Rubin also turned his attention to former President Donald Trump’s policies, specifically questioning the imposition of 50% tariffs on India for its oil purchases from Russia. He suggested that Trump owes India a ‘vocal apology’ for this action, though he acknowledged Trump’s reluctance to apologize. The former official emphasized that broader US interests and global democratic values should supersede personal egos.

Addressing the global energy market, Rubin commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to supply more oil to India. He praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to Indian interests and pointed out the hypocrisy in the US lecturing India while simultaneously purchasing oil from Russia. Rubin stressed that if the US cannot provide India with cheaper fuel alternatives, its admonishments are unwarranted, as India must prioritize its own security needs.

The Ukrainian defense company Fire Point is behind this revolutionary design, prioritizing simplicity and rapid manufacturing. Unlike traditional missiles with complex internal components, the Flamingo’s engine is mounted externally, allowing for the integration of various available jet engines. Its warhead utilizes the formidable Soviet FAB-1000 air bomb, delivering a payload nearly double that of a Tomahawk. Furthermore, its carbon-fiber body, manufactured from a single piece, enhances its strength and accelerates production.

The strategic implications are profound. The Flamingo’s estimated cost is one-fifth that of a Tomahawk, and its production rate is astonishingly high, with Ukraine assembling approximately one missile per day and aiming to scale up to seven. This capability starkly contrasts with the slower, more expensive production of advanced Western weapons. The missile’s effectiveness has been proven in strikes against Russian naval installations, oil refineries, and military positions, forcing Moscow to reassess its defenses. The Pentagon is reportedly taking notice, as the Flamingo represents a paradigm shift towards ‘affordable mass’ production, suggesting that future conflicts may be won by nations that can quickly deploy large numbers of effective, low-cost weapons rather than relying solely on high-cost, advanced systems.

Trump previously asserted on his social media platform that the U.S. possesses the largest nuclear arsenal, a position he attributes to advancements made during his first term. He expressed a personal aversion to nuclear weapons but cited national security imperatives. The U.S. conducted 1,054 nuclear tests between 1945 and 1992, primarily in Nevada, before halting them due to environmental concerns and a decrease in Cold War tensions. The nation has since maintained a moratorium, though the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, signed by President Clinton in 1997, was not ratified by the Senate.

Following Trump’s announcement to bring the Washington police under federal control, all 800 National Guard soldiers sent to Washington D.C. have now been fully deployed, the Pentagon confirmed on Thursday. These guards are working to curb crime.

Why were the National Guard deployed?

On August 11th, President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in the nation’s capital and vowed to make its streets safe again. To restore safety, Trump deployed the National Guard. The National Guard is now playing a major role, working with federal and local law enforcement to enforce existing laws and remove violent criminals from the streets.

Trump stated, “I believe there is no more important job for this department than to ensure the safety of our nation’s capital, working alongside federal law enforcement partners and local police.”

How long will the guards be deployed?

Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said, all 800 Army and Air Force Guards are deployed as part of Joint Task Force DC and are now present in our capital. Wilson said the National Guard will “assist the DC Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement colleagues in securing monuments, community safety patrols, federal facilities and officers,” and at traffic control checkpoints. Wilson stated that the guards would remain deployed until law and order are restored in the district, as determined by the President.

How many people were subject to action?

President Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard on Monday. While this move has garnered support from some conservatives, critics cite the DC Metropolitan Police data, which shows a significant decline in violent crimes in 2024 – including murder and assault.

It is the first time since 1965 that a President has deployed the National Guard against the wishes of the state governor. Most National Guard forces are accountable to state governors and must be “federalized” to be brought under presidential control, but in Washington, these soldiers already report only to the US President. The White House said 45 arrests were made in Washington last night, of which 29 were of people illegally residing in the country, and more than 1,650 people are now involved in the law enforcement operation.

Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said on Thursday that the National Guard, while assisting law enforcement, will be able to temporarily detain people but will not have the power to arrest them.

The very weapons that the US prides itself on, the ones it relies on to project its power globally, have become a vulnerability. Similarly, the soldiers who enable US operations worldwide have become a source of concern. This spy wasn’t a Russian national or someone trained abroad; the level of Russian espionage now extends to active agents within the US military.

According to the US Department of Justice, sensitive information about American combat tanks was being stolen and sent to the Russian government. This operation involved a US soldier, who was arrested on Wednesday. The soldier, identified as Taylor Adam Lee, stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, was attempting to pass information about advanced US tanks to Russia. It is believed that the stolen data included technology used to control the M1A2 Abrams tank, which was being sent to Russia. Data from another armored fighting vehicle was also found in his possession.

Although the spy was arrested before the information could be fully utilized, it is alleged that Russia already possesses critical details about the Abrams tank, which it has cloned. While the veracity of these claims remains uncertain, it’s clear that Russia and China are conducting espionage operations in the US. This is evidenced by the arrest of two Chinese nationals in California, accused of illegally exporting Nvidia AI chips to China, including high-value H100 AI chips. Though the arrests were on charges of lacking proper licenses rather than espionage, the claim is that China is attempting to gain control of the global hardware market by cloning US technology.