2024, en Nueva York, el presidente panameño José Raúl Mulino y su homólogo ucraniano, Volodímir Zelenski, en el marco de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas.
En ese encuentro, ambos mandatarios abordaron oportunidades de cooperación y comercio, mientras Ucrania adelantó su intención de abrir una embajada en Panamá, una decisión que ahora se concreta. Panamá, además, reiteró entonces su respaldo a los esfuerzos orientados a alcanzar la paz.
Durante las conversaciones, los ministros subrayaron la importancia del respeto a los principios contenidos en la Carta de las Naciones Unidas, en especial la soberanía, la integridad territorial de los Estados y la primacía del derecho internacional. Panamá también expresó su preocupación por el deterioro de la paz y la seguridad internacionales desde el inicio de la guerra en 2022 y por las consecuencias humanitarias que ese conflicto ha tenido sobre la población civil.
En ese contexto, el gobierno panameño reiteró su rechazo a cualquier violación de la soberanía, la independencia política y la integridad territorial de Ucrania.
También reafirmó su condena al uso de la fuerza de un Estado contra otro, en línea con la posición que ha sostenido en distintos foros internacionales desde el inicio de la invasión rusa. Uno de los principales resultados de la visita fue la firma de la Hoja de Ruta para el Desarrollo de las Relaciones entre la República de Panamá y Ucrania para el periodo 2026-2029.
El documento servirá como marco para profundizar la relación bilateral y promover una mayor cooperación en distintas áreas, entre ellas el intercambio político, la coordinación diplomática y el desarrollo de iniciativas conjuntas.
A ello se sumó la suscripción de un Memorando de Entendimiento sobre Cooperación Académica entre el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Ucrania y el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Panamá.
El acuerdo prevé una colaboración activa entre la Academia Diplomática de Ucrania “Hennadii Udovenko” y la Academia Diplomática y Consular “Ernesto Castillero Pimentel”, con miras a impulsar programas de formación, intercambio de experiencias y fortalecimiento profesional.
Las delegaciones también expresaron interés en ampliar la cooperación en educación, ciencia e innovación tecnológica. Según lo planteado durante el encuentro, ambos países ven espacio para promover proyectos científicos conjuntos, compartir conocimientos y fortalecer los vínculos entre sus instituciones académicas y técnicas.
La visita del canciller ucraniano también incluyó una reunión en la Asamblea Nacional con la presidenta de la Comisión de Relaciones Exteriores, la diputada Walkiria Chandler, y otros legisladores.
En ese encuentro se abordaron temas relacionados con la cooperación parlamentaria y con el fortalecimiento de los vínculos políticos entre Panamá y Ucrania. Otro de los momentos relevantes de la jornada fue la inauguración de la nueva sede diplomática de Ucrania en Panamá, una decisión que refleja el interés de Kiev en reforzar su presencia en América Latina.
El acto fue acompañado por el canciller panameño y por miembros de la delegación oficial ucraniana. Sybiha llegó a Panamá acompañado por una delegación integrada por su esposa, Tetiana Sybiha; la directora para América Latina y el Caribe del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Ucrania, Oksana Dramaretska; el portavoz de la Cancillería, Heorhii Tykhyi; la consejera de la Dirección de Seguridad Internacional y Defensa, Karyna Rohuila; y el encargado de Negocios de la Embajada de Ucrania en Panamá, Oleksandr Rummo.
La visita tiene un peso diplomático particular porque es la primera vez que un ministro de Asuntos Exteriores de Ucrania realiza una visita oficial a Panamá desde que ambos países establecieron relaciones diplomáticas en 1993.
En más de tres décadas, Panamá y Ucrania han firmado siete acuerdos bilaterales y mantienen otros seis en negociación en áreas como comercio, cooperación técnica, intercambio de información tributaria y combate al tráfico de estupefacientes. Con esta visita, ambos gobiernos buscaron dar una señal de continuidad al diálogo político y abrir nuevas áreas de cooperación.
Tanto Panamá como Ucrania coincidieron en que existe espacio para seguir profundizando los vínculos en ámbitos diplomáticos, académicos, comerciales y tecnológicos en los próximos años.
corresponsal:Desde Panamá
Un argentino que fue campeón de la Premier reveló cómo fue su tensa relación con su DT
Yanina Latorre reveló quién es la figura explosiva que vuelve al streaming: «La Negra Vernaci»
El saludo entre Macri y Kicillof, la interna oficialista y la ausencia de Milei, el saldo político de Expoagro
Cancillería confirmó que 984 argentinos que habían quedado varados en Medio Oriente regresaron al país
Volatilidad global: las acciones cayeron, el riesgo país se acercó a los 600 puntos y el petróleo subió 11% en la semana
Iran moves hundreds of millions in crypto during nationwide internet blackout, report reveals
Muni Seligmann respondió las críticas tras el accidente de su bebé y su viaje a Miami: “Hay que contarlo y naturalizarlo”
El ex novio de Luana de Gran Hermano reveló información sensible sobre su relación: “El bolso tenía plata”
Juan Carlos Schmid deja la conducción de Dragado y Balizamiento después de 33 años
Sorpresa en Gran Hermano tras la expulsión de Carmiña: la reacción de la producción y las dudas sobre su reemplazo
CHIMENTOS3 días agoMuni Seligmann respondió las críticas tras el accidente de su bebé y su viaje a Miami: “Hay que contarlo y naturalizarlo”
- CHIMENTOS1 día ago
El ex novio de Luana de Gran Hermano reveló información sensible sobre su relación: “El bolso tenía plata”
- CHIMENTOS1 día ago
Sorpresa en Gran Hermano tras la expulsión de Carmiña: la reacción de la producción y las dudas sobre su reemplazo
