International News
Coverage of international events and global policy shifts. The Daily Signal offers news reporting with opinion and commentary on world affairs.
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news
‘Do Not Mention China’: Alleged AI Smuggling Conspiracy Rings Alarm Bells
Federal charges over an alleged conspiracy to smuggle advanced artificial intelligence technology to China have sparked bipartisan concern. Federal prosecutors announced charges against one Chinese national and two Americans on Wednesday for allegedly violating U.S. export control laws by attempting to send restricted computer chips to China. The alleged conspiracy began in 2023, included an… -
opinion
Europe’s Blackout War
An ongoing element of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been targeting and crippling energy infrastructure. Like Londoners in 1940 seeking shelter from German bombs raining down on them, Ukrainians are often forced to take cover in Kyiv’s metro as Russian missiles and drones barrage their city. Justifying such continuous, large-scale strikes, Russian President Vladimir… -
opinion
The Fragile Lifeline That Could Cut NATO in Half
NATO once centered planning around the defense of the Fulda Gap—the critical chokepoint through which Soviet tanks could push into West Germany. Today’s analog is the Suwalki Gap, a narrow corridor whose loss would amputate three member states from the rest of NATO. The military planning challenge is to prevent a Russian movement that would… -
news
Trump Reveals ‘Present’ From Iran
President Donald Trump said that Iran’s “present” to the United States is letting eight oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz. “They said, ‘To show you the fact that we’re real … we’re going to let you have eight boats of oil,’” Trump said of the Iranians at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday. Trump… -
opinion
The Iran War Just Reopened the Caspian Energy Map
The war in Iran is already reshaping the global energy map. Disrupted oil and gas flows, damaged infrastructure, and heightened volatility are destabilizing international markets. But even more consequential and positive effects may lie ahead. Foremost among these is a renewed strategic logic for the Caspian region and particularly for a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline that… -
opinion
‘We Know What You Did Last Summer’: How Russian Memos Exposed the Real 2016 Collusion
Recently declassified Russian intelligence memos—long buried until Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s releases—reveal that the Trump–Russia collusion narrative was never a sober counterintelligence inquiry. It was a frantic deflection straight out of the 1997 horror-thriller “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” The film is about four careless teenagers who commit a hit-and-run, dump the… -
opinion
The Case for Iran: Avoiding a Nuclear 9/11
On Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 Americans were murdered in the deadliest terrorist attack in our nation’s history. The World Trade Center towers collapsed in Lower Manhattan, the Pentagon was breached, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, became a graveyard for heroes who prevented even greater loss. The economic toll exceeded $100 billion. The psychological… -
news
Trump Reschedules Iran-Delayed China Visit for May 14-15
REUTERS—President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would visit China for a state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15, rescheduling a closely watched trip that was delayed due to the ongoing Iran war. Trump added that he would host Xi for a reciprocal visit in Washington later this year. “Our Representatives are… -
opinion
China’s Military Went Silent Around Taiwan for First Time in Years. Why?
In recent years, China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force has kept a near-constant presence around Taiwan. However, from Feb. 28 to March 6, there were no PLAAF sorties near the island for seven days. This was the first time there had been over four consecutive days without PLAAF activity near Taiwan since seven consecutive days… -
news
Trump Demands More From NATO as Gulf States ‘Hit So Hard’
President Donald Trump on Tuesday continued his call for more NATO assistance in the Middle East. When asked by The Daily Signal’s White House Correspondent Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell if he wanted the Gulf States to be more involved in the ongoing operation against Iran, Trump said, “A little bit, but more—more NATO.” “I think our Gulf allies have been pretty good, to be honest with… -
opinion
Heartland Polling: Iran War Is Unpopular, But Not Hurting Trump
Fresh new polling from the key battleground state of Wisconsin reveals that Midwestern voters take a skeptical view of the Iran war, with 40% approval and 50% disapproval. Right now, the split is very partisan with Democrat voters at net -71% approve, GOP voters at +60%—while independents come in at -19%. Seventeen percent of Republican voters against… -
news
Pentagon to Deploy 82nd Airborne to Middle East
The Pentagon is expected to send a combat team from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, according to multiple reports. The elite 82nd Airborne Division is known for its rapid deployment, and “secures key objectives for follow-on military operations in support of U.S. national interests,” the Army states. The move follows… -
opinion
Champagne Socialists Descend on Cuba to Virtue Signal Solidarity With Tyrants
The sputtering Castro-ist regime in Cuba has managed to stick to its communist roots. It’s doing this by ensuring that while everyone is “equal,” foreign stooges and social influencers willing to spread propaganda for the regime are treated more equally than others. That’s a time-honored, socialist tradition. Over the weekend a junket of various activists… -
news
Democrat Governor Celebrates Ramadan at Hamas-Linked Mosque
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, celebrated Ramadan at a mosque whose co-founder was convicted of funneling money to Hamas and with an imam who faced deportation proceedings over alleged Hamas ties. This imam also called for a “new intifada.” “Thank you to the Islamic Center of Passaic County for welcoming me to join… -
opinion
Victor Davis Hanson: Trump Won the Battle, But Will He Take Iran?
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson. We’re concluding the third week of the Israeli-United States effort to emasculate Iran, and we’re, sort of, in a standoff period…. -
news
Trump Stops Strikes on Iran’s Energy Infrastructure
President Donald Trump says the United States will not conduct strikes on Iranian power plants for the next five days. “I am pleased to report that the United States of America, and the country of Iran, have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of… -
news
Treasury’s Bessent Says US Has ‘Plenty’ of Funds for Iran War
WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) — The U.S. government has “plenty of money” to fund the war against Iran, but is requesting supplemental funding from Congress to ensure the military is well supplied in the future, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday. Bessent, speaking on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” program, also ruled out… -
news
Is the US Operation in Iran a Gift to Putin?
MIAMI—Operation Epic Fury bears significant consequences for Russia, according to European leaders. Russia is financially benefiting from the joint U.S.-Israel operation in Iran, but the conflict’s long-term implications are more complex. Russian oil sales significantly increased following the launch of the operation in Iran. With the Iranian regime threatening to strike ships moving through the… -
news
The Biggest Political Threat Facing Republicans Isn’t Iran
Operation Epic Fury continues to dominate the headlines as the United States and Israel pummel the Iranian regime. But the defining issue for American voters hits closer to home: concern about their personal finances. With the midterm elections approaching in seven months, recent polling reveals that the economy remains the issue most likely to influence… -
news
Do Trump’s Iran Strikes Poll Well? Opinions Differ.
Does President Donald Trump’s war with Iran poll well with Americans? The answer is complicated. On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified new Politico polling, which shows 81% of self-identified MAGA Republicans approve of Trump’s military action in Iran. Leavitt previously touted the same group’s 100% approval of Trump in an NBC News…