Geopolitical Fallout Emerges After Trump-Xi And Putin-Xi Summits In Beijing

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Roses, trees, and power: Symbolism behind Trump-Xi summit. Last week’s high-level summit in Beijing between Trump and Xi achieved few traditional “deliverables” leading many observers to dismiss its singular importance.

Taiwan’s president stressed that arms purchases from U.S. are “the most important deterrent” of regional conflict and instability, after Trump referred to large, pending sale as a ‘bargaining chip,’ calling into question continued U.S. support of Taiwan following his visit to China.

Putin Aims to Unlock Gas Pipeline Project to China in Xi Talks. He hopes energy turmoil from Middle East conflict will make China more flexible in talks over the planned Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project.

China is rightly dragging its feet on Russia’s Power of Siberia 2 pipeline.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of the top defense news of the last couple of days from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. will suspend its involvement in joint body that coordinates military consultation with Canada, pointing to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s anti-U.S. address to World Economic Forum earlier this year.

Why Iran war is breaking U.S.-European strategic alliance. Days after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began, Spain’s Prime Minister denied U.S. forces use of Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base — installations that had hosted U.S. troops for more than 70 years.

HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal authorities say Chinese national who worked as researcher at University of Michigan lied about his work on drones in communist China.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Very bad move. War Secretary Pete Hegseth campaigned for Republican congressional challenger endorsed by President Trump in extremely unusual move that broke with military’s longstanding tradition of political neutrality.

Hegseth will review bill that would give veterans — predominantly from Air Force — same benefits civilians have been receiving for exposure to radiation at Nevada test site that saw more than 900 atomic bomb tests.

Air, Space forces revamp religious accommodations to align with Pentagon guidance on religious exemptions and grooming standards.

Pentagon begins sweeping review of military legal system. But some are wary. “Reviewing the military legal system is not a problem, reviewing it inside the building without independent structure is structural concern,” one critic said.

Pentagon’s cyber reform effort stumbles out the gate. It just released its budget request for upcoming fiscal year and cyber operations are not top priority.

US POWER OVERSEAS

Army’s top officer told frustrated lawmakers that order to cancel an Army brigade deployment to Poland came within last two weeks, as equipment was in transit and advance elements of brigade were already overseas.

Marine Corps has left gap “unfilled” in Indo-Pacific by moving an expeditionary unit from Okinawa to Middle East to support operations against Iran, said commandant.

U.S. forces have targeted ISIS strongholds across Africa’s Sahel in recent days, in operations coordinated with Nigerian government, including killing ISIS leader. But question remains whether U.S. military retains capacity to thwart potential terror attacks from the continent, given shrinking U.S. regional footprint.

IRAN WAR AFTERMATH

Iran announced new body to oversee Strait of Hormuz, signaling tighter control over strategic waterway after months of disruption linked to its war with U.S. and Israel. Tehran says the authority will manage maritime traffic with tolls and other restrictions.

UAE blames fire near its nuclear power plant on drone launched by Iran or one of its regional Iraq-based allies in what it called a “dangerous escalation.”

USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group received highest unit-level military decoration for extraordinary acts of heroism during its support of Operation Epic Fury and other actions.

CHINA THREAT

Missiles aren’t strategy: Lessons from Iran for Pacific air war. Our airpower debates are increasingly driven by grim math that tallies enemy missile inventories, strike ranges, and sortie-generation against small number of critical runways, fuel systems, and aerial refueling aircraft — showing U.S. and allied airpower could be severely disrupted early in conflict with China.

RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR

Russia and Ukraine exchange 205 prisoners of war each under Trump-brokered agreement linked to an earlier ceasefire.

This, even after Moscow launched the largest two-day aerial drone assault of the war.

As Russia reportedly prepares for major summer offensive, data suggests Kremlin forces are losing ground for first time since 2024.

Ukrainian mid-range strikes deal double blow to Russia’s war effort.

Ukrainian company has produced country’s first guided aerial bombs capable of striking targets “dozens of kilometers” behind enemy lines with 250-kilogram warheads, giving Kyiv homegrown equivalent to Russia’s cheap, devastating glide bombs.

SPACE THREATS

Air Force to repurpose offshore oil rigs into landing platforms to recover rocket boosters launched by Space Force and private spaceflight companies.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo an international emergency.

US MILITARY

All 4 EA-18 Growler crew members involved in mid-air collision of military jets at an air show ejected safely, almost miraculously, outside Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

Coast Guard plans new medal for fittest troops. As service rolls out its first-ever universal physical fitness test, leaders are eyeing incentives for acing it.

Deputy Director for Acquisition for Special Operations Command talks about type of tech SOCOM wants to prioritize right now.

See prototype of DARPA’s new shelf-stable human blood substitute. At recent exercise, military researchers unveiled mockup they hope will advance battlefield medicine — bag of lab-made human blood.

Army aviation’s wasted decade: Lessons for the next generation of drone integration. In 2006, Army Combat Aviation Brigade with drones deployed to Iraq paired with an Apache battalion — a first-of-its-kind teaming of attack helicopters with drones.

END of PDB

FOR MORE DETAILED, UNCENSORED, INTELLIGENCE, AND ANALYSIS FROM PAUL CRESPO, SUBSCRIBE TO HIS SUBSTACK.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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