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EU warns of suspending trade benefits and sanctioning Israeli officials over Gaza, China accuses New Zealand of harassing its citizens at the border, and Germany accelerates its defence build-up as NATO flags a growing Russian threat.

Our lead story explores how Trump’s consolidation of power is forcing Europe to urgently rethink its geopolitical strategy.

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Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 Trump and Starmer discuss Ukraine, Gaza, and NATO: Wrapping up a three-day UK visit, US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised the strength of the US-UK alliance, pledging deeper defence and technology cooperation. Trump expressed disappointment in Vladimir Putin but vowed continued support for Ukraine, while both leaders avoided criticising Israel’s Gaza campaign despite rising civilian deaths, with Trump reiterating that peace efforts are “close.” He also praised NATO’s increased spending commitments and hinted at negotiations to regain access to Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase, citing its strategic proximity to China’s nuclear sites.

2️⃣ 🇺🇳 🇺🇸 🇵🇸 United States vetoes sixth UN ceasefire resolution on Gaza: The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, with Washington arguing the text failed to condemn Hamas or affirm Israel’s right to self-defence. The resolution, backed by all 14 other council members, called Gaza’s humanitarian crisis “catastrophic” and urged Israel to lift aid restrictions, but US officials said it legitimised “false narratives” about the war. The veto underscores Washington and Israel’s growing isolation ahead of the UN General Assembly, where European allies are expected to recognise Palestinian statehood.

3️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇨🇳 🇹🇼 Washington risks strategic confusion on Taiwan as U.S.-China tensions escalate: Tensions over Taiwan are now at their highest since the Cold War, with Beijing ramping up military drills and Washington sending mixed signals on its commitment to defend the island. President Biden’s repeated assurances of military support, later walked back by aides, and President Trump’s more transactional approach, including tariffs and refusals to host Taiwan’s president in transit, have weakened the long-standing policy of strategic ambiguity. This inconsistency risks emboldening China or provoking conflict, underscoring the need for a clear articulation of strategic ambiguity that deters aggression while keeping U.S. options flexible.

4️⃣ 🇻🇪 🇺🇸 🇺🇳 Venezuela launches military drills on La Orchila amid rising tensions with US: Venezuela has begun three days of military exercises on La Orchila island as US forces intensify operations in the Caribbean, sinking three Venezuelan boats this month and killing at least 14 alleged traffickers, actions UN experts have condemned as extrajudicial killings. President Nicolás Maduro ordered the “Sovereign Caribbean” drills, deploying warships, aircraft, armed drones, and electronic warfare units, vowing to defend Venezuela against what he calls US aggression. Washington, which accuses Maduro of running a drug cartel and has placed a $50 million bounty on him, insists its strikes target narco-traffickers, though Caracas rejects claims it is a hub for drug trafficking.

5️⃣ 🇩🇪 🇷🇺 Germany fast-tracks defence revival as NATO warns of Russian threat: Germany’s once-taboo arms industry is experiencing a major resurgence, fuelled by Russia’s war in Ukraine and Berlin’s Zeitenwende policy shift. Billions in new defence spending, exemptions from the constitutional debt brake, and NATO’s push toward 3.5% GDP military budgets have given firms like Rheinmetall political backing, record stock prices, and room to expand, including into naval production. But with battlefield technology evolving in months while procurement takes years, Berlin faces pressure to overhaul its defence bureaucracy before 2029, a date cited as the point when a Russian attack on NATO could become plausible.

Major Story

🇪🇺 🇺🇸 TRUMP’S CONSOLIDATION OF POWER FORCES EUROPE TO CONFRONT NEW GEOPOLITICAL REALITY

President Donald Trump’s tenure has been marked by an aggressive concentration of power, from deploying the National Guard for domestic policing to undermining congressional budgetary authority and the independence of federal agencies. His pattern of legal reprisals against critics and curbs on dissent reflect what democracy scholars call “executive aggrandisement,” the steady erosion of institutional checks to consolidate near-total control of the executive branch. Unlike the gradual democratic backsliding seen in countries like Hungary or Poland, Trump’s moves have been rapid and sweeping, posing acute challenges for U.S. democracy.

Implications for Europe

Washington’s retreat from global democracy promotion leaves Europe to decide whether to step back as well or redouble efforts to support liberal values abroad. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has openly supported right-wing populists in several European states and challenged EU regulation of digital platforms, making U.S. interference in European politics a structural reality.

The U.S. foreign policy process has become highly personalised, reflecting Trump’s instincts rather than coordinated strategy. Cuts to diplomatic and national security staff and the sidelining of expert knowledge have weakened America’s capacity to lead on global governance issues from climate change to peacekeeping.

Europe’s Opportunity

This moment presents Europe with both risks and responsibilities. Rather than retreat, the EU could strengthen its role as a champion of democracy, fill vacuums left by U.S. withdrawal, and invest in unity and resilience to safeguard its interests in an increasingly illiberal world.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇪🇺 🇮🇱 EU threatens to suspend trade benefits and sanction Israeli officials over Gaza actions: In a dramatic shift, the European Commission has warned that Israel’s Gaza offensive is crossing “too many red lines,” risking its relationship with the EU. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, long reluctant to criticise Israel, called for using EU leverage to halt the war, announcing the suspension of €32 million in bilateral funding and proposing steps ranging from trade restrictions to sanctions on far-right ministers. While sanctions would require unanimous backing from EU states — with Hungary, Germany, and Italy likely to resist — even partial measures could severely impact Israel’s economy, given its dependence on European trade.

2️⃣ 🇨🇳 🇳🇿 China accuses New Zealand of harassing citizens at border: China’s embassy in Wellington has accused New Zealand of harassing its citizens, citing incidents where travellers were interrogated and had electronic devices seized without cause. Beijing lodged a formal protest demanding the “wrongful acts” stop and that a safe and non-discriminatory environment be ensured for Chinese visitors. New Zealand’s intelligence agency said its operations comply with the law and are professionally conducted under strict oversight, declining to comment on specific cases.

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Book Shelf

Here are some books we recommend 📚:

Prisoners of Geography

The Revenge of Geography

The World: A Brief Introduction

The Shock Doctrine

Sea Power

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics