Russian military instructors arrived in Niger on Wednesday in a plane loaded with military equipment, Niger state television RTN said Thursday. Since its July 2023 coup the military junta in Niger has strengthened military ties with Russia.

Belgium: Prosecutors have opened a probe into Russian «interference» in the European Parliament following allegations lawmakers were paid to spread Kremlin propaganda, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Friday.

U.S. defense commitments to Japan and to the Philippines are ironclad, President Joe Biden said Thursday at the trilateral summit with Japanese and Philippines leaders in Washington.