Israel denied claims today by Russian officials and reports in Arab media outlets about new understandings that were allegedly reached about the situation in Southern Syria. An Israeli official told me that no deal was reached with the Russians so far.
Why it matters: The Syrian army is about to start a military operation against rebels in Southern Syria near the Israeli and Jordanian borders, which would violate a ceasefire deal signed by the U.S., Russia and Jordan last July.
Speaking at the annual regional security conference, the Shangri-La Dialogue, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis criticized China's ongoing militarization of the controversial islands in the South China Sea saying that its placement of weapons "is tied directly to military use for the purposes of intimidation and coercion."
Why it matters: Mattis added that China's moves are "in stark contrast to the openness our strategy promotes," and question "China’s broader goals." Mattis’ comment comes on the heels of efforts from the U.S. "to navigate increased tensions with Beijing, even as the Trump administration seeks Chinese help in curbing North Korea’s nuclear ambitions," reports the New York Times.
When North Korea exploded its nuclear test site at Punggye-ri last month, it was likely all a charade.
The evidence: The amount of dust from the explosions appears to have been too small for scientists to glean geologic activity, like a collapsed tunnel, and journalists who were invited to watch were 500 meters from the explosion, which indicates they were small blasts, per CNN.
Yes, that's an actual issue. U.S. officials are trying to figure out who should pay for the luxury hotel Kim Jong-un wants to stay at for the summit in Singapore, the Washington Post reports, citing two people familiar with the talks.
Why it matters: Of all the sensitive diplomatic issues involved with the summit, this isn't the one most of us would think of first. But it shows how complicated everything is in these talks — and it's only an issue because North Korea is so short on cash. (The U.S. doesn't want to offend Kim by picking up the check, per the Post, so it may ask Singapore to do it.)
Israel and the U.S. have agreed not to accept any changes in the 2017 Southern Syria cease fire deal unless Russia commits to taking steps to limit and roll back Iran's presence in this area and in the country as a whole, Israeli and U.S. officials tell me.
The backdrop: The Syrian army is about to start a military operation against rebels in Southern Syria near the Israeli and Jordanian borders, which would violate a ceasefire deal signed by the U.S., Russia and Jordan last July. The Russians want to update the deal because of the Syrian operation.
President Trump has announced that his summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un will take place as originally scheduled, on June 12 in Singapore. The announcement follows a meeting with North Korean official Kim Yong-chol, who delivered a letter from Kim written in response to Trump's decision to call off the summit last week.
Between the lines: Trump said talks with North Korea would be "a process” and he's been telling the North Koreans to "take your time," tempering expectations for the kind of breakthrough he had previously said was achievable. He described the meeting as "getting to know you, plus." Trump also signaled a change of tone, saying: “I don’t want to use the term maximum pressure any more.” That kind of rhetoric had angered the North Koreans, but was the standard way members of the Trump administration described their approach.
Kim Yong-chol, aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has arrived at the White House to meet with U.S. officials and hand-deliver North Korea's response to President Trump's announcement cancelling the June 12 summit in Singapore.
Be smart: U.S. and North Korean officials have been proceeding as if the summit is still on. Both nations have dispatched teams to Singapore, North Korea and the U.S. to nail down details of an anticipated summit. Yesterday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Kim Yong-chol in New York and expressed optimism that a summit could happen and announced additional conditions for the meetings.
Brexit Secretary David Davis is crafting a Brexit plan to give joint UK and European Union status to Northern Ireland that would allow both to trade freely, per Reuters, citing local reports.
The details: The proposal would also include so-called buffer zones along the border to remove checkpoints. Davis’ plan comes after British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would pull the UK out of the EU customs union. One of her plans allows the UK and EU to have separate customs areas while using technology to reduce costs and ongoing disagreements at the border. The other would impose tariffs “with no requirement of declarations of goods crossing the border,” per Reuters.