The expiration of the last remaining U.S.-Russia strategic arms treaty has removed binding limits on both countries’ nuclear arsenals for the first time in over half a century. The UN warns the lapse is a grave moment for international peace and security, heightening risks of an accelerated arms race and complicating prospects for any follow-on agreement.
Source: IPS News
U.S. Alleges China Conducted Secret Nuclear Tests, Stoking Fears Over Eroding Norms
U.S. officials have accused China of conducting clandestine nuclear tests, an allegation that arms control experts say underscores the unraveling of global testing norms. The claims, which Beijing has not publicly addressed in this report, add strain to already fragile nonproliferation efforts amid rising great-power rivalry.
Source: NPR
Netanyahu to Press Trump on Iran Strike Options as U.S.-Tehran Talks Resume
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to discuss potential military options against Iran with President Donald Trump during his Washington visit, according to Israeli sources. Jerusalem remains skeptical about nascent U.S.-Iran negotiations and is preparing contingencies should diplomacy falter, raising the risk of regional escalation.
Source: Egypt Independent
U.S. Warns Peru Could “Lose Sovereignty” to China Over Mega-Port Oversight
Washington issued an unusually blunt warning that Peru risks ceding sovereignty to China after a court ruling curtailed a local regulator’s oversight of a major Chinese-built port. The dispute highlights intensifying U.S.-China competition over critical infrastructure and influence in Latin America.
Source: NPR
Turmoil at the Top: Purges Expose Fragmentation and Anxiety Within China’s PLA
Following the ouster of senior generals, the composition of China’s Central Military Commission and Joint Staff Department remains unsettled, signaling leadership volatility. The shake-up points to deeper institutional anxieties that could affect command cohesion and military readiness during a period of heightened regional tensions.
Source: Jamestown Foundation
Pakistan Deploys New Force in Balochistan to Secure Mines, Borders and Investment
Islamabad is raising a dedicated Frontier Corps unit to protect mineral-rich areas and secure borders with Iran and Afghanistan, aiming to attract global investment in critical resources. The move seeks to blunt militant threats against infrastructure while balancing delicate regional security dynamics and local grievances.
Source: The Diplomat
U.S. Steps Into the Caucasus: Vance Courts Armenia and Azerbaijan
Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit to Yerevan and Baku showcases Washington’s transactional diplomacy and intent to expand influence in Russia’s near abroad. By coupling economic leverage with political engagement, the U.S. aims to shape post-conflict dynamics between Armenia and Azerbaijan and counter rival sway from Moscow and Tehran.
Source: The Washington Post
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