Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners

Quotes of the Day:

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

– Abraham Lincoln

"After all is said and done, more is said than done."

– Aesop

"One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say."

– Will Durant

1. Pentagon Frets Over ‘A House of Dynamite’ Nuclear Doomsday Film

2. State Department Intelligence Agency Dissented Over Putin’s Appetite for Peace

3. U.S., China Sound Confident Note After Trade Talks

4. Inside the Warehouse in Israel Where the U.S. Is Overseeing Trump’s Peace Plan

5. As Trump and Xi Get Set to Talk Trade, Asia Worries About Impact on Its Security

6. Chinese and U.S. officials tentatively agree to avert 100 percent tariffs

7. Fear Grips a Caribbean Nation in the Shadow of U.S. Boat Strikes

8. Donald Trump has turned the war on drugs into a real war

9. The ‘Sleeper Issue’ at the Heart of Trump’s Trade War on China

10. How to Fight Putin on the Information Battlefield

11. Suspected arson attack in Poland sparks fears of Russian hybrid warfare

12. US remains vital to continued peace, stability and prosperity of Southeast Asia, says PM Wong

13. As US inks trade deals with 4 ASEAN states, Trump pledges America’s 100% commitment to Southeast Asia

14. Where Trump Is Headed in Asia, and What Each Country Wants From Him

15. Under Trump’s Aegis, Cambodia and Thailand Agree to Resolve Border Dispute

16. Trump Leans Into Showmanship on Day 1 of His Asia Trip

17. Putin and Gerasimov Clash Over Air Defenses and Drones

18. Vector Lands Major SOCOM Contract, Accelerates Military Drone Innovation; Will Showcase Drone Innovation at 2025 Zero Gravity Summit

19. Under Trump, Voice of America Is Down but Not Out

1. Pentagon Frets Over ‘A House of Dynamite’ Nuclear Doomsday Film

Come one guys. We can do better than this. "He doth protest too much." This is how we undermine confidence in ourselves. Our defensiveness communicates weakness and sends the message we have something to hide. We have to stop being so damned thin skinned.

This is a fictional film that we should embrace. Our simple message should be that yes, missile defense is hard. And this is what happens if we do not sufficiently invest in capabilities to defend the homeland. Yes we can describe our successes that have overcome our past failures but we should not decry the film because it seems to portray a negative view of our missile defenses. By being defensive and over reactive we are actually signalling our lack of self confidence and telegraphing weakness. Instead we should be using this "story," and it is just a story (and stories are one of the best communications methods), to reinforce what we know needs to be done: gain the support of Congress and the American people to invest in and sustain missile defense for the homeland. Rather than pushing back on every film that comes out that does not portray our military the way we would like to envision it, we should look for the opportunities to use such films for messages we need to get out. In this case it is a very simple message as we need the support of the US public and Congress to invest in missile defense. Failure to do so will result in catastrophe for the American people. So we should embrace the film, remind people that it is simply a story and not denigrate it, and use it to inform the American people that this is what could happen if we do not invest in missile defense.

This is why we are not proficient at information and influence activities, or operations in the information environment or Information Warfare (IWar).

Pentagon Frets Over ‘A House of Dynamite’ Nuclear Doomsday Film

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-25/-house-of-dynamite-nuclear-missile-defense-fail-has-pentagon-worried?utm

Anthony Ramos in a scene from “A House of Dynamite.”Photographer: Eros Hoagland/Netflix

By Anthony Capaccio

October 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM EDT

Takeaways by Bloomberg AI

Hide

The Missile Defense Agency has expressed concerns over the depiction of US missile defense as ineffective in the movie A House of Dynamite.
An internal memorandum from the agency argues that the movie's doomsday scenario is inaccurate and underestimates US capabilities, citing real-world testing results as evidence.
The agency disputes a line in the movie stating that current missile defenses have a 50% chance of knocking down a missile, claiming that today's interceptors have a 100% accuracy rate in testing for more than a decade.

The plot of A House of Dynamite, the new thriller from Academy Award winner Kathryn Bigelow, hinges on — spoiler alert — US missile defenses failing to knock down a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile headed for Chicago.

The Pentagon agency responsible for the more than $50 billion system of ground-based interceptors in Alaska and California designed to avoid just such a scenario isn’t happy about it. The movie, starring Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson, had a limited theater release and is now streaming on Netflix.

A Missile Defense Agency internal memorandum argues that the doomsday scenario depicted in the movie is inaccurate. The Oct. 16 memo, a copy of which was obtained by Bloomberg News, is meant to make sure agency leadership “has situational awareness and is not ‘surprised’ by the topic, which may come up in conversations or meetings.”

The object of the Missile Defense Agency’s angst is depiction of US missile defense as ineffective, especially in light of the fact that President Donald Trump wants to spend tens of billions of dollars on missile defense, including with his bid for a “Golden Dome” defensive umbrella.

The document, labeled “Only For Internal MDA and Department of War use and is not public releasable,” is dated a day after almost every member of the Pentagon press corps, including Bloomberg News, vacated the building rather than agree to rules that could restrict news gathering of documents such as the MDA assessment.

It was prepared to “address false assumptions, provide correct facts and a better understanding” of the US’s currently deployed system, it said. While the film “highlights that deterrence can fail, which reinforces the need for an active homeland missile defense system,” its fictional portrayal also underestimates US capabilities, according to the memo.

“The fictional interceptors in the movie miss their target and we understand this is intended to be a compelling part of the drama intended for the entertainment of the audience,” but results from real-world testing “tell a vastly different story,” the Pentagon says in the memo.

As guidance for questions about the system’s cost, the memo avoids a dollar amount, saying “the cost is high but not nearly as high as the cost of allowing a nuclear missile to strike our nation.”

A Government Accountability Office report in 2020 said the Pentagon had spent about $53 billion on the ground-based system and planned to spend about $10 billion through this year to continue developing, producing and sustaining it. The system is managed by Boeing Co. and operated by personnel under the US Northern Command.

Accuracy Rate

One focus of the memo is a line in the movie in which the defense secretary, played by Jared Harris, laments that current missile defenses have a 50% chance of knocking down a missile despite their $50 billion price tag.

The MDA says that’s based on earlier prototypes and today’s interceptors “have displayed a 100% accuracy rate in testing for more than a decade.”

Experts dispute that. Laura Grego, a long-time missile defense critic with the Union of Concerned Scientists who has seen the film, said the scenario it depicts is the least threatening possible — a single missile on a known trajectory. Military tests have been similarly limited, she said.

“A robust defense should anticipate facing multiple incoming ICBMs and credible decoys, and direct attacks on missile defense elements, but none of those were part of the story in this film,” Grego said. “The fictional threat is arguably about as easy as they come.”

The Pentagon said in a statement to Bloomberg News that it wasn’t consulted for the film, which “does not reflect the views or priorities of this administration.” The system “remains a critical component of our national defense strategy, ensuring the safety and security of the American people and our allies.”

A Netflix spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment.

A representative for Bigelow pointed to her remarks on CBS’s Sunday Morning arguing that she didn’t seek cooperation from the Pentagon.

“I felt that we needed to be more independent,” she told CBS. “But that being said, we had multiple tech advisers who have worked in the Pentagon. They were with me every day we shot.”’

The Trump administration hasn’t disclosed substantive details of its still ill-defined Golden Dome land, sea and space-based defensive shield. Space Force General Michael Guetlein, the four-star general leading the effort, last month completed a blueprint for the program. The Pentagon declined to provide details about its scope or cost.

2. State Department Intelligence Agency Dissented Over Putin’s Appetite for Peace

Our most contrarian intelligence organization (and least recognized) that often gets it right when others do not.

State Department Intelligence Agency Dissented Over Putin’s Appetite for Peace

The CIA had a more positive assessment of the Russian leader’s willingness to talk

https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/putin-ukraine-peace-state-department-c9ed6cef

By Brett Forrest

Oct. 26, 2025 5:00 am ET

Russian President Vladimir Putin Evgenia Novozhenina/Press Pool

The State Department’s internal intelligence agency cast doubt earlier this year on the notion that Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, dissenting from a more optimistic Central Intelligence Agency assessment of potential talks, according to several current and former officials.

Analysts at the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, known as INR, expressed this opposing view in assessments and briefings in the months leading up to President Trump’s August meeting with his Russian counterpart in Anchorage, Alaska. The dissent also appeared in the President’s Daily Brief, according to the current and former officials.

The State Department’s dissent on Russia’s willingness to negotiate hasn’t been previously reported.

Several analysts were later fired amid an administration directive to reduce the federal workforce, according to the State Department.

A State Department official attributed the removals to a department reorganization and said that analysts in the bureau’s Russia-Eurasia group weren’t targeted and the office remains able to conduct important assessments. The State Department’s INR “does important work to produce critical intelligence assessments,” said Tommy Pigott, a State Department spokesman.

A CIA spokesman declined to comment.

Intelligence analysts are often aware that administrations are hoping for assessments that reinforce preferred policies, and the agencies routinely differ on conclusions.

“In the Intelligence Community, differing perspectives aren’t just normal—they’re necessary,” a spokeswoman from the office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement. “That debate is how we ensure our decision-makers have the most accurate picture possible to protect the safety and freedom of the American people.”

A White House spokeswoman declined to comment.

Efforts to end the war in Ukraine stalled after the Alaska meeting. Last month, Trump said Putin had let him down, but initially refrained from any public actions pressuring Moscow, such as enacting new sanctions.

After negotiating a landmark cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza, Trump has again set his sights on ending the Ukraine conflict. Trump held what he described as a “very productive” phone call with Putin earlier this month and announced a meeting between the two in Budapest.

Yet that meeting is now on hold over concerns that the Russian leader isn’t ready to negotiate.

Damage from a Russian attack in a neighborhood of Kyiv, Ukraine, in October. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Associated Press

“I’m going to have to know that we’re going to have a deal,” Trump said Saturday. “I’m not going to be wasting my time. I’ve always had a very great relationship with Vladimir Putin but this has been very disappointing.”

Last Wednesday, the Treasury Department sanctioned Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft and subsidiaries “as a result of Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine,” according to a Treasury statement.

“Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary to support President Trump’s effort to end yet another war.”

Intelligence assessments often play a key role for presidents in high-stakes diplomatic talks. Some former officials worry that the administration won’t receive an accurate picture of events if its intelligence analysts feel they should produce assessments that conform to policy.

“The main danger is that the policymaker gets a distorted view,” said John Williams, who was the director of the State Department’s Russia-Eurasia analysis in the intelligence bureau before resigning earlier this year. Such distortion can result in miscalculations “that could affect our national security.”

Beginning early in the administration, U.S. officials requested numerous secret assessments and briefings from intelligence analysts about the Ukraine issue to determine Putin’s goals in Ukraine and gauge his willingness to negotiate the war’s conclusion, according to the people familiar with the issue.

CIA analysts, in response to the administration’s requests, produced assessments concluding that Trump could find opportunities to negotiate with Putin, according to several people who viewed the reports.

CIA assessments have sometimes been optimistic about the prospect of finding common ground with the Russian leadership, according to two former officials.

“We kept standing firm,” Williams said. “We didn’t see that [Putin] had incentive to negotiate an end to the war.”

INR analysts cited Putin’s own statements, including public comments giving priority to the demilitarization and “de-Nazification” of Ukraine, a theme he has repeated often since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

State Department assessments concluded that Putin would ultimately be unwilling to relinquish maximalist demands—a conclusion that outside analysts have also made in recent months.

“There’s no easy pathway to solve the war diplomatically,” said Andrew Weiss, who served as Russia director on the National Security Council and is now with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank. “The Ukrainians are not desperate, and the Russians continue to think they’re going to grind this out.”

In meetings with staff this spring, a State Department manager told analysts that their continued dissension was damaging INR’s credibility among administration officials, according to two people familiar with the meetings. In July, three analysts who worked in INR’s Russia-Eurasia group were fired. Another analyst resigned.

The State Department closed an intelligence office that worked with private-sector experts and another that was responsible for downgrading intelligence for sharing with allies. The State Department also merged INR’s Europe and Russia-Eurasia groups, and several Europe analysts were also fired or reassigned, according to the former officials. The State Department said this was done to address redundancies.

The debate over the assessments took place during a particularly turbulent period for the intelligence community.

In April, after meeting with far-right influencer Laura Loomer, Trump fired the chief of the National Security Agency, Gen. Tim Haugh, a longtime intelligence official.

In June, administration officials criticized a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency report that contradicted Trump’s assertion that U.S. strikes had obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities. The administration later fired the agency’s director, Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Kruse.

The State Department has broken with the intelligence community on other critical national-security issues. In 2002, INR dissented from the prevailing intelligence-community view that Iraq was reconstituting its nuclear weapons program to build an atomic weapon.

INR’s skepticism was later vindicated when no evidence emerged to support the administration’s contention that Iraq was pursuing weapons of mass destruction—the justification for invading the country.

Write to Brett Forrest at brett.forrest@wsj.com

3. U.S., China Sound Confident Note After Trade Talks

The $64K question: will it get done this week?

U.S., China Sound Confident Note After Trade Talks

Scott Bessent hails ‘very successful framework’ for Trump-Xi meeting as Beijing reports preliminary consensus on key issues

https://www.wsj.com/world/china/bessent-sounds-confident-note-after-trade-talks-with-china-f09d310d

By Hannah Miao

Follow and Chun Han Wong

Updated Oct. 26, 2025 8:46 am ET

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leaving trade talks with China in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters

Quick Summary

U.S. and Chinese negotiators reported constructive trade talks in Malaysia.View more

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Top U.S. and Chinese negotiators sounded a positive note on weekend trade talks, hailing what they called constructive discussions ahead of a meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping planned for this week.

“I think we have a very successful framework for the leaders to discuss on Thursday,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said after two days of trade negotiations in the Malaysian capital.

Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang separately told reporters that “the two sides have reached preliminary consensus” on possible solutions for issues that have rocked relations between the world’s two largest economies.

The talks covered a range of issues, including export controls, extensions to the suspension of reciprocal tariffs and cooperation to tackle the illicit trade in fentanyl, according to Bessent and Li. They also discussed purchases of agricultural products, access to rare earths crucial to making everything from cars to jet fighters, TikTok and the overall U.S.-China relationship, Bessent said.

“The U.S. has been tough in conveying its position, whereas China has been firm in defending its own interests and rights,” said Li, a top aide to China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng, who headed the Chinese delegation.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, in the foreground, departing after the talks. Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters

The trade talks in Malaysia aimed to ratchet down tensions between the countries, and lay the groundwork for further discussions at the expected Trump-Xi summit, which will be the first in-person meeting of the two leaders since Trump began his second term.

When asked whether the U.S. and China would extend a trade truce set to expire Nov. 10, during which both countries agreed to lower tariffs, Bessent said, “Coming out of this meeting, I would say yes, but that is at the end of the day President Trump’s decision.”

Bessent later told NBC News that the U.S. likely wouldn’t proceed with an additional 100% tariff on all Chinese goods, which Trump had threatened would take effect Nov. 1. He also said Trump would likely visit Xi in China in early 2026, while Xi might visit the U.S. later next year.

Li, the senior Chinese negotiator, said both sides will now go through internal approval processes for implementing their preliminary consensus. He didn’t offer specifics from the talks.

Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday for a regional gathering of Southeast Asian leaders, his first stop on a trip that will include Japan and South Korea, where he is expected to meet Xi.

President Trump arriving in Kuala Lumpur. Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters

Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Malaysia, said he hoped to leave the Xi meeting with “a complete deal,” saying, “We have a really good chance of making a really comprehensive deal.”

The president has said he would press China to resume purchases of U.S. soybeans, crack down on Chinese companies exporting chemicals used to make fentanyl and ease controls on rare earths. China this year has pulled back on its purchases of U.S. soybeans, badly squeezing American farmers, a core constituency of the president.

The meetings in Malaysia were the fifth high-level talks between the two superpowers this year in a volatile trade war that has, at times, sent financial markets and businesses reeling. After ratcheting up tariffs on each other’s goods past 100% earlier this year, the two sides in May reached a tentative truce to roll back duties.

Friction between the U.S. and China reignited in recent weeks, with each country accusing the other of escalating tensions. At the end of September, Washington expanded a trade blacklist targeting Chinese tech companies. Beijing earlier this month tightened controls on rare earths.

The new rare-earth measures from China shocked and angered Washington. Beijing’s introduction of rare-earth export controls earlier this year led to significant production disruptions for U.S. carmakers and other companies. The Trump administration expects China to increase exports of rare-earth magnets as a condition for the U.S. lowering tariffs.

Before the Malaysia trade talks, which were held on the 92nd floor of Kuala Lumpur’s Merdeka 118 skyscraper, both sides made moves to build up leverage.

The U.S. opened a new investigation that could set the stage for potential tariff increases, looking into how the Chinese government has upheld its end of the so-called Phase One trade deal that it signed during Trump’s first term, in which China pledged to greatly increase its purchases of American goods. China said it has fulfilled its obligations under the agreement.

In response to U.S. fees on Chinese ships calling at American ports, Beijing said it would impose a special fee on U.S. vessels docking in China and sanctioned U.S. subsidiaries of a South Korean shipbuilder.

Last month, both sides reached a framework deal on TikTok, paving the way for a deal that would allow the Chinese-owned video-sharing app to operate in America.

Write to Hannah Miao at hannah.miao@wsj.com and Chun Han Wong at chunhan.wong@wsj.com

4. Inside the Warehouse in Israel Where the U.S. Is Overseeing Trump’s Peace Plan

How many JOCs (joint operations centers) have been set up in warehouses, abandoned buildings, and airplane hangers, etc. We can all feel what these servicemembers are experiencing (just trying to do their job in austere conditions). Hopefully someday they will look back and understand that they were part of an important historical event.

No "Plan B." Don't we always plan for a Plan B and Plan C and whatever is necessary and feasible? Telegraphing that we have only one plan certainly is not a good thing for our adversaries to know. But I certainly understand his statement from a political perspective and the message he is trying to convey that all parties have to get this right. But from my former planner's perspective it hurts my head to hear something like this stated in public.

Excerpts:

A makeshift command center projects maps and updates from social media and news reports onto the walls. They also display a message in green letters:

“A new and beautiful day is rising. And now the rebuilding begins. —President Donald J. Trump.”

...

Rubio, the latest administration official to arrive, said Friday that the work being done in this warehouse in southern Israel is the “key to holding it all together.”

⁠“There is no Plan B,” he said after he toured the site with military officials and greeted troops. “This is the best plan. It’s the only plan.”

U.S. officials say the hub is a tangible symbol of Washington’s commitment to the Gaza peace deal, which hangs on Trump’s guarantee that Israel won’t resume the war as long as Hamas adheres to the deal’s terms.

It also is a way to keep close watch as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu navigates domestic pressure from members of his coalition who oppose ending the fight against Hamas, as well as to coordinate with a roster of uneasy regional partners.

...

U.S. officials say the coordination effort is bringing together a mix of international and humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Program, to deliver aid. The day before Rubio’s visit, the center set up a working group on dual-use items to improve access to items needed for the winter and healthcare.

The efforts, which are being overseen by Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, the commander of the U.S. Army Central Command, are still in the early stages. Before Trump announced the deal on Oct. 8, U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper met with Witkoff and Kushner in Egypt and assured them he could have a command center operational within 2½ weeks, a senior administration official said.

“We’ve made more progress in 13 days than anyone thought possible,” Rubio said. “We have to make it work. There is no other alternative.”

Inside the Warehouse in Israel Where the U.S. Is Overseeing Trump’s Peace Plan

New facility to coordinate aid, security as talks on the plan enter tougher territory

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/inside-the-warehouse-in-israel-where-the-u-s-is-overseeing-trumps-peace-plan-20dddc6b

By Vera Bergengruen

Oct. 25, 2025 11:00 pm ET

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking with U.S. military personnel at a new operations center in southern Israel. Fadel Senna/Press Pool

Quick Summary

A Civil-Military Coordination Center is established in Israel to monitor the cease-fire and coordinate aid to Gaza.View more

KIRYAT GAT, Israel—On the edge of a small city in southern Israel, a cavernous warehouse is being remade into the headquarters of President Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

Two hundred U.S. troops working with Israel’s military and other partners have scrambled over the past week to build out a new Civil-Military Coordination Center. It will monitor the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and coordinate the flow of aid and security assistance to Gaza, which lies roughly 20 miles away.

Like the plan itself—which freed the remaining live hostages in Gaza nearly two weeks ago and is now moving on to the more difficult task of creating alternatives to Hamas to administer and secure the enclave—the center is a work in progress.

Dozens of whiteboards partition the vast cement hall, flanked by large displays inscribed with the 20 points of Trump’s Gaza peace plan. The floor of the hall, which is covered with new artificial turf, bustles with soldiers and civilian staff weaving through black panels as a loudspeaker reminds them to not smoke inside.

A makeshift command center projects maps and updates from social media and news reports onto the walls. They also display a message in green letters:

“A new and beautiful day is rising. And now the rebuilding begins. —President Donald J. Trump.”

Trump and his envoys pushed the plan into existence with an unorthodox approach: Declare victory then work out the details later. The optimism overcame the parties’ reservations with the plan to free the hostages and brought the first sustained break in the fighting in seven months.

The administration kept up the broadly positive tone this week, even as it sent a string of heavy hitters to Israel to keep the process on track after a string of skirmishes between the combatants last weekend. Top Trump emissaries—including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner—have cycled in and out of Israel in recent days.

Vice President JD Vance speaking at the operations center recently as special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner look on. Nathan Howard/Press Pool

Rubio, the latest administration official to arrive, said Friday that the work being done in this warehouse in southern Israel is the “key to holding it all together.”

⁠“There is no Plan B,” he said after he toured the site with military officials and greeted troops. “This is the best plan. It’s the only plan.”

U.S. officials say the hub is a tangible symbol of Washington’s commitment to the Gaza peace deal, which hangs on Trump’s guarantee that Israel won’t resume the war as long as Hamas adheres to the deal’s terms.

It also is a way to keep close watch as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu navigates domestic pressure from members of his coalition who oppose ending the fight against Hamas, as well as to coordinate with a roster of uneasy regional partners.

Witkoff and Kushner delivered a strong message to Netanyahu in a meeting Monday that Israel must avoid escalation by ensuring responses to any alleged cease-fire violations by Hamas are proportional. Trump has also repeatedly warned Hamas to stop violating the agreement or risk being wiped out.

Military officers from partner countries milled about the new center in small clusters Friday, the flags on their sleeves—including those of Germany, France, Greece, Cyprus, the U.K., Australia and Canada—meant to underscore the international effort to keep the Gaza cease-fire from unraveling. U.S. troops from the Army, Marines and Space Force are represented.

Israeli media has remarked on the sudden influx of American soldiers wandering the streets and ordering restaurant deliveries.

U.S. servicemembers at the center in southern Israel. Abir Sultan/EPA/Shutterstock

The State Department is dispatching more diplomats to aid the effort. It said Friday that Steven Fagin, the U.S. ambassador to Yemen, will serve as the civilian lead at the center.

While U.S. officials have emphasized there will be no American soldiers on the ground in Gaza, it is assembling an international stabilization force of partner countries. Asked about one of the news headlines projected on the screen behind him reading “U.S. accepted Israel’s veto of Turkish soldiers for ISF,” Rubio said Israel will have to be comfortable with composition of the so-called international stabilization force as it is assembled.

While U.S. officials are discussing the makeup of the force with multiple countries, including Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Azerbaijan, Rubio stressed that basic questions are still being worked out. This includes what their mandate will be, the command structure, legal questions, how it will be paid for and the rules of engagement.

“There’s a lot to work through,” Rubio said. “That’s why there’s all these people working in this building.”

Part of the monitoring involves following public information on developments in Gaza. On Friday, the roundup included updates on the return of the bodies of hostages and the availability of food in the enclave.

U.S. officials say the coordination effort is bringing together a mix of international and humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Program, to deliver aid. The day before Rubio’s visit, the center set up a working group on dual-use items to improve access to items needed for the winter and healthcare.

The efforts, which are being overseen by Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, the commander of the U.S. Army Central Command, are still in the early stages. Before Trump announced the deal on Oct. 8, U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper met with Witkoff and Kushner in Egypt and assured them he could have a command center operational within 2½ weeks, a senior administration official said.

“We’ve made more progress in 13 days than anyone thought possible,” Rubio said. “We have to make it work. There is no other alternative.”

Write to Vera Bergengruen at vera.bergengruen@wsj.com

5. As Trump and Xi Get Set to Talk Trade, Asia Worries About Impact on Its Security

If the US or China sneeze the rest of Asia catches a cold. And If they both sneeze the whole of Asia contracts pneumonia. But probably not the perfect analogy for this situation.

Excerpts:

But as he left for his first trip to Asia since returning to the White House, striking a new trade deal with Chinese leader Xi Jinping has moved to the top of Trump’s agenda, spurring apprehensions among allies that the dealmaking might come at their expense.

“Asian allies are experiencing strategic whiplash,” said Craig Singleton, a former U.S. diplomat who directs the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “Their central concern now is whether Trump’s transactional instincts could lead to a grand bargain with Xi, especially one that sidelines Taiwan or dilutes allied leverage.”

Trump’s blitz through Asia begins Sunday in Malaysia at a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders, where the U.S. president plans to preside over the signing of a peace deal to settle the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, U.S. officials say.

Then it is on to Japan, where Trump will meet with Sanae Takaichi, the country’s new prime minister, who advocates close ties with the U.S. and a stronger Japanese military. Takaichi vowed Friday to boost military spending to 2% of gross domestic product two years ahead of schedule, a move that will sweeten the atmosphere for Trump’s visit. But she lacks the established rapport that Shinzo Abe—Japan’s longstanding prime minister, who was assassinated after leaving office—enjoyed with Trump.

Trump’s third stop is South Korea, where he will meet President Lee Jae Myung and participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. While Trump has said that he is open to meeting at some point with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a senior U.S. official told reporters Friday that it isn’t on the schedule for this trip.

But Trump has cast his Thursday morning meeting with Xi in South Korea as the acid test of his Asia trip.

As Trump and Xi Get Set to Talk Trade, Asia Worries About Impact on Its Security

Some Asian countries fear a ‘grand bargain’ with Xi on economic issues could sideline security

https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/trump-xi-china-deal-allies-worry-f64ac3ad

By Michael R. Gordon

Follow and Joyu Wang

Oct. 25, 2025 7:00 pm ET

President Trump departed on his Asia trip, with a focus on resetting trade relations with Beijing. Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Quick Summary

President Trump is seeking a new trade deal with China on his Asia trip, raising concerns among allies about potential security trade-offs.View more

President Trump put the world on notice in his first term that the U.S. was preparing for an era of intensified military and economic competition with Beijing.

But as he left for his first trip to Asia since returning to the White House, striking a new trade deal with Chinese leader Xi Jinping has moved to the top of Trump’s agenda, spurring apprehensions among allies that the dealmaking might come at their expense.

“Asian allies are experiencing strategic whiplash,” said Craig Singleton, a former U.S. diplomat who directs the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “Their central concern now is whether Trump’s transactional instincts could lead to a grand bargain with Xi, especially one that sidelines Taiwan or dilutes allied leverage.”

Trump’s blitz through Asia begins Sunday in Malaysia at a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders, where the U.S. president plans to preside over the signing of a peace deal to settle the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, U.S. officials say.

Then it is on to Japan, where Trump will meet with Sanae Takaichi, the country’s new prime minister, who advocates close ties with the U.S. and a stronger Japanese military. Takaichi vowed Friday to boost military spending to 2% of gross domestic product two years ahead of schedule, a move that will sweeten the atmosphere for Trump’s visit. But she lacks the established rapport that Shinzo Abe—Japan’s longstanding prime minister, who was assassinated after leaving office—enjoyed with Trump.

Trump’s third stop is South Korea, where he will meet President Lee Jae Myung and participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. While Trump has said that he is open to meeting at some point with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a senior U.S. official told reporters Friday that it isn’t on the schedule for this trip.

But Trump has cast his Thursday morning meeting with Xi in South Korea as the acid test of his Asia trip.

“This seems to be the one that people are very interested in,” Trump said Monday. “I think when we finish our meetings in South Korea, China and I will have a really fair and really great trade deal together.”

Trump’s agenda with China includes securing relief from its restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals and averting an all-out trade war with Beijing. An immediate goal, Trump has said, is to persuade China to resume its purchase of American soybeans, which Beijing has stopped buying—to the distress of U.S. farmers, an important Republican constituency.

The looming meeting between Trump and Xi has led to considerable anxiety as well as anticipation in the region, said Kurt Campbell, a longtime Asian specialist who served as deputy secretary of state in the Biden administration.

Asian allies like when relations between the U.S. and China are “not too hot or cold,” Campbell said. And they are uneasy about scenarios in which relations between Trump and Xi could escalate toward confrontation or lead to a partnership between Washington and Beijing in which decisions are made over their heads.

“In the Cold War, the language of power was nuclear throw weights,” Campbell said. “Trump and Xi are inaugurating a new era in which technological prowess is at the core of the competition.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet with Trump on Thursday in South Korea. Ng Han Guan/Associated Press

The first Trump administration was dominated by national-security hands who were tough-minded on China and underscored the need to prepare for a new era of great power competition. The 2018 National Defense Strategy, during then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’s tenure in the Pentagon, described China as a “revisionist” power bent on dominating the western Pacific and said the U.S. would strengthen alliances, grow its economy and field a more lethal military in response.

But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s forthcoming National Defense Strategy is expected to highlight the U.S. military’s expanding presence in the Western Hemisphere to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to leave office and try to stem the flow of narcotics.

“The shift in strategy they’re talking about is looking like many more of our forces are not going to be in the Pacific,” Todd Harrison, a defense budget expert at the American Enterprise Institute, said at a symposium on Thursday. “They are going to be back here in the Western Hemisphere. And we are going to be much more focused on drug cartels than we are on the PRC,” he added, referring to the country by its formal name, the People’s Republic of China.

Even so, current and former Pentagon officials note that much of the defense budget is still aimed at developing new bombers, long-range missiles and semiautonomous drones that would strengthen U.S. military capabilities in the western Pacific.

More than 28,000 U.S. troops are deployed in South Korea. The U.S. Air Force continues to fly bomber task forces to Japan and the western Pacific. Trump signaled Monday that a Biden-era deal—cemented by the U.S., Australia and the U.K.—to sell nuclear-power submarines to Australia has survived a Pentagon review intact. The U.S. aircraft carrier battle group that is being sent to the Caribbean is coming from the Mediterranean and not the Pacific.

On Friday, a senior U.S. official told reporters that the Trump administration has no intention of moving away from the longstanding policy of “strategic ambiguity” about whether Washington would intervene militarily if China were to attack Taiwan. Xi, The Wall Street Journal reported last month, wants the Trump administration to formally state that it “opposes” Taiwan’s independence as Washington and Beijing try to strike a trade deal.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is traveling with Trump to Malaysia, said Saturday that the Trump administration wouldn’t make concessions on Taiwan’s security to get a good trade agreement with China.

“I don’t think you’re going to see some trade deal where…we’re going to get favorable treatment on trade in exchange for walking away from Taiwan,” Rubio said. “No one is contemplating that.”

Still, Trump’s focus on resetting trade relations with Beijing has been felt in Taiwan, where a long-anticipated package in military assistance to Taipei has been delayed as the White House laid the groundwork for a meeting between Trump and Xi.

Washington also nixed a planned stopover in New York in August by Taiwan’s president. And while Taiwan has negotiated a reduced tariff rate from 32% to a temporary level of 20%, which took effect on Aug. 7, the rate is still higher than Japan and South Korea’s 15%, and 19% for some of Southeast Asia’s biggest economies.

Facing pressure from the Pentagon, Taiwan has sought to show the U.S. that it is committed to spending more on defense. In August, Taiwan proposed its largest-ever military spending, which aims to reach 3.32% of its GDP for next year, using the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s definition of military spending. President Lai Ching-te has said he hopes to push the figure to 5% by 2030.

Taiwan’s recent efforts have featured a more explicit outreach to Trump’s supporters on the far right. This month, President Lai gave a rare interview to conservative political commentator and radio talk-show host Buck Sexton in which he lavished praise on Trump and borrowed a page from other world leaders who have mentioned the Nobel Prize in a bid to win Trump’s support.

“If he is able to convince Xi Jinping to permanently renounce the use of force against Taiwan, President Trump will surely win the Nobel Peace Prize,” Lai said.

Write to Michael R. Gordon at michael.gordon@wsj.com and Joyu Wang at joyu.wang@wsj.com

6. Chinese and U.S. officials tentatively agree to avert 100 percent tariffs

Chinese and U.S. officials tentatively agree to avert 100 percent tariffs

The announcement marked a significant de-escalation of a volatile trade war ahead of Trump’s Thursday meeting with Xi.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/26/trump-china-trade-deal/?location=alert&utm

October 26, 2025 at 9:59 a.m. EDTToday at 9:59 a.m. EDT

Washington Post · Cat Zakrzewski

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Negotiators have reached a framework of a trade deal to avert additional 100 percent tariffs that President Donald Trump had threatened to impose on imports from China, setting the stage for the U.S. president’s highly anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in interviews Sunday that constructive meetings with his Chinese counterparts led to the deal, with the delegation from Beijing agreeing to defer restrictions on rare earth minerals that were poised to harm the U.S. economy. The announcement marked a significant de-escalation of a whiplashing trade war between the world’s two largest economies, which heated up when Trump threatened to ratchet up tariffs earlier this month in response to China’s restrictions on the minerals, which are essential components in most electronics.

“President Trump gave me a great deal of negotiating leverage with the threat of the 100 percent tariffs, and I believe we’ve reached a very substantial framework that will avoid that and allow us to discuss many other things with the Chinese,” Bessent said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

He also said the countries had made progress on a deal to bring relief to U.S. farmers who have struggled under China’s boycott of U.S.-grown soybeans.

Congress enacted the ban, and President Joe Biden signed it, to address national security concerns related to the app’s Chinese parent company ByteDance. Trump last month signed a deal that would spin off the app to a group of mostly American investors, including some of his top political allies.

The countries will also work together to address the fentanyl epidemic, which Trump has called an emergency and used as a pretense to implement tariffs against China.

The developments appear to have lowered the temperature ahead of Trump’s and Xi’s face-to-face meeting, their first of the U.S. president’s second term and the highlight of his five-day swing through Asia. The summit in South Korea will mark a critical inflection point in an economic conflict that has raged amid the president’s escalating trade barriers against China and Xi’s tit-for-tat responses.

Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer spent Sunday negotiating with top Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Malaysia, while Trump, also in Kuala Lumpur, signed a Cambodia-Thailand peace deal and met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The U.S. and China envoys came to a “basic consensus” after negotiating on a wide range of issues including tariffs, export controls, fentanyl and agricultural trade, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. Further details must still be finalized and approved domestically.

China’s vice premier underscored the benefits of the U.S.-China commercial relationship, noting that the results of negotiations were “hard-won and need to be jointly upheld,” and that he hopes the “U.S. and China will meet each other halfway, further build mutual trust and manage differences,” according to Xinhua.

Meanwhile, Li described the negotiations as “intense” and said that while the U.S. officials “expressed a strong position,” Beijing “is firmly committed to safeguarding its interests,” according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Greer told “Fox News Sunday” that the U.S. and Chinese delegations had “constructive” conversations in Kuala Lumpur. But he said only the leaders can determine when they have a final deal.

“It is really going to depend on Trump and President Xi Jinping,” he said.

Northrop reported from Taipei, Taiwan. Amy B Wang and Doug MacMillan contributed to this report.

Washington Post · Cat Zakrzewski

7. Fear Grips a Caribbean Nation in the Shadow of U.S. Boat Strikes

Excertps:

Trinidad’s government, led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, supports the U.S. military buildup and says it encourages strikes on drug vessels traveling from Venezuela, trips that her government says have grown more common.

“The U.S. military should kill them all violently,” Persad-Bissessar said last month, adding she had no sympathy for drug smugglers.

Trinidad’s government has given the U.S. access in territorial waters for military maneuvers.

The USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, is scheduled to dock in Port of Spain from Sunday until Thursday while U.S. Marines conduct training exercises with Trinidad’s defense forces, the government here said. On Friday, the Pentagon ordered an aircraft carrier group to the Caribbean, multiplying Trump’s military options. Robert Ramsubhag, chief executive of the port, said commercial container traffic would be limited while the Gravely is docked.

The offices of Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister and defense and foreign affairs ministries didn’t respond to requests for comment. The U.S. didn’t immediately respond to a request to discuss the specific strike that might have killed Joseph.

Fear Grips a Caribbean Nation in the Shadow of U.S. Boat Strikes

In Trinidad and Tobago, fishermen are staying closer to shore after attacks on alleged drug boats

https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/fear-grips-a-caribbean-nation-in-the-shadow-of-u-s-boat-strikes-e6a3aa47

By Kejal Vyas

Follow | Photography by Christian Monterrosa for WSJ

Oct. 26, 2025 7:00 am ET

Quick Summary

U.S. airstrikes targeting alleged drug boats have killed 43 people, causing fear among Trinidadian fishermen.View more

LAS CUEVAS, Trinidad and Tobago—Fear is rippling through this Caribbean island nation off the coast of Venezuela.

Fishermen say they are staying home or sticking close to shore amid a massive buildup of American firepower in the region. Heading out into deeper water, where the fishing is better is too risky, they say, after the U.S. carried out at least 10 airstrikes on boats—allegedly carrying drugs—that have killed 43 people, some of them off the Trinidad coast.

Protesters have gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Trinidad, decrying the airstrikes and its government’s cooperation with the Trump administration’s antinarcotics campaign.

Reports of local men killed in the airstrikes have begun circulating. Fishermen and local media outlets here have named two men killed in U.S. airstrikes, but families in coastal towns worry there are more.

Their anxieties highlight how the narcotics trade has washed over this English-speaking former British colony of 1.5 million people, centered on a Delaware-size island where drug-related homicides are on the rise. The narrow waterways between Trinidad and Venezuela have long been used for smuggling not only cocaine but also cheap Venezuelan products—subsidized fuel, cigarettes, cheese and even bushmeat like armadillo.

Here in the cliff-side village of Las Cuevas, one family is mourning Chad Joseph, 26 years old, whom relatives described as a fisherman and handyman desperate to find a steady job. Earlier this month, his relatives said, Joseph told friends and family he was sailing home after visiting relatives and working as a farmhand in Venezuela, an hour-long trip.

It was the last time anyone heard from him. The family believes he was killed in a strike earlier this month.

Christine and Cornell Clemente, the grandparents of Chad Joseph, who family members believe was killed in a U.S. strike as he sailed home after visiting relatives and working as a farmhand in Venezuela.

Joseph’s family held a small service for him in a church overlooking the Caribbean’s azure waters. With no body recovered, family members and neighbors wept in front of a photo collage of Joseph and listened to a priest who asked God to forgive Joseph for his sins.

Joseph’s family denies he had any links to drug smuggling. And while they support efforts to fight the narcotics trade, they say it is poor fishermen who are paying the price of overzealous enforcement.

Joseph’s aunt, Lynette Burnley, said she wanted to tell President Trump to end the attacks. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want this to happen to his family,” she said. Her family has been one of the first to publicly speak on people believed to have been killed in a U.S. airstrike.

The Trump administration says the military buildup and airstrikes are necessary to counter what it calls a crisis of drug smuggling to the U.S. from Venezuela via small boats that hopscotch up the Caribbean island. To justify the legality of the strikes, the U.S. has designated several Latin American gangs and cartels as terrorist organizations, potentially opening the way for strikes on land in Venezuela, Trump has said.

“All of these decisive strikes have been against designated narcoterrorists bringing deadly poison to our shores, and the president will continue to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country,” said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly.

Fishing boats floated recently near Las Cuevas, Trinidad and Tobago, while a local fisherman watched President Trump speak on TV about growing tensions with Venezuela.

Trump has alluded to the effect of the campaign on Caribbean fishing industries. “I don’t know about the fishing industry, if you want to go fishing. A lot of people aren’t deciding to even go fishing,” he said.

Most drug shipments from South America carry cocaine, though the Caribbean is used far less than the Pacific, where boats originating from Colombia and Ecuador traffic narcotics to Mexico. The U.S. military has begun striking boats in the Pacific in recent days, though experts note most drugs enter the U.S. from the south via cargo ships and heavy trucks, not small vessels.

Trinidad’s government, led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, supports the U.S. military buildup and says it encourages strikes on drug vessels traveling from Venezuela, trips that her government says have grown more common.

“The U.S. military should kill them all violently,” Persad-Bissessar said last month, adding she had no sympathy for drug smugglers.

Trinidad’s government has given the U.S. access in territorial waters for military maneuvers.

The USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, is scheduled to dock in Port of Spain from Sunday until Thursday while U.S. Marines conduct training exercises with Trinidad’s defense forces, the government here said. On Friday, the Pentagon ordered an aircraft carrier group to the Caribbean, multiplying Trump’s military options. Robert Ramsubhag, chief executive of the port, said commercial container traffic would be limited while the Gravely is docked.

The offices of Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister and defense and foreign affairs ministries didn’t respond to requests for comment. The U.S. didn’t immediately respond to a request to discuss the specific strike that might have killed Joseph.

Protesters, including Abeo Jackson, second from left, gathered Friday outside of the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago is more developed and has fewer tourists than most of the Caribbean. It has a large oil-and-gas industry to fuel its economy and has long cooperated with the U.S. in its fight against drug trafficking.

The growing American military presence has been controversial. On Friday, a group of labor unionists and activists gathered outside the U.S. Embassy to protest the American military presence, holding up signs saying “Caribbean Zone of Peace” and “TT not for sale.”

“This is not protection, this is recolonization,” said Abeo Jackson, a protester who fears her country is being dragged into a larger conflict.

For the country’s fishing industry, the airstrikes have been catastrophic.

Brian Keuer hauled in a small catch of red snapper and barracuda on a small, single-engine fishing boat on Thursday. It was disappointing.

Fearful of venturing into deeper waters, Trinidad and Tobago's fishermen are contending with smaller catches.

“We’re stuck,” he said. “You can’t go out too far now.”

He lamented that much of the good fishing is closer to Venezuela. “On the one side the Venezuelan Coast Guard tries to rob you,” Keuer said, “and here the Americans come and smash you up.”

Keuer wonders if the work is worth it, noting how hard he toils for little pay. And the capital needed is big: the motor on his boat costs about $15,000, a hefty sum for an ordinary fisherman.

It isn’t uncommon for fishermen to supplement their income with smuggling.

A girl sits atop a boat in the coastal village of Icacos, Trinidad and Tobago..

Years ago, fisherman Kavash Dan said he had been approached to move small parcels of contraband. But he refused, fearing they were drugs and would make him a target of police and rival drug gangs.

“I don’t want to die for this,” he said, “but a lot of people will do whatever they have to do to eat.”

Write to Kejal Vyas at kejal.vyas@wsj.com

8. Donald Trump has turned the war on drugs into a real war

Somehow I do not think The Economist's argument will carry much weight. And I doubt The Economist is even read by any in the Administration.

Excerpts:

The limits, if any, that Mr Trump has in mind for his exercise of lethal force is the kind of matter one would expect Congress to be curious about. One might also expect Congress to show some curiosity about the abrupt announcement, on October 16th, that the admiral leading American forces in Latin America has decided to step down in December, two years ahead of schedule.

Past presidents have also stretched their powers to wage wars and even to start them. Indeed, Mr Trump is gesturing at precedents they set. But “This administration is going further, and going further with less public, detailed defence of what they’re doing,” says Peter Feaver, a political scientist at Duke University. “I think the biggest difference is that Congress is not holding this administration to account in the way that they did even to Trump 1.0, let alone to Biden and to Bush.”

Just because Mr Trump has labelled some migrants and even leftist opponents as “terrorists” does not mean he will use the armed forces against them. But right now it’s not clear what, besides his own inclinations, might prevent him.

Donald Trump has turned the war on drugs into a real war

And Congress needs to block the metaphor before it kills again

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/10/23/donald-trump-has-turned-the-war-on-drugs-into-a-real-war

The Economist · Oct 23rd 2025

Listen to this story

Of all the failures by Congress this year to fulfil its role under the constitution—to insist upon its authority over spending and tariffs or upon the continued existence of agencies it voted into being—nothing is as dangerous as its reluctance to scrutinise the Trump administration’s killings of people it says are smuggling drugs by sea. Even those members of Congress who accept at face value all of Donald Trump’s claims should be worried that a future president will exploit this precedent to invoke sweeping powers to kill based on his word alone—not to mention that other countries, including America’s adversaries, will seize upon his creative reading of international law.

The killings, of at least 34 people in eight strikes since September 2nd, are also a case study in how cannily Mr Trump is choosing where and how to test the limits of presidential power. Maybe your own attention is already beginning to wander: after all, who can afford to spare much concern for accused drug smugglers? And who can prove the president wrong? The dead, and the drugs, if any, have vanished beneath the waves.

Well, most of them: two people survived an American strike on October 16th, and the American navy plucked them from the water. That their survival was inconvenient was demonstrated by how the administration dealt with them. It immediately sent them home. Once dunked in the soothing waters of the southern Caribbean, men whom America had deemed too dangerous to live were rendered harmless enough to be spared American custody. That development also happily spared the administration the risk of a habeas corpus petition that could have opened the missile strikes to judicial review.

Mr Trump posted on social media that “the two surviving terrorists” were being sent back, one to Ecuador and the other to Colombia, for “detention and prosecution”. His confidence that justice would be done was particularly surprising in the case of Colombia, since his administration had previously accused that country of coddling “narco-terrorist groups”. The following day, Mr Trump called Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, an “illegal drug leader”—not the kind of man, you’d think, in whose hands an American president would entrust a lethal enemy, however wet.

Lawyers who worked in past administrations to develop a legal framework for the war on terror have been stunned by the Trump administration’s own feat of smuggling. Having transposed the vocabulary of that war to anti-drug enforcement, it is now using that language, along with the terminology of international law, to package and deliver the same lethal military tactics. The State Department designated drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organisations” in February, a move that in itself did not authorise the use of force. After the administration began its strikes, it said in a notice to Congress that America was in a “non-international armed conflict” against “non-state armed groups” engaged in “an armed attack against the United States”—all signifiers of obeisance to international law meant to prevent state murder by governing the use of lethal force as a first resort.

But consider just the foundational assertion. Is a drug smuggled for profit really equivalent to the weapon of an invader attacking America? “You’re just using metaphors to turn something into what it isn’t,” says Stephen Pomper, the chief of policy at the International Crisis Group, a non-profit, who was a senior director of the National Security Council under Barack Obama.

The administration has so far persuaded Congress and the public, numbed to such tactics by the war on terror, to settle for the metaphor. It has released no evidence to support the president’s claims the ships carried fentanyl, which comes mainly by land from Mexico. It has not told Congress what “armed groups” are responsible. It has simply dismissed claims that fishermen from Colombia and Trinidad have been among those killed.

And, unlike the lawyers who struggled to define when the Obama administration could use drones to kill certain accused terrorists, it has not specified what lawyers call a “limiting principle” to a president’s exercise of lethal force against drug cartels. If drug smugglers can be labelled terrorists, deemed to be waging war against America, and then slain at presidential command, then other people he identifies as terrorists could be just as vulnerable. “It isn’t so easy, if you take the kinds of leaps that he’s taken with regard to these strikes and run roughshod over the law, to figure out what would stop him from using the same kind of actions against another deemed threat, whether from outside the United States or even from inside,” Mr Pomper says.

Funerary executive

The limits, if any, that Mr Trump has in mind for his exercise of lethal force is the kind of matter one would expect Congress to be curious about. One might also expect Congress to show some curiosity about the abrupt announcement, on October 16th, that the admiral leading American forces in Latin America has decided to step down in December, two years ahead of schedule.

Past presidents have also stretched their powers to wage wars and even to start them. Indeed, Mr Trump is gesturing at precedents they set. But “This administration is going further, and going further with less public, detailed defence of what they’re doing,” says Peter Feaver, a political scientist at Duke University. “I think the biggest difference is that Congress is not holding this administration to account in the way that they did even to Trump 1.0, let alone to Biden and to Bush.”

Just because Mr Trump has labelled some migrants and even leftist opponents as “terrorists” does not mean he will use the armed forces against them. But right now it’s not clear what, besides his own inclinations, might prevent him. ■

Subscribers to The Economist can sign up to our Opinion newsletter, which brings together the best of our leaders, columns, guest essays and reader correspondence.

The Economist · Oct 23rd 2025

9. The ‘Sleeper Issue’ at the Heart of Trump’s Trade War on China

Southeast Asia is afraid, very afraid.

The ‘Sleeper Issue’ at the Heart of Trump’s Trade War on China

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/business/trump-tariffs-southeast-asia-transshipment.html

NY Times · Alexandra Stevenson ·

Concern is increasing throughout Southeast Asia as U.S. officials, intent on slowing China, have yet to say how they will define the origin country of imports.

Listen to this article · 5:51 min Learn more

While the origin of this electric vehicle on a Chinese assembly line may be clear, global supply chains make the origin of many products difficult to determine, especially in Southeast Asia. Credit...Gilles Sabrié for The New York Times

Alexandra Stevenson, who has traveled throughout Southeast Asia this year covering trade, reported from Hong Kong.

Oct. 25, 2025, 7:00 p.m. ET

For months, companies and officials throughout Asia have been waiting for President Trump to address a question that cuts to the heart of his disruptive plans for global trade.

How do you decide the origin of goods in a world where virtually all the things we buy, from computers and phones to sofas and cars, contain parts that come from different countries?

The answer is central to Mr. Trump’s aim to reduce China’s dominant role as the starting point for many of the world’s manufactured goods.

“It’s a sleeper issue,” said Wendy Cutler, a senior vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, a think tank. “People are trying to convince themselves that it is just technical, but if you take a step back, it’s all going to rest on this.”

No other region is more exposed to Mr. Trump’s crackdown than Southeast Asia. Billions of dollars a year in raw materials, machinery and finished goods flow from China through Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries across the region.

Ahead of Mr. Trump visit to Asia this week, his trade officials have met with negotiators for other countries to try to reach agreements. But whether any prospective deals will contain details that address how Mr. Trump wants to define the nationality of goods is still up in the air.

The determination that the Trump administration makes on the so-called rule of origin could blow up laboriously negotiated agreements. That is because if a product is shipped from one country but does not meet the origin criteria, it will be hit with a hefty special tariff, which Mr. Trump has warned will be 40 percent.

This summer, Mr. Trump, pulling back on his opening salvo of sky-high tariffs in Asia, announced frameworks for most Southeast Asia countries with across-the-board tariffs that settled at 19 or 20 percent.

A pet food factory in Bangkok. Billions of dollars in Chinese products flow through Thailand and other countries in the region every year.Credit...Rebecca Conway for The New York Times

Mr. Trump’s trade legacy in his first term was to force companies to set up factories outside China. Now, he is trying to cut China out of supply chains. China has moved goods through Southeast Asia to circumvent American tariffs and has been the source of a swell of exports to the region, much of those in machinery and raw materials that regional factories depend on.

Many of the components in the things that are made around the world come from China, from the screws and glue that hold metal and wood together to the minerals in smartphone batteries.

Yet even in Malaysia, where signing a deal with Mr. Trump would be seen as a positive development, there is some hesitancy about the unilateral way that the United States is going about setting new rules for global trade.

Malaysia’s biggest trading partner is China, but one of its biggest industries, semiconductors, depends heavily on the American market, and its exports are at risk with the possibility of separate sector tariffs.

“All we can do is express our concerns — hopefully, they are listening to the confusion,” said Siobhan Das, chief executive of AmCham Malaysia, which represents American companies in Malaysia. “With this trade agreement, what we’re hoping for is that there is clarity and a guideline for how supply chains need to move.”

Trump administration officials have been vocal about setting one rule-of-origin target for the region. They have focused on 30 percent: Any product containing more than that level of foreign parts or content sent to the United States would face the special transshipment tariff. While discussions are fluid, one thing is clear: For much of Southeast Asia, such a low figure would be difficult to meet.

Even if the administration clarifies a final number, for many companies and governments there are many more questions. What counts as foreign content? Does it include foreign investment in a factory? A foreign-branded machine? Foreign workers? In recent years, many factories from China have moved some of their operations to countries like Vietnam but have created local supply chains and employ local workers.

Fasteners for screws at a factory in Taiwan.Credit...an Rong Xu for The New York Times

And whose role will it be to police this new content rule?

“You’re talking about creating an entire new policing agency for exports to the U.S.,” said Steve Okun, chief executive of APAC Advisors, a geopolitical consulting firm.

Governments in Southeast Asia are facing a dilemma. Getting clarity on the rule-of-origin number is crucial before signing broader trade agreements. Many of the products they export may not be able to meet the new definition for a local product.

But if they don’t sign something more concrete than the initial trade agreements with the United States soon, they face the threat of the original steep tariffs that Mr. Trump threatened in the spring.

“It’s deeply unsettling from an economic point of view, because if tariffs were to snap back to those original levels, that would be devastating,” said Daniel Kritenbrink, a longtime American diplomatic official in Asia and former ambassador to Vietnam now at the Asia Group, a think tank. “From a broader strategic point of view, these are countries that look to the U.S. as a balance or guarantor for strategic stability in the region.”

The countries will also have to negotiate with Mr. Trump over various sector tariffs under a legal provision in the United States known as Section 232, covering products ranging from semiconductors to machinery, furniture and pharmaceuticals.

All of this will come as Mr. Trump is expected to meet with Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, in South Korea at the end of the week to talk about a host of economic and political issues dividing the world’s superpowers.

“If you’re heavily dependent on China, then you are between a rock and a hard place,” said Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation, an organization that focuses on trade.

“No matter how much leverage you have, you’re still a lot smaller than the U.S. or China,” she said.

Alexandra Stevenson is the Shanghai bureau chief for The Times, reporting on China’s economy and society.

See more on: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Donald Trump

NY Times · Alexandra Stevenson ·

10. How to Fight Putin on the Information Battlefield

We do not need to adopt Russia's (or China's, or iran's, or north Korea's) methods but, yes, we absolutely must study them. We must recognize Russian (and Chinese, etc.) strategy, understand it, EXPOSE it, and attack it with our own superior political warfare and information warfare (IWar) strategies.

We need effective national level and service, corps, division, and task force level Information Warfare (IWar) capabilities.

"Cognitive deterrence."

There are Cold War (and WWII) lessons that we should be examining and turning to, especially at the national level.

Excerpts:

In World War II, the British Political Warfare Executive created subversive radio stations to broadcast into Germany. At first, the agency disguised them as renegade German stations, but when this was exposed, the British adapted, making it clear that they were behind the broadcasts while keeping them safe to listen to by not branding them officially.

The content—granular details of soldiers’ lives, gossip about officials, and even pornography—proved more powerful because it showed a deep understanding of conditions on the front. British surveys of prisoners of war indicated that more than half of German soldiers listened to these stations, even knowing the source.

Likewise, during the Cold War, when U.S. “freedom radios” that broadcast into the Soviet Union were revealed to be funded by the CIA, it only enhanced their popularity. People in the Soviet bloc wanted to know what the Americans knew about their system. By the end of the Cold War, half of audiences in captured countries tuned in.

Today, we need to try to match that ambition. Sadly, Washington is in the process of destroying these legacy international media outlets that it created in the Cold War, and the independent Russian media generally only engage, at most, 14 percent or so of Russian audiences that follow liberal media sources. We will need a flotilla of new communication initiatives to fulfill this mission.

How to Fight Putin on the Information Battlefield

The West can’t fully adopt Russia’s methods—but it should study them.

By Peter Pomerantsev, the author of How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler, and Sviatoslav Hnizdovskyi, the CEO of OpenMinds.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/23/information-warfare-putin-russia-propaganda/

Foreign Policy · Peter Pomerantsev, Sviatoslav Hnizdovskyi

October 23, 2025, 7:00 AM

Russia’s War in Ukraine

Understanding the conflict three years on.

Suspected arson attack in Poland sparks fears of Russian hybrid warfare

https://tvpworld.com/89645119/gdynia-on-alert-authorities-probe-possible-russian-hybrid-war-activity-

tvpworld.com

Tensions are rising in the Polish port city of Gdynia, where officials have warned that the area could be targeted by Russian hybrid-war tactics.

Police recently arrested a 42-year-old man suspected of setting fire to cars with Ukrainian license plates in the city; during a search, law enforcement found containers and substances that preliminary analysis indicates could be used to manufacture explosive-pyrotechnic devices. Authorities fear further attacks may be planned.

The incident follows a broader pattern in Poland of arrests linked to sabotage and espionage allegedly tied to Russian intelligence agencies, with dozens detained in recent months. Local leaders say the nightly pro-Ukraine gatherings may be fueling Moscow’s provocations.

TVP World reporter Ayşe Abacı is in Gdynia with more on the unfolding situation.

tvpworld.com

12. US remains vital to continued peace, stability and prosperity of Southeast Asia, says PM Wong

Excerpts:

Describing the relationship between ASEAN and the US as “mutually beneficial”, Mr Wong noted how stability and security not only create the conditions for ASEAN to grow, but for America and its companies to benefit from being in Southeast Asia as well.

US investment and trade links with the region have supported more than 600,000 “good American jobs”, he said. ASEAN, with a combined population of nearly 700 million, is also a growing market for American goods and services, he added.

“Our region buys US exports from all 50 states in America - from corn to Boeing planes to some of the best military equipment in the world,” said the Singapore prime minister.

“In short, the ASEAN-US relationship is mutually beneficial and it has made our countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

More can be done together, said Mr Wong. For example, even as ASEAN continues on its digital transformation journey, there will be opportunities for American companies to grow their software and digital systems, especially when many of these companies already have a well-established presence and strong reputations.

Beyond the digital economy, opportunities also lie in helping ASEAN to grow its energy security as the bloc develops its energy infrastructure, including a cross-region power grid.

Towards the end of his speech, Mr Wong noted that Southeast Asia is one of the most diverse regions in the world, and one that has historically been geographically fragmented and unstable.

“But it was Americans’ actions, sacrifices, and efforts that contributed to Southeast Asia’s peace and stability. We will never forget these sacrifices,” he said.

US remains vital to continued peace, stability and prosperity of Southeast Asia, says PM Wong

US President Donald Trump has “continued to demonstrate leadership and commitment to global efforts for peace and engagement”, says Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Tang See Kit

26 Oct 2025 06:49PM

(Updated: 26 Oct 2025 11:00PM)

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/us-remains-vital-continued-peace-stability-and-prosperity-southeast-asia-lawrence-wong-5425861

channelnewsasia.com

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States remains vital to the “continued peace, stability and prosperity” of the world and Southeast Asia, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday (Oct 26) at a meeting held on day one of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Speaking at the 13th ASEAN-US Summit where he welcomed United States President Donald Trump back to the region, Mr Wong noted that Mr Trump has “continued to demonstrate leadership and commitment to global efforts for peace and engagement”.

This includes his role in securing a ceasefire plan for Gaza, de-escalating border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, and his “personal attention to combating transnational crime, online scams and drugs”.

Thailand and Cambodia had been locked in a border dispute, with tensions escalating in July into their deadliest military clashes in decades, killing more than 40 people and forcing around 300,000 to flee their homes.

The two sides agreed to a ceasefire - brokered in part by Trump - after five days of fighting, and have since repeatedly traded accusations of truce violations.

Earlier on Sunday, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to cease all hostilities at the disputed border area and release captured soldiers, as part of an agreement inked on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit.

Mr Trump presided over the signing of the agreement by Thailand Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet. The deal was also witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the bloc’s rotating chair.

MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TIES

Describing the relationship between ASEAN and the US as “mutually beneficial”, Mr Wong noted how stability and security not only create the conditions for ASEAN to grow, but for America and its companies to benefit from being in Southeast Asia as well.

US investment and trade links with the region have supported more than 600,000 “good American jobs”, he said. ASEAN, with a combined population of nearly 700 million, is also a growing market for American goods and services, he added.

“Our region buys US exports from all 50 states in America - from corn to Boeing planes to some of the best military equipment in the world,” said the Singapore prime minister.

“In short, the ASEAN-US relationship is mutually beneficial and it has made our countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

More can be done together, said Mr Wong. For example, even as ASEAN continues on its digital transformation journey, there will be opportunities for American companies to grow their software and digital systems, especially when many of these companies already have a well-established presence and strong reputations.

Beyond the digital economy, opportunities also lie in helping ASEAN to grow its energy security as the bloc develops its energy infrastructure, including a cross-region power grid.

Towards the end of his speech, Mr Wong noted that Southeast Asia is one of the most diverse regions in the world, and one that has historically been geographically fragmented and unstable.

“But it was Americans’ actions, sacrifices, and efforts that contributed to Southeast Asia’s peace and stability. We will never forget these sacrifices,” he said.

“It is America’s continued actions and leadership that will enable Southeast Asia to thrive. So, we look forward to working closely with you, Mr President, to take our region forward, to strengthen our partnership.”

ASEAN-US relations will mark its 50th year in 2027 when Singapore takes over the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, said Mr Wong, adding that he hopes to welcome Mr Trump back in Singapore and the region.

Mr Trump was last in Singapore in 2018, during his first term of presidency, for a historic meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.

Mr Trump’s visit to Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN summit will be the first time a US president has visited Malaysia in a decade, the last being Barack Obama in 2015.

He had attended the 2017 ASEAN Summit in the Philippines during his first term in office but skipped subsequent gatherings.

The US President arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Bunga Raya terminal at around 10am on Sunday morning, where he was welcomed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar at the tarmac in a pomp ceremony with music and dancers.

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong met Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN summit on Oct 26, 2025. (Photo: Ministry of Digital Development and Information)

Mr Wong on Sunday also attended two other ASEAN meetings with external partners – Japan and India.

The 28th ASEAN-Japan summit was attended by Japan’s newly sworn-in Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, while India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit virtually.

On the sidelines of the summit, the prime minister had bilateral meetings with the leaders of Brazil, South Africa and the European Council.

In a social media post, Mr Wong said he was happy to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after last meeting him at the Group of 20 summit in Rio last year.

Brazil is Singapore’s largest Latin American trading partner and a key partner in food security, the prime minister wrote.

“We look forward to working closely on climate action, carbon markets (and) sustainable fuels ahead of COP-30 in Belém in Nov 25,” he added, referring to the United Nations Climate Change Conferences scheduled for November in Brazil.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong with South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa at the 47th ASEAN Summit on Oct 26, 2025. (Photo: Ministry of Digital Development and Information)

Mr Wong said he had a good discussion with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, noting that they discussed ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and innovation, as well as strengthening ASEAN–Africa links.

He also thanked Mr Ramaphosa for the invitation to the G-20 Summit happening in Johannesburg next month.

With President Antonio Costa of the European Council, the meeting touched on ways to deepen cooperation between Singapore, the European Union (EU) and the wider region, especially in trade and the digital economy.

“Singapore and the EU are like-minded partners with shared values and a strong commitment to a rules-based multilateral order. There’s much we can work together on in this evolving global landscape,” Mr Wong said.

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at a meeting with European Council Union President Antonio Costa at the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits on Oct 26, 2025. (Photo: Ministry of Digital Development and Information)

TIMOR LESTE AS NEW ASEAN MEMBER

Another milestone at the summit, to be held for three days at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre beside the Petronas Twin Towers, is the admission of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member.

Timor-Leste’s formal inclusion marks the end of a 14-year process since its initial application to join the bloc. This is also ASEAN’s first expansion since 1999.

In a Facebook post, Mr Wong said Timor-Leste’s membership is the “result of years of patient engagement and thoughtful deliberation”.

“While there is much work ahead, Singapore will do our part to support Timor-Leste’s integration, so that we can all benefit from a stronger, more united ASEAN.”

Noting that the bloc’s focus has turned to strengthening unity and resilience, there were discussions on “practical ways” to do so. These include expanding intra-ASEAN trade and tapping new opportunities in the digital and green economies, he said.

A key step will be the upgrading of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), he added.

ATIGA is aimed at achieving a free flow of goods between ASEAN member states, resulting in lower business costs, increased trade, and a larger market and economies of scale for businesses.

The grouping’s cooperation also extends to security, wrote Mr Wong, noting that ASEAN remains committed to strengthening its collective fight against transnational crime, particularly online scams.

“With the inclusion of Timor-Leste and our commitment to deeper integration, ASEAN is sending a clear signal - we are united and determined to build a more prosperous and secure future for all our people.”

channelnewsasia.com

13. As US inks trade deals with 4 ASEAN states, Trump pledges America’s 100% commitment to Southeast Asia

As US inks trade deals with 4 ASEAN states, Trump pledges America’s 100% commitment to Southeast Asia

A flurry of deals on trade and critical minerals was signed by the United States with Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam on Sunday (Oct 26).

Amir Yusof

26 Oct 2025 07:49PM

(Updated: 26 Oct 2025 10:04PM)

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/trump-100-us-asean-summit-malaysia-5425816

channelnewsasia.com

KUALA LUMPUR: As he inked trade deals with four Southeast Asian countries, visiting United States President Donald Trump told leaders of the region that they can look to the US for its full support and friendship for years to come.

“Our message to the nations of Southeast Asia is that the US is with you 100 per cent and we intend to be a strong partner and friend for many generations to come,” Trump told leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Sunday (Oct 26).

Making his opening remarks at the US-ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, he added that this was a “golden age of America” and that the US is “committed to a free and open and thriving Indo-Pacific”.

“One year ago, we were in a different position, but now we're in the best position we've ever been. I say it's … the golden age of the United States,” he added in a rare and highly-anticipated visit to the region.

“Together, we'll create incredible prosperity for the nations on both sides of the Pacific Ocean and seize new opportunities for all of our people,” said Trump.

Speaking at the summit as ASEAN's rotating chairman, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said ties between the 11-member bloc and the US are grounded in a shared aim for peace and prosperity and have “deepened into a comprehensive strategic partnership”.

“The vibrant, tremendous economies of the US and Southeast Asia have the potential to create a golden age for all our nations,” he added, noting that two-way trade reached a record of US$453 billion last year, supporting jobs and businesses on both sides.

US President Donald Trump (centre) poses for a group photo with (from left) Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun… Manet, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, and Laos' Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone at the US-ASEAN Summit on Oct 26, 2025. (Photo: AFP/Vincent Thian/POOL)

Trump’s visit to Kuala Lumpur is the first time a US president has visited Malaysia in a decade, the last being Barack Obama in 2015.

It’s also a rare appearance for Trump at an ASEAN summit, having only attended the 2017 gathering in the Philippines during his first term in office but skipped subsequent meets, raising questions about his administration’s commitment to the region.

On Sunday, Trump told ASEAN leaders that he is happy to be back in Southeast Asia, “home of some of America's most important allies and countries and partners”.

DEALS WITH 4 ASEAN COUNTRIES

Earlier on Sunday, Trump signed reciprocal trade agreements with his Thai, Malaysian, Cambodian and Vietnamese counterparts that will see the countries work to address tariff and non-tariff barriers.

The US would maintain a tariff rate of 19 per cent on most exports from Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia under the deals, according to joint statements released by the White House.

The 20 per cent tariff rate for Vietnam was also maintained.

Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao (left) and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet (right) look on as Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh greets US President Donald Trump during a group photo at the US-ASEAN Summit in Kuala… Lumpur on Oct 26, 2025. (Photo: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)

Trump also inked deals with Thailand and Malaysia seeking cooperation to diversify critical minerals supply chains, amid competing efforts from China in the rapidly growing sector.

China, the world's top miner and processor of rare earths, has imposed increasingly stringent export controls on its refining technology, sending global manufacturers scrambling to secure alternative supplies for critical minerals used widely in semiconductor chips, electric vehicles and military equipment.

Malaysia on Sunday agreed to refrain from banning or imposing quotas on exports to the US of critical minerals or rare earth elements, the countries said in a statement.

The statement however did not specify whether Malaysia's pledge applied to raw or processed rare earths.

Malaysia, which has an estimated 16.1 million tonnes of rare earth deposits, has banned companies from exporting raw rare earths to prevent the loss of resources as it looks to develop its downstream sector.

Under the deal, Kuala Lumpur also agreed to provide significant preferential market access for industrial goods and agricultural imports from the US, the statement said.

This includes chemicals, machinery and passenger vehicles, as well as products such as dairy and poultry.

Meanwhile, Thailand would eliminate tariff barriers on approximately 99 per cent of goods, covering a full range of US industrial and food and agricultural products, both countries said.

Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam also pledged to protect labour rights and strengthen environmental protections in the deals.

In Washington’s deal with Hanoi, both countries committed to address and prevent barriers to US agricultural products in the Vietnamese market.

The agreements were inked after Trump oversaw the signing of an enhanced ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, following deadly border clashes between the Southeast Asian neighbours earlier this year.

Also speaking at the ASEAN-US Summit, Anwar pledged commitment that the regional bloc will adopt the ASEAN-US Joint Vision statement to “promote a stronger, safer, and more prosperous ASEAN and America”.

“This reflects our will and commitment to turn cooperation into concrete outcomes with tangible benefits for ASEAN and the US,” he added.

A Joint Vision Statement was inked in 2022 in Washington by then US President Joe Biden and Southeast Asian countries during the US-ASEAN Summit. It is not clear whether Anwar was referring to a new statement to be adopted by both sides.

The 2022 statement stated that the US and ASEAN would step up maritime cooperation, including coordination among maritime law agencies to curb illegal fishing, and ensure freedom of navigation over the South China Sea.

“We recognise the benefits of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity. We emphasise the importance of practical measures that could reduce tensions and the risk of accidents, misunderstandings, and miscalculation,” the statement had said.

Since the 1990s, the regional bloc has been trying to negotiate a framework to manage disputes in one of the world’s most contested waterways with China. But talks have repeatedly stalled due to various reasons.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a position that overlaps with four Southeast Asian neighbours – Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam. Unresolved disputes over the ownership of islands and maritime features have persisted for decades.

On Sunday afternoon at around 4pm, around 200 protesters gathered at Ampang Park near the ASEAN Summit venue at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

This was the second demonstration on Sunday protesting Trump's presence at the ASEAN Summit.

Protestors holding effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally on Oct 26, 2025 against Trump's attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)Effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally at Ampang Park in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26, 2025 to protest Trump's attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)Protestors stepping on a poster of US President Donald Trump during a rally in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26, 2025 to protest against his attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)Protestors holding effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally on Oct 26, 2025 against Trump's attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)Effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally at Ampang Park in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26, 2025 to protest Trump's attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)Protestors stepping on a poster of US President Donald Trump during a rally in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26, 2025 to protest against his attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)Protestors holding effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally on Oct 26, 2025 against Trump's attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)

There was a heavy police presence at the park, with officers on standby and police vehicles circling the vicinity.

Some of the protesters threw their shoes at the effigies of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But the protest organised by non-governmental organisations Sekretariat Bantah Trump and Gegar was largely peaceful and ended about two hours later.

Earlier on Sunday morning, hundreds of people had gathered at Dataran Merdeka, Malaysia’s independence square, to protest the arrival of Trump to Malaysia.

They are dissatisfied with the Trump administration’s perceived pro-Israel stance in the Gaza conflict that has killed almost 70,000 people.

channelnewsasia.com

14. Where Trump Is Headed in Asia, and What Each Country Wants From Him

Where Trump Is Headed in Asia, and What Each Country Wants From Him

From Kuala Lumpur to Gyeongju, President Trump is casting himself as a deal-maker and peace negotiator, while a wary region looks for tariff relief and steadier ties.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/world/asia/trump-japan-korea-china.html

By Sui-Lee Wee Choe Sang-Hun Javier C. Hernández and David Pierson

Oct. 25, 2025

NY Times · David Pierson ·

From Kuala Lumpur to Gyeongju, President Trump is casting himself as a deal-maker and peace negotiator, while a wary region looks for tariff relief and steadier ties.

A five-day tour of Asia, starting this weekend, is President Trump’s first trip to the region during his second term.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

From Kuala Lumpur to Gyeongju, President Trump is casting himself as a deal-maker and peace negotiator, while a wary region looks for tariff relief and steadier ties.

A five-day tour of Asia, starting this weekend, is President Trump’s first trip to the region during his second term.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Listen to this article · 7:14 min Learn more

Oct. 25, 2025

President Trump is embarking on a nearly weeklong tour of Asia, his first trip to the region during his second term, with stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, capped by a meeting with Xi Jinping, China’s top leader.

He may tout a new trade deal, push for credit for negotiating peace between Thailand and Cambodia, and show that Washington still has sway in Southeast Asia, a region where Beijing has growing clout.

Across Asia, governments are looking to stabilize ties with the United States after months of tariff disputes, yet mindful of how Mr. Trump’s diplomacy can shift overnight. Many nations will be trying to find a way to balance their relationship with Washington against an increasingly assertive China.

“I hear real expressions of concern and unease about what the U.S. approach to the region will be over the long run, and concerns primarily for how China will respond,” said Daniel Kritenbrink, a partner at the Asia Group and a former U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

“They will start calculating their national interest and start balancing against China in ways that don’t involve the United States,” Mr. Kritenbrink said.

Here’s what the region expects from the visit:

Southeast Asia: A Wary Audience

Mr. Trump’s first official trip to Southeast Asia since 2019 will take him to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Sunday. He hopes to sign a trade agreement with Malaysia and witness a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia that he has personally taken credit for brokering.

He will also meet with at least 10 of the leaders of regional nations who are gathered for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

For the United States, Southeast Asia is valuable not only for the size of its market, but also for its strategic importance as a bulwark against China. The region is also an important supply chain hub for many American companies that have moved out of China.

A denim factory in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, this year.Credit...Linh Pham for The New York Times

For Southeast Asia, the United States represents an important market. The United States is the top export destination for Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia. Many are looking to the possible Malaysia trade deal for clues on what their agreements will look like.

But Mr. Trump will find a region that is now increasingly skeptical of the United States. Countries are still reeling from his policy on tariffs, which many governments feel were indiscriminate. Most countries in Southeast Asia were hit with tariffs of about 19 to 20 percent, a blow to many of their economies.

Want to stay updated on what’s happening in Cambodia and China? , and we’ll send our latest coverage to your inbox.

Japan: A New Leader’s First Big Test

From Malaysia, Mr. Trump will fly to Japan, where he will meet with the country’s new leader, Sanae Takaichi, the first woman to serve as prime minister.

Japan is focused on finalizing the details of a trade agreement with the United States. In July, Japan received a lower-than-threatened 15 percent across-the-board tariff on its exports in exchange for a commitment to inject $550 billion into the U.S. economy.

While the two countries have recently resolved several ambiguities in the trade agreement, a significant point of contention remains: the details of how Japan will deploy that $550 billion in investment, loans and loan guarantees.

Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, on Friday in the Japanese Parliament in Tokyo.Credit...Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Ms. Takaichi, who was elected prime minister this past week, had suggested while campaigning for the post that she could take a tougher stance with Washington. But she has recently struck a more conciliatory note, pledging to work to preserve the trade accord.

Ms. Takaichi announced on Friday that Japan will spend about 2 percent of the country’s gross domestic output on defense by next spring, two years ahead of schedule. Japan is anticipating demands from the Trump administration that it vastly increase military spending.

And she is also likely to raise concerns about China’s growing military and economic power in Asia. She is expected to seek a renewed pledge from Mr. Trump that the United States will continue to uphold the military and economic alliance with Japan that has historically served as a check to China’s clout in the region.

South Korea: Balancing Security and Trade

The summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation — APEC — in Gyeongju is the biggest international gathering that President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea will have hosted since he took office in June.

Much of the attention in South Korea is focused on whether Mr. Lee can settle a tariff dispute with Mr. Trump during the visit.

In July, South Korea reached a broad-brush deal to fend off high tariffs on Korean exports, promising a $350 billion investment package for the United States. But negotiations to hash out details have since dragged out, leaving South Korea’s key auto industry subject to a 25 percent tariff and putting it at a disadvantage against its Japanese and European rivals.

South Korean vehicles parked at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, this year.Credit...Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters

Seoul and Washington have been staunch allies since the Korean War in the early 1950s. They have expanded their trilateral partnership with Japan in recent years in a joint effort to check Chinese influence in the region. South Korea is also home to the largest U.S. military base overseas, an asset the Pentagon wanted to use to deter not only North Korea but also China.

But South Korea’s export-driven economy relies heavily on trade with China. Unlike his conservative predecessor, Mr. Lee does not want to antagonize China. The meeting in Gyeongju will be a test of Mr. Lee’s diplomatic juggling.

China: A Superpower Showdown, or Road to Détente?

On Thursday, Mr. Trump will hold his first face-to-face meeting with Mr. Xi of his second term in office, in talks that hold the greatest stakes for the global economy.

He will most likely be meeting his strongest rival yet, a leader who has shown his willingness to defy Mr. Trump and to back his tough rhetoric with a powerful bargaining chip: critical minerals.

Chinese and American trade negotiators are meeting this weekend to try to hash out details of what the leaders can agree on when they meet in Gyeongju before Mr. Trump returns to the United States. Beijing is pressing Washington to reduce its tariffs on Chinese products and drop its restrictions on technology exports to China. Mr. Trump wants China to buy more U.S. soybeans and Boeing planes.

A soybean farm in Stuttgart, Ark. China has been boycotting U.S. crops this year.Credit...Rory Doyle for The New York Times

The Chinese leader will enter the talks with significant leverage, being able to point to China’s near-monopoly over rare earth minerals that are essential for global manufacturing.

The United States, for its part, is ramping up pressure with a new investigation into China’s failure to meet its 2020 trade deal commitments. Mr. Trump has also threatened to impose further 100 percent tariffs and restrictions on exports of U.S. software.

Mr. Xi’s hand is strengthened by China’s industrial might, its control over vital supply chains, and a willingness to flex its economic muscles — even at the risk of global backlash.

A correction was made on

Oct. 25, 2025

An earlier version of this story misstated the last time Mr. Trump made an official visit to Southeast Asia. It was 2019, not 2017.

When we learn of a mistake, we acknowledge it with a correction. If you spot an error, please let us know at Learn more

Sui-Lee Wee is the Southeast Asia bureau chief for The Times, overseeing coverage of 11 countries in the region.

Choe Sang-Hun is the lead reporter for The Times in Seoul, covering South and North Korea.

Javier C. Hernández is the Tokyo bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of Japan and the region. He has reported from Asia for much of the past decade, previously serving as China correspondent in Beijing.

David Pierson covers Chinese foreign policy and China’s economic and cultural engagement with the world. He has been a journalist for more than two decades.

A version of this article appears in print on Oct. 26, 2025, Section A, Page 13 of the New York edition with the headline: What a Region Expects As Trump Heads Abroad

NY Times · David Pierson ·

15. Under Trump’s Aegis, Cambodia and Thailand Agree to Resolve Border Dispute

Under Trump’s Aegis, Cambodia and Thailand Agree to Resolve Border Dispute

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/world/asia/trump-cambodia-thailand.html

NY Times · Sui-Lee Wee ·

It remains unclear whether the two nations can achieve lasting peace, but that did not deter President Trump from brandishing himself as a peacemaker.

Listen to this article · 4:20 min Learn more

President Trump, alongside the leaders of Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Reporting from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Oct. 26, 2025, 7:50 a.m. ET

Cambodia and Thailand on Sunday agreed to move toward resolving longstanding hostilities over their shared border, as President Trump took credit for mediating the decades-old dispute and sought once again to burnish his peacemaking credentials.

Mr. Trump and the prime minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, helped broker a cease-fire between Cambodia and Thailand in July, ending a deadly five-day conflict. On Sunday they witnessed Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia and his Thai counterpart, Anutin Charnvirakul, sign an agreement in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital.

It was the one of the most high-profile commitments toward peace between the two sides. Mr. Trump termed the deal “the Kuala Lumpur peace accords” and called it “historic.”

But there are significant obstacles for lasting peace: the neighbors have not agreed how to define the border and have to manage nationalistic emotions over the issue. The official text of the agreement described it not as a peace deal but a joint declaration by the prime ministers of both Cambodia and Thailand “on the outcomes of their meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.”

Still, a key part of the deal was a commitment by the two sides to withdraw heavy weapons from the border, moves that will be monitored by observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Another breakthrough was the announcement that Thailand would repatriate 18 prisoners of war to Cambodia.

The agreement on Sunday, signed during an ASEAN summit, was also remarkable because Thailand has consistently said it rejects third-party mediation in the dispute. Thailand’s foreign minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, told reporters that the United States helped in facilitating the talks but that the negotiations were bilateral.

At least 40 people were killed after the latest iteration of the border dispute erupted into war on July 24. Hundreds of thousands were displaced. Mr. Trump intervened on the third day of fighting, calling the leaders of both Thailand and Cambodia to say he was not going to continue tariff negotiations if they did not end the conflict.

People who fled border clashes at an evacuation center in Surin Province, Thailand, in July.Credit...Sakchai Lalit/Associated Press

A building that was damaged in the Cambodian province of Oddar Meanchey, in July.

On Sunday, Mr. Trump recounted the moment, saying he had been playing golf in Scotland when he made those calls.

“I said: ‘This is much more important than playing a round of golf, so we sat there all day long, making phone calls,’” Mr. Trump said. “And it was amazing, the way it came together very quickly.”

He added, “This is much more fun for me than anything” because “you’re saving people and saving countries.”

The pageantry of the signing was a leading factor in Mr. Trump’s attendance at this year’s ASEAN summit. He also signed trade agreements with Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia on Sunday.

Mr. Hun Manet reminded Mr. Trump that Cambodia had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, an accolade Mr. Trump covets. He said he wanted to express his deepest gratitude for Mr. Trump’s “decisive leadership and steadfast commitment to supporting the lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand.”

Mr. Hun Manet said that military commanders from Cambodia and Thailand were discussing the first phase of the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border. He said that it was an indication of Cambodia’s willingness to execute the joint declaration.

Mr. Anutin also credited Mr. Trump for his “personal dedication to peace between our two countries.”

“This declaration, if fully implemented, will provide the building blocks for a lasting peace, but more important, it will begin the process of mending our ties,” Mr. Anutin said.

Mr. Trump repeatedly credited himself for his work in the peace process, reiterating that this was “one of eight wars that my administration has ended in just eight months.” He criticized the United Nations for what he deemed inaction over this summer’s fighting.

But despite the cease-fire, tensions at the border have been simmering.

Thailand and Cambodia have clashed over their roughly 500-mile border for more than half a century. The dispute stems from a 1907 map created during French colonial rule in Cambodia. Cambodia still uses that map; Thailand says it is inaccurate and uses a map that it says is more reflective of the border because it uses modern topography.

Sui-Lee Wee is the Southeast Asia bureau chief for The Times, overseeing coverage of 11 countries in the region.

See more on: Anwar Ibrahim, Donald Trump

NY Times · Sui-Lee Wee ·

16. Trump Leans Into Showmanship on Day 1 of His Asia Trip

Trump Leans Into Showmanship on Day 1 of His Asia Trip

By Katie Rogers Erica L. Green and Sui-Lee Wee

Katie Rogers reported from Tokyo, and Sui-Lee Wee and Erica L. Green from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Published Oct. 25, 2025

Updated Oct. 26, 2025, 11:30 a.m. ET

NY Times · Sui-Lee Wee ·

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/world/asia/trump-asean-malaysia-asia.html

President Trump presided over several deals during his first day of a nearly weeklong trip. Buried in the details are Washington’s plans to contain China.

Listen to this article · 5:23 min Learn more

President Trump with Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of Thailand in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday.Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Published Oct. 25, 2025Updated Oct. 26, 2025, 11:30 a.m. ET

President Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday for the start of a nearly weeklong tour of Asia and launched into a diplomatic whirlwind that included a peace deal and agreements on tariffs and critical minerals.

From the moment he arrived on the tarmac in Kuala Lumpur, fists pumping to the music of drummers beating, he seemed intent on presenting a friendly showman’s face to a part of the world that has been shaken by his aggressive tariffs.

But aside from the flashy diplomacy, it appeared for the most part that the substance of his administration’s approach to its allies in the Indo-Pacific had not changed. Instead, the agreements he struck with several Southeast Asian nations — Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia — seemed designed more to contain China on multiple fronts, including through export controls, sanctions and access to critical minerals.

As Mr. Trump prepares to meet with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, later this week, his administration is trying to provide him as much leverage as possible in a long-running trade dispute that has weighed on both Washington and Beijing.

Mr. Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday morning, leaving several international and domestic spats in his wake. He sharply cut off trade talks with Canada on the eve of his trip after deploying an aircraft carrier to stalk Venezuela, razing the East Wing of the White House and deploying soldiers to American cities.

Want to stay updated on what’s happening in Malaysia? , and we’ll send our latest coverage to your inbox.

That seemed far from Mr. Trump’s mind as he spent several minutes relishing the pomp of his arrival ceremony on the tarmac in Malaysia. He mouthed “thank you” to people assembled to see him who were waving American and Malaysian flags, before climbing into his limousine, known as The Beast, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia.

Soon after, Mr. Trump presided over a peace deal ceremony between Cambodia and Thailand, whose brief war in July is one of more than half a dozen conflicts that he has taken credit for ending.

“This is a momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia as we sign a historic agreement to end the military conflict between Cambodia and Thailand,” Mr. Trump said in a speech at the ceremony. Though a cease-fire was signed by the two countries three months ago, Mr. Trump said the new deal would lead to the release of 18 Cambodian prisoners of war, a term the Thai prime minister said he agreed with.

The accord’s signing had been planned for later in the day, but Mr. Trump said it would move up to within hours of his arrival. The signing ceremony ended with the separate signing of an agreement on reciprocal trade with Cambodia and a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals with Thailand.

Neither agreement appeared to considerably change the countries’ trade relationship with the United States, nor did the one signed with Malaysia later in the day. In all three cases, the countries’ kept the 19 percent tariff rate that Mr. Trump imposed earlier in his term.

But the agreements did contain commitments from the three countries to assist the United States in containing China by supporting Mr. Trump’s aim to reduce Beijing’s stranglehold on some of the most important materials that go into a wide array of products, such as batteries, smartphones and magnets for fighter jets.

China and the United States, the world’s two economic superpowers, have been sparring since Mr. Trump’s return to office. In response to steep U.S. tariffs, China announced this month that it would curb the export of rare earths, of which it has the world’s largest supply. Mr. Trump vowed to increase tariffs further if it did.

Representatives from China and the United States met separately on Sunday to discuss trade between the two countries and came to a “very substantial framework” agreement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Final decisions about any deal, however, will be determined by Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi. The two men are scheduled to meet in South Korea later in the week in what would be their first face-to-face meeting since Mr. Trump returned to the White House.

The White House said in a statement later on Sunday that the United States and Vietnam had also agreed to the framework of a trade agreement. The so-called reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese exports would remain 20 percent.

At a working lunch with leaders from several Southeast Asian nations, Mr. Trump — his voice hoarser and lower than usual after a 24-hour trip — joked that he had hoped to “take it easy” but that his schedule in Malaysia had dictated otherwise. In fact, the White House adjusted his schedule: The working lunch had been planned as a working dinner until last-minute changes on Sunday morning.

In a brief speech to the assembled leaders, who were gathered in Kuala Lumpur for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Mr. Trump stuck closely to his prepared remarks, seeming to rush through it at times.

Mr. Trump is expected to leave Malaysia on Monday for Japan, where he will meet with the country’s new leader, Sanae Takaichi, the first woman to serve as the country’s prime minister, and potentially finalize the details of a trade agreement.

He will then travel to Gyeongju, South Korea, where he will attend the summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and meet with Mr. Xi.

Alexandra Stevenson and Alan Rappeport contributed reporting.

Katie Rogers is a White House correspondent for The Times, reporting on President Trump.

Erica L. Green is a White House correspondent for The Times, covering President Trump and his administration.

Sui-Lee Wee is the Southeast Asia bureau chief for The Times, overseeing coverage of 11 countries in the region.

See more on: Donald Trump, Xi Jinping

NY Times · Sui-Lee Wee ·

17. Putin and Gerasimov Clash Over Air Defenses and Drones

Can Putin win without Gerasimov (or Geramsimov's advice)?

Putin and Gerasimov Clash Over Air Defenses and Drones

substack.com · Stephen Bryen

A video released on October 25 reveals a remarkable and harsh meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of Russia’s armed forces. Putin demanded to know why Russia’s air defenses have failed to stop Ukraine’s use of cheap commercial drones playing havoc with Russia’s critical infrastructure and military installations. Putin made clear that this failure was costly to Russia, lowered its prestige, and indicated inexplicable failures that must be fixed.

Putin rejected virtually all of Gerasimov’s arguments defending Russia’s air defenses.

Thanks for reading Weapons and Strategy! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, looks on as Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov [File: Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik via EPA-EFE]

Gerasimov asked for three months to fix the various issues impacting air defenses. Putin demanded a solution in one month.

I believe the leaked account is accurate and not Ukrainian, US or NATO propaganda, although that cannot be ruled out.

Putin asked how it was that despite the billions of rubles invested, the system could not detect cheap drones and destroy them. He pointed to big systems such as the S-300 and S-400, and mobile systems such as the Pantsir.

Below is the You tube video, in Russian. Viewers can select subtitles in various languages by going to the system settings.

I have sensed for some time growing frustration in Russia’s civilian leadership with the overall performance of the Russian armed forces. This reported explosion by Putin exposes only one of the many problems, but this one is of the greatest immediate political importance. Russia’s entire defense capability rests on its air defense system.

Russian air defenses were not designed to go after hard to track small drones. Instead it was designed to counter western aircraft, especially bombers, and to deal with threats from standoff missiles, particularly Tomahawks.

Russian air defenses have not fared well in overseas deployments including Iran, Syria and Libya. Israeli aircraft have systematically spoofed them and destroyed their radars and launchers. One illustration of systemic problems was the shootdown of a Russian IL-20 in September 2018. This costly military aircraft was returning to Russia’s Hmeimim airbase near the north-western city of Latakia when it was downed. The Russians defence ministry said Israeli jets put the Il-20 plane into the path of Syrian air defence systems on Monday after failing to give Moscow enough warning of a strike on Syrian targets. The IL-20 is a COMINT/ELINT surveillance-reconnaissance aircraft. Fifteen crew members died in the intercept and crash. The incident showed that Russian supplied air defenses did not have good recognition capabilities (the IL-20 is a large, turboprop aircraft and does not resemble a fighter aircraft), nor does Russia’s IFF (Identification Friend of Foe) appear to work effectively, if in fact it was even used.

Other mistakes, such as the shootdown of a Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukrainian territory in July 2014, suggests that the air defense operators were poorly trained or their equipment was inadequate to distinguish a high flying commercial jet from alleged lower flying military transport jets, especially Ukrainian IL-76 troop transports they were allegedly hunting.

There is a strong suspicion that Russian air defenses are poorly integrated and lack good doctrine or operators or both.

The clash between Putin and Gerasimov leaves open the question if the Russian military can fix its air defenses problems, and do so quickly.

Putin’s anxiety over this issue suggests that it is more than just the economic costs involved in the Ukrainian drone strikes: he appears worried about the political fallout at home and the loss of support for the Ukraine “special military operation.” Likewise Putin may sense that clashes with NATO, and especially the tempestuous Donald Trump, risks Russia’s security much more than Ukraine.

Some of the comments about the video likewise are revealing and focus on what are sometimes call “parquet” Generals. One observer writes: “Colossal funds were invested not in defense, but in the pockets of officials and military thieves, primarily generals.” Another writes, “Theft and corruption are Russia’s main problems!”

Putin has suggested bringing in civilian experts to help fix Russia’s air defense problems. But “fixing” will take time, and whether the situation is fixable at all remains an open question.

It is worth noting that US air defenses also are not integrated and do not fare well against drones.

Thanks for reading Weapons and Strategy! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

substack.com · Stephen Bryen

18. Vector Lands Major SOCOM Contract, Accelerates Military Drone Innovation; Will Showcase Drone Innovation at 2025 Zero Gravity Summit

Vector Lands Major SOCOM Contract, Accelerates Military Drone Innovation; Will Showcase Drone Innovation at 2025 Zero Gravity Summit

https://www.techbuzznews.com/vector-lands-major-socom-contract/

techbuzznews.com

Vector Lands Major SOCOM Contract, Accelerates Military Drone Innovation; Will Showcase Drone Innovation at 2025 Zero Gravity Summit - TechBuzz News

Announcement

Tech News

Vector (Draper, UT), led by former Army aviator Andy Yakulis, secures a multi-million SOCOM contract, providing attritable drones via a subscription “Modern Warfare as a Service” model, with fiber-optic FPV integration, tactical training, and battlefield innovation showcased at the 47G Summit.

Mark Tullis

Oct 24, 2025 - 6 min read

Draper, Utah — October 24, 2025

Former Army aviator Andy Yakulis leads Vector’s mission to deliver drones “at the speed of the modern battlefield.”

Utah’s defense innovation scene continues to gain altitude. Vector, a recently-founded and fast-growing drone manufacturer headquartered in Draper, UT, has secured a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract with U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The award marks a major validation for the company’s “drone-as-a-service” model and its push to get cutting-edge technology into the hands of warfighters faster.

Founded in 2024 by CEO and Co-Founder Andy Yakulis, a West Point graduate, Army Special Operations veteran, and Stanford-trained technologist, Vector builds and operates attritable drones — low-cost, high-impact aircraft designed for frontline use and rapid iteration. Yakulis says Vector’s mission is “to streamline technology to the military,” adding, “We’re taking lessons from modern battlefields like Ukraine and bringing that speed of innovation directly to U.S. forces.”

From West Point to Vector

Yakulis entered the U.S. Military Academy shortly after 9/11 and spent nearly two decades as an aviation officer and Special Operations pilot, flying the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter on multiple deployments to Iraq. “I was the recipient of a lot of poor military technology,” he said. “I’d look at my iPhone and wonder why the tech in my pocket was better than what I had in my helicopter.”

Andy Yakulis, CEO and Co-Founder, Vector

After earning a graduate degree from Stanford, Yakulis helped lead modernization initiatives at Army Futures Command and later served as the Army’s representative to the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital, a new initiative designed to channel private investment into defense innovation. He left the Army at year 18 — just shy of retirement — to launch Vector. “The time to move faster was now,” he said.

The SOCOM Partnership

Under the multi-year agreement announced earlier this year, Vector will deliver drones, critical integration, and broader capability delivery “at the speed of the modern battlefield” for Special Operations forces. The contract cements Vector’s status as what SOCOM described as a “chosen capability provider for America’s most elite warfighters.”

Yakulis called the SOCOM deal “a significant endorsement,” adding, “SOCOM’s operators move fast — they expect systems that evolve as quickly as the fight itself. That’s exactly what our model delivers.”

The award follows Vector’s rapid growth and $61 million in venture capital raised from Utah investors including Pelion Venture Partners, Run Capital, Kickstart Fund, and Dauntless Capital.

Drones as a Service

Vector’s approach is what Yakulis calls “Modern Warfare as a Service.” Rather than selling drones as static products, the company offers a subscription-based model that allows the military to access, upgrade, and replace drones without waiting for traditional procurement cycles that can take years. “If you sell a drone as a service, you can iterate much faster,” Yakulis explained. “The attritable nature of these systems — drones that are expendable by design — means we can refresh and improve every generation.”

Vector’s drones are intentionally attritable, allowing the military to deploy large numbers of low-cost drones against higher-value targets without worrying about losing expensive equipment. “The economics of warfare have been flipped on their head,” Yakulis said. “In Ukraine, a $1,000 drone plus munition can destroy a $10 million tank. Even if one or two don’t hit, the price point is low enough that mass deployment achieves the mission.”

The company currently fields several drone platforms tailored to different missions:

Hammer (10-inch propeller drone): Designed for outdoor, longer-range operations, capable of carrying munitions integrated by the military. Its fiber-optic cable control makes it immune to jamming. Yakulis said, “You could have a $50 million jammer trying to stop this drone, and it won’t work. There’s no radio frequency to jam.”
Mace (5-inch propeller drone): Smaller and optimized for operations in confined areas, such as urban or forested environments, where agility and rapid maneuvering are essential.
3.5-inch propeller indoor drone: Specialized for internal clearance of buildings, allowing operators to conduct reconnaissance or tactical operations in enclosed spaces.

Note: The “inch” designation refers to the length of the drone propellers, not the overall size of the drone.

Yakulis emphasized that each drone is part of a broader, integrated service: Vector not only delivers kinetic capability but also provides tactical training, operational doctrine updates, and ongoing upgrades, ensuring warfighters are prepared for real-world combat scenarios. “We exist to make sure the military is trained and ready with both the products and the training to fight the next war,” he said.

Vector’s subscription contracts, including the SOCOM deal, are multi-year with a ceiling, allowing special operations units to order drones at intervals that fit operational needs. Yakulis noted: “A lot of incentive is put on us, which I think is a good thing, because it forces us to innovate and provide a better product from one contract cycle to the next.”

Innovation Spotlight: The Fiber-Optic Hammer

Vector recently became the first U.S. company to integrate fiber-optic control lines into a U.S.-made FPV drone — giving it immunity from electronic jamming. Each Hammer drone carries a 5,000-meter spool of fiber linking directly to its controller. Yakulis said: “You could have a $50 million jammer trying to stop this drone, and it won’t work. There’s no radio frequency to jam.”

Utah Roots and 47G Involvement

Vector performs final assembly in Draper, Utah, with R&D operations in Austin, Texas, and a growing global footprint for tactical training and field development. All manufacturing is NDAA-compliant, with no foreign supply chain dependencies.

The company employs over 100 people, and Yakulis credits Utah’s defense ecosystem — and organizations like 47G — for their role in supporting startups and connecting innovators across the aerospace and defense sectors. “One of the first things I did when we established headquarters here was reach out to 47G,” he said. “The organization brings together founders, investors, and government partners in a way I hadn’t seen in Silicon Valley. Utah’s collaborative ecosystem is exactly what defense innovation needs — it allows companies like Vector to experiment, iterate, and scale faster while staying grounded in real-world operational requirements.”

Yakulis emphasized that 47G not only provides networking opportunities but also fosters cross-industry collaboration, mentorship, and strategic connections critical for defense startups tackling high-stakes problems. “The support here isn’t just about capital; it’s about access to people, expertise, and the right partnerships that accelerate both product development and deployment,” he said.

He will participate in a panel at the upcoming Zero Gravity Summit, where he will share insights on Vector’s “drone-as-a-service” model, lessons learned from modern battlefields, and strategies to rapidly adopt emerging defense technologies, highlighting how Utah’s ecosystem uniquely supports these efforts.

After a sold-out debut in 2024, the summit has scaled up for 2025, featuring keynote addresses from Jen Easterly, former head of CISA, and Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and governor of South Carolina. Topics will span geostrategic stressors, defense technology, dual-use innovation, air mobility, energy resilience, and the new space economy.

On the morning of November 4, Yakulis will be a part of the Zero Gravity Summit panel: “The New Battlespace: Autonomous Solutions & Drone Warfare," alongside Jon Gruen, CEO of Fortem Technologies, a Lindon, Utah-based provider of airspace security and counter-drone solutions, as previously covered by TechBuzz. Founded in 2016, Fortem is a developer of ultra-small, advanced solutions and strategies in C-UAS (counter-unmanned aerial systems), ISR (intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance), perimeter security, and airspace safety systems that protect critical defense installations where drone threats are increasingly sophisticated and persistent.

Continuing Service, in a New Form

“I see this as a continuation of service,” Yakulis said. “Only now, instead of flying missions myself, I’m helping ensure the next generation of soldiers has the best tools available — when they need them.”

Learn more at tfvector.com.

Andy Yakulis, CEO and Co-Founder, Vector

techbuzznews.com

19. Under Trump, Voice of America Is Down but Not Out

One of the biggest strategic mistakes the US has made.

We need VOA, RFA, et al, to return to full service to support the national security strategy of America FIrst.

Let's get this out of the courts and simply do the right thing because it is the right thing to do - restore VOA to full service.

Excerpts:

And some Republican lawmakers, reflecting a rare bit of bipartisan resistance to the Trump administration, have warned that ceasing their news broadcasting is ceding ground to Russian and Chinese propaganda networks that have moved aggressively to fill the vacuum.

“Without a robust replacement,” eliminating federally funded news groups is “reckless and shortsighted,” Representative Young Kim, Republican of California, said during a House committee meeting in September. “They provide credible local language reporting that builds trust with audiences.”

Representative Young Kim, Republican of California, has long supported Voice of America and Radio Free Asia’s service targeting North Korea.Credit...Anna Rose Layden for The New York Times

V.O.A. previously ran broadcasts in 49 languages for 360 million people across the globe every week, while the three other news groups collectively reached around 150 million people weekly.

Until the government shut down earlier this month, V.O.A. maintained only four language services that each broadcast around an hour per day to signal the administration’s compliance with judicial orders. While appeals courts have generally upheld the rulings that have sided with orders to keep V.O.A. alive, litigation has also stalled, in part because government lawyers have not filed any briefs since the shutdown began.

Freedom: Information, human rights and the future of a unified Korea

https://www.upi.com/Voices/2025/10/21/perspective-north-Korea-human-rights/2851761076216/

A free and unified Korea: advancing U.S. national security interests

https://www.upi.com/Voices/2025/05/02/korea-us-national-interests/1231746198198/

Under Trump, Voice of America Is Down but Not Out

Buttressed by courts and support from some Republican lawmakers, federally funded newsrooms that President Trump has tried to eliminate have yet to be rendered obsolete.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/us/politics/under-trump-voice-of-america-is-down-but-not-out.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wU8.SpRh.ONVxVFvDVHPe&smid=url-share

NY Times · Minho Kim ·

Buttressed by courts and support from some Republican lawmakers, federally funded newsrooms that President Trump has tried to eliminate have yet to be rendered obsolete.

Voice of America’s shuttered offices earlier this month in Washington.Credit...Jason Andrew for The New York Times

Buttressed by courts and support from some Republican lawmakers, federally funded newsrooms that President Trump has tried to eliminate have yet to be rendered obsolete.

Voice of America’s shuttered offices earlier this month in Washington.Credit...Jason Andrew for The New York Times

Listen to this article · 13:20 min Learn more

Since March, Minho Kim has covered the Trump administration’s efforts to shut down federally funded news organizations, including Voice of America.

Oct. 26, 2025

For nearly two years, Voice of America, a federal news agency dedicated to projecting American values around the world, provided intensive Persian-language coverage of Israel’s war with Hamas. The service regularly reached viewers inside Iran, Hamas’s state sponsor, with the kind of reporting and expert analysis that Tehran typically suppresses.

But Iranians who tuned to V.O.A. in June to learn about Israel’s attack on their country got something different: a two-hour live broadcast of the U.S. military procession in Washington that the Trump administration held to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American army.

“U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Americans to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration that is free to the public,” an anchor declared in Persian.

It was a striking moment for the storied news agency, which was founded in 1942 to fight Nazi propaganda and has won dozens of journalism awards for reporting around the world — but has been targeted for destruction by President Trump.

Voice of America was created in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda.Credit...Jose Lopez/The New York Times

Mr. Trump, who has called V.O.A. “a total left-wing disaster,” signed an executive order in March effectively dismantling its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, putting nearly all of V.O.A.’s 1,400 journalists and support staff on paid leave. Now, amid the government shutdown, all V.O.A. programming is off the air.

But while the Trump administration has largely succeeded in its efforts to permanently shrink parts of the federal bureaucracy it doesn’t like, the battle over V.O.A. and other federally funded global news outlets is far from over.

Courts have ordered the administration to resume news broadcasting at V.O.A. and disburse federal dollars to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, private nonprofit news groups that are fully dependent on government funding and share V.O.A.’s mission of using journalism to advance U.S. interests abroad.

And some Republican lawmakers, reflecting a rare bit of bipartisan resistance to the Trump administration, have warned that ceasing their news broadcasting is ceding ground to Russian and Chinese propaganda networks that have moved aggressively to fill the vacuum.

“Without a robust replacement,” eliminating federally funded news groups is “reckless and shortsighted,” Representative Young Kim, Republican of California, said during a House committee meeting in September. “They provide credible local language reporting that builds trust with audiences.”

Representative Young Kim, Republican of California, has long supported Voice of America and Radio Free Asia’s service targeting North Korea.Credit...Anna Rose Layden for The New York Times

V.O.A. previously ran broadcasts in 49 languages for 360 million people across the globe every week, while the three other news groups collectively reached around 150 million people weekly.

Until the government shut down earlier this month, V.O.A. maintained only four language services that each broadcast around an hour per day to signal the administration’s compliance with judicial orders. While appeals courts have generally upheld the rulings that have sided with orders to keep V.O.A. alive, litigation has also stalled, in part because government lawyers have not filed any briefs since the shutdown began.

The impasse has tapped into a broader debate over the role of government-funded newsrooms: Should they promote American values through independent journalism, or should they be tools to promote administration policy?

V.O.A. and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, born after the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe, were widely credited with helping the United States win global support during the Cold War. But the Trump administration has attacked independent journalism at home and has signaled that, if V.O.A. survives, it could adopt a more MAGA-friendly approach.

Kari Lake, the former Arizona television anchor and two-time statewide political candidate appointed by Mr. Trump to oversee the government newsrooms, said in sworn court testimony that the administration had reached an agreement with One America News Network, a right-wing news channel, to share content and was “engaged in ongoing discussions” with Newsmax, another conservative network, for a similar arrangement.

A spokesman for Newsmax, Bill Daddi, disputed Ms. Lake’s testimony, saying the network was “flattered” that she would consider using its content, but that “there has been no conversation or discussion” about it. A representative for OAN did not respond to a request for comment.

Testifying before the House in June, Ms. Lake called V.O.A. “a rotten piece of fish.”

“What is going out on V.O.A. airwaves — it’s outrageous, and it has to stop,” said Ms. Lake, who would not agree to be interviewed for this story and did not respond to specific emailed questions.

Kari Lake has led efforts to dismantle the news agencies, calling Voice of America “a rotten piece of fish.”Credit...Anna Rose Layden for The New York Times

Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement that V.O.A. spreads “left-wing propaganda” and that Americans are “better off not being forced to waste money on that garbage.”

Some Republicans have pointed to editorial guidance sent a few days after Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel as evidence of V.O.A.’s left-leaning bias. The email guidance advised reporters to “avoid calling Hamas and its members terrorists” except in quotes, though V.O.A. later updated the guidance to require journalists to note which groups have been designated as terrorist organizations by the State Department.

The news group also faced criticism in 2020 after its Urdu service aired a two-minute video that featured footage from an advocacy group in which Joseph R. Biden Jr., then a Democratic presidential candidate, urged Muslims to vote for him. V.O.A. determined the video did not meet its standards and took it down.

But for some Republicans, such controversies are outweighed by the national security benefits of news groups like V.O.A. To these lawmakers, the Persian-language broadcast of the June 14 military parade on Mr. Trump’s birthday — rather than covering what was then the day after Israel’s initial assault on Iran — marked a symbolic low point.

Camera crews filming the U.S. military procession in Washington in June.Credit...Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

A New York Times review of the broadcast found the anchor occasionally mentioning the bombing but focusing on the history of the U.S. Army and weapons presented at the parade. One Iranian activist sent a text message to a V.O.A. journalist asking why “is Voice of America not covering the news since yesterday?” according to a copy of the message reviewed by The Times.

“We need America’s voice in Iran right now,” Representative Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas and a former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during a hearing on the state of government-funded newsrooms held three days after the United States bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities.

A ‘Weapon’ Against U.S. Adversaries

President Trump signed an executive order effectively dismantling the U.S. Agency for Global Media, Voice of America’s parent organization, jeopardizing the funding and news operations of its three nonprofits and putting nearly all of V.O.A.’s 1,400 journalists and support staff on leave.Credit...Jason Andrew for The New York Times

A core source of tension around the future of U.S.-funded international journalism comes from its history.

V.O.A. and the other government-funded news groups were created by Congress with two potentially contradictory mandates — to enjoy editorial independence, while also advancing American foreign policy as a “weapon” against U.S. adversaries.

“How do you both be a government broadcaster and operate by the required rules of journalism?” said Nicholas J. Cull, a historian at the University of Southern California who has studied government-funded news groups.

In the 1970s, Congress and political appointees from the White House complained about V.O.A.’s candid reporting on the Watergate scandal and sought to cut its funding.

After Watergate, in 1976, Congress codified V.O.A.’s charter to require objective coverage. Nonetheless, President Ronald Reagan’s appointee to run the agency pushed for overtly anti-communist programming and reined in reporting that could shed negative light on the United States.

Mr. Trump’s first administration tried to upend the global news agency. His appointee to run the agency rescinded a provision that prohibited government officials from meddling in the editorial decisions of federally funded newsrooms. A federal judge later ruled that the move violated the First Amendment rights of the outlet’s journalists.

Ms. Lake initially appeared supportive of V.O.A. and rebuffed calls from Elon Musk to abolish it. In February, after the president picked her to lead the news group, she said that it could “spread the values of freedom all over the world.”

But she soon shifted her stance, as Mr. Musk’s team swept across the government, gutting agencies and orchestrating mass layoffs.

By late February, instead of leading V.O.A.’s news operations, Ms. Lake learned that she would become the senior adviser to its oversight agency. She then received a mandate from the president to “eliminate” the news agencies. A day after his March executive order, she put the staff on leave.

Some national security experts expressed alarm that Russian and Chinese state broadcasters would attract the millions of listeners that V.O.A. once had.

The two U.S. adversaries each spend billions of dollars a year to disseminate content favorable to their governments, including disinformation, according to a recent State Department assessment, compared with around $850 million that the U.S.-funded newsrooms received in 2024.

China’s state radio has added more than 80 new frequencies to expand its coverage and to jam some of the radio waves that had been used by Radio Free Asia, said Rohit Mahajan, a spokesman for Radio Free Asia.

“Why would the Trump administration want to unilaterally disarm ourselves in the battle over the information space?” said Lisa Curtis, the board chairwoman of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and a former C.I.A. analyst who served as an adviser to Mr. Trump at the National Security Council during his first term.

A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty regional broadcast map at their office in April in Vilnius, Lithuania.Credit...Andrej Vasilenko for The New York Times

The federally funded news networks have garnered widespread recognition, including awards for reporting on China’s human rights abuses of Uyghurs, the Russian military’s death toll from its invasion of Ukraine and anti-government protests in Iran that began after a young woman was detained for not wearing a hijab and died in police custody.

Russian and Chinese state media networks have celebrated V.O.A.’s near demise.

The Global Times, a Chinese state media outlet, said V.O.A. was “discarded by its own government like a dirty rag.” Margarita Simonyan, the editor of Russia Today, celebrated V.O.A.’s closure as “a holiday for me and my colleagues.”

The one federally funded news group that has maintained full programming, even during the shutdown, is the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which is aimed at Cuba’s communist government. The office’s broadcasting went off air in March, but resumed after concerns mounted and a federal judge enjoined further cuts.

Patsy Widakuswara, who led Voice of America’s White House coverage until March and has joined other employees in suing the administration, said funding quality journalism was the most effective way to argue for free speech, regardless of an administration’s short-term policy interests.

“It is worth spending our taxpayer dollars to speak up on the global stage to hundreds of millions of people,” said Ms. Widakuswara, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was raised under Indonesia’s formerly authoritarian government.

The Pushback

Patsy Widakuswara, who led Voice of America’s White House coverage until March, at her home in Washington in July.Credit...Jared Soares for The New York Times

Mr. Trump’s axing of federally funded newsrooms met with swift resistance.

Within days of his executive order, five separate lawsuits were filed, brought by Voice of America’s director, Mike Abramowitz, its reporters and three other newsrooms that rely on federal funding.

By late March, a court halted further staffing cuts at V.O.A. and its parent agency. And in April, Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered Trump officials to resume operations at V.O.A. so that it would “fulfill its statutory mandate” that it serve “as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news.”

Still, Ms. Lake kept most of V.O.A.’s news operations closed, fired nearly all of its employees and tried to remove Mr. Abramowitz as the network’s head, irking Judge Lamberth. She and other Trump officials could face jail time or fines for defying his orders.

Judge Royce C. Lamberth has threatened to hold Ms. Lake in contempt for “stonewalling” him by failing to demonstrate that her agency was complying with his orders.Credit...Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

House Republicans, meanwhile, have indicated they are not on the same page as the White House. In June, they advanced spending legislation that would provide more than four times as much funding than Mr. Trump had requested for international broadcasting activities.

Ms. Kim, the California Republican who had long supported V.O.A. and Radio Free Asia’s service targeting North Korea, demanded that Ms. Lake lay out her exact plans to continue U.S.-funded journalism in countries with repressive governments.

“Did you and your team have any concerns about how these terminations would severely limit the U.S. government’s ability to support the flow of accurate information abroad?” Ms. Kim asked during a June hearing.

Ms. Lake, referring back to her time working in a newsroom, said that reporters would respond when breaking news occured. “We can do it with a smaller staff,” she said.

A memorial wall commemorating journalists who were killed while reporting for Voice of America and their affiliates at the Voice of America building in 2018.Credit...Jason Andrew for The New York Times

Parin Behrooz, Nozlee Samadzadeh and Yassi Shafaie contributed to this report.

Minho Kim covers breaking news and climate change for The Times. He is based in Washington.

NY Times · Minho Kim ·

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

Phone: 202-573-8647

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

De Oppresso Liber,

David Maxwell

Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy

Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation

Editor, Small Wars Journal

Twitter: @davidmaxwell161

email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com

If you do not read anything else in the 2017 National Security Strategy read this on page 14:

"A democracy is only as resilient as its people. An informed and engaged citizenry is the fundamental requirement for a free and resilient nation. For generations, our society has protected free press, free speech, and free thought. Today, actors such as Russia are using information tools in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of democracies. Adversaries target media, political processes, financial networks, and personal data. The American public and private sectors must recognize this and work together to defend our way of life. No external threat can be allowed to shake our shared commitment to our values, undermine our system of government, or divide our Nation."

Access NSS HERE

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