Weekly Brief

Welcome to the tut0ugh Weekly Brief. This past week, airstrikes, ceasefires, elections, recognitions, sanctions, defence expansion, nuclear restarts, and new strategic alignments reshaped global politics across regions.

First time reading? Stay ahead of current events. Sign up here.

Feel free to send us feedback at [email protected]

US conducts airstrike on IS targets in northwest Nigeria

The United States has carried out an air strike against Islamic State (IS) militants in northwest Nigeria in what both governments described as a coordinated counterterrorism operation.

President Donald Trump said he authorised the strike as Commander-in-Chief, while US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed it targeted known IS camps in Sokoto state, killing multiple fighters.

Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, said the action was based on Nigerian intelligence and long-term joint planning, and stressed it was “not about any particular religion”. Both sides said the strike forms part of broader security cooperation against militant groups operating in the region, and that further operations remain possible depending on evolving threat assessments.

Thailand and Cambodia sign new ceasefire after weeks of border clashes

Thailand and Cambodia have signed a new ceasefire agreement to halt weeks of cross-border fighting over disputed territory after earlier de-escalation efforts collapsed.

The deal was signed at a border checkpoint by Tea Seiha, Cambodia’s Defence Minister, and Nattaphon Narkphanit, Thailand’s Defence Minister, following military-level talks. The agreement commits both sides to halt troop movements and avoid airspace violations..

It reinforces a July ceasefire brokered by Malaysia and backed by President Donald Trump. Both governments report dozens of military and civilian casualties, and each maintains it acted in self-defence while pledging to uphold the new de-escalation measures.

Nasry Asfura declared winner of Honduras election amid delays and disputes

Nasry Asfura, the candidate of Honduras’ National Party, has been declared the winner of the country’s closely contested presidential election following weeks of delays and allegations of irregularities.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) confirmed Asfura won 40.3% of the vote, narrowly ahead of Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party on 39.5%, after the 30 November poll was delayed twice by technical failures. Around 15% of tally sheets were counted manually after the electronic system malfunctioned.

Ana Paola Hall, President of the CNE, blamed a private contractor for unauthorised system maintenance. Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, urged respect for the result and a peaceful transition, while President Xiomara Castro and congressional leader Luis Redondo questioned the process’s legitimacy.

Israel becomes first state to recognise Somaliland’s independence

Israel has formally recognised Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, becoming the first country to extend official recognition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar signed a mutual declaration with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi on 26 December 2025. Netanyahu said the move was “in the spirit” of the Abraham Accords and invited Abdullahi for an official visit to Jerusalem, which Somaliland’s leader described as historic and accepted.

Somaliland has functioned as a de facto state since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, maintaining its own government, currency, and security forces. The recognition marks a significant diplomatic shift in the Horn of Africa, with potential implications for regional politics, sovereignty norms, and international engagement.

UN Security Council debates US–Venezuela tensions over sanctions and tanker seizures

The UN Security Council held an emergency debate on escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela following US seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers, expanded sanctions enforcement, and a US military build-up in the Caribbean.

Mike Waltz, US Ambassador to the UN, said Washington will enforce sanctions “to the maximum extent” to cut off funding for the Cartel de los Soles, designated by the US as a foreign terrorist organisation, and accused President Nicolás Maduro of financing drug trafficking through oil revenues.

Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s Ambassador to the UN, accused the US of aggression and acting outside international law. Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s Ambassador, and Sun Lei, China’s Deputy Ambassador, warned against escalation and regional destabilisation.

Japan’s ¥9 trillion defence budget and nuclear restart reshape security and energy policy

Japan’s cabinet has approved a record ¥9 trillion defence budget for the next fiscal year, a 9.4% increase as part of Tokyo’s plan to raise military spending to 2% of GDP by 2027. The strategy prioritises strike-back capabilities, coastal defence, and unmanned systems, identifying China as the primary strategic challenge.

China’s defence ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang criticised Japan’s space and security policies as militarising space and fuelling an arms race.

Separately, Japan has moved closer to restarting the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant after a Niigata assembly vote backed Governor Hideyo Hanazumi’s approval. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports restarts to strengthen energy security, though safety reviews and public protests continue.

Trump announces new US battleship class; France approves next-generation aircraft carrier

President Donald Trump has announced plans for a new class of US Navy battleships, proposing two initial vessels and a longer-term fleet of up to 20–25 ships. He said the programme would reinforce naval dominance, deter China, and expand domestic shipbuilding. The concept, informally labelled the “Trump Class”, envisages 30,000–40,000-tonne ships built in the United States with AI-enabled systems and advanced weapons.

Separately, Emmanuel Macron, President of France, has approved contracts for a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace the Charles de Gaulle. The vessel is expected to displace around 80,000 tonnes and carry roughly 30 aircraft. During a visit to the UAE, Macron also met Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional stability and defence cooperation.

Algeria labels French colonisation a state crime; DRC resumes cobalt exports

Algeria’s parliament has unanimously passed a law declaring France’s 130-year colonisation of Algeria a “state crime”, formally calling for an apology and reparations from Paris.

Speaker Brahim Boughali said Algeria’s historical memory is “neither erasable nor negotiable”. The law cites alleged abuses including nuclear testing, torture, extrajudicial killings, and resource exploitation, and frames compensation as an inalienable right. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, has previously described colonisation as a “crime against humanity” but has not apologised, while French foreign ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux declined comment.

Separately, the Democratic Republic of Congo has resumed cobalt exports after a 10-month ban. Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba said the suspension sought to stabilise prices and reinforce control over strategic minerals, as the DRC remains the world’s dominant cobalt producer.

Japan and New Zealand deepen defence ties; New Zealand and India conclude FTA talks

Japan and New Zealand have signed two defence agreements to deepen military cooperation and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.

New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi formalised an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) and an Information Security Agreement (ISA) in Tokyo. The ACSA enables the sharing of logistics, fuel, services, and access to military facilities, while the ISA establishes a framework for secure classified information exchange.

Both governments said the deals support multilateral coordination and the rules-based international order, alongside increased joint naval activity and UN sanctions monitoring on North Korea.

Separately, New Zealand and India concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 22 December 2025. The FTA will make 95% of exports tariff-free or reduced, cut average tariffs to 3%, and support Wellington’s export diversification and long-term growth strategy.

Israel, Greece, and Cyprus deepen strategic coordination at Jerusalem summit

Israel, Greece, and Cyprus have reaffirmed their strategic partnership following a trilateral summit in Jerusalem focused on energy, security, and regional connectivity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, calling the talks the most consequential in the trilateral format to date. The leaders agreed to deepen cooperation across energy, technology, connectivity, and security, and to advance the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

They also highlighted Greece’s role as a liquefied natural gas (LNG) gateway into south-eastern Europe, reinforcing diversification away from Russian gas.

The meeting took place amid heightened eastern Mediterranean tensions, with all three states stressing stability, multilateral coordination, and resilient regional economic and security frameworks.

Thanks for reading the tut0ugh Weekly Brief.

Stay informed—follow us on social media for daily updates on global events.

See you next week!