Overview
- The Washington Post reports Pentagon leaders returned to the White House for a second day of talks as U.S. forces in the region, including aviators on USS Gerald R. Ford, studied Venezuelan air defenses and stand prepared for potential orders, though no presidential decision has been confirmed.
- President Donald Trump told reporters he intends to conduct U.S. nuclear tests "very soon," a stance CNN says Energy Department officials have urged the administration to reconsider.
- Kremlin readouts say Vladimir Putin convened his Security Council and directed officials to gather information and submit proposals on possible preparations for Russian nuclear tests.
- Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses downed four guided aviation bombs and 247 Ukrainian drones over the past day in the special military operation zone.
- A New York Times–cited Pentagon intelligence assessment flagged that a proposed F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia could risk leakage of sensitive technologies to China, even as Russia’s Foreign Ministry said contacts with Washington continue and it remains open to a well-prepared Budapest summit.