According to a release from U.S. Central Command, since the beginning of the U.S. blockade of vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports, the U.S. has redirected 90 vessels and subjected 4 to disabling fire to ensure compliance with their directives.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump spoke to press on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews before leaving to deliver the commencement speech for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. President Trump made comments on Iran, Taiwan, and noted that he thinks the China-Russia summit is positive.

Former Cuban President Raul Castro, brother of Fidel Castro, has been indicted in a U.S. court, a U.S. official told Reuters. The move is the latest event in the ongoing tensions between the energy-strapped Caribbean nation and the U.S., as U.S. President Donald J. Trump increasingly applies both economic and diplomatic pressure on Cuba.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from the USS Tripoli (LHA 7) amphibious ready group (ARG) conducted a boarding operation of the Iranian-flagged motor tanker (M/T) Celestial Sea in the Gulf of Oman in support of the U.S. blockade of Iran. Following a search, U.S. forces released the vessel, directing its crew away from Iranian ports. To date, U.S. forces have redirected 91 vessels during the blockade, disabling 4 more.

According to a release from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17), USS Gridley (DDG 101), and USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) have now arrived in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility (AOR).

Context:
Amidst rising U.S.-Cuba tensions it’s important to note that the deployment of the Nimitz aircraft carrier was previously announced in late March, as she and her accompanying vessels are set to take part in the latest iteration of the Southern Seas 2026 passing exercises with a number of South American and Caribbean nations, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Uruguay. Per a SOUTHCOM release from March 23, 2026, she will also make port visits in Brazil, Chile, Panama, and Jamaica, as she circumnavigates the continent of South America.

Israeli Minister of National SecurityBen Gvir is under fire, both domestically and internationally, over a video showing him visiting a detention center where the Gaza Freedom Flotilla members were being held and processed. The video shows him arguing with detainees while also seemingly smiling at the rough handling of many of the detainees. World leaders and decision-makers from nations around the globe, including Italy, the U.S., Qatar, the Netherlands, and others have condemned the video and Minister Gvir himself. Additionally, a number of nations have summoned the Israeli ambassadors in their respective countries over the treatment of flotilla members from their countries.

Iran’s newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority has announced a new nominal area of control for the Strait of Hormuz. Per the release, Iran is now claiming that entry and exit points from the Arabian Gulf/Gulf of Oman into the strait are under the jurisdiction of their armed forces. This seemingly includes areas in the sovereign waters of other nations. Iran still maintains that their toll framework for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is in effect and must be adhered to in order for commercial vessels to avoid being targeted.

In a series of photos published by the Nigerian Air Force on April 29, 2026, from a visit to Bauchi Air Base by Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper can be seen in the background inside of an exposed hanger at the base, in the first confirmation last month of American military forces in Nigeria. Interestingly, this picture was taken more than two weeks before U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced its “first” joint counter-terror operation in Nigeria on May 17, 2026.

Credit to @ChrisADayton for discovering the photo on Facebook.

According to CBS News, citing U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter, the Pentagon has begun actively developing military options against Cuba for President Trump, while the U.S. intelligence community explores how the country might respond to military action by the United States.

Six M1A2T Abrams assigned to the 584th Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the Taiwanese Army cross a key strategic bridge in the Hsinchu County of Northwestern Taiwan, amid a snap wartime readiness reconnaissance exercise aimed at countering continued military pressure from China.

A significant increase in automatic identification system (AIS) spoofing activity is currently occurring in the Persian Gulf, particularly northwest of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). AIS spoofing involves the transmission of false vessel location, identity, or navigation data, often creating the appearance of ships operating in locations where they are not actually present, such as this grouping of dozens of vessels in the same position. Recent monitoring indicates that spikes in spoofing activity have preceded announcements of military strikes, security incidents, or other regional operations in the past.

The UK Ministry of Defense has announced and published footage of an interception last month of a British RC-135W “Rivet Joint” Signals Intelligence Aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea by a Su-35 and Su-27 with the Russian Air Force. During the interception, which the British Royal Air Force called “dangerous” and “reckless,” the Russian military jets flew several times in front of the RC-135, approaching as close as six meters and triggering onboard emergency systems, while the surveillance aircraft continued with its mission in support of NATO’s Eastern Front.

NASA will host a news conference next Tuesday, May 26, at its headquarters in Washington, attended by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, to share plans for a Moon Base and highlight progress toward the first sustained presence on the lunar surface by the United States.

BLKCAT5, a U.S. Navy MQ-4C “Triton” High-Altitude Surveillance Drone is returning to Naval Station Mayport in Florida, following a several-hour-long mission off the northwestern and southwestern coasts of Cuba as well as over the Yucatán Channel.

Beijing is holding up a proposed visit this Summer by Pentagon officials, including Elbridge Colby, Under-Secretary of Defense for Policy, as China attempts to pressure President Donald J. Trump over a major advanced weapons package - worth over $14 billion - for Taiwan, according to an exclusive report by the Financial Times.

According to Reuters, citing people with knowledge on the matter, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to attend the upcoming G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, France next month. Per the sources, Syria’s role as a guest nation will likely revolve around Syria’s future role as a “potential strategic hub for supply chains.” As many nations have already dropped terrorism designations and lifted sanctions since the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, this news marks the next step in Syria’s reintegration into the global economy and geopolitical frameworks.