Hegseth’s trip to Japan, the Philippines. The United States and Japan will speed up work on a preexisting plan to create a new joint military command in Tokyo, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on a weekend visit to the city. Hegseth called Japan a “model ally.” He traveled there from the Philippines, where he also pledged to increase bilateral military cooperation.
Trump’s threats to Russia, Iran. Trump would consider putting tariffs on buyers of Russian oil if he believes Russia is at fault for the continuation of the war in Ukraine, he told NBC yesterday. He said he was “very angry” at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership, though later in the day, Trump told reporters he did not think Putin would “go back on his word.” Separately, Trump said that he was considering secondary tariffs on Iran and that “there will be bombing” if Tehran does not make a nuclear deal. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said today that a U.S. attack would be met with a “strong reciprocal blow.”
France’s Le Pen convicted. A French court found far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her National Rally party guilty of misuse of more than $3 million worth of European Union (EU) funds and banned her from running for office for five years. Prosecutors had accused her of using the money to pay France-based party staff. Le Pen denied wrongdoing and said the accusation was politically motivated; she has said she will appeal.
Strikes amid Myanmar quake relief. The junta carried out air strikes in the country following a Friday earthquake that killed at least 1,700 people. The junta did not respond to a Reuters question about the strikes, which prompted international calls for restraint. An opposition group linked to some anti-junta militias said on Sunday that those under its command would halt offensive fighting for two weeks in quake-affected areas, while the junta today declared a week of national mourning.
Syria’s new government. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa named a twenty-three person cabinet Saturday that kept the defense, foreign, and interior ministries in the hands of close allies but also included religious minorities and one woman. Meanwhile, the head of the volunteer rescue group White Helmets will be emergency minister. Western countries such as those in the European Union have been watching for the inclusivity of Sharaa’s government before making further decisions on aid and sanctions relief.
Taliban releases U.S. woman. Afghanistan’s Taliban government freed Faye Hall from detention, according to a post by former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. Hall was arrested in February, the Guardian reported. Earlier this month, another U.S. detainee was released following a Trump advisor’s meeting in Kabul. Washington shortly thereafter lifted multimillion-dollar bounties on some Taliban members.
New U.S. curbs on Venezuelan oil. French firm Maurel & Prom, Spanish firm Repsol, and Italian firm Eni said the United States revoked licenses that had allowed them to operate in Venezuela despite U.S. sanctions. Last week, Trump said he would establish tariffs on countries that buy oil from Venezuela as a way to pressure Caracas on a range of issues, including migration.
Somalia’s ports offer. Somalia is prepared to give the United States exclusive control of air bases and ports, including those in the breakaway Somaliland region, the country’s president told Trump in a letter seen by Reuters. Somalia’s foreign and defense ministries did not immediately comment. The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 envisions U.S. recognition of Somaliland, and a Republican lawmaker introduced a bill to recognize it last December. Somaliland’s foreign minister called the letter to Trump “desperate.”
