
'Invest in defence now or start learning Russian later'
The appointment by Trump will be especially welcomed following media reports in recent months that the US was considering relinquishing the role of SACUER which has always been appointed by a US president to NATO.
"It's a very important decision and there is relief from NATO's point of view as it's a positive sign of American engagement and staffing," a US-based source familiar with the issue told Euronews.
US Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower was NATO's first SACEUR in 1951, and the role has remained with the US ever since.
'Upon completion of national confirmation processes, Grynkewich will take up his appointment as the successor to General Christopher G. Cavoli, United States Army, at a change of command ceremony at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium, expected in the summer of 2025,' a statement from NATO read.
New targets in defence spending adopted
Meanwhile, NATO defence ministers agreed to a significant surge in defence capability targets for each country, as well as moving to spending 5% of GDP on defence.
They've agreed that 3.5% of GDP would be used for 'core defence spending' - such as heavy weapons, tanks, air defence. Meanwhile 1.5% of GDP per year will be spent on defence- and security-related areas such as infrastructure, surveillance, and cyber. However, the full list of flexibility has not yet been negotiated.
'These targets describe exactly what capabilities Allies need to invest in over the coming years,' NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told journalists.
The US has been pushing NATO allies to dramatically increase spending, and expects to see 'credible progress' immediately, according to US Ambassador to NATO Mathew Whitaker.
'The threats facing NATO are growing and our adversaries are certainly not waiting for us to re-arm or be ready for them to make the first move,"
'We would prefer our Allies move out urgently on reaching the 5%,' he told journalists in a briefing on the margins of the meetings.
Ambassador Whitaker also said the US is 'counting on Europe' to the lead in providing Ukraine with the 'resources necessary to reach a durable peace' on the continent.
Mark Rutte reiterated NATO's recent warnings that Russia could strike NATO territory within the next couple of years. 'If we don't act now, the next three years, we are fine, but we have to start now, because otherwise, from three, four or five years from now, we are really under threat," he said, adding: "I really mean this. Then you have to get your Russian language course out, or go to New Zealand.'
'It's good to have continuity about the US in NATO, but with Ukraine it's a different story. I just don't think Trump really cares about Ukraine," the US-based source told Euronews.
'Trump just doesn't care about Europe – it doesn't make him richer or help him politically,' the source said.
Referring to the forthcoming NATO summit taking place next month in The Hague, the source said the presence of Ukraine at the summit "will likely be scaled back", since the US will say, "they're not members' so they don't need to be there".
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fashion Network
25 minutes ago
- Fashion Network
Claire's enters judicial recovery in France
There has been no respite on the fashion retail default front. On July 24, 2025, the French subsidiary of American low-price accessories chain Claire's was placed in receivership by the Paris Commercial Court, has learned from corroborating sources. The chain has 239 stores in France, employing a total of 1,258 people. In recent months, several closures have taken place in the French market, as reported by various local press outlets, including in Saint-Etienne, Angers, and Roubaix. According to Delta FM, the French management has already carried out two PSEs in 2024 and 2025. A search for buyers will be launched as part of these receivership proceedings. Claire's overall business is said to be affected by the impact of customs duties imposed by the US (the company has its products manufactured in China), but the brand has been hit above all by a growing lack of consumer interest since its golden era in the 2000s. Its range includes costume jewellery, hair accessories, clutches and bags, beauty products, and small gadgets in pop colours. According to the accounts filed, Claire's France generated sales of 132 million euros in its financial year ending January 2024, compared with 142 million euros a year earlier (-7%). Worldwide, the accessories chain is in a delicate situation. Held by its creditors since bankruptcy in 2018 (including the funds Elliott Management Corp and Monarch Alternative Capital LP), the company with over 2,000 points of sale worldwide is reportedly looking for buyers, according to Bloomberg. Faced with a wall of debt, Claire's is close to filing for bankruptcy in the US: the press agency mentions a possible imminent filing for bankruptcy (under the local Chapter 11 regime). A similar scenario also appears imminent in the UK.


Fashion Network
26 minutes ago
- Fashion Network
American brand Cotopaxi launches in Portugal
American outdoor clothing and accessories brand Cotopaxi is now available in the Portuguese market. Distributed in the country by the Lisbon-based business CoolAndFunctional, the label launched in multi-brand stores across the country this month. Cotopaxi is now available in the country at select points of sale, such as outdoor and adventure stores, camping, surfing, and even some fashion stores "due to the variety of accessories and backpacks it offers," CoolAndFunctional told The Portuguese business added that, for Cotopaxi's debut in the Portuguese market, it is delivering its Autumn/Winter 2025 collection to retailers, focusing on introducing local consumers to its accessories and backpack lines, which "have contributed to the brand's notoriety today," highlighting the Del Día collection, "which is characterised by the creation of exclusive products, made from recycled fabric scraps, to make for unique pieces and prevent materials from ending up in landfills." After introducing Cotopaxi to the Portuguese market this season, CoolAndFunctional intends to reach more points of sale with its spring-summer 2026 season, adding that "collaborations, initiatives, and events are already planned for the launch of the brand in 2026". Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Cotopaxi is a project by Davis Smith, who was born in the US but grew up in various parts of Latin America, where he witnessed the effects of poverty. In 2014, Smith returned to the US and founded Cotopaxi, recruiting Stephan Jacob and CJ Whittaker as co-founders. Currently, Cotopaxi has over 120 employees and five physical stores in the US. However, the bulk of its business is conducted online. Internationally, in addition to Portugal, the brand is also present in Japan, Spain, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, and the Middle East. Created with a focus on social responsibility and sustainability, a percentage of the brand's profits go to the Cotopaxi Foundation, which supports poverty reduction projects. Cotopaxi is the latest innovation to be introduced in Portugal by the Lisbon-based company CoolAndFunctional, which at the beginning of 2024 brought the American sock brand Merge4 to the Portuguese market (as well as Spain and France).


Fashion Network
27 minutes ago
- Fashion Network
Claire's enters judicial recovery in France
There has been no respite on the fashion retail default front. On July 24, 2025, the French subsidiary of American low-price accessories chain Claire's was placed in receivership by the Paris Commercial Court, has learned from corroborating sources. The chain has 239 stores in France, employing a total of 1,258 people. In recent months, several closures have taken place in the French market, as reported by various local press outlets, including in Saint-Etienne, Angers, and Roubaix. According to Delta FM, the French management has already carried out two PSEs in 2024 and 2025. A search for buyers will be launched as part of these receivership proceedings. Claire's overall business is said to be affected by the impact of customs duties imposed by the US (the company has its products manufactured in China), but the brand has been hit above all by a growing lack of consumer interest since its golden era in the 2000s. Its range includes costume jewellery, hair accessories, clutches and bags, beauty products, and small gadgets in pop colours. According to the accounts filed, Claire's France generated sales of 132 million euros in its financial year ending January 2024, compared with 142 million euros a year earlier (-7%). Worldwide, the accessories chain is in a delicate situation. Held by its creditors since bankruptcy in 2018 (including the funds Elliott Management Corp and Monarch Alternative Capital LP), the company with over 2,000 points of sale worldwide is reportedly looking for buyers, according to Bloomberg. Faced with a wall of debt, Claire's is close to filing for bankruptcy in the US: the press agency mentions a possible imminent filing for bankruptcy (under the local Chapter 11 regime). A similar scenario also appears imminent in the UK.