Overview
- In a Politico interview, President Donald Trump said his backing was decisive for Javier Milei’s October legislative gains in Argentina, pointing to a $20 billion BCRA–U.S. Treasury stabilization swap announced a week before the vote.
- Trump castigated European governments as “in decline” with “weak” leaders, criticized migration policies, and mocked NATO’s leadership while touting pressure for members to lift defense outlays to roughly 5% of GDP.
- On Ukraine, he argued Russia holds the negotiating advantage and faulted Volodymyr Zelenskiy for not reading Washington’s latest proposal, as Zelenskiy said he will send revised Ukrainian terms to the United States “in the near future” after meetings in Europe and with Pope León XIV.
- Trump warned that Nicolás Maduro “has his days numbered” and declined to rule out U.S. military action in Venezuela, signaling heightened pressure in Latin America.
- European officials pushed back at Washington’s posture and new U.S. security strategy, while analysts noted the rift offers Moscow an opening to exploit divisions between the United States and Europe.