🔊 Lavrov: Europe wants to resolve Ukrainian conflict at Russia’s expense

Europe wants to provide security guarantees only for Ukraine, and only for as long as Ukraine wages a war against Russia at Europe’s behest, Lavrov explained during an interview with Al Arabiya.

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💬 Trump to Starmer: Don't give away Diego Garcia

The US president just issued a direct warning to the UK prime minister over a 100-year lease deal for the strategic Indian Ocean island—tying it directly to potential military action against Iran.

🟠 Trump claims "entities never known of before" are asserting rights to Diego Garcia—calling them "fictitious in nature."

🟠 He warns Starmer is "losing control" of the island.

"Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack," he added.

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🤝 US SOUTHCOM chief lands in Venezuela

Gen. Francis Donovan, head of US Southern Command, visited Venezuela alongside diplomatic envoy Laura Dogu and Pentagon official Joseph Humire for direct talks with interim authorities.

"Building trust and strengthening relationships with our partner nations is the most effective way to counter shared threats and ensure regional stability and security."

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📑 US is deploying largest air force to the Middle East since Iraq war — report

Washington is quietly assembling its most formidable military posture in the region in over two decades, sending F-22 and F-35 fighter jets, the Wall Street Journal reports. In addition, a second aircraft carrier and command post aircraft are en route.

This buildup would allow Washington to conduct military operations against Iran for several weeks, US officials told WSJ.

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🚨🇮🇷🇺🇸US military ready for Iran strike Iran, Trump still weighing decision – report

Top national security officials have told Donald Trump the US military could be ready to launch strikes on Iran as early as Saturday, reports CBS News.

However, the timeline could potentially stretch beyond the weekend.

Trump hasn’t signed off on anything yet, the outlet cites unnamed officials as saying, adding that Iran took center stage in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday.

Every US force assigned to the region is reportedly slated to be in position by mid-March.

💣 Meanwhile, the Pentagon is temporarily repositioning some US personnel out of the Middle East — largely to Europe or back home — to reduce exposure ahead of any potential operation or possible Iranian retaliation.

According to insiders this is standard pre-action protocol.

Diplomacy hasn’t left the room either. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly planning a visit to Israel in about two weeks for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During a December meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Trump allegedly told Netanyahu he would back Israeli strikes on Iran’s ballistic missile program if the US and the Islamic Republic failed to reach a deal.

👉 With the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group already in the region and another carrier group, the USS Gerald Ford, en route to the Middle East, Iran has warned of retaliation in case of an attack.

Sending aircraft carriers is a show of force — but sinking them would be a show of capability, warned Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei.

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🇩🇪 Germany bets on more US F-35s as Europe’s joint fighter project unravels

Germany is edging closer to ditching its joint next-generation fighter program with France, reports Reuters.

On top of the 35 stealth fighters already ordered from Lockheed Martin in 2022 (with deliveries set to begin this year), Germany is reportedly in talks to buy more than 35 additional US-made F-35s.
If the plan materializes, Germany could end up fielding around 85 F-35s - each costing roughly $80 million.

Expanding the F-35 fleet tightens Germany’s military bond with the United States at a time when defense spending pressure from the US is mounting.

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🔸 Lavrov: Europe wants to resolve Ukrainian conflict at Russia’s expense

🔸 ‘Ukraine is blackmailing Hungary’ - Orban

🔸 Trump to Starmer: Don't give away Diego Garcia

🔸 Kim Jong-un tests new AI-powered MLRS

🔸 US SOUTHCOM chief lands in Venezuela

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