Policy

Pressure from price competition spreads across Europe’s automotive industry EU pushes stricter local production and supply-chain requirements, while tightening subsidy eligibility around “Made in Europe” standards Brussels strengthens protectionist measures under the banner of economic security and industrial sovereignty

Key agenda items at the G7 summit include the Middle East conflict, support for Ukraine, and AI governance Chinese state media lash out at the G7, calling for a more “open and inclusive” approach The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) stages its own event in parallel with the opening of the G7 summit

China begins sea trials of extra-large unmanned submarines Expansion of “unmanned force”–centered intelligent warfare doctrine The United States also develops unmanned undersea capabilities and deploys them in actual operations

India’s size gives it influence, but not yet great-power depth India middle power realism is not a weakness; it is the path to durable power Asian middle powers need practical coalitions, not another great-power patron

Sweden’s state-owned Vattenfall to source SMRs from the U.K.’s Rolls-Royce GE Vernova entered the competition as an established operator with extensive experience and technological capabilities Rolls-Royce, despite lacking commercial operating experience, benefits from Europe-first momentum

Boeing withdraws after Lockheed Martin from U.S.

Launch of discussions on the first accession chapter Breakthrough enabled by Hungary’s change in government Potential reshaping of Europe’s postwar security architecture The European Union (EU) has formally launched the accession process for U

Trump speaks with Putin for nearly an hour, stressing the need to halt the war Also discusses battlefield conditions and peace proposals with Zelenskyy Diplomatic push on Ukraine resumes following efforts to contain the Middle East conflict <

U.S.

Germany's TKMS and South Korea's Hanwha Ocean enter full-scale competition over Canada's CPSP program Shifting dynamics in the NATO submarine market raise questions over Germany's traditional dominance Germany's submarine industry strained by existing orders, with workforce and supply chains under pressure

Military Clash Fears Give Way to Expectations of Diplomatic Compromise Strait of Hormuz to Reopen Upon MOU Signing War-End Clock Accelerates as Hard-Line Variables Recede The United States and Iran have moved close to a dramatic war-ending agreement

Iranian Drone Downs U.S.

U.S.

Trump tells Iran after attack on Israel: “Return to negotiations and reach an agreement” Urges both Iran and Israel to avoid further escalation as region faces choice between peace deal and renewed conflict Outcome hinges on compromise between sanctions relief and security guarantees

Britain’s Core Astute-Class Nuclear Submarine Force Enters Port Simultaneously, Creating a Capability Gap Structural Constraints Continue to Generate Friction, Clouding the Future of the AUKUS Alliance Budget Pressures and Shortage of Available Vessels Disrupt Nuclear Submarine Operations and Decommissioning

Disruptions to energy supply chains triggered by the Strait of Hormuz crisis Global energy order shifts from efficiency to security Countries accelerate moves away from U.S.

Japan’s US-led security path is politically safe but strategically costly A Taiwan war would turn Japan’s alliance posture into a major economic risk Japan needs deterrence with diplomacy, not automatic escalation A c

Great powers built the old order, and they are now rewriting it Middle powers can stabilize rules, but they cannot enforce them alone The new global order will be shaped by leverage, not nostalgia Meanwhile, the United St

Japan’s AI problem is not access to technology, but weak pressure to adopt it Corporate inertia reduces demand for AI skills across schools and universities Japan and parts of Europe risk missing the productivity gains of AI unless delay becomes costly

US-Asia trust is weakening AUKUS has exposed a delivery gap Asian powers are building options The most revealing number in Asia this year is not a ship count or a tariff rate, or even a defense budget. It's 51.9 percent.