A sweeping $901 billion defence policy bill has been approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it into law.
The legislation, known as the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026, was passed by a large bipartisan majority and includes a 4% pay rise for U.S. service members, funding to counter China and Russia, and continued support for Ukraine and NATO allies in Europe.
The Senate voted 77–20 in favour, a day after the bill was approved by the House of Representatives. The White House has said President Trump intends to sign the measure.
The NDAA authorises record annual military spending and is passed by Congress every year to set defence priorities and policies, though it does not allocate funding directly.
The legislation also strengthens U.S. commitments in Europe, despite recent uncertainty over Washington’s long-term posture on the continent.
It limits the Pentagon’s ability to reduce U.S. troop numbers in Europe below 76,000 and ensures the top U.S. military commander in Europe retains the role of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander.
In addition, the bill provides $175 million to support the defence of the Baltic states - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - through the Baltic Security Initiative.
Lawmakers from both parties highlighted the NDAA’s long tradition of bipartisan cooperation. Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it marked the 65th consecutive year Congress had passed the legislation.
“This bill is designed to sustain and strengthen the national defence,” he said.
The measure authorises $8 billion more than President Trump had requested and includes reforms to the military’s equipment procurement system, as well as initiatives aimed at boosting U.S. competitiveness with China and Russia.
The bill also contains several politically sensitive provisions. It repeals long-standing authorisations for the use of military force against Iraq, in a move intended to reassert Congress’s authority over decisions to deploy U.S. troops.
It includes restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion programmes at the Pentagon and bars transgender women from competing in women’s sports at U.S. military academies.
The NDAA also includes a provision that could restrict Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget if he does not provide Congress with unedited footage of recent U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels.
Once signed by President Trump, the bill will formally set U.S. defence policy for the coming year.
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The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
Three Armenian citizens have been charged following an alleged attempt to attack Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at St Anna Cathedral in Yerevan on 29 March. Analysts say the incident reflects rising tensions between the government and the Church ahead of upcoming elections.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
The war in Iran has rapidly upended regional security, triggering spillover across the Middle East and raising fears of wider economic disruption that could threaten globalisation.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
A Russia-flagged tanker carrying about 700,000 barrels of crude has arrived in Cuba’s Matanzas Bay, marking the first major oil delivery to the island since the Trump administration cut off its fuel supplies.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.
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