Author: Richard Engel Junior

Europe Rearms: Germany passes its most significant military service law since 2011, reviving elements of conscription. European officials flock to an Israeli defence-tech conference despite political backlash over Gaza. Israel’s Arrow 3 system becomes operational in Germany in a historic $4 billion deal. NATO pushes defence spending targets to 3.5% of GDP as countries brace for potential Russian escalation. In Berlin, lawmakers rose in a chamber thick with political memory and geopolitical anxiety. The Bundestag, after months of tense argument, approved Germany’s most consequential military reform in decades — a dual-track compulsory service law that marks the country’s clearest break…

Putin India Visit: Why Putin’s India visit signals a recalibration of Asian power politics How Trump’s tariffs and sanctions have boxed Modi into a dangerous corner Why Moscow needs India more than ever as its economy buckles under sanctions The future of India’s strategic autonomy as global rivalries intensify The optics will be warm, the smiles familiar, and the handshakes carefully choreographed. But make no mistake — Putin’s India visit this week is not business as usual. It’s a geopolitical stress test for New Delhi, one that comes with real costs, real risks and real consequences. For Prime Minister Narendra…

Middle East Peace Resolutions: UNGA approves Palestine resolution with 151 votes in favour; U.S. criticizes it as “one-sided.” Israel rejects the resolution, citing Hamas, security threats, and Palestinian Authority reforms. Syrian Golan resolution passes with 123 votes; Türkiye and Syria stress illegality of occupation. Humanitarian agencies and South Africa call for rebuilding infrastructure and enforcement of ICJ rulings. The United Nations General Assembly this week delivered a striking illustration of the entrenched divides in international politics over the Middle East. Member States voted on two key resolutions — one addressing the “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine” and another…

Kremlin confirms Putin–Witkoff talks ended with no breakthrough, but channels remain open for a future Trump Ukraine peace deal. Trump believes he will end his ninth war, leveraging personal envoys and great-power bargaining outside traditional diplomacy. Europe fears being sidelined by a Washington–Moscow settlement that may reward Russia and reshape NATO dynamics. Despite disagreements, geopolitical exhaustion on all sides makes a 2026 peace framework more plausible than ever. The five-hour, past-midnight Kremlin session between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s envoys — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — ended with no deal, no breakthrough, and not even a symbolic gesture of…

Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet Putin for breakthrough discussions on the Ukraine peace talks, triggering geopolitical tremors across Europe. Leaked U.S. draft proposals alarm Kyiv and EU states, appearing to concede NATO neutrality, territorial losses, and military limitations. Putin accuses Europe of sabotaging the peace process and warns of catastrophic consequences if EU states challenge Russia militarily. A new U.S.–Ukraine peace framework promises security guarantees, setting up a power contest between Washington, Europe, and Moscow over the war’s endgame. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser…

America’s Ukraine Gamble: The leaked U.S. 28-point Ukraine peace plan positions Russia as the victor, undermining NATO cohesion. Divergent U.S. and European approaches highlight a growing trans-Atlantic security gap. NATO credibility and Article 5 commitments are at risk if future Russian incursions go unchecked. Governments and global businesses must prepare for a more uncertain security landscape in Europe and beyond. Europe is watching Washington with growing unease. This week, the contrast could not be clearer: White House special envoy Steve Witkoff embarks on his sixth trip to Moscow for Ukraine peace talks, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio skips a…

At a time when tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan threatened to spiral into a prolonged crisis—risking regional trade, border stability, and delicate security arrangements—Saudi Arabia stepped forward as a dependable mediator. Riyadh’s facilitation of talks between Islamabad and Kabul is not just an exercise in diplomacy; it is a demonstration of Saudi Arabia’s growing influence across the Islamic world and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s (MBS) commitment to preventing fraternal Muslim nations from drifting into conflict. A Relationship Built on Trust—Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Riyadh Saudi Arabia has long enjoyed a unique position in South Asian geopolitics. With Pakistan, Riyadh shares…

U.S. Asylum Crisis: Trump administration halts all asylum decisions and freezes Afghan visa processing after D.C. shooting. Afghan refugees who aided U.S. forces now stranded despite years of counterterrorism vetting. Legal experts warn that Trump may be preparing blanket asylum denials and mass deportations. Afghan families, U.S. veterans, and resettlement groups call the freeze a betrayal of America’s wartime commitments. Washington’s political landscape convulsed on Friday as President Donald Trump abruptly halted all asylum decisions and ordered an immediate freeze on U.S. visas for Afghan nationals—an extraordinary escalation that officials framed as a security measure but critics see as a…

Trump Immigration Ban: Afghan suspect charged with first-degree murder after deadly attack near the White House. Trump vows to “pause migration from all Third World Countries,” escalating his immigration agenda. Homeland Security launches sweeping reviews of Biden-era Afghan asylum approvals. Legal experts warn Trump’s new immigration actions could unleash nationwide chaos. Washington, D.C.—The quiet chill of Thanksgiving morning was shattered this week by a burst of gunfire near the White House, leaving one National Guard member dead and another critically wounded. Within hours, the tragic shooting by an Afghan asylum seeker triggered not only a nationwide debate but also…

Europe’s dependence on US arms has been exposed as Trump bypasses Brussels in crafting a Ukraine ceasefire plan. The Ukraine–Russia war revealed Europe’s military and industrial weakness, forcing record defense spending across the continent. Trump’s direct diplomacy with Putin and his America-first agenda have pushed Europe to the geopolitical sidelines. The EU faces a stark choice: reform quickly or become a pawn between Washington, Moscow and Beijing. Europe enters 2026 deeply unsettled. For years, EU leaders whispered privately about a fear that is now openly acknowledged: the continent is no longer shaping global events—it is being shaped by them. The…