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.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to advance joint industrial projects, investment and technical cooperation following talks in Minsk, as Kabul s...
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are drawing up a new programme aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, as the two countries move to deep...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment