International
Latvia will introduce mandatory national defense classes in all institutes
All Latvian high schools will teach mandatory national defense classes from the start of next year on September 1, Prime Minister Evikta Silina announced on Thursday in statements to the press.
With the decision, a 2018 law is made effective by which defense classes were first introduced on a voluntary basis in certain centers, in the tenth and eleventh years, with the subsequent goal of making them mandatory from 2024.
Silina spoke at a press conference after an ordinary Council of Ministers in Riga in which the Minister of Education, Anda Caksa, also participated, who indicated that the subject would include 112 hours of theory and practical exercises over two years.
Educational centers will have some flexibility to adjust their program and create space for the new mandatory classes, but not at the expense of science subjects or language and literature, Caksa said.
They will teach the instructor classes of the Voluntary Corps of Young Cadets, which has already participated in the pilot program and has its own programs of extracurricular and summer activities.
Caksa said that the requirements of the subject mean that educational centers must set up shooting ranges or have access to areas where they can practice shooting.
For his part, the Minister of Defense, Andris Spruds, explained that the subject will include topics ranging from the historical and theoretical basis of national defense, the role of the armed forces and civil defense to practical issues such as leadership, survival in the field, first aid and handling of weapons.
Although the idea of implementing the subject dates back to 2018, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the moment the classes are seen as a preparation for the National Defense Service (VAD), the new military service that combines voluntary and mandatory elements implemented in 2023.
The first two rounds were covered with volunteers, but in the third there have been mandatory recruitments after some volunteers did not meet the specified requirements.
Silina also said at the press conference that the first shipment of drones to Ukraine will soon be on its way, within the framework of the coalition of 14 countries to supply these devices to Kiev.
Spruds refused to provide details about its characteristics but said that it is mainly first-person vision (FPV) drones, which allow the operator to operate the device depending on what he sees through the cameras.
International
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that trust between the United States and its Western allies has been “lost,” warning that the damage could persist beyond the presidency of Donald Trump.
“The rupture is very deep, and the loss of trust in U.S. great power policy is significant—not only among its allies, but also, as I observe, globally,” Steinmeier said during a speech in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Foreign Ministry.
Referring to the future of transatlantic relations, he stated that “there is no return to the situation before January 20, 2025,” the date marking the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.
“Even a future U.S. administration will no longer be able to resume the role of a benevolent hegemon guaranteeing a liberal international order,” added Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany’s foreign minister.
He also criticized the war against Iran, describing it as “contrary to international law” and calling it “a political mistake with serious consequences.”
“This war is avoidable and unnecessary,” he said.
Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Germany, aligning with the government’s cautious stance while going further in tone.
International
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States has held talks with Iran—a claim denied by Tehran—and has temporarily paused his threat to target the country’s electrical infrastructure.
In his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched their offensive on February 28, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to address key global issues, including the situation in the Middle East, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven will meet in Cernay-la-Ville, close to Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris.
During the meeting, Rubio will hold discussions with his counterparts on “the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and threats to global peace and stability,” Pigott said.
France currently holds the presidency of the G7, whose members also include the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Although all G7 nations are close allies of the United States, none has offered explicit support for Washington’s military actions against Iran, a stance that has reportedly frustrated Trump.
Last Saturday, G7 foreign ministers called for an “immediate and unconditional end” to Iranian attacks against U.S. allies in the Middle East.
International
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
The Pentagon is planning to deploy nearly 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Persian Gulf, according to two senior officials cited Tuesday by Spanish newspaper El País.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah warned it would confront any attempt at occupation following Israel’s announcement that its military will take control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers from the border.
In recent hours, the Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut, while Iran and Hezbollah responded with attacks on Israel, leaving at least six people with minor injuries in Tel Aviv.
The escalation comes as global markets react to renewed instability. The price of oil rose again above $100 per barrel after a brief decline the previous day, following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a five-day truce on attacks targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Despite the announcement, Iranian authorities reported that two projectiles struck a gas pipeline in Khorramshahr and administrative buildings at a gas facility in Isfahan early Tuesday.
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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