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Wednesday 28th January 2026. Ukraine train hit. NATO Europe 'dreaming'. Honduras president. EU India deal. AI risk. Italy landslides...

Jan 28, 2026
A Russian drone strike on a Kharkiv passenger train and NATO warnings about Europe’s defence. Reports on Holocaust memorials and Sicily landslides forcing evacuations. Coverage of South Sudan evacuations and an international corruption trial. Discussion of an EU–India trade deal and China’s falling population.
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INSIGHT

Mutual Dependence, Not Independence

  • Rutte stresses mutual dependence: the US and Europe need each other for defence.
  • He uses blunt language to dismiss unilateral European defence plans without US support.
INSIGHT

Defence Spending Gap Is Huge

  • Rutte says Europe would need to spend about 10% of GDP on defence to go it alone, far above current levels.
  • He calls the idea of Europe defending itself without the US a dream for countries spending around 5% of GDP.
INSIGHT

Europe Needs The US Nuclear Umbrella

  • NATO's Mark Rutte warns Europe cannot replace US defence without huge spending increases and new nuclear forces.
  • He argues dropping US protection would cost billions and risk losing the nuclear umbrella that guarantees freedom.
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