French President Emmanuel Macron is back at the center of global diplomacy, seeking to ease relations with President Donald Trump, championing a Ukraine peace plan alongside his British counterpart, and seeing his longstanding desire to boost European defense turning into reality.

Europe is staring down the barrel of a stark new reality where the United States being the backbone of NATO – the alliance that has guaranteed the continent’s security since 1949 for almost 80 years – is no longer a given.

Former French President François Hollande asserts that President Donald Trump and his administration are "no longer" allies, saying a U.S.-Europe "divorce" could be on the horizon.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt on Thursday on his willingness to defend Washington's NATO allies, saying he would not do so if they are not paying enough for their own defense.

A budget-constrained France could launch a national loan to fund plans to beef up its defence spending, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou and Finance Minister Eric Lombard said on Friday. European countries are hastening to boost defence spending and maintain support for Ukraine after President Donald Trump froze U.