PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – If he can pull it off, which appears increasingly unlikely. President Trump and Russian officials are engaged in a war of words, a sign of escalating tensions between the two powers.
A bipartisan proposal to place tough sanctions on Russia has more than 80 Senate cosponsors, but, unlike during Trump’s first term, Senate Republicans are wary of putting the bill on the floor without Trump’s approval.
Russia is a major Pacific power, so Trump’s ability to craft some sort of Ukrainian war peace deal will define “the strategic capital and credibility of the administration in other parts of the world, from the Middle East, South Asia to Northeast Asia.”
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:
HOMELAND SECURITY
DOD is shifting $1 billion meant for maintaining and renovating Army barracks to instead fund its surge of troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
Army has issued its policy on the separation of transgender soldiers through an initial stage of voluntary separation followed by involuntary separation.
When DOD opened combat roles to women in 2015, many assumed the debate on sex integration in the military was over. But Hegseth’s order to review military fitness, body composition, and grooming standards, followed by an order to establish sex-neutral physical standards for combat arms roles, signals that the debate is anything but settled.
Defense Secretary Hegseth is calling for closer U.S. ties with Poland, praising its military investment and leadership on NATO’s eastern flank.
Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration after leading effort to slash federal government.
Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL who founded an organization to fight human trafficking, has announced he will run for Tommy Tuberville’s GOP seat in the Senate.
US POWER OVERSEAS
Marine and Army missile systems are set to deploy to a key chokepoint in the Philippine Island chains’ Luzon Strait for anti-ship drills during the military exercise known as KAMANDAG.
The first Littoral Combat Ship outfitted with a mine countermeasures package has arrived for a rotational deployment to Bahrain.
CHINA THREAT
Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group is now operating off the southeast coast of Taiwan, after it earlier sailed through the Miyako Strait in Japan’s southwest region to enter the Philippine Sea. This, following two days of conducting flight operations in the East China Sea.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
There are conflicting claims that Vladimir Putin’s helicopter came under attack from Ukraine while visiting a new nuclear power plant in the Kursk region.
Royal Navy warships and helicopters were deployed this month to monitor two separate Russian naval movements near UK waters, including the activities of a known intelligence-gathering ship off the Scottish coast.
RAF Typhoon jets deployed in Poland were scrambled to intercept a Russian intelligence aircraft during a NATO Enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission.
Ukraine submits ceasefire plan, but Russia responds with its largest yet air assaults on Ukraine’s cities. In response, the EU threatens more sanctions on Moscow and Taurus missiles for Kyiv.
Germany vows to underwrite Ukraine’s long-range missile production, days after the leader announced a lift on range restrictions on Kyiv’s Western-supplied weapons.
Netherlands worked out the costs of meeting NATO’s new capability targets, providing a taste of the billion-euro budget challenge European members face to boost their military posture in the face of a more aggressive Russia.
Across the battlefield, both Ukraine and Russia are using fiber optic cables instead of radio waves to connect many of their first-person view (FPV) drones with their controllers.
IRAN THREAT/MIDEAST
Credible military threat is missing from Trump’s nuclear diplomacy with Iran. Without it, these talks, which will soon enter their sixth round, have little chance of achieving their goal of ensuring Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Mohammed Sinwar, believed to be the head of Hamas’ armed wing, has been killed, apparently confirming his death in a recent strike in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has said it will establish 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, including the legalization of outposts already built without government authorization, after a security cabinet vote held in secret last week.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
4 North Korean officials arrested over a botched destroyer launch are in mortal danger. Experts say a technique used to maneuver the ship into the water sideways was part of the problem.
A South Korean soldier accidentally fired a machine gun round near the border with the North, marking the second such incident in less than a month; no response from North.
SPACE THREAT
After back-to-back explosions, SpaceX launched its mega rocket Starship again but fell short of the main objectives when the spacecraft tumbled out of control and broke apart.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Americans in Italy this summer should be more alert at tourist sites and other public venues because of the risk of terrorism, the State Department said, raising its threat assessment for the country.
Trump’s Congo deal risks putting minerals before justice, critics warn. Even the president’s GOP allies in Congress are pushing for an inclusive peace process.
The leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters insists he will continue singing a song that calls for killing Boers. Evan as Trump has seized upon this chant as evidence of an Afrikaner genocide.
Saab of Sweden is pitching its GlobalEye multi-sensor surveillance plane to Canada, which is searching for a new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capability, the first in its history. Thus, set to challenge the U.S. Boeing E-7 Wedgetail offering.
Asian navies eye undersea drones to monitor subsea cables after a series of damaged infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, and recently, in sea lanes surrounding Taiwan.
UK and EU have signed an expansive new agreement to deepen security and defense cooperation across a broad range of areas, including Ukraine support, maritime security, and countering cyber threats.
Cambodia PM urges calm. Cambodian and Thai officials claim soldiers from other side opening fire first in latest deadly border clash between the neighbors.
US MILITARY
Five Marine Corps bases will host drone competitions to test Marine teams from across the fleet on “hunter-killer” drone employment, speed and agility, with the first event occurring at Quantico, Virginia, in November.
An upgraded “fifth generation plus” version of the F-35 could include new stealth coatings, adjustments to the aircraft’s shape, and even a path toward making the jet optionally manned, says Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin has shared new details about its QuadStar surface-to-air missile, which is taking part in the Army competition to replace the venerable man-portable FIM-92 Stinger.
END of PDB
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
READ NEXT: How A Little-Known Loan Program May Be Funding Dangerous Groups
President Trump cannot use mere words to deter Putin from his dogmatic actions. Cut off Putin’s financial resources, oil, and seize his bank accounts and the bank accounts of Russia to start with. Stop all trade with Russia and have NATO stop all trade with Russia. Make it clear to all of the rest of the nations that currently trade with Russia that the U.S. will not trade with any nation that trades with Russia. Money is what enables Putin to be militaristic and aggressive.