US News

• The White House is developing plans to expand the number of permanent members to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the Washington Post reported on Monday. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield is spearheading the effort to enlarge the body by adding six new members. The Institute 

Russia

• US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith has said that Ukraine is unlikely to receive an invitation to join NATO at the alliance’s July summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. AWC
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukrainian forces have started their long-awaited counteroffensive. AWC
• A group of nine bipartisan members of the House is urging President Biden to supply Ukraine with longer-range weapons and expedite the delivery of M1 Abrams tanks to the country. AWC
• Sweden on Monday approved the extradition of a man to Turkey who has previously expressed support for the PKK, a Kurdish militant group Turkey, the US, and the EU consider a terrorist organization. AWC
• The Netherlands’ defense minister told Reuters on Monday that training for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets could begin as soon as this summer. AWC
• Polish President Andrzej Duda said Monday that NATO must respond to Russia deploying nuclear weapons to Belarus. AWC

China

• The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday denied allegations that China was spying on the US from Cuba and criticized the conflicting information coming from the US government and media outlets. AWC

Iran

• Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned the US would suffer economic consequences if President Biden retaliated for OPEC oil cuts that were announced last fall, The Washington Post reported. AWC
• American bombers were joined by aircraft from Washington’s Middle East partners for war games last week. The exercises were said to showcase America’s “ability to deliver overwhelming power at a moment’s notice.” The Institute 
• Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that there was “nothing wrong” with Iran reaching an agreement related to its civilian nuclear program as long as its infrastructure remains intact. AWC
• The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Monday said that Iranian officials held indirect talks with the US in Oman last month but dismissed the idea that an interim nuclear deal was on the table. AWC

Israel

• The Taliban used American military equipment in a battle against Iran. Fox News
• Israel’s military has created a new intelligence unit to prepare for war with Iran amid simmering tensions between the two nations, Ynet reported on Sunday. AWC
• Israel has informed the White House that it intends to announce the planning and building of thousands of new settlement units in the occupied West Bank later this month, according to US and Israeli officials speaking to Axios. One of the sources told the outlet, at a minimum, the plan includes 4,000 new housing units being built in existing West Bank settlements. The Institute