Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Exclusive: America urges NATO readiness

An exclusive USA TODAY interview reveals America's warning to NATO allies. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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Wednesday, September 2

In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said allies must prepare in case Russia's Vladimir Putin attacks.

A French soldier takes part in the NATO Eagle Spearhead drill with seven allies at the "Getica" National Joint Training Center in Cincu, Romania, August 18, 2026. REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu

The U.S. has issued a warning to its allies: Prepare to fend off a potential sudden attack from Russia.

Would Russia really hit a NATO country? Leaked U.S. intelligence reportedly revealed that Russia could launch a limited assault, such as a land incursion or cyberattack, on a member country within the next few years.
America's message to NATO: In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY at the military alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker declined to comment directly on the leaked intelligence, while stressing a need for allies to be vigilant in their defense spending and weapons production. “You can't predict what Vladimir Putin's going to do or any adversary," Whitaker told USA TODAY. “We need to exercise like it matters. We need to prepare, we need to invest in capabilities."
Is America ready? The warning contradicted assessments that Putin would not attempt to draw NATO into a fight while he’s battling Ukraine – and came amid concerns about a U.S. weapons shortage, as the Trump administration wages war on Iran.

MORE ON THIS STORY

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WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 27: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on August 27, 2026 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 10, 2026.
The U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln sails toward Laem Chabang Port before docking for a rest stop following a long deployment in the Middle East, with the Pattaya skyline in backdrop, in Chonburi province, Thailand, September 2, 2026.
A U.S. Sailor observes flight operations as an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 14, prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln supporting Operation Epic Fury during the Iran war at an undisclosed location, March 26, 2026. U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
U.S. President Donald Trump, during an event to deliver remarks on his administration's healthcare policies, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 31, 2026.

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