Nonpartisan think tank on global affairs
Trump has pressured Netanyahu as a broader Iran crisis continues, with Washington seeking an exit from a costly conflict while Netanyahu faces elections and legal scrutiny. Both sides show restraint after earlier strikes, but the deadlock remains.
[Synopsis]
NATO leaders have met in Ankara after months of U.S. threats to scale back forces in Europe and repeated U.S. demands that allies raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Tensions over the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and U.S. troop reviews have strained transatlantic ties, while European governments are increasing procurement and planning to assume more conventional defence responsibilities.
The Strait of Hormuz could see a formal system to charge ships for passage as countries near the waterway explore governance changes after a war that disrupted oil flows. Oman is signaling flexibility on fees while stressing any scheme will align with international law, and Washington remains opposed to tolls.
Marine Le Pen faces a key appeal ruling over a 2025 EU funds embezzlement conviction and a five-year ban on holding public office. The outcome could restore her bid, trim the ban, or keep her from running, reshaping the National Rally’s path to the presidency in 2027.
Oman is navigating a delicate path between Iran and the United States as talks over tolls on the Strait of Hormuz continue. Analysts say any fee regime would operate within legal limits, but the idea risks provoking regional pushback while maintaining critical shipping routes for a market dependent on energy flows.
China has test‑launched a long‑range ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine into the South Pacific carrying a dummy warhead. Beijing has said the launch was routine and that relevant countries were notified; Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Pacific states have condemned the test as destabilising and said notice was insufficient.
Marine Le Pen remains under a court ruling over alleged misuse of European Parliament funds. A fresh appeal could bar her from office, lifting Bardella into the lead. The National Rally’s future now hinges on the outcome, with the 2027 election in view.
President Donald Trump has overridden the NATO agenda at a summit in Ankara by pressing allies to boost defence spending, threatening trade with Spain, and floating withdrawal of US troops from Europe. He has also signalled he will lift sanctions on Turkey and is considering selling F‑35 jets and engines to Ankara, prompting Israeli and European alarm.
Modi has stepped up engagement across the Indo-Pacific, signing agreements with Indonesia, Australia and others amid regional security tensions. China has tested a ballistic missile in the Pacific, prompting concerns over Beijing's expanding military reach. Modi's three-nation tour highlights New Delhi's aim to shape regional balance.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as the United States reimposes a blockade on Iran and Iran asserts control over the waterway. Experts say escalating actions threaten global oil shipping, with discussions of large-scale military deployments and potential ground forces to secure the strait. Cross-border tensions are fueling price volatility and drawing international attention.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he believes Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu belongs before the International Criminal Court and has told the city's law department to review whether existing New York law allows detaining Netanyahu if he visits for the UN General Assembly. President Donald Trump has posted that Netanyahu will not be arrested in the United States.
Drones have targeted Zawiya’s water and power infrastructure, destroying a substation and a fuel tank as clashes rise in western Libya. No group has claimed responsibility, while officials warn the attacks threaten GNU stability and fuel supplies.
The United States has reduced two major joint military exercises with South Korea — cutting the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise from 11 days to five and suspending the Ssangyong marine drill — citing limited U.S. force availability tied to the war in Iran and presidential orders. Seoul and Washington are consulting on when to resume training while Pyongyang has launched ballistic missiles in response.
Reliquary fragments of Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy’s right hand have been dispatched by the Russian Orthodox Church to front-line units in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, signaling a moral boost for Moscow’s forces amid the ongoing war. The relic’s journey follows the uncovering of Donskoy’s sarcophagus during Kremlin restoration work and comes as religious authorities align with state narratives of victory.