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ONEST Brief: Europe boosts Ukraine as AI rivalry intensifies and Middle East tensions grow
White House photo from the Cabinet meeting at Camp David (July 31, 2026).

ONEST Brief: Europe boosts Ukraine as AI rivalry intensifies and Middle East tensions grow

Today’s developments point to a common theme: security is becoming increasingly interconnected. Europe is accelerating military support for Ukraine, cyber threats are moving higher on the international agenda, AI competition is becoming a national security issue, and instability in the Middle East continues to affect maritime security and global
By Olga Nesterova • 4 min read
Daily Brief: The Iran and Ukraine Wars Converge, Russian Drones Breach NATO and Washington Targets Global Accountability
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy delivers his July 25 address. Screenshot: Video by the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Daily Brief

Daily Brief: The Iran and Ukraine Wars Converge, Russian Drones Breach NATO and Washington Targets Global Accountability

Russia’s war against Ukraine and the expanding conflict around Iran are no longer moving along separate tracks. Romania has shot down drones breaching its airspace for three consecutive days, with at least one confirmed as a Shahed of the type used by Russia. Ukraine alleges that Russia is supplying
By Olga Nesterova • 10 min read
House Passes NDAA Deepening US-Israel Defense Integration — As Senate Weighs Broader Regional Intelligence Network
Explained

House Passes NDAA Deepening US-Israel Defense Integration — As Senate Weighs Broader Regional Intelligence Network

The House passed its FY2027 defense authorization bill Wednesday with a provision establishing deeper US-Israel defense technology cooperation. Meanwhile, a separate Senate intelligence bill would expand intelligence sharing with Israel and Abraham Accords partners — potentially building an intelligence layer on top of the regional normalization framework. The US House
By Olga Nesterova • 5 min read
Daily Brief: US–Iran War Widens as Trump Opens New Trade War With Canada
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta patrols the Arabian Sea while enforcing the US maritime blockade on May 18, 2026. (US Navy/CENTCOM)
Daily Brief

Daily Brief: US–Iran War Widens as Trump Opens New Trade War With Canada

President Donald Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on most Canadian goods, overriding protections previously available under the North American trade agreement and reopening a potentially devastating dispute with the United States’ second-largest trading partner. The announcement came as the United States carried out a ninth consecutive day of
By Olga Nesterova • 7 min read
China Offers AI as a Global Public Good — But Access Also Builds Influence
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers the keynote address at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference on July 17, 2026. (Photo: Mao Ning/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Explained

China Offers AI as a Global Public Good — But Access Also Builds Influence

Beijing’s lower-cost models, weather technology and training programs could narrow a real technological divide. They are also components of a broader effort to shape the infrastructure, standards and institutions governing artificial intelligence.
By Olga Nesterova • 6 min read