President Trump unveiled tariffs of at least 10% Wednesday on virtually the entire world, with one notable exception: Russia.
The intrigue: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios Wednesday that Russia was left off because U.S. sanctions already "preclude any meaningful trade." However, the U.S. still trades more with Russia than with countries like Mauritius or Brunei that did make Trump's tariffs list.
In today's global security environment, one needs to be "watching everywhere," according to Karl Rosander, the chief executive at Nordic Air Defence.
There are concerns across the greater Middle East, tensions between the U.S. and China, and pressures from Russia, "which has proven to have no hesitations to use any military means to disrupt European security," he told Axios in an interview.
"With or without [Vladimir] Putin, Russia will be an existential threat to Europe."
The U.S. will deploy ship-sinking missile launchers in the Philippines this spring as part of a military exercise also involving Australia and Japan.
Why it matters: The planned appearance of the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS, at Balikatan 2025 comes amid games of chicken in the South China Sea.
Beijing also continues to protest the U.S. Army's Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, which will be tested fired at Talisman Sabre, another drill, according to Defense News.
The White House is seriously considering an Iranian proposal for indirect nuclear talks, while at the same time significantly boosting U.S. forces in the Middle East in case President Trump opts for military strikes, two U.S. officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Trump has repeatedly said he'd prefer a deal, but warned that without one "there will be bombing." His timeline is tight: Trump gave Iran a two-month deadline to reach a deal, but it's not clear if and when that clock started ticking.
U.S. tourists and permanent residents from around the world have been arrested, detained and deported under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Why it matters: The recent high-profile detentions and deportations demonstrate an escalation in tactics from immigration officials accused of targeting some for their political stances or involvement.
First lady Melania Trump honored eight women from around the world she said "instigate progress for all of humanity" at an awards ceremony with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday.
The big picture: "These extraordinary women illuminate the transformative power of love in shaping our world," she said at the 19th annual International Women of Courage awards ceremony, which the State Department says honors women "who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership — often at great personal risk and sacrifice."
Russian President Vladimir Putin's close adviser Kirill Dmitriev is expected to visit Washington this week for talks on Ukraine with President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, two U.S. officials tell Axios. He'll be the most senior Russian visitor to Washington since the 2022 invasion.
Why it matters: Trump said Saturday that he was "pissed off" at Putin for his recent comments on Ukraine and warned of economic penalties if Russia blocks his ceasefire push. The visit from Dmitriev is a chance to break the stalemate in negotiations.
TikTok faces a Saturday ban if it is not sold to a U.S. owner — déjà vu.
The big picture: At least four groups have made offers to buy the app, but TikTok owner ByteDance would likely need Chinese government approval to sell.
Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter had a tense exchange with Brett McGurk, former President Biden's top Middle East adviser, after Leiter condemned the Biden administration's Gaza policy in a closed-door briefing at the Atlantic Council last week, according to four American and Israeli sources who attended the meeting.
Why it matters: The bad blood between Biden's team and the Netanyahu government hasn't gone away. Biden officials and many Democrats were furious over what they saw as ingratitude from Netanyahu and his allies during his last year in office, particularly given the heat Biden took from within his party over his strong support for Israel.
A Salvadorian national living in Maryland legally was wrongly deported to El Salvador, the Department of Justice has admitted in court papers filed Monday.
Why it matters: The erroneous deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, first reported by The Atlantic, is the latest stumble by the Trump administration as it seeks to deport more people using questionable methods amid a declining pace of removals compared to the Biden administration.
The body of the fourth and final U.S. soldier who went missing in Lithuania last week was found dead Tuesday, ending a weeklong search, the U.S. Army said.
The big picture: Search and rescue operations for the four soldiers began last Tuesday after they went missing during a training mission near the city of Pabradė, near the Lithuania-Belarus border.
President Trump's global dealmaking blitz is facing new obstacles, with early optimism eclipsed by broken ceasefires, pissed-off allies and thinning patience at home and abroad.
Why it matters: Ten weeks isn't a long time in foreign policy. But it was Trump who promised instant results — and Trump whose "Art of the Deal" credentials are at risk if chaos consumes his early presidency.
MAGA media is railing against an international "deep state" following a series of setbacks for overseas allies of President Trump.
Why it matters: Trump's loyal movement has sought to steadily expand its influence abroad, allying itself with right-wing parties and leaders in Europe, Latin America and Asia.
The Trump administration's pace of removing immigrants from the U.S. continues to lag behind Joe Biden's pace last year, even as detentions have jumped under President Trump, new numbers show.
The Trump administration has taken action to ensure a Signal group chat that inadvertently included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg can never happen again, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.
Why it matters: There have been growing calls from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for an investigation into the Signal scandal, with Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee the latest to call for an independent probe in a letter Monday to director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Elon Musk visited the CIA headquarters on Monday for talks on government efficiency, the spy agency director of public affairs Liz Lyons told Axios.
Why it matters: This is the first time Musk has visited the CIA since the establishment of DOGE, the federal cost-cutting department that is he is the face of.
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