The European Union has adopted its 18th sanctions package against Russia after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico lifted his veto. The new measures ban transactions with 22 Russian banks, restrict the use of Nord Stream pipelines, and impose a dynamic cap on Russian crude oil, starting at $47.6 per barrel. Over 400 “shadow fleet” vessels are now blacklisted, and loopholes related to refined Russian oil imports have been closed. The decision follows weeks of negotiation, with Slovakia seeking energy security guarantees amid the planned phase-out of Russian fossil fuels by 2027.
GERMANY DEPORTS 81 AFGHAN NATIONALS
Germany has deported 81 Afghan men back to Afghanistan under Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s new hardline migration policy. All deportees had criminal records, according to the Interior Ministry, and each was provided up to €1,000 in support to avoid legal complications over destitution. The flight, coordinated with Qatar, is the second deportation to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover and the first under Merz’s government. Human rights groups criticized the move, citing Afghanistan’s ongoing instability. Meanwhile, Merz is hosting a summit with European leaders to tighten migration cooperation further.
MERZ ADMITS EUROPE FREE-RIDING
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged Europe’s past underfunding of its defence, echoing US concerns about NATO burden-sharing. In a BBC interview during his UK visit, Merz highlighted closer ties with the US and UK, stressing weekly calls with President Trump on Ukraine, trade, and tariffs. He signed a new UK-Germany treaty to boost defence cooperation, curb illegal migration, and expand youth exchanges. Merz also pledged Germany’s legal crackdown on small-boat smugglers and announced plans for a London-Berlin rail link. The triangular partnership of Germany, France, and the UK is now a core European security initiative.
US DEPLOYS F-15EX
The United States has deployed its most advanced air superiority fighter, the F-15EX Eagle II, to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. This move strengthens Washington’s position in the Indo-Pacific amid rising tensions with China over Taiwan. The F-15EX, boasting a 104-0 combat record, replaces the older F-15C/D fleet and features upgraded radar, electronic warfare systems, and missile payloads. A permanent fleet of 36 jets is expected by spring 2026. The deployment reinforces US deterrence in the First Island Chain and underscores its commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
PAKISTAN BLOCKED TRF TERROR MENTION
In a diplomatic expose, Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar admitted blocking the mention of The Resistance Front (TRF)—a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot—in a UN Security Council statement on the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Despite TRF’s designation as a global terrorist group by the US and its proven links to Lashkar, Pakistan manipulated UNSC language to deflect blame. India provided extensive proof of TRF’s operations, including recruitment, weapon smuggling, and psychological warfare in Kashmir. The episode underscores Pakistan’s ongoing role in shielding terror proxies while presenting itself as a counter-terror partner globally.
