Let’s stop bullshitting ourselves: America’s foreign policy lumbers around the globe like a blackout town drunk—smashing windows, claiming it's a rescue mission, and wondering why no one wants the help. For the last 50+ years, we’ve worn the cape of “global leader”… [Read more…]
Let’s stop bullshitting ourselves: America’s foreign policy lumbers around the globe like a blackout town drunk—smashing windows, claiming it's a rescue mission, and wondering why no one wants the help. For the last 50+ years, we’ve worn the cape of “global leader” while setting half the world on fire—and now we’re shocked people don’t want to invite us to the barbecue. … [Read more…]
The world is becoming an increasingly strange place. In the words of the immortal Hunter S. Thompson, patron saint of SOFREP, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." The CIA's latest maneuver might just be the professional weirdness needed in today's high-stakes game of international espionage. The Digital Battlefield: CIA's Unconventional Recruitment Drive In a … [Read more…]
You know it's a bad poker night when you're bluffing with an IOU scribbled on a cocktail napkin and the other guy's holding aces. That's precisely where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finds himself—trapped in a geopolitical dumpster fire, relying on U.S. goodwill that's as stable as a meth-fueled Diddy orgy. My first visit was in 2016 during the winter with my … [Read more…]
The latest attempt to broker peace in Ukraine has unraveled, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff abruptly withdrew from high-level talks in London. This unexpected move has left the international community scrambling and cast doubt on the future of diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict. A Sudden Exit Amidst Fragile … [Read more…]
Good evening! Welcome to SOFREP’s evening brief. Here’s a quick roundup of defense and global affairs for Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Israeli drone strike killed a Jamaa Islamiya commander near Beirut. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed 14 and destroyed aid equipment. Syria arrested two Islamic Jihad members. US State Secretary Rubio announced major deparment cuts. Russia hit Odesa … [Read more…]
War ain't what it used to be. Back in the day, if you wanted something, you showed up with your Viking ships, kicked down the village doors, and took it. Then came the nuclear age, which should still scare the crap out of all of us. So far, we are narrowly avoiding self-inflicted annihilation. Then terrorism saw the rise of asymmetrical warfare with undefined conflicts … [Read more…]
Imagine strolling through a U.S. military base's shopping area, picking up your favorite protein powder or multivitamins, only to discover that the store you're patronizing is owned by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Sounds like something straight out of a novel about the dystopian future of America, right? Unfortunately, this is the reality we're facing today. The … [Read more…]
Let’s cut the politeness and call it what it is: The UK and EU couldn’t fight their way out of a paper bag soaked in French wine and Brexit tears in a modern conflict. No offense to the great men and women of their respective militaries; it's no fault of theirs. However, the numbers and defense tech don't lie. I've served with EU country units and they are extremely … [Read more…]
For decades, the US military's "foreign policy" for Latin America has been mostly centered around different versions of counterinsurgency, Cold War, post-Iraq War, and post-Operation Enduring Freedom 1 & 2, with the idea of finding relations through "hearts and minds." Present reality, however, requires the US Department of Defense (DoD) to understand that the influence of … [Read more…]
Vice President JD Vance's upcoming visit to a U.S. military base in Greenland has ignited a firestorm of diplomatic tensions and public outcry. Originally planned as a cultural engagement, the trip's evolution and geopolitical undertones have raised concerns among Greenlandic and Danish officials, as well as the local populace. From Cultural Exchange to Strategic … [Read more…]
In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, the United States has successfully mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine, resulting in agreements aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Black Sea region. The negotiations, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from March 23-25, 2025, have yielded promising outcomes that could pave the way for broader peace negotiations in the … [Read more…]
Let’s get something straight: everybody screws up. Even the best. Especially the best. But what separates the mediocre from the legends is how you handle the fallout when your fingerprints are all over a live grenade that just went off in the war room. Case in point: National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and the absolute circus act that was the Signal chat leak about a military … [Read more…]
