Middle East Crisis

Iran War
Hegseth grilled again ahead of important war deadline

On Thursday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will be grilled in the House of Representatives Defense Committee for the second day in a row, several media outlets report.

– American families are bearing the cost of a war they wanted nothing to do with and have gained nothing from, even though you declared victory a month ago, says Democrat Jack Reed.

Hegseth sticks to yesterday's line – that the war is a must to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.

Tomorrow marks 60 days since the first attacks on Iran. After this deadline, the administration cannot legally continue to wage war without Congressional authorization.

According to Hegseth, the countdown stops when there is a ceasefire – an assessment that Democrats do not share, and which will likely become a legal issue in the coming days. 

NATO's Future
Germany: We are prepared for fewer US soldiers

Germany is prepared for possible reductions in the US military presence in the country, says Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul according to AFP.

- We are discussing it in detail and trustingly in all NATO channels, and we expect a decision from the Americans.

Any such decision from the US will be "discussed with us and with others, as should be between allies", he adds.

Both Wadephul and Chancellor Friedrich Merz clearly emphasize that they are guarding the transatlantic partnership.

Donald Trump has threatened to move some of the tens of thousands of US soldiers in Germany after Merz criticized the US war effort in Iran.

Economic Impact
EU's Problem: Not Knowing How Much Fuel Is There

Europe has a problem in the current fuel crisis: No one knows how much fuel is in stock, reports Politico.

- We have control until May and June, but what happens after that is difficult to predict. There are strategic reserves, but no greater control over how much has been taken, says Tobias Meyer, CEO of the world's largest freight group DHL Group.

When it comes to government-owned oil and gas reserves, the overview is good, but with private stocks it's a different story. Refined fuels such as diesel and jet fuel are largely stored in commercial warehouses by companies that are reluctant to voluntarily share company information.