All articles tagged with #military and defense
Cuba says four people on a Florida-registered speedboat were killed after the vessel fired on Cuban border guards as it neared Cuba’s north coast; Cuban forces returned fire and evacuated the wounded, with authorities launching an investigation. The U.S. has not independently confirmed Havana’s account; officials have urged investigations amid rising U.S.–Cuba tensions and related policy moves.
The Mexican army killed the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel during an operation to capture him, sparking concerns of heightened violence as the cartel may retaliate against authorities and communities across the country.
Mexico’s most powerful drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, was killed by Mexican security forces in a military operation in Guadalajara, a major blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel that operators say could reshape how the drug war unfolds amid ongoing U.S. pressure to crack down on trafficking.
Pakistan says its security forces struck militant hideouts along the Afghan border after a surge in deadly attacks, signaling ongoing cross-border action as militancy persists in the region.
The Washington Post reports the Trump administration appears poised to launch an extended military assault on Iran, with the Pentagon massing a massive strike force in the Middle East, despite risks of U.S. casualties and widening conflict, as Tehran could retaliate.
U.S.-mediated talks in Geneva between Moscow and Kyiv ended after two hours with no progress and no sign that Russia would back off its maximalist demand to subjugate Ukraine, leaving the war unresolved. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky called the discussions “difficult but businesslike.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced Col. David Butler’s retirement, removing a senior Army spokesman amid a long-running feud between Trump-era appointees and Milley-era allies.
The New START treaty—the last major cap on U.S.–Russia strategic nuclear arsenals—expires, potentially removing verifiable limits on warheads and delivery systems. Lawmakers warn this could spark a dangerous and costly arms race, while negotiators explore a possible extension or a new agreement to preserve some restraint on nuclear forces.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., sharply questioned the Defense Department’s bid to censure and possibly demote Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, over his public criticism of the Trump administration, arguing that the restrictions cited may only apply to active-duty service members and raising doubts about the DoD’s authority to punish a sitting senator.
The Pentagon warned Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts, that it must rapidly enact core value reforms or risk ending its long-standing partnership with the U.S. military; the alert comes amid decades of collaboration and controversy over the organization’s evolution, including girls joining and its name change, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticizing the group’s changes.
A confidential SEC whistleblower complaint claims Google violated its AI ethics rules in 2024 by helping an Israeli military contractor apply Gemini AI to drone surveillance footage.
Poland has led the EU in building a large, conventional army in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but experts warn that such forces face hybrid threats—like drones and other non-traditional warfare—requiring NATO and Warsaw to rethink tactics and capabilities beyond traditional equipment spending.
The Pentagon plans to reduce U.S. participation in select NATO force-structure elements and advisory groups, signaling the Trump administration’s broader effort to scale back America’s military footprint in Europe.
Canadian NORAD Commander Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna discusses the challenges of defending the Arctic from threats like China and Russia, highlighting the development of advanced radar systems, concerns over cruise missiles, and the evolving military activities in the region, emphasizing the need for enhanced domain awareness and new technologies.
War on the Rocks' most-read articles of 2025 highlight global conflicts, military modernization, and strategic technology, reflecting a year of significant geopolitical tensions and evolving warfare strategies.