I - On Defense Podcast

For review:1. US Continues Military Build-Up in Puerto Rico.The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that at least 10 CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which are used to transport special forces, arrived in the Caribbean theater from Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.The Journal also reported that C-17 cargo planes from Fort Stewart and Fort Campbell Army bases arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday.2. Israel reportedly started shipping weapons to the Syrian Druze just days after Syria’s Iran-backed President Bashar al-Assad was ousted a year ago.3. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met on Wednesday with Hamas officials in Ankara to discuss the ceasefire in Gaza and advancing to the second phase of the agreement, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.4. As President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled details of a U.S.-Ukraine draft peace plan on Dec. 24, aimed at ending Russia's full-scale war, two key provisions remain unresolved.The disagreements center on provisions 12 and 14 of the 20-point proposal. Both deal with issues Kyiv calls existential: territories and the future of critical infrastructure.5. Senior Russian General Killed by Car Bomb in Moscow.6. Sweden will soon have the capability to conduct deep strikes far behind enemy lines, as the Gripen will be integrated with the German-made Taurus cruise missile earlier than planned (2028).7. China Plans Future Naval Force with Nine Aircraft Carriers.

For review:1. Israel has reportedly warned the Trump administration that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may be using an ongoing military exercise focusing on missiles as cover to launch an attack on Israel, amid fears that Jerusalem and Tehran are readying for another confrontation.2. Finland's President (Alexander Stubb): Russia - Ukraine Peace Closer than Any Point in the War3. US Coast Guard Pursuing 3d Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker.4. President Trump Announces New "Trump-Class" Battleship.The U.S. Navy will buy two new “battleships” as part of the “Golden Fleet” effort, President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan announced Monday at Mar-a-Lago.5. The U.S. Coast Guard Legend-class will serve as the basis of a new Navy frigate program, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle announced on social media Friday.The new frigate design will focus on American designs and American yards.6. The US Air Force has awarded nine companies contracts for an early stage of the second round of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, selecting a wide array of designs that will be evaluated for potential future prototyping, an Air Force spokesperson told Breaking Defense today. The spokesperson did not say when the awards were made or what companies were picked. The nine successful firms will now compete for a prototyping deal, which the spokesperson said could be offered to more than one company.7. U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law a nearly $1 trillion annual defense policy bill. The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, authorizes a record $901 billion in annual military spending, $8 billion more than the President requested.

For review:1. US Seizes Second Venezuelan Sanctioned Tanker.2. US Strikes 70 ISIS Targets in Syria.The attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, the U.S. officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and HIMARS rocket artillery also were used.3. NBC Report: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present plans for a possible fresh attack on Iran to US President Donald Trump during his upcoming visit to Washington. According to the report, Israel is growing increasingly concerned that Iran is rebuilding and even expanding its ballistic missile production in the wake of the nations’ 12-day war in June.4. Russia & France Consider Dialogue.5. Chinese Aircraft Carrier Fujian 18 Sails Thru Taiwan Strait.

For review:1. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is leaving the possibility of a war with Venezuela on the table.2. US Secretary of State: We Need to Clarify (ISF) Mandate Before We Can Expect Countries to Contribute Troops.3. Report: Turkey to Return S400 System to Russia to Allow F-35 Purchase.4. European leaders on Dec. 19 approved a $105 billion interest-free loan for Ukraine.5. Potential US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases for Taiwan- estimated $11 billion include:·        82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), 420 ATACMS systems and other strike weapons, valued at up to $4.05 billion·        60 M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers valued at up to $4.030 billion ·        Altius Autonomous Air Vehicles valued at up to $1.1 billion·        Tactical Mission Network Software valued at up to $1.01 billion·        1,050 Javelin Missiles valued at up to $375 million·        1,545 TOW 2B Missiles valued at up to $353 million·        AH-1W Helicopter spare and repair parts valued at up to $96 million.“China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it,” said a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

For review:1. President Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tankers.2. Speaking at an annual meeting with top military officers, Russian President Putin said Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals and “eliminate the root causes of the conflict” by diplomatic means, but he added that “if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.”3. Six Countries Join (Gaza) Board of Peace. The US has secured commitments from Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany to have their leaders join US President Donald Trump on the Board of Peace.4. The United States Central Command hosted a conference in Qatar on Tuesday with dozens of partner nations to discuss plans for an International Stabilization Force for the Gaza Strip.Egypt, Indonesia, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Italy, France, the UK, and Azerbaijan were among the attendees. Other countries at the summit included Cyprus, Georgia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Jordan, Japan, Greece, Singapore, the EU, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Morocco, Bahrain, Bosnia, Finland, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Spain, and Yemen.5. Senators voted 77-20 on a bipartisan basis to send this year’s National Defense Authorization Act to the desk of President Donald Trump, who has indicated he will sign the bill. The 2026 NDAA authorizes $900.6 billion in defense funds, or about $8 billion more than the White House’s request.