On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss House’s $892 billion version of the National Defense Authorization Act as the measure heads to the Senate as fights over a continuing resolution and a government shutdown continue to loom; the assassination of far-right influencer Charlie Kirk becomes the latest act of American political violence; Russia launched some two dozen long-range drones at a base in Poland that’s key to supporting Ukraine, Moscow’s first direct attack on the alliance as Warsaw called for Article 4 consultations and Russia stepped up attacks on Ukraine; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth makes his first call with China’s Defense Minister Adm Dong Jun during which he stressed America does not seek conflict in the Indo-Pacific, but will defend its interests; Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said America will split profits from Japan’s investment in America 50-50, but after Japan earns back its $550 billion, Washington will get 90 percent of profits and Tokyo just 10 percent; after arresting 475 at a joint Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia, the administration was prepared to release 300 South Korean workers, but said they could stay in the United States if they helped train American workers; and Israel launched an air strike on Hamas’ office in Doha, involved in Gaza negotiations, but despite worldwide ire Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu demanded Qatar either expel or bring to justice Hamas officials otherwise Israel would.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Congress’ return to Washington as government shutdown worries mount; the National Defense Authorization Act moves from the Senate to the House; Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst decision to retire; Texas, California and Missouri redistricting moves; how lawmakers and industry view the prospect the Trump administration will acquire stakes in defense contractors; the administration’s deployment of naval forces to the Caribbean that launched the first of what officials says will be more strikes on drug runners; China hosts leaders from two dozen nations seeking to thwart US power worldwide and the significance of Xi Jinping holding hands with Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi; French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Ukraine’s European allies in Paris to discuss peacekeepers in the country as Russia continues to reject the prospect of troops on Ukrainian soil; and Israel continues its Gaza occupation despite opposition from the country’s top security officials.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s statement that the administration would take stakes in defense and aerospace firms; what’s next for ending the Ukraine war a week after President Trump hosted key meetings; Russia launched its largest attack in a month with a strike just 50 yards from EU and British Council offices in Kyiv as European governments work to increase support for Ukraine; Washington continues to move toward normalizing relations with with Russia as the Wall Street Journal reports energy deals have been discussed including Exxon reentering a cooperative venture with Rosneft; the administration’s drive to fire top intelligence officers specializing in Russia; South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s White House meeting that put shipbuilding at center of US-Korea alliance; China prepares for its 80th anniversary Victory Day celebration with Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Masoud Pezeshkian; Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles visited Washington to schedule a meeting between his boss Anthony Albanese and Trump; Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Tokyo as Washington and New Delhi conduct remote 2+2 talks; GOP senators’ Taiwan visit; France, Germany and Britain’s call on the UN to implement “snap back” sanctions on Iran for violating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; Israel presses ahead with operations in Gaza including two strikes on a hospital that killed five more journalists and 15 others in an attack that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he regrets and will be investigated.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the implications of the Trump administration’s increasingly muscular intimidation moves including the FBI raid on former National Security Adviser Dr. John Bolton’s home and the National Guard deployment to Washington; the civil-military implications of the moves; the Pentagon’s forced retirement of US Air Force chief Gen. Dave Allvin; what’s next for Russia’s war on Ukraine after President Trump’s meetings with Vladimir Putin as well as Volodymyr Zelenskyy and allied leaders; outlook for peace and security guarantees for Ukraine; how China is viewing Trump’s Ukraine negotiations and rhetoric; Beijing’s increasingly aggressive intimidation efforts against Manila; in the wake of US tariffs and sanctions New Delhi moves to warm relations with Beijing; despite mounting international mounting pressure, Israel moves to occupy Gaza City as it seeks to relocate Gazans to South Sudan as a massive new settlement is authorized to split West Bank in two to prevent the future creation of a Palestinian state.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the geopolitical implications of President Trump’s tariff war escalation on trading partners; use of US economic might to force Russia to make a peace deal ending the Ukraine war; prospect of talks between Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin and what to expect if the two leaders meet; Washington’s heavy sanctions on New Delhi with a heavy sanctions for violating US and EU sanctions on Russian oil as furious Indian leaders consider ending US weapons purchases; Ukraine’s long-range attacks on Russia’s refineries as existing sanctions continue to weaken the Russian economy; Australia’s decision to pick Japan’s Mogami-class frigate as its next major surface warship in a $6.5 billion deal that would be the biggest Japanese export contract since World War II; Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders agree to a US-brokered deal that gives Baku the transit corridor through southern tip of Armenia it has long sought but with 99-year US economic development zone in Armenia’s Zangezur region; developments in Lebanon and Iran; and analysis of Israel’s plan to occupy all of Gaza starting with Gaza City to defeat Hamas before handing it to Arab forces and Germany’s decision to block export of German arms to Israel that could be used in Gaza.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian the Senate remains in session to markup the defense appropriations bill; moves to block members from trading stock but exempts President Trump and Vice President Vance; twice rejected Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., proposals to restrict arms sales to Israel; confirmed political appointees but Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan briefly blocked Adm. Darryl Caudle from becoming the next chief of naval operations demanding the long-closed Adak Naval Air Station be reopened; South Korea accepted 15 percent tariffs ahead of Trump’s Aug. 1 deadline as the president slapped higher tariffs on nations worldwide including 35 percent on Canada, 39 percent on Switzerland, and 50 percent on Brazil to punish the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsenaro who launched an insurrection to remain in power; Mexico’s 90-day extension to make a deal; France and Germany frustration with EU for failing to fight a 15 percent tariffs; Trump’s demand Russia and Ukraine strike a peace deal in 25 days and imposition of secondary sanctions on India for buying Russian oil; the proposal by Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, for $54.6 billion in aid for Ukraine; with the Talisman Saber military exercise underway in Australia and Singapore, Washington blocked Taiwanese President Lai Ching Te from transiting the United States enroute to Paraguay to avoid disrupting trade talks with Beijing; and growing international pressure on Israel over growing starvation in Gaza as the Arab League pressures Hamas.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the furore over whether to release convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s records again upended Congress as the Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., abruptly adjourned the house as appropriations, another continuing resolution, rescissions, reconciliation, the NDAA and the prospect of a government shutdown looming; President Trump announces a tariff deal with Japan and as talks with China and the EU move ahead that likely will result in higher baseline trade taxes; as allies work to support Ukraine, tensions in the country rise over President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s move against anti corruption authorities as Russia presses an offensive that continues to advance; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders department leaders to stop engaging with think tanks; and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen as starvation spreads and the president’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff breaks off talks in Qatar saying Hamas isn’t interested in a deal and an Israeli cabinet minister says the campaign is an effort to empty Gaza of Gazans.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate Republicans’ move to rescind $9 billion in approved funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting; the House Armed Services Committee’s NDAA markup as the Senate Armed Services Committee filed their version of the bill; President Trump’s decision to sell arms to NATO members that would pass the weapons to Ukraine and 50-day deadline to make a peace deal otherwise Moscow would face stiff primary and secondary sanctions; the meeting between British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; France’s new national security strategy; the de-escalating US-China trade war as a possible summit looms; Japan’s Defense White Paper ahead of important Upper House election Sunday; China-Australia trade ties as war games and defense pressures mount; Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s eroding coalition; Israel’s strikes on Syria to prompt the country’s interim leader to protect the country’s Druze minority; and the rising death toll in Gaza rises as a Hamas deal remains elusive.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the defense implications of Republican passage of President Trump’s signature legislative agenda that cuts taxes and benefits but also increases the debt as lawmakers seek two more reconciliation packages over the coming years; the Supreme Court’s decision to allow Trump to unilaterally shrink the government workforce; the president ratchets up his tariff war threatening nations with punishment unless they agree to his terms, straining US relationships worldwide; frustrated with Vladimir Putin, Trump pledges more weapons to Kyiv as Moscow steps up attacks on Ukraine; British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron agree to an unprecedented nuclear pact to respond to “extreme threats” to Europe without US help, a combined joint force, weapons collaboration and immigration; Secretary of State Marco Rubio vows to trim his “bloated” department by 15 percent as he makes his first trip to Asia to attenuate the backlash from his boss’ tariffs, including assuaging Australian concerns over the Pentagon’s AUKUS review; despite punishing air strikes, the Houthis sink two cargo ships; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is seen in public as evidence mounts that Iran has retained its nuclear stocks; and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu makes his third visit to Washington.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Republican opposition to President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” as GOP leaders prepare to adopt unprecedented budget gimmicks to pay for the increasingly unpopular legislation; reconciliation, appropriations, the NDAA and rescissions; what’s next for Iran’s nuclear program after 12 days of hostilities that including US bombers striking Tehran’s nuclear sites; Iran’s vow not to return to the negotiating table despite Washington’s call for more talks; NATO leaders’ strategy of lavishing praise on the US president to curry favor and stall the withdrawal of American forces from Europe; Xi Jinping decides to skip the annual BRICS meeting in Rio de Janeiro prompting questions why the Chinese leader would miss such an important gathering; what’s next in Gaza as Israel continues strikes and constricts aid; and the national implications of Democratic Socialist-candidate Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York mayoral primary.