Rubio meets Modi in Delhi ahead of Quad summit as U.S. Iran blockade hits 100 ships.
Secretary Rubio met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi ahead of Tuesday’s Quad foreign-ministers meeting. CENTCOM said the U.S. naval blockade of Iran has redirected 100 commercial vessels in six weeks. Seven Arctic allies issued a joint security statement on Russia and China. Kevin Warsh was sworn in as Federal Reserve chairman.
Day 86 · Iran war Year 5 · Ukraine war
Events
- Rubio in Delhi. Secretary Rubio opened a four-day India trip, meeting External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi to advance the U.S.–India strategic partnership ahead of Tuesday’s Quad foreign-ministers meeting.1May 24 · State
- Iran blockade. CENTCOM said U.S. forces have redirected 100 commercial vessels at Iranian ports in six weeks of enforcing the maritime blockade, disabling four ships and allowing 26 humanitarian transits; over 15,000 troops and 200 aircraft and warships support the mission.2May 23 · CENTCOM
- Arctic Allies. Seven Arctic nations — Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the U.S. — agreed to deepen coordination on military presence, surveillance, and critical-infrastructure protection, citing Russia’s military activity and China’s growing strategic interest.3May 22 · State
Voices
“We are the two largest democracies in the world, and so that alone is a baseline for incredible cooperation.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio, New Delhi · May 241
“They have been highly effective by executing the mission with precision and professionalism, allowing zero trade into and out of Iranian ports which has squeezed Iran economically.”
Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander · May 232
“The Arctic is quickly becoming a sphere of increasing geopolitical strategic importance. With Russia’s increased military activity and China’s growing strategic interest, we seek to bolster stability.”
Joint Statement of the Arctic Allies · May 223
Show 3 more voices
“We’re sending you to lead, we’re sending you to forge warriors, and we’re sending you perhaps, to war — and you are ready.”
Sec. of War Pete Hegseth, West Point · May 249
“Gasoline prices are higher than in February because of increasing crude oil prices related to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”
EIA — Today in Energy · May 226
“By closing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran threatens freedom of navigation and global commerce and attempts to hold the global economy hostage.”
NATO Sec-Gen Mark Rutte, Helsingborg · May 22a
Allied Governments
- NATO ministers. NATO foreign ministers wrapped a two-day meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, preparing July’s Ankara summit; Sec-Gen Rutte said allies are charting a credible path to 5%-of-GDP defense spending and discussed the Strait of Hormuz.aMay 22 · NATO
- APEC trade. APEC trade ministers met May 22–23 in Suzhou, China, on WTO reform, digital trade, and supply-chain integration; Japan’s State Minister Horii flagged non-market practices, overcapacity, and economic coercion as threats to the rules-based order.bMay 22–23 · Japan MoFA
Show 6 more events
- Fed leadership. Kevin Warsh was sworn in Friday as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors; the FOMC unanimously selected him as its chairman. His term runs through May 2030.4May 22 · Fed
- U.S.–Sweden tech deal. Rubio and Swedish Foreign Minister Malmer Stenergard signed a Technology Prosperity Deal MoU spanning AI, biomedical research, quantum, advanced manufacturing, space, and a trans-Arctic subsea-cable plan linking North America to Northern Europe.5May 22 · WH
- Memorial Day gasoline. U.S. retail gasoline averaged $4.49/gal on May 18, up 42% year-over-year and the highest pre-Memorial Day average since 2022, EIA reported, citing the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Strategic Petroleum Reserve releases.6May 22 · EIA
- Hormuz and Ankara. Rubio met Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan on the margins of the NATO ministers’ meeting; the two discussed opening the Strait of Hormuz, regional stability, and July’s NATO Summit in Ankara.7May 22 · State
- DRC contact group. A 10-nation International Contact Group statement urged the DRC and AFC/M23 to honor the Washington Accords and Doha Framework, and flagged the WHO’s May 17 declaration of Ebola as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.8May 22 · State
- West Point. Defense Secretary Hegseth told 998 graduating cadets the Army is sending them “to forge warriors, and… perhaps, to war,” citing Operation Epic Fury and 13 fallen joint-force members named in the Memorial Day proclamation.9May 24 · DOD
This week
- Iran blockade hits 100 ships
- Warsh takes the Fed
- Arctic Seven security pact
- Castro indicted
- Beijing summit deliverables landed
Sources
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio With Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar,” May 24, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rubio-with-jaishankar
- U.S. Central Command, “U.S. Blockade of Iran Reaches Milestone of Redirecting 100 Ships,” May 23, 2026. centcom.mil/…/iran-blockade-100-ships
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Joint Statement on Arctic Security from the Arctic Allies — Canada, Kingdom of Denmark including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States of America,” May 22, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/arctic-security-joint-statement
- Federal Reserve, “Kevin Warsh Takes Oath of Office as Chairman and a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the FOMC Unanimously Selects Warsh as Its Chairman,” May 22, 2026. federalreserve.gov/…/warsh-oath-of-office
- White House, “Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Sweden Regarding the Technology Prosperity Deal,” May 22, 2026. whitehouse.gov/releases/…/sweden-technology-prosperity-deal
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, “The Regional Differences in Gasoline Prices This Memorial Day,” May 22, 2026. eia.gov/todayinenergy/…/memorial-day-gasoline-prices
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary Rubio’s Meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan,” May 22, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rubio-fidan-meeting
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Joint Statement from the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG) on the Situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),” May 22, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/icg-great-lakes-drc-statement
- DOD War.gov, “Hegseth Tells West Point Cadets They Are Ready to Lead,” May 24, 2026. war.gov/news/…/hegseth-west-point-commencement
- NATO News, “NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Sweden Address How to Make the Alliance Stronger,” May 22, 2026. nato.int/news/…/helsingborg-ministers-ankara-prep
- Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “2026 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting,” May 23, 2026. mofa.go.jp/press/…/apec-mrt-meeting