On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the defense implications of Republican passage of President Trump’s signature legislative agenda that cuts taxes and benefits but also increases the debt as lawmakers seek two more reconciliation packages over the coming years; the Supreme Court’s decision to allow Trump to unilaterally shrink the government workforce; the president ratchets up his tariff war threatening nations with punishment unless they agree to his terms, straining US relationships worldwide; frustrated with Vladimir Putin, Trump pledges more weapons to Kyiv as Moscow steps up attacks on Ukraine; British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron agree to an unprecedented nuclear pact to respond to “extreme threats” to Europe without US help, a combined joint force, weapons collaboration and immigration; Secretary of State Marco Rubio vows to trim his “bloated” department by 15 percent as he makes his first trip to Asia to attenuate the backlash from his boss’ tariffs, including assuaging Australian concerns over the Pentagon’s AUKUS review; despite punishing air strikes, the Houthis sink two cargo ships; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is seen in public as evidence mounts that Iran has retained its nuclear stocks; and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu makes his third visit to Washington.
