Netanyahu:

Israel is seeking to build a network as a “hexagon of alliances" involving India, Arab states, African countries, Mediterranean partners such as Greece and Cyprus, and additional Asian nations.

The goal is to counter radical Shiite and Sunni blocs in the Middle East.

Netanyahu:

In the vision that I see before my eyes, we are creating an entire system — essentially a kind of alliance — around and within the Mediterranean, within the Middle East.

This includes India, Arab countries, African countries, and Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Cyprus, and also countries in Asia that I will not detail at the moment.

The intention is to create an axis of countries that see reality, the challenges, and the goals through one lens — opposite the radical axes, both the radical Shiite axis that we fight and have fought strongly against, and also the radical Sunni axis.

The Trump administration is awaiting a detailed written proposal from Tehran.

If it arrives soon, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plan to meet Iranian officials on Feb. 27 to begin detailed negotiations.

Source: Axios

The U.S. Secret Service said agents shot and killed a man in his 20s early Sunday after he tried to breach a secure perimeter at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The man, seen near the north gate around 1:30 a.m. EST, was carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can. His intentions were unclear. Trump was in Washington at the time.

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A caller using the alias “John Barron” — the pseudonym once used by Donald Trump — phoned into C-SPAN to blast the Supreme Court’s decision striking down Trump’s tariffs.

“John Barron” sounded awfully familiar.

Iran has signed a secret €500mn arms deal with Russia to buy 500 Verba shoulder-fired air-defence launchers and 2,500 missiles.

The Verba system can target cruise missiles, low-flying aircraft and drones, and is designed for small mobile teams. Deliveries are scheduled from 2027 to 2029, though some units may have arrived early.

Tehran requested the systems after its air defences were heavily damaged during last year’s 12-day war with Israel. The deal, negotiated with Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, also includes night-vision equipment.

Source: FT

Iran is operating on the basis that U.S. military strikes are "inevitable and imminent."

Iran had placed all of its armed forces on the highest state of alert and preparing to resist fiercely.

Source: NYT

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejects Trump’s proposal to send a U.S. hospital ship to the territory, saying “no thanks.”

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Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi on enrichment:

I think as a sovereign country, we have every right to decide for ourselves, by ourselves.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

Right now we are only negotiating the nuclear, and there is no other subject.

Trump agreed to a roughly 50% increase in defense spending — about $500 billion more — pushing the proposed military budget toward $1.5 trillion.

Since then, White House and Pentagon officials have "struggled" to figure out how to allocate such a massive increase without waste, delaying the administration’s budget submission past the legal deadline.

Source: WaPo

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

There is no need for any military buildup.

Talks between the U.S. and Iran will take place in Geneva on Thursday.

Source: Axios

Banner at Ethiopian military parade today in a message to Eritrea:

“Whether they love us or hate us, we will not live landlocked.”

Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed was present at the parade.

MORE & MORE: Since mid-January 2026, at least 249 U.S. C-5 and C-17 cargo flights have moved troops and equipment into the region, with about 147 landing at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

In the past week alone, 58 U.S. aerial refueling tankers (around 15% of the fleet) have deployed to Europe to support fighter movements and potential sustained operations.

NEW: China has overtaken the U.S. as Germany’s top trading partner in 2025, with €251 billion in trade, compared to €240 billion with the U.S.

German imports from China far exceeded exports, and trade with the U.S. fell 5%, partly linked to tariffs.

Germany’s defense spending is set to decisively surpass France’s, potentially reaching nearly double by 2029.

Source: FT

The United States won gold in men’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, defeating Canada 2–1 in overtime.

It’s Team USA’s first Olympic gold in men’s hockey since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”