Section 219: the future of US-Israeli defence partnership
US President Donald Trump has announced plans to end the billions of dollars in annual US military aid to Israel. But is a new deal in the works? Al Jazeera’s Marah Rayan looks at what Section 219 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) could mean for the future of the US-Israel military partnership.
US President Donald Trump cast doubt on renewed fighting with Iran, telling CNN it was “highly unlikely,” ahead of a meeting with mediator Qatar’s prime minister on Monday. AFP Trump has acknowledged that the highly unpopular war with Iran — which began with US-Israeli strikes in late February — was at least partially responsible for the Republicans’ defeat.
UK-led coalition of 10 Northern European nations announces joint defence framework amid rising threats from Moscow.
A deal giving Moscow a slice of Ukrainian territory and sanctions relief could be on the table in weeks – yet European leaders are busy squabbling Donald Trump has lost substantial power over domestic policy after last week’s devastating midterm losses, but his ability to cement his legacy by upending US foreign policy remains largely intact. There is every reason to fear a ”great betrayal” of Ukraine in the coming weeks, one that would reward Vladimir Putin for Russia’s war of aggression against Kyiv, and also do lasting damage to the European security order.
Iran on Tuesday urged the United States to meet its demands in a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after President Donald Trump spoke of “positive momentum” to end their eight-month war. Diplomatic efforts, led by Qatar and Pakistan, are underway to find a resolution to the war, which broke out in late February when US-Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States will hold talks in Abu Dhabi Tuesday on ending Europe’s worst conflict since World War II in the first such meeting in more than nine months, as another winter of war approaches. Europe – alarmed by US President Donald Trump floating a deal with Moscow on European security ahead of the talks – will also send representatives to Abu Dhabi.
The president says the US is keeping "status quo" with Iran but remains “locked and loaded” should the situation in the Middle East change.