US News
- Two new polls from Morning Consult and Concerned Veterans for America show at least a plurality of Americans are tired of interventionism. The results show twice as many Americans want to send less aid to Ukraine than those who would support sending more. Meanwhile, only 17% of Americans are concerned about defending democracy around the globe. The Institute
- Bulgaria will buy eight Lockheed-made F-16s for $1.3 billion. Def Post
Russia
- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered a partial mobilization that will call up 300,000 reservists and warned Western countries that Moscow would use nuclear weapons to defend its territory. AWC
- Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday that Russia could use nuclear weapons to protect the territories of Ukraine that it will absorb after referendums are held. AWC
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday signaled that there will be no change to the US policy of supporting Ukraine despite warnings from Russia that they could use nuclear weapons to defend Russian territory. AWC
- Russia and Ukraine carried out a major prisoner swap this week involving nearly 300 people that was brokered by Saudi Arabia and Turkey. AWC
- The European Union’s leadership wants to issue new sanctions against Russia in response to planned referendums on joining Russia that will be held in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine. AWC
- Two US senators have introduced a new bill that would sanction any company buying Russian oil at a price beyond a cap set by Western leaders. If passed, the legislation would significantly escalate the economic war against Moscow, resulting in the US sanctioning India, Turkey and China. The Institute
- Seventeen members of Congress send a letter to the Department of Defense demanding the Pentagon transfer armable drones to Ukraine. Reuters
Europe
- An EU spokeswoman for the European Commission said Thursday that the bloc should give asylum to Russians fleeing the mobilization order, but the EU’s members are not on the same page. AWC
- NATO deploys additional troops to Kosovo in anticipation of unrest between the government and the Serbian minority. Reuters
China
- US and Canadian warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait, which China views as its territorial waters, on Tuesday. The Institute
- The US is wrapping up two-week war games with Australia, New Zealand and the UK n Fiji. Def News
- The top Asia official on the White House’s National Security Council said Monday that President Biden’s recent comments on defending Taiwan “speak for themselves” and rejected the characterization that the White House walked them back. AWC
- The head of the US Navy’s Japan-based Seventh Fleet said that he believes China is capable of blockading the island of Taiwan. AWC
- China said it could use the “Anti-Succession Law” to push reunification with Taiwan. South China Morning Post
Korea
- While in New York for the UN General Assembly, South Korea’sPresident Yoon Suk-yeol was caught on a hot mic insulting President Joe Biden on Wednesday. Yoon referred to members of Congress as “f**kers.” The statement comes after the US pledged $6 billion in humanitarian aid and deployed an American aircraft carrier to South Korea. The Institute
Middle East
- A joint investigation finds Israeli forces deliberately murdered Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. AJ
- A US official said the Iran deal cannot be completed unless Tehran reverses demands to close an IAEA probe. Times of Israel
- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi held a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA. AWC
- With just hours left in its military mandate on the Iraq/ISIS War, Canada DM Anita Anand announced another 12 month extension on Thursday evening, keeping a long but relatively minor engagement in the Middle East active. AWC
- At least 39 Syrian have died from a Cholera outbreak. AP
