Top U.S. general visits Venezuela, backs transition plan.
Today's events
Venezuela transition.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made his first official visit to Caracas, holding talks with the interim government and U.S. embassy and backing President Trump's three-phase plan for a stable, democratic Venezuela.1Jun 18 · Joint ChiefsHezbollah sanctions.
State and Treasury designated two Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese officials and a business network spanning Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Oman, pressing for the group's disarmament and the restoration of Lebanese state control.2Jun 18 · StateFortinet breach.
CISA warned that attackers compromised roughly 74,000 internet-facing Fortinet firewalls and VPN gateways using leaked credentials, urging organizations to reset all passwords and enforce phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication immediately.3Jun 18 · CISACarolina lithium.
A U.S. Geological Survey study estimated 1.43 million metric tons of recoverable lithium oxide in the southern Appalachians — enough to cover about 200 years of U.S. imports and ease reliance on China-dominated supply.4Jun 18 · USGSGermany drug probe.
The U.S. Trade Representative opened an investigation into Germany's underpayment for innovative pharmaceuticals, alleging it forces American patients to fund a disproportionate share of global drug research; a hearing is set for September.5Jun 19 · USTRBosch–Huawei case.
In its first corporate declination under the new enforcement policy, the Justice Department's National Security Division had Bosch disgorge $11.4 million for exporting sensor products and software to Huawei without a license.6Jun 17 · DOJNuclear pact.
The United States and the Dominican Republic signed a civil nuclear cooperation memorandum to expand power generation and medical-isotope work and deepen energy ties across the hemisphere.7Jun 17 · StateFoiled hate plot.
A federal grand jury indicted a Florida man who allegedly brought a silenced AR-15-style rifle to a pro-Israel group's office in a thwarted mass shooting targeting Jewish employees.8Jun 18 · DOJCountering China.
The Government Accountability Office found State and USAID spent about $1.2 billion on roughly 470 projects to counter Chinese influence since 2020 but never assessed whether the money worked.9Jun 17 · GAO
This week
Rates on hold.
The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate at 3.5–3.75% in a unanimous June 17 vote, saying inflation stays above its 2% target partly because of energy and Middle East supply shocks. It was the most direct sign this week that overseas energy disruption is feeding U.S. consumer prices: the central bank named supply shocks, not just domestic demand, as a reason it has not cut rates.3Jun 17 · FedUnmanned warships.
The Navy on June 15 selected seven companies for at-sea trials of its Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel program, with $15 million and a path to production for each that completes testing; trials begin next month.7 The same day, a government watchdog warned the Navy is organizationally unready for the robotic warfare that Ukraine and the Middle East have shown to be decisive, faulting leadership gaps and platform-centric budgeting.8Jun 15 · Navy
Allied Governments
G7 backs Iran deal.
Group of Seven leaders endorsed President Trump's U.S.–Iran memorandum and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and agreed to tighten Russia sanctions and accelerate air defenses for Ukraine.aJun 17 · UKTanker clears Hormuz.
Japan said a Japan-crewed vessel held in the Persian Gulf passed safely through the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S.–Iran signing, with 37 more Japan-linked ships still awaiting transit.bJun 19 · Japan MoFANATO 3.0.
NATO defense ministers reported “good progress” on higher spending and nuclear modernization ahead of next month's Ankara summit, pressing Europe and Canada to shoulder more of the alliance's burden.cJun 18 · NATO
Voices
“The United States is committed to a stable, prosperous, and democratic Venezuela aligned with the United States.”
Joint Chiefs of Staff readout, Caracas · Jun 181
“Hizballah is the single biggest obstacle to Lebanon's recovery and future, and holds the state hostage to a permanent state of conflict.”
Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, U.S. Dept. of State · Jun 182
“Fighting the war against disease is a shared burden across wealthy nations.”
HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. · Jun 195
“This research shows that the Carolinas contain enough lithium to help meet the nation's growing needs — a major contribution to U.S. mineral security.”
USGS Director Ned Mamula · Jun 184
“This declination reflects the clear benefits for companies that promptly disclose potential violations and fully assist in our investigations.”
AAG John A. Eisenberg, DOJ National Security · Jun 176
“Without a process for assessing results across the portfolio of funded projects, working group officials and other stakeholders lack evidence to determine the effectiveness of projects.”
GAO, “Countering China” · Jun 179
Sources
- Joint Chiefs of Staff, “Readout of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine's Visit to Caracas,” June 2026. jcs.mil/…/caines-visit-to-caracas
- U.S. Dept. of State, “U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Hizballah-Aligned Officials and Business Associates,” June 18, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/sanctions-on-hizballah-aligned-officials
- CISA, “CISA Urges Hardening Fortinet Devices After Reports of Credential Exposure,” June 18, 2026. cisa.gov/news-events/…/hardening-fortinet-devices
- U.S. Geological Survey, “USGS: Lithium in Carolinas Could Replace Imports for a Century or More,” June 18, 2026. usgs.gov/news/…/lithium-carolinas
- USTR, “USTR Announces Initiation of Section 301 Investigation of Germany's Persistent Underpayment for Innovative Pharmaceutical Products,” June 19, 2026. ustr.gov/…/section-301-investigation-germany
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “National Security Division Announces First Declination Under the Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy,” June 17, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/first-declination-corporate-enforcement
- U.S. Dept. of State, “United States and the Dominican Republic Sign Nuclear Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding,” June 17, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/dominican-republic-nuclear-cooperation
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Florida Man Indicted for Attempted Mass Shooting Targeting Jewish Victims,” June 18, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/florida-man-indicted
- U.S. Government Accountability Office, “Countering China: Agencies Provided Over $1 Billion but Have Not Assessed Overall Results of Projects,” June 17, 2026. gao.gov/products/gao-26-107822
- UK Prime Minister's Office, “G7 leaders' statement on geopolitical issues: 17 June 2026,” June 17, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/g7-leaders-statement
- Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Passage through the Strait of Hormuz by a Japan-related vessel,” June 19, 2026. mofa.go.jp/press/release/…/hormuz-passage
- NATO, “NATO Defence Ministers make good progress ahead of the Ankara Summit,” June 18, 2026. nato.int/…/ankara-summit-progress