On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners and Chris Servello, the co-host of our Cavas Ships podcast joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss a week that sent allies and partners scrambling as President Trump moves to end the Ukraine war, rehabilitate Vladimir Putin, support Kyiv only if it hands over right to half its rare earth mineral deposits, and his team encourages hard right parties in Europe; Trump’s suggestion that a deal with Russia and China would allow defense spending to be cut by 50 percent; 25 percent tariffs on aluminum and steel; after a few strong messaging weeks, the administration’s game slips; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s drive to reallocate 8 percent of the Pentagon budget for new priorities contained in his 2026 budget planning guidance to the military services that would protect border, strategic deterrent programs, nuclear submarine and unmanned efforts, but would target the F-35 Lightning II fighter and other manned platforms as well as Army programs to pay for the “Iron Dome” air and missile defense system; Callan’s four scenarios to consider in light of the current chaos; an update on the collision between USS Harry S. Truman and a the merchant bulk carrier Besiktas-M on the entry to the Suez Canal; and a look at the week ahead.
