Egyik 19

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China
22.09.2025  China's first electromagnetic catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has achieved a breakthrough by hosting the first catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested landing training for the J-15T heavy fighter jet, the J-35 stealth fighter jet, and the KJ-600 early warning aircraft. The Fujian, first unveiled in June 2022, is the Chinese navy's largest-ever ship and China's third aircraft carrier after the Liaoning and the Shandong vessels. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

Gaza
(Sunday), September 21, 2025 | 10:47 AM  ’Massacres’ by the Israeli occupation forces claimed 31 Palestinian lives in the Gaza Strip since dawn today. Since Israel launched its war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, more than 65,200 Palestinians ’have been martyred’, while over 166,200 others have been injured, according to local health authorities. Thousands more remain missing under the rubble. (Source: Gulf Times - Qatar)

Iran
22.09.25  Iran aims to reach 20 gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity by 2040. Currently, Iran operates only one nuclear plant in Bushehr, built by Russia, with a capacity of around one gigawatt. Russia and Iran sign agreements to set up new nuclear power units - including plans to construct eight nuclear power plants - amid rising tensions at the United Nations, which considers whether to reimpose sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme. (Source: The Telegraph - India)

Turkey
23.09.202  Turkish President Erdogan and leaders of majority-Muslim countries attended a meeting on Gaza with US President Trump. The White House previously said that Türkiye, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan would be represented at the leader-level meeting. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

.5 9 24 02:21

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Georgia
September 23, 2025  'Without Georgia, US Caucasus policy is incomplete. Georgia has slowly come under Russian and Chinese influence, without much of a US response. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)
by Chkhaidze, a Research Fellow at the Topchubashov Center, based in Baku. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations with honors from the International Black Sea University. His research focuses on Russia, Ukraine, the South Caucasus, and Russian Private Military Companies. 

Kosovo
September 23, 2025  Kosovo's president Osmani praises Trump's 'peace through strength' for keeping country safe from conflict, calls U.S. leader very successful in stopping regional wars and escalations. (Source: Fox News - U.S.)

Russia
Monday, September 22, 2025  There are still more than 100 million ethnic Russians, according to Matveyev, an KPRF Duma deputy. He says those who want to see them ruled by ‘a great caliphate’ are going to have to wait for some time. But it is entirely possible that immigrants could easily overwhelm the smaller peoples of the Russian Federation and form new Kosovos. Matveyev cites Sakha (Yakutia) where the republic’s leadership is promoting immigration from Central Asian and South Caucasus countries. (Source: Window on Eurasia - U.S.)
by Goble

Ukraine
September 21, 2025 10:03  'Wake Up! Europe is already at war'. (Source: Kyiv Post - Ukraine) 

Europe
22.09.2025  EU cybersecurity agency confirms ransomware attack behind airport disruptions. A cyberattack on a third-party system provider has caused widespread flight disruptions at several major European airports, including London’s Heathrow, along with Brussels and Berlin airports, authorities said Saturday. Berlin Airport reported longer wait times, while London Heathrow cited a 'technical issue' at Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in systems to airlines worldwide. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

.5 9 24 02:18

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North America

United States
September 23, 2025  President Trump said today at the UN that he thinks NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace. Trump made the comments during a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy. Both were in New York City today for a United Nations General Assembly meeting. ’Do you think that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace?’ a reporter asked. Yes, I do, Trump replied. The statement came hours after Trump slammed the United Nations for not aiding his administration's peace push and for ’creating new problems’ for the U.S. and member nations. "The best example is the No. 1 political issue of our time: the crisis of uncontrolled migration. It is uncontrolled. Your countries are being ruined.' The president said the U.N. is ’funding an assault on Western countries and their borders. ’The U.N. is supporting people that are illegally coming into the United States, and we have to get them out," Trump said. ’The U.N. also provided food, shelter, transportation and debit cards to illegal aliens. The UN is supposed to stop invasions - not create them and not finance them." Trump said illegal immigrants are also ’pouring into Europe.’ "It is not sustainable and, because they choose to be politically correct, they are doing absolutely nothing about it,' Trump said. ’Your countries are going to hell. In America, we’ve taken bold action to swiftly shut down uncontrolled migration. Once we started detaining and deporting everyone who crossed the border and removing illegal aliens from the United States, they simply stop coming. They're not coming anymore," Trump said, while thanking El Salvador for "receiving and jailing criminals" who entered the United States. (Source: Fox News - U.S.)

September 23, 2025  U.S. President Trump appeared to issue an about-face on Washington’s Ukraine policy, posting to Truth Social today. Trump’s full statement: 'After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form. With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option. Why not? Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win. This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like ‘a paper tiger.’ When the people living in Moscow, and all of the Great Cities, Towns, and Districts all throughout Russia, find out what is really going on with this War, the fact that it’s almost impossible for them to get Gasoline through the long lines that are being formed, and all of the other things that are taking place in their War Economy, where most of their money is being spent on fighting Ukraine, which has Great Spirit, and only getting better, Ukraine would be able to take back their Country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that! Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act. In any event, I wish both Countries well. We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them. Good luck to all!' (Source: Foreign Policy - U.S.)

Sep 22, 2025  Defense Secretary Hegseth in a memo on Sept. 15 cemented restrictions on when, where and how the military and Pentagon leaders can engage with the public. The memo arrived around the same time the Defense Department rolled out new media guidelines that require reporters to sign a pledge not to gather any information that hasn't been officially authorized for release, or risk losing their press credentials. The department reserves the right to reject any external engagement with an organization or person that hasn't displayed professionalism. The guidelines put an emphasis on engagements that have broad audiences to ensure it's able to share information "widely, accurately, and as effectively as possible, consistent with the Department's commitment to transparency" and to ensure that personnel can hear and learn from a wide range of perspectives. "This past July, the Department of War's Office of Public Affairs began a process to thoroughly vet all external engagements to ensure the Department does not lend its name and credibility to organizations, forums, and events that run counter to the values of this administration, Pentagon spokesperson Parnel said in a statement. This is part of a broader effort to put a tighter lid on the information that comes out of the Pentagon. The Defense Department in February informed several outlets - including NPR, NBC News, Politico and CNN - that they had to move out of their workspaces at the Correspondents' Corridor in the Pentagon, although their press credentials would remain intact. They were replaced by mostly conservative outlets such as Washington Examiner, Daily Caller, Newsmax and others under a new rotation system. (Source: Axios - U.S.)

September 22, 2025  United Nations must begin offering a ‘report to shareholders,’ according to former US diplomat Dugan. He said President Trump must demand accountability. (Source: Fox News - U.S.)
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September 21, 2025  There are about half a million people in the US on H-1B visas. The visa is given out on a lottery system due to the high demand. About 85,000 visas are authorized by the Congress are available every year. In 2024, the US government received about 425,000 H-1B visa petitions. Tech companies are the biggest beneficiaries of H-1B visas. They, and and small and medium businesses, will be hit hard by the recent fee hike introduced by the Trump administration. The new changes ’would freeze the ability for people or for companies to bring in skilled labour’ into the United States and lead companies to consider whether they want to be based in the country. The fee is huge for companies to absorb. It gives employers an incentive to use the program to recruit only top candidates. (Source: The Week – India)

NATO

September 23, 2025  Trump mocks NATO allies for 'funding the war against themselves' with Russian energy purchases. Belgium, France, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain remain Europe's top importers of Russian energy products. (Source: Fox News - U.S.)

September 22, 2025  In accordance with Trump’s wishes, NATO is indeed spending more on defense - but much of that spending has been in Europe rather than the United States. In March, the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) was launched, aiming to facilitate joint investment, procurement, and increased production capacity across the bloc. Earlier this year, Portugal opted not to buy the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, while Spain ejected from a similar deal last month. Denmark announced it would purchase an estimated $9 billion in new military systems. The majority of that money is set to remain in Europe. A potential winner in NATO’s spending bonanza could be South Korea. Poland adopt the K2 Black Panther tank alongside the American M1 Abrams, while Norway has been adopting Seoul’s K9 self-propelled howitzer. Still, the days of America being the dominant supplier to Europe may be coming to an end - even as NATO pays its fair share and more. (Source: The National Interest - United States)

United Nations

September 23, 2025  U.S. President Trump addresses the 80th UN General Assembly in New York City. Asked to speak for fifteen minutes, he addressed the gathering of world leaders for nearly an hour. He boasted of his domestic policy successes, complained that he had been overlooked for the Nobel Prize, and bragged that the United States is ’the hottest country in the world.’ Former President Biden served as a punching bag throughout the speech, accused of leading “the most corrupt, incompetent administration in history.” The United Nations was target as well. He lamented losing a contract decades ago to renovate UN headquarters and claimed he would have done a far better job than the winning contractor and would have given the building marble rather than terrazzo floors. He argued that the United Nations is failing to live up to its “tremendous potential,” dismissed its penchant for a “strongly worded letter” and “empty words” in place of effective action. He offered no practical solutions, however, for improving the organization’s operations. He repeatedly returned to both topics of the evils of immigration and the high cost of so-called green renewable energy, which are destroying a large part of the free world and a large part of our planet. Countries that cherish freedom are fading fast because of their policies on these two subjects. He argued that Europe is being invaded by migrants and that as the result of the failed experiment with open borders, “your countries are going to hell. You need strong borders and traditional energy sources if you are going to be great again". He warned his fellow leaders that “if you don’t get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail.' When Trump goes off script, his remarks were a fact-checker’s delight as he peppered his arguments. ’Contrary to what he claimed, the United Nations is not paying for migrants to enter the United States illegally’. Trump hailed his success in ending “seven unendable wars” in just eight months in office. He did not break any new ground in his comments on the two wars he has not ended, Gaza and Ukraine. On the former, he called on Hamas to release the hostages it took nearly two years ago - a stance the audience applauded. He also criticized countries that have recently recognized Palestine as a state, saying Hamas would view the move as a ’reward for these horrible atrocities, including October 7th.’ While he said that “we have to stop the war in Gaza immediately,” he offered no thoughts on how to accomplish that goal. As for Ukraine, Trump said that the war was making Russia look bad and that he was “working relentlessly” to end the fighting. But he did not demand that Russian President Putin stop his ramped-up attacks, let alone agree to a ceasefire. Trump noted that “China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil.’ He reiterated that the United States will not increase economic pressure on Russia until Europe halts all oil and gas imports from Russia. Trump said nothing about U.S.-Chinese relations, did not take the opportunity to paint a vision of how the United States and China might cooperate for mutual gain. Trump called on other countries to make common cause on “ending the development of biological weapons once and for all.” He proposed using an “AI verification system” to enforce the Biological Weapons Convention. Other world leaders were likely neither surprised nor offended. They know they have to deal with him. World leaders also know that Trump can reverse course on a dime. The lesson here, then, may be that when it comes to Trump, the operative guidance is not “listen and learn” but “wait and see.” (Source: Council on Foreign Relations - U.S.)
by Lindsay

September 23, 2025  A full, rush transcript of Trump’s remarks as delivered. They have not been fact-checked. (Source: Foreign Policy - U.S.)

.5 9 24 01:05

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Europe

Hungary
09.09.2025  Hungary stands by Qatar, Foreign Minister Szijjártó said today after unexpected airstrike in Doha, highlighting the Gulf state’s importance for regional stability and hostage negotiations. He spoke with his Qatari counterpart Muraikhi shortly after the Israeli strike on Doha targeting Hamas leadership. "We reaffirmed the friendship between Qatar and Hungary and our joint commitment to peace in the Middle East. For Hungary, the security of the entire region, including Qatar, is of great importance," Szijjártó said. "Qatar’s mediation for the release of Israeli hostages is highly valued, and we are grateful for its continued efforts in freeing Hungarian hostages." (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

France
September 9, 2025  French President Macron has tapped the 39-year-old Armed Forces Minister Lecornu as the country’s next prime minister. National Rally leader Le Pen was quick to slam the appointment and reiterated her calls for new parliamentary elections. “The president has fired the last shot of macronism, holed up in his bunker with his small group of loyalists,” she wrote in a post on X. France Unbowed leader Mélenchon called the appointment a “sad comedy of contempt for parliament” and called on Macron to resign. (Source: Politico - U.S.)

Tuesday 09 September 2025  The Bloquons Tout (Block Everything) movement's called-for day of blockades, strikes, demonstrations and other acts of protest tomorrow is now falling as President Macron - one of the movement's targets - is hunting for a fourth prime minister in 12 months. Although ostensibly unrelated to the planned protests, the discovery of severed pigs' heads - five of them written with Macron's name - near nine Paris-area mosques today caused additional unease, bearing possible hallmarks of previous suspected Russian-linked acts of attempted destabilization that have targeted France and other allies of Ukraine. Coffins left near the Eiffel Tower - some draped in the French flag and inscribed with the words “French soldiers of Ukraine" - in 2024 were linked by French authorities to Russian intelligence services. 80,000 police and gendarmes will be deployed to keep order, backed by helicopters, drones, and armored vehicles. Aviation authorities warned of possible disruptions and delays to flights. (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom)

08/09/2025  French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou lost a confidence motion in parliament, forcing a third change in government in just over a year and reviving uncertainty over how the country can tackle its mounting debt burden. Just 194 lawmakers voted in support of the prime minister and 364 voted against. Parties across the political spectrum in France’s lower house joined forces today to overwhelmingly issue the rebuke to Bayrou, who called the motion in a failed attempt to rally support for his unpopular budget reforms. France is ’drowning in a tide of debt,’ Bayrou told lawmakers today ahead of the vote. “You have the power to bring down the government but you don’t have the power to erase reality.” President Macron will now have to decide whether to name a new premier or dissolve the National Assembly and call a new election. The new government would still have to find a way to pass a new budget — an exercise that has now toppled the last two prime ministers. (Source: Luxembourg Times / Bloomberg - U.S.)

Germany
08.09.2025  Chancellor Merz says Europe's partnership with US can no longer be taken for granted, as it's increasingly becoming more issue- and interest-driven, emphasizing that this approach should be free from ’false nostalgia’. Addressing the annual Ambassadors Conference at the German Foreign Ministry, Merz said Europeans can no longer expect the US to bear the main burden for security in Europe. Instead, they must strengthen the European pillar of NATO in the coming years. The conservative leader emphasized that the US remains Europe's most important partner, and Europeans will continue to seek cooperation and close coordination with the Americans. However, ’Europeans” must strengthen their unity and play a more active role in global politics. This means that our position vis-a-vis the US will depend on our strength as ’Europeans”. This is new, and it also means that we must forge new partnerships around the world, and expand and strengthen existing partnerships, more and more proactively than we have done so far, he said. The chancellor emphasized that Germany must pursue a pragmatic and more active foreign policy based on German interests ’while also considering broader European interests’. He also emphasized that Germany should diversify its markets and supply sources, in order to avoid over-dependence on any single country. For our security and our competitiveness, it must be a priority to diversify our supply chains and trade routes, he added. (Source: Anadolu Agency – Turkey)

Russia
(Monday), 01:36 BST, 9 September 2025  Russia's mysterious 'Doomsday Radio, the Cold War-era shortwave station located about 18 miles from Moscow, has been broadcasting a continuous, monotonous buzzing sound since the 1970s. Amateur ham radio operators and independent researchers first took a serious interest in the Doomsday Radio, officially known by its original call sign UVB-76, in 1982. At that time, the station broadcast only a series of cryptic beeps. By 1992, the pattern evolved: buzzing noises began repeating 25 times per minute, each lasting less than a second, occasionally accompanied by an ominous foghorn-like sound. Throughout the 1990s, the buzzes were sporadically interrupted by anonymous male and female voices reading what appeared to be lists of random names, words, or numbers. The pitch and tone of the buzzing also varied, possibly encoding secret information through subtle audio shifts. UVB-76 transmits complex, unpredictable signals, and does so with enormous power, reportedly using thousands of watts and broadcasting in all directions. Some experts believe the Russian government is using the radio station. It is believed to be part of a secret military communications network, possibly even a failsafe linked to Russia's nuclear command system. The usual buzzing came to life on Monday, interrupted twice sending out two cryptic voice messages consisting of numbers, names or codewords in Russian, to unknown listeners. Among them were 'NZHTI,' a call sign the station has used before, and 'HOTEL,' along with a string of numbers, 38, 965, 78, 58, 88, 37. Social media users are fearing 'something big is happening tonight.' Today's messages ’will likely never be deciphered’, but such signals have been released at bizarre times. The last time was on May 19, when US President Trump was speaking to Russian President Putin on the phone. The station transmitted two coded messages: 'NZhTI 89905 BLEFOPUF 4097 5573', followed a few hours later by 'NZhTI 01263 BOLTANKA 4430 9529. (Source: Daily Mail - United Kingdom)

September 8, 2025  According to Novaya Gazeta, there have been 56 deaths of successful businesspeople and officials under strange circumstances since February 2022. For Russia’s elites, fear has become a highly effective means of control. They own their wealth only as long as the state allows them to do so. Some 140 officials and administrators of medium and high rank were arrested in June and July alone, mostly on corruption-related charges. Putin’s goal is to avoid internal threats, embezzlement of military funds. Mini-patrons are no longer able or willing to protect their vassals. Putin has now indicated that he trusts, at least for the moment, those who protect Russia. As of mid-August, 28,000 people were enrolled in Russian universities in 2025 under the preferential quota for special military operation participants and members of their families - a nearly 75 percent increase over the previous year. Over time, the replacement of Russia’s elite with a new generation of military heroes can degrade the quality of the regional and federal bureaucracy. In certain crucial areas, it could more directly threaten the functioning of the state. (Source: Foreign Affairs - U.S.)
by Kolesnikov

(September 7, 2025) 16:11  Ukraine's military said it attacked the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia's Bryansk region, inflicting comprehensive fire damage during an overnight attack today. Ukraine's defence ministry said that a new meeting of Kyiv's allies was planned for next week and air defences and supplies for Kyiv's deep strikes on Russia would be discussed. (Source: Irish Independent - Ireland / Reuters - United Kingdom)

6 Sep 2025  Russia vows to work with China in the Arctic; Beijing pledges AI cooperation. At the Eastern Economic Forum in its eastern economic hub of Vladivostok, President Putin said Moscow and Beijing could work together in the Arctic region, and that “the opportunity of working in the trilateral format” had already been discussed, though he did not elaborate on who the third party might be. It will be mutually beneficial cooperation in the sphere of gas, in the sphere of oil, the Russian leader told a plenary session of the three-day forum which concluded today. Arctic cooperation was not mentioned when Putin met Chinese President Xi in Beijing earlier this week. During Chinese Premier Li’s visit to Moscow last year, he and Putin highlighted collaboration in the Arctic, especially in shipping, shipbuilding and scientific research. Li, vice-chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, told the forum that Russian and Chinese leaders had already reached a consensus on AI collaboration. Earlier this year, Sberbank, Russia’s leading majority state-owned bank, said it planned to collaborate with Chinese researchers on joint AI projects. The bank’s leader, Vedyakhin, told the Vladivostok forum that there had been collaboration between Russian companies and Chinese AI model developers. Russia will also propose establishing joint institutions and laboratories with Chinese AI, according to Vedyakhin. Putin also met Li on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, where he promised a visa-free programme for Chinese passport holders, as a reciprocal response to similar exceptions for China travel granted to Russian nationals. Starting September 15, Russian nationals holding ordinary passports will be able to enter China visa-free for up to 30 days under a one-year trial programme. (Source: South China Morning Post)

Ukraine
Sept. 9, 2025  A Russian bomb exploded today in a crowd of older people as they picked up pension payments in village Yarova near the front line in eastern Ukraine, killing at least 23 people and injuring 18. It was the first time a Russian bomb had hit a pension distribution site. (Source: The New York Times - U.S.)
by Varenikova, reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

08.09.25, 10:43 AM  Independent estimates of the number of Americans volunteering since 2022 have varied widely, from more than 1,000 to several thousand. The Ukrainian military does not release figures. Over time, the makeup of American volunteers has shifted, with higher proportions of people who have no military background, are older or are US veterans seeking to restart military careers closed off to them at home because of age or injuries. An American soldier, who uses the call sign Alabama for his home state, where he worked as a welder before enlisting in late 2023, was motivated, he said, by a chance to fight for a just cause, and also by the Ukrainian government's promise of four acres of free land to anyone, Ukrainian or foreign, who serves in the military and survives the war. (Source: Telegraph India / New York Times News Service - U.S.)

September 7, 2025, 9:33 AM  Russia launched 810 drones and 13 missiles overnight, Kyiv said. Overnight into Sunday morning 747 drones and four missiles were shot down. Nine missiles and 54 drones impacted across 33 locations. The attack saw impacts reported in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Chernihiv, Dnipro, Kremenchuk and Odesa regions. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Telegram that the attack damaged the roof and upper floors of the cabinet building located in the Pecherskyi district in the center of the city. Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces shot down 69 Ukrainian drones overnight. (Source: ABC News - U.S.)

Sunday 07 September 2025 13:01 BST  Mass mortuaries, forensics and rare cooperation with Russia: The agonising task of identifying Ukraine’s war dead. A forensic specialist about the ongoing work to put names to bodies in Ukraine after Moscow agreed to return thousands of the fallen. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a caseload of 154,200 people missing from both sides of the front line as of August, whose fate or whereabouts remain unknown. It is expected that it will take decades for families to receive answers about their loved ones. (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom)

Africa

Ethiopia
(9 September 2025)  Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today has inaugurated the $4.5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the largest hydroelectric project in Africa. Towering 145 metres high and stretching nearly two kilometres across the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, the megastructure is designed to hold 74 billion cubic metres of water. Launched in 2011 under the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the project on the Blue Nile is designed to generate 5,150 megawatts of electricity - more than double Ethiopia's current capacity.- to ease chronic shortages and expand exports. Some 45 percent of Ethiopia's 130 million people lack electricity, according to World Bank data. Ethiopia asserts the dam is a symbol of national unity and a step toward regional cooperation, which will also bear great benefit for downstream countries. The GERD could transform Ethiopia's economy, boosting industrial production, enabling a shift toward electric vehicles, and supplying power-hungry neighbours through regional interconnectors that stretch as far as Tanzania. Egypt and Sudan have long raised concerns over the project’s impact on their water security. Neighbouring Egypt with a population of 110 million and little rainfall is dependent on the Nile for 97 percent of its water. President Sisi has repeatedly called the dam an ’existential threat’. Egypt has strengthened ties with Eritrea and Somalia - both of which have tense relations with Ethiopia - and coordinates closely with Sudan, which also worries about reduced flows. (Source: TRT World - Turkey)

West Africa
(Sunday), 07/09/2025  A gateway for Europe’s cocaine market. On Monday, the French Navy seized nearly six tonnes of cocaine from a fishing vessel in international waters off the West African coast. Drug trafficking now affects all West African countries. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) says Balkan crime groups are embedding across West Africa to move large quantities of cocaine to Europe, forging alliances with Brazilian cartels and local intermediaries. ’A third of Europe’s cocaine now transits through West Africa, and that share could rise to half by 2030,’ Bird Ruiz, director of GI-TOC’s Observatory of Illicit Economies in West Africa, told. ’Groups from Montenegro, Serbia and Albania are today among the most significant actors in the global cocaine trade, and their presence in the region is increasingly entrenched.’ Montenegrin clans such as Kavac and Skaljari – rivals with ties to Italy’s ’’Ndrangheta  mafia group – have forged close partnerships with Latin American cartels. Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital, the country’s most powerful criminal organisation formed in Sao Paulo’s prisons, is one of their main partners. GI-TOC says this collaboration has allowed Balkan groups to control the supply chain from production in South America to retail markets in Europe. The report says West Africa offers traffickers expanding port facilities, weak oversight and a location that makes it ideal as a transit point. ’The cocaine market in Europe grows larger every day, while controls on direct routes from Latin America have intensified. That is why West Africa has become so important for traffickers,’ Bird Ruiz said. Traffickers are increasingly using coastal states such as Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde. The trade is driving corruption, local drug use and instability across the region. GI-TOC says a key feature of this phase is the role of brokers, often Balkan nationals sent to West Africa for months. Payments to brokers are sometimes made in drugs instead of cash, driving up local consumption. The report stresses that tackling the trade will require more than occasional high-profile seizures. It calls for stronger intelligence systems, better data collection and above all closer cooperation between African and European law enforcement agencies, port authorities and private companies. “It’s not just a question of organised crime,' Bird Ruiz told. 'It’s a public health issue, a governance issue, and potentially, a security issue for the entire region.' (Source: RFI - France)
See also: Main cocaine trafficking to and from the Sahel countries and territories with individual cocaine seizures in West and Central Africa January 2019-September 2023 /Map/ (Source: RFI - France / UNDOC - United Nations)

Asia

Nepal
Sep 9, 2025  The curious timing of Nepal protests. The Gen Z protests seem to be spontaneous. Nepal's young YouTubers were exposing the Oli govt on issues from potholes to migration. The anti-Oli protests turned massive and spread across the country in no time. At least 20 people were killed in the protests yesterday as groups of youngsters clashed with security forces. There is a sudden burst of media reports that has the potential to add confusion to the crisis. Nepal has long-standing instability. Since the end of monarchy in 2008, Nepal has seen 13 governments. There was systematic corruption and underdevelopment. The rallies in favour of King Gyanendra were linked to those. The multiple regime changes in Nepal have been linked to not just domestic crisis but to external forces too. There is possibility of diverse internal and external forces taking advantage. India's immediate neighbourhood has become a playground of diverse external forces which may still exploit it. Nepal is strategically important for India and is the second country in the immediate neighbourhood to be witnessing political unrest in the last one year. In July-August 2024, a student protest was converted into a movement to topple the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was considered a pro-India leader. Like Bangladesh, Nepal too has been witnessing diverse external forces engaged in a tug of war for political sway. The massive protests in Nepal came ahead of PM KP Sharma Oli's planned trip to India on September 16 and after his return from China after attending the SCO Summit in Tianjin. Under Oli's leadership, Nepal signed the framework agreement to join China's Belt and Roads Initiative in December 2024. This even as the US is investing around $700 million in infrastructure projects through the Millennium Challenge Corporation's (MCC's) Nepal Compact. Oli, a veteran Communist leader who took over as the Prime Minister of Nepal in July 2024, is seen as pro-China. Experts suggest Oli isn't pragmatic in his politics because he tries to compare Indo-Nepal ties, which are centuries old and much deeper, to that with China's. Who's pulling the strings of the protesters in Nepal? There are yet some who link the Gen Z movement against Nepali nepo kids to pro-monarchy agitators, who are seen as pro-India. Some say Oli is pro-China and see a US role, like in Bangladesh's case. Others say Beijing is fuelling the protests because of Washington's MCC investment. China wouldn't be in a position to create such trouble across Nepal. It's influence is believed to be largely restricted to the Kathmandu Valley. Historically, Nepal shared a border with India and Tibet, not China. (Source: India Today)

Pakistan
8 Sep 2025  Intense monsoon rain, flooding continue to engulf Pakistan’s Punjab. Authorities issue new evacuation warnings to communities near the Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi rivers. (Source: Al Jazeera - Qatar)
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South Korea
(9 September 2025)  In 2022, South Korea's top court ruled that the government had illegally established, managed and operated brothels for the US military, ordering it to pay around 120 plaintiffs compensation. 117 victims, South Korean women forced to work as prostitutes for US soldiers stationed in the country have filed a landmark lawsuit accusing Washington of abuse and seeking an apology from the US military. The lawsuit seeks 10 million won ($7,200) in compensation per victim. Tens of thousands of South Korean women worked for state-sanctioned brothels from the 1950s to 1980s, serving US troops 'stationed in the country to protect the South from North Korea". The economy surrounding military brothels in US base towns, including restaurants, barbershops and bars catering to American GIs, made up about 25 percent of South Korea's GDP during the 1960s and 70s. The suit names the South Korean government as the defendant, since under existing laws Seoul must compensate victims of illegal acts committed by US soldiers on duty and later seek reimbursement from Washington, lawyers said. "This lawsuit seeks to hold both the South Korean government and the US military authorities jointly liable for the unlawful acts,' lawyer Ha told AFP. The US still stations around 28,500 troops in South Korea. 'We affirm that we do not condone any behaviour that violates Republic of Korea laws, rules, or directives, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of good order and discipline," the United States Forces Korea says. (Source: TRT World - Turkey)

Qatar
(9 September 2025)  Hamas said Israel had failed in what it called an attempt to assassinate the group's top leadership, the ceasefire negotiation team. It has said that five of its members and a Qatari security officer had been killed in Israeli attack on Doha, including the son of senior Hamas leader Hayya, and his office director, Lubad, along with several aides. The strike took place during a meeting of the group’s negotiating team to discuss a US proposal for a Gaza ceasefire. Hamas said its leaders Hayya and Jabarin were among those who escaped the strike unharmed. Israel's military claimed that it conducted a ’precise strike’ on senior Hamas leadership. (Source: TRT World – Turkey)

Red Sea
(7 September 2025)  Microsoft announced via a status website that the Mideast may experience increased latency due to undersea fibre cuts in the Red Sea. NetBlocks, which monitors internet access, said a series of subsea cable outages in the Red Sea has degraded internet connectivity in multiple countries, which it said included India and Pakistan. It blamed ’failures affecting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.’ In the United Arab Emirates, home to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, internet users on the country's state-owned Du and Etisalat networks complained of slower internet speeds. The Southeast Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 cable is run by Tata Communications, part of the Indian conglomerate. The India-Middle East-Western Europe cable is run by another consortium overseen by Alcatel-Lucent. Internet traffic not moving through the Middle East “is not impacted.” It wasn't immediately clear what caused the incident. There has been concern about the cables being targeted in a Red Sea campaign by Houthis, which the group describes 'as an effort to pressure Israel to end its genocidal war on Gaza'. In early 2024, Yemen’s internationally recognised government in exile alleged that the Houthis planned to attack undersea cables in the Red Sea. Several were cut, but the Houthis have denied attacking the lines in the past. Today morning, the Houthis' al Masirah satellite news channel acknowledged that the cuts had taken place. (Source: TRT World - Turkey)

North America

United States
(Monday), 08/09/2025  US President Trump signalled his administration was prepared to enter a second phase of tariffs against Russia following its largest aerial assault on Ukraine. 'Certain European leaders are coming over to our country on Monday or Tuesday individually,' Trump said, without elaborating which leaders would make the trip across the Atlantic. Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Bessent indicated the US would be open to partnering with European countries to impose more sanctions on countries that purchase Russian oil in order to 'collapse the Russian economy.' 'If the US and the EU can can come in, do more sanctions, secondary tariffs on the countries that buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will be in total collapse,' Bessent added. (Source: Euronews - based in Lyon, France)

(6 September 2025)  President Trump signed an executive order yesterday that directs the Department of Defense to be known as the Department of War. The move restores a name existed until 1947. The order says Secretary of Defense Hegseth will be known as secretary of war. US media expect a billion-dollar price tag for the overhaul of hundreds of agencies, emblems, email addresses and uniforms. 'We’re going to go on offence, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct,' speaking during the signing, Hegseth said. “We’re going to raise up warriors, not just defenders.” (Source: SANA - Syria)

Global

September 6, 2025  Is this a New World Order? (Source: ChinaFile - U.S.)
by Aamer, the Director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) in New York;    Stallard, a Senior Editor for global affairs at the New Statesman, former correspondent for Sky News, based in Moscow and Beijing. She is the author of Dancing on Bones: History and Power in China, Russia, and North Korea (Oxford University Press, 2022);   Madan, a Senior Fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy in the Foreign Policy program, and Director of The India Project at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.;   Repnikova, an expert on Chinese political communication, and Associate Professor in Global Communication and William C. Pate Chair in Strategic Communication at Georgia State University. She is the author of the award-winning book, Media Politics in China: Improvising Power Under Authoritarianism (Cambridge, 2017), as well as the recent Chinese Soft Power (Cambridge Global China Element Series, 2022);    Sun, a fellow and head of the U.S.-Europe program at the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), at Tsinghua University.  His latest books are Profound Changes Unseen in a Century and the U.S.-Europe Alliance (2023) and The Gravity of Power in the White House: The National Security Council (1947-2019) (2020).

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Hungary
Sep 19, 2025  President Trump announced yesterday that designates antifa a terrorist organization. Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán said in comments to state radio today that he was pleased by Trump’s announcement. “In Hungary, too, the time has come for us to classify organizations such as antifa as terrorist organizations, following the American model”, he said. Orbán referenced a 2023 incident in which antifa activists engaged in assaults against several suspected participants in an annual 'far-right' event in Budapest. One of the ’alleged’ assailants, Italian antifa activist Salis, was jailed in Hungary for over a year following the assaults. Salis was released to house arrest in May 2024 before winning a seat in the European Parliament, as a result of which she gained legal immunity. Orbán today 'bemoaned' Salis’ release, saying antifa had ’come to Hungary and beaten peaceful people in the street, some were beaten half to death, and then they became European members of parliament and from there lecture Hungary on the rule of law.’ Hungary continues to demand that Salis be returned to face trial, where prosecutors have sought an 11-year sentence. (Source: HuffPost – U.S.)
by 'Spike

Poland
September 18, 2025  Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski suggested that if Kyiv were to ask NATO to shoot down drones or missiles over its territory, NATO should consider it. A Ukrainian no-fly zone has been promoted by Zelensky since shortly after Russia launched its unprovoked invasion in February 2022. The danger of such a zone is that it would necessarily invite escalation. If Russia decided to violate the declaration and fly its aircraft over Ukraine, NATO forces would be forced either to abandon the no-fly zone, showing their proclamations to be toothless, or to shoot the Russian aircraft down, inviting a broader war between Russia and NATO. For these reasons, former President Biden turned down the request. The idea has been repeatedly rejected over fears that it would inevitably result in an open confrontation between the two sides. As a result of recent Russian drone incursions into Poland, NATO increased its defense posture, dubbed “Eastern Sentry.” But a NATO-enforced no-fly zone over Ukraine appears highly unlikely. The Kremlin has not commented on the build-up of NATO forces in Poland, but it has made clear that any NATO strikes against Russia’s drones or missiles in Ukraine would be seen as its direct involvement in the conflict. Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Medvedev, who previously served as Russia’s president and prime minister, was direct in a post on the Telegram social messaging app on Monday. 'The implementation of the provocative idea of Kyiv and other idiots about creating a ‘no-fly zone over Ukraine and the ability for NATO countries to shoot down our UAVs will mean only one thing - a war between NATO and Russia,' Medvedev wrote. He added, “Things must be called by their proper names!” So a No-Fly Zone over Ukraine probably isn’t practical. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)

17.09.2025  Polish F-16 missile, not Russian drone, hit house in Lublin region, in the village of Wyryki Wola, near the Belarusian border last week, according to local daily Rzeczpospolita. Prosecutor's office withholds confirmation of missile's origin, citing ongoing investigation. (Source: Anadolu Agenvy - Turkey)

Russia
September 18, 2025  Zapad-2025 included exercises on land, sea, and in the air. Russian President Putin attended it this week, spotted wearing camouflage fatigues at the Mulino training ground in the Nizhny Novgorod Region. The exercises have officially involved approximately 13,000 troops. It has included soldiers from more than a dozen nations, with the majority being from Russia and Belarus. Military personnel from a range of Russian-sympathetic countries —including Burkina Faso, Congo, Mali, Iran, Niger, and Tajikistan—participated directly in the exercises. Cambodia, China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Serbia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Uzbekistan have sent observers. Two US military officers were spotted at the drills as observers as well. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)

6:51 pm, September 18, 2025  For years, Putin has lauded veterans of the Ukraine invasion, and the Kremlin has launched multiple programs designed to integrate returned soldiers into Russia’s political establishment, dubbing them the nation’s new elite. In remarks to Russia’s parliamentary faction leaders today, Putin described veterans of the war in Ukraine as “our successors,” endorsing their advancement to senior positions across government. “I am confident they will make a positive contribution to the work of political parties, both locally and centrally, in the State Duma and in federal agencies,” Putin said. The president’s comments follow regional elections that concluded over the weekend, during which 1,616 military veterans participated as candidates, 830 of whom were nominated by the ruling political party, United Russia, and subsequently won office. (Source: Meduza - based in Riga, Latvia / Kommersant - Russia)

September 17, 2025  The Ukrainian forces are gradually losing territory to the advancing Russian military. Russian Ground Forces (RGF) likely seized between 450 and 500 sq km of territory in August 2025, a moderate decrease from the approximately 500-550 sq km in July 2025, and the approximately 550-600 sq km taken in June 2025, the British Ministry of Defence assessed. The Russian command has shifted away from human wave attacks to attacking with small infantry assault groups supported by artillery, glide bombs, and uncrewed aerial systems - in effect combined arms operations, according to the British Ministry of Defence. This change in tactics has resulted in a decrease in monthly casualties since March. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)

Serbia
17.09.2025.  The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) announced on 15 September that it had information suggesting that the unrest in Serbia, with the active participation of young people, is largely the product of subversive activities by the European Union (EU) and its member states, and that the Euro-elite is ready to use the anniversary of the tragedy in Novi Sad on 1 November to turn the situation in its favor. President Vučić yesterday thanked the SVR and said Serbian institutions would contact them for further details. The European Commission has rejected the accusations of 'the unrest in Serbia'. Allegations that the EU or member states are encouraging the protests are simply not true, said the European Commission's written response. “I have no doubt that those who organised the colour revolution cannot just give up. Too much money has been invested, so they will have to have a final attempt to take power by force', Vučić said. Pro-government media extensively reported on the SVR statement. (Source: European Western Balcans - Serbia)

Ukraine
18.09.2025  Zelenskyy signs law ratifying '100-Year Partnership' deal between Ukraine and UK. His signature comes a day after parliament voted to support ratification of deal signed in Kyiv back in January. The two countries will deepen defense cooperation while addressing long-term threats and challenges to maritime security. It will also strengthen cooperation in areas such as economics and trade, energy, climate change, and clean energy transitions. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

Thursday 18 September 2025 05:56 BST  Ukraine anticipates a substantial $3.5 billion by next month for a critical fund to procure US weapons. The financial mechanism, officially termed the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), consolidates contributions from NATO members, except the United States, to facilitate the acquisition of American-made weapons, munitions, and equipment. The shipments would encompass missiles for Patriot air defence missile systems and munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), which 'have significantly bolstered the Ukrainian military’s precision-strike capability'. (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom)

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Friday, September 19, 2025  His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome and the ecumenical patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and most honorable exarch of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, explore today’s pressing global challenges - particularly regional instability, climate change, and the displacement of refugees - and the moral duty of faith communities to engage and help address these issues. Townsend, member of the CFR Board of Directors, moderates the conversation. (Source: The Council on Foreign Relations - U.S.)
/Video/

Africa

18 September 2025  Google is planning four new infrastructure hubs across Africa to support its latest underwater fibre-optic cables. The hubs will consist of landing stations and data centres, connecting subsea cables to the north, west, south, and east of the continent. Google's Equiano and Umoja cables are expected to land this year, and the hubs will be completed within three years. The company’s Africa managing director, Okosi, told Bloomberg TV the investment is fully funded by Google, noting only that the company has already surpassed the $1 billion it pledged to spend in Africa between 2021 and 2026. The hubs are slated for completion within three years. Global tech giants race to expand digital infrastructure in Africa. Microsoft Corp. is developing a $1 billion geothermal-powered data centre in Kenya and investing about $300 million to expand its artificial intelligence capacity in South Africa. (Source: Business Insider – Nigeria)

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Europe

France
18/09/2025  Massive anti-austerity protests and labour strikes were held across France on Thursday, in a show of anger over President  Macron's austerity policies. Organisers said one million people took part in the strikes and protests, while the French authorities estimated that there were 500,000 protesters. (Source: France 24 "with Reuters” - United Kingdom)
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Ireland
Wed Sept 17 2025  Ireland still hopeful of EU coalition to block Mercosur trade deal with South America. Poland and Austria oppose agreement while France and Italy are sceptical, says Minister for Agriculture. (Source: The Irish Times - Ireland)

European Commission
19.09.2025  The European Commission proposes 19th sanctions package against Russia. The package includes a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) into EU markets, the lowering of the crude oil price cap to $47.6 per barrel, and sanctions against 118 additional vessels from Russia’s so-called shadow fleet. In total, more than 560 ships are now listed under EU sanctions. Major Russian energy trading companies Rosneft and Gazpromneft will face a full transaction ban, while refineries, petrochemical firms, and oil traders in third countries, including China, will also be targeted for circumventing restrictions. The sanctions also extend to the financial sector, introducing transaction bans on additional Russian banks and financial institutions in third countries. For the first time, EU restrictive measures will cover cryptocurrency platforms. European Commission President der Leyen reiterated that the bloc is also working on a plan. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

18.09.2025  EU decision to reduce energy dependence on Russia is 'self-destructive' and even 'suicidal', Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova says about proposals within the European Commission to speed up the phase-out of Russian fossil fuel imports. Over many years, Brussels has consistently pursued destructive course for its member states. "It appears that the creators of the European Economic Council could hardly imagine how far astray this institution would stray. The founding fathers envisioned something completely different, while today's leaders seem indifferent to European well-being,' Zakharova said. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

United Kingdom
19.09.2025  MI6 chief Moore was addressing a ceremony at the UK General Consulate in Istanbul, before leaving his office as the chief of the intelligence. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

18.09.2025  British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said today a £250 billion ($338.8 billion) investment agreement was signed between the US and the UK. We expect it to create 15,000 jobs, Starmer added. "Together, we support over 2.5 million jobs in both our countries," he said. Starmer noted that technology needs energy, and that they signed the new civil nuclear power agreement to support this "revolution." US president Trump stated the investment agreement is already helping spur a massive wave of private sector deals worth over $350 million, adding that this will further strengthen their friendship with the UK. Trump noted that investments in the US this year will exceed $17 trillion. The US-UK deal includes investments in the AI infrastructure and research, quantum technologies, civil nuclear energy, and telecommunications infrastructure and cyber, according to a statement by the UK government. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

North America

United States
Friday 19 September 2025 Yusov, a representative of the Kyiv’s military intelligence agency, told US House representatives in a national security briefing that at least 20,000 Cuban citizens - both men and women - had travelled to Russia to join the war against Ukraine. “The average monthly salary for Cuban mercenaries in Russia is $2,000 per month - for the impoverished people of Cuba, this is a significant [amount].” Cuban soldiers’ average age is 35. The average time for which a foreign fighter can expect to survive is between four and five months. Slides shown to the panel explained how the language barrier between the two countries means that soldiers are often unable to understand the documents they are signing, struggle to comprehend instructions during military training, or on the battlefield. He said that only 39 Cubans had been confirmed as having been killed during the war. Earlier this year, Zelensky claimed that more than 150 Chinese mercenaries were fighting against Ukraine, but Chinese officials branded the allegations totally unfounded. (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom)

September 19, 2025  The U.S.-Colombia rift widens. On Monday, the Trump administration labeled Bogotá as noncooperative in Washington’s global anti-narcotics work as part of an annual review, writing that Colombia’s failure to meet its drug control obligations rests solely with its political leadership. In 2023, Colombian President Petro’s first full year in office, Colombia’s potential cocaine production rose 53 percent, the most recent United Nations data shows. The Colombian leader favors strategies such as offering farmers economic alternatives to growing coca and trying to negotiate cease-fires with some trafficking groups. The Petro administration also focuses on using intelligence to dismantle trafficking networks. Despite Colombia’s decertification, Washington issued a waiver so that Bogotá could continue to receive U.S. financial support. with total aid reaching around $500 million per year. The country was traditionally the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid in South America. Even before the U.S. decision on decertification, the Washington Office on Latin America said it was unlikely that U.S. aid to Colombia in 2025 would exceed $100 million. Colombian military and civilian officials traveled to Washington in recent days to stress why aid supports the United States’ counternarcotics goals. Around 85 percent of the intelligence used by a U.S. task force that interdicts northbound drug shipments comes from Colombia, the country trains counternarcotics officials from around the region, and it was also responsible for 65 percent of global cocaine seizures last year, U.S. Rep. Meeks, a Democrat, wrote in a letter to Trump last Friday. The continuation of some U.S.-Colombia anti-drug cooperation stands in contrast to recent U.S. actions off the coast of Venezuela. In 2016, Colombian President Santos signed a deal with the guerrilla and drug trafficking group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), an effort that won him the Nobel Peace Prize that year. Some FARC fighters agreed to lay down their arms and be tried for crimes they had committed during their war against the government in a special peace court. The court issued its first sentences for former FARC fighters on Tuesday, followed by another sentencing for former government soldiers yesterday. The two groups acknowledged that they had committed mass kidnappings and killed civilians, respectively, and were sentenced to different types of community service. (Source: Foreign Policy - U.S.)

19 September 2025  Negotiating on trade and a potential summit with Beijing, US President Trump declined to approve $400 million in military aid to Taiwan in recent months. Trump "does not support sending weapons without payment, a preference also on display with Ukraine," according to AFP. It said that US and Taiwanese defense officials met in Anchorage, Alaska in August and discussed a package of weapons sales which could total in the billions of dollars, including drones, missiles and sensors to monitor the island's coastline. Trump and Xi are set to speak today. The telephone talks come as the two sides seek a compromise on tariffs and a deal on video-sharing app TikTok. Under former president Biden, Washington approved more than $2 billion in military aid packages for Taiwan. (Source: Asharq Al-Awsat – based in London, United Kingdom, owned by a member of the Saudi royal family)

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Afghanistan
Sep 19, 2025  Trump said his administration is working to reclaim Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, linking the move to China's nuclear weapons sites. The base, now under Taliban control, was central to the US war effort before the 2021 withdrawal. (Source: India Today)

Gaza
September 18, 2025  Elements of three Israel Defense Forces (IDF) divisions began to expand operations into Gaza City on September 16, the Israeli military said. The ground offensive is part of Gideon’s Chariots II, the operational name of the assault on Gaza City. The IDF began to prepare the way via airstrikes on high-rise buildings and other sites throughout the first two weeks of September. By mid-September, the IDF said it had already inched forward to control 40 percent of Gaza City. Hamas has turned Gaza City into the largest human shield in history,” IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Defrin said on September 16. Israel’s 98th, 162nd, and 36th Divisions are among the forces taking part in the offensive. All these units have served in Gaza throughout the 23 months of war. The 36th was responsible for cutting Gaza City off from central Gaza in late October 2023. The 98th played a key role in taking Khan Younis and fighting in the suburbs of Gaza City in 2024. The 162nd served for most of the war in every part of the territory and is Israel’s most experienced division at fighting in these urban areas. “The Gaza Division is operating in the security zone along the border facing the western Negev communities and operating in the Rafah and Khan Yunis areas, while the 99th Division is operating in the northern Gaza Strip,” the IDF added on September 16. The IDF says that the Israeli Air Force struck 850 targets between September 9 and 16, including high-rise buildings. Yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister Katz said that 25 high-rise buildings had been struck on the eve of the ground maneuver. He has said in the past that the IDF is changing the skyline of Gaza by destroying these buildings. Around 20 of the 48 hostages held in the territory are believed to be alive. CNN reported that the Israeli military estimates that the offensive in Gaza City could take several months. US Secretary of State Rubio landed in Israel on the eve of Israel’s ground push into the center of Gaza City. He said on September 15 that US President Trump “wants to see it [the war] end quickly. And we’d prefer that it end quickly via negotiated settlement so all the fighting can stop, and we can begin the very hard work as an international community - not just the United States - rebuilding Gaza and providing the people of Gaza a much better life, a much better life than what they’ve had under Hamas.” Today, Reuters reported the beginning of a telecom blackout in Gaza as IDF tanks advanced. (Source: FDD's Long War Journal - U.S.)
by Frantzman, author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).

September 17, 2025 at 8:37 am  At least 108 Palestinians have been killed, and others were wounded or reported missing since dawn yesterday, after a series of heavy Israeli airstrikes and military operations across the Gaza Strip, in what was described as a bloody night. 93 were killed in the north of the strip, nine in the central areas, and six in the south. (Source: Middle East Monitor - based in London, United Kingdom, financed by Qatar)

Kazakhstan
19 September 2025  Yesterday, the leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) convened in Bishkek to push forward an agenda of regional integration, digital transformation, and infrastructural development. The gathering included Prime Ministers and senior officials from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey, ’among others’. Delegates emphasised the importance of upgrading the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, including its ports and rail networks, to facilitate smoother logistics and stronger trade flows among member states. Efforts to digitalise customs procedures, reducing delays and improving transparency at borders also featured prominently. The meeting spotlighted cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Leaders proposed establishing joint research centres dedicated to these fields. Other areas of focus included trade, investment, energy, agriculture and multilateral cooperation under various OTS bodies, such as the Turkic Investment Fund, the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Turkic States, the Coordination Committee, and the Green Finance Council. Kazakh Prime Minister Bektenov was hosting the meeting in his capacity as a leader within the OTS framework. (Source: commonspace - based in The Hague, the Netherlands „with Astana Times and other agencies”)

Pakistan
(Friday), September 19, 2025  Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have had military ties for decades. Speaking to Geo TV in an interview late yesterday night, Pakistan’s defense minister Asif says his nation’s nuclear program will be made available to Saudi Arabia if needed under the countries’ new defense pact struck this week. The two countries signed a defense deal Wednesday declaring that an attack on one nation would be an attack on both. ’This is an umbrella arrangement offered to one another by both sides: if there is aggression against either party -  from any side -  it will be jointly defended, and the aggression will be met with a response.’ The minister added: ’I can say the door is not closed to others.’ The move is seen by analysts as a signal to Israel, long believed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed nation. Asif criticized Israel in the interview for not fully disclosing its suspected nuclear weapons program to the IAEA. Pakistan long has criticized Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians, but has not been directly involved in any war against it. Saudi Arabia has long been linked to Pakistan’s nuclear program. Retired Pakistani Brig. Gen.Khan has said Saudi Arabia provided generous financial support to Pakistan that enabled the nuclear program to continue, especially when the country was under U.S. sanctions for years over its pursuit of the bomb. It saw new ones imposed over its ballistic missile work at the end of the Biden administration. Pakistan’s Shaheen 3 ballistic missile, believed to be able to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, has a maximum range of 2,750 kilometers  -  making it capable of reaching Israel. Pakistan developed its nuclear weapons program to counter India’s atomic bombs. India is believed to have an estimated 172 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan has 170, according to the U.S.-published Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. (Source: The Associated Press - U.S.)

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North America

United States
September 19, 2025  Debating the war. NATO’s European leaders - Rutte. Macron, Mertz, Starmer - have no coherent alternative to Trump’s search for peace. They offer no prospect of a Ukrainian victory, only the continuation of a war likely to end in a Ukrainian defeat. They have neither the guts to take the fight directly to the Russians, nor the clarity to understand that a quick end to the fighting offers the best outcome for Ukraine itself. The Finnish analogy of 1939–40, when Finland won its true independence from Russia, even at the cost of conceding some of its territory, has escaped them and Zelensky. For present purposes, it is perhaps enough to end on Trump’s repeated call to stop the killing. The prosecution sees this as an ego-driven quest for a Nobel Peace prize, at the expense of Ukraine, NATO, and the world order which the United States itself created. That the effort to secure a peace prize should be ipso facto interpreted as ignoble tells us a lot about the mindset of the Western commentariat. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). /Source: The Nation - U.S./
by Skidelsky, a member of the British House of Lords, a professor emeritus of political economy at Warwick University, and the author of a prize-winning three-volume biography of Keynes.

September 18, 2025  Saudi Arabia and UAE's holdings of US Treasuries increased in July. Foreign holdings surge to high for third straight month, while China sells. Foreign holdings of Treasuries soared to $9.159 trillion in July, up from $9.126 trillion in June. It is the third straight month foreigners' holdings had hit an all-time high. Saudi Arabia's holdings slightly increased to $131.7 billion in July from $130.6 billion in june. UAE holdings of Treasuries reached $107.8 billion in July. Japan, the largest foreign holder of Treasuries, increased its stockpile to $1.15 trillion. Britain and France increased their holdings to $899.3 billion and $392 billion, respectively. Foreign investors hold about 30 per cent of all US Treasuries. China's holdings: from $756.4 billion in June to $730.7 billion in July. Belgium's holdings also fell, by about $5 billion to $428.2 billion in July. (Source: The National - United Arab Emirates)

(Wednesday), September 17, 2025  Latin America and the Caribbean have long been seen as part of U.S.'s sphere of influence. In July, U.S. and Panamanian forces trained to safeguard the security of the Panama Canal and other strategic infrastructure in the country. Exercise UNITAS 2025 commenced on Monday is scheduled to conclude on October 6, featuring about 8,000 personnel from 25 countries, including Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru. UNITAS is the world's longest-running annual multinational maritime drill. Over 2,000 Marines and foreign service members will conduct realistic training. Canada, France, Japan, Morocco, the Netherlands, Spain the U.S. and Germany, Greece, Italy have also deployed aircraft, ships and submarines for the drill. Participating forces would conduct operations off the U.S. East Coast and ashore near Naval Station Mayport in Florida, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command said. (Source: Miami Herald / Newsweek = U.S.)

South America

Peru
(Wednesday), September 17, 2025  On Monday, Peru was declared by the U.S. as one of the major drug transit or major illicit drug-producing countries for 2026. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the South American country is among the world's top three producers of coca bush-the plant from which coca leaves are processed to produce cocaine. Peru's request to purchase 10 F-16C Block 70 and two F-16D Block 70 aircraft had been approved by the State Department. In addition, this possible sale includes 14 F110-GE-129 fighter jet engines, 12 AIM-120C-8 and 12 AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missiles, as well as 12 M61A1 anti-aircraft guns, for an estimated cost of $3.42 billion. The fighter jets will enhance the Peruvian air force's ability to conduct precision air-to-ground attack operations in support of ground forces in counternarcotics and counterterrorism operations. According to Lockheed Martin, the Block 70 is the newest and most advanced variant of the F-16 family of fighter jets, providing greater radar capabilities, enhanced battlespace awareness and unmatched weapon integration. Peru is set to become the fourth F-16 jet operator in South America, following Venezuela, Chile and Argentina. (Source: Miami Herald / Newsweek = U.S.)

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Poland
9/15/2025  Poland’s foreign minister called on NATO countries to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine to protect Europe from Russian strikes amid the continuing fallout over the drone incursion into Poland last week. 'If Ukraine were to ask us to shoot them down over its territory, that would be advantageous for us', Sikorski said. The United States and its major allies in NATO, including Britain, have previously rejected requests by Ukraine for a no-fly zone because of the high risk of direct combat with Russian aircraft, and there has been no indication that President Trump is considering such a step - especially without Russia agreeing to a ceasefire. Polish officials said that there were 19 violations and that at least three drones were shot down. The drones appear to have been unarmed decoys, often used to distract air defenses. Some experts and analysts noted that it was impractical and unsustainable for NATO to rely on exorbitantly expensive fighter jets and missiles in such circumstances. At the beginning of Russia’s invasion nearly four years ago, President Zelensky pushed hard for Kyiv’s Western allies to establish a no-fly zone over the country. President Biden, however, refused to send U.S. planes and pilots into Ukrainian airspace, partly for fear of sparking a direct conflict with Russia, which has the world’s largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. European leaders supported Biden’s decision. Wallace, the British defense secretary at the time, told shortly after the conflict began that direct confrontation between Western and Russian fighter jets could trigger 'a war across Europe.' (Source: MSN / The Washington Post = U.S.)

13.09.2025  Most UN Security Council members denounce Russia's drone incursion into Poland. Denmark, France, Slovenia, UK express solidarity with Poland, Ukraine as Russia denies targeting Poland intentionally. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

Romania
(Monday, 15 September 2025)  The Russian embassy in Romania has said a drone incursion in Romanian airspace was a provocation by Ukraine after Moscow's envoy was summoned by the foreign ministry in Bucharest over the incident. Ambassador Lipayev said Romania's charge that Russia was responsible for the intrusion was "unfounded". (Source: TRT World - Turkey)

(15 September 2025)  Romania becomes second Nato country to report Russian drone in its airspace, identified as a Geran, the Russian name for an Iranian-designed Shahed 136, which is used by Russia both for attacks on Ukraine and surveillance. It was detected 20km south-west of the village of Chilia Veche, near Ukraine's southern border, before disappearing from the radar. It did not fly over populated areas or pose imminent danger. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)

Kosovo
12.09.2025  The United States Embassy in Kosovo has announced that the country has indefinitely suspended its planned Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo ’due to concerns about caretaker government actions that have increased tensions and instability’. „Our relationship with Kosovo is based on a common goal: strengthening peace and stability as a basis for mutual economic prosperity. Unfortunately, recent actions and statements by Caretaker Prime Minister Kurti have posed challenges to progress made over many years’, the statement reads. (Source: European Western Balkans – Headquarters Belgrade, Serbia)

Russia
September 15, 2025  What can Ukraine do about Russia’s deadly FAB-500 glide bomb? The simplicity of the glide bomb kit has enabled mass production, with Russia reportedly manufacturing thousands monthly at a tiny fraction of the cost of missiles like the Kh-101. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)
By: Weichert

(Monday), 9:28 am, September 15, 2025  According to Ukrainian intelligence sources, Ukrainian forces planted mines along the railway between the towns of Maloarkhangelsk and Glazunovka in the Oryol region. Three Russian national guard officers were killed during demining operations there. The blast, which went off on Saturday evening, brought rail traffic to a halt. Another explosion took place around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday in the Leningrad region, between the villages of Stroganovo and Mshinskaya. A locomotive hauling 15 fuel tankers was derailed in the blast, sparking a fire. Russian officials claimed the tankers were empty. (Source: Meduza - based in Riga, Latvia)

Ukraine
September 16, 2025, 6:50 AM  It’s hard for anyone to make sense of the Ukrainian president’s latest military reforms. Most Ukrainians accepted the announcement in late August that men under the age of 22 could now travel abroad. Until now, martial law had dictated that Ukraine’s borders be closed to men between the ages of 18 and 60, even though military conscription begins at 25. 'More supporters of Ukraine than just U.S. Sen. Graham feel that Ukraine’s conscription laws are already far too lenient - and that, for example, compulsory military service should begin at 18'.    On Sept. 5 and 6, hundreds of people converged on Kyiv’s Independence Square, livid about a draft law that proposed draconian sentences for insubordination in the military, namely harsher criminal liability for absence without leave and desertion. In Kyiv, the protesters wielded placards expressing their opposition to the crackdown: “Army service is not slavery,” “Protect those who protect you!” and “Soldiers to prison while corrupt officials go free? Don’t make that mistake.” Zelensky should renew his advisors and reconnect to the Ukrainian public. He is losing touch with reality. (Source: Foreign Policy - U.S.)

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Europe

European Commission
15.09.2025  Ukraine and the European Commission concluded screening meetings in Brussels on the negotiating chapter covering agriculture and rural development, during three days of discussions. Ukraine presented 28 thematic blocks, including reforms in agriculture, digitalization, state support, market regulation, and sector development. The country also outlined its level of harmonization with EU legislation on horizontal issues, agricultural markets, quality policy, organic production, and product promotion. There is still a lot of work ahead. The screening was part of Cluster 5, 'Resources, Agriculture, and Cohesion Policy,' the last of six groups in the EU accession process. Its results will feed into a roadmap for incorporating EU regulations into Ukrainian law, 'paving the way for formal accession negotiations'. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

United Kingdom
September 16, 2025  America’s B-52s are in Europe for the 'Cobra Warrior 2025' Exercises. This marks the second deployment of US Air Force B-52s to RAF Fairford this year, following the BTF-25-2 Europe mission in February, when four Boeing B-52s - from Minot AFB, North Dakota - were deployed to Europe, spending nearly a month operating in England. During the BTF-25-2 Europe mission, the bombers took part in 13 individual missions with US allies and partners in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, including in the TOWER CITADEL joint exercise with Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 Lightning IIs, Royal Danish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, and Swedish JAS 39 Gripens in the Arctic region. One of the Stratofortress bombers also carried out a low-level flyover of the Norwegian capital of Oslo, escorted by Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35s. Training missions will be conducted at various locations across England, with personnel and aircraft from multiple NATO and partner nations participating. It is the second time that aircraft from the BW have participated in the joint exercises with the RAF since 2019. Lt. Col. Squires is the 307th Cobra Warrior Exercise's Deployed Commander. (Source: The Natonal Interest - U.S.)

Sep 13 2025  Up to 150,000 protesters were taking part in the Robinson rally’s "Unite the Kingdom" march, the Metropolitan Police put the number. The ’far-right’ activist Robinson posted on X as he claimed millions attended the march. "Millions hit central London in a show of patriotic unity like nothing seen before. A cultural revolution has begun. The future belongs to us." Robinson has posted a video on social media showing him at the front of the march. Posting on X, he said: "The lion is awake, the roar is deafening in London as millions take to the streets against the erosion of our free speech and against those paid to lead us, given our country's away. No more! Patriotism is the future. The future belongs to us!" Robinson's social media livestream has more than 250,000 viewers. 'Stand Up To Racism' has also organised a counter-protest in the capital led by MPs Abbott and Sultana. They are also marching. The Metropolitan Police put the number at the counter protesters’ demonstration at around 5,000. Musk appeared via video link as he congratulated Robinson for "putting together an amazing event", slamming Keir Starmer's government, "I want Britain to be greater than it ever has been, I want Britain to remain Britain, there's something beautiful about being British. What I see happening is a destruction of Britain, initially slow erosion but a rapidly increasing erosion with massive uncontrolled migration. The Government has failed in its duty to protect the people.’ (Source: The U.S. Sun)
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Asia

South Korea
(Monday, 15 September 2025)  The US, South Korea and Japan today kicked off a trilateral multi-domain military exercise. The five-day Freedom Edge exercise is being held in international waters off South Korea's southern island of Jeju from September 15 to 19. The Freedom Edge exercise coincides with Iron Mace tabletop military exercise between South Korea and the US, which is set to begin also from Monday through Friday. (Source: TRT World - Turkey)

15.09.2025  Kimsuky group, a hacking unit, which according to Seoul, is believed to be sponsored by the North Korean government, attempted a spear-phishing attack on a military-related organization in July. According to a report released by the Genians Security Center (GSC), the attackers sent an email attached with malicious code, disguised as correspondence about ID issuance for military-affiliated officials. The ID card image used in the attempt was presumed to have been produced by a generative AI model. Typically, AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, reject requests to generate copies of military IDs, quoting that government-issued identification documents are legally protected. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

Caribbean

Haiti
13 September 2025  A deadly gang attack in Haiti left at least 40 people dead, in the commune of Cabaret. With six million people in need of aid and 1.3 million displaced, Haiti’s humanitarian crisis is deepening. Yet less than 10 percent of the $908 million appeal has been funded. 1.7 million people may receive no assistance at all. (Source: The United Nations Office of Geneva)
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North America

United States
16.09.2025  "Today, I have the Great Honor of bringing a $15 Billion Dollar Defamation and Libel Lawsuit against The New York Times, one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the History of our Country,' Trump wrote on the US social media company Truth Social’s platform, which he owns. 'The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW!" he said. The suit is being brought in the state of Florida, Trump said. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)

September 16, 2025  The wars in Ukraine and Israel and the accelerating competition between the United States and China underscore several implications for the future of intelligence work. Ukraine is the first truly open-source war. Hiding in the sea of data was once hard but doable, but the proliferation of AI processing tools and emerging quantum decryption capability mean that intelligence services will need to either create more extreme workarounds or accept the difficulty of hiding and learn to fight in the light. (Source: The Center for Strategic and International Studies - U.S.)
by  Harding, director of the Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program and vice president of the Defense and Security Department at the CSIS.

Sep 13th, 2025  In a yesterday appearance on Fox News’ Fox & Friends, President Trump was announcing that his administration was “going to look into Soros” for possible violations of the RICO Act, which has been used to prosecute mobsters, biker gangs, corrupt police departments, and in 2023 – President Trump himself. Today Trump called for billionaire Democratic donor Soros to “be put in jail” during an interview with NBC News, just days after the murder of conservative activist Kirk. Asked about Soros – who Trump recently threatened to prosecute – the president remarked: ’He’s a bad guy’ who “should be put in jail.” (Source: Mediaite - U.S.)
Note: 3492 comments

16 September 2025  Yesterday, the President said he was considering designating Antifa a domestic terrorist organisation and bringing organised crime charges against those raising funds for alleged agitation. The US does not have a list of designated domestic terrorist organisations. Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff vowed that the US administration would dismantle an alleged vast domestic terror movement that he linked to the killing of right-wing activist Kirk. He made the comments on Kirk’s podcast yesterday, which Vice President Vance hosted. Miller and Vance both alleged the existence of a rising left-wing extremist movement, which they said the administration would now target. “We are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security and throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks and make America safe again for the American people,” said Miller. (Source: Brussels Signal - Belgium)

(Saturday), September 13 2025  A bill introduced by the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee would grant Rubio the power to revoke the passports of American citizens, which takes aim at terrorists and traffickers. One section grants the secretary of state the power to revoke or refuse to issue passports for people who have been convicted of - or merely charged with - material support for terrorism. The secretary of state would be able to deny passports to people whom they determine ’has knowingly aided, assisted, abetted, or otherwise provided material support to an organization the Secretary has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.’ In practice, terror convictions come with stiff prison sentences and pre-trial defendants are typically denied bail. It could be used to deny American citizens the right to travel based solely on their speech. Since taking office, Rubio has added groups to the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations, focusing largely on gangs and drug cartels that were previously the domain of the criminal legal system. Since the October 7 Hamas attacks, pro-Israel lawmakers and activists have ratcheted up attempts to expand the scope and use of anti-terror laws. The Anti-Defamation League and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law suggested in a letter last year that Students for Justice in Palestine was providing 'material support' for Hamas through its on-campus activism. Sen. Cotton, R-Ark., in November 2023 demanded a Justice Department national security investigation of The Associated Press, CNN, New York Times, and Reuters over freelance photographers’ images of the October 7 attacks. Lawmakers also tried to pass a „nonprofit killer’ bill that would allow the treasury secretary to strip groups of their charitable status if they are deemed a ’terrorist-supporting organization.’ The bill was beaten back by a coalition of nonprofit groups. Citizens would be granted the right to appeal to Rubio within 60 days of their passports being denied or revoked. The provision, sponsored by Rep. Mast, R-Fla., as part of a larger State Department reorganization, is set for a hearing Wednesday. (Source: The Intercept - U.S. )
by Sledge

12.09.2025  Authorities identify suspect in Kirk killing. Utah Governor Cox says investigators believe Robinson acted alone. Family member told authorities that Robinson had become 'more political in recent years'. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

Sept. 12, 2025  The secretary of state is shaping what could be the most consequential military actions of President Trump’s second term. On Latin America, Mr. Trump and Mr. Rubio have long been in sync. The two men share a drive to tackle the region’s chaos and disorder in the form of narcotics and migrants. “Under Secretary Rubio, the State Department is working to implement President Trump’s vision to make our region secure, stable and prosperous,” Pigott, the department’s deputy spokesperson, said. “That means eliminating the cartels, ending illegal mass migration and pushing out China’s exploitative practices.” Secretary of State Rubio has helped steer the Trump administration toward a tactic to use military force to destroy suspected drug boats and kill the people on board, without a legal process. No senior aide to Mr. Trump has as long a history working on Latin America policy. Over 14 years as a Republican senator from Florida, Mr. Rubio pressed three administrations to go on the offense across the region. He was motivated by his loathing for the Castro government and its allies, notably Venezuela. Now, as both secretary of state and White House national security adviser, Mr. Rubio is seizing his chance to turn words into action. “What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them,’ he said at a news conference in Mexico City last week. „The point is the president of the United States is going to wage war on narco-terrorist organizations.” Mr. Rubio has cast himself as a top general in that war. He has called 'illegitimate leftist strongmen in the region, particularly leaders of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. Mr. Rubio has branded Nicaragua’s government an enemy of humanity. - meant to establish a predicate for further military action in the hemisphere. The push for military action and the ouster of national leaders could draw criticism from a vocal wing of Mr. Trump’s movement that advocates greater military restraint in foreign policy. Some already view Mr. Rubio with suspicion, pointing to a history of neocon positions. He has also helped engineer the administration’s mass deportations of immigrants, including to a notorious prison in El Salvador. However, there are those Trump supporters and aides who applaud Mr. Rubio’s approach. They see him as reasserting an updated version of the Monroe Doctrine, an early-19th-century concept that justified U.S. intervention in Latin America. Mr. Trump and Mr. Rubio cast the flow of fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs into the United States as a matter of national security that justifies the use of deadly force. The top target for now appears to be Venezuela, whose criminal groups the Trump administration has linked to the country’s autocratic leader, Maduro. Mr. Rubio said last week that Mr. Maduro was a fugitive from American justice, after having been indicted by a grand jury in a New York federal court on drug trafficking charges in 2020. The Secretary of State was officially designating 10 drug cartels and gangs with ties to Latin America as foreign terrorist organizations - a State Department legal category typically applied to political militant groups such as Al Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah. And Mr. Rubio has embraced the notion that the flow of people also poses a national security threat - issue, which is perhaps the one most dear to the Republican Party’s base. He and his aides argue that migrant trafficking will ebb if crime groups and their allies in governments are dismantled, and that clamping down on migration will choke off a key income source for the gangs. Mr. Rubio wants to roll back Latin America’s growing economic ties with China. For years, he spoke of Beijing’s global influence as a security threat. Mr. Rubio raised the issue of China’s presence during his first two trips to the region, visiting Panama, Jamaica, Guyana and Suriname. And he is on a mission to bolster the standing of right-wing figures in the region. Mr. Rubio has taken up a cause of Mr. Trump: the defense of Bolsonaro, the conservative former president of Brazil who was officially charged with plotting a coup and sentenced to 27 years in prison. Some leaders worry the United States is once again flexing its imperial muscle. In Mexico, where Mr. Rubio has designated several cartels as terrorist groups, President Sheinbaum has warned Washington for months against any attempt at unilateral U.S. military action on Mexican soil. During his visit to Mexico City last week, the Secretary of State stressed that the two governments had reached a level of historic cooperation in recent months - one that he said “respects the integrity and the sovereignty of both countries.” He has played a major role in the deportation of hundreds of people he and the president say are members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuela-based gang that they have designated a foreign terrorist organization. Under a deal Mr. Rubio reached with President Bukele of El Salvador in February, many of those deported have been sent to a prison that human rights groups call inhumane. A vast majority did not have criminal records or clear, documented links to the gang, and courts have blocked further summary removals for now. A U.S. government document released in court this week said that the Trump administration agreed to pay $4.76 million to El Salvador to temporarily accept up to 300 members of Tren de Aragua by Mr. Bukele’s government. which has drastically reduced once-rampant crime and gang activity in the country. That makes Mr. Bukele a model leader, in Mr. Rubio’s view. (Source: The New York Times - U.S.)
by Wong and Crowley who traveled with Secretary of State Rubio on his three trips to Latin America.

Oceania

Papua New Guinea
Sep 15, 2025  Australia’s military had been open to foreign nationals from New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States since 2024. A fresh defence agreement will be signed by prime ministers on Sept 17 in Port Moresby, part of celebrations to mark 50 years of Papua New Guinea’s independence from Australia. The deal would enable Papua New Guinea nationals to serve in the Australian Defence Force with the same pay as other members and start a pathway to citizenship. Perched less than 200km from Australia’s northernmost border, Papua New Guinea is the largest and most populous state in Melanesia. (Source: The Straits Times - Singapore / AFP - France)

South America

Venezuela
September 15, 2025 08:39 pm  US President Trump announced today that the US military carried out another targeted strike on a Venezuelan boat allegedly transporting drugs, killing three men aboard. The boat strikes come during fast-moving US immigration actions and multiple court challenges. In August, federal judges shot down the administration’s removal of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan migrants and halted criminal-contempt prosecutions of federal officials involved in the removal of suspected Tren de Aragua members. The administration has claimed Tren de Aragua coordinates with the Cártel de los Soles, allegedly led by Venezuelan President Maduro. Maduro reportedly claimed that the Trump administration’s anti-drug rhetoric is a pretense for instigating a Venezuelan regime change for oil. (Source: JURISTnews - U.S.)

(Monday), 9/15/2025  On Sunday, President Trump described Venezuela as a hub of narcotics smuggling and criminal migration. The president singled out Tren de Aragua, a powerful Venezuelan criminal organization that has spread across Latin America, as an urgent security threat. 'We don't like what Venezuela is sending us, whether it's their drugs or their gang members," he said. Caracas threatens Guyana and Trinidad amid growing tensions with U.S. "I tell these governments... that if we are attacked from their territory, they will also receive a response, and that is in legitimate defense," defense minister Padrino declared on his Telegram channel Sunday. Vice President Rodríguez last week branded both countries vassals of the United States. You are lending yourselves to the perverse plans of an aggression against the Venezuelan people, Rodríguez said. Padrino accused Washington of sharply intensifying aerial surveillance of Venezuela. tripled in August. The planes, he claimed, are designed to collect and process information in real time, up to 200 miles, meaning their range reaches Venezuelan territory. Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Persad-Bissessar dismissed the allegations as alarmism, rejecting any suggestion that her government was colluding with the United States against Venezuela. Guyana has previously voiced support for U.S. activities in the Caribbean, framing them as part of collaborative counternarcotics efforts. The Venezuelan defense minister's accusations come against the backdrop of the long-running territorial dispute over the Essequibo region, a resource-rich area claimed by both Venezuela and Guyana. Washington has focused its rhetoric on crime and drug trafficking. (Source: MSN / The Miami Herald = U.S.)

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Gaza
(Monday), 15.09.2025  At least 17 people, including children, have been killed and dozens injured in renewed Israeli attacks today, the state news agency Wafa, citing medical sources, said. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

12 September 2025  In the UN General Assembly Hall today countries endorsed a declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution with Israel. The New York Declaration is the outcome of an international conference held in July at UN Headquarters, organized by France and Saudi Arabia, which resumes later this month. The General Assembly comprises all 193 UN Member States and 142 countries voted in favour of a resolution backing the document. Israel voted against it, alongside nine other countries – Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga and the United States – while 12 nations abstained. Prior to the vote, French Ambassador Bonnafont recalled that the New York Declaration ’lays out a single roadmap to deliver the two-State solution’. This involves an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages held there, and the establishment of a Palestinian State that is both viable and sovereign. The roadmap further calls for the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from governance in Gaza, normalization between Israel and the Arab countries, as well as collective security guarantees. Speaking ahead of the vote, Israeli Ambassador Danon said that ’this one-sided Declaration will not be remembered as a step toward peace, only as another hollow gesture that weakens this Assembly’s credibility.” He said that ’Hamas is the biggest winner of any endorsement here today’ and will declare it ’the fruit of 7 October’. (Source: The United Nations Office of Geneva)

12.09.2025  A pair of US Democratic senators recently returned from the Middle East and issued a 21-page report in which they said their time in the region led to them to the inescapable conclusion that the Netanyahu government’s war in Gaza has gone far beyond the targeting of Hamas to imposing collective punishment on the Palestinians there, with the goal of making life for them unsustainable. Sen. Van Hollen’s and Sen. Merkley’ report points to Israel's ongoing restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid, its killings of more than 63,000 Palestinians, including over half of whom were women and children, and the mass displacement of 90% of Gaza's population. Merkley said Israel's strategy is focused on two main components: the mass destruction of homes to prevent Gazans from having anything to return to, and a parallel effort to deprive Palestinians of essentials to live - food, water, medicine. The report says that Israel's policy of limiting only a handful of aid distribution sites to southern Gaza is a clear indication that their operations were designed by the Netanyahu government to use food as a method of population control. The Israeli government has made clear it wants to empty northern Gaza of its population, especially as it has now launched a fresh offensive against Gaza City, the report says. 'We, the United States, are complicit in all of this, because we're providing lots of taxpayer dollar support to the Netanyahu government to use weapons in Gaza, 2000 (pound) bombs and other weapons'. We have said that must stop, given what's happening right now in Gaza, said Van Hollen. Earlier yesterday, a UNICEF statement noted that in Gaza City, where famine was confirmed last month, the percentage of children admitted with malnutrition was at 19%, up from 16% in July, UNICEF Executive Director Russell said one in five children in Gaza now suffers from acute malnutrition. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

Israel
September 12, 2025  Israel’s external intelligence, the Mossad had planned to use agents on the ground to assassinate Hamas leaders but declined to execute it - forcing Israel to carry out the unsuccessful airstrike in Qatar, Israelis say - partly because such an action could rupture the relationship the agency had cultivated with the Qataris, who had been hosting Hamas and mediating ceasefire talks between the militant group and Israel. On Tuesday, Israel turned to a secondary option: launching 15 fighter jets that fired 10 missiles from afar. Some Israeli officials say they calculated that Israel would repair relations with Qatar over time, much like Israel overcame the international outrage incurred during the 1970s and 1980s, after Prime Minister Golda Meir ordered covert assassinations in European and Middle Eastern countries against Palestinian militants who had kidnapped and slain 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. (Source: The Washington Post - U.S.)

Turkey
Sep 11 2025  Between August 26 to 28 and September 2 to 5, 2025, NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, currently deployed to Konya Air Base, Türkiye, executed a tactical training event alongside the Turkish Air Force’s E-7T aircraft and F-16 fighter jets. The event known as NEXUS ACE is part of the Tailored Assurance Measures for Türkiye (TAM-T) mission, crucial in elevating the readiness level of NATO forces. (Source: Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office - headquarters Ramstein Air Base, Germany)

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France
September 11th, 2025  Could French nuclear weapons protect Europe? In his 5 March 2025 address, President Macron was initiating a strategic dialogue on extending the protective value of French deterrence to European allies – while retaining presidential sovereignty over nuclear decisions. Rooted in the Gaullist concept of an independent force de frappe, the French model emphasises deterrence from the weak to the strong and allows for political flexibility in its application, including possible first-strike authority. This is offering greater transparency without shifting control, thereby reframing deterrence as an instrument of collective European security rather than unilateral French power. France’s surging defence ambitions are, however, impeded by structural budgetary limitations. While Macron’s government has pledged not to raise taxes to fund increased defence expenditures, the financial leeway appears narrow, effectively pointing to reliance on debt or budget reallocation – a model questionable in terms of long-term sustainability. France’s military programming law outlines a plan to elevate defence spending significantly by €413 billion through 2030, a roughly 40% increase over the prior cycle. This is aimed at modernising nuclear forces, cyber-capabilities and high-technology systems. ’Still, economic analysis underscores that Europe overall will require additional fiscal leeway – either via long-term debt, tax increases or cuts to civilian spending – to meet higher defence spending benchmarks’. The interplay between defence ambitions and electoral politics constitutes a further challenge. Macron’s pledge to avoid new taxes for increased military funding aims to limit domestic backlash, but it may fall short, potentially triggering public discontent, social unrest, and electoral gains for the National Rally - an outcome with profound implications for European policy coherence. (Source: LSE – United Kingdom)
by Ryan, a Network Research Fellow at CESifo, Munich.

(10 September 2025)  France is seeing a day of protests led by a grassroots movement named Bloquons Tout (Let's Block Everything). In a show of anger against the political class and proposed budget cuts, the demonstrations are taking place on the same day new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was sworn in. The radical-left France Unbowed party has already said it will table a no confidence motion in Lecornu as soon as possible. However, that motion would need support by other parties to pass. Lecornu will first need to come up with a budget palatable to a majority of MPs in France's hung parliament - the same challenging endeavour which brought down his two predecessors. France's deficit reached 5.8% of GDP in 2024 but the three distinct ideological groups in the deeply divided Assembly disagree on how to tackle the crisis. As it stands, the largest parliamentary party - the 'far-right' National Rally - said it would listen to what Lecornu had to say albeit "without many illusions". Several thousand people gathered in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux and Montpellier. The Let's Block Everything movement has a distinct left-wing character. Its demands include more investment in public services, taxation for high income brackets, rent freezes and Macron's resignation. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)

Poland
Friday 12 September 2025  Warsaw said it was deploying 40,000 troops along its borders with Belarus and Russia. Interior minister Kierwinski said that the drills were directly aimed at Poland and the European Union. His remarks come after Mr Tusk said the drone attack 'was not aimed only at Poland, but at European states as well'. US president Trump suggested the incursion of Russian attack drones into Poland could have been “a mistake”, but added, “I’m not happy about anything to do with the whole situation.” But Tusk responded on X, today, saying: 'We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn’t. And we know it.' (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom)

Sept. 11, 2025  The Trump administration is conducting a review of American troops abroad, and the expectation is that thousands will be pulled out of Europe, either to be sent to Asia or returned home, where Defense Secretary Hegseth has said “the real battles” are. That is why countries that are geographically close to Russia, like Poland and the Baltic nations, have dramatically increased their military spending, in part hoping to convince Mr. Trump to leave American troops there. Some 10,000 American troops are currently based in Poland. Last week, speaking alongside President Nawrocki at the White House, Mr. Trump remarked that not only would U.S. troops remain in Poland, but 'we’ll put more there, if they want.' Yet he is expected to pull thousands more American troops from Germany and other countries. For Russia, there may be another factor at work. The drones came to Poland over Belarus. Mr. Trump has reached out recently to President Lukashenko about releasing political prisoners in return for American re-engagement and support for its sovereignty. Mr. Krawczyk, a former Polish intelligence official, said Russia was also seeking to undermine those efforts to preserve its domination of Belarus. “Russia aims to demonstrate that Belarus is merely a pawn in Moscow’s game,” he said. (Source: The New York Times - U.S.)

September 10, 2025, Wednesday  Poland has confirmed that Russian drones violated its airspace overnight on September 10, describing the incident as an act of aggression and announcing that several of the intruding objects were shot down. Polish and allied radar tracked several of the drones, and the operational commander ordered the use of weapons against those deemed a threat. Searches for wreckage and crash sites are ongoing. Allied aircraft, including AWACS early warning planes, were also active in Polish skies. The military emphasized that its forces remain on full alert and that air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have been raised to high readiness. Authorities temporarily closed multiple airports, including Warsaw’s Chopin, Lublin, and Rzeszów-Jasionka, citing unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security. Rzeszów is a key hub for the transfer of Western military aid to Ukraine. President Nawrocki stated that he was in constant contact with Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz and would lead a National Security Bureau briefing. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he had already informed NATO Secretary General Rutte. Polish Deputy Defense Minister Tomczyk was asking the public to follow instructions from the armed forces and police. ’The Sept. 10 incursion into Poland represents a direct military confrontation on NATO soil’. Residents in Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin were urged to remain indoors, as these regions were considered at the highest risk. Podlaskie lies about 50–70 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, while Lublin directly borders Ukraine. (Source: Novinite – Bulgaria)

European Commission
11.09.2025  European Parliament's Left group submits motion of censure against der Leyen. Left group calls for resignation of commission due to detrimental trade deals, failure to act against Israeli government's systemic violations of international law in Gaza. (Source: Anadolu  Agency - Turkey)

10.09.2025  Right and left wings in European Parliament set to file separate no-confidence motions against der Leyen. Political groups aim to submit motions against European Commission president at midnight if they get necessary 72 signatures. A recent Cluster17 survey found that six in 10 Europeans believe von der Leyen should resign following the announcement of the EU-US trade deal framework. (Source: Anadolu Agency – Turkey)

(10 September 2025)  ' The European Commission announced the preliminary allocation of a €150 billion ($175.6 billion) defence fund under its new Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme. The funding will be distributed among 19 member states that requested support, based on a pre-allocation system. Poland is set to receive the largest share with €43.7 billion. It is followed by Romania (€16.68 billion), France and Hungary (€16.21 billion each), Italy (€14.9 billion), Belgium (€8.34 billion), Lithuania (€6.37 billion), Portugal (€5.84 billion) and Latvia (€5.68 billion). The final amounts will depend on each country's defence projects and preparedness levels. It forms part of the European Commission's ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, aiming to mobilise over €800 billion in defence spending. Ukraine and EEA-EFTA countries will also be eligible to participate in joint procurement under the scheme. ' (Source: TRT World – Turkey)

Belarus
Friday 12 September 2025  Russia and Belarus have launched today long-planned joint military exercises, dubbed “Zapad 2025,” or “West 2025,” which will last through Tuesday. The maneuvers follow Wednesday's incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace earlier this week. The Russian military said it wasn’t targeting Poland. Belarus suggested drones veered off course. But "European' leaders described it as a deliberate provocation, forcing NATO allies ’to confront a potential threat’ in its airspace for the first time. The Russia-Belarus exercises also have drawn worries in Kyiv and its allies of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which border Belarus. Belarusian defense officials initially said about 13,000 troops would participate in the exercise that was to take place near its western border. In May, however, its Defense Ministry said the number would be cut nearly in half, and that the main maneuvers would take place deeper inside the country. Last month, Defense Minister Khrenin said most of the drills will happen around the city of Barysaw, about 74 kilometers northeast of Minsk, although some “small units will carry out practical tasks to repel a hypothetical enemy” in areas close to the border with Poland and Lithuania. In Moscow, the Defense Ministry said today that parts of the exercise will be held on the Russian territory, as well as as the Baltic and the Barents Seas. Khrenin noted that the troops will practice “planning the use of” Russian nuclear weapons and the new nuclear-capable Oreshnik intermediate range missiles that Moscow has promised to station in Belarus. In December, Russia and Belarus signed a pact giving Moscow's security guarantees to its ally, including the possible use of Russian nuclear weapons to help repel any aggression. Belarus’ President Lukashenko has allowed Russia to deploy some of its tactical nuclear weapons to his country. Lukashenko also has proposed to host Russia's latest Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile that Moscow used for the first time in November against Ukraine. Putin has said that Oreshnik missiles could be deployed to Belarus in the second half of 2025, adding they will remain under Russian control but Moscow will allow Minsk to select targets. Lukashenko recently signaled willingness to mend his relationship with the West. The past year has seen regular releases of political prisoners and public calls for a rapprochement with the West. Last month, Lukashenko spoke by phone with Trump, who called him a “highly respected President” in a social media post, a stark contrast from other Western leaders. Yesterday, Belarus freed 52 political prisoners as part of a deal brokered by the United States, which lifted some sanctions on the country’s national airline. Belarus sent formal invitations to all member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and nine countries with NATO military attaches in Minsk to monitor the drills. (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom / The Associated Press - U.S.)

Russia
14.09.25, 02:45 PM  Russia said today that it had fired a Zircon (Tsirkon) hypersonic cruise missile at a target in the Barents Sea and that Sukoi Su-34 supersonic fighter-bombers had carried out strikes as part of joint military exercises with Belarus. Russia's ’Zapad’, or West, joint strategic exercise with Belarus began on Sept. 12 aiming to improve military command and coordination in the event of an attack on either Russia or Belarus, the defence ministry said. Moscow and Minsk have said the exercises are exclusively defensive and that they do not intend to attack any NATO member. The U.S.-led military alliance announced an ’Eastern Sentry’ operation after the incursion of Russian drones into Poland on Sept. 9-10. Russia's defence ministry released footage of the Northern Fleet's Admiral Golovko frigate firing a Zircon hypersonic missile at a target in the Barents Sea. According to objective monitoring data received in real time, the target was destroyed by a direct hit, the ministry said. Long-range anti-submarine aircraft of the Northern Fleet's mixed aviation corps were also involved in the exercise. Su-34 crews practiced a bombing strike against ground targets. Russian President Putin said in 2019 that the Zircon can fly at nine times the speed of sound and hit targets at sea and on land at a range of more than 1,000 km. Russian media sources say the missile’s warhead mass is around 300 kg-400 kg. (Source: The Telegraph – India / Reuters – United Kingdom)

14/09/2025 - 11:23  Ukrainian drones today attacked the Kirishi oil refinery in the northwest Leningrad region. The refinery is one of Russia’s largest, refines about 17.7 million metric tons per year (355,000 barrels per day) of Russian crude, or 6.4% of the country’s total. Kirishi is the second oil refinery to be targeted in less than 48 hours. Three drones were destroyed in the Kirishi area. Debris from the shot-down drones caused a temporary fire, Russian officials said. Russia said that more than 80 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight. (Source: France 24 / „with Reuters” - United Kingdom)

(12 September 2025)  In recent months, Ukrainian strikes have reached deeper into Russian territory, hitting refineries, fuel depots and logistics hubs hundreds of miles from the frontlines. They escalated sharply in August, with more than a dozen refineries hit. During those attacks, Ukraine disabled 20% of Russia's oil refining capacity during August, the White House said last month. Russian media has downplayed the cause of the damage, citing unscheduled repairs. Russian newspaper Moskovskij Komsomolets warned this week that petrol supplies were near critical, with drivers in far eastern Russia reporting kilometre-long queues, rationing and soaring prices. Strikes have also hit the Druzhba pipeline, disrupting exports to Hungary and Slovakia. Moscow has intensified its missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy facilities over the summer. Kremlin spokesman Peskov told reporters today that there had been a pause in peace negotiations, blaming Ukraine's European allies for hindering the process. More than half of 221 drones sent to Russian territory overnight were intercepted over the Bryansk and Smolensk regions, where Lukoil facilities were reportedly targeted, the Russian defence ministry said. Ukraine has also struck Russia's largest oil terminal on the Baltic Sea. The aerial assault targeted the Primorsk oil port in the Leningrad region, the final station of the Baltic Pipeline System, a crucial hub for Russia's maritime exports. 28 drones were brought down and a fire had broken out at a vessel and a pumping station in Primorsk. The blaze was extinguished without casualties or leaks. Operations at St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport were briefly suspended. The Ukrainian security services said drone strikes also hit several pumping stations feeding the Ust-Luga terminal, near the border with Estonia. Russian state energy firm Rosatom reported a drone attack on a power unit at its Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant, near the Belarussian border. Yesterday night's attacks came ahead of the start of a major joint military exercise between Russia and ally Belarus today, which is staged every four years, taking place just days after a number of Russian drones were shot down or fell on Poland, in what Warsaw called an unprecedented incursion into its airspace. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)

September 10, 2025  European Commission Vice President Kallas who also serves as the EU’s foreign policy coordinator, indicated that available evidence suggests that the airspace violation attack was intentional, not accidental. Ordash, Moscow’s charge d’affaires in Warsaw, said to Russian state news agency RIA that the Kremlin was absolutely not interested in any escalation with Poland, and denied that the drones had been of Russian origin. The violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones and their shooting down by NATO forces marks a concerning escalation - though as Tusk noted, it probably will not directly result in a broader Russia-NATO war. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)

Ukraine
Sept 10, 2025, 3:37 am EDT  Zelensky today pushed for a common air defence system with Kyiv's European allies. 'Ukraine has long proposed to its partners the creation of a joint air defence system to ensure the guaranteed downing of Shaheds, other drones, and missiles through the combined strength of our combat aviation and air defences,' Zelensky said on social media. (Source: Barron's - U.S. / Agence France-Presse)

Wednesday 10 September 2025  On 2 September, as thousands attended Parubiy’s funeral in Lviv, Stelnikov told a court he had assassinated Parubiy in order to retrieve the body of his son, a Ukrainian soldier missing in action since May 2023. Parubiy was a former speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, current MP and member of the parliament’s defence committee. 'In 2014 he had been a key coordinator of the Euromaidan revolution'. 'Yes, I admit, I killed him – and I want to ask that I be exchanged for prisoners of war, so that I can go and find my son’s body,” Stelnikov said. Asked why he killed Parubiy, Stelnikov replied: 'Because he was nearby.' Ukrainians 'recruited by Russia' are thought to have been responsible for the shootings of Hanul, another Euromaidan participant, killed in Odessa in March; and Farion, a former MP murdered in Lviv last year, among others. (Source: The Observer - United Kingdom)

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Europe

Belgium
September 10, 2025  The U.S. has been struggling with fentanyl, a synthetic drug estimated to be 50 times stronger than heroin. According to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 80,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2024, a significant decrease from the 110,000 deaths recorded the previous year. U.S. President Trump is taking drastic international action to target cartels and designated them as foreign terrorist organizations. U.S. homeland security chief Noem arrived at the port of Antwerp today to pledge American support toward smashing narco gangs, as drug-fueled violence plagues Belgium. Ports here, like this one, are a crime target for foreign terrorist organizations, Noem said during a press conference following a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister De Wever. “There’s a plague of fentanyl traffic that is spreading around the world,” said Noem, adding that “we need to stop it and work together so that we have the ability to use our experience in America to help Europe.” “The U.S. understands that we need to be aggressive in fighting these organizations and we want to partner with you in an even greater way to do so into the future.” Noem noted that the collaborative action will involve sharing data and security information, and dealing with shipping companies. “I think Europe should focus a lot more on European cooperation on one hand, and on cooperation with our friends in the United States in order to crush the business model of organized crime”, said De Wever, a Flemish, who spent more than 10 years as mayor of Antwerp before becoming Belgian prime minister. Belgian authorities seized a record 121 metric tons of cocaine at the port in 2023.The Belgian port city of Antwerp has witnessed a stark increase in drug-related shootings and explosions amid the surging drug traffic. Drug violence has gripped Brussels too, with about 60 shootings this year alone. The government is currently mulling deploying soldiers on the streets by the end of the year to deter criminals. (Source: Politico  U.S.)

Denmark
12.09.2025  Denmark make largest-ever arms purchase, at over $9.1B. The eight ground-based air defense systems, acquired from arms manufacturers in France, Italy, Germany, and Norway, will each consist of four units capable of independently launching guided missiles to protect cities, military sites, and critical infrastructure across Denmark. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

United Kingdom
(9 September 2025)  It’s now been a few months since the publication of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the International Security Strategy. While the strategy documents may be fine as far as they go, there is something missing in the connection between UK strategy and the world as it really is, at home and abroad. To be fair to the present government and the authors of the reviews, this realist element has been missing from UK thinking under multiple governments for many years since the end of the Cold War. We need:     An explicit concept of the national interest for the new realist world;     Far greater honesty about the gap between our aspirations and our current resources and organisation;     A recognition that active public support rather than disinterested acquiescence will be key to achieving sharper national objectives.    We certainly need a new approach today – and not just because of Trump. US policy today is as much a function of a changing world as of a new President. The rise of multipolarity on the back (particularly) of the growth of Asia and the relative decline of the West mean that even after Trump/Trumpism, US policy won’t (can’t) revert to the unipolar status quo ante. Wilsonianism and neoconservatism will never be the same again: even if their exponents return to government, their power will be much constrained. It seems inconceivable that the US public will be prepared to support and pay for the old posture. The same applies on this side of the Atlantic. Today there are as many threats as before, if not more, which the International Security Strategy sets out well. What’s changed is that we won’t be able to address them without a clear underpinning of national purpose: if there isn’t a clearly defined national interest to defend, neither our finances nor public opinion will have the staying power to sustain increased defence expenditure and national effort. We need to choose our allies and partners on the basis of national interest rather than aesthetic preferences. Talk of a 'coalition of the willing' is dangerous if we convince ourselves that 'willing' is the same as “able”. Unrealistic unipolar-era ambitions reinforced by a misplaced 'can do' mindset is even worse. BFPG’s recent survey found that the British public feel safer this year than last. They do support greater defence spending, but not at the expense of domestic priorities. In that respect, the Government’s revealed preferences (modest increases in real defence spending, but not yet) is a better reflection of public opinion than some of the rhetoric about the country moving towards 'warfighting readiness'. BFPG research also suggests that young Britons (under 35) care much more about Gaza than Ukraine and are not greatly concerned by the security implications of a closer relationship with China. On the right, there is also a fracturing between consistent supporters of Ukraine and those who believe that security begins closer to home with the need to combat illegal migration. Whatever one’s views, there is little sense here of the settled sense of national interest which informs the “whole of nation” approach to security seen in parts of Central Europe and the Baltics. (Source: The British Foreign Policy Group - based in London, United Kingdom)

Caribbean

Puerto Rico
(Monday), 9/8/2025  Defense Secretary Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Caine visited Puerto Rico today, as the Pentagon looks to intensify military operations against drug cartels based in Latin American countries. The unannounced visit follows last week’s deadly military strike against a vessel in the Caribbean Sea that President Trump said was smuggling narcotics from Venezuela and bound for the United States. Eleven ’narco-terrorists’ were killed in the operation, the president has said. Senior administration officials have forecast that additional strikes are possible, with Vice President Vance saying Saturday on social media that ’killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.” A Department of Homeland Security document from 2020 says that the Coast Guard is the lead and only federal maritime law enforcement agency with both the authority and capability to enforce national and international law, including drug interdiction, on the high seas, and that it shares the lead for interdiction and enforcement responsibilities with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in U.S. territorial waters. Sen. Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, has raised concerns about the administration’s vision for drug interdiction. If the new policy is that we blow you up if we think you might be a drug dealer, Paul said, "that’s kind of a worrisome policy.” In announcing the strike, the president said the vessel’s crew had been positively identified as members of Tren de Aragua, a criminal group his administration has sought to connect to Venezuelan President Maduro and violent crime in the United States. He claimed later that the U.S. government has “tapes” of the suspects speaking. The Pentagon is weighing plans to make Puerto Rico a part of its operations in the region, possibly conducting military flights out of the island territory. The effort includes the possible deployment of fighter jets to the island. “This fight against drug trafficking, in which @POTUS Trump is investing, will firmly position Puerto Rico as the United States’ border in the Caribbean,” Puerto Rico Gov Colón (R). posted to social media during Hegseth’s visit. Hegseth also flew to the amphibious warship USS Iwo Jima, which is in the Caribbean as part of a buildup of warships in the region. Puerto Rico is the most obvious and nearest place to Venezuela, and its ports and airfields provide additional options for expanded military counternarcotics operations, said Berg, director of the Americas Program and head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “This administration has signaled for a while that there would be paradigm shift in how we do security operations in the Western Hemisphere,” Berg said. With the strike last week, which the U.S. executed under a 2001 authorization for the use of military force after Trump designated the cartels as terrorist organizations, “they want to show it’s not just rhetorical, and show there’s different rules of engagement with these organizations now,” Berg said. The U.S. military has assembled an armada of at least eight warships in the region - effort as an “enhanced counter narcotics operation.” Military installations on Puerto Rico include Fort Allen, a National Guard training center east of Ponce, near the southern coast, and Muñiz Air National Guard Base, just east of the capital, San Juan. About 14,000 U.S. troops were deployed in response since the aftermath of Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017, including more than 9,300 on the ground to help with recovery, airlift supplies and assist with rebuilding. Another 4,400 personnel were involved on nearby ships, including the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship. (Source: MSN / The Washington Post = U.S.)

North America

United States
(Saturday), Sep 13, 2025  In a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, Veprek, Trump's nominee to run the State Department's refugee division, called for reshaping the global approach to asylum."The current framework of international agreements and norms on migration developed after the Second World War in a completely different geopolitical and economic context. It cannot be expected to function in our modern world, and indeed it does not.' While some like-minded governments may support the effort, there have been no signs of broad support for a worldwide realignment. At a meeting of the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration on Tuesday, top Trump refugee official Chretien said the Trump administration would seek to replace decades-old global accords and "build a new framework." Chretien said the top goal for the bureau - set by the highest levels of the White House - would be resettling white South Africans from the country's Dutch-descended Afrikaner minority. Trump froze refugee admissions from countries around the world when he took office in January, but weeks later called for Afrikaners to be prioritized. As of Monday, 138 in total had arrived. An internal document drafted by officials in the State Department and U.S. Health and Human Services Department in April suggested the Trump administration could also prioritize bringing in Europeans as refugees if they were targeted for expressing certain views, such as opposition to mass migration or support for populist political parties. A report in August said that Trump officials were discussing setting a refugee admission ceiling of 40,000 people in fiscal year 2026 with a heavy focus on Afrikaners. The administration has since discussed a ceiling as high as 60,00.U.S. President Trump's administration plans to call for sharply narrowing the right to asylum at the United Nations later this month. It seeks to undo the post-World War II framework around humanitarian protection. Under the proposed framework, asylum seekers would be required to claim protection in the first country they enter, not a nation of their choosing. It calls for reforming the global approach to migration worldwide and greatly limiting the ability of people to seek asylum., which 'is routinely abused to enable economic migration'. Asylum would be temporary and the host country would decide whether conditions in their home country had improved enough to return. Deputy Secretary of State Landau would lead the side event at the U.N. (Source: The Japan Times / Reuters - United Kingdom)

12.09.2025  Authorities identify suspect in Kirk killing. Utah Governor Cox says investigators believe Robinson acted alone. Family member told authorities that Robinson had become 'more political in recent years'. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

Sep. 11, 2025  The 31-year-old Turning Point USA creator Kirk was shot dead at Utah Valley University. The event was a stop on his American Comeback Tour. The conservative influencer had just answered a question about transgender shooters when he was shot. Kirk, a rising MAGA star, is survived by his wife and two young children. The shooter is still at large. Gun recovered in Kirk assassination revealed - and ammo bore pro-trans, anti-fascist messages. (Source: The New York Post - U.S.)

3:13 a.m.· Sept. 11, 2025.  President Trump shares a message on the assassination of Kirk. (Source: X – U.S.)
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8M views

(11 September 2025)  "Kirk, Trump ally who opposed US aid to Ukraine, shot dead in Utah: What to know' (Source: Kyiv Post - Ukraine)

10/09/2025  In May, American energy officials had become concerned after experts found rogue communication devices in some Chinese inverters and batteries. U.S. officials say solar-powered highway infrastructure including chargers, roadside weather stations, and traffic cameras should be scanned for the presence of rogue devices – such as hidden radios – secreted inside batteries and inverters. The advisory, disseminated by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, comes amid escalating government action over the presence of Chinese technology in America's transportation infrastructure. The August 20 advisory said the devices were used to power a range of U.S. highway infrastructure, including signs, traffic cameras, weather stations, solar-powered visitor areas and warehouses, and electric vehicle chargers. The risks it cited included simultaneous outages and surreptitious theft of data. In January, the Commerce Department finalized rules that will effectively bar nearly all Chinese cars and trucks from the U.S. market by late 2026, as part of a crackdown on vehicle software and hardware from China. (Source: MSN / The Washington Post = U.S.)

NATO

12 Sep. 2025  At a meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Wednesday (10 September 2025), Allies discussed the situation in light of Poland’s request for Article 4 consultations. Today, NATO Secretary General Rutte and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Grynkewich held a joint press conference * to outline NATO’s response to the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones two days earlier. Mr Rutte announced the launch of ’Eastern Sentry,’ a military activity aimed to bolster NATO’s posture along the eastern flank. Commencing in the coming days, Eastern Sentry will involve a range of Allied assets and feature both traditional capabilities and novel technologies, including elements designed to address challenges associated with drones. He added that Allies across Europe and North America work together every day on strengthening air defences and protecting critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. (Source: NATO - headquarters Brussels, Belgium)
* /Video/

September 12, 2025  We still don’t know what happened over Poland. The same people who have spent the last five years doing everything in their power to get the United States and NATO more directly involved in the ongoing Ukraine War are at it again. A recent incident involving upwards of 19 suspected Russian drones - specifically notoriously inaccurate Gerbera-type unmanned aerial vehicles - breaching the airspace of NATO member Poland has triggered a cascade of recriminations and accusations. The drone swarm, successfully downed by Polish and Dutch warplanes, did not cause any injuries in Poland and did not last very long in Poland’s well-defended airspace. The Kremlin has denied intentionally launching the drones at Poland. The consensus both from official NATO sources and the defense punditry class is that the Russians deliberately launched the attack at Poland’s borders as a means of testing NATO’s resolve. Multiple defense intellectuals have been brought out across Western media outlets and echoed similar talking points. Yet what precisely did Moscow have to gain from such an attack? What does the Kremlin have to gain by expanding the war in Europe at this moment? There is an anxiety today among the NATO class that Ukraine’s loss to Russia - the most likely outcome of the ongoing war - would equate to a military defeat of NATO. It would not have been the case had NATO avoided entanglement in the war in the first place. Yet Ukraine was never part of NATO, and in spite of vague future promises of a pathway to admission, was not on track to join when Russia invaded in early 2022. With this in mind, it is somewhat strange that NATO has gone as far with supporting Ukraine as it has. NATO was supposed to be a defensive military alliance committed to protecting its neighbors - not intervening in the affairs of its non-NATO neighbors, no matter how morally righteous it might believe them to be. But even if Moscow manages to subdue Ukraine, there is little evidence that it intends to trigger a wider regional war against the European defense alliance. Thus far, the Russians have largely kept their war in Ukraine confined to the Russian-speaking Eastern portions of the country, which they regard as a natural part of the “Russian world.” Since its abortive and ill-fated attempt to seize Kyiv in February 2022, Russia has refrained from launching an incursion into western Ukraine - instead creating a defensive perimeter around the Crimean Peninsula, Russia’s crown jewel on the Black Sea. As such, it is safe to say that Russia is not interested in expanding the war - and certainly not seeking to wage war directly with NATO. And what evidence does NATO have that the drones were deliberately deployed into Polish airspace as part of a larger provocation strategy by Russia? Less than 24 hours after the downing of the Russian drones, virtually every pro-NATO voice in the West has taken to the press and given nearly identical talking points about the alleged Russian attack on Poland. Some of NATO’s members in Europe are chomping at the bit to broaden NATO’s involvement in Ukraine. By ballooning this incident with the Russian drones, NATO’s supporters in Europe and America believe they can force Trump to change course on Ukraine. He shouldn’t. As Trump insists that his support for Ukraine is unwavering and that he is angry with Russian leader Putin for perceived diplomatic slights, the White House has been angling to reduce America’s military commitments to Europe. In fact, the Pentagon issued * a major strategy document indicating that the US military would be deprioritizing Europe, the Middle East, and even the Indo-Pacific in favor of Western hemispheric defense. All this is sending the European members of NATO into panic mode. Europeans accustomed to the American security umbrella view NATO as a sacrosanct entity and, without the United States being fully committed to NATO, the alliance will wither. And if NATO dies, Europe will be undefended from their bogeyman of Russia. As things stand, we don’t yet know for sure what happened in the skies above Poland. What we do know is this is not the first time something like this has happened and, in the previous instances, the incidents were either accidental or not the Kremlin’s fault. It will take weeks and months to know what precisely happened; until an investigation is conducted, the last possible thing America should be doing is jumping to conclusions that lead to a wider war and greater levels of US military commitment. So, by ballooning this incident with the Russian drones into a grand conspiracy on the part of Putin’s Russia to escalate the war against NATO, NATO’s supporters in Europe and America believe they can force Trump to fully invest in Ukraine’s defense - and in so doing to get Trump to restore the primacy of NATO in US foreign policy. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)
By Weichert, a senior national security editor at The National Interest, who has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine. 
* At the moment, reference to: „US no longer ‘primarily focused’ on Europe’s security, says Hegseth. US defence secretary says Europe should lead in defending Ukraine and that restoring pre-2014 borders is unrealistic” (In: The Guardian, Wed 12 Feb 2025 16.00 CET)

(Thursday, 11 September 2025)  Nato strengthens defences after Russian drones shot down over Poland. The Netherlands and the Czech Republic said they would send defences to Poland. The Dutch were going to deploy air defence systems, artillery and 300 troops, while the Czech would send helicopters and 100 soldiers, Polish Defence Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz said. Lithuania would receive a German brigade. Germany also said it would 'intensify its engagement along Nato's eastern border' and extend and expand air policing over Poland. Warsaw will set restrictions for drones and small air traffic along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine, and Latvia has announced its eastern airspace would be closed for a week. France's Macron announced the country would send three Rafale fighter jets. 'This Russian provocation...is nothing more than an attempt to test our capabilities," Poland's President Nawrocki said, echoing comments by his German and French counterparts. Today, Nato's top military commander Grynkewich acknowledged it was not yet known whether the act had been intentional and said even the precise number of drones which had crossed into Polish airspace was still to be determined. Joint military exercises between Belarus and Russia, dubbed Zapad 2025, are due to start tomorrow. This year's exercise involve up to 30,000 troops in total, according to Lithuanian military intelligence chief Mazonas. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)

September 10, 2025  After Poland shoots down 'huge number' of drones that violated its airspace, Secretary-General Rutte calls Russia's behavior 'reckless.' This is the first time NATO planes have engaged potential threats in allied airspace, NATO spokesman Col. O’Donnell said. NATO chief spokesperson Hart said the alliance’s 32 national envoys will discuss the matter at a planned meeting, according to the AP. (Source: Fox News - U.S.)

South America

Brazil
12.09.2025  Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro was sentenced yesterday to 27 years and three months in prison after a Supreme Court panel convicted him of attempting a coup to remain in power after his 2022 election defeat. Four of the five justices on the court's panel voted to convict Bolsonaro on five charges in the historic case. According to the prosecution, the coup plot included a plan to assassinate President Lula, his Vice President Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Moraes using explosives, weapons or poison. Bolsonaro has been convicted of ’plotting a coup d'état, participating in an armed criminal organization, attempting to abolish Brazil's democratic order by force, committing violent acts against state institutions, and damaging protected public property during an assault on government buildings’ by his supporters on Jan. 8, 2023.The 70-year-old former president, who is currently under house arrest, has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyers have announced that they will appeal the verdict to the full Supreme Court of 11 justices. The verdict drew immediate reactions from the United States. US President Trump expressed shock at the outcome. "I thought he was a good president of Brazil, and it's very surprising that this could happen.' US Secretary of State Rubio called the verdict unfair and said the United States would respond accordingly to this witch hunt. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

South America
September 8, 2025  From now through October 2026, Latin America will have presidential elections in seven countries: Bolivia, Chile, Honduras, Costa Rica, Peru, Colombia and Brazil. Polls indicate that left-wing candidates belonging to the Sao Paulo Forum (FSP) - established by former Cuban leader Castro and Brazil’s President Lula in 1990 are likely to face defeat. Guided by Cuba and funded by the late Venezuelan leader Chavez, the FSP evolved into a powerful platform for political parties which wield control over 11 governments across the region. Right-wing parties face risks including threats of political violence, electoral fraud and judicial interference. Since Trump’s return to the White House in 2025, regional dynamics have begun to change. His measures addressing unauthorized immigration, organized crime, trade tariffs and efforts to curb China’s influence, are reconfiguring regional politics. Socialism is losing ground while right-wing movements are gaining momentum. This shift stems from President Trump’s strategy of imposing high tariffs and sanctions to penalize his detractors, while offering low tariffs and exemptions to those he considers allies. In March, Ecuadorian President Noboa met with Mr. Trump to forge a strategic alliance. He ultimately won the second round. A key factor to the expected defeats of FSP candidates are the shortcomings of the economic policies implemented by these governments. There is a rising sense of dissatisfaction among the Latin American people, many of whom have deep Christian values, toward the progressive ideology pushed by socialists. There are also allegations regarding ties between leaders of the Sao Paulo Forum and organized crime. Venezuelan President Maduro, is accused of being the leader of the infamous Cartel of the Suns. In August, the Trump administration classified the cartel as a specially designated global terrorist organization.     The general election was held in Bolivia on August 17. The leftist ruling party, Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), which had been in power for much of the past 20 years, had been defeated. The surprise frontrunner was center-right senator Pereira, who began his campaign with only 3 percent support in the opinion polls. Castillo of the MAS party received just 3.2 percent.    Chile goes to the polls on November 16, with a likely runoff on December 14. There are four right wing candidates: Kast, Matthei, Parisi and Kaiser. The left is fielding a single candidate, Jara, who is affiliated with the Communist Party. According to the polling, Mr. Kast is currently leading in first-round voting intentions with 29 percent, while Ms. Jara follows behind with 25 percent.     The election on the calendar is scheduled for November 30 in Honduras, where candidates compete in a single-round system. The three leading candidates are Asfura of the National Party (right) with 37.2 percent approval, Nasralla of the Liberal Party (center-right) with 33.7 percent and Moncada of the Libre Party (Sao Paulo Forum) with 28.8 percent. Mr. Asfura has promised to strengthen ties with the U.S., reestablish relations with Taiwan and utilize the skills of returning migrants to revitalize the economy. As Ms. Moncada faces the prospect of defeat, former deposed President Zelaya, leader of the Libre Party has threatened that, if necessary, he may incite violence by rallying irregular groups throughout the country. There is also a high risk of fraud. Republican Congresswoman Salazar has urged U.S. Secretary of State Rubio to ensure that the presidential elections in Honduras are free and fair.    The presidential election will be held in Costa Rica on February 1, 2026, with a possible runoff on April 5. Since the current President Chaves is not eligible for reelection, the ruling Social Democratic Progress Party is looking to replace him with one of his ministers. Ms. Fernandez is leading with 24 percent of the vote. In a distant second place is right-wing candidate Alvarado with 7.2 percent, followed by centrist Ramos with 7.1 percent. The FSP-affiliated parties currently have limited support.    Peru’s presidential election is set for April 12, 2026, with a potential runoff on June 7. Lima’s mayor, Aliaga is leading with 14.2 percent, followed by comedian Alvarez at 10.9 percent and Fujimori, daughter of former president, with 7.9 percent. Left-wing candidates currently trail in the polls. Those intending to cast blank ballots and those who chose not to participate in the polls account for 50 percent of the electorate, a trend also observed in countries such as Bolivia and Costa Rica.    The election will be held in Colombia on May 31, 2026, with a probable second round on June 21. Political violence and the decline of its institutions characterizes this election. Many believe that Colombian President Petro, a former guerrilla member, has prioritized the interests of drug traffickers and armed groups over the needs of the people. Turbay, a young Colombian senator and the leading opposition candidate, tragically lost his life in August after being shot during a political rally in June. He was a member of the Democratic Centre party. Before his death, he was projected to win the election with 13.7 percent of the vote. He was followed by journalist Davila, also from the right, with 11.5 percent. Third was the leftist Bolivar (10.5 percent) and fourth was centrist Fajardo (8.7 percent). On July 28, former President Velez was convicted in the first instance for allegedly bribing witnesses. He also belongs to the Democratic Centre party.    In Brazil election will take place on October 4, 2026, with a likely runoff on October 25. If former President Bolsonaro had not been disqualified due to his trial over an alleged coup plot, the race would be between him and President da Silva, who, despite his age (79 years), has announced his intention to run for a fourth term.  Lula leads in first-round voting intentions and would tie with Sao Paulo Governor Freitas in a potential runoff; however, this scenario would change if Mr. Bolsonaro were to run. On July 9, President Trump threatened Brazil with a 50 percent tariff, accusing President da Silva of conducting a witch hunt against Mr. Bolsonaro. In response to “U.S. interventionism’ Lula has used this threat to invoke Brazilian nationalism. The Brazilian president has efforts to promote the creation of a new international currency to compete with the U.S. dollar through BRICS, and to grow political and trade relationship between Brazil and China. It seems unlikely that Lula will back down from his persecution of Mr. Bolsonaro. This stance is raising concerns that the country is moving toward an authoritarian system where the judiciary serves the executive branch. Consequently, social protests are erupting across the country      Most likely: Latin America shifts to the right, the right wing is poised to secure victories in all seven upcoming elections, including the second rounds. In four countries – Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica and Peru – the left wing concedes defeat. In Honduras, Colombia and Brazil, socialists attempt to disrupt the electoral process through violence and lawfare, employing tactics such as physical intimidation and manipulative legal challenges. Despite these efforts, they fail to secure power for themselves. Latin American governments and the Trump administration collaborate on joint efforts against organized crime.      Less likely: Political polarization in Latin America. Right-wing parties secure victories in Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica and Peru. Left-wing governments maintain power in Honduras, Colombia and Brazil. This division across the continent creates two opposing camps, which could give organized crime groups greater political support. Lula could emerge as a key figure in opposing President Trump’s policies in the region. /Source: Geopolitical Intelligence Services (GIS) – Liechtenstein/
by Esclusa

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Europe

Germany
Wednesday 03 September 2025  Ahead of the local election for the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, police have said 'it does not suspect foul play after six AfD candidates have died in recent weeks. The deaths of the candidates have meant new ballots must be drawn up and reprinted, and some postal voters will have to re-cast their vote. More than 20,000 candidates will run for office in the election on 14 September across the state, which has a population of 18 million. German police told that the deaths were either the result of natural causes or were not being revealed for privacy reasons. (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom)

Ireland
3 Sep 2025  EU presents Mercosur deal for approval. The text needs to be approved by at least 15 of the EU’s 27 member nations – and the European Parliament – to be formally adopted. Irish Farmers Association had agreed to opposed the deal and that this 'commitment has to stand'. IFA said it ‘cannot countenance a deal that refuses to recognise the gap in standards between the EU and Brazil. The Irish Farmers Association calls for MEPs to oppose agreement. (Source: The Journal - Ireland)

Poland
04.09.2025  Coalition instability and the increasingly public spat between Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski - who met with US Secretary of State Rubio Tuesday in Miami, Florida - and Polish President Nawrocki have added further fuel to the fire and tested relations between the pro-EU and pro-Ukraine Tusk government and the more Washington-centric and Ukraine-skeptical PiS opposition. 'We know well how many PiS pilgrimages have gone to Washington to explain to our American partners what a monster I am. Perhaps this has had some effect', Polish Premier Donald Tusk said today during a press conference following a meeting of the 'Coalition of the Willing' in Paris. I won't talk to anyone on my knees, Tusk added. Poland does not plan to send troops to Ukraine, but we are responsible for logistics; we are the largest aid hub here, and everyone accepts this significant role, after the Paris meeting, Tusk also noted. About 10,000 US troops are stationed in Poland, although reports suggest the Trump administration may want to reduce that figure. Trump said yesterday he would not withdraw US troops from Poland, one of the most pro-Ukrainian EU members. The US is a crucial provider of defense equipment to Poland, and last month approved the sale of $1.85 billion in F-35 equipment to Warsaw. Tusk also said that everyone was impressed 'by the hostile demonstration,' referring to the summit in China. The presence of the Slovak Prime Minister and the Hungarian Foreign Minister at this anti-Western demonstration in Beijing 'looked a bit unsettling,' he added. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

September 4, 2025  Nawrocki arrived in Washington with the message that Poland’s strength rests in part on unity with its CEE partners and allies. Ahead of his visit, he met with the leaders of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Denmark in Warsaw. The group also held a video conference with Zelensky. 'With its rising investments in defense capabilities (the majority of which are American-made), Poland is on track to field NATO’s third-largest army'. 'Europe’s' security bloc already underpinned by the American and British nuclear deterrents is laying the groundwork for a security framework encompassing the UK, Poland, and the Nordic countries in close alignment with Washington. 'Trump made it clear that Poland will be America’s key transatlantic anchor in Europe'. The United States 'will never use energy to coerce your nations, and we cannot allow others to do so,' speaking in Warsaw in July 2017, Trump said. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there was a 141 percent increase in US LNG exports to Europe, driven by expansion of US liquefaction capacity. Today, the United States is the European Union’s number one supplier of LNG and oil, accounting for 55 percent and 17 percent of all EU import. Trump’s trade deal with the EU, signed this summer, stipulates that over the next three years, the EU will procure American LNG, oil, and nuclear fuels worth more than $250 billion per year. Poland is the hub for American LNG to flow into the CEE region and to other parts of Europe. 'Sooner or later (whether they like it or not), countries like Hungary and Slovakia will be cut off from Russian gas. Trump has the opportunity to secure the European energy market'. Poland and the Three Seas Initiative, designed to create the necessary north-south infrastructure axis in this critical sector, are seen by the White House as a means of achieving this goal. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)
by Markiewicz, executive director of the Washington, DC office of the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) and is advisor to the PISM director for US operations; Olchawa, author of several books on Ukraine, including Mission Ukraine and Imperial Games: Ukraine in the United States’ Geopolitical Strategy.

3 September 2025  Poland’s President Nawrocki has decided to visit the White House without any government representatives in his delegation. That was, he said, because of past attacks on US President Trump made by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and foreign minister Sikorski. A recent letter by the foreign ministry to Nawrocki instructed  him on how to approach talks with Trump. The contents of the letter were leaked to the media after Sikorski had announced its existence on August 28. In the document, the ministry told the President to avoid making any commitments to further Polish arms purchases from the US, not to declare support for a US company to be the contractor for a planned second nuclear power plant in Poland, and to avoid discussing the government’s plans for a new digital tax and to impose controls on social media. It was bizarre for a government that had such poor relations with Washington to try to dictate what the president should and should not say. (Source: Brussels Signal - Belgium)

European Commission
On 3 September 2025, the European Commission adopted proposals for Council decisions on the signature and conclusion of two parallel legal instruments: the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the interim Trade Agreement (iTA). Text of the agreements (Source: European Commission).    03 Sep 2025 Why the Mercosur deal brings a geopolitical opportunity for the EU? Concerns from Europe's farmers have held up the signing of an EU-Mercosur trade deal / by Warborn (EPP, SE), a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade;    14 Aug 2025 Mercosur deal of deceit must not be signed! The planned EU-Mercosur deal risks setting back Europe’s farmers through unfair competition, and raises safety concerns for European consumers / by Bricmont (Greens/EFA, BE), a member of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Mercosur. (Source: The Parliament Magazine - based in Brussels, Belgium, owned by a British Company)

Russia
September 5, 2025 11:08am EDT  Putin warns Western troops deployed to Ukraine would become 'legitimate targets for defeat,' raising fresh threats against the idea of international peacekeepers once a ceasefire is reached. "This is one of the root causes (of the war): trying to involve Ukraine in NATO,' Putin said, speaking at an economic forum in Russia’s Far East. Putin countered that if Moscow and Kyiv are able to finalize a political settlement, foreign soldiers would only complicate matters. Kremlin spokesman Peskov said that any settlement would require guarantees "to both us and the Ukrainians." From China, Putin revealed that U.S. President Trump had asked him to engage directly with Zelenskyy about ending the war. "Donald asked me if it was possible to hold such a meeting. I said yes, it is possible. In the end, if Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow. Such a meeting will take place," Putin said. (Source: Fox News - U.S.)

Serbia
04.09.2025  Serbian president accuses neighbors of military pact - signed as a joint declaration on March 18 - against Belgrade. Vucic says Kosovo, Croatia and Albania alliance threatens Belgrade’s security. They did not create it against Austria, Hungary or Slovenia, but against Serbia, Vucic told reporters in Beijing. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

03.09.2025.  Serbian President Vučić stated during the yesterday’s meeting in Beijing with Russian President Putin that cooperation with Moscow at the highest level is of great importance for Belgrade across all areas. Vučić particularly emphasized Serbia’s collaboration with Moscow in the fields of energy and Russian gas supply. He noted that Serbia, thanks to an oil pipeline to be jointly built with Hungary, would be able to further enhance its energy cooperation with Russia. Putin stated that Moscow respects Serbia’s independent orientation under Vučić’s leadership. Serbia remains the only EU candidate country in the Western Balkans that has not imposed sanctions on Russia. Both presidents were guests of Chinese leader Xi, who is marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a military parade. (Source: European Western Balkans - Serbia)

Ukraine
5 September 2025  More than two dozen countries have pledged to join a force to deploy in Ukraine after any eventual peace deal with Russia. Mainly European countries want to offer ’reassurance force’ to Ukraine if the war ends via a peace deal or a ceasefire. Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan have also been part of the ’coalition of the willing’ talks. The meeting yesterday was hosted by French President Macron and attended by Zelensky. The US was represented by Trump’s special envoy Witkoff, who also met with Zelensky separately. Others participated remotely. ’We have today 26 countries who have formally committed – some others have not yet taken a position – to deploy as a reassurance force troops in Ukraine, or be present on the ground, in the sea, or in the air,’ Macron told. The troops would not be deployed ’on the front line’ but aim to prevent any new major aggression, the French President said. Macron added that another major pillar was a regeneration of the Ukrainian army so that it can not just resist a new attack but dissuade Russia from a new aggression. There are divisions within the coalition, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urging more pressure but remaining cautious about the scope of involvement. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated that her country would not send troops to Ukraine but it could help monitor any potential peace deal. Russian President Putin is now showing no interest in a peace accord. Before the Paris talks, Moscow has made clear that no western forces should be deployed to Ukraine. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said Moscow would not agree to the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine “in any format” and has insisted that it should be one of the countries acting as guarantors – an idea rejected by Kyiv and its allies. The extent of any US involvement in any eventual security backstop remains uncertain, even after European leaders spoke to US President Trump via video conference following yesterday’s summit in Paris of the so-called ’coalition of the willing’. ’We discussed different options and the most important is using strong measures, particularly economic ones, to force an end to the war,’ Zelensky said on social media. Trump recently indicated that US backing could probably come in the form of air support. Trump said the European Union should work with the US to halt imports of Russian oil and gas. Russia had received €1.1bn in fuel sales from the bloc in one year, although the true figure is likely far higher, experts believe. The EU has set a target of ending all gas and oil imports by the end of 2027. The US was said to be planning to end long-running military assistance for European countries close to Russia, as Trump’s administration pushes the continent to play a greater role in its own defence. The Financial Times also reported the news about Washington’s decision to halt funding for programmes to train and equip eastern European militaries along Russia’s border. A White House official pointed to a January executive order by Trump on the re-evaluation of US foreign aid. “This action has been co-ordinated with European countries in line with the executive order and the president’s longstanding emphasis on ensuring Europe takes more responsibility for its own defence,” the official said. NATO secretary general Rutte warned against being naive about Russia. As he said, Moscow would remain a long-term threat, particularly given its increasingly close relations with the likes of China and North Korea. (Source: Brussels Signal - Belgium)

03.09.2025  Zelenskyy today arrived in Denmark to hold bilateral negotiations, as well as to meet with leaders of the Nordic and Baltic states. Ukrainian authorities have reported overnight Russian airstrikes across the country earlier today. Ukraine’s Air Force is claiming on Telegram that its air defenses shot down 430 out of 502 drones, as well as 21 out of 24 various types of missiles. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a later statement that it launched a group strike overnight on enterprises of the military industrial complex and fuel infrastructure of Ukraine. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

United Kingdom
05.09.2025  Moscow slams UK's seizure of Russian frozen assets to purchase military equipmen for Ukraine as criminal act. 'Such actions would be considered unlawful under any jurisdiction'. On Sept 3, UK Defense Secretary Healey revealed that Ukraine has already purchased military equipment and weaponry worth £1 billion using the British loan. In October 2024, the UK Government announced that it would provide Ukraine with a loan worth £2.26 billion funded by revenue from frozen Russian assets. To date, London has transferred two-thirds of the designated amount to Kyiv. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

September 5, 2025  Labour Party veteran Cooper, one of the most experienced members of Keir Starmer’s Cabinet, has replaced Lammy as foreign secretary. She had been serving as home secretary. Lammy, seen by some lacking heft on the international stage, indecisive and underwhelming, or a deep thinker who counts former President Obama among friends, will now become justice secretary - and also step into the post of deputy prime minister vacated by Rayner. Mahmood, the outgoing justice secretary will now become home secretary. (Source: Politico - U.S.)

Asia

China
September 4, 2025 CRINK economic ties: Uneven patterns of collaboration. Existing data reveals signs of deepening collaboration among CRINK countries, including expanded bilateral agreements, closer energy ties, mutual support in sanctions evasion, and efforts to integrate financial and payment systems. However, similar to the Axis powers during World War II, economic ties among CRINK nations are far from fully developed. (Source: The Center for Strategic and International Studies – U.S.)

September 4, 2025 The leaders of China, North Korea and Russia stood shoulder to shoulder yesterday as high-tech military hardware and thousands of marching soldiers filled the streets of Beijing. Two days earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian Putin and Chinese President Xi huddled together, smiling broadly and clasping hands at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China’s military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and the earlier economic gathering, is more of the self-interested, diplomatic jockeying that has marked regional power politics for decades. The gatherings in China this week could be read as a striking, maybe even defiant, message to the United States and its allies. Xi has tried to position China as a leader of countries that feel disadvantaged by the post-World War II order. This parade showcases the ascendancy of China propelled by Trump’s inept diplomacy and President Xi’s astute statecraft, said Kingston, a professor of Asian studies at Temple University Japan. A summit and parade in China may signal a geopolitical shift. It is wrong to believe that China, Russia and North Korea are reinforcing bloc-building. At the very least, they offered yet more evidence of a burgeoning shift away from a U.S.-dominated, Western-led world order, as President Trump withdraws America from many of its historic roles and roils economic relationships with tariffs. Xi is rallying support for an alternative. China has a tense standoff with Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. Xi needs cheap Russian energy and a stable border with North Korea, his nuclear-armed wildcard neighbor. For China, obviously, Russia’s war in Ukraine provides a distraction to the U.S. Putin is hoping to escape Western sanctions and isolation over his war in Ukraine. The gatherings have allowed Putin to take to the world stage as a statesman, meeting a host of world leaders. Putin’s reception by Xi is a reminder that Russia still has major trading partners. At the same time, Russia does not want to anger Trump. “Over these four days, during negotiations of all kinds, both in formal and informal settings, no one has ever expressed any negative judgments on the current American administration,” Putin told reporters. Kim wants money, legitimacy. He has sent thousands of troops and huge supplies of military equipment to help Russian forces to repel a Ukrainian incursion on their territory. Kim told Putin yesterday that if there is more that needs to be done, he will consider it as a brotherly obligation. The North Korean leader’s trip to Beijing will deepen new ties with Russia while also focusing on the shaky relationship with China. Kim’s trip, his first appearance at a multilateral diplomatic event since taking power in 2011, being embraced by UNSC permanent members Russia and China is meant to strengthen ties with friendly countries ahead of any potential resumption of talks about the North’s nuclear program with Trump collapsed in 2019. Modi is trying to manage his relationship with regional heavyweights Putin and Xi, at a moment when ties with Washington are troubled. The Indian leader did not participate in Beijing’s military parade because the distrust with China still exists. Even as he takes some steps toward China, the United States is also on Modi’s mind. India would still like to keep a window open for Washington, because they are natural allies. (Source: The Asahí Shímbun - Japan / The Associated Press - U.S.)

Wednesday 03 September 2025  ' Hypersonic missiles designed to take out ships at sea, a liquid-fuelled intercontinental strategic nuclear missile with the ’entire world under its strike range’ and space defence systems that could take out foreign satellites, were among some of the most impressive military hardware that China revealed for the world to witness its potential. The Chinese military displayed the new YJ-15 missile along with its pre-existing YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20 hypersonic missiles. The YJ missiles, short for ’Ying Ji’ or ’eagle attack’ with ability to evade traditional defence systems, can be launched from ships or aircraft and are designed to inflict critical damage on large vessels. China displayed two types of extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XLUUVs). The sea drone AJX002 is estimated to be around 60ft long. Their torpedo-shaped hulls and pump-jet propulsion systems revealed that the underwater vehicles were built to be stealthy. The AJX002 features four lifting lugs along its hull, indicating that it is crane-assisted. China operates the world's largest XLUUV programme with at least five distinct types already in the water. China showcased three types of nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles – Dong Feng-61 , Dong Feng-31BJ, and the Dong Feng 5C – for the first time during the victory day parade. The Chinese Army also revealed its first air-launched nuclear missile, the JL-1, which was displayed on a military truck. The JL-1 and JL-3, together with the DF-61 and DF-31, mark the ’first concentrated display’ of the Chinese army's land, sea and air triad strategic nuclear forces, according to state media CCTV. According to Global Times, the Dong Feng 5C has an estimated range of more than 20,000km and features improvements in defence penetration and precision. The DF-5C intercontinental strategic nuclear missile has the entire globe under its strike range, the state media added. Experts say the new variant of the Dong Feng 5C is capable of carrying up to 12 war heads on a single missile. The HQ-29 space defence system capable of taking down foreign satellites was displayed for the first time at the parade in a prominent display of aerial power. ' (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom)

September 3, 2025, Wednesday  Beijing hosted a grand military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. Please give my warmest regards to Putin and Kim, as you conspire against the United States of America, Trump wrote in a message directed at Xi. The parade in Beijing was notable for bringing together Xi, Putin, and Kim in a rare public display of solidarity. Addressing more than 50,000 people at Tiananmen Square, Xi presented China as a force for peace, declaring that humanity faces a choice 'between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum.' The parade was designed to showcase Chinese military strength. More than 10,000 troops took part alongside 100 aircraft and vehicles, with displays of cutting-edge weapons, including hypersonic missiles, nuclear-capable DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missiles, drones, and laser systems. Putin and Kim left the parade grounds afterward for bilateral talks. Russia and North Korea, both facing isolation, have leaned on China for legitimacy and support. Pyongyang has supplied Moscow with artillery shells, missiles, and even personnel, while Beijing, though officially neutral, has continued to purchase Russian oil and provide dual-use technologies that bolster Moscow’s war effort. The event came days after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, which also brought Xi, Putin, Kim, and other leaders together, reinforcing Xi’s vision of China at the centre of a new world order. (Source: Novinite - Bulgaria)

(3 September 2025)  BBC correspondents react to China's military parade. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)
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India
5 September 2025  The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin could evolve into a disaster of historical proportions, as Europe and the US alienated their partner India and strengthened adversaries and competitors Russia and China – all in one go. After Europe’s backing of Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs on India pushed Delhi away, Narendra Modi signalled his country’s shift toward the BRICS posing alongside Xi and Putin. Xi’s call for a “dragon-elephant” partnership met Modi’s mutual trust. Europe’s support of the Trump secondary tariffs, led by der Leyen and enthusiastically praised by Kallas, endangers its $189 billion (€162 billion) trade with India in goods and services. As for India’s weight, its 7.8 per cent growth in Q1 2025 makes it a major amplifier of the BRICS’ importance as India’s 1.4 billion-strong market slips toward the BRICS, a group with almost half of the world’s population and three nuclear powers. BRICS pushes a multipolar vision of the international future. Der Leyen and her gang can find other, much more useful things to agree on with the temperamental POTUS. Diplomacy, not tariffs, can keep India engaged with the West. (Source: Brussels Signal - Belgium)

Iran
(3 September 2025) 1:53 PM  Iranian officials have stressed they are seeking to use every diplomatic capacity in the East to ease pressure from sanctions and revive leverage in nuclear talks. Standing alongside Xi, Putin and Kim placed Pezeshkian visibly within a bloc of leaders under Western sanctions. While Western leaders gather in diplomacy, an autocratic alliance is seeking a fast track to a new world order, EU foreign policy chief Kallas, 4, told reporters in Brussels. “Looking at President Xi standing alongside the leaders of Russia, Iran and North Korea in Beijing today, these aren’t just anti-Western optics: This is a direct challenge to the international system built on rules.' The comments came as Chinese President Xi stood flanked by Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim in Tiananmen Square for a showpiece military parade. At the commemoration of Japan’s surrender in World War II Iranian President Pezeshkian was also present, joining more than 25 world leaders. (Source: Iran International)

Pakistan
5 Sep 2025  Pakistan blames India for catastrophic floods that have killed hundreds. Experts say India would need to flood itself to flood Pakistan. Heavy monsoon rains swell rivers on both sides of the border. Northern Indian states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Indian Punjab, have seen widespread flooding. Since late June, when the monsoon season began, on the Indian side, the casualty count has crossed 100, with more than 30 dead in Indian Punjab. In eastern Pakistan half a million flood-hit people were evacuated. At least 884 people have died nationally, more than 220 of them in Pakistan’s Punjab. For Pakistan, the Indus river basin is a lifeline. It supplies water to most of the country’s roughly 250 million people and underpins its agriculture. In Punjab, which borders India, federal minister Iqbal has accused New Delhi of deliberately releasing excess water from dams without timely warnings. ’India has started using water as a weapon’, Iqbal said last month, citing releases into the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers, all of which originate in Indian territory and flow into Pakistan. Those accusations come amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, and the breakdown of a six-decade-old pact that helped them share waters for rivers that are lifelines to both nations. In April, after the Pahalgam attack, in which gunmen killed 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir, India walked out of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the transboundary agreement that governs the Indus Basin’s six rivers. The two countries were required to exchange detailed water-flow data regularly. Under the IWT, India controls the three eastern rivers – Ravi, Sutlej and Beas – while Pakistan controls the three western rivers, Jhelum, Chenab and Indus. India is obligated to allow waters of the western rivers to flow into Pakistan with limited exceptions, and to provide timely, detailed hydrological data. India has built major dams on the eastern rivers it controls, and the flow of the Ravi and Sutlej into Pakistan has considerably reduced since then. It has also built dams on some of the western rivers – it is allowed to, under the treaty, as long as that does not affect the volume of water flowing into Pakistan. In early May, the neighbours waged a four-day conflict, targeting each other’s military bases with missiles and drones. With India no longer adhering to the pact, fears have mounted in recent months that New Delhi could flood its western neighbour through sudden, large releases - an oversimplification of the causes of the crisis. Any excess water that will be released from these rivers will significantly impact India’s own states first. Melting glaciers, an unusually intense summer monsoon, depleted forests are behind Pakistan’s dangerously raised levels in the western rivers. Surging flows put infrastructure on the eastern rivers in India at serious risk. When the capacity of the dams is exceeded, water must be released or it will put the entire structure at risk of destruction. Among the major dams upstream in Indian territory are Salal and Baglihar on the Chenab; Pong on the Beas; Bhakra on the Sutlej; and Ranjit Sagar (also known as Thein) on the Ravi. These dams are based in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, with vast areas of Indian territory between them and the border. By the end of August, reservoirs across the region were full, spillways had to be opened for downstream releases. There is no other option available - controlled releases have become a necessary, if dangerous, part of flood management on both sides of the border, said experts. According to September 3 data on India’s Central Water Commission website, at least a dozen sites face a severe flood situation, and another 19 are above normal flood levels. The same day, Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources issued a notification, quoting a message from the Indian High Commission, warning of “high flood” on the Sutlej and Tawi rivers, after three earlier warnings last week, but none contained detailed hydrological data. On September 4, on the Pakistani side, two sites on the Sutlej and Ravi faced extremely high flood levels, while two other sites on the Ravi and Chenab saw very high levels. The blame game, analysts warn, can serve short-term political purposes, especially after May’s conflict. Blaming India won’t stop the floods. But it appears to be an easy way out to relinquish responsibility. (Source: Al Jazeera - Qatar)

North America

United States
Sept. 5, 2025  U.S. could take lead watching Ukraine buffer zone if peace deal with Russia comes together. The idea for a buffer zone to protect Ukraine, part of a tentative plan to guarantee its security, would have to be agreed upon in any peace deal. (Source: NBC News - U.S.)

September 4, 2025  How much aid is the U.S. still giving Ukraine? We’re no longer involved with funding Ukraine, but we are involved with trying to stop the war and the killing in Ukraine. ’So we’re selling missiles and military equipment, millions and millions and ultimately billions of dollars to the NATO people,’ Trump said. ’So, they’re funding the entire war. We’re not funding anything. I think it’s an important point to make.’ On the military side, the United States is still set to spend billions of dollars on weapons for Ukraine, while on the civilian side, aid continues to flow, albeit with significant reductions. The bulk of U.S. aid to Kyiv has come through five mammoth congressional appropriations bills totaling $175 billion in support, of which $128 billion goes to programs that directly support Ukraine’s military and civil society, according to the Council on Foreign Relations think tank. The rest goes to secondary goals related to Russia’s assault on Ukraine, such as supporting nearby countries and boosting the U.S. military presence in Europe. Of that $128 billion figure, $70.6 billion has gone to efforts that help Ukraine’s military, chiefly in the form of sending it weapons and munitions, according to report. Presidential drawdown authority (PDA) buys new U.S. weapons to replace stockpiled arms sent to Ukraine. Through two separate programs, known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF), Washington buys brand new weapons for Kyiv. The remaining money of the $128 billion has funded humanitarian programs and direct government support, which helps Ukraine pay the salaries of first responders, teachers, and other key workers. On the military side, Trump is correct in that, in his second term, Congress has announced no new funds for Ukraine. The Biden administration previously announced spending plans for all of the $70.6 billion allocated for military aid, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank. Only a portion of the previously allocated $70.6 billion in military aid has actually been delivered. Delivering weapons takes months, and building them from scratch can take years. More than $50 billion in Ukraine-related PDA, USAI, and FMF funding has been appropriated but not actually spent yet, according to the State Department. In combination with the funds expected from Europe under Trump’s plan, that means that Ukraine will continue to see levels of military aid on par with past years, according to analysis by CSIS. That means that Russia will be less likely to make breakthroughs on the battlefield. It’s not enough for offensive operations. So Ukraine will struggle to regain any ground - essentially freezing the conflict’s lines as they stand. The situation remains challenging along the 600-mile front line. On the nonmilitary side, the United States has completed the transfer of nearly all of the $33 billion allocated to the Economic Support Fund, the primary means by which Washington has paid into Kyiv’s budget, according to the State Department. The United States has not announced any further budgetary aid to Ukraine. It means that Ukraine will face as much as a $19 billion dollar budget deficit next year, according to the Financial Times. European Union member states are in discussion about how to make up the budget shortfall. However, the United States continues to spend money on humanitarian aid - 91 percent of funding for Ukraine having survived the massive cuts to global aid programs, according to a June analysis by the New York Times. Rand, a former State Department official led foreign assistance efforts for Ukraine. Surviving programs include efforts to provide water and medical services for children, according to a document sent by the State Department to Congress in March. (Source: Foreing Policy - U.S.)

September 4, 2025  Following a call between Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders who met in Paris for a Coalition of the Willing summit, a White House official said: 'President Trump emphasized that Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war – as Russia received €1.1 billion [nearly $1.3 billion] in fuel sales from the EU in one year". White House Special Envoy Witkoff also attended the meeting in Paris. The President also emphasized that European leaders must place economic pressure on China for funding Russia’s war efforts. Macron said following the meeting that some 26 nations had agreed to deploy troops by land, sea or air to Ukraine the day after a ceasefire deal is secured – a move that Putin has repeatedly condemned. (Surce: Fox News - U.S.)

3 September 2025  The 50-day deadline expires September 3. Putin has overplayed his hand. 'The United States and its allies have both the right and the ability to force' a satisfactory end of this war and it is time to do it. (Source: Brussels Signal - Belgium)
by 'Black
/Photo/

NATO

September 5, 2025  Ukraine probably won’t join NATO. Could NATO join Ukraine instead? The Kremlin has continued to reject any deployment of NATO personnel to Ukraine, including to monitor a ceasefire and to serve as peacekeepers. 'Why are we interested in what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine? It’s a sovereign country. It’s not for them to decide,' Rutte said. 'Russia has nothing to do with this.' Trump made it clear that American troops would not join in the mission. The United Kingdom, France, and Estonia have been among the countries that have volunteered for the deployment of military personnel in Ukraine. Other nations, including Poland, have indicated that they would not participate. Russia’s problems may run far deeper than its battlefield losses. Its economy remains constricted by international sanctions - and is now 'smaller than that of the US state of Texas'. We have to stop making Putin powerful - 'he’s the governor of Texas, nothing more, said Rutte'. 'Let’s not take him too seriously.' (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)

03.09.2025  Speaking at a joint news conference with Estonian President Karis in Brussels, NATO chief reiterates his call for more investment in defense. Rutte said Russia remains 'the most significant and direct threat' to the Euro-Atlantic security. 'Karis reaffirmed Estonia's commitment to continue supporting Ukraine on its path toward NATO membership'. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

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Europe

Czechia
(1 September 2025) During an election rally in Dobrá, some 376km east of the capital, Prague, the ANO (Yes) party leader - Czech opposition leader and former prime minister Andrej Babis - had been hit in the head with a metal crutch several times. He was taken to hospital by car where, after performing a CT scan, doctors discharged him. His party blamed the government for a campaign of hatred in billboards and social media. Czechs are due to vote in general elections on 3 and 4 October. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)

France
2 September 2025  Le Pen calls for new elections as her party eyes absolute majority. (Source: Brussels Signal - Belgium)

September 2, 2025  France's latest political crisis ahead of Sept. 8 confidence vote. Prime Minister Bayrou with unpopular budget plans and massive debt crisis tries to save his position holding talks this week with leaders across the political spectrum, including 'far-right' leader Le Pen. Bayrou succeeded the conservative Barnier, who was ousted after only three months in office. (Source: ABC News / Associated Press = U.S.)

’ ’ 13:48 ET, Sep 1 2025  France orders hospitals to ready for ‘WW3’ and treat hundreds of wounded soldiers per day in less than a year. The plan assumes France will become a hub for battlefield casualties. (Source: The Sun - United Kingdom) ’ ’

Germany
01.09.2025  The Germany-led military training exercise Northern Coasts began today in the Baltic Sea region with participation from NATO allies, including the US and Canada. The military exercise involves 8,000 soldiers from 14 nations, 40 ships, 30 aircraft, and more than 1,800 vehicles and will practice transporting troops and equipment to Lithuania by sea, land, and air. 'Russian President Putin is watching us. His plans extend beyond Ukraine. As armed forces, we must prepare for this,' Germany's top military commander Gen. Breuer announced at a Berlin press conference. (Source: Anadolu Agency -Turkey)

European Commission
(1 September 2025)  EU foreign policy chief Kallas has said that the bloc's credibility is at risk due to its lack of unity on the Middle East, particularly the war in Gaza. Speaking at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia today, ’Kallas acknowledged that member states remain divided over their approach to the conflict, unlike on Ukraine, where a consensus * has been reached’. (Source: TRT World - Turkey)
* ?

Russia
09/02/2025, 15.37  The China-Russia summit, which also involved other Asian countries like Mongolia, is starting to yield its first results. Gazprom's CEO announced a “legally binding agreement" with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). The pipeline, which Russia has been pushing for years, could supply up to 50 billion cubic metres of gas per year to China over 30 years. For Russia, it would be vital to offset lost markets in Europe. Chinese media have been silent on the details. (Source: AsiaNews, press agency of the Catholic Church's Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions /PIME/ - Italy)

September 2, 2025 at 9:31 AM  Putin has attacked NATO 'horror movie makers' for making up scare stories about Russia's apparent aggressive intentions. 'They keep fanning hysteria about Russia allegedly planning to attack Europe. I think that for anyone in his right mind this looks like a clear provocation or evidence of utter incompetence," Putin said during a meeting with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico today, according to TASS. (Source: Miami Herald / Newsweek = U.S.)

Ukraine
(2 September 2025)  Suspect in murder of Ukraine's ex-parliament speaker Parubiy denies Russian links. Stselnikov, 52, said it was an act of personal revenge against the Ukrainian authorities. (Source: TRT World - Turkey)

7:34 pm, September 1, 2025  Parubiy was assassinated in broad daylight. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova suggested the murder could be attributed to the group of Ukrainian divers suspected of attacking the Nord Stream pipeline, one of whom made his way from Italy to the port of Odesa. Rogov, head of the Russian Civic Chamber’s “commission on sovereignty,” claimed it ’is the result of internal power struggles and a cleanup of those who knew too much about the crimes in Odesa and Donbas.’ Miroshnik, a Russian Foreign Ministry special envoy, said that ’the new Banderites are clearing the ‘political field’ of the old Banderites in anticipation of hypothetical elections.’ Sheremt, a Russian State Duma deputy from annexed Crimea, claimed that Parubiy ’was often called an executioner’. Russian-installed authorities in occupied regions have claimed that Kyiv is behind Parubiy’s killing. Saldo, the head of the occupied Kherson region, said the murder ’shows how the Ukrainian political system is rotting from within.’ Russian state media has alleged that Parubiy ’directed snipers’ who shot participants in the clashes in Kyiv in February 2014, and that he personally oversaw and organized the fire at the Trade Unions House in Odesa in May of the same year. In 2023, the Russian Investigative Committee charged Parubiy in absentia with being responsible, as former secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, for mass shelling in the Donbas region beginning in 2014. According to investigators, the suspect is a 52-year-old resident of Lviv with no documented employment. (Source: Meduza - based in Riga, Latvia)

(Monday), 01/09/2025 - 16:31  Zelensky is set to meet European leaders in Paris on Thursday a source told AFP today. US President Trump is is not so far expected to be there, the source told. Russia has pushed back against any Western peacekeeping troops, with the Kremlin saying last week it viewed such discussions negatively. (Source: France 24 "with AFP" = France)

Asia

Afghanistan
02 September 2025  The magnitude six quake has already left more than 800 dead and at least 2,000 injured, but the total impact could be in the 'hundreds of thousands', according to the UN’s top aid official in the country, Ratwatte. (Source: The United Nations  Office at Geneva)

India
02.09.25, 04:51 PM  Azerbaijani President Aliyev met with Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif in Tianjin, China and congratulated Islamabad for what he described as Pakistan’s victory over India in the recent military conflict. India blocks Azerbaijan’s SCO bid over Pakistan tilt, China backs Baku’s entry. The reports claimed that India’s move violated principles of 'multilateral diplomacy' and was aimed at curbing Azerbaijan’s growing role in the region. (Source: The Telegraph - India)

1 September 2025 20:38  Saudi Aramco and Iraq’s state-owned SOMO have stopped selling oil to India’s Nayara Energy, in Vadinar, Gujarat, with a capacity of 400,000 barrels per day, a refinery that is majority-owned by a consortium led by Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosneft. The company normally purchased about 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil and 1 million barrels of Saudi oil per month, but last month it did not receive a single shipment from either Middle Eastern country. EU restrictions introduced in July have effectively cut Nayara off from supplies sourced from the Persian Gulf. Earlier, U.S. presidential senior advisor for trade and industry Navarro stated that India could achieve a 25% reduction in American tariffs if it stopped purchasing Russian oil. In July, India became the largest supplier of diesel to Ukraine, accounting for over 15% of the country’s total imports. (Source: Insider - Headquarters Riga, Latvia)

Israel
Sep 2, 2025 9:41 AM EDT  Israel pushes into initial stages of Gaza City offensive. At least 60,000 reservists will be gradually called up, Israel’s military said last month. It will also extend the service of an additional 20,000 reservists already serving. (Source: PBS - U.S.)

North America

United States
10:39 PM CEST, September 2, 2025  President Trump said today that the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela. Secretary of State Rubio said on X that the vessel was being operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization. He described the operation as a lethal strike. (Source: The Associated Press - U.S.)

September 2, 2025  How to understand Trump’s Russia strategy? Diplomacy with Russia is not capitulation, and talking to Putin is not a reward for good behavior. By engaging in strategic diplomacy, not only with Putin but also with other players on the gameboard, Trump has altered the dynamic in ways that will work to the US’ advantage over time, irrespective of what form the peace eventually takes, if it happens at all. All of this matters for reasons that extend beyond Ukraine. For too long, the US foreign policy establishment has rolled out the tired old Munich analogy any time a US president talks to an adversary. But diplomacy is not surrender, and talking is not a reward for good behavior. The point of diplomacy in strategy is not to transform an opponent from within but to shape his incentives in ways that make him more likely to do what you want for reasons of his own interest. That’s what Trump is attempting to do with Putin, and there’s a good chance he will succeed. (Source: The National Interest – U.S.)
by Mitchell, a principal at The Marathon Initiative and a former US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe. His new book, Great Power Diplomacy: The Skill of Statecraft from Attila the Hun to Kissinger, will be released in October 2025.

September 2, 2025  Defense Secretary Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges. (Source: The Associated Press - U.S.)

Pacific Ocean

September 2, 2025  US and Russia reveal nuclear submarine movements in Pacific. The United States and Russia have recently sent nuclear-powered submarines for Pacific missions. The U.S. Navy said the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Springfield reaffirmed its vital role in maintaining security and stability in the region during a routine deployment. Distinguished Russian navy crew members assigned to the Yasen-M-class cruise missile submarine Krasnoyarsk were awarded medals and promoted to higher military ranks. (Source: Miami Herald / Newsweek = U.S.)

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Asia

China
Monday, September 01, 2025  Chinese President Xi today pressed his vision for a new global security and economic order that prioritises the Global South, in a direct challenge to the United States, during a summit that included the leaders of Russia and India. Xi was hosting more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries at a summit in the Chinese port city of Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a China-backed initiative given renewed impetus by the presence of Russian President Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin and PM Modi were shown holding hands as they walked jovially towards Xi before the summit opened. The three men stood shoulder-to-shoulder, laughing and surrounded by interpreters. If the U.S. president and his acolytes thought they could use tariffs to pressure China, India, or Russia into submission, that (encounter) says otherwise” wrote Olander, editor-in-chief of The China-Global South Project, a research agency. Beijing has used the summit as an opportunity to mend ties with New Delhi. Modi, visiting China for the first time in seven years, and Xi agreed on Sunday their countries are development partners, not rivals, and discussed ways to improve trade. We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics, and practise true multilateralism, Xi said. Global governance has reached a new crossroads, he added. Xi did not set out any concrete measures in what he called his “Global Governance Initiative” – the latest in a series of policy frameworks from Beijing geared to promoting China’s leadership and challenging the U.S.-dominated international organisations that took shape after World War Two. Earlier, Xi also pushed for what he described as more inclusive economic globalisation amid the upheaval caused by Trump’s tariff policies, touting the SCO’s “mega-scale market” and economic opportunity. Xi called for the creation of a new SCO development bank, in what would be a major step towards the bloc’s long-held aspiration of developing an alternative payment system that circumvents the U.S. dollar and the power of U.S. sanctions. Beijing will provide 2 billion yuan ($280 million) of free aid to member states this year and a further 10 billion yuan of loans to an SCO banking consortium. China will also build an artificial intelligence cooperation centre for SCO nations, which are also invited to participate in China’s lunar research station, Xi added. Separately, Xi will preside over a massive military parade on Wednesday in Beijing where he is expected to be joined by Putin and North Korean leader Kim. That parade will feature China’s latest military technology in a show of force. Putin, whose country has forged even closer economic and security ties with China amid the fallout from the Ukraine war, said the SCO had revived genuine multilateralism, with national currencies increasingly used in mutual settlements. This, in turn, lays the political and socio-economic groundwork for the formation of a new system of stability and security in Eurasia, Putin said. “This security system, unlike Euro-centric and Euro-Atlantic models, would genuinely consider the interests of a broad range of countries, be truly balanced, and would not allow one country to ensure its own security at the expense of others.” After the summit, PM Modi shared a ride with Putin in the Russian leader’s armoured Aurus limousine en route to their bilateral meeting. China and India are the biggest buyers of crude oil from Russia, the world’s second largest exporter. Trump has imposed additional tariffs on India over the purchases but not on China. (Source: DD News, an Indian Hindi-language public broadcast television news channel / Reuters – United Kingdom)

Iran
Monday, September 01, 2025  UN Security Council permanent members China and Russia backed Iran today in rejecting a move by European countries to reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran loosened a decade ago under a nuclear agreement. A letter signed by the Chinese, Russian and Iranian foreign ministers said a move by Britain, France and Germany to automatically restore the sanctions under a so-called snapback mechanism was legally and procedurally flawed. China and Russia were signatories to Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, along with the three European countries. Iran and the E3 held talks aimed at a new nuclear agreement after Israel and the U.S. bombed Iran’s nuclear installations in mid-June. But the E3 deemed that talks in Geneva last week did not yield sufficient signals of readiness for a new deal from Iran. The Europeans launched the snapback mechanism last week, accusing Iran of violating the deal, which had provided relief from international financial sanctions in return for curbs to Iran’s nuclear programme. President Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in his first term in 2018. Iran has long since broken through the limits on uranium production set under the 2015 deal, arguing that it is justified in doing so as a consequence of Washington having pulled out of the agreement. The deal expires in October this year, and the snapback mechanism would allow sanctions that were lifted under it to take effect again. (Source: DD News – India / Reuters – United Kingdom)

NATO

September 1, 2025  In June, following pressure from President Trump, NATO countries formally committed to spending 5 percent of GDP on defense by 2035: 3.5 percent on 'core' defense spending and 1.5 percent on 'non-core' defense spending on bolstering critical infrastructure and civil preparedness. The United States 'needs to pivot to the Indo-Pacific'. That means its European allies must shoulder the main responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense - but America remains committed to NATO and will provide certain strategic enablers. Poland, the Baltics, the Nordics, and Germany - all plan to reach 3.5 percent of core defense spending well before 2035. Countries that are increasing their defense spending and may be able to reach 5 percent by 2035 – France, Greece, North Macedonia, Hungary, Czechia, Romania, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Albania, and Montenegro - all agreed to reach the 5 percent target by 2035. Countries that say they will reach the 5 percent number by 2035 but whose paths to 5 percent are hazy - Italy, Belgium, Slovenia, Croatia, Portugal, Luxembourg, and Canada - all agreed to spend 5 percent by 2035; however, they were all well below the 2 percent threshold in 2024 and have historically been unreliable defense spenders. Slovakia - despite being at 2 percent in 2024 - hinted that it would not increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP. Many of these countries also face serious financial and political constraints that will make the 3.5 percent target difficult to attain. Their path to reaching the goal is less clear. The country that altogether refuses the new defense spending goal is Spain. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)
by Beaver, a Senior Policy Advisor for defense budgeting at The Heritage Foundation; Kurzweil, a member of Heritage’s Young Leadership Program.

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Europe

European Commission
' 31/08/2025  'Europe' has ‘pretty precise’ plan to send troops to Ukraine, von der Leyen said. She spoke while on a tour of eastern EU states close to Russia this weekend. Last week, defence chiefs from the so-called coalition of the willing met and had worked out 'pretty precise plans', der Leyen said, ’including discussions on the necessary items for a functioning build-up of troops’. ’Putin has not changed, he is a predator,’ she said. ’Brussels’ existing funding streams to Ukraine, including budgetary support, would need to remain during peacetime’, von der Leyen said, ’meaning that an extra payment has to be provided for the Ukrainian armed forces’. The EU 'will also maintain funding for the training of Ukrainian soldiers after any peace deal'. ’It is encouraging member states to use a €150 billion loans-for-arms fund to either enter into joint production agreements with Ukrainian defence companies or to purchase weapons that can be given to Kyiv’ she said. The character of warfare has completely changed, she added, citing ’the need for EU militaries’ to invest in drones, air and missile defence, space and cyber capabilities. Der Leyen’s remarks came amid planning for a meeting of European leaders this week at which they are set to firm up national commitments to the western force. Those who met Trump in Washington are expected to gather in Paris on Thursday at the invitation of France’s President Macron to continue the discussions. ' (Source: Luxembourg Times / The Financial Times - headquarters London, England)

Russia
August 2025  The scale of Russian sabotage operations against Europe’s critical infrastructure. (Source: The International Institute for Strategic Studies - U.S.)
/Map/ of certitudes: 'Realistically possible; Likely; Highly likely; Almost certain'.

United Kingdom
Sunday 31 August 2025 15:31 BST  ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’, Venice film-review. Law is an intense, torso-baring Putin in this mediocre drama. ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’ is awaiting UK release. (Source: The Independent - United Kingdom)

Asia

China
(Sunday), 31.08.25, 11:30 AM  Russian President Putin arrived to attend the Shanghai Cooperation (SCO) summit. Russia and China have taken a common stand against 'discriminatory sanctions" that hinder the socioeconomic development of BRICS member countries and the world at large, Putin remarked in an interview with China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. He said that Russia and China are paying special attention to mobilising additional resources for critical infrastructure projects, and stand united in strengthening BRICS' ability to address pressing global challenges. Putin's remarks came in the backdrop of US President Trump threatening the member countries of intergovernmental organisation BRICS with 10 per cent tariffs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to meet Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit being held here from Sunday to Monday. In the written interview with Xinhua, Putin said Russia and China support reforming the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The two sides share the view that a new financial system must be built on the principles of "openness and true equity", which can provide equal and non-discriminatory access to its tools for all countries and reflect the real standing of member states in the global economy. "We seek progress for the benefit of all humanity”, he said. Besides attending the summit and holding talks with Chinese President Xi, Putin will also attend China’s V-Day parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its victory against Japan in WWII. He hoped that the SCO Tianjin Summit will inject powerful new momentum into the 10-member organisation and strengthen its capacity to respond to contemporary challenges and threats, and consolidate solidarity across the shared Eurasian space. All this will help shape a fairer multipolar world order, he said. The SCO's appeal lies in its simple but powerful principles: a firm commitment to its founding philosophy, openness to equal cooperation, not targeting third parties, and respect for the national characteristics and uniqueness of each nation, he said. "Drawing on these values, the SCO contributes to shaping a fairer, multipolar world order, grounded in international law, with the central coordinating role of the United Nations," he said. (Source: The Telegraph - India)

Gaza
August 31, 2025 | 10:28 AM  Death toll hits 76 since dawn Saturday due to Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. (Source: Gulf Times - Qatar)

5 8 31.10:10

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Europe

Hungary
30.08.2025  In the aftermath of the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, EU’s foreign policy chief Kallas said the EU is exploring the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's defense and reconstruction. She said: 'Russia is not preparing for peace. It is the opposite. They are preparing for more war.' In response to this, Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó said on the US social media company X: 'At today’s EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Copenhagen it became clear that Brussels and most member states are preparing for a long war, not peace.' They want to send tens of billions of euros to Ukraine for soldiers’ salaries, drones, weapons, and the operation of the Ukrainian state, he added. Szijjártó criticized the EU Commission for prioritizing Kyiv over member states. 'They completely ignore Hungarians in Transcarpathia and our energy security, still refusing to answer the joint letter we sent with Slovakia on Ukraine endangering our supply route,' he added. He outlined Hungary’s position: supporting only a US-Russia peace agreement, rejecting Ukraine’s fast-tracked EU accession, refusing to fund the Ukrainian army, and opposing sanctions that could hit Hungarian energy supply and household costs. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey) 

Germany
29.08.2025  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking today at a joint news conference with French President Macron in Toulon, said that 'Europeans should be prepared for a prolonged war' in Ukraine due to what he called Russia's reluctance to engage in negotiations. He said the US and its European allies should carefully discuss potential steps next week to increase pressure on Russia, compelling it to engage in diplomacy with Ukraine and accept a ceasefire. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

August 28, 2025  Russia or its proxies are flying surveillance drones over routes that the United States and its allies use to ferry military supplies through eastern Germany, concentrated in the eastern German state of Thuringia, collecting intelligence that could be used to bolster the Kremlin's sabotage campaign and assist its troops in Ukraine, according to U.S. and other Western officials. In written testimony to the Senate in June, Gen. Grynkewich, now the head of U.S. European Command, said targeted sabotage incidents had declined this year due to heightened public scrutiny and robust law enforcement efforts by European authorities. (Source: Miami Herald - U.S.)

European Commission
30.08.2025  Foreign ministers of EU member states are gathering in Copenhagen, Denmark for an informal meeting to discuss international issues. The agenda includes military support to Ukraine, potential sanctions on Russia, using Russian frozen assets to contribute to Ukraine's reconstruction, as well as discussions on recent developments in the Middle East and Gaza. The EU’s foreign policy chief Kallas, 4, also addressed the humanitarian situation in Gaza. “The situation in Gaza is going to be discussed today. And what more can we do as EU, we have made some proposals. We haven't, unfortunately, moved on those'. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

29.08.2025  Following an informal meeting of EU defense ministers, EU foreign policy chief Kallas said today that there is broad support among member states 'to expand the bloc’s military mission to provide training and advice inside Ukraine' after any truce. 'We have trained over 80,000 soldiers so far, and we must be ready to do more. This could include placing EU trainers in Ukraine and military academies and institutions,'  she noted, adding that 'the bloc’s civilian mission could also strengthen Ukraine’s resilience' against Russian hybrid attacks. She also noted that the bloc’s military 'and civilian operations' will continue to be evaluated. Kallas said discussions on EU defense readiness, record defense spending would continue ahead of the October European Council. Danish Defense Minister Poulsen also said Ukraine required urgent support. He added that Denmark will soon invite the first Ukrainian defense company to start production inside the country, in a safe environment. He also expects that more Ukrainian defense companies will follow later this year. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

Aug. 28, 2025 / 11:29 AM  "Following last night's attack on Kyiv, our British Council office has been severely damaged and will be closed to visitors until further notice," the Council said on X. The European Union's delegation in Kyiv 'was also severely damaged' in the attack. Two Russian missiles hit within 54 yards of the EU offices within about 20 seconds. The delegation is still "fully operational' and "open,' a spokesperson told. Der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said she was outraged by the attack and confirmed that no member of the delegation had been harmed. She promised that the E.U. will add a new package of 'hard biting' sanctions soon. While the world seeks a path to peace, Russia responds with missiles, High Representative Kallas said on X and announced she was summoning the Russian envoy in Brussels, Malayan. No diplomatic mission should ever be a target, Kallas said. "The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 created protection for diplomatic and consular premises against intrusion or damage, but during war, it's common for these buildings to suffer damage'. (Source: UPI - U.S.)

European Union
30.08.2025  Meeting of EU defense ministers: Sweden, Belgium, Lithuania back stronger support. Swedish Defense Minister Jonson said security guarantees for Ukraine must be robust and include US engagement. Jonson noted Sweden could contribute in the air domain or in the maritime domain if conditions are met. Belgian Defense Minister Francken pledged military and training assistance, highlighting the delivery of fighter jets. ’On Ukraine, with everything we have, also F-16 will be delivered as soon as possible,’ he said. He noted that training Ukrainian soldiers outside Ukraine was preferable until a cease-fire due to security risks. Lithuanian Defense Minister Sakaliene stressed that “Putin is not to be trusted’ and that the best security guarantee is twofold: strong Ukrainian army and pressure on Russia. She added that secondary sanctions were the most efficient mechanism to cut cash flow to Moscow’s war machine and confirmed Lithuania’s €30 million ($35 million) contribution under the ’April format’ weapons list initiative. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

Russia
August 30, 2025 10:33 CET  Ukrainian drone forces struck two major Russian oil refineries - Krasnodar in southern Russia and Syzran in the Samara region - overnight on August 30, igniting fires and causing explosions in facilities key to supplying fuel for Russian military units. The Krasnodar refinery produces around 3 million tons of gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel annually, while the Syzran plant can process up to 8.5 million tons each year. Russian forces launched one of the largest aerial offensives in weeks, firing 537 drones and 45 missiles at targets across Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force said it successfully intercepted 510 drones and 38 missiles, though five missiles and 24 drones struck seven locations. Falling debris was recorded at 21 sites. In Zaporizhzhya, residential areas, apartment blocks, and industrial sites were damaged, with multiple fires reported at the impact zone. No new date has been set for further talks between the two governments. Meanwhile, the United States approved an $8.5-billion deal to sell Patriot air-defense systems to Denmark, which plans to forward the systems to Ukraine to reinforce its air defenses. Other NATO countries are making similar arrangements. (Source: RfERl - U.S.)

Ukraine
30.08.2025  According to Ukrainian media, Parubiy was shot eight times in Lviv, and as a result of his injuries, he died instantly. Between February and August 2014, he served as the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council. Parubiy played a significant role in the Euromaidan protests and held influential positions in government and security agencies. He began his political career as a lawmaker and served as speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, from 2016 until 2019. Parubiy was believed to be a member of former Ukrainian President Poroshenko's team, whom the country's media and experts dubbed "Zelenskyy's main rival and opponent." (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)

August 29, 2025, Friday // 10:10  European leaders are exploring the creation of a 40 kilometer buffer zone on Ukrainian territory as part of potential ceasefire or postwar arrangements with Russia, Politico reported on August 28, citing five European diplomats. The proposed buffer zone would likely involve territorial concessions from Ukraine, though it remains unclear if Kyiv would accept such terms. Some European officials have expressed concerns that the zone could put Ukrainian cities at greater risk, warning that it may be ineffective against an adversary unwilling to negotiate in good faith. ’French and British troops are expected to constitute the bulk of any peacekeeping force, with additional allies potentially providing military equipment’. Estimates for the number of peacekeepers range from 4,000 to 60,000, pending decisions from Kyiv’s allies. Peacekeepers would be tasked with patrolling the demilitarized area ’and training Ukrainian forces’. European partners await guidance from the Department of Defense regarding America’s role. The United States is not directly involved, even as President Trump continues efforts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. The U.S. has ruled out sending troops. Washington may provide technical support. NATO members on the alliance’s eastern flank, including Poland, have raised concerns that deploying large numbers of troops to Ukraine could reduce their defensive presence elsewhere. Russia has shown little willingness to cooperate toward peace. On August 24, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated that Moscow would not accept Zelensky’s signature on documents defining terms to end the war, repeatedly challenging his legitimacy. Presidential aides Yermak and Umerov are scheduled to travel to New York to discuss security guarantees and future talks, according to Zelensky. Overnight on August 28, Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv killed at least 23 people, including four children, and wounded 63 others, highlighting the ongoing volatility. While Trump has advocated for a bilateral summit between Zelensky and Putin, followed by a potential trilateral meeting, European officials emphasized that Russia continues to target civilians, making direct negotiations increasingly difficult. ’The European Commission is considering a plan to channel nearly €200 billion in frozen Russian assets into a special fund’ to support Ukraine’s postwar recovery. ’The plan could serve as a step toward eventual confiscation of Russian assets, though immediate seizure is opposed by many EU members” due to legal and financial concerns. The scheme is set to be discussed during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen, with proponents including Economy Commissioner Dombrovskis and foreign policy chief Kallas. ’Baltic states and some other EU countries advocate full confiscation, but larger nations such as Germany, Italy, remain cautious”. Critics, including Euroclear CEO Urbain, have warned that any losses from riskier operations could fall on EU taxpayers. Countries farther from Russia, such as Spain, and Belgium are showing increasing support for the initiative. (Source: Novinite - Bulgaria)

August 29, 2025  Mapping the Russia-Ukraine war endgame. Ukraine faces a difficult choice: end the war and risk conceding territory or fight on and absorb more material, manpower, and territorial losses. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)
by Allison, the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at Harvard University, where he has taught for five decades. Allison is a leading analyst of national security with special interests in nuclear weapons, Russia, China, and decision-making. Allison was the Founding Dean of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and, until 2017, served as Director of its Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, which is ranked the “#1 University Affiliated Think Tank” in the world.

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.  Diplomatic efforts to reach peace have stalled. Since U.S. President Trump met with Putin in Alaska earlier this month to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, few details have emerged about the next step, while Russian troops move deeper into Ukraine. This week, Ukrainian military leaders conceded Russian forces have broken into an eighth region of Ukraine seeking to capture more ground. Russia launched a major air attack early today. Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 598 strike drones and decoys and 31 missiles of different types across the country, most of them striking targets in Kyiv, that included a rare strike on the city center, killing at least 18 people, wounding 48. The numbers were expected to rise. At least 33 locations across all 10 of the city's districts were directly hit or damaged by debris, Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s city administration. said. Nearly 100 buildings were damaged. Ukraine’s national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, reported damage to its infrastructure in the Vinnytsia and Kyiv regions, causing delays and requiring trains to use alternative routes. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it carried out a strike against military air bases and companies „within Ukraine’s military-industrial complex” using long-range weapons, including Kinzhal missiles. All designated objects were hit, the ministry said in a statement. Ukraine has ramped up domestic arms production to fight Russia’s invasion. Many weapons factories operate covertly, with some embedded in civilian areas with superior air defenses. Indiscriminate Russian attacks claiming to target Ukraine’s defense industry have killed many civilians. European Commission President der Leyen said two strikes landed about 50 meters from the EU Mission to Ukraine building in Kyiv. She said no staff were injured in the strike. ’In response, we are summoning the Russian envoy in Brussels,’ Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said today in a post on X. The British Council, said its Kyiv office had been severely damaged in the attack and was closed to visitors until further notice. A guard was injured, council chief executive McDonald posted on X. The Russian ambassador to London was summoned to the foreign office. The Russian Defense Ministry said it shot down 102 Ukrainian drones overnight, mostly in the country’s southwest. A drone attack sparked a blaze at the Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, while a second fire was reported at the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in the Samara region in an attempt to weaken Russia’s war economy, causing gas stations in some Russian regions to run dry and prices to spike. (Source: Bowen Island Undercurrent - British Columbia, Canada / The Associated Press – U.S.)

Europe
Aug. 30, 2025  Anti-immigration parties have already entered government in countries such as Italy, Finland and the Netherlands. 'Populist' right wing parties lead polls in Europe’s three biggest countries of the U.K., France, and Germany. The first time they have been ahead in Europe’s biggest economies. 'That could provoke a period of political turbulence in all three countries', even if national elections are likely still a few years away. (Source: The Wall Street Journal – U.S.)

Asia

Gaza
30/08/2025 - 10:52  The Israeli military yesterday declared Gaza City a dangerous combat zone before a new offensive in the Palestinian enclave's largest city. (Source: France 24)

Indonesia
29 Aug 2025  Nationwide protests began on Monday, when black-clad demonstrators threw rocks and set off fireworks at riot police as they attempted to break into Indonesia’s parliament building. Public unrest continued the following days, but on Thursday, a video on social media showing the death of a motorcycle taxi driver shocked the nation and spurred more violence against security forces. They follow reports that 580 parliamentarians receive a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,000) in addition to their salaries. The allowance, introduced last year, is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage and about 20 times the monthly minimum wage in poor areas of the country. Police and members of parliament are often accused of corruption in the country of more than 280 million people. Protesters claim taxes and inflation are making life impossible for many. Organisers have been demanding that the minimum wage be raised in accordance with inflation rates. Indonesia’s general-turned-president Prahowo is expected to depart for Tianjin, China, over the weekend, to participate in meetings on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. He is also expected to join Chinese President Xi and other leaders at a military parade on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia. (Source: Al Jazeera - Qatar)

Iran
30 Aug 2025  Iran has arrested eight people suspected of attempting to transmit the coordinates of sensitive sites and details about senior military figures during the country’s 12-day war - that began on June 13 with Israel and the United States - to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, according to its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alleging that the suspects had received specialised training from Mossad via online platforms. It said they were apprehended in northeastern Iran before carrying out their plans, and that materials for making launchers, bombs, explosives and booby traps had been seized. State media reported earlier this month that Iranian police had arrested as many as 21,000 suspects during the June conflict. Iran has executed at least eight people in recent months, including nuclear scientist Vadi, hanged on August 9 for passing information to Israel about another scientist who was killed in Israeli air strikes. The Israel-US-Iran conflict has also led to an accelerated rate of deportations for Afghan refugees and migrants believed to be illegally in Iran. Local authorities have also accused some Afghan nationals of spying for Israel. “Law enforcement rounded up 2,774 illegal migrants and discovered 30 special security cases by examining their phones. [A total of] 261 suspects of espionage and 172 people accused of unauthorised filming were also arrested,” police spokesperson Montazerolmahdi said earlier this month. He added that Iran’s police handled more than 5,700 cases of cybercrimes such as online fraud and unauthorised withdrawals during the war, which he said had turned “cyberspace into an important battlefront” (Source: Al Jazeera - Qatar)

Yemen
29/08/2025 11:10 GMT+2  Iran-backed Houthi PM Rahawi was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's capital. Rahawi died in his Sanaa apartment during the Israeli strikes, several of his associates - top military officials, including the group's defence minister Atifi - were killed in the same strike. ’Whoever raises a hand against Israel  -  his hand will be cut off," Israeli Defence Minister Katz, who approved the strikes along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said. The Houthis, who control most of the country's northwestern region including the Red Sea coast and the capital Sanaa, have regularly launched missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea throughout the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Trump administration announced a deal with the Houthis to end the strikes in return for an end to attacks on shipping in May. However, the group said the agreement did not include halting attacks on targets it believed were aligned with Israel. (Source: Euronews - based in Lyon, France)

Australia

30 Aug 2025  Australia has announced an agreement with the tiny Pacific nation Nauru enabling it to send hundreds of immigrants to the barren island. The deal affects more than 220 immigrants in Australia, including some convicted of serious crimes. The Sydney Morning Herald said that Australia would pay Nauru Aus$408 million (US$267 million) and about Aus$70 million a year thereafter under the deal. "Anyone who doesn't have a valid visa should leave the country," Burke said in a statement. Australia's government has been searching for a way to deal with immigrants who have no other country to go to when their visas are cancelled. Nauru, population 12,500, is one of the world's smallest countries with a mainland measuring just 20 square kilometres. (Source: The Peninsula - Qatar)

North America

Mexico
(August 30, 2025)  The Trump administration weighs possible military action against Mexican drug-trafficking organizations. Guadalajara, a World Cup site next year, lies in a cartel stronghold where young people are mysteriously disappearing. Guadalajara is nicknamed Mexico’s Silicon Valley, boasting offices for more than 1,000 tech companies, including Intel, Oracle and IBM. It’s also the capital of Jalisco state, which has suffered the most disappearances in Mexico: more than 15,700. They’re a sign of the insidious presence of the Jalisco New Generation cartel and the breakdown of order in even the most industrialized parts of the country. The U.S. government has labeled six Mexican cartels, including Jalisco New Generation, as terrorist groups. The Pentagon is considering attacking them with drones or missiles, as it did the islamic state. Cartel activity is hardly new in Jalisco. In the 1980s, the Guadalajara crime network smuggled huge amounts of cocaine and marijuana over the U.S. border. It was the era of swaggering, hard-partying druglords - Gallardo, ’El Chapo’ Guzmán, Quintero - chronicled in the Netflix series ’Narcos: Mexico.’ It was largely an export business, with little presence in local communities. What changed, in a radical way, is that territorial control became key. Today, Jalisco New Generation cells occupy Mexican towns and neighborhoods, and extract millions of dollars through extortion and the sale of drugs and contraband goods. As Trump considers attacking drug gangs, it offers a cautionary tale. Mexican cartels aren’t dependent on a handful of high-profile extremists. They’re among the country’s top employers and often have relationships with local politicians and police. Disappearances are a sign of their hidden control. Killing or capturing a few leaders is unlikely to destroy their structures. Now in Mexico more than 132,000 people are missing. In the first investigation of its kind, a U.N. committee is studying whether Mexicans are being disappeared ’in a generalized or systematic way’. The U.N. Committee on Enforced Disappearances concluded a years-long investigation into Mexico’s crisis. It asked for Mexico’s response. There had already been signs that cartels were abducting people for labor. A study published in Science magazine in 2023 estimated they take in 350 new employees per week. Some join willingly, others are forced. But the U.N. committee under international law noted: ’enforced disappearance’ means the government is involved - whether it’s by security forces, or criminals who enjoy ’the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State.’ President Sheinbaum denied the charge. “In Mexico, the government doesn’t carry out forced disappearances,” she told reporters. “There’s a phenomenon of disappearance linked to organized crime, and we’re doing everything in our hands to fight it.” The Jalisco state government has also taken steps to address the crisis. It recently established a ministry to coordinate intelligence and strategy to find the disappeared. It’s tried to help families find mass graves by using high-tech drones. It has launched campaigns to warn young people about cartel recruitment. In July a grave site was found by a construction company in Zapopan, in Jalisco state. Barrientos, the state commissioner in charge of searching for the missing, acknowledged that corrupt officials have sometimes been involved in disappearances. Three former local police officers have been accused of aiding in disappearances. In the past seven years, more than 300 government employees in Jalisco have been investigated in connection with disappearances, according to the state justice department. People are disappeared in Jalisco for many reasons. Some are involved in drug trafficking. Others did something to aggravate a cartel boss. People can be snatched because they witnessed a crime, or by mistake. The Mexican government hasn’t created a functional justice system, so criminals operate relatively freely. Only about 1 percent of crimes reported in Jalisco last year ended up with a culprit sentenced, researchers reported recently. Such lawlessness wouldn’t be resolved by a military strike by the Trump administration. A unilateral attack would also enrage a country with deep memories of past American invasions. “ (Source: The Washington Post - U.S.)

United States
30 Aug (2025)  US President Trump expressed confidence that a trilateral summit involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine will take place in the future, though he is uncertain whether Russian President Putin will meet with Zelensky, Trump said in an interview with The Daily Caller. On August 27, Russian presidential press secretary Peskov stated that the Russian side remains committed to resolving the Ukrainian conflict preferably through political and diplomatic means. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov emphasized, Russia is ready to engage in negotiations on Ukraine in any format, provided that the process is honest and not reduced to drawing the United States into Europe’s military campaign. (Source: TASS - Russia)

(Saturday), August 30, 2025 12:11pm Updated August 30, 2025 4:15pm  The president disappeared for days. He hasn’t even been seen in public since Wednesday. There has been absolutely no confirmation on where he has been, or even any news on his health. A pizza shop tracker, which tracks the number of deliveries to various important places, has noticed a spike of activity near the Pentagon, which typically means there is something big happening. But it might be due to a US missile cruiser heading towards the Caribbean. Vice President Vance, in trying to quash the rumours, only made it worse, insisting he is ready to take the top job in case of a ‘terrible tragedy’. He told USA Today: ‘Yes, terrible tragedies happen. But I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people. ‘And if, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten over the last 200 days.’ Images emerged of him this morning with his granddaughter Kai on the south lawn of the White House, and they are due to fly to the Trump National golf course in Virginia. Trump was meant to be at his resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, for the final two weeks of August before Labor Day on September 1. But he scrapped plans to travel, and decided to stay on in the White House, The Washington Times reports. (Source: Metro - United Kingdom)

Saturday, 30 August 2025  US appeals court rules most Trump tariffs illegal; In its decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., said: "The statute bestows significant authority on the President to undertake a number of actions in response to a declared national emergency, but none of these actions explicitly include the power to impose tariffs, duties, or the like, or the power to tax.' The court allowed the tariffs to remain in place through October 14 to give the Trump administration time to file an appeal with the US Supreme Court. President calls ruling incorrect. Trump’s Department of Justice argued that the law allows tariffs under emergency provisions enabling a president to "regulate" imports or block them completely. (Source: The Telegraph - India / Reuters - United Kingdom)

30.08.25  The White House has informed Congress it intends to cancel $4.9 billion that lawmakers approved for foreign aid programmes, invoking a little-known and legally untested power to slash spending without their approval. As a “pocket rescission”, it is an effort to unilaterally claw back money that has already been appropriated by waiting so late in the fiscal year, which ends on September 30, to make the request that lawmakers do not have time to reject it before the funding expires. The request largely targets accounts funding the US’ contributions to the UN and soft power programmes run by the state department and the US Agency for International Development, which has already largely been dismantled. The single biggest clawback would be a $445 million cut to US funding of peacekeeping operations abroad, including through the United Nations. The request also proposes a $132-million rescission of the $140 million approved by Congress for the Democracy Fund at the state department. (Source: Telegraph India / "New York Times News Service" - U.S.)

30 Aug (2025)  President Trump is in talks with European countries about the potential deployment of US private military companies (PMC) personnel to Ukraine to provide security guarantees, The Daily Telegraph reported. The PMC employees would reportedly assist in building fortifications and new military bases, as well as safeguarding US business interests in Ukraine. European analysts view the deployment of private contractors as a potential deterrent to Russia. The report added that using PMCs instead of active-duty US troops could also ease concerns among Trump supporters who oppose Washington’s direct involvement in foreign military operations. (Source: TASS - Russia)

Saturday 30 August (2025)  US blocks Palestinian President Abbas and 80 other officials from United Nations' annual meeting in New York. US secretary of state Rubio has revoked the US visas of delegates from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), and denied others from applying for one. "It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,' a statement from the US State Department said. It added that, to be considered partners for peace, both groups "must consistently repudiate terrorism, and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by US law and as promised by the PLO". The State of Palestine is an observer member of the UN, meaning it can speak at meetings but not vote on resolutions. Under a 1947 UN agreement, the US is generally required to allow access for foreign diplomats to the UN in New York. But Washington has said it can deny visas for security, extremism and foreign policy reasons. (Source: Sky News - United Kingdom)

August 28, 2025  The United States is capable of producing 600 Patriot missile interceptors a year, and has deployed around 30 to counter Iranian attacks on US bases in Qatar. Other critical capabilities, such as long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, may also be facing shortages in supply caused by low production rates and high usage in strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels - 80 Tomahawk munitions were used in the first two days of Operation Prosperity Guardian in 2024, compared to the total 55 munitions procured by the Navy in 2023. Considering the American strikes in Iran and the continued supply of arms to Israel and Ukraine over the past two years, protecting American stockpiles and ensuring the availability of critical material capabilities ought to be a central element of any arms deal Washington pursues within or outside of NATO. Under a new deal, the Trump administration has resumed providing military supplies to Ukraine via an arrangement where NATO members purchase armaments directly from the United States, most notably Patriot air defense systems, and distribute them to Ukraine. This deal is prioritizing European peace of mind over American material capabilities and long-term planning. Rather than patting themselves on the back for a job well done, policymakers in Washington should view the new NATO deal as a short-term solution for European interests. Regardless of events occurring in Ukraine, the Trump administration should reflect and act on delineating European interests from American priorities, and make clear to European leaders that 'the defense of Europe' is primarily a European problem, not an American one. (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)
By Collins, a Contributing Fellow at Defense Priorities.

South America

Argentina
(August 28, 2025)  Argentine diplomat Grossi, the current head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has formally announced his intention to run for the post of United Nations secretary general. Trained in Political Science at the Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), Grossi earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in International Relations and History at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. He joined the Argentine diplomatic corps in 1985. The secretary general seat will become vacant in January 2027. (Source: Buenos Aires Times - Argentina)

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Europe

Denmark
Wednesday, August 27, 2025  Denmark’s foreign minister Rasmussen has summoned charge d’affaires Stroh, the chief U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen over reports that several American citizens were conducting an influence operation in Greenland. One of the men traveled to Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, and collected a list of individuals who support President Trump. The people mentioned in the list would form the base of a secessionist party in Greenland. This is the second time Denmark has summoned Mr. Stroh this year over concerns of U.S. influence operations inside of Greenland. (Source: The Washington Times - U.S.)

Germany
August 27, 2025  Forget rearmament: Germany needs to focus on unmanned weapons. There is no way that Germany will be able to achieve its existing mobilization and rearmament goals as currently stated - but cheap and effective naval drones could provide an alternative.  (Source: The National Interest - U.S.)