On June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a major strike on Iran’s nuclear and military sites, killing key Iranian commanders and scientists. Iran responded with missile attacks under Operation True Promise-3. The conflict marks a dangerous escalation, shifting from covert operations to open warfare with global implications.
The April–May 2025 India–Pakistan conflict marked the most serious military clash since Kargil, featuring missile strikes, drone warfare, and LoC skirmishes under a nuclear shadow. Triggered by a terror attack in Kashmir, the crisis escalated rapidly before U.S.-brokered diplomacy secured a ceasefire. Despite intense engagements, both sides avoided nuclear thresholds, demonstrating calibrated force and strategic restraint.
With U.S. support wavering, Europe may soon bear primary responsibility for backing Ukraine. As Trump signals a shift, EU aid has already surpassed U.S. contributions. To offset a full U.S. pullback, Europe must boost funding and invest in Ukraine’s defense industry. The coming NATO summit will test Europe’s resolve.
In May 2025, the US and Iran held their fifth round of indirect nuclear talks in Rome—the highest-level engagement since 2018. While some progress was made, key disputes remain over uranium enrichment, sanctions relief, and future guarantees. With the JCPOA snapback mechanism expiring in October, time for a lasting deal is running out.
At the May 2025 London summit, the UK and EU reached key agreements aimed at easing post-Brexit tensions and reviving trade, defence, and youth mobility ties. The standout deal on agri-food trade removes costly export barriers, offering critical relief to struggling sectors like lamb and seed potatoes. A defence pact opens access to EU programs for UK firms, though political influence remains limited. Controversially, EU fishing in UK waters will continue until 2038, prompting mixed reactions. While energy and youth mobility deals offer economic and cultural benefits, analysts warn that the service sector—the backbone of the UK economy—remains largely overlooked.
In May 2025, the United States and China—two of the world’s largest economies—agreed to a 90-day pause in their escalating trade war. Both nations sharply reduced tariffs on each other’s goods, offering temporary relief to businesses and global markets. While this truce signals a positive step toward easing tensions, key issues like technology, copyright, and trade rules remain unresolved. Experts warn the agreement is only a short-term break, with the potential for renewed conflict if lasting solutions aren’t reached.
