US forces conducted strikes on Iran for a seventh consecutive night, targeting surveillance sites, logistics, and weapons infrastructure. Iran's state news agency reported retaliatory attacks on US allies and bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, while Jordan intercepted missiles. Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz remains reduced.
Gulf nations are on the front lines of the renewed US-Iran conflict, facing direct strikes and economic disruption. Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Oman are all impacted by their proximity to US bases and Iran's retaliatory actions.
China has publicly demonstrated its submarine-launched missile capability for the first time. Analysts suggest the test was for strategic signaling, potentially increasing calls for defense investment and security coordination among US allies amid rising regional tensions. Questions remain about the specific missile and flight path.
China's navy test-fired a missile from a nuclear submarine in the South Pacific, prompting criticism from Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. Experts identify the missile as a potential Julang-3 ICBM, capable of carrying multiple warheads and reaching long distances, raising regional security concerns.
China's navy tested a submarine-launched missile in the South Pacific, sparking concern from allies like Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. Experts identify the missile as a potential Julang-3 ICBM, capable of carrying multiple warheads.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured Gulf allies that Washington will not permit Iran to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, despite a recent ceasefire deal. Concerns persist over Iran reinvesting frozen assets into its military and its nuclear program.
American allies of President Trump visited Jerusalem amid Israeli anxiety over the US alliance, fueled by concerns over an Iran deal and recent White House criticism. Despite assurances, Israelis fear growing fissures and a potential shift in US support.
Reports suggest a US-Iran post-conflict deal may include a $300B reconstruction fund, with allies like Korea expected to finance it. The article questions this burden-sharing, arguing the US should contribute meaningfully if claiming credit for peace.
A Public First poll of 18,000 people across 15 countries reveals a widespread belief in China's AI leadership, even in US allies like Canada, Britain, and France. However, China ranks low in trust for its AI models, placing 10th globally.
France and the UK are proposing a naval mission to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, including mine clearance and escorts. US President Trump expressed less urgency, believing the strait will reopen due to a tentative Iran deal. Allies including Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada support the initiative.
Japan and the Philippines have begun formal negotiations to delimit their maritime boundaries, a move that overlaps with Taiwan's exclusive economic zones and is viewed by Beijing as a challenge to its stance on Taiwan. Such bilateral agreements may lack legal weight for excluded claimants.
Tennis player Marta Kostyuk criticized Russian opponents for their silence following deadly drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. She highlighted the need for a clear stance, contrasting it with players who avoid political discussion. Kostyuk also noted Ukraine's struggle with air defense shortages amid ongoing Russian assaults.
Russia is leveraging a critical global shortage of air defence interceptor missiles, particularly for the Patriot system, to intensify airstrikes on Ukraine. Warnings suggest this shortfall creates a "window of vulnerability" for nations relying on these systems, including NATO members and Gulf states, due to heavy use in multiple conflicts and slow production rates.
Two US allies, despite historical grievances, signed a mutual oil swap agreement on Tuesday to ensure energy security amidst supply chain instability linked to Middle East events.
Donald Trump is reportedly outsourcing Iran policy to Middle East allies as he seeks an exit from conflict. Despite threats, US plans for a major strike were postponed, with Trump citing negotiations and requests from Gulf leaders, though their awareness of the planned strike is questioned.
The US is withdrawing from the Permanent Joint Board on Defense with Canada, citing unmet defense commitments. Undersecretary Elbridge Colby stated Canada has failed to make credible progress on its defense obligations, leading to a reassessment of the forum's benefits.
“In an increasingly severe security environment, no single country can now protect its own peace and security alone,” declared Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last month, signalling a major shift in Tokyo’s defence posture. “Under the new system, we will strategically promote equipment transfers while making even more rigorous and cautious judgments on whether transfers are permissible,” she added, confirming long-running speculation that Tokyo would relax decades-old restrictions on...
President Trump announced a withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany and signaled potential cuts in Italy and Spain, citing a lack of support from NATO allies. Analysts suggest Beijing should remain passive as Washington navigates these internal and alliance-related tensions.
Military spending in the Asia-Pacific rose at the fastest pace for 16 years in 2025 as US allies felt “growing uncertainty” over whether Washington would honour its security commitments, according to a new report. Total global spending reached US$2.89 trillion, an increase of 2.9 per cent from 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) think tank said in its annual report on military expenditure published Monday. That marked the 11th consecutive year of increases and...
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that US allies are increasingly uncertain about Washington's reliability, positioning the EU as a more stable alternative amid a jeopardized international order.
Faced with US-China rivalry and an uncertain future even beyond Donald Trump’s presidency, middle powers are building fluid coalitions and partnerships to hedge against American and wider unpredictability, according to a leading Southeast Asian affairs scholar. Traditional US allies are asserting greater autonomy and forming their own networks to hedge against risks – a shift that is creating openings for smaller neutral states to further diversify their partnerships, while mitigating the danger...
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov warned at the Trialogue Club International meeting that a growing number of US non-nuclear allies in Europe are considering acquiring their own nuclear capabilities, calling the trend extremely provocative and destructive to the nuclear non-proliferation regime. He criticized the lack of objections from Washington and European capitals of nuclear-armed countries.
America's allies are grappling with soaring energy costs driven by Washington's Iran offensive, pushing them toward accelerated clean energy adoption — but that transition increasingly relies on Chinese supply chains. China controls 80% of global solar panel production, 90% of rare earths for clean tech, and the majority of lithium and cobalt for batteries. EU officials are divided between protecting domestic industries from Chinese competition and accepting necessary Chinese investment for faster decarbonization. While some countries like Canada and Spain embrace Chinese clean tech, others warn of swapping one dependence for another.
