Newsweek is reporting that a less U.S.-controlled NATO could become "angrier and less predictable" for Russia. It said this perspective follows an incident where a Royal Air Force plane carrying British Defense Secretary John Healey lost GPS for three hours last week after he visited British troops in Estonia. Newsweek said officials were unsure if the plane was deliberately targeted, but it landed safely. The publication noted that for decades, NATO's response to such incidents has been calibrated by Washington, characterized as measured and slow to escalate. However, Newsweek said that with American leadership wavering during the Trump era and front-line European states growing impatient, this traditional calibration is beginning to fracture. It suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin's long-standing efforts to loosen America's influence on NATO might ultimately lead to an alliance he finds less favorable.
Newsweek also announced the launch of two new newsletters. It said "China Decoded" will focus on China's growing global influence, led by World Editor Frances Mao, John Feng, and Deirdre Kirsten Tatlow. The publication also introduced "Midterms Monitor," which will cover the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, described as the first national test of President Donald Trump's second term. Daniel Orton and Alex Rouhandeh will lead this newsletter.