Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense Shield Would Cost $1.2 Trillion: Congressional Budget Office

Chevron Nears Deal To Expand Venezuela Oil Operations Venezuela could soon become a much bigger part of Chevron’s global oil business, according to Bloomberg. The company is reportedly nearing an agreement to take control of operations at two large crude-producing areas in the country’s Carabobo region, adding access to substantial heavy-oil resources. The potential expansion comes as Washington seeks to attract more American capital to Venezuela’s energy sector and boost the country’s output. Chevron already has an established presence there through a partnership with state oil company PDVSA, making it the only...

Central Asia Is Escaping The 'Backyard' Label Authored by Ziaulhaq Tanin via RealClearWorld, Three decades after their independence, Central Asia is still often viewed through outdated geopolitical lenses - a region once called "Russia's backyard" and more recently as an arena of competition among Russia, China, and the West. Yet this familiar narrative no longer captures the region's strategic reality. Central Asian states are increasingly using great-power rivalry not simply to navigate external pressure, but to expand their own choices and strategic room for maneuver. This transformation is driven not by a...

Iran-Oman Hormuz Route 'Agreed To' As Iran Warns Against US 'Interference' Summary Iran says Hormuz route is agreed: Tehran says it has finalized a shipping route with Oman, blaming U.S. actions for delaying a final agreement. Tehran claims victory: Iranian officials say the deal would lock in Iran's wartime gains and strategic leverage over Hormuz. Mixed messages: Trump says a deal could come within days, while Iran insists the talks are only with Oman. Draft outline emerges: Reports outline Iranian oversight of inbound traffic and Omani management of outbound shipping. High stakes as pressure eased...