A verbal order from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefly halted 11 arms shipments to Ukraine without presidential approval, exposing cracks in Trump’s early national security process.
Just a week into President Donald Trump’s second term, the U.S. military halted 11 flights carrying weapons to Ukraine. The order, issued verbally from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s office, stopped shipments from Dover Air Force Base and a U.S. base in the UAE.
The pause stunned officials in Kyiv, Warsaw, and Washington. Top national security staff were unaware of the decision, and the White House said the move reflected Trump's position at the time. But according to several sources, Trump gave no instruction to stop aid.
The flights resumed within days, but the confusion underscored deeper dysfunction. TRANSCOM records show the order came after a January 30 Oval Office meeting. Sources say Hegseth may have misunderstood a discussion about using aid as leverage in peace talks.
The incident cost TRANSCOM up to $2.2 million and raised concerns about the chain of command. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz later reversed the decision. He was removed from his post last week and is now expected to be nominated U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
Behind the scenes, Hegseth was reportedly influenced by a group of Pentagon advisers with no prior government experience and anti-interventionist views. Some of those staffers, including Dan Caldwell, were later escorted from the building over alleged security breaches.
The White House maintains that the war is closer to resolution than when Trump took office. But Ukraine, already struggling in the east, was caught off guard by the pause. U.S. and European officials described it to Kyiv as “internal politics.”
No new military aid policy has been announced. The final Biden-era shipments are now moving again.
Iran should continue “blocking the Strait of Hormuz,” while the U....
The U.S. should shut down its military bases in the Middle East, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ...
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has set recognition of Tehran’s inalienable rights, payment of war ...
International security and climate change are top of the agenda as leaders and policymakers from around the world mee...
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned about the "reputational risks" of appointing Peter Mandelson as U.S....
Iran should continue “blocking the Strait of Hormuz,” while the U.S. should “shut” its Middle East military bases, new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Thursday in his first speech since being elected. He is still yet to appear in public, and a broadcaster read out his words.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has set recognition of Tehran’s inalienable rights, payment of war compensation, and international guarantees against any future invasion as conditions for ending the U.S.–Israel war with the Islamic Republic.
International security and climate change are top of the agenda as leaders and policymakers from around the world meet at the 13th Global Baku Forum in the Azerbaijani capital this week.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned about the "reputational risks" of appointing Peter Mandelson as U.S. Ambassador due to his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, files released on Wednesday (11 March) show.
The 32 countries belonging to the Internatioanl Energy Agency agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil on Wednesday (11 March), in efforts aimed at bringing down the price of crude oil, which has soared since fighting between Iran, Israel and the U.S. started at the end of February.
The U.S. should shut down its military bases in the Middle East, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday (12 March). His words were read out by a broadcaster on state Iranian television.
A towering lava fountain from Kilauea shot about 400 metres into the air late on Tuesday (11 March) on Hawaii Island, prompting temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and part of a key highway as volcanic ash and debris fell over nearby areas.
More than 68,000 children in eastern Afghanistan have been displaced after clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces intensified along the border, according to a new report by Save the Children.
Norwegian police apprehended three brothers suspected of carrying out Sunday's (8 March) bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, in an attack investigators have branded an act of terrorism.
Freight transport on the China–Europe Railway Express grew strongly in the first two months of 2026, highlighting the growing importance of rail links between Asia and Europe. The network moved about 352,000 shipping containers between January and February, a 25% increase from a year earlier.
At least 64 people have been killed in southern Ethiopia following recent landslides and floods, the regional government’s communications office said on Thursday (12 March), citing local police
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Norwegian police apprehended three brothers suspected of carrying out Sunday's (8 March) bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, in an attack investigators have branded an act of terrorism.
Oil prices continue to fluctuate as a result of the conflict in the Middle East with Iran and the insecurity of ships sailing through the key Strait of Hormuz route. Iran has said it will target any ship linked to the U.S., Israel or their allies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment