William Gallo

Sanae Takaichi targets changes to Japan’s constitution after landslide election win Prime minister says she feels ‘heavy responsibility’ to strengthen country

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has vowed to use her dominance of Japan’s parliament after her huge election win to attempt to amend the country’s constitution for the first time in almost 80 years.

A Danish officer operates a U.S. drone during an exercise at Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Nov. 18, 2025. (Eric Allen/U.S. Army)

POLL: Danish perceptions of the relationship with the United States have taken a stark downturn in the wake of President Donald Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland.

Read more:
www.stripes.com/theaters/eur... #Flashes

We will not stop.

Europe begins its slow retreat from US dependence The EU aims to reduce reliance on America in areas such as technology, energy, payments and defense. That will take some time.

"While it has existed since 2009, the EU’s Article 42.7 mutual defense clause was rarely seen as necessary because NATO’s Article 5 served a similar purpose. But Europe's governments have started to doubt whether the U.S. really would come to Europe's rescue."

Canada should ‘keep our options open’ on acquiring nuclear weapons, former defence chief says Retired general Wayne Eyre told an Ottawa crowd that developing a nuclear deterrent is not an immediate concern, but should be an option

“We will never have true strategic independence, absent our own nuclear deterrent...let’s keep our options open."

Black and white background photo of reporters diligently working in a newsroom, from the Stars and Stripes archives. White text: Opinion: Pentagon wants a 'refocus,' but Stripes hasn't wavered from its true mission. Read the words of our Ombudsman Jacqueline Smith:" Photo of Jacqueline Smith outlined in red. White Stars and Stripes logo.

FROM OUR OMBUDSMAN: Given the overall press restrictions and the moves to take over editorial control of Stars and Stripes, the future of a reputable newspaper that dates to the Civil War is in danger.
Here's what's happening, why & what you can do about it. Gift article🔗: bit.ly/4k7MF6F #Flashes

Denmark's foreign minister on Wednesday: "According to our intelligence, we haven't had a Chinese warship in Greenland for a decade or so."

No, China Isn’t Going to Take Over Greenland Trump’s absurd justification for potential U.S. action is blatantly false.

"The idea that China is ready to seize Greenland at any moment is absurd, and Trump’s claims that Chinese destroyers and submarines are circling the island are blatantly false."

Trump is likely gambling he could get away with Greenland grab as NATO needs US more than he needs it The US president knows no European nation would seriously try to stop him by force - because they would lose.

Trump's threats to take Greenland "should be the final wake-up call for the UK, Europe and Canada never to allow themselves to slide into such a position of profound weakness again."

observingjapan.substack.com/p/nuclear-ta...

Japan gov't affirms no-nuke policy, stays mum on official's nuclear remarks Japan is committed to its non-nuclear principles, the top government spokesman said Friday, downplaying remarks by an official a day earlier supporting possession of nuclear weapons in a deviation fro...

Kyodo, a day later: Japan gov't affirms no-nuke policy, stays mum on official's nuclear remarks

Japan needs to possess nuclear weapons, prime minister's office source says A source within Japan's prime minister's office said Thursday that the country needs nuclear weapons, remarks that deviate from the country's long-standing non-nuclear principles and could trigger bac...

"I think we should possess nuclear weapons...in the end, we can only rely on ourselves."

My Warm Take on the National Security Strategy From the erasure of North Korea to the defense of Taiwan

"This vanishing of North Korea from 2017 to 2025 alone should caution the reader to take this text, whether you see things you like or dislike, with a gigantic grain of salt."

Danish intelligence classifies Trump’s America as a security risk Denmark sounds the alarm about the U.S.’s increasingly antagonistic posture toward Europe.

Denmark’s military intelligence service has for the first time classified the US as a security risk, a striking shift in how one of Washington’s closest European allies assesses the transatlantic relationship.

MAGAZINER: How many veterans have you deported?

NOEM: We haven't deported veterans

MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea

Anybody can change, Scrooge (and so can you)!

China omits 'denuclearization' from newly-released defense white paper China has omitted the phrase “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” from a defense white paper for the first time in 19 years, signaling a possible shift in its position as it competes with the Un...

Instead of the word “denuclearization,” the paper emphasized “resolving the Korean peninsula issue through political means.

Japan frustrated at Trump administration’s silence over row with China Tokyo asks US to be more vocal in its support after Beijing reacted furiously to prime minister’s comments about Taiwan

Japan frustrated at Trump administration’s silence over row with China – FT: ‘Some people said the lack of US support was ironic given that Elbridge Colby, the under-secretary of defence for policy, had pushed Japan to make clear what role it would play if the US and China went to war over Taiwan.’

The Muppets Christmas Carol is just top notch stuff, man. So many great performances, including obviously by Michael Caine but also Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and the vegetable muppets. I could go on and on.

At this point I only have barely three mosquito-less months. It's not great!

Just saw another mosquito in Seoul. It's December 7th. We've already had snow. How in the world do these creatures survive this.

China’s National Security Office in Hong Kong Summons Foreign Journalists

China’s National Security Office in Hong Kong Summons Foreign Journalists

North Korea Not Mentioned in U.S. National Security Strategy North Korea Not Mentioned in U.S. National Security Strategy Report highlights countering China along First Island Chain, urges allies to boost defense spending

North Korea Not Mentioned in U.S. National Security Strategy www.chosun.com/english/worl...

The White House just released its National Security Strategy.

Top US official berates Europe over cutting American industry out of defense buildup Washington is unhappy that some European arms programs limit U.S. participation.

“Landau, a longtime NATO skeptic, told ministers not to ‘bully’ his country’s defense firms out of participating in Europe’s rearmament.”

Trump's National Defense Strategy to hail South Korea as 'model ally' Seoul's 3.5% defense budget, shipyards pledge suit 'partners' over 'dependents' US vision

The Trump administration will highlight South Korea and Israel as "model allies" in its National Defense Strategy. Expected to be released by the Pentagon in coming weeks, the NDS will commend both countries for acting as partners rather than dependents. asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/tr...

Editorial: President Lee Unaware of North Korea Detainees, Policies Criticized Editorial: President Lee Unaware of North Korea Detainees, Policies Criticized Critics question leaders grasp of basic realities amid calls for awareness on detained citizens

"The first requirement for successful negotiations is accurately understanding the opponent. However, President Lee is unaware of even basic facts about North Korea."

Can Seoul Take the Lead & The Alliance Expand Its Aperture? - Korea Economic Institute of America The drivers for a South Korean lead role on the peninsula and a broader role for the alliance’s combined defense posture beyond it may be greater than ever.

Clint Work: "It seems as though some South Korean political hands that are the firmest proponents of wartime OPCON transition are more interested in the optics and symbolism of the transition than they are the mechanics of the combined command."

Wonky stuff but important for US-ROK relations.

Lee says S. Korea's own nuclear armament 'impossible' | Yonhap News Agency By Lee Haye-ah SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday dismissed c...

South Korea's president: getting nukes would be "great," but it would be impossible to get the approval of the international community.

Trump: "Countries were ripping off for years, including allies. I won't use the names. I won't mention Japan. I will refuse to mention South Korea. I will not mention names."