President Trump leads new U.S.–Nigeria counterterrorism allianceAn op-ed on lawful partnership, civilian protection, and dismantling narco-terror revenue, by Andre Pienaar. Maps Map 1. Nigeria and Sokoto State (northwest operational area). Map 2. The Sahel belt across Africa (regional operating environment). Source: Munion, “Map of the Sahel,” Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. On December 25, 2025, US Africa Command announced that, at the direction of the President of the United States and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, US forces conducted strikes against ISIS camps in Sokoto State, with an initial assessment that multiple ISIS operatives were killed. Counter-terrorism works best when…

China has fired rockets close to Taiwan in a series of military exercises designed to test planning for an invasion of the island.Beijing deployed new amphibious assault ships alongside destroyers and bomber aircraft, on the second day of drills rehearsing a blockade of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.Donald Trump said he was not concerned by the provocative action, which China launched days after Washington approved £8bn in arms sales to the self-governing island.The “Justice Mission 2025” exercises – the largest by area and closest to Taiwan yet – began on Monday with Beijing deploying troops, warships, fighter…

Russian forces under the direct orders of President Vladimir Putin are executing prisoners of war as they intensify attacks during peace negotiations, one of Ukraine’s most decorated soldiers has said. Major Oleh Shyriaiev, who was granted the highest national decoration of Hero of Ukraine for his leadership on the battlefield, said that he regularly intercepted transmissions in which Russian military leaders gave orders to kill surrendering servicemen. Evidence of the war crimes has become overwhelming in recent months, according to combat observers. Footage filmed by Russian soldiers or Ukrainian reconnaissance drones shows troops being lined up and shot with automatic…

US defence chiefs believe China is expanding and modernising its weapons stockpile faster than any other nuclear-armed power, a draft Pentagon report highlighting Beijing’s growing military ambitions has revealed.China has loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles across its latest three silo fields and has no desire for arms control talks, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a Chicago-based non-profit.Beijing has described reports of a military buildup as efforts to “smear and defame China and deliberately mislead the international community.”Last month, US President Donald Trump said that he may be working on a plan to denuclearise with China…

By Isabella Egerton Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is preparing to deploy its Oreshnik hypersonic missile system to Belarus, a move he said would threaten several European countries. The relocation of the Oreshnik system to Belarus is nearing completion, and Ukraine knows where it will be deployed, he said in a statement. “We are sharing this information with our partners. The partners themselves can assess this threat and understand how to respond,” he said. “We previously warned our European and American partners that Russia would deploy Oreshnik in Belarus,” Zelensky added. “We showed the operational range of…

By André Pienaar The US State Department’s December 2025 condemnation of the doxing and harassment of American officials by the South African government marks a rare and deeply troubling escalation in diplomatic relations between Washington and Pretoria. Governments may disagree. They may protest policy. They may even pursue litigation or sanctions. What they may not do, without crossing a national security red line, is weaponise personal data against foreign officials. That is precisely what the United States now alleges South Africa has done. According to the State Department, South African government actors publicly disseminated sensitive personal information belonging to US…

By Ben Farmer America is close to sealing a security pact with Nigeria after US President Donald Trump threatened to send in troops “guns a-blazing” to stop the persecution of Christians. A delegation of US congressmen who toured the country say Washington is nearing an agreement, which is expected to include intelligence sharing and training for Nigeria’s forces. Mr Trump in November threatened military action after saying Christianity faced an “existential threat” from attacks by Muslim militants in the West African nation. “They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers,” he said at the time.“We’re not going…

By Staff Writer Vladimir Putin has dismissed European leaders as “little pigs”, as Russia hardened its public stance on a US-backed peace framework that would offer Ukraine Nato-style security guarantees but stop short of full alliance membership. Russian officials said they would not return territory occupied in Ukraine or accept the presence of foreign peacekeepers, following the presentation of a revised 20-point framework discussed during talks involving Ukraine, the United States and European governments. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said Moscow viewed the proposals with “extreme seriousness”, but added that Russia would not agree to terms that, in his…

By Staff Writer Blaise Metreweli, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service’s first speech on how MI6 is keeping the UK safe in a world where the rules of conflict are being rewritten. In her first speech Ms Metreweli,  the head of MI6 also known as C, describes the threats facing the UK now and in the future. The full transcript of her speech is below: Welcome inside MI6. This iconic building, familiar to movie fans everywhere, is the home of Britain’s foreign intelligence agency. But whilst hundreds of my team pass through the entry pods each day, the truth is…

By Sean Rayment Defence chiefs believe that UK military intelligence will be more efficient, faster and better able to anticipate future threats following the launch of the new Military Intelligence Services (MIS). The major overhaul of Defence’s intelligence organisations comes amid increasing threats to the UK and will help keep Britain ahead of hostile states and terrorists, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. Following the recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review, the reforms bring every intelligence unit and organisation within Defence under a single structure for the first time. This includes units from the Royal Navy, British Army and…

By Sean Rayment Britain’s top spy has warned that the front line against Russia is “everywhere”, urging the country to be ready for President Vladimir Putin’s “export of chaos” to continue until he is forced to change his methods. In her first public speech since becoming “C”, Blaise Metreweli will say that the “front line is everywhere” as a result of Moscow’s use of hybrid warfare, including disinformation, sabotage and cyberattacks. She warned that the UK is entering an “age of uncertainty” as the rules of conflict are being rewritten by Russia and other hostile actors. Metreweli is the first…

By Staff Writer When Hugo Armando “El Pollo” Carvajal finally pleaded guilty in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on 25 June 2025, the former Venezuelan military intelligence chief admitted what US prosecutors had alleged for years: that senior officials inside the Chávez–Maduro regime used cocaine as a weapon against the United States, in partnership with a designated terrorist group, and were prepared to arm that conspiracy with machine guns and explosives. Now, from a US federal prison cell, Carvajal has gone further. In a letter dated 02 December 2025, addressed to President Donald Trump…