| GLOBAL SECURITY MATTERS Middle East → Over the weekend, the IDF launched a series of strikes in Gaza, which they claim targeted Hamas political operatives and governing capabilities. The strikes began following several weeks of failed efforts to extend the ceasefire which began in January 2025. The IDF reportedly is attempting to use another military campaign to pressure Hamas into capitulating, though it is unclear whether the Israeli government sees or wants to explore a path to an additional ceasefire. Since the IDF strikes began, hundreds of Palestinians have died according to Gazan health authorities. → Senior Israeli negotiators are expected to meet with the Trump Administration this week to discuss Iran. Gaza and Lebanon are also expected to be discussed. This meeting comes just weeks after President Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader demanding negotiations for a nuclear deal within two months. We expect that Prime Minister Netanyahu has tasked the Israeli team with constructively criticizing diplomatic approaches to Iran, while gently promoting the military alternative. Netanyahu does not want to risk his newly repaired relationship with Trump, but getting the US to support military action against Iran is a core Israeli foreign policy priority, and Israeli advocacy was instrumental in getting Trump to exit the nuclear deal during his first term. |
| International Affairs → It appears that US national security leaders, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, accidentally added Editor-in-Chief of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a Signal chat detailing imminent military strikes in Yemen. Goldberg published innocuous screenshots of the group chat, writing that the wider discussion contained details on “weapons packages, targets, and timing.” The incident has raised questions regarding the handling of top-secret military and intelligence information by the Trump Administration and the potential illegality of using a disappearing-messaging app to discuss official government acts that are considered federal records. National Security Advisor, Mike Walz, who set up the group and inadvertantly added Goldberg, says he takes responsibility for the error. → Since the Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested last week, the country has seen six nights of large protests and clashes with police. Erdogan’s opposition, led by the Republic People’s Party (CHP), claims that he had Imamoglu detained for political reasons, while Erdogan claims that Imamoglu was arrested for corruption. According to CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel, the final protest will be Tuesday night, however, individual demonstrators have expressed a desire to continue. → On Tuesday, talks between the US and Russia ended without agreement. Vladimir Chizhov, first deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s Defense and Security Committee, claimed it was due to Ukraine’s position, though the precise details of the talks are unclear. After the partial ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month, restricting attacks on energy infrastructure, the parties now appear to be focusing on reviving grain trade in the Black Sea. → EU officials are reportedly doubting whether the US would defend them in the event of a Russian offensive. French President Emmanuel Macron recently launched a military drill in an effort to signal its defensive capabilities to Russia. In recent weeks, EU leaders including German Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz have called for the sharing of nuclear weapons among ally states, creating a “nuclear umbrella” to ward off potential threats. However, the proposal raises questions of individual state sovereignty in Europe and the potential drawbacks of nuclear proliferation. → Several US national security agencies paused a coordinated campaign to thwart Russian disinformation and cyber attacks as negotiations continue on the Ukraine war. The working group was created by President Biden but has reportedly been mostly untouched since Trump’s inauguration. Several additional efforts to counter Russian interference in US affairs have been disbanded in recent months as well, including an FBI investigation into election tampering and a Department of Justice team targeting assets of Russian oligarchs. |
| Resources: US Department of State Travel Advisories CISA: nation-state cybersecurity threats and other resources for cybersecurity matters. Check out our webinar about Misinformation and the Threat it poses to Democracies on our YouTube channel. Our latest blog posts discusses the future of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. |
To find out more, please reach out to info@interforinternational.com
Related Blog
VIEW ALL
Geopolitics. Global Security, & Current Events
The New Climate Realism Initiative Seeks to Redirect US Efforts in Combating Climate Change
