U.S. President Donald Trump’s defence and national security budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, released Wednesday, outlines a strategic realignment of priorities—emphasising advanced missile systems, troop pay increases, and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, while reducing procurement of ships, fighter jets, and civilian defence jobs.
The proposed $892.6 billion package remains flat compared to the previous year, with the Pentagon’s share totalling $848.3 billion. Additional funding supports nuclear programmes under the Department of Energy and enhanced homeland security measures.
The White House stated that the budget aims to strengthen the U.S. defence industrial base and counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific. A 3.8% pay raise for military personnel is included, while operational costs are trimmed by retiring outdated platforms such as the A-10 Warthog fleet.
However, significant reductions are also proposed. The Navy would cut 7,286 civilian jobs and limit shipbuilding to only three new warships in this request. Procurement of other vessels, including a Virginia-class submarine and 15 additional ships, will be handled under a separate appropriation bill.
Trump’s request also scales back the number of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets to 47—down from the 68 requested in President Biden’s 2025 budget. In response, a House draft bill is pushing to increase the F-35 order to 69.
A senior defence official clarified that the Pentagon’s controversial “Golden Dome” missile defence shield was not part of this primary submission but would be addressed separately. That project is receiving an initial $25 billion through the Republican-backed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” already passed by the House.
Despite the cuts in certain areas, the budget reinforces investment in next-generation munitions. The Air Force will continue funding long-range missiles like the JASSM-ER and LRASM, particularly relevant for operations in the Pacific. The proposal, however, reduces orders for the Precision Strike Missile, the successor to the ATACMS system currently used in Ukraine.
Spending on small, tactical drones is set to rise, driven in part by lessons from the Ukraine conflict, where unmanned aerial vehicles have proven both cost-effective and tactically significant.
As Congress debates the broader $150 billion defence package, Trump’s proposal has triggered early discussions over the shape of U.S. military strategy—balancing fiscal restraint, deterrence, and modernisation in a shifting global landscape.
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The United Nations on Friday voiced serious concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, warning that rising violence is increasingly affecting civilians.
U.S. authorities say they have thwarted an ISIS‑inspired terrorist attack planned for New Year’s Eve in the town of Mint Hill, North Carolina, arresting an 18‑year‑old suspect just hours before the alleged assault was due to take place.
Ukrainian officials reported on Friday that thousands of children and their parents were evacuated from frontline areas in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions as Russian forces continued to advance.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he would have a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday to discuss peace efforts between Ukraine and Russia as well as issues surrounding Gaza.
Dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 others injured after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said.
Russian athletes will not be allowed to represent their country at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics even if a peace deal is reached with Ukraine, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said in an interview with an Italian newspaper.
At least 47 people were killed and 112 injured after a fire broke out at a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian media on Thursday.
India has approved a major arms deal with Israel valued at approximately $8.7 billion, highlighting the deepening defence partnership between the two countries.
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck the southern state of Guerrero in Mexico.
The United Nations on Friday voiced serious concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, warning that rising violence is increasingly affecting civilians.
Ukrainian officials reported on Friday that thousands of children and their parents were evacuated from frontline areas in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions as Russian forces continued to advance.
Yemen’s southern separatists have announced plans to hold a referendum on independence from the north within two years, a move likely to further escalate tensions as Saudi-backed government forces seek to retake territory seized by the group last month.
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck the southern state of Guerrero in Mexico.
Suhail Shaheen, Afghanistan’s ambassador in Doha, has again urged the United Nations to transfer Afghanistan’s seat at the UN to the Taliban-led administration, arguing the current arrangement no longer reflects realities in the country.
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