September 13, 2025
Headlines

Morning Brief: Trump Administration Weighs Cuts to Baltic Security Aid, Israel Orders Gaza City Residents to Evacuate South

World War 3 News026 mins
HIMARS during exercise BALTOPS 25


It’s Saturday, September 6, 2025. In today’s headlines: Washington mulls Baltic aid cuts, Trump secures his resort for the 2026 G20, the White House considers taking over the 9/11 Memorial, and the US deploys F-35s to Puerto Rico. Overseas, Israel escalates in Gaza, Hezbollah resists disarmament, and Russian LNG flows to China despite sanctions.

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Trump Administration Weighs Cuts to Baltic Security Aid, Allies Express Uncertainty

Confusion grew Friday over Trump administration plans to cut Pentagon security assistance for NATO’s eastern flank, including the Baltic Security Initiative and Section 333 funding, which provide weapons, training, and intelligence support to countries bordering Russia. The reductions could total hundreds of millions of dollars.

While the White House says the move is part of pushing Europe to assume more responsibility for its own defense, Baltic leaders said they had received no official notification and expressed concern about weakening deterrence as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues.

Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia confirmed they are in discussions with US officials but stressed the importance of continued support.

Members of Congress from both parties also criticized the proposal, warning it would send the wrong signal to Moscow. Lawmakers are considering codifying the Baltic Security Initiative into law to protect it from future cuts.

Since 2018, the Baltic Security Initiative has directed $377 million to the region, while Section 333 provided nearly $1.6 billion to Europe. The Baltic states, along with Poland, are among NATO’s highest defense spenders, pledging to raise defense budgets to 5 percent of GDP by 2026.

The proposed cuts surface as large-scale NATO drills take place across the region.

 

Trump to Host 2026 G20 Summit at His Doral Golf Club, Says No Profit Will Be Made

President Donald Trump announced that the United States will host the 2026 Group of 20 summit at his Trump National Doral resort in Florida.

Trump defended the choice as the “best location,” citing its size, proximity to Miami’s airport, and ability to accommodate delegations, while insisting that his family business “will not make any money on it.”

The decision revives concerns about Trump mixing presidential duties with his private business interests, an issue that drew criticism during his first term when he abandoned plans to host another global summit at the same property. Trump has since faced little political pushback and continues to use his branded properties for official and political events.

Miami Mayor Frances Suarez praised the move as an economic boost for the region, calling it a major opportunity for global visibility.

The G20, which last convened in the US in 2009, brings together the world’s largest economies, the European Union, and the African Union.

Trump also said he will skip this year’s summit in South Africa, sending Vice President JD Vance in his place.

 

Trump Administration Weighs Federal Takeover of 9/11 Memorial and Museum

The Trump administration confirmed Friday it is exploring whether the federal government could assume control of New York City’s 9/11 Memorial and Museum, which has been privately operated since its opening in 2014.

The White House described the effort as preliminary and linked it to Trump’s campaign pledge to designate the site a national monument.

Officials from the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, chaired by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, opposed the idea, arguing that federal management is neither legally feasible nor financially necessary.

The museum has raised $750 million in private funds, generated $93 million in revenue last year, and serves as the steward for nearly 90 million visitors since its opening.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and museum board members criticized the potential takeover, saying the memorial belongs to New Yorkers and survivors, while raising concerns about federal influence over historical interpretation.

Some 9/11 family members also voiced skepticism, saying the current management already preserves the site effectively.

The administration has not provided further details on how a takeover would proceed.

 

Congress Set to Let Trump’s Takeover of D.C. Police Expire as 30-Day Limit Ends

Congress is expected to let President Donald Trump’s temporary control of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department lapse when the 30-day limit under the D.C. Home Rule Act expires on September 10.

Trump invoked emergency powers in August to seize authority over the police and deploy National Guard troops, citing rising crime. An extension would require congressional approval, but Republican leaders have no plans to act, pointing to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s ongoing coordination with federal agencies.

Bowser credited the surge with reducing crime, including an 87 percent drop in carjackings, and pledged continued cooperation with federal law enforcement, though she noted concerns about masked and unidentified agents.

Congressional Democrats condemned the takeover as undemocratic, with Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Sen. Chris Van Hollen introducing bills to give the city full control of its police.

National Guard troops, including forces from Republican-led states, are expected to remain in Washington through the end of the year. Meanwhile, House Republicans plan to pursue legislation to tighten federal oversight of the city, including tougher criminal penalties and Trump’s initiative to “beautify” the capital.

 

Trump Administration Deploys F-35s to Puerto Rico for Anti-Drug Operations, Raising Legal Concerns

The Trump administration is deploying 10 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Puerto Rico to target drug cartels in the southern Caribbean, marking a major escalation of US military operations in the region.

The jets are expected to arrive by next week, following a recent US Navy warning to Venezuela over military flights near an American vessel and an airstrike that killed 11 people alleged to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Trump designated drug cartels as terrorist organizations in January, but legal experts warn the administration lacks congressional authorization for military action against them.

Critics say the approach risks setting a precedent for “forever wars” against non-state actors not formally at war with the US Law professor Mark Nevitt argued the administration’s actions blur legal boundaries by labeling drug trafficking as terrorism without expanding lawful authority to target civilians.

Defense analysts also questioned the use of costly F-35s for counter-narcotics missions, suggesting the deployment is intended more as a show of force than a tactical necessity.

Trump defended the strategy, saying it was part of being “tough” on drug smuggling from Venezuela and elsewhere.

 

US Army Awards $9.8 Billion Contract to Boost Patriot Missile Production Amid Global Demand

The US Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $9.8 billion contract to produce nearly 2,000 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles and related hardware by 2026, marking the largest deal in the company’s missiles and fire control division.

The contract aims to meet surging demand as the Patriot system plays a central role in defending US forces and allies.

Patriot interceptors have been heavily used in Ukraine against Russian attacks and in the Middle East by US and Israeli forces against Iranian missiles. The PAC-3’s “hit-to-kill” technology enables it to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles, hypersonic threats, and aircraft.

The system is in service with US forces and 16 partner nations, including NATO members, Japan, South Korea, and Gulf states.

Lockheed Martin has steadily increased production, setting a record of 500 interceptors delivered in 2024 and aiming for over 600 in 2025. The Army said the contract will drive record manufacturing levels to keep pace with allies’ growing defense needs.

 

US Army Soldier Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Sexual Assault of ROTC Student

Pvt. Deron J. Gordon, 20, was sentenced Friday to 75 months in prison, a dishonorable discharge, and loss of all pay and rank after pleading guilty to sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, and indecent recording of a female ROTC student during a barracks party last year.

Gordon will also be required to register as a sex offender upon release.

As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dismissed additional charges and Gordon agreed to testify against three other soldiers also charged in the incident. The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, created in 2023 to prosecute major crimes, is handling the case.

Prosecutors said Gordon and another soldier assaulted the unconscious victim, later sharing recordings of the incident on Snapchat. The judge emphasized that intoxication is not a defense and that consent cannot be given by someone who is unconscious. The victim has since commissioned as an Army officer.

The three other soldiers — Pfc. Kallon Curiel, Spc. Jadon Bosarge, and Cpl. Pedro Angel Ruiz — face upcoming courts-martial on related charges. If convicted, they face prison, dishonorable discharges, and mandatory sex offender registration.

 

Rwanda Rejects Human Rights Watch Report on Expanding Military Cemetery Amid Congo Conflict

Rwanda dismissed a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report that used satellite imagery to show a sharp rise in graves at Kigali’s Kanombe military cemetery during recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

HRW said about 460 new graves were added between December 2024 and July 2025, peaking at 22 per week earlier this year, despite Rwanda officially reporting fewer than 10 soldier deaths.

The findings fuel accusations that Rwanda has been backing the M23 rebel group, which seized key eastern DRC cities earlier this year.

Rwanda has consistently denied involvement, though UN experts and rights groups have documented evidence of its support.

Government spokesperson Yolande Makolo condemned the HRW report as “disingenuous” and irrelevant to human rights, accusing the group of seeking attention. The Guardian first reported the cemetery expansion in February.

The mineral-rich eastern DRC remains mired in decades of conflict, with all sides accused of abuses.

 

Israel Orders Gaza City Residents to Evacuate South as Forces Advance

The Israeli military on Saturday urged Palestinians in Gaza City to evacuate to southern Gaza as its forces pushed deeper into the enclave’s largest urban area.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the capture of the city, calling it a Hamas stronghold essential to defeating the group. Military officials say they now control nearly half of Gaza City and about 75 percent of the entire territory.

The offensive risks displacing hundreds of thousands of people already uprooted by nearly two years of war. Many residents have refused to leave again despite heavy bombardment and warnings to move to a designated “humanitarian zone” in Khan Younis.

Netanyahu’s order to seize Gaza City came against the advice of some military leaders, but tens of thousands of reservists have been mobilized to carry it out.

The war, triggered by Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 hostages taken, has left more than 64,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza health authorities.

With 48 hostages still in captivity, Israel faces growing domestic pressure for a diplomatic deal.

Netanyahu is insisting on an all-or-nothing exchange, while Hamas has offered partial releases in return for a ceasefire. US President Donald Trump said Washington was engaged in “very deep” negotiations. Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed operations would intensify until Hamas surrenders or is destroyed.

 

Hezbollah Rejects Lebanon’s Army Disarmament Plan, Ties Compliance to End of Israeli Strikes

Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati said Saturday that the group rejects Lebanon’s army plan to establish a state monopoly on arms, calling the cabinet’s discussion an opportunity to “prevent the country from slipping into the unknown.” He emphasized that any implementation must remain suspended until Israel halts its strikes and withdraws from southern Lebanon.

On Friday, Lebanon’s cabinet endorsed the army’s proposal to begin executing the disarmament plan, though without a timeline and while acknowledging limited military capacity.

Information Minister Paul Morcos said Israeli operations could obstruct progress. The plan is part of a US-backed roadmap that links Hezbollah’s disarmament to an end of Israeli military actions in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has firmly rejected both the army plan and the US roadmap, demanding instead a national defense strategy.

Israel has indicated it may scale back its presence in southern Lebanon if the army moves to disarm Hezbollah but has continued airstrikes, including one last week that killed four people.

The issue of Hezbollah’s weapons has become a central political divide in Lebanon, with mounting pressure from the US, Saudi Arabia, and domestic rivals, while Hezbollah leaders warn against confrontation and hint at possible civil unrest.

 

Second Russian Arctic LNG 2 Cargo Docks in China Despite Sanctions

A Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project has docked at China’s Tieshan port in Guangxi province, according to ship-tracking data.

The Voskhod LNG tanker, loaded with 150,000 cubic meters of LNG in northern Siberia on July 19, is the second delivery from the project to reach China.

The first, transported by the Arctic Mulan, arrived in late August.

The Arctic LNG 2 facility, majority-owned by Russia’s Novatek, began production in December 2023 but has faced delays due to sanctions and a shortage of ice-class tankers. Western sanctions tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine have clouded the project’s future, though shipments continue along the Northern Sea Route.

The latest cargo’s arrival follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing for a regional summit and underscores China’s role as a key destination for Russian energy exports despite international restrictions.

 

Sources: News Agencies





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