United States: Security

IR

US and Israel launch strikes on Iran, with Trump and Israeli sources claiming the supreme leader is dead

The United States and Israel launched a major military attack on Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation was coordinated with the U.S. Trump announced the strikes, calling them 'massive' combat operations. Trump and senior Israeli officials said Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the strikes. Netanyahu said there were 'many signs' Khamenei was 'no longer' alive. Iran fired missiles at U.S. bases in the Middle East in retaliation for the attacks. Flights across the region were halted. The status of Khamenei remained unconfirmed by Iranian state media. The attacks occurred amid ongoing diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program. A second U.S. aircraft carrier was ordered to the Middle East.

UA

Russia warns NATO against military intervention and nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Russian officials issued warnings against NATO military intervention in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine would be 'categorically unacceptable.' Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian official, stated such troops would become 'legitimate targets' for destruction. Russian intelligence also claimed NATO nations were plotting to smuggle a nuclear weapon into Ukraine and accused Britain and France of seeking to arm Ukraine with nuclear weapons. Russian military activity continued alongside the warnings. Russia reported capturing another settlement in Ukraine and claimed its forces had gained more territory in the fourth year of the war than in the previous two years combined. Russian strikes targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, railways, and a market, causing civilian casualties and power outages. Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader, said 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and warned of more Russian attacks. The warnings came as new peace talks were announced. Zelenskyy said the U.S. had given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach a peace agreement. Russia launched a large-scale strike on Ukraine the day before planned talks in Abu Dhabi.

MX

Mexican military kills cartel leader El Mencho, sparking widespread violence

The Mexican military killed Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera, the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in a raid. Officials said the operation was aided by intelligence from the United States and that a tip from El Mencho's romantic partner helped locate his hideout. Violence erupted across Mexico following the killing, with cartel members setting up roadblocks and launching attacks. At least 73 people were killed, including 25 soldiers, during the operation and the subsequent unrest. The government deployed thousands of additional troops to Jalisco state. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the public to remain calm and highlighted a 42% decrease in homicides. The World Cup diving event in Mexico was canceled due to security concerns, and some U.S. politicians warned travelers to avoid the country.

US

German leader Merz meets with Trump and addresses Europe at Munich Security Conference

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz traveled to Washington, D.C., for a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. The meeting was part of Merz's broader trip to the United States, which occurred around the same time as the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany. At the Munich conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a major speech calling for Europe to align more closely with the United States to save Western civilization, a message European leaders received with caution. In his own address, Merz spoke of a growing divide between Europe and the U.S. and called for repairing and reviving transatlantic trust. He also disagreed publicly with French President Emmanuel Macron on several European policy issues, including debt and potential talks with Russia. Other notable figures at the conference included U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who warned Europe about Trump and accused him of ushering in an 'age of authoritarianism.' Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also attended, meeting with various world leaders and calling for major countries to practice multilateralism.

RU

US-Russia New START treaty expires as Trump calls for new nuclear arms deal

The New START treaty, the last major nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, expired without renewal. President Trump said the United States needs a new and improved nuclear arms control treaty rather than extending the existing agreement, calling for fresh negotiations with Russia.

US

OpenAI signs Pentagon deal after military labels rival Anthropic a supply chain risk

The Pentagon designated the AI company Anthropic a supply chain risk, which could cut it off from military contractors. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued the designation. The Trump administration also ordered military contractors and federal agencies to cease business with Anthropic. Anthropic rejected the Pentagon's demands to remove safety guardrails from its AI, specifically refusing to allow its technology to be used for lethal autonomous weapons or mass surveillance. Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, said the company 'cannot in good conscience accede' to the Pentagon's request. Anthropic said it will challenge the supply chain risk designation in court. Hours after the actions against Anthropic, OpenAI announced it had reached a deal with the Pentagon to deploy its AI models on the U.S. Department of Defense's classified network. The Pentagon had given Anthropic an ultimatum to lift its military limits or risk losing contracts.

US

ICE withdraws agents from Minnesota amid funding fight and training criticism

The Trump administration announced it is withdrawing 700 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from Minnesota. The move comes after protests and a federal judge's ruling that limited warrantless ICE arrests in Oregon. At the same time, Congress is struggling to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which could lead to a partial shutdown. Democrats are pushing for new restraints on ICE as part of the funding negotiations. Separately, a former agency lawyer told Congress that ICE officer training is 'deficient' and 'broken.'

RU

NATO launches new Arctic military mission after tensions over Greenland

NATO has started a new military mission called 'Arctic Sentry' focused on surveillance and patrols in the Arctic region, particularly around Greenland. The mission involves fighter jets from Sweden and Denmark, and is described as an effort to strengthen the alliance's presence in the north. This follows a period of tension after Trump posted about sending a U.S. hospital ship to Greenland, which Greenland's government declined. Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, stated that Russia would take measures, including military ones, if Greenland becomes militarized. A separate report from Estonia's intelligence chief said Russia has no intention of attacking a NATO country this year. NATO officials have said the 'Arctic Sentry' mission is not a direct response to the Greenland dispute. Meanwhile, the Danish military evacuated a U.S. submariner who needed medical care off the coast of Greenland.

IL

Israeli military and government face internal disputes and operational changes

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is implementing several operational and policy changes. These include forming a new all-female combat company, cutting back on reservist service days, and formalizing a policy for drafting ultra-Orthodox men with gender-segregated conditions. The military also conducted drills with a U.S. Navy destroyer near Eilat and signed a $130 million contract with Elbit Systems to upgrade its helicopter fleet. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing criticism from former security chiefs. They have called him 'primarily responsible' for failures related to the October 7 attacks. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Netanyahu of building a 'false narrative' about the events. Netanyahu's office was also reported to have directed intelligence officers to collect protocols related to October 7, bypassing the IDF. Other events include the IDF killing a Gazan who approached forces near a ceasefire line and killing a terrorist who attacked a soldier. Netanyahu gave a statement on the war and said anyone who attacks Israel will face 'unbearable consequences.'

RU

US brokers Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Abu Dhabi and reestablishes military dialogue with Russia

The United States brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, giving both sides a June deadline to reach an agreement to end the war. Following these talks, the US and Russia agreed to restart their high-level military dialogue, marking a diplomatic effort to manage tensions amid the ongoing conflict.