Australia – Japan
(Gordon Arthur – Defense News) Australia has moved to reverse a decline in the number of warships, as its surface combatant fleet stands to fall to its smallest size since World War II. Under Project Sea 3000, Australia and Japan inked a deal to buy three upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The contract was signed by the two countries’ defense ministers aboard JS Kumano in Melbourne earlier this month. – Massive frigate buy from Japan jolts Australian warship program
Europe
(Eliza Gkritsi – Politico) National capitals are skeptical and even downright dismissive of a new application created by the European Commission to check the age of internet users, government ministers and officials told POLITICO. The EU executive on Wednesday will recommend that countries use an app it designed to protect kids from online harms, as governments roll out age checks for illegal content such as pornography, alcohol — and, likely soon, social media. But government officials from eight member countries told POLITICO they are unsure, reluctant and even unwilling to adopt the EU app. Many said they preferred their own national solutions instead. – Capitals cool on Brussels age-check app – POLITICO
(Max Griera – Politico) Europe’s Socialists have spent years scolding the center-right for cutting deals with the far right. Now they are facing the same charge. When Romania’s Social Democrats (PSD) on Monday teamed up with the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) to topple Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and the centrist coalition government they had previously backed, lawmakers in Brussels said the center left is doing what exactly what it has long accused the center-right European People’s Party of: enabling the forces it has vowed to isolate. If PSD topples the government and strikes a coalition with AUR, “they would be crossing a red line they themselves have set in Europe: refusing political cooperation with extremist forces,” Vula Tsetsi, chair of the European Green Party, said. – Europe’s Socialists face far-right reckoning after Romania deal – POLITICO
Europe – Israel – Ukraine
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) The European Union has approached Israel regarding a Russian vessel, carrying what Ukraine described as grain stolen from it, that was allowed to dock in the Israeli port of Haifa, an EU foreign affairs spokesperson said on Tuesday. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Israel’s ambassador had been summoned over what he described as Israeli inaction in allowing shipments of grain to enter the country from Russian-occupied Ukraine. – EU says it has approached Israel over Russian grain boat that docked in Haifa
Gaza – Israel
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Israeli authorities are systematically depriving people in Gaza of the water they need to live, Doctors Without Borders warned Tuesday, decrying a campaign of “collective punishment” against Palestinians. The extensive destruction of civilian water infrastructure in Gaza coupled with obstruction of access constitutes “an integral part of Israel’s genocide,” said the medical charity, which goes by its French acronym MSF. – Israel using water access as ‘weapon’ in Gaza: MSF
Germany
(Tim Martin – Breaking Defense) European manufacturer Rheinmetall said today that it has received a €1.04 billion ($1.2 billion) “call-off order” from Germany’s federal office of armed forces equipment, information technology and support (BAAINBw), covering additional Infantry Soldier of the Future — Enhanced System (IdZ-ES) kit. The call-off order — a legally binding pact between a buyer and contractor — falls under a wider framework agreement and includes delivery of 237 more platoon systems along with modernization of current ones, a statement from the Dusseldorf-based firm reads. Deliveries are planned to run between 2027 and the end of 2029. “In total, the German Bundestag has approved €1.3 billion for the project a few days ago, so further call-offs are expected,” the statement added. – Rheinmetall lands $1.2 billion German future soldier contract – Breaking Defense
Gulf Cooperation Council
(Al Arabiya) Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday chaired the GCC Consultative Summit in Jeddah, bringing together leaders and heads of delegations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. The summit “addressed regional and international developments and ways to coordinate efforts in this regard,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reports. – MBS chairs GCC Consultative Summit, regional and international developments discussed
Iran, US, Israel, Lebanon, Strait of Hormuz, and beyond
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Efforts to end the Middle East war appeared at a standstill on Tuesday, with the US considering Iran’s latest offer to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, and Tehran saying Washington could no longer dictate terms. Iran has blockaded the waterway – a vital conduit for oil and gas shipments – since the start of the US-Israeli offensive two months ago, sending shockwaves through the global economy. – Peace efforts stall as US examines latest Iran proposal
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Two months into a war with the US and Israel, Iran no longer has a single, undisputed clerical arbiter at the pinnacle of power — an abrupt break with the past that may be hardening Tehran’s stance as it weighs renewed talks with Washington. Since its creation in 1979, the Islamic Republic has revolved around a supreme leader with final authority on all key matters of state. But the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war, and the elevation of his wounded son, Mojtaba, have ushered in a different order dominated by commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and marked by the absence of a decisive, authoritative referee. – Analysis: Iran’s IRGC seizes wartime power, blunting supreme leader’s role
(Al Arabiya) Donald Trump said Iran had informed him it was in a “state of collapse” and was figuring out its leadership situation, as efforts to end the conflict appeared at an impasse on Tuesday with the US president unhappy at the latest plans from Tehran. Iran’s most recent proposal on resolving the two-month war would set aside discussion of its nuclear program until the conflict was concluded and disputes over shipping from the Gulf resolved. – Trump says Iran has told him it is in a ‘state of collapse’
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Iran warned last week that submarine cables in the Strait of Hormuz were a vulnerable point for the region’s digital economy, raising concerns about potential attacks on critical infrastructure. The narrow waterway, already a chokepoint for global oil shipments, is equally vital for the digital world. Several fibre-optic cables snake across the seabed of the strait, connecting countries from India and Southeast Asia to Europe via the Gulf states and Egypt. – The Hormuz digital chokepoint: How does the Iran war threaten subsea cables?
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Iran has banned the export of steel products, local media reported on Tuesday citing customs authorities, after airstrikes targeted the country’s steel industry in the war with Israel and the United States. – Iran bans steel exports
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Israel on Tuesday said it was not seeking to take territory in Lebanon, as its military issued a wave of new evacuation warnings for towns and villages in the battle-scarred south. “Israel has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon. Our presence… serves one purpose: protecting our citizens,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told a news conference. – Israel claims has ‘no territorial ambitions’ in Lebanon, despite evacuations
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Israel’s military on Tuesday warned residents of more than a dozen villages and towns in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate and head northwards, saying it would respond to Hezbollah’s “violation of the ceasefire” there. The military “does not intend to harm you, and out of concern for your safety, you are required to evacuate your homes immediately and move away from the specified area towards the Sidon District,” Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X. – Israel military issues evacuation warning for area of south Lebanon
(Al Arabiya) Saudi Arabia has said the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a shared global responsibility, stressing the need to safeguard energy, food, and medical supply routes as the world faces what it described as an unprecedented conflict in the vital waterway. The Kingdom renewed its call on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to explicitly condemn Iranian attacks against Saudi Arabia since the start of the regional crisis through to the ceasefire agreement. It also emphasized the need to respect state sovereignty, refrain from the use or threat of force, uphold principles of good neighborliness, and take firm measures to address Iranian violations, while ensuring the security of maritime routes, especially those linked to energy and food supplies. – Saudi Arabia says security of navigation in Strait of Hormuz is a ‘collective priority’
(Al Arabiya) Israel’s Mossad agency has penetrated operations inside Iran and Lebanon and obtained “valuable intelligence,” according to the head of the intelligence agency. In remarks delivered on Tuesday, David Barnea said Mossad had achieved both strategic and tactical intelligence gains, including access to what he described as some of the enemy’s most sensitive secrets. He added that the agency has demonstrated new and unprecedented operational capabilities inside target countries. Barnea also highlighted what he called a shift in Mossad’s operational approach, saying the agency has been transformed into a more offensive and active force during wartime. Previously, he said, its focus had been on covert activity between conflicts. He said this shift was reflected in operations targeting Iran and Lebanon and was supported by the creation of new units and specialized capabilities in recent years, as well as the adoption of advanced technologies and innovation across multiple levels of work. Barnea stressed the importance of maintaining human-based operational capabilities to carry out missions and special operations, according to local media reports. – Mossad chief says agency obtained ‘valuable intelligence’ from inside Iran
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Iran said on Tuesday that the United States was no longer able to “dictate” what other countries do, as Washington weighed a new proposal from Tehran on unblocking the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has effectively sealed off the strategic waterway since early in the war with the United States and Israel, sending shockwaves through global energy markets and putting the strait at the center of negotiations to end the conflict. – US no longer in position to ‘dictate’ policy to other nations: Iran
(Ghinwa Obeid – Al Arabiya) Businesses working with Iranian airlines risk US sanctions, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned on Monday as commercial flights resume from Tehran while noting that the US will continue its economic pressure campaign on Iran. Bessent made the announcement in a post on X where he shared a Wall Street Journal article carrying his statement. – Businesses working with Iranian airlines at risk of sanctions, US Treasury Secretary says
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) A liquefied natural gas tanker managed by UAE’s ADNOC has crossed the Strait of Hormuz and appears to be near India, ship-tracking data showed on Monday. If confirmed, this will be the first loaded LNG tanker to cross the strait since the Iran war started on February 28. The 136,357-cubic-meter tanker, which is managed by Adnoc Logistics & Services and was last seen in the Gulf on March 30, has shown up off the west coast of India, suggesting it has crossed the Strait of Hormuz after several weeks without signal, according to data from ICIS LNG Edge, Marine Traffic and LSEG. – LNG tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz for first time since Iran war: Ship-tracking data
(Al Arabiya) Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday he welcomed Russia’s support for diplomacy and praised the strength of ties between the two countries, after meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, saying recent events had demonstrated the depth of their strategic partnership. – Iranian foreign minister praises Russia ties, welcomes Moscow’s support for diplomacy
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) US President Donald Trump is unhappy with the latest Iranian proposal on resolving the two-month war, a US official said, dampening hopes for a resolution to the conflict that has disrupted energy supplies, fueled inflation, and killed thousands. Iran’s latest proposal would set aside discussion of Iran’s nuclear program until the war is ended and disputes over shipping from the Gulf are resolved – Trump not happy with latest Iran proposal to end the war, US official says
NATO
(Victor Jack – Politico) NATO has stayed out of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, but the conflict has nevertheless exposed cracks in the alliance’s defenses that would see it struggle if Russia attacks. “The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are not separate phenomena; there is much to learn from both in thinking about the wars of tomorrow,” Gen. Dominique Tardif, France’s deputy air force chief, said. “These combined lessons should lead us to a better understanding of how to direct capability development.”. European military officials have warned Moscow could be in a position to attack an alliance member by 2029, highlighting the urgent need for battle readiness and political cohesion across the alliance. – 5 ways the Iran war shows NATO is not ready to fight Russia – POLITICO
Russia – Europe
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Russia’s Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said on Tuesday that Europe’s supply of drones to Kyiv for strikes on Russian territory could lead to unpredictable consequences, Interfax news agency reported. – Russia says Europe’s drone supplies to Ukraine could have ‘unpredictable consequences’
UAE – OPEC – OPEC +
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it was quitting OPEC and OPEC+. “This decision reflects the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile, including accelerated investment in domestic energy production, and reinforces its commitment to a responsible, reliable, and forward-looking role in global energy markets,” WAM said. – UAE leaves OPEC and OPEC+
UK – Iran
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Britain said on Tuesday the Iranian ambassador to London had been summoned over what the government described as the Iranian embassy’s “unacceptable and inflammatory” comments on social media. Britain’s minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, made clear that the embassy “must cease any form of communications that could be interpreted as encouraging violence in the UK or internationally,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. – UK summons Iranian ambassador over embassy’s ‘unacceptable’ comments on social media
UK – Palestine Action
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Lawyers for the British state argued at London’s High Court on Tuesday that a ruling by UK judges lifting a government ban on pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action should be scrapped. Appealing the court ruling, the lawyers said the judges’ earlier description of the impact of the ban on human rights had been “overstated and wrong.” – UK government challenges lifting of ban on pro-Palestinian group
US
(Diana Stancy – Breaking Defense) A production representative MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial system completed its first test flight on Saturday — paving the way for the aircraft to move toward conducting aircraft carrier operations. The aircraft took off from Boeing’s facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Ill., on Saturday for an approximately two-hour flight, where it demonstrated its ability to autonomously taxi, take off, fly, land, and respond to ground control station commands, according to Boeing. “The MQ-25A is not just an aircraft: it’s the first step in integrating unmanned aerial refueling onto the carrier deck, directly enabling our manned fighters to fly further and faster,” Rear Adm. Tony Rossi, who oversees the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, said in a Navy news release. “This capability is vital to the future of naval aviation.” – Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray carrier drone completes first test flight – Breaking Defense
(Frank Konkel – Defense One) Users of the Pentagon’s enterprise-wide generative-AI platform now have access to Google Cloud’s latest and most advanced commercial AI model, Gemini 3.1 Pro, after several weeks of using the software in preview mode. The software is available to defense users through the GenAI.mil platform and will also be available for all Gemini for Government users across the federal government. “Gemini 3.1 Pro is Google’s most sophisticated model yet, and it really represents the frontier of American AI,” Pentagon Chief Data Officer Gavin Kliger said in an interview Thursday. “And so the department is working with our engineering team together to make sure we can have this capability available across the department.” – Pentagon adds Google’s latest model to GenAI.mil as usage soars – Defense One
(Jared Keller – Defense News) The cruise missile-killing high-energy laser weapon the U.S. Defense Department envisions as part of its “Golden Dome for America” domestic missile defense shield is beginning to take shape. The new Joint Laser Weapon System — a collaboration between the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy that Laser Wars first reported about in June 2025 — will initially consist of a containerized 150-kilowatt system with the potential to scale to at least 300kw to defeat incoming cruise missile threats, according to the Navy’s fiscal 2027 budget request. The system will also include a Joint Beam Control System “capable of supporting” a 300-500kw laser weapon, the documents say. The JLWS effort will leverage research and development lessons from the Navy’s 60kw High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system, which is currently installed on the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Preble, and the Army’s 300 kw Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) system, the first prototype of which the service plans on taking delivery of later this year. – What we know about the US military’s new joint laser weapon system
US – Europe
(Tim Ross, Nahal Toosi, Stefanie Bolzen – Politico) Depending on who you ask, she’s either just another MAGA troll meddling in European democracy, or the best hope of saving it. What Sarah Rogers, the U.S. undersecretary of State for public diplomacy, can never be accused of is speaking in diplomatic niceties. With hundreds of millions of dollars at her disposal, she has positioned herself as the point person for U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign to save Europe from what the White House has called “civilizational erasure.”. For Rogers, that means backing MAGA-aligned movements against mass migration, attacking political elites across Europe and waging an unapologetic campaign against laws policing online speech — often in eye-wateringly direct terms.“ – Trump’s Voice of America: The free-speech crusader pushing MAGA on Europe – POLITICO
US – UK
(AFP/Al Arabiya) President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States has “no closer friends” than the British, as he welcomed King Charles III to the White House amid tensions over the Iran war. – Trump to King Charles: US has ‘no closer friends than the British’
Global Military Spending
(Linus Höller – Defense News) Global military spending reached a new record of almost $2.9 trillion in 2025 − the 11th consecutive year of growth − even as the United States recorded its sharpest single-year decline in decades, according to new data published Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The main engine of growth was Europe, where expenditure surged 14% to $864 billion − the highest level SIPRI has ever recorded for the continent and, among NATO’s European members, the fastest annual increase since 1953. Germany crossed the 2% of GDP threshold for the first time since 1990, with spending rising 24% to $114 billion; Berlin has since pledged to reach 3.5% by 2029. Spain’s military budget leaped 50% to $40.2 billion, also crossing 2% of GDP for the first time since 1994, while Poland spent 4.5% of its GDP on defense − the highest burden among all NATO members. – Global military spending surges and reaches record high
Tech Strategies
(Ina Fried – Axios) OpenAI’s revised Microsoft pact lets it sell AI models across multiple clouds, enabling a likely expansion with Amazon and broader enterprise distribution. The shift ends OpenAI’s effective cloud exclusivity, widening its reach to customers using AWS, Google Cloud or others — and intensifying AI platform competition. A rewritten deal frees OpenAI to sell through any cloud, caps Microsoft’s cut of OpenAI revenue and scraps a controversial provision that would have changed the companies’ business relationship once artificial general intelligence (AGI) was achieved. Amazon and OpenAI are poised to quickly capitalize on the change. – OpenAI breaks free of Microsoft’s cloud
