Hello and welcome back.

This week, Israel became the first nation to recognize Somaliland's independence, sparking condemnation from Somalia and Arab states; Japan approved a record $58 billion defense budget to counter China; and Beijing imposed sanctions on 20 US defense firms following major arms sales to Taiwan.

Meanwhile, President Trump ordered Christmas Day airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Nigeria, marking a significant escalation of US intervention in West Africa's jihadist crisis.

Read more below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇮🇱 🇸🇴 Israel becomes first nation to recognize Somaliland independence, sparking regional crisis: Israel formally recognized Somaliland as an independent sovereign state and signed an agreement to establish full diplomatic ties, making it the first country to do so since Somaliland's 1991 declaration of independence. Somalia denounced the move as an "illegitimate attack" on its sovereignty, while Egypt, Turkey, and the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the recognition as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability. 

2️⃣ 🇯🇵 🇨🇳 Japan approves record $58 billion defense budget to counter China: Japan's Cabinet approved a record 9 trillion yen defense budget for fiscal 2026, up 9.4% from 2025, marking the fourth year of a five-year program to double annual arms spending to 2% of GDP. China's Foreign Ministry accused Japan of "accelerating military buildup and expansion" and moving "in a dangerous direction."

3️⃣ 🇨🇳 🇺🇸 🇹🇼 China sanctions 20 US defense firms over Taiwan arms sales: Beijing imposed sanctions on 20 American defense companies and 10 executives following Washington's announcement of over $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan. The sanctions freeze company assets in China and ban individuals from entering the country or conducting business there. Among those sanctioned are Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Maritime Services, Boeing, and Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey. 

4️⃣ 🇺🇦 🇺🇸 Zelensky heads to Florida for crucial Trump talks as peace plan nears completion: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he will meet President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, focusing on a US-brokered peace plan that is "90% complete." The White House has proposed establishing a demilitarized zone in eastern Ukraine where both sides would withdraw troops by up to 40 kilometers, creating a potential "free economic zone" for contested Donbas areas. The latest proposals include US and European security guarantees modeled on NATO's Article 5, though Russia is unlikely to accept territorial compromises.

5️⃣ 🇹🇭 🇰🇭 Thailand and Cambodia agree to immediate ceasefire after deadly border clashes: More than 100 people were killed and over half a million displaced in weeks of fighting that the two countries have now pledged to end, with the ceasefire taking effect at noon on December 27. According to the joint statement, both sides will halt attacks using all types of weapons and maintain current troop deployments without reinforcement. The conflict stemmed from longstanding territorial disputes, with recent combat including F-16 airstrikes and artillery barrages despite earlier US-mediated attempts at peace.

Major Story

🇺🇸 🇳🇬 US LAUNCHES "CHRISTMAS PRESENT" STRIKES AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE IN NIGERIA

President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on Christmas Day against Islamic State-linked militants in northwestern Nigeria, calling them "a Christmas present" that militants "didn't think was coming." The operation targeted Lakurawa group camps in Sokoto state near the Niger border, with Trump stating "we hit them hard. Every camp got decimated."

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar said it was a joint operation planned "for quite some time," though Trump characterized the timing as his deliberate choice. Multiple militants were killed, though exact casualty figures remain unclear. The Lakurawa group has sought to establish a foothold in Sokoto state in recent years, with links to jihadist networks in Mali and Niger. The strikes mark the second major US intervention targeting Islamic State in recent weeks, following massive strikes in Syria.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇻🇪 🇷🇺 🇨🇳 Russia and China accuse US of "cowboy behavior" toward Venezuela at UN: Russia and China condemned what they called US intimidation during a tense Security Council emergency session requested by Venezuela. The meeting followed Trump's December 16 declaration of a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil vessels sailing to and from Venezuela, part of an escalating standoff that has seen dozens of US strikes on boats allegedly transporting drugs. 

2️⃣ 🇵🇱 🇷🇺 Poland accelerates €2bn anti-drone fortifications amid Russian threat: Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk announced Poland will complete new anti-drone defense systems along its eastern borders within 24 months, with first capabilities operational in six months. The fortifications will include machine guns, cannons, missiles, and jamming systems, integrated with existing defenses from a decade ago. 

3️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇩🇰 🇬🇱 Trump appoints special envoy to Greenland, drawing Danish rebuke: President Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland, prompting sharp criticism from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who said in a joint statement "you cannot annex another country" and that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders." Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he would summon the US ambassador, calling the appointment "completely unacceptable."

Daily Updates?

Want daily updates on the world of geopolitics as well as weekly?

Subscribe to our sister publication Geopolitics Daily here ⤵️

Tips & Suggestions

Before we see you next Sunday:

We welcome your news tips and suggestions for regular sections, just let us know the stories you want to see covered here: [email protected]

Book Shelf

Here are some books we recommend 📚:

Prisoners of Geography

The Revenge of Geography

The World: A Brief Introduction

The Shock Doctrine

Sea Power

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics

_{(Affiliate links)}