Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Biden to push Saudi Arabia for more oil, but Russia could reap the rewards
President Biden on Friday is expected to privately urge Saudi leaders to ramp up oil production in a bid to curb massive global price spikes and relieve a mounting political headache back home, but there are signs that his push may have an unintended winner: Russia. Published July 14, 2022
Ukraine’s optimism tests Biden’s ability to keep NATO unified as Russia cements gains
Ukrainian leaders insist their country will prevail over Moscow and eventually reclaim much of the eastern territory seized by Russian troops so far in the nearly five-month war. But military insiders and foreign policy analysts say such rosy predictions don't reflect the reality on the ground. Published July 13, 2022
Diplomatic drama as Biden, Putin weigh G-20 leaders’ summit
It's shaping up to be a landmark economic summit, a potential showdown between warring countries, and a face-to-face confrontation of long-term international rivals all rolled into one. Published July 8, 2022
NATO gets a big new border with Russia in major expansion
Sweden and Finland took another step toward joining NATO on Tuesday after the 30-country alliance formally signed off on their membership bids and set the stage to bring the long-neutral Nordic nations into the fold within a matter of months. Published July 5, 2022
Putin declares ‘victory’ after Ukrainian troops make strategic retreat from Luhansk province
Moscow declared victory Monday after its forces seized the city of Lysychansk, signaling it will soon push its invasion deeper into Ukraine after capturing what had been Kyiv's last major stronghold in the Luhansk province. Published July 4, 2022
North Korea says it will build up defenses in response to ‘rapid aggravation’ of U.S., Japan, South
North Korea on Sunday blamed the U.S., Japan and South Korea for the "rapid aggravation of the security environment of the Korean peninsula," and said it will quickly build up its defensive capabilities in response. Published July 4, 2022
U.S.: Israeli bullet ‘likely’ killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
Israeli gunfire "likely" killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) raid in the West Bank city of Jenin last month, U.S. officials said Monday following an extensive analysis of the bullet that struck the prominent reporter. Published July 4, 2022
Ukrainian troops withdraw, Russia captures key city of Lysychansk: Reports
Russian forces over the weekend captured the key city of Lysychansk in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, marking a major strategic win for Moscow while bringing virtually all of the disputed Luhansk province under Kremlin control. Published July 3, 2022
Ukraine’s drone blitz loses its edge as Russian invasion advances
The early weeks of the war in Ukraine were dominated by social media posts showing Russian tanks decimated by small, cheap drones that helped level the playing field and largely negated Moscow's massive advantage in personnel and equipment. Published July 2, 2022
U.S. bolsters long-term troop presence in Europe as Russia-Ukraine war drags on
The future of America's long-term troop presence in Europe came into focus Wednesday as President Biden announced new plans to permanently place fresh U.S. personnel in Poland, air defense batteries in Italy and Germany, and a host of other steps as NATO reinforces its front line as relations deteriorate badly with Russia in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Published June 29, 2022
NATO expansion on course as Turkey OKs bids for Sweden, Finland
Turkey on Tuesday dropped its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, seemingly clearing the way for the two nations to enter the trans-Atlantic alliance and delivering a major boost to Western solidarity amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Published June 28, 2022
Turkey drops opposition to Sweden, Finland NATO bid
Turkey on Tuesday dropped its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, seemingly clearing the way for the two nations to enter the trans-Atlantic alliance and delivering a major boost to Western solidarity amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Published June 28, 2022
Military will continue some abortions in states that ban practice, Pentagon says
Limited abortions will continue at U.S. military facilities even in states that ban the practice, Pentagon leaders said in a memo Tuesday. Published June 28, 2022
As U.S. troops reach 100K in Europe, questions mount over endgame, long-term effects
The number of American troops in Europe has risen sharply in the four months since Russia invaded Ukraine, jumping from about 65,000 in mid-February to 100,000 today. Published June 26, 2022
Ukraine gets EU invite, in rebuke to Putin
The European Union on Thursday formally made Ukraine a candidate for membership in the 27-nation alliance, delivering what could be a major morale boost for Ukrainian troops while dealing a significant blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's drive to pull Kyiv away from the West. Published June 23, 2022
Bringing back Bibi? Israeli political shake-up has Netanyahu back in the mix
The Benjamin Netanyahu era seemed to meet its definitive end last summer. Published June 21, 2022
Russia still holds major leverage on world’s economy despite losses
The global economic damage sparked by Russia's war in Ukraine may get much worse. Published June 17, 2022
Western solidarity tested as Europeans divided over immediate end to Russia-Ukraine war
Cracks are deepening across Europe over how to handle the Russia-Ukraine endgame, according to new data released Wednesday, as a growing number of Europeans favor immediate peace over the continuation of a hard-line anti-Russia stance that's defined Western policy since the start of the war nearly four months ago. Published June 15, 2022
‘It helps them do their job’: AI’s behind-the-scenes role in U.S. military expands rapidly
From predicting equipment failures on an F-16 before they happen to sorting through a mountain of data to correct overhead video in real time for a U.S. special forces team, the rapidly expanding role of artificial intelligence in today's military is often much less exciting than its critics suggest, but more important than most realize. Published June 13, 2022
U.S., Chinese military chiefs exchange broadsides over Pacific policy
The U.S. is to blame for rising tensions in the Pacific, and America's Indo-Pacific strategy to further divide the region is "doomed to failure," a leading Chinese military official said Sunday. Published June 12, 2022
