After becoming allies to disastrous effect in the 1940s, Berlin and Tokyo are finding new reasons to team up — including rebuilding their militaries.

Berlin pulled out of the Future Combat Air System, a project with Spain and France that had been seen as central to European efforts to face down Russia and reduce reliance on the United States.

European authorities have grown concerned about a rise in Iranian intelligence activity in Europe in the wake of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

A humpback that became stuck in the Baltic seemed to unite a nation in hope. Rescue efforts followed, and then finger-pointing.

Germany has hugely increased its military spending, aiming to be less dependent on Washington. Its support for U.S. attacks on Iran may also give it leverage.

Military members sharing clips on Instagram and TikTok have helped recruit badly needed new soldiers, but Bundeswehr officials said they are concerned about security.

European politicians risk angering their voters if they join America’s war. Yet they could also face domestic upheaval if they take no action to reopen shipping routes that Iran has blocked and ease an energy crisis.

While some European countries said they were discussing ways to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, several rejected President Trump’s calls to send warships.

From London to Rome and beyond, leaders are facing diplomatic headwinds and criticism at home as they take part in a conflict they did not seek.

A German court found that the attacker, now age 20, had traveled more than 100 miles to stab a Spanish tourist, who survived.

Friedrich Merz has called for greater European unity, but he did not publicly object to the president rebuking Spain and Britain during an Oval Office meeting.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to Washington, long planned, is now likely to be dominated by discussions of the attack, which Europeans did not take part in.

Soon the country’s armed forces budget could exceed those of Britain and France combined. In Paris, there are concerns that European “strategic autonomy” will have a German accent.