United States International Relations
- A Seized Oil Tanker and the Big Business of Dark Fleet Smuggling - The U.S. seizure of a vessel off Venezuela is likely to squeeze the country’s government, but do little to counter the tankers that secretively move oil from sanctioned countries.
- China Is Getting Much of What It Wants From the U.S., Including Chips - For China, President Trump’s moves to loosen chip controls, soften U.S. rhetoric and stay silent on tensions with Japan amount to a rare string of strategic gains.
- U.S. Helped to Weaken Report at U.N. Environment Talks, Participants Say - American officials joined Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran in objecting to language on fossils fuels, biodiversity and plastics in a report that was three years in the making.
- ‘Pretty Strong Words’ Used on Ukraine Call With European Leaders, Trump Says - Diplomatic efforts have stalled as Britain, France and Germany try to push President Trump away from a proposal to end the conflict that would favor Russia.
- What Trump’s National Security Strategy Gets Right About Europe - It’s an actual place, not an arbitrarily bounded zone.
- Mexico Approves 50% Tariffs on Many Chinese Imports - The tariffs will apply to goods from China and other nations. Washington has been pressuring Mexico to move away from dealing with China.
- Trump Says U.S. Seized Oil Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast - The seizure comes as the United States builds up its forces in the Caribbean as part of a pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela.
- Nobel Peace Prize for Venezuela’s María Corina Machado Draws Criticism - María Corina Machado is being honored for her push for democracy even as she backs President Trump’s military buildup and aggressive campaign against Venezuela.
- Inside the Pentagon’s Scramble to Deal With Boat Strike Survivors - Officials initially weighed sending survivors of U.S. attacks on boats suspected of drug smuggling to a notorious prison in El Salvador, to keep them away from American courts.
- Ukraine Could Be ‘Ready for Elections,’ Zelensky Says - The Ukrainian president told reporters that a vote could be held in 60 to 90 days if the country received security protections from the United States.