Important Takeaways:
- The European Union will free up $840 billion in funding to funnel into defense across the bloc, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday.
- Dubbed “Rearm Europe,” the remarks from the European Commission’s president came hours after President Donald Trump suspended all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, widening the gulf between Washington and Kyiv and going against the fresh commitments of support from Europe for Ukraine in recent days.
- “I do not need to describe the grave nature of the threats that we face, or the devastating consequences that we will have to endure if those threats would come to pass,” von der Leyen told reporters.
- The European Commission head said she had written a letter to the leaders of the European governments to outline a “set of proposals” to “rearm Europe.”
- It details “how to use all the financial levers at our disposal in order to help member states to quickly and significantly increase expenditures in defense capabilities, urgently now, but also over [a] longer period of time, over this decade,” von der Leyen said.
- As part of the proposal, countries in the bloc will have access to loans of up to €150 billion, or just shy of $158 billion, for defense investment. The plan will also mean activating what is known as an “escape clause” for EU countries in a set of rules that currently govern how member states manage their public finances.
- …European nations are scrambling to work out how to plug huge gaps in its military capabilities that the U.S. has traditionally filled.
- Efforts to rearm will focus on air defense missiles, artillery ammunition and the systems to fire them, as well as drones and counter-drone warfare and other areas of the military, von der Leyen said.
- NATO states have less than 5 percent of the necessary air defense capabilities to protect central and Eastern Europe from large-scale attack, the Financial Times reported in May 2024.
- European officials have previously told Newsweek that air defense capacity is currently a fraction of what it should be, and a major worry.
- As Washington rewrites its relationship with the continent, there are deep and pressing concerns about whether the various leaders across the continent can come up with a coherent strategy to protect NATO’s continental countries, without U.S. involvement. European officials publicly and privately agree that defense spending must dramatically increase, but are split on how quickly this can happen, and by just how much.
- The new plan will mean member states can “massively step up their support to Ukraine,” von der Leyen remarked on Tuesday, which she translated to “immediate military equipment for Ukraine.”
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Important Takeaways:
- As members of Congress and guests chanted, “U-S-A, U-S-A,” President Donald Trump addressed the nation as he recounted his achievements since his inauguration.
- With a strong show of support from the Republican-controlled chamber, Trump stated, “Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the golden age of America. From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country. We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years.”
- President Trump continued with a long list of accomplishments, starting with the creation of DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) headed by Elon Musk.
- “The Government Accountability Office, a federal government office, has estimated annual fraud of over $500 billion in our nation. And we are working very hard to stop it.”
- In his first 43 days, the president has signed at least 81 executive orders, ranging from requiring federal workers’ return to the workplace, bringing back free speech by removing government censorship, making English America’s official language, and ending Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.) policies while removing critical race theory from public schools.
- He also addressed transgender controversies, reminding the nation, “There are only two genders, male and female.”
- He brought up the ban on transgender athletes playing in women’s sports and the criminalizing of sex changes performed on children.
- He stated, “A message to every child in America is that you are perfect. Exactly the way God made you.”
- On the topic of immigration, the chief executive introduced a new way successful migrants can buy a path to U.S. citizenship. “We have developed in great detail what we are calling the Gold Card, which goes on sale very, very soon for $5 million,” he said.
- Throughout his speech, the president honored regular Americans, including the family of Laken Riley, a nursing student killed by an illegal migrant while jogging last year.
- One of the most emotional moments of the night came when the president honored D.J. Daniel, a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor who at one time was given five months to live. His dream was to be in law enforcement. On Tuesday night, his dream became a reality.
- Trump announced, “D.J., we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all. I am asking our new Secret Service Director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States Secret Service.”
- The 47th president concluded his speech with a list of promises to the American people, including fixing the economy for people still struggling under the burden of high prices.
- “Fellow Americans, get ready for an incredible future,” he exhorted. “Because the Golden Age of America has only just begun. It will be like nothing that has ever been seen before. Thank you. God bless you, and God bless America.”
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Important Takeaways:
- US special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler has been holding direct talks with Hamas officials in Qatar on the possibility of releasing hostages, including Americans, in Gaza, a source familiar with the details confirmed to The Jerusalem Post.
- Israel has been updated on these talks.
- Bohler met with Hamas “because his role allows it,” the source told the Post.
- “The talks focused on releasing American hostages – but also all hostages. The message to Hamas: Show goodwill – to enable discussions about the second phase as well.”
- On Tuesday, officials estimated that if no agreement is reached between Israel and Hamas, Israel would return to fighting in Gaza in about a week and a half.
- “Hamas is currently rejecting [US Middle East envoy Steve] Witkoff’s proposal, so it is very difficult to make progress,” one official said.
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Important Takeaways:
- China has said it is “ready for war” with America as it raises defense spending and imposes retaliatory tariffs on US imports.
- In a direct threat to Donald Trump, China’s representatives in America said: “If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight until the end.”
- The US has hit China with 20 percent tariffs in response to what the White House considers to be Chinese inaction over the flow of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, into America.
- In combative statements online, China’s ministry of foreign affairs and US embassy warned Washington that “intimidation does not scare us” and criticized Mr. Trump for linking tariffs to the fentanyl crisis.
- The fiery language comes as China’s top legislature met for annual Two Sessions meetings in Beijing, where the plans to boost defense spending were revealed.
- The rise in spending is equal to the jump last year and takes the official budget to roughly 1.78 trillion yuan (£190 billion), as China pursues the goal of Xi Jinping, its president, to build a modern military by 2027.
- On Wednesday, Li Qiang, China’s premier… said Beijing “will step up military training and combat readiness so as to firmly safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests”.
- China has stoked alarm with increasingly aggressive moves in Asia and the Pacific – including recent live-fire drills off the Australian coast, military exercises close to Taiwan and Vietnam and confrontations with the Philippine coast guard in the South China Sea. Japan, South Korea and India have all criticized the projections of military might.
- Earlier this week, it was revealed that China is developing a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which would be larger and more advanced than any vessel in its fleet, in an attempt to rival the US.
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Important Takeaways:
- A mammoth and multifaceted storm – which was dealing wind, fire, choking dust and the threat of a blizzard – is pummeling much of the country as it marches east.
- Here’s the latest:
- Deep South feeling the punch: A line of damaging storms moving through Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle overnight will continue to head east Wednesday, bringing a threat of strong winds and a few tornadoes.
- East Coast braces for impacts: The storm is expected to bring its strongest to the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic by Wednesday afternoon, bringing strong winds and a chance of tornadoes from Charleston, South Carolina, up to Norfolk, Virginia. Lower storm threats are possible from Florida to southern New York, which could see gusty winds, rain and hail.
- Fires in Texas: Dozens of fires have erupted across Texas amid a critical fire risk across a large portion of the state. High winds in Atascosa County resulted in several house fires Tuesday afternoon, law enforcement officials said.
- Blizzard conditions possible: Heavy snowfall and gusty winds will remain across the Midwest through Wednesday afternoon. This will mean possible blizzard conditions in more populated areas, including Kansas City, Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; and perhaps Minneapolis. Gusts of 50-70 mph are expected in some areas.
- Widespread power outages: Severe thunderstorms with intense damaging wind gusts are roaring across the South. Wind gusts in excess of 70 mph have occurred in states, including Texas and Oklahoma. More than 500,000 homes and businesses were without power across central US, the Southeast and parts of the Midwest by early Wednesday, according to PowerOutage.us.
- Dust storm: Officially called a haboob, the fast-moving wall of dust and debris was still blowing across the region Tuesday as strong winds moved across the region, especially in Texas. The winds have since died down from 45 mph to below 10 mph across much of the region.
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Important Takeaways:
- A politician vying to replace Justin Trudeau as Canada’s next leader has suggested forming a closer alliance with Britain and France as the NATO nations possess nuclear weapons, which could help safeguard the Canadians against potential threats posed by President Donald Trump.
- Chrystia Freeland, former deputy prime minister under Trudeau, warned that Trump poses a direct “threat” to Canada’s sovereignty by saying that the country could potentially become the 51st U.S. state.
- What Happens Next
- Canada is hoping that the head of state, Britain’s King Charles III, will condemn Trump’s statements on annexing the nation. Trudeau met with the king on Monday at the monarch’s royal residence Sandringham, Norfolk, east England.
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Important Takeaways:
- At exactly 12.01am ET this morning, the long-awaited 25% US tariffs on Canada and Mexico as well as an additional 10% levy on China went live. The 25% tariffs taking effect apply to all imports from Canada and Mexico, except for Canadian energy which will be tariffed at a 10% rate.
- The 25% EU tariffs, sectoral tariffs on copper, lumber etc., as well as the broader suite of reciprocal tariffs
- Swift retaliation followed from both Canada and China. Canada imposed 25% tariffs of its own on $155bn of US exports including orange juice and bourbon in two stages – immediate tariffs on $30bn of goods and the remaining $125bn in 21 days.
- China raised tariffs by 10% on soybeans, pork, beef, and fruits starting March 10th, and 15% tariffs on chicken, wheat, corn and cotton in line with yesterday’s press reports of agricultural goods being Chinese tariff targets.
- Additionally, China’s Customs suspended imports of US lumber effective immediately, and suspended soybean import qualification for three US companies
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Important Takeaways:
- In an interview on NBC News, Ford said he had never met a single American who supported the idea of tariffs, despite the fact that the majority of Americans voted for Donald Trump.
- Ford ranted:
- We are the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. We buy over 3,600 products from 35 states. I talked to the Governor of Kentucky and Mitch McConnell. Don’t touch our bourbon. I’m going after absolutely everything.
- And I don’t want to. We keep the lights on for 1.5 million homes in manufacturing in New York, in Michigan, and in Minnesota.
- If he wants to destroy our economy and our families, I will shut down the electricity going down to the U.S. And I’m telling you, we will do it.
- Ford then went on to say that Americans, particularly those in red states, would feel immense pain as his retaliatory measures.
- He continued:
- This is the last thing we want to do. It’s one person that’s coming to attack us economically.
- Your closest friend, your treasured ally, that will stand shoulder to shoulder with you in every situation you’ve faced, and he’s attacking the person, his number one customer.
- There’s no country in the world that buys more products off the U.S. than we do.
- We’re the number one trading customer to 28 states, and a lot of them are red states. They’re going to feel the pain like they’ve never felt before.
- We’re going to feel the pain, but I’ll tell you, Canadians are resilient, we’re strong, we’re proud, and we’re going to fight back like they’ve never seen before.
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Important Takeaways:
- Zelenskyy made the concession in a lengthy statement posted to social media on Tuesday, saying Ukraine “is ready to come to the negotiating table.” He added that last week’s meeting “did not go the way it was supposed to be,” and he said “it is time to make things right.”
- “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts,” Zelenskyy wrote.
- “We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky — ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure — and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same. Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal,” he added.
- “We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this,” the statement continued
- “Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive. Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time and in any convenient format. We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively,” Zelenskyy concluded.
- U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron suggested a freeze on strikes from the air, sea and on energy infrastructure for 30 days in Ukraine. Macron told French media the window could be used to negotiate a wider peace deal.
- Trump’s White House has yet to weigh in on the proposal.
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Important Takeaways:
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday.
- It is obvious that the US has been the main supplier of military aid to Kiev, Peskov noted, adding that if the US were to relinquish this role or suspend supplies altogether it would “probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace.”
- The spokesman said that if the US had indeed stopped all military aid to Ukraine, it would mean that Kiev would effectively lose the vast majority of its ammunition, equipment and intelligence.
- “If this really is so… then perhaps, without indulging in excessive optimism, we can modestly hope that this could encourage the Kiev regime to lean towards attempts to resolve the situation through peaceful means,” Peskov told Rossiya 1 TV journalist Pavel Zarubin.
- According to Bloomberg, Trump has ordered a freeze on all military aid to Ukraine, which includes equipment already designated for delivery, as well as weapons in transit on aircraft and ships or waiting in transit areas in Poland. The New York Times reported that the president’s order, which has already taken effect, affects more than $1 billion in “arms and ammunition in the pipeline and on order.”
- Meanwhile, the Washington Post claimed that in addition to stopping weapons shipments to Kiev, Washington is also considering the termination of intelligence sharing and training for Ukrainian troops and pilots.
- Zelensky stated on Sunday that peace between Ukraine and Russia was still “very, very far away,” prompting even more ire from Trump, who said it was “the worst statement that could have been made” by the Ukrainian leader.
- Trump warned that “America will not put up with it for much longer,” and suggested that Zelensky “doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing.”
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