US Set to Skip USMCA Renewal

The US, Canada and Mexico hold USMCA's mandatory six-year review, with Washington expected not to extend the pact for another term of 16 years.

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Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has finalized the first post-Assad transitional parliament by appointing 70 members.

The new parliament will hold its first session on July 6.

Source: AFP

The House rejected a Democratic war powers resolution that would have required Trump to remove U.S. troops from hostilities in Lebanon.

The measure, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, failed with 22 Democrats opposing it and 2 Republicans supporting it.

House Democratic leaders argued there are currently no U.S. troops engaged in combat in Lebanon, making the resolution unnecessary.

Source: The Hill

Germany is pushing the US to let American weapons be manufactured in Germany, hoping to speed up European rearmament while giving Trump an economic incentive to stay committed to NATO.

Discussions include co-producing Tomahawk cruise missiles and advanced Patriot (PAC-3) missiles, with US officials reportedly more receptive than expected.

Berlin argues Germany's industrial base can help relieve US production bottlenecks and deliver weapons to Europe faster as it responds to Russia's threat.

Existing cooperation already includes Rheinmetall building F-35 fuselage sections and joint Patriot missile production.

However, any deal would require US approval to transfer sensitive military technology.

Source: FT

Strait of Hormuz Dispute Drives Major Rift in US-Saudi Relations

After Riyadh blocked airspace for a Washington-led maritime mission, the US is now considering reducing its military footprint in the kingdom amid widening diplomatic rifts.

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German AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla:

The German people do not want war—and certainly not against Russia.

We need a new European security order with Russia as a partner.

Trump Raked In Over $2 Billion During First Year Back in Office

US President Donald Trump reported at least $1 billion from cryptocurrency ventures, with his total revenue topping $2.2 billion during his first year back in office.

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German AfD Leader Alice Weidel:

Development aid projects. Why is Germany still paying development aid to China? China is now far more advanced than we are technologically.

Or why are we funding gender toilets in Nigeria? Nobody can explain that.

Or the excessive payments to the United Nations—cut them. Then our payments to the European Union can be reduced, or even eliminated entirely.

Subsidies for clientelism and climate policy—abolish them. That would create enormous fiscal room in the federal budget.

Then we must limit civil servant status to a narrowly defined core of sovereign state functions: the military, the police, finance, and the judiciary. Nothing more is needed.

BIG: Plans for NATO's 2027 summit in Albania are in doubt after the Trump administration reportedly opposed the idea and some allies criticized Albania's low defense spending.

A draft declaration for next week's NATO summit in Türkiye omits any reference to a future meeting in Albania, despite an earlier commitment.

Source: Reuters

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius:

We are in a much better position than a few years ago.

We are ready for crisis. The Bundeswehr is building up.

We are procuring a lot of material, and we are building infrastructure.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius:

We need more reservists. We want to have obligatory reserve service.

NATO's Rutte:

Even when Russia's war against Ukraine ends, Russia will remain a long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security.

Germany's Chancellor Merz on defense spending:

We haven't done enough in the past years.

We are doing more now, not just to reach a figure Trump has said, but we are doing it in our own interest because we think it's the right thing to do.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee:

We would finally and rightfully stand with Israel where God placed its capital. It's not just that you made that decision.

I would say God made that decision 3,800 years ago and we finally got around to acknowledging what had been determined long before the United States of America came along.

NATO's Rutte on Ukraine:

When it comes to the defense of Ukraine, the U.S. is still indispensable.

The flow of key support from the U.S. into Ukraine continues, paid for by Canadians and the Europeans.

I think it's fair.

Netanyahu on Lebanon:

Lebanon is a beautiful country, yet a miserable one.

Its tragedy is that it is so close to Israel.

Ukraine Drone Strikes Push Russia into Fuel Crisis

Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have triggered nationwide fuel rationing and produced gas station queues.

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Export Controls on Anthropic Lifted After Two-Week Standoff

Anthropic said the U.S. Commerce Department lifted export controls on its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models, ending a standoff that began weeks ago.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi:

The terms of the Islamabad MoU are crystal clear and public for all to see.

POTUS has committed the U.S. to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv. If they ignore their master, Iran will school them.

Any threat against our People and Leadership will receive Immediate Powerful Response.