tisdag 24 februari 2026
Latin American Drug Trafficking
President: Violence not a threat to World Cup
Despite the extensive violence in recent days in Mexico, there is no reason to worry ahead of this summer's World Cup, which is being held in the country, among other things. This is what the country's President Claudia Sheinbaum says according to Reuters.
The unrest has flared up because the cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho", was killed by the Mexican military.
This weekend, several matches in the country's top football league were forced to be canceled due to roadblocks and arson.
Sources: CIA crucial for the crackdown on El Mencho
Intelligence from the US CIA was crucial for the operation in which the Mexican cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, was killed. This is what sources tell Politico.
According to the sources, several US agencies are said to have been involved, but the CIA's contribution is particularly pointed out. Mexico has previously confirmed that the US supported the operation but has stated that the American information only served as a complement.
The CIA's involvement is described as a conscious change of course under the leadership of new director John Ratcliffe.
- Ratcliffe has focused on hitting cartels since day one and this is part of a broader strategy, says the source.
Trump's USA Address to Congress
The speech may give Trump the chance to gather support for an attack
Donald Trump's address to Congress on Wednesday night, the so-called "State of the Union" address, is expected to be a dress rehearsal of the message that Republicans will use during the mid-term elections. The AP writes.
Trump is expected to focus heavily on domestic issues, including the Supreme Court's decision to invalidate his tariffs. The news agency also writes that the president's threat of an attack on Iran has cast a shadow over his domestic policy agenda.
Donald Trump's advisers are said to have urged him to focus heavily on the economy and immigration policy, according to Reuters.
The news agency also writes that the speech, which will be held at 03:00 Swedish time, gives the president an opportunity to get voters to rally behind his aggressive threats against Iran.
Headwinds for Trump ahead of tonight's big speech
A majority of Americans believe that Donald Trump is taking the country in the wrong direction. This is according to a survey conducted by the Marist Institute on the occasion of Trump's first "State of the Union" speech tonight during his second term, reports NPR.
55 percent respond that Trump is changing the USA for the worse. This can be compared to the fact that the figure during the first term was never higher than 46 percent.
At the same time, the survey shows that there are large differences in the view of Trump. Among Democratic voters, 90 percent believe that the USA has deteriorated over the past year. Among Republican voters, on the other hand, eight out of ten believe that the country has improved.
Voters without a clear party affiliation are predominantly negative.
Middle East Crisis Iran-US Tensions
Expert: Trump Could Be Forced into a War He Doesn't Really Want
Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran in the hope of forcing the country into a nuclear deal, but no deal has yet been signed.
The Financial Times writes that the president is considering "the biggest foreign policy risk" of his term.
Middle East expert Aaron David Miller at the CEIP think tank tells the newspaper that Trump has put himself in a difficult predicament. The president is locked in, as he has both promised support for Iranian protesters and strengthened the US military presence in the Middle East.
- If he fails to get significant concessions from the Iranians to avoid a war he doesn't want, he will be forced into one, says Miller.
On Tuesday, Iran stated that the country will do everything it can to reach an agreement with the US.
Iran: Will do everything to reach an agreement
Iran hopes for an agreement with the US as soon as possible. This is what the country's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said, according to Reuters.
- We will do everything necessary to make it happen, he said.
According to reports, the two countries will meet in Geneva on Thursday to discuss Iran's nuclear energy. The US has a massive military presence in the Middle East, and an attack on Iran is reportedly on Trump's list of options.
Takht-Ravanchi emphasizes that Iran will respond harshly to a US attack or aggression.
Satellite Images Show US Buildup Around Iran – Largest Since Iraq War
The US military presence near Iran has increased rapidly, with more than 150 aircraft being moved to bases in Europe and the Middle East, according to flight tracking data and satellite images reviewed by the Washington Post.
The current US military presence in the region is one of the largest in more than two decades – since before the 2003 Iraq War. Experts the newspaper spoke to say the resources now being gathered suggest plans for a multi-day campaign without a ground invasion.
The build-up comes after President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran if no deal to limit the country’s nuclear program is reached.
The conflict between the US and Iran — the issue
- In February 2026, the US and Iran held indirect talks in Geneva with Omani mediators about Iran's nuclear program, where the parties agreed on guiding principles but still have some unresolved issues.
- USA har kraftigt ökat sin militära närvaro i Mellanöstern, bland annat med två hangarfartyg och stridsflygplan, samtidigt som Iran genomfört militära övningar och förstärkt sina anläggningar.
- Donald Trump has threatened military attacks if no agreement is reached, and the administration has discussed both limited and extensive attacks on Iranian targets.
- Iran has signaled some willingness to compromise but refuses to completely abandon uranium enrichment. According to government sources, the US may possibly accept a symbolic level if the possibility of nuclear weapons is closed.
- Several actors, including Russia and Trump's own advisors, have warned of serious risks of war. Israel and other states in the region are preparing for possible military action.
TT
Trump: A very bad day for Iran
US Defense Chief Dan Caine warns of great risks with an attack on Iran, according to several American media.
But President Donald Trump denies that there is a disagreement and that the general has objections.
"General Caine, like all of us, would like to avoid war, but if a decision is made to go military against Iran, he believes it will be easy to win," Trump writes on Truth Social.
According to Trump, Caine has not tried to discourage attacks on Iran at all.
"He only knows one thing, how to WIN, and if he is told to do so, he will lead the pack," Trump writes.
The president further writes that he would prefer to reach a settlement with Iran.
"If we do not reach an agreement, it will be a very bad day for that country and, unfortunately, for its people," Trump writes.
The United States and Iran have resumed negotiations over Iran's nuclear program this year. At the same time, increased tensions between the countries have led the United States to send large naval and air forces to the Middle East.
Prenumerera på:
Kommentarer (Atom)