Washington hopes Beijing will help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, the secretary of state said
The US plans to persuade China to pressure Iran into making concessions in the Middle East conflict, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said ahead of a meeting between the two countries’ leaders in Beijing.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold talks on Thursday, with discussions expected to cover the blockade of the Stra
Washington hopes Beijing will help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, the secretary of state said
The US plans to persuade China to pressure Iran into making concessions in the Middle East conflict, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said ahead of a meeting between the two countries’ leaders in Beijing.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold talks on Thursday, with discussions expected to cover the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the issue of Taiwan, among other topics.
“It’s in their interest to resolve this,” Rubio told Fox News host Sean Hannity aboard Air Force One en route to China. “We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they’re doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf,” he added.
Rubio argued that helping the US would ultimately benefit China’s export-oriented economy.
“Economies are melting down because of this crisis in the Strait. They’re going to be buying less Chinese product and Chinese exports are going to drop precipitously,” Rubio said.
China has condemned the war against Iran as illegal under international law. Beijing has also dismissed US sanctions targeting Chinese refineries and satellite companies accused of aiding Tehran. In response to the restrictions, China ordered domestic businesses not to comply with the sanctions.
The US is seeking to prevent normalization between Tehran and Arab states and erode support for Palestine, Russia’s top diplomat said
The US and Israel launched the war against Iran in order to prevent the normalization of Tehran’s relations with the Gulf states, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told RT India. The campaign was intended to push Arab countries closer to Israel and pressure them into abandoning support for Palestine, he a
The US is seeking to prevent normalization between Tehran and Arab states and erode support for Palestine, Russia’s top diplomat said
The US and Israel launched the war against Iran in order to prevent the normalization of Tehran’s relations with the Gulf states, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told RT India. The campaign was intended to push Arab countries closer to Israel and pressure them into abandoning support for Palestine, he added.
Iran responded to the US-Israeli airstrikes launched on February 28 by targeting American bases in the Gulf states, along with energy and port infrastructure linked to US operations. In an interview published on Wednesday, Lavrov condemned the attack on Iran as “unprovoked” and described Tehran’s response as an act of self-defense.
“I have no doubt that when plans to stir up aggression against Iran were being hatched, one of the goals was to prevent the normalization of relations between Iran and the Arab states,” Lavrov said. “Now, everything is being done to ensure that reconciliation never happens.”
Lavrov argued that the US was pressuring Arab states in an attempt to “force them to betray the Palestinian cause” in favor of closer ties with Israel. He also accused Washington of employing “neocolonial” tactics to “strong-arm everyone into buying expensive US oil and liquefied natural gas rather than cheap Russian oil.”
“They seek to rule the world through controlling global energy supplies,” Lavrov added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he had secretly traveled to the UAE at the height of the war and described the trip as “a historic breakthrough.” The Emirati government, however, denied that such a visit had taken place.
Several media outlets reported this week that Saudi Arabia and the UAE had carried out covert airstrikes inside Iran during the conflict. While the UAE denied taking military action, Riyadh neither confirmed nor denied the reports. Iranian officials have accused Gulf states of facilitating attacks on Iranian territory and called on the US to withdraw its troops from the region.
An interview with Xiang Lanxin explores why Trump may seek a broader bargain with China and what it could mean for Taiwan, Russia and the EU
US President Donald Trump’s arrival in China this week is being treated as far more than another diplomatic photo opportunity. Relations between Washington and Beijing remain tense, competition between the two powers stretches across almost every domain, and yet both sides appear increasingly aware that unc
An interview with Xiang Lanxin explores why Trump may seek a broader bargain with China and what it could mean for Taiwan, Russia and the EU
US President Donald Trump’s arrival in China this week is being treated as far more than another diplomatic photo opportunity. Relations between Washington and Beijing remain tense, competition between the two powers stretches across almost every domain, and yet both sides appear increasingly aware that uncontrolled confrontation would carry enormous costs. Against that backdrop, the prospect of a broader geopolitical bargain is once again entering the discussion.
According to Xiang Lanxin, visiting professor at East China Normal University and research fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, Trump isn’t approaching China in the same ideological spirit that defined the Biden administration. The atmosphere in Washington, he argues, has shifted noticeably.
He spoke to Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs and research director of the Valdai International Discussion Club.
Fyodor Lukyanov:What are the economic objectives of China and the US?
Xiang Lanxin: The economy is undoubtedly a bargaining chip. China wants fewer restrictions, greater market access, and perhaps a reduction in barriers in the high-tech sector, that is a key priority. The mood is competitive, but judging by the mood in Washington, the Trump team is much more conciliatory than the Biden administration, even in the high-tech sector. The ‘small backyard, high fence’ approach isn’t one the current White House is keen on. They realize it won’t work, as the administration is heavily influenced by the tech industry, particularly in the fields of semiconductors and cutting-edge technologies.
There are many such people on Vice President J.D. Vance’s team. History shows that it is impossible to stop technology from spreading across borders. Otherwise, the UK would still be dominating industry today. That’s simply not possible. People in the high-tech sector understand this very well. In that sense, I believe there are some positive signs.
Fyodor Lukyanov:But in the case of the United States, are there no illusions regarding relations with China, or are some changes still possible?
Xiang Lanxin: Of course, they are possible. We might even be talking about a ‘big deal’, which is exactly what Trump wants. Of course, there is no guarantee that they will actually be able to reach one. By a ‘big deal’, the Trump administration means an agreement that goes beyond the economy and touches on geopolitics, that is, the politics of the great powers. There are two key issues Trump would like to discuss with China. The first is how to stabilize the situation in the Taiwan Strait. Stabilize, precisely, because under the Biden administration the balance was seriously disrupted. Let me remind you that Biden made four statements deviating from the principle of strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan (formal recognition of the PRC’s territorial integrity while maintaining separate relations with Taipei. – Ed.). That’s why Trump is proceeding cautiously. He wants to conclude a genuine agreement. I do not know whether this will take the form of a joint statement or some other format, but it is clear that he intends to take action. For China, even limited progress on the Taiwan issue would be a significant achievement. It would mean that the US would adopt a tougher stance against Taiwanese independence.
Previously, the phrasing ‘we do not support’ was used, and it left room for maneuver. In other words, roughly speaking: we, the Americans, don’t support it, but if the Taiwanese themselves want it, that is their business. If, however, the United States were to adopt the stance of ‘us against them’, that would be an entirely different approach. It implies a willingness, under certain circumstances, to take action, to work with China to prevent Taiwanese independence. This issue is currently on the negotiating table. Whether they will reach an agreement is another matter; it’s by no means certain. There’s serious opposition in the US Congress. But for China, the issue is of the utmost importance. The second point is Trump’s favorite idea of the ‘grand triangle’: Moscow – Beijing – Washington. And it seems to me that he takes this seriously.
The only foreign policy expert Trump really listened to was Henry Kissinger. He held him in very high regard. Kissinger advised him as far back as his first term in office: if this triangle is stable from a strategic point of view, everything else is secondary, including the European Union. Kissinger didn’t attach much importance to the EU at all. Remember his famous quote, which Trump likes: ‘Which partner is the most difficult? Not a rival, but an ally.’ I think Trump will raise the subject of this triangle at some point in his dialogue with China.
Fyodor Lukyanov:China is unlikely to stand in the way of such a triangle forming.
Xiang Lanxin: Yes, this isn’t about China, but about the European Union. Its existence precludes such a scenario. Will Trump push the EU to rethink what it has done? I would say the EU has made huge miscalculations, at least since the Biden administration, in its assessments of Russia, China, as well as the international economic system and the world order.
As for China, the Europeans believed they could capitalize on Biden’s ideological orientation, as he sought to revive a Cold War-style framework in a new phase, to preserve their standing and influence in the world. But they didn’t expect Trump to return. They thought he was a one-off anomaly. And now the situation looks rather awkward for them, they have found themselves caught between two stools. During this period, they have distanced themselves from China – recall the EU’s tough statements on Taiwan. At the same time, they have severely damaged relations with Russia because of the war. As a result, the EU will be forced to seriously reconsider its position. They will have to rethink their relations with Russia. They have already begun to adjust their stance towards China. This is noticeable, although no concrete steps have been taken yet. As for Russia, however, nothing is happening yet. But a policy review is unavoidable there too. I think this will be a very significant change for them.
Fyodor Lukyanov:You once mentioned ‘military Keynesianism’ as a trend that, in essence, everyone is currently embracing. The term is more of a journalistic one, but the concept is clear, stimulating economic growth through government military spending. But what might that mean today? We’re not in the 1930s…
Xiang Lanxin: No, of course not the 1930s. And that situation is unlikely to be repeated unless the three major powers enter into direct military confrontation, which, in my view, will not happen under Trump. Incidentally, he is generally right when he says that under his leadership, the war in Ukraine might not have started at all. Local conflicts are not the main issue. Rather, the point is that military spending is being used as a tool to stimulate the economy and technological development.
Many European countries, as well as Japan, are already taking advantage of this opportunity. The war in Ukraine serves as a convenient pretext, particularly for Germany, for restructuring the economy, and the military sector is provided with a perfect justification. This is likely to be what happens. But this will not necessarily lead to an arms race and military conflict, unless Moscow, Beijing and Washington, for whatever reason, lose patience and enter into direct confrontation. But then that would truly be the end of the world.
This interview was produced specifically for the program International Review (Rossiya 24), and was translated and edited by RT team
The conflict has cost Washington around $29 billion, US Defense Department’s top budget official told Congress
The Pentagon has raised its estimate of the cost of the Iran war to $29 billion, though the figure remains well below projections from several think tanks.
In late April, acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst told lawmakers in Congress that the war had cost Washington around $25 billion.
Testifying in a House Appropriations Committee h
The conflict has cost Washington around $29 billion, US Defense Department’s top budget official told Congress
The Pentagon has raised its estimate of the cost of the Iran war to $29 billion, though the figure remains well below projections from several think tanks.
In late April, acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst told lawmakers in Congress that the war had cost Washington around $25 billion.
Testifying in a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, Hurst revised the assessment, attributing most of the costs to US munition stockpiles used against Iran.
However, according to journalist and Security Policy Reform Institute co-founder Stephen Semler, Washington spent an estimated $71.8 billion in just the first 60 days of the war.
Expended munitions made up more than $41 billion of the total, with military operations costs and damage to US regional assets and bases accounting for most of the rest, he wrote in an article for Popular Information last week, citing military procurement data and officials’ statements.
At a conservative estimate, the war forced the US to burn through around half of its stocks of critical interceptors, such as Patriot and THAAD missiles, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). As a high estimate, the US may have used up to 80% of its stockpile of THAAD interceptors, which “are the most critical due to their low inventory and lack of alternatives,” the think tank wrote in April.
Washington has also overstated the damage to Iran’s missile capabilities, which US president Donald Trump has claimed were largely destroyed, the New York Times wrote on Tuesday.
At the same time, Tehran has retained around 70% of its mobile launchers and 70% of its prewar stockpile of missiles, as well as regained access to 90% of its underground munitions storage and launch facilities, the newspaper wrote, citing US intelligence estimates.
Iran has also restored 30 of 33 coastal missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz, it added.
The key shipping corridor has become the focal point of a tense standoff between the US and Iran, as Washington maintains its blockade of Iranian ports, with neither side giving ground in negotiations.
Draft officers are engaging in “banditry” that must be stopped, a Ukrainian lawmaker has said
Ukrainian draft officers have snatched several workers directly from construction sites, MP Georgy Mazurashu told parliament on Wednesday, calling the practice “banditry” that must be stopped.
According to the lawmaker, the press gangs are merely “chasing numbers” and forcing unwilling men into the military, which only fuels desertion.
Mazurashu describe
Draft officers are engaging in “banditry” that must be stopped, a Ukrainian lawmaker has said
Ukrainian draft officers have snatched several workers directly from construction sites, MP Georgy Mazurashu told parliament on Wednesday, calling the practice “banditry” that must be stopped.
According to the lawmaker, the press gangs are merely “chasing numbers” and forcing unwilling men into the military, which only fuels desertion.
Mazurashu described one incident in the western Ukrainian city of Chernovtsy several weeks ago, when construction workers climbed into a cradle suspended between the third and fourth floors of a building to avoid being captured.
“Five dozen busificators, some wearing balaclavas, surrounded the construction site,” the MP said Wednesday, referring to the press gangs.
The term “busification” emerged in Ukraine as hundreds of videos have surfaced on social media showing military-age men being snatched off the streets, from workplaces, and from residential areas, then taken to recruitment centers in mini-buses against their will. The practice has often triggered clashes with relatives, neighbors, and passersby.
“Those are unacceptable things. We should not engage in banditry,” the lawmaker said, adding that forcing people into the army “for the sake of numbers” would not work anyway since those people “are obviously incapable of… fighting.”
The local draft office in Chernovtsy rejected Mazurashu’s accusations, claiming that no “illegal actions” had been committed by its staff members, adding that two men had been detained for “violating the rules of military registration” at the time mentioned by the lawmaker.
The accusations came just days after the Ukrainskaya Pravda media outlet reported that the number of complaints against draft officials filed with the parliamentary commissioner for human rights had reached nearly 12,000 since February 2022.
Ukraine has been facing chronic manpower shortages throughout its conflict with Russia amid high battlefield losses, extensive draft dodging, and desertion. Kiev barred nearly all adult men from leaving the country soon after it declared a general mobilization in 2022.
The recruitment drive has grown increasingly brutal over the years. Several conscripts have reportedly died shortly after arriving at draft offices.
A leaked memo reportedly recommends that Raphael Glucksmann prioritize affluent older voters ahead of the 2027 presidential race
A leaked internal campaign memo has advised French presidential hopeful Raphael Glucksmann to limit efforts to attract the poorer middle-class and focus on older, wealthier voters instead, Politico has reported.
The confidential document reportedly identified Glucksmann’s strongest potential base as moderate, pro-Europe
A leaked memo reportedly recommends that Raphael Glucksmann prioritize affluent older voters ahead of the 2027 presidential race
A leaked internal campaign memo has advised French presidential hopeful Raphael Glucksmann to limit efforts to attract the poorer middle-class and focus on older, wealthier voters instead, Politico has reported.
The confidential document reportedly identified Glucksmann’s strongest potential base as moderate, pro-European left-wing voters over 50, including retirees and upper-middle-class professionals. Glucksmann is an MEP, co-founder of the center-left Place Publique party and an ally of the French Socialist Party.
The memo reportedly recommended against heavily targeting younger voters, single parents, lower-income groups and residents of immigrant-heavy areas seen as more likely to support Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the radical left La France Insoumise (“France Unbowed”).
Melenchon officially announced his presidential bid earlier this month, while Glucksmann has not yet formally declared his candidacy.
Glucksmann’s team stressed the memo was only a “working document” rather than official campaign doctrine, Politico noted.
French President Emmanuel Macron cannot seek another term in 2027 under constitutional term limits. Right-wing National Rally leader Jordan Bardella currently appears to be the frontrunner, with polls consistently placing him ahead of rivals. Bardella, widely viewed as Marine Le Pen’s political heir, could become the party’s nominee if Le Pen fails to overturn a five-year ban from office following her conviction in a European Parliament funds misuse case.
Critics describe Glucksmann as a representative of France’s educated urban and technocratic elite who is disconnected from the working class. The 46-year-old politician is the son of late philosopher Andre Glucksmann and the romantic partner of prominent French journalist Lea Salame, and has described himself as coming from an “affluent” and “globalized” background.
Before entering French politics, Glucksmann built his profile in Georgia and Ukraine. After advising former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili for over five years, he took part in the Maidan coup in Kiev in 2014. Saakashvili was later jailed following convictions on abuse-of-power and related charges.
Glucksmann was previously married to Georgian-Ukrainian politician Eka Zguladze and has been one of Europe’s most outspoken supporters of Ukraine. He has criticized EU leaders, including Macron, for providing what he considers “insufficient” support to Kiev.
The revelation deepens what is known about the Emirates’ involvement in the war on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates at the height of the US-Israeli war on Iran, his office revealed on Wednesday. The visit coincides with the UAE receiving Iron Dome air defense batteries from Israel.
Netanyahu met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed during the visit, which took place at an undis
The revelation deepens what is known about the Emirates’ involvement in the war on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates at the height of the US-Israeli war on Iran, his office revealed on Wednesday. The visit coincides with the UAE receiving Iron Dome air defense batteries from Israel.
Netanyahu met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed during the visit, which took place at an undisclosed time during the conflict, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, adding that the trip “led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.”
While Netanyahu’s office did not elaborate on this “breakthrough,” it is likely that some kind of military cooperation was discussed, as US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed this week that Israel had recently sent “Iron Dome batteries and personnel” to the Emirates.
The Emirati Foreign Ministry denied that Netanyahu had made an undeclared visit to the country. Relations with Israel are “not based on secrecy or covert arrangements,” the ministry added.
The extent of this cooperation was reported by the Wall Street Journal this week. According to the newspaper, the UAE secretly carried out multiple attacks on Iranian infrastructure and military sites throughout the war, including strikes on a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in early April, around the time that US President Donald Trump was announcing a ceasefire and negotiations with Iran.
The attack was reportedly coordinated with Israel, and came after multiple secret visits by Mossad Director David Barnea to the UAE.
The UAE has not acknowledged the attacks, nor has its government commented on visits from Barnea or Netanyahu.
The UAE’s Foreign Ministry said in January that it would not allow the US or Israel to use its airspace to attack Iran. However, Tehran claimed that the American jets that attacked an elementary school in Minab on the opening day of the war – killing more than 160 schoolgirls – took off from Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi. Iranian forces responded by striking Al Dhafra, as well as US infrastructure at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai.
Iran pummeled targets across the UAE with more than 2,000 missiles and drones in the following weeks, while Tehran accused the Emirates of cooperating with “hostile parties” in the war.
Amid the fragile ceasefire, the UAE last week accused Iran of striking its territory, setting an oil facility in Fujairah ablaze and wounding three people. The US has not condemned the attack, likely in an effort to ensure that the truce holds.
The announcement comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting political pressure at home
Britain will contribute drones, fighter jets and naval assets to a potential mission in the Strait of Hormuz to “secure freedom of navigation,” Defense Secretary John Healey has announced.
The Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast – a key route for global oil and LNG supplies – has been central to Middle East tensions since the US and Israel launched strik
The announcement comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting political pressure at home
Britain will contribute drones, fighter jets and naval assets to a potential mission in the Strait of Hormuz to “secure freedom of navigation,” Defense Secretary John Healey has announced.
The Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast – a key route for global oil and LNG supplies – has been central to Middle East tensions since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February. Maritime traffic through the waterway has been heavily disrupted, with Washington and Tehran accusing each other of violating a fragile ceasefire reached in April.
Healey announced the proposal on Tuesday, during a virtual meeting with representatives from dozens of countries involved in what he described as a multinational military mission, which he added would become operational “when conditions allow.” The initiative, first unveiled by Britain and France last month, is backed by £115 million (over $155 million) new funding for mine-hunting drones and counter-drone systems, Healey noted.
More than 1,000 British military personnel are already deployed across the Middle East, according to the Defense Ministry. London said the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is en route to the region, while another British vessel, the RFA Lyme Bay, could also be deployed.
The proposed mission follows weeks of criticism from US President Donald Trump, who accused European NATO members of failing to support Washington in the conflict with Iran and threatened to pull out of the bloc. Trump aaaahas accused British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of being a fair-weather friend, suggesting he could reconsider last year’s trade deal with London.
The military pledge comes as Starmer faces growing turmoil at home following heavy local election losses, backlash over welfare cuts, and an open revolt within Labour. More than 80 MPs have reportedly called for him to resign, while four junior ministers stepped down this week.
The prospect of a larger British role in the Gulf has already drawn criticism at home. Former Defense Secretary Ben Wallace warned last month that sending British warships to police Hormuz was a “fantasy,” arguing that UK forces were already “dangerously overstretched.”
Washington and Tehran remain far apart on a potential peace deal, with the ceasefire strained by clashes and Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports. The standoff has fueled fears of renewed hostilities.
Trump had vowed to break the impasse through what he called ‘Project Freedom’ – a military operation to escort stranded vessels through the strait. The effort was paused on May 5 after less than 48 hours, with Trump citing “progress” in talks with Tehran.
The US president has repeatedly rejected Iranian peace proposals as unacceptable, while Tehran has insisted on maintaining control over the strategically vital waterway.
After a successful test launch, Moscow says the first Sarmat regiment will enter combat duty by the end of 2026
On May 12, 2026, Russia carried out the second successful launch of its newest heavy liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Sarmat. The launch marked another major milestone in the flight-testing program for Russia’s next-generation strategic missile system. Following the test, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced t
After a successful test launch, Moscow says the first Sarmat regiment will enter combat duty by the end of 2026
On May 12, 2026, Russia carried out the second successful launch of its newest heavy liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Sarmat. The launch marked another major milestone in the flight-testing program for Russia’s next-generation strategic missile system. Following the test, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the first regiment equipped with Sarmat ICBMs would officially enter combat duty by the end of 2026.
A ballistic missile of this class is being developed in modern Russia for the first time. The Sarmat is intended to replace the Soviet-era Voevoda missiles, which until now have remained the most powerful ICBMs ever deployed. Thanks to the immense power of its liquid-fuel rocket engines, the Sarmat is expected to carry an unprecedented payload – between 10 and 14 medium-yield thermonuclear warheads, each with an estimated yield of around 700 kilotons, or potentially up to five maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicles similar to those used in the Avangard system.
Conventional ballistic warheads can be deployed together with penetration aids designed to overwhelm missile defense systems. However, maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicles present an entirely different challenge. Modern missile defense systems are effectively incapable of intercepting such weapons, making the Sarmat a uniquely formidable retaliatory strike platform.
Work on the Sarmat project began in the late 2000s through a collaboration between several Russian missile design bureaus specializing in liquid-fueled rocket technology. These included the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau in Miass – traditionally focused on submarine-launched ballistic missiles – and NPO Mashinostroyenia in Reutov, which had been developing the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle for the UR-100NUTTH intercontinental missile system. Together, the two organizations brought highly complementary expertise in advanced missile engineering. From the outset, the Sarmat was envisioned as the future replacement for the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces’ aging R-36M2 Voevoda heavy ICBMs.
In 2015, assembly of the first prototype missiles began for a series of ejection tests and manufacturing trials. One of the defining features of the Sarmat program was that the missile was designed and built entirely in Russia. The country’s defense industry had never before produced a military system of this scale domestically, requiring the development of entirely new manufacturing technologies for the missile’s massive airframe, propulsion systems, and guidance components.
In 2022, Vladimir Degtyar, CEO of the Makeyev Design Bureau, announced that serial production of the fifth-generation RS-28 Sarmat ICBM had officially begun in Russia. “The missile system has already entered serial production and is fully supplied with the necessary materials and manufacturing equipment,” he stated. According to Russian officials, the new ICBM will significantly strengthen the country’s strategic deterrent capability for the next 40 to 50 years.
The Sarmat is believed to have a range of at least 12,000 kilometers while carrying roughly 10 tons of payload, including its post-boost vehicle and warheads. However, the missile is also reportedly capable of striking targets by approaching from the opposite direction – flying over the South Pole and effectively circling the globe. While such a trajectory would reduce the missile’s payload capacity, it would still allow for multiple nuclear warheads to reach their targets. The missile is also expected to achieve exceptional accuracy, with a probable circular error measured at no more than roughly 150 meters.
Preparations for deploying the first operational Sarmat missiles began back in 2023 at the missile division in Uzhur, located in southern Krasnoyarsk Krai. The process of replacing the aging Voevoda missiles with Sarmat systems is expected to continue for at least four to five years, if not longer. In addition to Uzhur, Sarmat missiles are also expected to be deployed near Dombarovsky in the Orenburg region.
In total, Russia is expected to field at least 50 hardened silo launchers for the Sarmat system, making it the most powerful and lethal component of the country’s nuclear retaliatory forces – a true weapon of retaliation. Heavy missiles of this class are specifically designed to launch even under conditions of an incoming nuclear strike on their deployment area. In theory, dozens of Sarmat missiles could leave their silos while under nuclear attack, carrying a combined total of roughly 500 warheads capable of devastating any potential adversary.
Over the coming years, the Sarmat is expected to complete its full flight-test program and receive multiple payload configurations. One variant will reportedly carry traditional MIRVed ballistic warheads similar to those used on the Voevoda system. Another, more advanced configuration would deploy hypersonic maneuverable glide vehicles developed by NPO Mashinostroyenia. At present, no existing missile defense system is considered capable of reliably intercepting such weapons.
What makes these glide vehicles so difficult to defeat is their flight profile. Unlike traditional ballistic warheads, they travel along a relatively low, flattened trajectory at hypersonic speeds near the edge of the atmosphere while retaining the ability to maneuver both in altitude and direction. As a result, they are detected much later than conventional reentry vehicles and are extraordinarily difficult to intercept due to their unpredictable maneuvering. The Sarmat may be able to carry more than a dozen standard warheads, but likely no more than three to five hypersonic glide vehicles. Nevertheless, such payloads would presumably be reserved for the highest-priority strategic targets – and, according to Russian military doctrine, those targets would be struck with near certainty.
Does any other country possess missiles comparable to the Sarmat? At the moment, no. China still operates heavy liquid-fueled missiles, but those systems are generally considered technologically outdated. Once the Sarmat enters operational service, the share of modern and next-generation missiles in Russia’s nuclear arsenal will approach nearly 100%.
This stands in stark contrast to the United States’ land-based nuclear arsenal, which still relies entirely on the Minuteman III ICBM – a missile originally deployed in the 1970s and subsequently modernized several times during the 1990s and 2000s. Much of America’s ground-based strategic nuclear force is now widely seen as overdue for replacement and modernization. Russia’s Strategic Rocket Forces, by comparison, are poised to field what many in Moscow describe as the most powerful combat missile ever created. Without question.
Two servicemen have reportedly been injured in an assault outside of a base in the Netherlands
Two German soldiers have been attacked outside the NATO operational headquarters in Brunssum, Netherlands, according to dpa news agency and Der Spiegel. The assailants, who are yet to be identified, reportedly shouted anti-NATO slogans.
A personal protection officer and a staff officer who were both in plain clothes were attacked in a wooded area just o
Two servicemen have reportedly been injured in an assault outside of a base in the Netherlands
Two German soldiers have been attacked outside the NATO operational headquarters in Brunssum, Netherlands, according to dpa news agency and Der Spiegel. The assailants, who are yet to be identified, reportedly shouted anti-NATO slogans.
A personal protection officer and a staff officer who were both in plain clothes were attacked in a wooded area just outside the base on Monday evening, Der Spiegel said. Both sustained light injuries but are in good condition, a spokesperson for the German Defense Ministry told journalists, adding that the ministry is treating the incident as “security-related.”
The attackers, who were wearing masks, allegedly attacked the soldiers verbally and physically while shouting slogans such as “we hate NATO” in English. The identities and motives of the assailants are still being investigated, the reports said, adding that the Dutch military police are involved.
According to Der Spiegel, one of the officers testified that a group of ten men stopped him and demanded money. He managed to flee the scene and reach a hotel, where he called the police. When the officers arrived, the same group reportedly had already attacked the second officer but fled the scene. No arrests were made.
NATO raised the security alert level to ‘Bravo’ shortly after the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran, signaling an increased risk of terrorist activities and sabotage against NATO facilities and military personnel. Soldiers were specifically instructed not to appear in uniform outside of the bases, according to Der Spiegel.
Last summer, hundreds of people took part in a protest against NATO’s increased military spending plans ahead of the bloc’s summit in The Hague. They also protested against Israel’s campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza and the Iran war.
Imports surged 16% in Q1 2026 amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to industry think-tank IEEFA
The EU’s imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) has reached a record high this year, amid the growing energy crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to a report by a US-based energy think tank.
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) reports that the bloc’s imports jumped 16% year on year in Jan
Imports surged 16% in Q1 2026 amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to industry think-tank IEEFA
The EU’s imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) has reached a record high this year, amid the growing energy crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to a report by a US-based energy think tank.
The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) reports that the bloc’s imports jumped 16% year on year in January-March, with France, Spain, and Belgium accounting for most deliveries. Russia remains the EU’s second-largest LNG supplier, despite the bloc aiming to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027, it noted.
EU countries spent €5.9 billion ($6.9 billion) on Russian pipeline gas and €6.7 billion on Russian LNG in 2025, according to the report. Russia accounted for about 13% of the EU’s combined natural gas and LNG imports in 2025, according to previous data.
IEEFA said that the rise in imports was partly driven by disruptions in global LNG markets linked to reduced maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which curtailed Qatari exports and increased the EU’s reliance on other major suppliers.
“The war in the Middle East has left Europe more reliant on its two largest LNG suppliers, the US and Russia,” said Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, lead energy analyst at IEEFA.
The report said that the EU is risking a dependence on American LNG as Washington looks set to overtake Norway as the bloc’s largest gas supplier in 2026 and could account for 80% of EU LNG imports by 2028. American LNG is on average the most expensive for European buyers, the report added.
The latest developments have prompted some EU politicians to step up calls to reconsider sanctions on Russia. Despite growing political pressure over energy costs, however, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen has insisted the bloc will continue phasing out Russian LNG imports and expand purchases from alternative suppliers, including the US.
Moscow, meanwhile, has argued that European countries will eventually be forced to restore energy ties with Russia. Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev said EU policy under what he called “Russophobic politicians” risked deindustrializing the bloc.
Sebastian Gorka has accused Carlson of joining the ranks of violent left-wing radicals
US President Donald Trump’s counterterrorism director has suggested that two of the president’s loudest critics – Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes – are considered potential left-wing threats by the White House.
The White House released its National Strategy for Counterterrorism last week, which labels “Narcoterrorists and Transnational Gangs, Legacy Islamist Te
Sebastian Gorka has accused Carlson of joining the ranks of violent left-wing radicals
US President Donald Trump’s counterterrorism director has suggested that two of the president’s loudest critics – Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes – are considered potential left-wing threats by the White House.
The White House released its National Strategy for Counterterrorism last week, which labels “Narcoterrorists and Transnational Gangs, Legacy Islamist Terrorists, [and] Violent Left-Wing Extremists, including Anarchists and Anti-Fascists” as the three most pressing terror threats to the US.
The inclusion of “Violent Left-Wing Extremists” is no surprise, given that the strategy was released after three assassination attempts against Trump and the public execution of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, and after Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum NPSM-7 identified “anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity” as indicators of potential “violent and terroristic activities.”
The report makes no mention of right-wing terrorism. However, a comment by its author, Sebastian Gorka, which flew under the radar last week, suggests that some of the president’s former allies are now considered national security threats.
Speaking to Breitbart editor Alex Marlow on Friday, Gorka was asked whether he regards “right-wing extremism” as “a threat at all.”
“I’m not sure that Nick Fuentes or Tucker Carlson are conservatives,” Gorka replied. “If you are lauding Sharia law, if you are saying that there are Muslim states that seem to be better qualitatively than America in terms of freedom and prosperity, I’m not sure that means you’re part of the conservative movement. So if you remove those individuals and you understand that they’re not conservatives, what’s left?”
Gorka’s comment implies that, stripped of their “conservative” credentials, Fuentes and Carlson are the kind of left-wing extremists that the Trump administration will target.
Nick Fuentes is a hardline nationalist and opponent of Trump, whose inflammatory comments – “Jews are running society, Women need to shut the f**k up, and Blacks need to be imprisoned for the most part.” – saw him banned from every major social media platform in 2020. He has since been reinstated on X, and his daily livestreams sometimes draw hundreds of thousands of viewers.
FUENTES: ‘Jews are running society, women need to shut the F**K UP, blacks need to be imprisoned for the most part’
PIERS: ‘Would you like to clarify what you meant there?’
Tucker Carlson is a former Fox News host and supporter of Trump, whose relationship with the president has soured in recent months over Trump’s apparent deference to Israel and the war on Iran.
What happened between Tucker Carlson and Trump?
Carlson was a vocal supporter and regular confidant of Trump during the president’s first term in office, and campaigned for his reelection in 2024. Carlson grew more critical of American support for Israel’s war in Gaza over the last two years, and publicly called on Trump not to take military action against Iran in June 2025, when Israel was waging its 12-Day War against the Islamic Republic.
Trump, who dismissed Carlson’s advice and ordered the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, called Carlson “kooky,” but the two remained in regular contact.
However, the rift between the former Fox News host and the president reached its nadir when the US and Israel began striking Iran in late February, with Carlson calling the war “disgusting and evil,” and accusing Trump of doing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bidding by waging it.
Carlson hammered Trump for issuing a profane message to Iran on Easter Sunday, calling the president’s threat to target Iranian civilian infrastructure “vile on every level.”
“How dare you speak that way on Easter morning to the country?” Carlson said in a monologue on his podcast. “Who do you think you are? You’re tweeting out the f-word on Easter morning.”
Trump responded by declaring Carlson an enemy of the MAGA movement, describing him as a “flailing fool” who should “see a good psychiatrist.”
Who else has Trump fallen out with?
Trump has fallen out with several prominent right-wing media personalities over the war with Iran, including Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones. In a lengthy social media post in April, he called these figures “nut jobs” and “troublemakers” who “think it is wonderful for Iran, the number one state sponsor of terror, to have a nuclear weapon.”
“They have one thing in common, low IQs,” he claimed. “They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!”
A Truth Social post by Donald Trump, April 17, 2026
Carlson, Owens, and Nick Fuentes were all included in a top-ten list of “anti-Semite and anti-Zionist” influencers published by Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs in April.
Gorka’s statement is not the first indication that Trump intends to turn the power of the state against some of his former supporters. The former head of the US National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, is currently under FBI investigation for leaking classified information, after he resigned from his position in March and publicly denounced the war on Iran.
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