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Iran could use detained Americans as ‘sweetener’ in nuclear talks, ex-hostage envoy warns

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:00:17 -0400

A former lead hostage negotiator under the first Trump and Biden administrations warned that the Iranians are tougher negotiators than the Russians, Chinese and even the Taliban, noting that several Americans are still wrongfully detained in Iran and should be included in any peace talks.

Roger Carstens, the U.S. former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, said in an interview with ӣ��Ƶ that six American citizens are being held captive in Iranian prisons — each of them previously held in Evin prison in Tehran, known for its harsh conditions. He said the Iranians will likely use the American hostages as a "sweetener" to ensure negotiations go in "the direction of Iran" as the United States seeks a nuclear deal and permanent ceasefire.

"Strangely, the Russians, the Chinese, the Taliban, the Venezuelans, when you start getting into hostage discussions, they tell the truth, and they stick to what they promise. You can do a handshake deal with the Taliban, and they're going to follow through," Carstens said. "The Iranians. Absolutely not."

While Carstens remains confident that U.S. negotiators can secure the return of the six Americans, he stated that Iran is unlike any other foreign government he's worked with and can't be trusted.

MORNING GLORY: THE US-IRAN NEGOTIATIONS IN ISLAMABAD BECAME REYKJAVÍK 2.0

He said the Iranians are the sort of negotiators likely to pull a "fast one" right up until the last moment.

"You cannot trust the Iranians up until the last second," Carstens said. "If you were landing a plane in either Geneva or even Tehran, to get your Americans, you better be out there with a clipboard making sure that the people coming on the plane are the people that you bargained for."

Only two of the American hostages have been publicly identified: Kamran Hekmati, 61, and Reza Valizadeh, 49.

Hekmati is a Jewish American who also holds Iranian citizenship. He was imprisoned 11 months ago after being charged and convicted of visiting Israel in the past 10 years.

Like Hekmati, Valizadeh holds dual Iranian and American citizenship. He previously worked for the U.S.-funded Radio Farda, covering corruption and election manipulation in Iran. Valizadeh was arrested in September 2024 during a visit to see family and was sentenced after being convicted of working with a hostile government.

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Carstens suggested it was unlikely there was any time for the Americans and Iranians to discuss the release of the six Americans during the 21-hour marathon peace talks in Pakistan earlier this month.

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"I think the Iranians are going to be smart enough to keep these people healthy and ready to throw on to a negotiating table," Carstens said. "The question in my mind during these negotiations is not whether they'll be at risk or pulled off, but rather, what's it going to take, and how will we, the United States, value them [the hostages]?"

President Donald Trump does not mention the release of American hostages in his four objectives for ending the Iran war. Carstens is calling for the return of the hostages to be a fifth objective.

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"Let's make this an official ask, and when we go in, not only ask for it officially, but hold ourselves accountable to getting the job done," Carstens said. "The good news is Trump has a great record in bringing Americans home."

A senior White House official told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that future peace talks with Iran are under discussion, but nothing has yet been scheduled.

"President Trump is always concerned about Americans detained abroad, which is why he has brought over 100 individuals — a record number — home from around the world," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement to ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to the State Department for additional comment.

UN filing accuses UK of forced displacement as Diego Garcia tensions and security fears grow

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:51:49 -0400

U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces a "crimes against humanity" complaint at the United Nations over the treatment of the Chagossian people as tensions rise after an Iranian missile attempt targeting Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Starmer, who is named in the filling, has been reported specifically over the removal of four people who returned to the island in a complaint filed by the attorney general for the Chagossian government.

James Tumbridge's filing also comes as the exiled leadership stressed the importance of strong ties with the United States, telling ӣ��Ƶ Digital that Washington is a "brother in arms for global security."

TRUMP, STARMER AGREE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MUST REOPEN AS MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT ESCALATES

On March 20, Iran launched two ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia from more than 2,300 miles away, missing the target but underscoring the base’s strategic importance.

Chagossian leaders have since backed a continued U.S. presence, with First Minister Misley Mandarin saying they want to "uphold the 1966 agreement and consider the U.S. as a brother in arms for global security."

The 1966 agreement allowed the U.S. to use Diego Garcia for defense purposes, initially for 50 years.

"The desire of the Chagossian government is to have a positive relationship with the U.S. and an ongoing presence on Diego Garcia of the U.S. military," Tumbridge also told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

TRUMP PROVEN RIGHT ON IRAN'S LONG-RANGE MISSILE CAPABILITY AS REGIME TARGETS US-UK BASE, EXPERTS SAY

Meanwhile, Tumbridge’s U.N. submission claims U.K. actions risk the "forced depopulation" of the Chagos Islands.

Expulsions began in 1968, when about 2,000 residents were removed, culminating in 1973, and in February the U.K. issued new removal orders to four Chagossians who had returned to the islands.

The filing calls the situation "forced displacement" that could constitute "a crime against humanity by forced depopulation of a territory."

It warns the British government of a "fresh crime now" that could complete a decades-long erasure of the Indigenous population, stating, "The removal of these four persons would result in the total physical erasure of the Chagossian people," potentially "amounting to ethnic cleansing."

FARAGE SLAMS BRITISH PRIME MINISTER FOR ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ LACK OF SUPPORT FOR TRUMP'S IRAN STRIKES

"The BIOT commissioner accepted that the Chagossians were wronged in the past," Tumbridge said Wednesday.

"How can the U.K. prime minister, who claims to value the rule of law and human rights, not want to right that wrong and let the people return to their islands?"

The filing also comes as the U.K. considers transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

This followed a 2019 International Court of Justice opinion, while preserving the Diego Garcia base under a 99-year lease.

President Donald Trump criticized the proposed handover, and the U.K. has since paused legislation to formalize the deal, with ministers saying it has become "impossible to agree at a political level."

The legislation was expected to be included in the King’s speech outlining the next parliamentary session’s agenda.

TRUMP’S ‘SMALL ASK’ FOR GREENLAND WOULD BE THE REAL ESTATE DEAL OF A LIFETIME

A UK government spokesperson told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that the Diego Garcia military base is "crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.

"There are ongoing legal proceedings before the BIOT courts. Various UK and international courts have found that there is no right of abode on the Archipelago," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Responding to the statement, Tumbridge claimed Starmer's government was "misleading" people and warned a "serious fight" is on the horizon.

"Sadly, the British Government is misleading people. No court anywhere has ever found ‘that there is no right of abode on the Archipelago.’ Tony Blair’s Government took away the right of abode and passed attempts to quash that law in court failed, until the Supreme Court of the BIOT ruled on March 31st and quashed it," he said.

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"Since then, the Foreign Secretary has applied to intervene in the case, we are going to the Court of Appeal, and clearly a serious fight remains," Tumbridge added.

Pakistani general says Iran diplomacy still alive, despite US blockade, failed talks

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:44:11 -0400

The United States began enforcing a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic Monday, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf just hours after high-level talks in Pakistan between Washington and Tehran collapsed without a deal.

The move, announced by President Donald Trump, came after negotiations in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, despite what participants described as rare direct engagement between the two sides.

But Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mohammed Saeed, former chief of general staff of the Pakistan Army, said in an exclusive interview with ӣ��Ƶ Digital that the talks came far closer to success than their outcome suggests — and argued that diplomacy is still within reach.

"Both sides are saying they were very close … even inches away from a solution," he said based on his own knowledge and reports. Saeed retired in 2023 but remained part of the core team handling operational planning, internal security coordination, and sensitive periods of political tension.

JD VANCE RETURNS TO WASHINGTON AFTER 16 HOURS OF IRAN PEACE TALKS COLLAPSE IN PAKISTAN

"They talked to each other in a very friendly manner. There was, from both sides, an expression of accommodation and understanding from each other. So, what you can briefly say is that the engagement has sufficient potential to resume."

Speaking at the White House Monday, Trump defended the blockade, saying, "Right now, there’s no fighting. Right now, we have a blockade … Iran is doing absolutely no business, and we’re going to keep it that way very easily."

He added that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly degraded, saying its "Navy has gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone, their radar is gone and their leaders are gone."

Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, pressed Iran to accept a strict "zero enrichment" policy and remove its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

"The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon," Vance said at a press conference in Islamabad.

Iranian leaders rejected those demands, insisting that any agreement must include the immediate release of billions of dollars in frozen assets.

Now, with the blockade in place, Saeed suggested the move may be designed less as a military endgame and more as leverage.

"This blockade could be … a maneuver to build further pressure on Iran to negotiate," he said.

TRUMP WARNS CHINA OF 'STAGGERING' 50% TARIFF IF CAUGHT SUPPLYING MILITARY AID TO IRAN

The escalation has raised concerns globally, particularly for countries dependent on Gulf energy flows, including Pakistan.

"Everyone in the world must be worried about what kind of economic negative spin-offs such a blockade would have," Saeed said.

Saeed, who until recently sat at the center of Pakistan’s military leadership, framed the Islamabad talks as a critical reopening of dialogue after decades of hostility.

"It is the first time in 47 years … that there was engagement at the highest level," he said, calling it "a great moment for diplomacy" and a demonstration of Pakistan’s ability to maintain credibility with both Washington and Tehran.

He pointed in particular to Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, a figure who has drawn unusual attention in Washington.

Trump has publicly praised Munir, at one point calling him his "favorite field marshal," elevating his profile as a key intermediary in regional diplomacy.

Munir, who rose through Pakistan’s intelligence ranks before becoming army chief, previously served as director general of military intelligence and later led the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). His career has been defined by deep involvement in regional security and intelligence coordination, including longstanding engagement with Iran.

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Those ties could prove critical in the current crisis, according to Saeed.

"What people do not know is that when he was director general of military intelligence … he was interacting with Iranians at multiple levels continuously," Saeed said, describing years of direct engagement with Iran’s military, intelligence and political leadership, including former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. strike during Trump’s first term.

"He has had interaction with them for a long time … visiting Iran frequently and interacting on multiple issues," Saeed said, adding that many current Iranian officials would already be familiar with Munir from earlier roles.

That continuity, he argued, gives Pakistan a rare advantage at a moment when formal diplomatic channels are strained.

"What one can say is that he continues to be one figure internationally who has a personal interaction … in the intelligence community in Iran in the military hierarchy and also on the side of the political leadership," Saeed said.

"So that’s a huge advantage he has on the other side."

TRUMP VOICES FRUSTRATION WITH NATO, SAYS IRANIAN NAVY ‘DESTROYED’ AS US PREPS FOR BLOCKADE

For Pakistan, that personal access — combined with its simultaneous relationship with Washington — has become central to its effort to position itself as a credible intermediary, even as the region edges closer to confrontation.

At the same time, Pakistan’s role as a mediator has drawn scrutiny, particularly given its longstanding position on Israel and recent inflammatory remarks by senior officials.

When asked whether Pakistan can be seen as a neutral broker while not recognizing Israel — an actor directly involved in strikes on Iran — Saeed downplayed the issue, saying Israel was not part of the diplomatic track.

"Pakistan’s position with regard to relations with Israel has been consistent since our independence," he said, adding that Islamabad’s mediation efforts were focused solely on Washington and Tehran.

"Neither of their representatives was on the table … Pakistan was mediating between the U.S. and Iran," he said.

Despite the current escalation, Saeed maintained that diplomatic channels remain open.

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"There is a lot of space … for resuming the process," he said, suggesting talks could restart in Islamabad or elsewhere if both sides shift course.

"On Pakistan's side, from my personal knowledge of the field marshal, they are relentless. They would not give up. They must not have given up. They must be continuously in touch with both sides. And they would try their best to convince both sides that the blockade is not going to be in their interest, in the interest of the region and in the interest of the international community."

Iran talks done in by Tehran's delusions over leverage they don't have, US official says

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:47:00 -0400

Peace negotiations with Iran fell apart after Tehran severely misjudged what kind of leverage the regime believed it held, a U.S. official told ӣ��Ƶ Digital on Sunday.

While Vice President JD Vance left Islamabad, Pakistan, without a deal between the U.S. and Iran, the official said Vance used the talks to measure the Iranians own assessment of their position in the negotiations.

Vance found that Tehran thought they held a strong hand going into negotiations, according to the official, who added that no deal can be achieved when one party deludes itself into believing they have leverage that, in reality, they do not have.

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The U.S. official described the talks to ӣ��Ƶ Digital as starting out tough, though developing into a more friendly and productive dialogue over the duration of the 21-hour-long negotiations.

The high-stakes talks between the U.S. and Iran ended without a deal after Iranian officials refused to accept American terms, Vance said earlier Sunday during a press conference from the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan.

"So we go back to the United States, having not come to an agreement. We've made very clear what our red lines are, what things we're willing to accommodate them on and what things we're not willing to accommodate them on," Vance said at the time. "And we've made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms."

TRUMP REVEALS IRAN MADE 'SIGNIFICANT PROPOSAL' AFTER ULTIMATUM, BUT 'NOT GOOD ENOUGH'

The U.S. official said that over the course of the discussions, the Washington delegation determined it was clear that the Iranians did not comprehend that the core of any peace deal hinges on Iran never obtaining a nuclear weapon.

While that point remains the main objective of any potential peace deal, the U.S. has other red lines that it will not compromise on.

The official said the U.S. and Iran failed to reach an agreement on all of Washington’s red lines, which include: Iran ending all uranium enrichment; the dismantling of all Iran’s major nuclear enrichment facilities; the retrieval of highly enriched uranium; the acceptance of a broader peace, security and de-escalation framework that includes regional allies; an end to the funding of Iran’s terrorist proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis; and Iran fully opening the Strait of Hormuz with no tolls for passage.

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The official added that Vance has underscored that while a deal remains on the table, it is up to Tehran to accept the terms.

"And we leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer," Vance said during the earlier press conference before departing Pakistan. "We'll see if the Iranians accept it."

Trump’s Iran ceasefire rocked within hours amid reported missile, drone attacks

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:29:06 -0400

In a rapid turn Tuesday night, President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran just hours after warning the regime would face devastating consequences.

But within hours of the agreement, Gulf states were reporting drone attacks and officials signaled the agreement may already be under strain.

The two-week ceasefire, brokered with help from Pakistan, was framed by the White House as a step toward broader negotiations, and defense officials said U.S. strikes on Iran had halted following Trump’s announcement Tuesday night.

But within hours, Israel launched its largest strike yet on Hezbollah in Lebanon — which is not covered by the ceasefire — and Iranian state media signaled Tehran could again restrict access to the Strait of Hormuz as fighting in Lebanon continues.

GEN JACK KEANE 'SKEPTICAL' THAT IRAN CEASEFIRE WILL HOLD, WARNS TEHRAN WILL 'DELAY AND OBFUSCATE'

"The Iran–U.S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose—ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement posted to X. "The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments."

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed nine drones in recent hours, while the United Arab Emirates reported intercepting 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones. Kuwait’s military said it intercepted 42 drones and four ballistic missiles launched since early Wednesday, some targeting oil facilities, power stations and other critical infrastructure.

Bahrain also reported injuries and damage after debris from an intercepted Iranian drone fell in a residential area.

The regional attacks came after Iran launched missile barrages toward Israel in the hours surrounding the ceasefire announcement Tuesday night, triggering sirens across major cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that there were launches toward Israel from Iran after the ceasefire took effect.

"This is a fragile truce," press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday when asked about reported violations at a White House press briefing. "Ceasefires are fragile by nature. We've seen this with respect to the 12-day war with Iran in Israel last year. It takes time sometimes for these ceasefires to be fully effectuated."

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped mediate the ceasefire, said Wednesday "violations of ceasefire have been reported at few places," urging all sides to exercise restraint and preserve the agreement.

"It takes time sometimes for ceasefires to take hold," War Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned in a news conference Wednesday morning. "We’re prepared if necessary, but we hope and believe it will hold."

He said the Pentagon was monitoring attacks that happened Tuesday night "in real time."

"Iran would be wise to find a way to get the carrier pigeon to their troops out in remote locations, not to shoot any longer, one-way attacks or missiles," he said.

U.S. Central Command declined to say whether any Iranian activity has continued since the ceasefire took effect, offering no additional details beyond remarks from War Department leadership earlier Wednesday.

IRAN CONFLICT TESTS PAKISTAN AMID OWN BORDER CLASHES AS ISLAMABAD TOUTED AS VENUE FOR US-TEHRAN TALKS

Trump said he agreed to pause strikes on Iran on the condition of "complete, immediate, and safe" reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress in longer-term negotiations.

But the Iranian navy told ships anchored near the key global shipping route Wednesday they still need Iran’s permission to pass, according to the Wall Street Journal.

"The president was made aware of those reports before I came to the podium," Leavitt told reporters Wednesday. "That is completely unacceptable. And again, this is a case of what they're saying publicly is different. Privately, we have seen an uptick of traffic in the strait today. And I will reiterate the president's expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately."

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Trump suggested Wednesday to ABC that both Iran and the U.S. may collect tolls from the strait in a "joint venture," though details remain unclear.

Vice President JD Vance and White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will head to Pakistan for the first round of peace talks with Iran on Saturday, the White House said. Any discussions could be complicated by reports of continued attacks across the region.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Gen Jack Keane 'skeptical' that Iran ceasefire will hold, warns Tehran will 'delay and obfuscate'

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:49:08 -0400

Retired four-star Gen. Jack Keane expressed doubt that the Iran ceasefire will hold, arguing Tehran is exploiting the pause to delay and ease pressure while testing whether the U.S. has "the stomach" to restart the fight.

"I am skeptical about where we’re heading with the Iranians because I flat don’t trust them, and I don't like taking the pressure off them by going to a ceasefire, which is what they want in any event to force the United States to stop the war," Keane said Tuesday on "Jesse Watters Primetime."

"We have done that, admittedly only temporarily, but we've got to see what's in that deal."

He warned that Tehran has a long track record of using negotiations to buy time, calling Iranian leaders "experts at obfuscating and delaying deals" who "lie and promise and don’t deliver."

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That’s something President Donald Trump is well aware of, Keane said, noting the president’s dealings with Tehran have left him "clear-eyed" about the challenges of securing a lasting agreement.

"The president and his team know who they're dealing with, so we're going to have to hold their feet to the fire and, if this blows up in our face, we have to have the stomach to finish this," he added.

Trump announced Tuesday that, based on conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, he will delay the "bombing and attack of Iran" for two weeks.

IRAN'S TALLEST BRIDGE COLLAPSES AFTER REPORTED US AIRSTRIKES, IRAN THREATENS AMERICAN ALLIES IN RETALIATION

Trump said the decision came after the leaders requested the U.S. "hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran," which the president previously threatened would start at 8 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday if a deal was not reached.

"This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."

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Trump said the administration received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and officials "believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."

ӣ��Ƶ' Alexandra Koch and Jacqui Heinrich contributed to this report.

World enters uncharted era as US-Russia nuclear treaty expires, opening door to fastest arms race in decades

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:31:24 -0500

A historic nuclear arms reduction treaty is set to expire Thursday, which will thrust the world into a nuclear situation it has not faced in more than five decades, one in which there are no longer any binding limits on the size of Russia’s or America’s nuclear arsenals and no inspection regime to verify what Moscow does next.

Matt Korda, associate director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said the expiration of the New START treaty forces both countries to rethink assumptions that have guided nuclear planning for more than a decade.

"Up until now, both countries have planned their respective nuclear modernization programs based on the assumption that the other country is not going to exceed those central limits," Korda said. "Without those central limits … both countries are going to be reassessing their programs to accommodate a more uncertain nuclear future."

TRUMP WARNS RUSSIA: US HAS WORLD'S GREATEST NUCLEAR SUBMARINE 'RIGHT OFF THEIR SHORES'

Russia had already suspended its participation in New START in 2023, freezing inspections and data exchanges, but the treaty’s expiration eliminates the last legal framework governing the size of the two countries’ nuclear arsenals.

With no follow-up agreement in place, the administration has insisted it cannot agree to arms control without the cooperation of China.

"The president has been clear in the past that in order to have true arms control in the 21st century, it’s impossible to do something that doesn’t include China because of their vast and rapidly growing stockpile," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday.

A White House official told ӣ��Ƶ President Donald Trump will decide the path forward on arms control "on his own timeline." "President Trump has spoken repeatedly of addressing the threat nuclear weapons pose to the world and indicated that he would like to keep limits on nuclear weapons and involve China in arms control talks."

Experts are skeptical that China would ever agree to limit its nuclear stockpile until it’s reached parity with the U.S., and Russia has said it would not pressure China to come to the table.

China aims to have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030, but even that figure pales in comparison to the aging giants of the Cold War. As of early 2026, the global nuclear hierarchy remains top-heavy, with the U.S. and Russia holding roughly 86% of the world’s total inventory. Both the U.S. and Russia hold around 4,000 total warheads, with close to 1,700 deployed by each. Global nuclear stockpiles declined to about 12,000 in 2025, down from more than 70,000 in 1986.

In February 2023, Russia announced it was suspending its participation in the New START treaty, halting inspections and data-sharing under the pact while saying it would continue to respect the numerical limits. But, more recently, it floated the idea of extending the treaty by another year.

TRUMP STUNS WITH CALL TO RESUME NUCLEAR TESTS — WHY NOW, AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN

Korda said that proposal reflected shared constraints rather than a sudden change in Russian intentions.

"It’s not in Russia’s interest to dramatically accelerate an arms race while its current modernization programs are going so poorly and while its industrial capacity is tied up in Ukraine," he said.

But without inspections and data exchanges, countries are forced to rely on their own intelligence, increasing uncertainty and encouraging worst-case planning.

"Without anything like that, all countries are really left with national technical means of being able to monitor each other’s nuclear forces," Korda said.

With New START’s limits gone, experts said the immediate concern is not the construction of new nuclear weapons but how quickly existing warheads could be deployed. Ankit Panda, a Stanton senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Russia could move faster than the United States in the near term by "uploading" additional warheads onto missiles already in service.

"Uploading would be a process of adding additional warheads to our ICBMs and submarine-launched missiles," Panda said. "The Russians could be much faster than the United States."

PUTIN PRAISES TRUMP’S ‘SINCERE’ PEACE EFFORTS, SIGNALS POSSIBLE US-RUSSIA NUCLEAR DEAL

Korda said a large-scale upload would not happen overnight but could still alter force levels within a relatively short window.

"We’re looking at maybe a timeline of about two years and pretty significant sums of money for each country to execute a complete upload across the entire force," he said, adding that, in a worst-case scenario, it could "roughly result in doubling the sizes of their deployed nuclear arsenals."

That advantage, however, is constrained by longer-term industrial realities. Panda noted that the U.S. nuclear weapons complex lacks the production capacity it once had, limiting how quickly Washington could sustain a larger arsenal over time.

"The United States is currently unable to produce what is going to be a target for 30 plutonium pits," a fraction of Cold War output, he said.

Nicole Grajewski, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Russia's ability to produce nuclear weapons may be faster than the U.S. in some, but not all, parts of the development chain.

"Russia is very good at warhead production," she told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "What Russia is really fundamentally constrained on is the delivery vehicle side of it."

Grajewski added that this is particularly true as the war in Ukraine continues. Russia’s production of missiles and other delivery systems relies on facilities that also support conventional weapons used in the war, limiting how quickly Moscow could expand the intercontinental missiles, submarine-launched weapons and bombers that made up the core of New START.

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As a result, Grajewski said she is less concerned about a rapid buildup of those treaty-covered forces than about Moscow’s continued investment in nuclear systems that fall outside traditional arms control frameworks.

"What is more concerning is Russia’s advances in asymmetric domains," she said, pointing to systems such as the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo and nuclear-powered cruise missiles, which are not covered by existing treaties.

President Donald Trump has previously said he wants to pursue arms control with both Russia and China before suggesting the U.S. should resume nuclear testing.

"If there’s ever a time when we need nuclear weapons like the kind of weapons that we’re building and that Russia has — and that China has, to a lesser extent, but will have — that’s going to be a very sad day," Trump said in February 2025. "That’s going to be probably oblivion."

But, in October, he declared, "Because of other countries' testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately."

UN faces severe cash crisis as Trump admin ramps up pressure on world body

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:53:35 -0500

As the Trump administration slashes funding and exits multiple international bodies over criticism that the U.N. has failed to promote U.S. interests, the United Nations is warning it could face a cash crisis by July.

In a Jan. 28 letter from U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to ambassadors, he cited record unpaid dues and rigid budget rules that have left the organization exposed.

Guterres said the U.N. is trapped in a "Kafkaesque cycle" in which rigid budget rules force it to return "unspent" funds even when those contributions were never paid. He said outstanding dues reached a record $1.568 billion at the end of 2025 and that collections covered only 76.7% of assessed contributions, leaving the organization dangerously exposed.

Unless collections "drastically improve," the secretary-general warned, the U.N. will not be able to fully implement its 2026 budget and could face a liquidity crisis by mid-year.

UN CHIEF ACCUSES US OF DITCHING INTERNATIONAL LAW AS TRUMP BLASTS GLOBAL BODIES

A senior diplomatic source told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that the secretary-general himself bears significant responsibility for the deepening crisis, arguing that warning signs had been visible long before the current shortfall.

According to the source, major contributors had been pressing for efficiency and reform for years, yet meaningful action was delayed. When reforms were eventually introduced, the source said, they were applied broadly rather than through targeted cuts in areas where real savings were possible, harming even U.N. bodies considered central to the organization’s mission. "He is going to go down as the worst secretary-general in the history of the U.N.," the source said.

TRUMP ADMIN EXIT FROM UN, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS RAISES QUESTION OF WHO’S NEXT

The warning from Guterres comes as the United States, the world body’s largest contributor, has cut voluntary funding to multiple U.N. programs and declined to make some required payments, deepening the cash crunch described in the secretary-general’s letter.

Broader U.S. foreign assistance cuts under the Trump administration’s foreign policy realignment. In January 2026, the United States formally withdrew from the World Health Organization and began exiting dozens of international bodies, including multiple U.N. entities, citing misalignment with American priorities.

The funding squeeze has already forced the United Nations to tighten spending across several agencies. Separate Reuters reporting shows that U.N. bodies, including the World Food Programme and refugee agencies, are preparing layoffs and program reductions as overall contributions fall to the lowest level in a decade.

Hugh Dugan, former National Security Council special assistant to the president and senior director for international organization affairs, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that the current turmoil reflects long-standing structural weaknesses rather than a sudden collapse.

TRUMP ADMIN WARNED TO TAKE FRONT SEAT AS UN CHIEF RACE SHIFTS LEFT, BOOSTING ANTI-US CONTENDERS

"We’ve heard this before," Dugan told ӣ��Ƶ Digital, referring to repeated warnings from U.N. leadership over cash shortfalls.

Dugan said the organization has struggled for decades with inconsistent revenue and outdated financial practices, arguing that alarmist messaging is unlikely to restore donor confidence without visible internal reforms.

He said Guterres, who has roughly 11 months remaining in office, appears focused on ensuring the institution does not close on his watch.

"The doors will remain open, maybe just, but that’s his legacy," Dugan said.

STATE DEPARTMENT DECLARES 'INTERNATIONAL BUREAUCRACIES' WILL NO LONGER GET 'BLANK CHECKS' FROM THE US

Asked about President Trump’s newly announced peace board, Dugan said it should not be viewed as a competitor to the United Nations or a replacement for its charter-based system.

"I don’t see it as a replacement of the principles of the U.N.," he said, describing the initiative as operational rather than ideological.

Dugan compared it to past convening efforts such as the Clinton Global Initiative, saying it focuses on dealmaking and coordination rather than supplanting the international order.

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Despite mounting criticism of its performance and finances, Dugan said the U.N. continues to hold one enduring advantage.

Referring to the annual U.N. General Assembly debate, Dugan said, "When the U.N. calls a meeting today, it’s routine to have more than 100 heads of state in the room," he said. "The power to convene is no small accomplishment."

Trump slams UK island handoff deal that could put key US military base at risk

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:25:42 -0500

President Donald Trump dramatically reversed course Tuesday on a U.K. plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while warning it could jeopardize U.S. access to the Diego Garcia military base.

Trump’s reversal highlights what a defense expert called a "new Trump Doctrine" before linking the president's opposition to the Chagos deal with his Greenland push and citing fears Mauritius could later back out.

Writing on his Truth Social platform Tuesday, Trump called the U.K.’s Chagos decision "an act of great stupidity."

"Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER," Trump wrote. "There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness."

TRUMP ISSUES STERN WARNING TO NATO AHEAD OF VANCE'S HIGH-STAKES GREENLAND MEETING

"Trump has done a 180, partly because of the U.K.’s support for Denmark’s sovereign claims over Greenland and partly because of a new strategy outlined by the White House," John Hemmings, director of the National Security Center at the Henry Jackson Society, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

"These moves are linked and part of a ‘new Trump Doctrine’" outlined in November’s National Security Strategy," he explained.

"Diego Garcia is a potential threat to Beijing’s strategy to control vital shipping lanes between the oil-rich Middle East and China’s industrial heartland," he added, describing how "nearly 23.7 million barrels of oil transit the Indian Ocean every day, with the base being vital in any U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan."

TRUMP TELLS DAVOS US ALONE CAN SECURE GREENLAND, INSISTS HE WON’T 'USE FORCE'

In a separate post, Trump explicitly linked the Chagos dispute to his Greenland push.

"The U.K. giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of national security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired," Trump wrote.

The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius during Britain’s decolonization process, a move the International Court of Justice ruled unlawful in 2019.

The U.K. later agreed to transfer sovereignty while leasing Diego Garcia back for at least 99 years at a cost of at least $160 million annually.

Diego Garcia is a hub for long-range bombers, logistics and power projection across the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific and Africa. Around 2,500 personnel, mostly American, are stationed there.

TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON GREENLAND PUSH AS POLLS SHOW LITTLE PUBLIC SUPPORT

"If Mauritius were to offer the islands to China after taking de jure control, it would put immense pressure on the U.S. in the eyes of international public opinion," Hemmings explained.

"After all, once Mauritius has de jure sovereignty, it can renegotiate the lease terms or even renege on the treaty at any time it wants.

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"It might also provide access to the exclusive economic zone, with all of its rich fishing grounds, to Chinese fishing fleets, adding another layer of risk to U.S. Air Force operations around the island," Hemmings said.

"At this moment, the U.S. base at Diego Garcia is thought to be secure, with Mauritius promising the U.K. (and by proxy, the U.S.) a 99-year lease, which will not, it is supposed, interfere with the operations of the air base at all. But the devil is in the details."

ӣ��Ƶ Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.

Trump seeks Davos signing ceremony for Gaza Board of Peace

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:01:06 -0500

Plans are being put together at President Donald Trump’s direction to hold a signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, for the Gaza Board of Peace, ӣ��Ƶ confirmed on Tuesday.

Bloomberg was first to report the plans.

The Trump administration began sending invitations to countries over the weekend, asking them to become founding members of the so-called Board of Peace.

"Dozens" of countries have been invited to join the board, ӣ��Ƶ confirmed. The official invites went out Friday.

WALTZ HAILS ‘NIGHT-AND-DAY’ MIDDLE EAST SHIFT AS TRUMP’S GAZA PLAN RESHAPES REGION

Trump extended invitations to leaders from Russia, Belarus, China, Ukraine, India, Canada, Argentina, Jordan, Egypt, Hungary and Vietnam, among others.

Some invited countries have raised concerns about the terms of the proposed Gaza peace board, as participation would come with a substantial financial commitment, according to Bloomberg.

European allies are seeking to adjust the proposal and organize a joint response, including enlisting Arab nations to push for changes to the $1 billion permanent membership fee, the outlet reported.

TRUMP TOUTS 'TREMENDOUS PROGRESS' BUT SAYS HE'LL MEET PUTIN AND ZELENSKYY 'ONLY WHEN' PEACE DEAL IS FINAL

When questioned on Tuesday about French President Emmanuel Macron seemingly signaling reluctance to accept the invitation, Trump said, "Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he's going to be out of office very soon. So, you know, that’s alright."

"What I’ll do is if they feel like hostile, I'll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes and he'll join," Trump said. "But, he doesn’t have to join."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also pushed back on the proposal after Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi were named as appointed members to a separate "Gaza Executive Board."

Netanyahu’s office said the move was not coordinated with Israel and "runs contrary to its policy."

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The White House said on Friday that Trump will chair the Board of Peace and be joined by a group of senior political, diplomatic and business figures, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and billionaire Marc Rowan, among others.

Caribbean nation Dominica agrees to take US asylum seekers as Trump expands deportation deals

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 02:29:03 -0500

The U.S. has reached an agreement with the Commonwealth of Dominica that could allow some asylum seekers arriving at the U.S. border to be transferred to the Caribbean nation, per reporting by The Associated Press.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit described the agreement as "one of the primary areas of collaboration" between the two governments following recent U.S. entry restrictions imposed on Dominican nationals.

Skerrit said he has been in ongoing discussions with U.S. officials after the White House announced partial visa limitations announced on Dec. 16, but declined to provide details on how many asylum seekers could be sent to Dominica or when the transfers might begin.

Skerrit’s engagement with U.S. authorities has led to what he called "careful deliberations of the need to avoid receiving violent individuals or individuals who will compromise the security of Dominica," underscoring concerns about public safety.

TINY PACIFIC NATION TO TAKE UP TO 75 DEPORTEES AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACCELERATES MASS REMOVALS

Dominica’s government continues to publicly address the larger framework of U.S. travel restrictions, even going as far as to say it "continues its engagement with the United States Embassy in Bridgetown and the State Department in Washington … in an effort to reverse a decision announced by the White House to impose partial travel restrictions on Dominican nationals, effective January 1, 2026."

The government then went on to clarify that U.S. authorities have said Dominican nationals who hold valid U.S. visas, including tourist, business, student and other categories, "can travel to the U.S. and its territories as is customary." The announcement reaffirms that lawful travel will continue under standard immigration laws.

According to the AP, the agreement reportedly conveyed that, much like similar pacts with countries such as Belize and Paraguay, the agreement follows broader U.S. efforts under President Donald Trump’s administration to encourage other nations to share responsibility for asylum seekers.

TRUMP SAYS CUBA IS ‘READY TO FALL’ AFTER CAPTURE OF VENEZUELA’S MADURO

Some in Dominica’s political opposition say they are still waiting for answers. Thomson Fontaine, leader of the main opposition party, told AP that "the prime minister still has not told the Dominican public what exactly he has agreed to, in terms of the numbers of persons that are going to come to Dominica, where will they be housed, how will they be taken care of."

Dominica has a population of roughly 72,000, and the announcement leaves many concerned about adequate resources for the island to absorb asylum-seekers, according to Fontaine.

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Talks are still ongoing, but officials have so far said little about when the plan would start or how it would be carried out.

Russia drawing up plans to conduct nuclear tests after Trump announcement

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:00:04 -0500

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday his country will draw up plans to conduct nuclear tests after President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would do the same last week.

The Kremlin leader said he has asked relevant departments to "submit coordinated proposals regarding the possible commencement of work to prepare for nuclear weapons testing."

"Russia has always strictly adhered and continues to adhere to its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and we have no plans to deviate from these commitments," Putin said at a meeting of the Russian national security council.

The treaty was signed but never ratified by the U.S.

TRUMP BREAKS 33-YEAR NUCLEAR TESTING SILENCE AS WORLD BRACES FOR DANGEROUS NEW ARMS RACE

If the U.S. or other signatories of the treaty begin nuclear testing, "Russia would also have to take appropriate and proportionate responsive measures," Putin added.

In the past week, Trump has both announced the U.S. will reignite nuclear testing and suggested he is working on a deal to denuclearize with Russia and China.

"We redid our nuclear — we're the number one nuclear power, which I hate to admit, because it's so horrible," Trump said during a speech at the American Business Forum in Miami.

TRUMP STUNS WITH CALL TO RESUME NUCLEAR TESTS — WHY NOW, AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN

"Russia's second. China's a distant third, but they'll catch us within four or five years," he added. "We're maybe working on a plan to denuclearize, the three of us. We'll see if that works."

Last week, Trump announced on Truth Social, "because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately."

The War Department handles the testing of nuclear-capable weapons, while the Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) would be responsible for testing explosives.

Some 1400 workers, 80% of the NNSA, are currently on furlough due to the government shutdown.

The U.S. regularly tests nuclear-capable vehicles, missiles and rockets, but the U.S. has not conducted an explosive nuclear test since 1992. Russia’s last known test was in 1990.

Russia last week did claim to test two delivery vehicles: an undersea torpedo known as Poseidon and a nuclear-powered cruise missile.

The U.S. conducted a nuclear-capable weapon test on Wednesday, launching the intercontinental ballistic missile Minuteman III into the air from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It landed 4,200 miles away at a U.S. test site in the Marshall Islands.

ENERGY SECRETARY REVEALS HOW US NUCLEAR TESTS WILL WORK

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president who holds a top post on its security council, wrote on X that "No one knows what Trump meant about ‘nuclear testing’," adding, "he probably doesn’t himself."

"But he's the president of the United States. And the consequences of such words are inescapable: Russia will be forced to assess the expediency of conducting full-fledged nuclear tests itself," Medvedev added.

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Russia’s defense minister, Andrey Belousov, said Wednesday that he believes the U.S. in general is "actively increasing its strategic offensive capabilities."

"We must, of course, focus not only — or even primarily — on statements and remarks made by American politicians and officials, but above all on the actual actions of the United States of America."

South Korea to end some military activity on border to ease tensions with North Korea

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 03:52:56 -0400

South Korea’s new liberal president announced Friday his plans to end some military activities along its border with North Korea and restore a 2018 military agreement with its neighbor in an effort to reduce border tensions.

Speaking on the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, President Lee Jae Myung said he would bring back the so-called September 19 Comprehensive Military Agreement, a de-escalation measure reached between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s former liberal President Moon Jae-in.

"Everyone knows that the long-drawn-out hostility benefits people in neither of the two Koreas," Lee said during his speech.

WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO 'ROCKET MAN' AND NORTH KOREA'S THREATS OVER DENUCLEARIZATION

The agreement ended some military activities at the border between the two countries, including creating buffer zones on land and sea and no-fly zones above the border to prevent fighting. It also ended military drills near the border and removed some guard posts along the Demilitarized Zone.

The deal was signed at an inter-Korean summit in 2018, but eventually fell apart as cross-border tensions ensued.

Lee called on the North to respond to Seoul’s efforts to rebuild trust and revive dialogue, although how Pyongyang will respond remains unclear.

In recent weeks, top North Korean officials have dismissed other moves by Lee to ease tension between the two countries.

The South's new president pointed to his government's efforts to lower tensions, including stopping the launch of balloons floated by activists with anti-North Korea leaflets and the halting of loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts across the border.

"In particular, to prevent accidental clashes between South and North Korea and to build military trust, we will take proactive, gradual steps to restore the September 19 Military Agreement," Lee said.

NORTH KOREAN AVOIDS LAND MINES TO CROSS DMZ INTO SOUTH KOREA AS SEOUL SOFTENS STANCE ON PYONGYANG

"I hope that North Korea will reciprocate our efforts to restore trust and revive dialogue," he added.

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In June of last year, former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced a complete suspension of the military pact after North Korea sent hundreds of rubbish-stuffed balloons across the border. The North had left the pact in November 2023.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

SEN. JEANNE SHAHEEN: If Trump wants a Ukraine deal, he should reread his own book

Thu, 29 May 2025 05:00:29 -0400

Since his first day in office, President Donald Trump has mismanaged negotiations over an end to the war in Ukraine. More than 100 days later, innocent Ukrainians are still dying while the president gets played by Russian President Vladimir Putin – illustrated starkly by the barrages of drones and missiles continually aimed at Ukrainian cities as Trump posts online.

It’s good to hear Trump finally express some frustration toward Putin and admit that his negotiating tactics aren’t working, that, as he says, Putin is "just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently." The reasons for this aren’t complicated. Instead of increasing his leverage over Russa, Trump offered concession after concession before talks even began.

Getting U.S. policy right in Ukraine matters. If we allow Russia to end these negotiations as the victor, our NATO allies in Poland and the Baltics could be next. China’s President Xi Jinping will draw clear lessons from our capitulation as China plots a takeover of Taiwan. And would-be aggressors the world over will see that the international order that — while imperfect — has created stability and prosperity in much of the world has ended.

TRUMP TELLS PUTIN 'STOP' AFTER DEADLY RUSSIAN STRIKES ON KYIV

Sadly, Trump is unlikely to listen to me, to our allies, or even to reasonable voices within his own White House and administration. My hope, though, is that he will be guided by the concepts from his own playbook — "The Art of the Deal" — to secure a just peace and end this war.

Fight back

Donald Trump says never let yourself be pushed around — but that’s exactly what Putin is doing to him. When Trump proposed an unconditional ceasefire, Putin delayed and then shot a missile at a playground full of children. When Trump threatened additional sanctions if Putin didn’t agree to a ceasefire, Putin blew past Trump’s demands without consequence.

Instead of continuing to get pushed around, the president should heed his own words: "You do your thing, you hold your ground, you stand up tall, and whatever happens, happens." Backing down now by threatening to walk away from talks is incentivizing Putin. This weakness invites Russian and Chinese aggression because an easy deal today undermines security for Europe, Taiwan and the United States tomorrow.

TRUMP SAYS HE IS 'PISSED OFF' WITH PUTIN OVER LACK OF PEACE PROGRESS: REPORT

Trump should increase sanctions — not just threaten them — and provide continued security assistance and intelligence sharing to Ukraine to sustain its war efforts against Russia. We should also reconsider Ukraine’s interest in NATO membership to apply all points of pressure on Putin.

Use your leverage

Russia’s economy is in real trouble with hundreds of thousands of Russians having been killed or wounded on the front lines. Putin needs this war to end. I couldn’t agree more with Trump when he wrote: "The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it. That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you’re dead."

Trump should not act as though Americans need this war to end more than the Russians do. While everyone wants to see an end to the bloodshed, America must approach these negotiations from a position of strength, so we can secure the best possible deal. Our economy and alliances dwarf those of Russia, which is poorer, more isolated and badly diminished by Putin’s war.

TRUMP BLAMES BIDEN FOR GETTING US INTO A 'MESS WITH RUSSIA'

Trump should also not give away our leverage for nothing and that includes the economic might and political unity of our European partners. Presenting a united front means implementing punishing collective sanctions that have damaged Russia’s economy and thrown sand in its war gears. Acting together with our allies undermines Putin’s agenda in Europe, inflicts the greatest pain on Russia’s economy and significantly limits Russia’s negotiating space.

Deliver the goods

Deeds matter more than words. As Trump wrote himself: "If you don’t deliver the goods, people will eventually catch on." He has deeply weakened decades of American leadership and credibility by abandoning our allies and the rules-based system that allowed for predictability, peace and prosperity for Americans and much of the world.

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The only way to fix America’s credibility is to be decisive and show American strength. An immediate ceasefire allows Trump to deliver on his commitment to the American people and test Russia’s willingness to seek peace. But he should make clear that a stiffer sanctions package, including secondary sanctions outlined in Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s legislation, will be imposed imminently. More than 80 senators of both parties have endorsed this bill. He must convince Putin — through bold and decisive action — that continued war is folly. Only then will there be a durable peace that restores deterrence in Europe and allows Ukraine to rebuild.

Conclusion

Ukraine’s signing of the mineral deal with the U.S. is a promising step, in contrast to Putin’s recent no-show in Ankara. Trump can re-start peace efforts on his own terms by imposing a stiffer sanctions package on Russia without delay. If he is indeed committed to securing Ukraine’s independent future, Trump must demonstrate that he is in the stronger position.

PUTIN REPORTEDLY CONCERNED OVER RUSSIA'S ECONOMY AHEAD OF POSSIBLE TRUMP TARIFFS

But let me be clear: based on its history, the Kremlin is not interested in peace. Whether in Moldova, Georgia or Ukraine, Moscow has demonstrated strategic patience and abused others’ good faith to string out negotiations and then escalate when it sees fit. Simply put, when you give Putin an inch, he will take a mile. The only way to prevent this continued cycle is to secure a peace agreement that retains Ukraine’s national identity and that offers lasting security. Only then will President Trump prevent further aggression that threatens to draw America into future conflict.

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We are in a critical stage of negotiations and whether we get it right or wrong will reverberate for decades.

Trump's tariff strategy can work but America still needs deeper economic reform

Thu, 15 May 2025 06:00:31 -0400

President Donald Trump’s tariff diplomacy has been a shock treatment to the global economic order, intended as a kind of radiation and chemotherapy to kill the cancer that created the Rust Belt. But overdoing the treatment can kill the patient instead, without removing the carcinogens in the economy. Fortunately, the administration’s negotiators have called a truce, and we can reevaluate the treatment’s effectiveness.

The last five weeks have seen tremendous market turmoil, and not just domestically. The chaos that ensued after April 2 extended around the globe and has forced many nations to the negotiating table with the US—and that includes countries that engage in unfair trade practices. In that sense, the tariffs have been successful.

The Trump administration’s play here is to use tariffs as a tool of statecraft to force other nations into reducing their trade barriers through bilateral negotiations. To that end, the preliminary agreement with the United Kingdom shows some promise.

President Trump has also used the threat of tariffs very effectively to help secure America’s southern border and stem the flow of fentanyl, which had become the number-one killer of young people.

INFLATION TICKED SLIGHTLY HIGHER IN APRIL AS TARIFF IMPACT LOOMS

But the drama around tariffs has had side effects, like chemotherapy killing off healthy cells in the body. This collateral damage could be found in survey data from the regional Federal Reserve Banks and purchasing manager indexes, all of which pointed to sharp declines in business optimism and planned capital expenditures.

In short, the on-again-off-again nature of these tariffs has made it extraordinarily difficult for businesses and consumers to plan. There has also been substantial turbulence in Treasury markets, gold prices, and equities.

That is not a broad condemnation of tariffs, just as the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation are not a denunciation of cancer treatments. But it does illustrate why heavy-duty therapies like radiation must be used in a targeted manner. The inaccurate "reciprocal" tariff rates released on April 2 caused significant—and unnecessary—damage domestically.

During the current pause in this tariff fight, the Trump administration would do well to reevaluate its tariff strategy, ensuring, for example, that its reciprocal tariff rates are in fact truly reciprocal.

TRUMP REPEATEDLY WALKED BACK TARIFFS IN FIRST 100 DAYS AS WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES LATEST DUTY TAX RELIEF

America must also seriously evaluate what turned the Industrial Belt into the Rust Belt. This hollowing out of the nation’s industrial base was not caused primarily by international trade. Instead, the primary carcinogens were terrible regulatory and tax policies.

Most of our economic wounds are self-inflicted. China did not build a massive, bureaucratic regulatory state in this country. Likewise, we can’t blame China for our burdensome, overly complicated tax code with high marginal rates. We did that to ourselves.

This is perhaps best illustrated by answering a geography question: where is the Rust Belt? It’s in Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Youngstown, Pittsburgh, etc. In other words, it’s those areas of the country where liberals have imposed particularly high taxes, overregulation of industry, and forced unionization.

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Conversely, where is manufacturing seeing a rebirth in America? It’s coming back in places like Texas, Tennessee, and the Carolinas—states with low (or no) income taxes, less regulation, and right-to-work laws.

Failed domestic public policy is the primary carcinogen wrecking America’s industrial base, and tariffs can’t fix that. At best, fixing international trade problems will give a temporary boost to domestic manufacturing, but the cancer will keep growing.

President Trump’s tariff diplomacy is working to create a level playing field and open foreign consumer markets to domestic producers, but America needs to look within to reshore manufacturing and rebuild the industrial base.

Just throwing tariffs at the problem is like undergoing chemotherapy and radiation without any lifestyle changes. Imagine enduring all the painful side effects of such treatments while smoking cigarettes, maintaining a poor diet, avoiding exercise, and exposing yourself to asbestos and too much sunlight—that’s the equivalent of what’s happening today!

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If you think this is hyperbole, consider that the regulatory compliance cost for manufacturers in America is about $50,000 to $60,000 per worker, and then there’s a tax burden on top of that. Reducing trade abuses is insufficient to reform the domestic policies which have made American workers unemployable in many industries.

Tariff diplomacy can go a long way, provided it is targeted and tailored, but we still need a tax-cut bill and more deregulation if we want to heal the patient.

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Danish lawmaker addressing EU tells Trump to ‘f--- off’ over Greenland bid

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 17:13:22 -0500

A Danish Member of European Parliament (MEP) seethed at U.S. President Donald Trump amid his bid to have Greenland sold or ceded to the United States.

MEP Anders Vistisen, a member of the right-wing Danish People’s Party, addressed Trump’s efforts at an EU session in Strasburg, France.

"Dear President Trump, listen very carefully: Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years. It is an integrated part of our country. It is not for sale," Vistisen said.

Appearing to cue into the American president’s occasional salty language, Vistisen said he would put his remarks in "words you might understand."

GREENLAND PM SAYS ARCTIC ISLAND DOESN'T WANT TO BE PART OF US

"Mr. Trump, f--- off," said Vistisen. The remark drew a formal reprimand from European Parliament Vice President Nicolae Ștefănuță, who, however, suggested he too has reservations about Trump.

"If the translation was correct, the term you used is not allowed in this House, and there will be consequences to the message you have used," said Ștefănuță, who represents Romania.

"It is not OK in this House of Democracy. Regardless of what we think of Mr. Trump, it is not possible to use such language."

First son Donald Trump Jr. led a small delegation to Nuuk — the Greenlandic capital — prior to the inauguration and met with members of the public and reportedly held a luncheon.

Both Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen have said the landmass is not for sale.

TRUMP PLANS NC VISIT AS HE DEFENDS EXECUTIVE ORDERS

The island enjoys relative autonomy in domestic affairs and relies on Copenhagen for foreign policy and support.

The U.S. does, however, retain a U.S. Space Force presence on Greenland — at Pituffik (formerly Thule) Air Base near Savissivik.

Just over 100 years ago, the U.S. did successfully purchase Danish lands from Copenhagen.

King Christian X of Denmark and the U.S. Senate both ratified a 1916 treaty that led to the purchase of what are now the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) — St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. Then-President Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, approved the treaty.

Wilson's Secretary of State Frank Polk said the island chain's people would have American nationality but not the "political status of citizens," according to the State Department’s archives.

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Residents were, however, later given full citizenship through a 1932 act of Congress.

With its roots as the Danish West Indies and originally home to British expatriates, it is also the only U.S. territory where driving on the left side of the road is the law.

On this day in history, September 27, 1779, John Adams assigned to lead peace talks with England

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:02:36 -0400

Duty led to one of the great and largely unknown adventures in America's journey to independence

WHO chief's dire warning: Disease X outbreak 'a matter of when, not if'

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 18:59:40 -0500

Tedros said he issued a similar warning in 2018 and was proven right when COVID-19 struck

Biden claims NATO is a 'sacred commitment,' but do other countries feel the same?

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 12:00:19 -0500

Most NATO members aren't on track to meet their defense spending commitments, which could leave the United States with little backup if an allied country were attacked, according to a national security adviser to former President Trump.

The allied countries pledged in 2014 to increase their military spending to 2% of their GDP by 2024 to comply with NATO's Article 5, which stipulates that an attack on any member is treated as an attack on all. But most NATO countries haven't met that goal, and some have slipped further away in recent years, according to defense expenditure data collected by the alliance.

"If you don't get to 2% GDP, you will not have the military structure, the military forces to be able to support the rest of the alliance as they enforce Article 5," retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg previously told ӣ��Ƶ.

LT. GEN. KELLOGG: NATO’S ARTICLE 5 RELIES ON ALLIES FUNDING DEFENSE

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While the combined average spent on defense has increased since 2015, only nine of the 30 NATO nations spent 2% of their GDP on defense last year, according to NATO estimates. In 2022, $1.190 trillion was the total amount spent on defense by the allies. Of that, $822 billion, or 69%, was spent by the United States, equaling 3.47% of its GDP.

"The amount of money that we're putting into NATO is well over the 2% GDP," Kellogg said. "We clearly understand what Article 5 means. In fact, we would respond quite well to it."

FINLAND LOOKS AT JOINING NATO WITHOUT SWEDEN AMID PUSHBACK FROM TURKEY

Last month, President Biden spoke to a group of NATO leaders and reaffirmed the U.S.'s commitment to the military alliance.

Putin "doubts our continued support of Ukraine. He doubts whether NATO can remain unified," Biden said in his speech from the Royal Castle in Warsaw. "But there should be no doubt, NATO will not be divided, and we will not tire."

"Article 5 is a sacred commitment the United States has made," Biden continued. "We will defend literally every inch of NATO."

BIDEN’S SPEECH RALLYING NATO WAS ALL FOR SHOW, SAYS RETIRED LIEUTENANT GENERAL. HERE’S WHY

The United Kingdom contributed the second-largest dollar amount to its defense, spending 2.12% of its GDP, or $72 billion. The other countries that reached 2% were: Greece, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Croatia and Slovak Republic, according to NATO estimates.

"I think you can count on a handful of those nations that I guarantee you will be there in the middle of a fight," Kellogg said. "They're going to fight quite effectively."

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But some nations' military spending declined. Canada, for example, spent 1.27% of its GDP on defense in 2022, down from 1.32% in 2021 and 1.42% in 2020, NATO estimates show.

Spain, the second-lowest contributor in terms of GDP, decreased its military spending last year to 1.01% from 1.04%.

France, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Turkey, Norway, Slovenia, Portugal and Italy also decreased their percentage of military spending in 2022, moving further away from the 2% goal.

"They're going to hold America's coat," Kellogg said. "They’re like, 'you guys go fight it and we'll kind of be back here to support you.’"

Biden’s speech rallying NATO was all for show, says retired lieutenant general. Here’s why

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 04:30:40 -0500

President Biden's speech rallying NATO members was all show since those nations don't provide enough military funding to defend each other, according to a national security adviser to former President Trump.

"If you're not putting 2% of your GDP into defense, then some of your systems may not be able to fight in defense of the alliance when called upon," retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg. told ӣ��Ƶ.

In a Wednesday address to a group of eastern European nations, Biden stressed the importance of a strong and unified NATO. The message came soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his nation would no longer participate in a nuclear treaty with the U.S., days ahead of the anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine.

LT. GEN. KELLOGG: NATO’S ARTICLE 5 RELIES ON ALLIES FUNDING DEFENSE

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"Article 5 is a sacred commitment the United States has made," Biden continued. "We will defend literally every inch of NATO."

Article 5 stipulates that an attack on any NATO member is treated as an attack on all, requiring a joint response.

"Everybody kind of understands what Article 5 is," Kellogg said. "An attack on one is an attack on all."

He said equally important is Article 3, which states that NATO countries must fund their defense well enough to defend themselves and the collective alliance against an attack.

"They go hand in glove," he said. "They're both important. They both rely on each other."

In 2014, NATO allies met in Wales and pledged to try to increase defense spending to 2% of their GDP, and 20% of that amount on modernizing their equipment over the next decade in order to fulfill Article 3.

"Most of the countries didn't do that," Kellogg told ӣ��Ƶ. "So, they didn't really fulfill Article 3, which impacted on Article 5."

FINLAND LOOKS AT JOINING NATO WITHOUT SWEDEN AMID PUSHBACK FROM TURKEY

Kellogg said Biden's message about a strong and unified NATO rings hollow since about 20 of the 30 allied countries are unprepared to fulfill a call for aid. He pointed to Germany, France, Spain and Italy as among the least prepared.

"If you don't get to 2% GDP, you will not have the military structure, the military forces to be able to support the rest of the alliance as they enforce Article 5," Kellogg said. "They won't be able to do it because they don't have the forces."

"It's so important we continue to, from the bully pulpit, talk about NATO, talk about their unfunded military establishment," he added. "President Trump did it all the time, and they actually started to increase their defense budget."

In addition to the U.S., which spends nearly 4% of its GDP on defense, the Baltic countries, Poland and Britain are the most prepared to act swiftly and effectively if Article 5 is invoked, Kellogg said.

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Despite Biden’s remarks that fueled speculation over whether NATO will get involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kellogg said he does not see that happening anytime soon.

"It was a diversion because he hasn't come up with a plan to help end this war," Kellogg told ӣ��Ƶ. "I want to know what the policy is to end this war. How are you going to do it? Define that to the American people."

"Instead, he uses rhetoric and talks about Article 5 and NATO but it doesn't impact the fight at all," he said. "Russia's not going to go into NATO. They don't have the capacity to even get to the western part of Ukraine, let alone attack NATO, and they understand very well if Putin does that, it's the end of Russia."

To watch the full interview with Kellogg, click here.

Russian invasion: What is NATO's Article 5?

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 18:44:24 -0500

President Biden on Wednesday met with leaders of NATO nations dubbed the Bucharest 9 (B9) – which flank the eastern front and stand as the first line of defense against Russia – to reaffirm the alliance's commitment to Article 5 and the protections it grants all member nations.

Article 5 of NATO’s Washington Treaty, known as "the principle of collective defense," obliges all member countries to come to the aid of another member whose sovereignty or territorial integrity is under threat.

NATO defines this core principle as "very heart of NATO’s founding treaty."

"Collective defense means that an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies," the NATO charter outlines. "It remains a unique and enduring principle that binds its members together."

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The war in Ukraine has dragged on for nearly a year, far outstripping what Russian President Vladimir Putin thought of Ukraine's defenses or NATO's ability to remain a united front.

However, it has also increased concerns regarding what the threat of a prolonged war means for European security and whether the conflict could spill over into NATO territory.

"As NATO's eastern flank, you're on the front lines of our collective defense," Biden said to B9 leaders. "And you know better than anyone what's at stake in this conflict, not just for Ukraine, but for the freedom of democracies throughout Europe and around the world.

"I've said it to you many times, I'll say it again [so its] absolutely clear. Article 5 is a sacred commitment the United States has made. We will defend literally every inch of NATO. Every inch," he added.

However, Ukraine is not a NATO member country.

While Ukraine has contributed to NATO operations and missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, this is not enough to warrant the full protection of all NATO nations.

While NATO has pledged to back Ukraine with defensive aid to win the war against Russia, it has stopped short of sending in boots on the ground – a stipulation only afforded to the 30-member nations.

Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv had applied to become a member of NATO in September, which would serve as a deterrent against future Russian aggression.

Though the NATO charter stipulates that no nation can be fully considered or accepted as a member while it is engaged in conflict.

Putin has claimed that he was prompted to launch his "special military operation" into Ukraine over the threat that Kyiv and NATO posed in expanding the alliance – an excuse Western officials have flatly rejected.

RUSSIA DECRIES UKRAINE'S CALLS FOR NATO-LIKE SECURITY COALITION AS 'PROLOGUE' TO WWIII

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said it is Ukraine's right to seek membership and has refused Russian attempts to blackball Kyiv from being able to join the alliance.

Biden on Wednesday was not alone is his steadfast commitment not only to NATO, but to Ukraine during the Wednesday meeting.

Romania President Klaus Iohannis, who helped establish the B9 in 2015 in wake of Russia's aggression in Eastern Europe following the 2014 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent illegal annexation of Crimea, echoed Biden's commitments.

"We…the leaders of the eastern flank have the duty to stand firm in defense of our peace. We must continue to stand firm in delivering on our commitments to support Ukraine for as long as it needs to win this war," he said. "This is what Romania will continue to do.

"We are not alone in this endeavor," he added.

The meeting of the NATO leaders came not only as the war nears the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but followed the pronouncement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, when he said the U.S. is concerned that Moscow is now turning to China for lethal aid.

Security officials are greatly concerned by the threat China's participation in the war would bring as it would not only change the dynamic on the battlefield in Ukraine but would force European nations to cut economic ties and further strain relations between China and the West.

This geopolitical divide between democracies and autocracies would create its own challenges, particularly as it relates to security concerns over Taiwan.

China has denied it is considering aiding Russia in its war effort, though Moscow received Beijing's top diplomat Tuesday for discussions on the war.

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"We must break the cycle of Russian aggression," Stoltenberg warned. "We don't know when the war will end, but when it does, we need to ensure that history does not repeat itself.

"We have seen the Russian pattern of aggression over many years: Georgia in 2008, Crimea and Donbas in 2014, and then the full-fledged invasion of Ukraine last year," he added. "We cannot allow Russia to continue to chip away at European security.

From neutral to NATO: Finnish ambassador to US on why Finland wants to join NATO

Mon, 16 May 2022 18:54:31 -0400

Finland's Ambassador to the United States Mikko Hautala knows Vladimir Putin better than most diplomats. He has met him a dozen times, even in a sauna, he said, as he pointed to a photograph of him as the new Finnish Ambassador to Moscow presenting his credentials to Putin in November 2016, the day after President Trump was elected.

"Here I am with the Finnish president, we were actually flying to Sochi to meet Mr. Putin. That was in August 2014," Hautala said during an interview at his residence.

They were the first to meet with Putin after he invaded Crimea. ӣ��Ƶ asked him about the negotiations in the Russian sauna.

"I've been in lots of social situations with him yes," Hautala said in an interview with ӣ��Ƶ.

"In a banya?"

"I'm not going to comment on any specific, specific meetings, but yes I've seen him a lot."

ӣ��Ƶ asked him for his take on Putin now versus when he met him in 2014.

"I think he was during those times, bit more pragmatic. He wanted to listen, he wanted to understand the other viewpoints," Hautala who speaks fluent Russian and Ukrainian said. "What I see is that he's more ideological, more, kind of decisive, a bit less tolerant toward any different opinions. He has concluded that relations with the West are gone. There's not much to lose anymore."

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He arrived in Washington, D.C., to become Finland's ambassador to the U.S. in 2020, among the last group of ambassadors to present their papers to President Trump before COVID-19.

ӣ��Ƶ asked him why Finland now wants to join NATO.

He says the Russians should not be surprised that his country now wants to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine. He says he personally warned them in January this would happen if Russian troops crossed into Ukraine.

Last November, 20% of all Finns wanted to join NATO; now, nearly 80% want to join, according to recent polls, a dramatic shift in public sentiment after decades of neutrality after World War II.

"I think the major change of course was the Russian attack, because the popular mood started to change rapidly after that," Hautala said.

"The attack on Ukraine, which was totally illegal. It was unprovoked. I think it shocked the Finns in a profound way because they saw that their neighbor is really capable of such an action."

Today as the Swedish Parliament debated whether to join NATO, the shift in tone from Vladimir Putin was as surprising as the decision of Finland and Sweden to apply to join NATO after decades of neutrality in the wake of Russia's invasion. Putin said unless NATO built bases in Sweden and Finland and put permanent troops there, Russia would not have a problem with Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

"As far as expansion - new members Finland and Sweden included - Russia - I would like to remind you, dear colleagues - doesn't have any problem with those countries," Putin said to six former Soviet States marking the 30th Anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. "Therefore, there is not an immediate threat to Russia with the inclusion of those countries. But the expansion of military infrastructure over that territory will obviously call for our response."

Some Russian spokesmen have threatened to deploy nuclear weapons to Finland’s border if Finland joins NATO. Today Putin responded with a more subdued and nuanced warning.

SWEDEN SAYS ‘WE WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER’ OF NATO, WHILE MITCH MCCONNELL VOWS SWIFT APPROVAL

Finland's President called Putin Saturday to tell him that his country planned to join NATO after decades of neutrality.

"In my opinion, the NATO membership is an act of peace, it's about war never returning to Finland," Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told Parliament.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told Parliament:

"Should Sweden be the only country in the Baltic Sea region that was not a member of NATO, we would be in a very vulnerable position, we can't rule out that Russia would then increase pressure on Sweden."

Finland’s Ambassador to the U.S. said of Russia’s response: "They have always said that they would react in some way. Most likely they will place more military resources close to the Finnish border."

"Nuclear weapons," ӣ��Ƶ asked?

"I don't see that as a kind of a major issue here," Hautala said.

"Finland has a large number of nuclear bunkers. Are you preparing those bunkers," I ask.

"They have been built and prepared and they stay ready."

Unlike most pending applications to NATO, the ambassador says Finland would not be a drain financially to the alliance.

"We fulfill all the criteria that you can imagine. We are a well established democracy. We are among the best rule of law countries. We are the least corrupted country in the world," Hautala said. "We have never dismantled our armed services. Finland brings more resources, they will bring added value to the alliance.

We have a lot a lot of military capabilities in relation to our size."

Finland is already spending more than 2 percent of its GDP on defense, unlike many NATO members.

"We have a large army. We have a modern Air Force. I think one of the best in Europe. We have a huge artillery. I think it can be even the biggest one after Russia. It's really, it's really strong. 76% of our population is ready to defend our country militarily, regardless of the outcome."

Some of the ambassador's most sensitive, and classified discussions with other diplomats and American officials take place in his sauna in northwest Washington, D.C., where frank discussions can be had and there is no place to hide listening devices. This is where he makes his opponents sweat, he joked as he showed ӣ��Ƶ his sauna. At the entrance is a photograph of the father of modern Finland General Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim.

Hautala spent his formative years as a young diplomat in Ukraine - he is fluent in Russian and Ukrainian. "I basically fell in love with the place." He recalls a particular evening in early 2000 when one Friday evening at a restaurant on a main street in Kyiv, he was packed into a restaurant with other Ukrainians. "Suddenly, there was a silence. Total silence. A man came in with the Russian Ministry of Interior camouflage uniform. So he had a Russian flag and a Russian emblem. I noticed the people went silent. And everybody was looking at that guy." Hautala added he took a mental note: "People started to stare. And I sort of made a mental note that this country is developing kind of an identity a sense of its own."

The Finnish ambassador grew up with the stories of his grandfather, a Finnish farmer, deployed to the trenches on the border with Russia fighting the Russian invasion of Finland in 1939 at the start of World War II during what became known as the Winter War. It was 45 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. The Finns pushed the Russians back and the Russians signed a ceasefire after three months.

"They were farmers, just ordinary people. They were very patriotic," Hautala said. "One of the myths in Russia about Finland is that we used to have snipers in trees."

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The Ambassador still has his grandfather's diary describing how the Finnish citizens armed to the teeth waited in the forests to attack the invading Russian troops.

"Finland was 4 million; Soviet Union was almost 200 million," Hautala said. "So the difference was huge. But I think what basically saved us was that the fact that we had more motivation like we see now in Ukraine."

At the NATO summit, Trump is standing up for fair treatment for America

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 04:00:00 -0400

President Trump is in Europe, attending a two-day NATO summit in Belgium as part of a trip that will include meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The American political establishment has learned over the past 18 months that with President Trump in office, business as usual is over. The international political establishment is now finding this out as well.

Countries in the European Union and Asia in particular are coming to grips with the fact that President Trump is fighting for fair trade and security for our citizens – putting “America First.”

The United States has spent the seven decades in the post-World War II era going above and beyond the call of duty in providing security and financial aid around the world. Since 1949, our steadfast allies in NATO have gotten used to America doing more and more for everyone, while expecting little in return.

Over the course of the past 20 years or so, the American people have grown weary of their government prioritizing seemingly everything but the hardworking American taxpayer. These are the forgotten men and women who wake up early every day, go to work, pay their taxes on time, and take care of their families. Fighting for these folks is a big part of the “Make America Great Again” Trump doctrine.

President Trump is not interested in continuing the failed status quo that’s been perpetuated by presidents of both parties for decades. On issue after issue, if he sees a policy that he believes is not in America’s best interests, this president is asking the tough questions that career politicians never do.

To tens of millions of American voters it’s just common sense; and it’s precisely the outside-the-box thinking that propelled the change agent Donald Trump to the presidency in the first place.

With attention focused on President Trump’s outstanding choice in nominating Judge Brett Kavanaugh to succeed retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy as the next associate justice on the Supreme Court – and on the heels of the our trade disputes with other nations– the president is in Brussels to advocate for America once again at the NATO summit.

President Trump prides himself on taking a fresh look at how American taxpayer dollars are spent at home and abroad. That means he is not a typical politician in the mold that organizations like NATO have grown used to.

The businessman and master negotiator in the president has him taking reform-minded stances on behalf of the American people.

Throughout history, leaders of entrenched power structures have not reacted well to change. But President Trump has courage to take them on when necessary.

The president asks simple straightforward questions like: Why does the United States pay so much to support NATO’s mission compared to every other NATO member?

Similarly to renegotiating some of our unfavorable trade deals, President Trump knows nothing will change unless he educates the American people and the world that the United States can ask to be treated fairly in international relationships and agreements – just like everyone else.

NATO member nations have committed to try and spend 2 percent of their gross domestic products on national defense. President Trump wants to know why only five countries have reached that goal, when the United States is leading the way with over 3.5 percent of U.S. GDP spent on defense – a much larger share of GDP than every other country.

For example, why is an economic powerhouse like Germany only spending 1.24 percent of its GDP on defense? Would it be too much to make the 2 percent threshold a requirement instead of a suggestion? After all, there is nothing more important to citizens than their national security.

If President Trump thinks the United States is being taken advantage of, he’s not going stand idly by and let it happen. The bottom line is that if all 29 countries in NATO made good on their 2 percent commitment, the U.S. taxpayer would be paying less.

President Trump takes seriously our security commitments. However, we need our allies to step up and do the same. It’s only fair.

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