Good morning! It’s February 15, 2025, and we’re bringing you the key updates in defense and global affairs as you enjoy your weekend. Let’s take a look.
Trump Calls for Military Cuts, China Says US Should Go First
Beijing has pushed back against President Donald Trump’s proposal for trilateral military spending cuts, stating that the US should take the lead in reducing its defense budget.
Trump, portraying himself as a global peacemaker in his second term, suggested a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss cutting military budgets and nuclear arsenals.
However, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun countered that the US has the world’s largest military budget and should set the example.
He emphasized that China’s defense spending is “reasonable and necessary” for national security and world peace.
Regarding nuclear disarmament, Beijing argued that Washington and Moscow hold the primary responsibility due to their vast stockpiles.
Iran Vows to Rebuild If Attacked as Israel Eyes Nuclear Strikes
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to rebuild Iran’s nuclear facilities if attacked, responding to reports that Israel is likely planning a strike on key nuclear sites in early 2025.
Pezeshkian dismissed threats against Iran’s Natanz facility, stating that Iranian scientists would rebuild “a thousand” facilities if necessary.
The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal reported that Israel is considering an attack on Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites within the first six months of 2025, with potential US support in aerial refueling, intelligence, and surveillance.
The reports emerge as tensions escalate following President Trump’s reinstatement of his “maximum pressure” policy on Iran over concerns about nuclear weapons development—allegations Tehran denies.
Trump, however, indicated he would prefer a diplomatic deal over military action, stating that if an agreement were reached, Israel “wouldn’t bomb them.”
Israel and Iran have already exchanged direct attacks amid broader regional tensions, including Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s military sites in response to a missile barrage from Tehran last year.
In April 2024, Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel, retaliating for an attack on its Damascus consulate, which was blamed on Israel.
Pakistan’s Troubled Southwest Hit by Bombing, Ten Laborers Dead
Ten laborers were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in southwest Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Friday.
The attack occurred in Harnai district, around 100 miles from the provincial capital, Quetta.
No group has claimed responsibility, though the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an active separatist group in the region, is known for targeting security forces and foreign-backed energy projects, particularly those funded by China.
Balochistan has long been plagued by insurgency, with separatists accusing the central government of exploiting the province’s rich resources while marginalizing its people.
In recent months, violence has intensified, with a January bombing killing six, and a large-scale attack last year leaving at least 39 dead, mainly ethnic Punjabis.
The surge in attacks comes as Pakistan grapples with increased instability along its borders, particularly following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Islamabad has accused the Taliban of harboring militants who cross into Pakistan to carry out attacks.
Last year was the deadliest in a decade, with over 1,500 killed, including 685 security personnel, according to the Center for Research and Security Studies.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the latest attack and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating terrorism.
Guterres Calls for Ceasefire, Demands Sudan Weapons Ban
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged an immediate halt to the flow of weapons into Sudan, as African leaders convened in Ethiopia on Friday to address what he called an “unprecedented humanitarian crisis.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Guterres emphasized that civilians must be protected, humanitarian aid must be allowed, and arms shipments must cease.
African Union Chair Moussa Faki echoed the urgency, calling the ongoing conflict “the moral failure of our time” and demanding an immediate, permanent ceasefire.
The war, which erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 12 million people.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), accused by Sudan of supporting the RSF, has denied the allegations but proposed a humanitarian pause during the upcoming Ramadan holiday to allow aid delivery.
UAE Minister Reem al-Hashimy announced an additional $200 million in humanitarian aid and expressed hope that a pause could ease suffering, particularly for women and children.
Meanwhile, US lawmakers recently accused the UAE of breaking its promise to halt military support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Other nations, including Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and Russia, have also been accused of backing different factions in the conflict.
The Sudanese Army controls the country’s east and north, while the RSF dominates much of Darfur, where the UN has accused it of blocking aid deliveries.
The African Union has labeled the war the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world,” with 431,000 children treated for malnutrition in the past year alone.
Lebanon Pressures US to Ensure Israel’s Exit
Lebanon’s parliament speaker Nabih Berri firmly rejected Israel’s proposal to remain in five locations in southern Lebanon beyond the February 18 deadline for full withdrawal under the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
According to Berri, the US, which has been mediating the process, informed him that Israel intends to vacate occupied villages but retain a presence in specific areas—an offer he and Lebanon’s leadership categorically refused.
Berri relayed Lebanon’s stance to US officials, including Ambassador Lisa Johnson and Major General Jasper Jeffers, who co-chairs a five-nation committee overseeing the ceasefire.
He emphasized that Washington bears responsibility for ensuring Israel adheres to the withdrawal deadline, warning that failure to do so would undermine Lebanon’s government.
The ceasefire, in effect since November 27, followed more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, including two months of full-scale conflict.
Under the deal, Lebanon’s military and UN peacekeepers were to take over positions in the south while Hezbollah withdrew. However, both sides continue to accuse each other of ceasefire violations.
Adding to the political shifts, Lebanon’s prime minister recently named a new government, signaling a decline in Hezbollah’s influence after two years of caretaker rule.
Sources: News Agencies
