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UNITED NATIONS — Colombian Vice President José Manuel Restrepo said his country is embracing President Donald Trump’s push for a new security alliance across the Western Hemisphere, but drew a clear line on the role American forces would play inside Colombia, telling Fox News Digital that Colombian troops — not U.S. forces — will carry out operations against the country’s armed groups.

Restrepo spoke with Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview days after joining Trump and other regional leaders at a Shield of the Americas meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where Trump called the initiative the "largest and most powerful alliance for economic and national security ever to convene in the Western Hemisphere."

Trump urged members to treat what he called "narco terrorists" as common threats and impose sanctions on U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.

Restrepo said he personally discussed the region’s changing political and security landscape with Trump. The shift in Colombia comes amid a broader political realignment across Latin America, with De La Espriella’s June victory adding Colombia to a group of countries including Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama that have moved to the right, fueled in part by voter concerns over crime, economic weakness and political instability.

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"There is a wave of freedom, a wave of democracy, a wave of free market. … There is a new momentum for the region and we have to take advantage of that momentum. That's what I said to President Trump," Restrepo told Fox News Digital. "If we want to keep and preserve democracy in the region, the Shield of the Americas is going to be the best opportunity to do it."

Asked what Trump told him, Restrepo said the president agreed and expressed respect for Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella.

"Colombia is a new partner. In my opinion, it's one of the most important partners for the United States in the region," Restrepo said.

That partnership is already being tested in the fight against drug trafficking and armed groups.

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In August, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Colombia had authorized "joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terror networks" and told reporters that Washington had discussed possible joint strikes against groups including the National Liberation Army, or ELN, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization, and remnants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

"Designated terrorist organizations, with partnered governments, will be legitimate targets of the United States government," including in Colombia, Hegseth said when asked whether such operations were expected, according to Reuters.

But when pressed by Fox News Digital on whether joint U.S.-Colombian strikes remained an option, Restrepo appeared to narrow the scope of direct American involvement.

"The United States helps us on security, helps us information, helps us on technology, but the public forces of Colombia are those who are going to act in those places," he said.

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Asked specifically whether Colombia would have the "boots on the ground," Restrepo replied: "We will have our group, our public forces on the ground."

The tougher posture comes as Colombia confronts renewed violence from armed and drug-trafficking groups. This week, De La Espriella ordered the military into Santa Marta after the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada, an illegal armed group involved in drug trafficking, responded to the killing of one of its senior leaders with an "armed strike," threats, roadblocks and attacks that left businesses shuttered and public transportation disrupted. More than 500 soldiers and 600 police officers were deployed, according to the Colombian presidency.

The new government is also seeking to reverse former President Gustavo Petro’s "total peace" policy, which pursued negotiations with several armed organizations. Before taking office, De La Espriella announced that he would dismantle key elements of the policy and reactivate arrest warrants against members of illegal armed groups.

Restrepo went further, accusing the former government of creating "the idea of impunity" and saying the new administration instead intends to confront groups it considers terrorists.

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He said that when the new government took office, "around 30%" of Colombia’s regions lacked effective territorial control — a figure Fox News Digital has not independently verified — and said the administration was seeking to regain those areas through stronger security forces, intelligence gathering, drug eradication and extraditions.

Restrepo also argued that the same security debate should extend to the United Nations, where Colombia used its General Assembly address this week to call for reforms and an international definition of terrorism. The UN has had a global counterterrorism strategy since 2006, but member states have for decades failed to agree on a comprehensive international convention defining terrorism.

Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday also announced that the country was suspending all diplomatic relations with Iran.

"This sovereign decision aligns with the pillars guiding the Government's foreign policy regarding national and hemispheric security, as well as the fight against transnational crime, taking into account alleged links between the Iranian government and international terrorist groups and other narcoterrorist groups that threaten the country's security," the Ministry wrote in a statement posted to X.

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"I think this is a moment in which the United Nations have to reflect on its own future," Restrepo told Fox News Digital, calling for greater efficiency and effectiveness as well as international agreement on terrorism.

"The only way to attain peace, which is one of the main objectives of the UN, is through confronting terrorism," he said, arguing that countries need greater intelligence sharing, judicial cooperation and coordination.

With Secretary-General António Guterres set to leave office at the end of the year, Restrepo said the transition could offer the institution an opportunity to change.

"I think that the UN has a new moment and the UN has to take advantage of that opportunity," he said.

Restrepo added that the institution also needed to address what he described as the inconsistent application of human rights standards.

"Human rights should apply to all, regardless of political considerations," Restrepo said. "Ideology cannot decide to whom we are going to apply or not human rights."

A video captured the moment two Royal Air Force pilots ejected from a training aircraft before a fiery crash in Wales.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) said the incident involving a Hawk T2 aircraft happened near Anglesey on Wednesday after the pilots departed the RAF Valley base in the northwestern part of the country.

"Both pilots are doing well, they are in extremely good spirits and expected to make a full recovery," the RAF said in a statement. "A formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is now underway and as a precautionary measure, the RAF has temporarily paused Hawk T1 and Hawk T2 flying operations."

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Footage taken by local resident Danni Jones and obtained by Storyful shows the pilots parachuting through the air after a fireball erupted in the Welsh countryside.

The RAF said on its website that the Hawk T2 "is a high-performance, 2-seat training jet equipped with advanced avionics and synthetic radar to simulate front-line combat aircraft like the Typhoon."

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"Used primarily by the RAF for advanced jet training, it prepares pilots for complex tactical environments," it added.

The cause of Wednesday's crash was not immediately clear.

"RAF Valley on Anglesey is home to No 4 Flying Training School, responsible for training the UK's next generation of world-class fighter pilots," according to the RAF. "Aircrew are also trained at RAF Valley for mountain and maritime operations throughout the world."

Pope Leo XIV began his visit to France on Friday for his fifth apostolic journey as pontiff. The four-day trip marks the first formal papal visit to the country once called "the eldest daughter of the Church" since Pope Benedict XVI’s visit in September 2008.

French bishops announced the visit’s theme as "That the world may have life," and it comes as the officially secular nation is seeing an influx of new baptisms. So far this year, according to the Conference of Bishops of France, more than 21,000 adults have joined the Church, an increase driven by 18- to 25-year-olds.

"Pope Leo's visit to France has sparked a real tidal wave" of interest, retired French Bishop Marc Stenger told Reuters. "French Catholics are… saying ​loudly that they need the Church to find their way in these uncertain moments in world history."

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The rise comes after a 2021 report found that some 330,000 French children had been abused by Catholic clergy and lay leaders over seven decades, and said the Church had shown "deep, total and even cruel indifference" ​to victims. Stenger, who led the Diocese of Troyes from 1999 to 2020, told Reuters the scandals "have deeply wounded the Church and damaged its credibility."

In what is described as an unusual move, the Vatican press office announced Pope Leo will meet privately in Lourdes with seven of those victims as part of a message of healing and vulnerability.

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The Vatican calls the trip "a journey that unites faith and public engagement, memory and the future, with listening and bridge-building at its heart." After being greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron and a courtesy visit to Élysée Palace on Friday, Pope Leo is scheduled to make 15 speeches during his visit. He is expected to speak on several spiritual and societal themes, including the need to protect immigrants, the sick and unborn and defend human dignity in the era of AI, and address themes of peace, culture and unity.

French bishops have expressed surprise at the level of interest in the visit. The Associated Press reports organizers for Pope Leo’s Saturday Mass at Paris’ Place de la Concorde, expecting up to 1 million people, have lengthened the security perimeter, extending the site beyond the 1.2-mile length of the Champs-Élysées, where Pope Leo will parade in the popemobile.

Among his more noteworthy stops, Pope Leo will worship and speak on Sunday at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, one of Christianity’s most-visited pilgrimage destinations, especially popular with the sick. It is where an ailing Pope John Paul II, on his final foreign trip in 2004, delivered a forceful condemnation of abortion and euthanasia.

Pope Leo’s visit, however, comes after France’s recent national debate and subsequent passage of legislation allowing adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication. That followed 2024 legislation enshrining abortion as a constitutional right.

POPE LEO PROMOTES ARCHBISHOP WHO BARRED PELOSI FROM COMMUNION TO ONE OF VATICAN'S HIGHEST COURTS

On Friday, Pope Leo will speak at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni says Leo will likely reiterate his call for an AI slowdown and speak "with regard to the meaning of existence, to what makes human beings human and what does not."

The speech comes after the pope’s May manifesto in which Leo warned of the dangers of AI and urged international regulation of the industry. His position again puts him at odds with President Trump, who has encouraged AI innovation so the U.S. can compete with and surpass China.

Following his UNESCO visit, Pope Leo holds a prayer service at the newly-restored Cathedral of Notre-Dame, marking the first papal visit since a 2019 fire nearly destroyed one of France’s national landmarks.

He concludes his trip on Monday with a symbolic full-day visit to the border city of Metz, the birthplace of former French Prime Minister Robert Schuman, considered one of the founding fathers of the European Union. It is a backdrop the Vatican says the pope will use to "champion friendship among European peoples."

French Ambassador to the Vatican Charles Personnaz told Reuters that Macron has invited leaders from all 27 EU members to attend the speech and meet with the Pontiff. Other media reports say Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may also attend.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian flatly denied Thursday that Tehran wants a nuclear bomb while claiming Iran is willing to submit its nuclear program for international inspection, blaming Washington for the nearly seven-month war in the Middle East and accusing it of blocking diplomacy.

Asked point-blank during an exclusive interview on Fox News’ "Special Report," "Do you want a nuclear bomb or not?" Pezeshkian firmly rejected the premise.

"Not at all. Not at all. Our martyred, esteemed supreme leader had announced several times that, from a religious decree, it is unholy. It is illegal," he told Bret Baier, referencing religious edicts issued against weapons of mass destruction.

IRAN 'ALREADY AGREED' TO GIVING UP NUCLEAR WEAPON AMBITIONS, TRUMP REVEALS

The Iranian leader's public denial came amid long-term international scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program and its enrichment of uranium to levels well beyond those typically used for civilian nuclear power.

This became President Donald Trump's central rationale for launching Operation Epic Fury in February.

On Thursday, however, Pezeshkian indicated Tehran would be open to lowering its enrichment levels and allowing outside verification as part of an effort to ease nuclear tensions.

"So, that weapon's mass destruction. We said we’re willing to dilute them. It’s not a big deal. We are willing to submit ourselves to verification," he said.

Pezeshkian also pointed to the failed memorandum of understanding, or MOU, signed by him and President Donald Trump in June intended to halt hostilities and establish a framework for a broader U.S.-Iran agreement.

The process was intended by Washington to lead to an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and included a 60-day process toward that final agreement.

"We have no problems. We did reach an agreement with your president," Pezeshkian said of Trump, who signed the agreement.

"That agreement was signed, and, based on that, we are willing and still wish to move forward.

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL HINGES ON IAEA ACCESS TO LONG-BLOCKED ATOMIC WEAPON SITES, EXPERTS SAY

"And the framework was agreed upon. We had not closed the Strait of Hormuz; it was open without any legal justification or framework," he said.

"They attacked us. They assassinated and martyred our esteemed supreme leader, our scientists, our military commanders and government."

Pezeshkian then criticized Washington for the subsequent breakdown in diplomacy but insisted Tehran remains prepared to reach an agreement.

"The problem is that America, instead of conducting dialog, they descend into the arena by bombing us first, by blocking every pathway. We are ready," he said.

"This is not the way to conduct yourself on the world stage. They can have free access to see whatever we have, but not to put us under such pressure, under blockades, deny us access."

Pezeshkian also placed broader blame on Washington for the war.

"We do not seek to kill Americans, as shown by actions, demonstrable actions. America has sought to kill Iranians," Pezeshkian said. "What we know is that if we’re attacked, we must defend ourselves."

TRUMP BETS ECONOMIC PRESSURE CAN SQUEEZE IRAN AS REGIME’S OWN FAILURES DEEPEN THE PAIN

Addressing U.S. military strikes — including Operation Outcast — and increasing secondary sanctions, Pezeshkian said Iran would continue resisting Washington’s campaign.

"This is something that has been the doing of the United States," he said. "We will keep resisting. We will find ways, and the life of our country will continue. We will remain.

"Yes, we do have economic issues, certainly. But in order to remain, we will go through any hardship and endure.

"If America thinks that they can keep sanctioning us, we have nothing to do, nor do we consider any type of American elections. If the current American government, within international legal frameworks, wishes to reach an agreement, fine. If not, before the elections or after the elections, what difference does it make for us?"

Pezeshkian repeated that Iran does not want the war to continue, while blaming Israel for helping provoke the conflict and putting responsibility on Washington to bring it to an end.

TRUMP GIVES EVERY NATION AN EASY CHOICE: DO BUSINESS WITH AMERICA OR TERRORIST IRAN

"We will stand resolutely to defend ourselves. We never sought war. We do not seek war," he said.

"I deeply believe that humans should not cause the death of another human. But with the instigations conducted by Israel, they have imposed this war on us.

"But we do not wish to continue. It’s America that must choose whether it wants to end this or not."

The Iranian president also addressed reports that Iranian forces used Chinese satellite imagery to carry out a deadly strike on a U.S. base in Jordan. The attack resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members.

When questioned about the reports, Pezeshkian denied direct knowledge.

"I’m specifically unaware of these purported images that you talk about," Pezeshkian said. 

"Now, what do militaries do with one another between two countries? It is their own business within their own guidelines."

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. — When Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the United Nations General Assembly, he portrayed his nation as the victim of American and Israeli terrorism.

But outside the hall, a thousand protesters chanted that he should be arrested for being a terrorist.

"They are terrorists. They must go!" the crowd repeatedly shouted, waving green, white and red flags of the resistance.

THE TOP MOMENTS FROM IRAN PRESIDENT’S TENSE VISIT TO US SOIL AS WAR RAGES

"The president of Iran speaks and lies over and over again. He is a murderer. He is a terrorist," former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani told the gathering.

"It is useless to negotiate with them because they are terrorists, murderers, possibly in some ways insane religious maniacs. This would be like trying to reach an agreement with Hitler."

Various former high-level government officials struck the same tone, slamming the radical Islamic regime they say has savagely oppressed and butchered the Iranian people for decades. Estimates say upward of 20,000 protestors who took to the streets of Iran earlier this year demanding freedom have been murdered by the government. Reports of executions of political prisoners continue each week.

"It is time now to free Iran from the mullahs," Retired Lt. General Keith Kellogg, who has served in both Trump administrations, told the gathering, "You have a road map to a secular, non-nuclear Republic of Iran, one that rejoins the free world as a friend."

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Former U.S. Ambassador Marc Ginsberg urged Congress to pass the Maximum Support Act, legislation that would crack down on Iran's resources, confiscate assets of the government and support internet freedom so the Iranian people could organize and have a voice.

"All you have to do, President Trump, is to provide the funding and the support that we need, the tools the Iranian people need," Ginsberg said. "That is the type of help you promised. That is the type of help you can still provide and bring the United States closer to this exit ramp from this war and to accelerate our speed as Iran's arsenal of democracy."

"The people of Iran have rejected every form of dictatorship, whether religious or monarchical," Maryam Rajavi said in a video message to the rally. She is president-elect of the group that sponsored the protest, the National Council of Resistance of Iran.

"The voice of protest from Iran's oppressed people is being heard. The voice rejects the continued occupation of Iran's seat by religious fanatics," she said, referring to the regime's membership in the world body.

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The rally was held over a two-day period, and the message to the United Nations diplomats remained consistent.

"The regime only responds to firmness and decisiveness. And that's why sanctions and putting pressure on Iran has been the only solution in terms of external pressure," Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the NCRI Washington, D.C., office told Fox News.                                                

"The regime is incapable of reform and change. If they were able, they would have done it a long time ago. The real solution for Iran is change by the people of Iran. They can have any talks, any concessions, none of that is going to change the behavior of the regime.   

"The real Iran is represented by the people of Iran," he added. "The real change has to come from within."

UNITED NATIONS — Saudi Arabia's foreign minister warned Thursday that the growing threat from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis extends far beyond his country's borders, calling for international cooperation to protect critical shipping routes after Saudi forces intercepted six ballistic missiles launched toward the kingdom.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told Fox News Digital that Riyadh was coordinating with Washington and other international partners as Houthi attacks threatened Saudi territory and commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

The Saudi-led coalition said Thursday that its air defenses had intercepted six ballistic missiles allegedly launched by the Houthis toward the Saudi cities of Taif and Yanbu, according to Reuters. It was not immediately clear whether the attacks caused casualties or damage.

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Saudi authorities also issued emergency warnings across several areas, including Jeddah and Mecca, before announcing that the immediate danger had passed. Yanbu, a major Red Sea oil export hub, has become particularly important as the war with Iran disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Asked by Fox News Digital whether Saudi Arabia was receiving the support it needed from the US following reports that President Donald Trump had declined Saudi requests for direct military intervention against the Houthis, Prince Faisal emphasized the kingdom's ability to defend itself while calling for a broader international response.

"So we are, of course, defending ourselves. And we are responding as necessary to the attacks by the Houthis. But we are also, of course, coordinating with all of our international allies, because this is not just about Saudi Arabia," he said.

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"The fact that the Houthis are threatening the Bab el-Mandeb, threatening international shipping, is a risk to international security stability. That means that the responsibility to dealing with this threat is not just on Saudi Arabia, it is also on the whole international community."

The foreign minister thanked countries already working with Riyadh and confirmed that discussions with Washington were continuing.

"And we are obviously continuing to work with our partners in the U.S., to address the issue of this conflict as well," he said.

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His remarks came as the Trump administration faced renewed requests from Saudi Arabia to take military action against the Houthis.

According to a Sept. 21 Axios report, Trump considered ordering strikes against the group over the weekend but ultimately decided against them. The report said Saudi officials had again sought American military assistance as Houthi forces advanced in Yemen, while the U.S. continued providing intelligence and targeting support without directly entering the fighting.

The Houthis' territorial advances have intensified concerns over control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and a crucial route for international trade and Saudi oil exports.

The group has expanded its control along Yemen's western coastline in recent weeks, reaching the shores of the strategic waterway as fighting with Saudi-backed government forces escalated.

UNITED NATIONS — Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs warned Wednesday that military cooperation between Russia and Iran poses a growing security concern, telling Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview that Iranian drone technology has helped Moscow wage war in Ukraine as Latvia prepares to contribute to a U.S.-led effort in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Rinkēvičs said Latvia, a country of approximately 1.84 million and still a core member of NATO's eastern flank, has already made the political decision to send military specialists to support international operations in the Middle East in response to President Donald Trump's request for European assistance.

"Yes, I am concerned. Actually, we have already seen Iran helping Russia a lot, especially at the very beginning of Russia's aggression against Ukraine," Rinkēvičs said when asked about the growing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

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"The first drones Iranian made, or Iranian-designed drones, were used by Russia. Now Russians are actually modernizing them, making completely new technologies. But, actually, the design is still Iranian."

Earlier this week, Fox News Digital revealed documents obtained from the Russian Foreign Ministry detailing a roadmap between Russia and Iran for cooperation between 2024-2026 in multiple fields, including nuclear, finance and aviation, as well as infrastructure.

Asked whether Europe should take a more active role in countering Iran's military activities and respond to Trump's call for support, Rinkēvičs confirmed that Latvia has already taken steps toward joining an international effort in the Strait of Hormuz.

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"From our side, we have already made a parliamentary decision. That our EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) diver specialists could be sent to the Strait of Hormuz or to the Middle East to help out the United States, the coalition that is being formed," he said.

Rinkēvičs said Latvia hopes military activities will give way to a political solution and the restoration of global energy supplies, while expressing skepticism about the prospects for negotiations with Tehran and Moscow. 

"It's very, very difficult to have diplomacy with Iran. It's very difficult with Russia," he said.

Turning to the security situation in Europe, Rinkēvičs said Latvia does not see evidence of an imminent Russian military invasion despite growing concerns about Moscow's intentions toward NATO's eastern flank.

"If Russia were able to attack us ... that would have happened already," he said. "The Russian military is not the same as it used to be back in 2022. Remember they tried to take Kyiv in three days. They are still trying to take some certain small pieces of Ukrainian territory 4½ years after the full-fledged."

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Explaining the immediate threat to Latvia comes instead from sabotage, cyberattacks and information campaigns, which he described as intensifying, adding that European leaders face the difficult task of preparing their populations for potential threats without creating unnecessary panic.

Rinkēvičs also warned that NATO must accelerate its adaptation to the rapidly changing nature of warfare, particularly the growing role of drones and missile technology.

While traditional military equipment, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, remains essential, the president said the war in Ukraine has demonstrated how quickly new technologies are transforming the battlefield.

The president welcomed increased NATO defense spending, crediting Trump's push for greater investment, but cautioned that additional funding alone would not resolve the alliance's military readiness challenges.

"You have money, but not always you can buy the stuff immediately, or at least you can order things. And they are delivered soon enough," he said.

Rinkēvičs said he plans to meet with U.S. defense companies during his visit to the U.S., saying, "When it comes to the U.S. support, let me just say that the United States does an amazing job already. We do have U.S. troops, not big numbers, but I think sufficient numbers are now stationed in our airbase in Lielvārde.

"U.S. presence in the Baltics is very important, and we are working with our U.S. partners about further rotations."

UNITED NATIONS - Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša accused the United Nations of applying double standards to global conflicts, arguing that the international community's focus on Gaza has overshadowed Russia's war in Ukraine and other humanitarian crises, while revealing that President Donald Trump has promised to visit Slovenia, the homeland of First Lady Melania Trump.

Speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Janša said the international body must give greater attention to conflicts beyond the Middle East rather than concentrating its diplomatic efforts on a single crisis.

"We have to get rid of double standards," Janša said, calling for the UN to apply its available diplomatic and security tools equally instead of putting its attention, money and energy into one conflict while neglecting others.

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The Slovenian leader said he was struck by how extensively Gaza dominated speeches during the opening of the General Assembly, while Ukraine, a war much closer to his country's borders, received comparatively less attention.

For Slovenia and other European countries, he said, Russia's invasion represents an immediate security threat, with no clear indication that Moscow is prepared to negotiate an end to the fighting.

Janša argued that the UN was established to prevent such conflicts and should not allow its attention to be consumed by one region.

He also pointed to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and other humanitarian crises, arguing that the international body must recognize that different countries face different security and humanitarian challenges.

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Janša said he intends to raise the issue during his own address to the General Assembly, scheduled for Thursday.

His criticism comes as Slovenia undergoes a significant shift in its foreign policy, particularly toward Israel.

Under the previous government of Prime Minister Robert Golob, Slovenia recognized Palestinian statehood in June 2024 and imposed an arms embargo on Israel in July 2025. The government defended those measures as necessary to protect Palestinian civilians and uphold international law.

Since returning to power, Janša has sought to strengthen Slovenia's relationship with Israel, marking a shift from the previous government's more critical approach toward the Jewish state.

Earlier this month, Israel opened its first resident embassy in Slovenia, while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar visited the country for talks aimed at expanding political and economic cooperation. The two governments also signed a cooperation program covering education, science, culture, youth and sports through 2030.

Janša described his government's approach as a return to the traditionally good relations between the two countries rather than a dramatic diplomatic realignment.

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He also criticized European governments that, in his view, have failed to recognize the broader strategic connections between Iran, Russia and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Janša said he has supported the Iranian opposition for decades and argued that lasting peace in the Middle East would remain elusive without political change in Tehran.

He accused some European governments of applying inconsistent standards by supporting Ukraine while taking positions toward Iran that he believes fail to account for Tehran’s relationship with Moscow, citing Ireland and Spain as well as Slovenia under the previous government before this year’s change in leadership.

Janša also suggested that some European leaders have used the Palestinian issue to divert public attention from domestic economic and political problems, particularly ahead of elections.

The prime minister's visit to New York also provided an opportunity to strengthen Slovenia's relationship with Washington, a relationship that carries a personal dimension because of the country's most prominent American connection: First Lady Melania Trump.

Born in Slovenia in 1970, Melania Trump grew up in the town of Sevnica before moving to the United States and becoming the nation's second foreign-born first lady.

The prime minister praised Melania Trump’s work on initiatives for children, describing her role in the White House as a source of pride for many Slovenians. He said his wife met the first lady for the first time on Tuesday and that he also spoke briefly with President Trump.

According to Janša, he invited Trump to visit Slovenia and received a positive response. "He promised he'll come," Janša told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital's Tyler Speicher contributed to this report.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s sharp rebuke of Washington at the United Nations would have drawn little more than a "smirk" from President Donald Trump, who knows he "holds the cards," a foreign policy expert told Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

The assessment came after Pezeshkian and Trump addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York from the same podium within 24 hours of each other, trading sharp rhetoric as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to mount.

"Trump understands he holds the cards, and he may not even have paid much attention to what the Iranian president was saying," Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News Digital.

Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of attacking Iran while portraying his country as the victim of aggression.

THE TOP MOMENTS FROM IRAN PRESIDENT’S TENSE VISIT TO US SOIL AS WAR RAGES

"We have only defended ourselves. We are not terrorists," Pezeshkian claimed.

"Our innocent people have been the targets of cowardly attacks and aggressions imposed upon our country. America and Israel attacked us," he said.

"I’m sure that would have drawn a smirk or a smile or a chuckle from the president’s face, seeing that crassness," Taleblu said, pointing to what he described as a sharp contrast between Pezeshkian’s rhetoric and the Iranian government’s track record.

Pezeshkian’s address came after Trump used the same U.N. stage to defend the U.S. conflict with Iran and warn that Tehran faced a stark choice between reaching a deal and facing further destruction.

"Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?" Trump said on Tuesday.

While the rhetoric from both leaders was pointed, Taleblu said their broader diplomatic positions remain largely predictable.

TRUMP TO ZERO-IN ON IRAN NUCLEAR THREAT, GAZA PLAN AND UN OVERHAUL IN WORLD STAGE SPEECH

"To a certain degree, both President Trump and President Pezeshkian’s speeches before the U.N. General Assembly’s 81st session were predictable," Taleblu said.

"Predictable because the status of both countries and their foreign policy toward the other are in a fairly predictable pattern right now," he added,

Despite the threats and recriminations, the two adversaries also appear to be still testing a diplomatic path behind the scenes.

Trump said Tuesday that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner spoke with Iranian officials for roughly three hours on the sidelines of the General Assembly and characterized the discussions as productive.

Witkoff later said the talks were conducted through mediators who shuttled between the U.S. and Iranian delegations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also represented Tehran in the discussions, according to reports.

KUSHNER TOUTS UNPRECEDENTED IRAN CONTACTS AS TEHRAN DENIES TRUMP BACKCHANNEL

Both sides, Taleblu said, are attempting "to make time a weapon on their side" and "to put the burden of choosing between escalation and engagement on the other."

But Taleblu went on to characterize Pezeshkian’s broader message as an attempt to cast Iran as a victim through an anti-American, anti-Israel and anti-imperialist framework.

"It seemed to be more of a global South, anti-American, anti-Israeli, kind of anti-colonial, anti-imperialist message that he was looking to kind of paint the Islamic Republic as the victim," Taleblu said.

"In reality, the long-serving victim in this entire crisis is the Iranian people because of the policies of the Islamic Republic."

The competing messages — confrontation from the U.N. podium and diplomacy behind the scenes — highlighted the unresolved tensions between Washington and Tehran as officials explore whether negotiations can produce an off-ramp from the conflict.

TRUMP KEEPS FORECASTING AN IRAN DEAL — WHY THE WHITE HOUSE STILL THINKS IT CAN HAPPEN

"Despite the tough talk at the podium, both sides still feel like they need to signal an interest in talks, even though they’re both trying to use talks to shape an outcome that is more conducive to their interests," Taleblu said.

Pezeshkian also told the General Assembly that Tehran would not surrender to military pressure while signaling that Iran remained open to diplomacy.

"I think the Iranians are trying to signal an interest in talks, but they may run into a brick wall quite soon if they foot-drag or delay or don’t meaningfully provide any kind of substantive change in their policy," Taleblu said, citing Iran’s positions on the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear program.

"Ultimately, if the positions remain the same, the fact that they’re oscillating between shooting and talking doesn’t mean much because the red lines haven’t actually moved," Taleblu said.

"Of course, the Trump administration is looking for a political win here," he concluded.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has revived a proposal to establish a permanent U.S. military base in Poland named "Fort Trump" as Warsaw pushes to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank amid continued Russian incursions into allied airspace.

Nawrocki said that he was confident Warsaw and Washington would reach a deal on the base, which Poland has sought as part of its effort to secure a long-term American troop presence and boost defenses against Russia.

"I hope that when work on the base is completed, President Trump will be able to personally attend the inauguration of ‘Fort Trump,’" Nawrocki said in New York Sept. 22.

POLAND SEEKS ANSWERS AFTER PENTAGON SCRAPS PLANNED US ARMORED BRIGADE ROTATION

The proposal dates back to 2018, when Nawrocki’s predecessor, President Andrzej Duda, suggested naming a permanent U.S. military installation in Poland "Fort Trump" as part of an effort to secure a lasting American military presence in the country.

The urgency behind Warsaw’s push this month was underscored within hours of Nawrocki’s remarks in New York, when a Russian Mi-8 military helicopter briefly penetrated Polish airspace from Russia’s Kaliningrad region.

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also mentioned the issue during a briefing with Polish media following his address to the U.N. Security Council in New York on Wednesday.

According to the Polish Army Operational Command, the helicopter entered Polish territory north of the town of Braniewo at 11:08 a.m., reaching a maximum depth of about 300 meters.

The Russian aircraft remained in Polish airspace for 42 seconds before exiting.

Polish radar systems tracked the helicopter throughout the incursion, prompting fighter aircraft to scramble while ground-based air defense units were placed on standby.

Polish military authorities said the brief violation indicated Moscow was once again testing the readiness and response times of NATO air defenses.

The incident adds urgency to Poland’s push for a permanent U.S. military base. Nawrocki acknowledged that specific deadlines have not yet been established because administrative and financial details are unresolved.

"It’s hard for me to give specific dates, but I think this matter has been definitively confirmed, because President Trump is known for keeping his word," Nawrocki said.

"Infrastructure preparation is progressing. In fact, the appropriate infrastructure is already being selected," he told Bloomberg.

Nawrocki also called the establishment of the base "only a matter of time" and seemed optimistic that construction could be completed before Trump’s term ends in 2029.

NATO'S EASTERN FLANK RACES TO REARM AS TRUMP PRESSURE EXPOSES WESTERN EUROPE'S DEFENSE GAP

Deputy Defense Minister Stanisław Wziątek had also mentioned establishing the U.S. base, with the remaining question being the precise location, according to reports.

Wziątek said the installation would likely host between 3,000 and 5,000 U.S. troops.

Poland ultimately hopes to host "around 15,000" American troops, building on the roughly 10,000 U.S. troops currently stationed in the country, largely on a rotational basis.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned Sept. 18 that, according to intelligence available to Warsaw, Russia was planning drone and missile strikes against eastern NATO countries that Moscow could present as accidental, The Associated Press reported.

TRUMP PUSHED NATO TO PAY UP. NOW ALLIES MUST TURN PLEDGES INTO POWER

Russian drones have repeatedly entered NATO airspace and crashed on alliance territory, including in Poland and Romania, while NATO countries have scrambled fighter aircraft in response to Russian aerial activity near their borders over the years.

Trump had also signaled progress in strengthening the U.S.-Polish military relationship, calling the developments on a base a "historic step for our Great US/Polish Alliance" and indicating on Truth Social that further details could be announced.

"Thanks to the bold leadership of my friend, Karol Nawrocki, President of Poland, major progress is being made towards establishing a US Army base in Poland," Trump said Sept. 17.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko revealed during a speech to youth leaders in Minsk that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin regularly joke and argue over which of them qualifies as the ultimate dictator.

The Belarusian leader's comments at "Youth. Belarus. Future." Sept. 17 also underlines the close alignment between Moscow and Minsk with Lukashenko enjoying his position as Europe’s longest-serving head of state.

Lukashenko has ruled over Belarus unhindered since 1994, with Putin leading Russia since 2012, also serving as president between 2000 and 2008.

"You know what they say about me?" Lukashenko asked the audience during his Sept. 17 address, according to Novaya Gazeta.

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"[I am] the last dictator, the second-to-last dictator in Europe. Dictator, dictator. Vladimir Putin and I often joke and argue over which of us is more of a dictator.

"They say I’m the last dictator, the last dictator in Europe. Dictator — so be it. Well, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and I often argue, jokingly, about which of us is the bigger dictator."

Lukashenko, 72, a former Soviet collective farm manager, is also known to be Putin’s closest international partner and ally.

While Minsk has not committed ground troops to the war in Ukraine, it serves as a strategic staging ground for Moscow, with Russia relying on Belarus for military and strategic support in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

According to the Kyiv Post, Belarus specifically provides Russia with key weapons components and allows its forces to launch military strikes from Belarusian territory.

An August report by Ukrainska Pravda also highlighted a new railway construction capable of handling military trains in Belarus' Gomel Oblast near the Ukraine border.

RUSSIA’S STRIKES NEAR MOLDOVA RAISE ALARM OVER PUTIN’S PLANS FOR EUROPE’S EASTERN FLANK

The strength of the relationship between the two countries comes as Western officials increase pressure on Moscow and its allies and with the two leaders reported to be in frequent contact.

After meeting in Moscow Aug. 27, Lukashenko officially congratulated Putin Sept. 21 after the Russian election results.

He praised the "unprecedented turnout of millions of voters" and the majority secured by the United Russia party, calling it a proper response to "cynical attempts from the outside to discredit the campaign and sow discord."

Addressing the youth forum in Minsk on political succession in Belarus, Lukashenko insisted no one is prepared to take over power.

"Never believe those who say that Lukashenko is ‘clinging to power with blue-knuckled hands’," he told the audience.

"Good Lord, let them say it. I have had my fill of this power to the point where I could not possibly want any more of it.

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"The only question is whether you are capable today of taking over the country and holding on to it," he added. "If you are, start tomorrow. To be frank, I cannot yet answer that question positively. Do not take offense.

"I became a dictator then because I stood up against the entire ‘civilized world.'"

Western nations maintain strict economic pressure on Minsk. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys recently reiterated the Baltic nation's firm stance.

"We do not see any reasons why our position on Belarus should soften as Belarus is not changing its behavior," Budrys said.

"On our side, we have to be very exact and continue what works, and that is the pressure on the regime."

Despite international sanctions, Lukashenko announced Sept. 11 that Belarus has begun selling potash, a primary export used in fertilizer, to the United States.

While Western nations maintain economic restrictions over human rights abuses, U.S. sanctions on Belarusian potash were lifted after recent political prisoner releases, though European Union sanctions remain active.

UNITED NATIONS - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Tuesday that Russia could launch attacks against other European countries, telling Fox News Digital that the risk of a new offensive is "very high" as Moscow seeks to undermine European unity and weaken support for Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters following his meeting with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Zelenskyy was asked by Fox News Digital about the possibility that Russia could invade or attack another European country in the near future.

"That's why the risk of offensive by drones, missiles or land operation is very high against other countries who are bordering Russia or Belarus," Zelenskyy said.

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The Ukrainian leader argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin, unable to achieve his military objectives in Ukraine, could seek to create instability elsewhere in Europe to pressure Western governments into reducing their support for Kyiv.

"How to divide unanimity in Europe? ... To attack somebody else. To attack and say, look, I will go further if you will not stop this," Zelenskyy said.

He pointed to drone incursions and disruptions affecting several European countries, arguing that Moscow is already attempting to intimidate European societies and test their response.

Zelenskyy said Putin's inability to secure a decisive victory in Ukraine could push him toward additional confrontations, as he faces pressure to justify the war to the Russian public.

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Asked by Fox News Digital what European countries should do in response to the growing threat, Zelenskyy offered a direct answer.

"Respond. Always respond. It's not about the war. If you don't respond, Russians, they will go further," he said.

The warning comes amid heightened concerns about Russian activity in Europe. Zelenskyy's warning comes amid heightened tensions across Europe following a series of Russian drone incursions and warnings from European leaders about the possibility of further attacks.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned on Sept. 14 that peace in Europe was under threat, urging European countries to take the danger seriously. Speaking at an EU-Arctic Summit in Finland, Merz said Russia's presence in the region and its hybrid attacks elsewhere in Europe were increasing, calling for a united response from European countries and NATO.

RUSSIA’S STRIKES NEAR MOLDOVA RAISE ALARM OVER PUTIN’S PLANS FOR EUROPE’S EASTERN FLANK

The German leader's warning followed an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4, which German authorities publicly attributed to Russia on Sept. 1.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a separate warning on Sept. 17 that Russia was planning drone or missile attacks against NATO countries supporting Ukraine, including Poland, while potentially portraying the incidents as accidental to weaken the alliance's response.

The concerns are not limited to hypothetical threats. On Sept. 8, a drone entered Romanian airspace before returning to Moldova and crashing, according to Romania's Defense Ministry. A week later, Italian fighter jets operating under NATO's air defense mission shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. Italian officials said the drone most likely came from Russia, although Lithuanian authorities were still investigating its origin.

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Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs also warned in a Sept. 18 interview with The Guardian that European countries and NATO were struggling to keep pace with developments in drone warfare, highlighting gaps in air and missile defenses that could leave European countries vulnerable to Russian attacks.

Zelenskyy's remarks followed talks with Trump in which the Ukrainian leader said he raised the possibility of a mutual halt to attacks on Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure, as well as Ukraine's need for additional Patriot air defense missiles ahead of winter.

"We are ready," Zelenskyy said of a potential agreement to halt energy strikes, adding that he was unsure whether Russia was prepared to reciprocate.

Zelenskyy also said Trump had expressed a willingness to help Ukraine obtain additional air defense capabilities, although no concrete commitment on immediate missile deliveries had been made.

The meeting came as Russia and Ukraine intensified aerial attacks, including strikes on energy infrastructure, ahead of the UN General Assembly.

Tensions in the South China Sea escalated again Friday after a Chinese Coast Guard vessel collided with a Philippine government ship, an encounter captured on video that prompted competing accounts from Manila and Beijing.

The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat was distributing fuel to Filipino fishermen when the collision occurred at 11:13 a.m., roughly 54 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan province — an area Manila says is well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed crew members shouting, "Brace for impact!" moments before the collision. Photographs taken afterward showed bent and detached railings, damaged metal supports and debris scattered across the Philippine ship's deck. No injuries were reported.

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Philippine officials accused Beijing of deliberately ramming a civilian government vessel on what they described as a humanitarian and livelihood mission.

Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for West Philippine Sea concerns, said the Chinese vessel first cut across the Philippine ship's stern at a distance of about 33 feet before repeating the maneuver minutes later and colliding with it.

Beijing disputed Manila's account. Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson Jiang Lue said the Philippine vessel "intentionally adjusted its course and suddenly accelerated to cut across the bow" of the Chinese ship after disregarding repeated warnings. China said its vessel had been conducting lawful operations near Sabina Shoal and blamed the Philippine side for the collision.

The incident also drew Washington into the dispute. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton said the United States "strongly condemn[s] the China Coast Guard's deliberate ramming."

The Chinese Embassy in Manila responded by accusing the United States of backing Philippine "infringement and provocations" in the disputed waters.

Friday's collision was the latest in a series of maritime confrontations between China and the Philippines. In July, Manila accused Chinese forces of firing water cannons at government vessels near Scarborough Shoal and striking a Philippine Navy staff member in the head with a wooden baton during an encounter at Second Thomas Shoal.

UNITED NATIONS — The Middle East will take center stage when world leaders open the UN General Assembly's annual debate Tuesday, with some of Washington's most important regional partners arriving in New York facing a question: What will the region look like after months of war with Iran, renewed Houthi attacks and an uncertain future for Gaza?

Leaders from Jordan, Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt are expected to address the Assembly during the annual General Debate, which begins Sept. 22. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also scheduled to attend.

President Donald Trump is expected to meet Gulf leaders on the sidelines of UNGA to discuss the Iran conflict and the region's future. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told Fox News Digital that the administration wants to hear directly from Gulf leaders about their concerns, describing the meeting as an important opportunity for diplomacy.

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Rich Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that the Iran war has fundamentally altered the region's strategic landscape, creating opportunities for new energy partnerships and closer cooperation between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

"The opportunity for regional integration and normalization works alongside energy infrastructure meeting the moment, the crisis of needing bypasses for Hormuz," Goldberg said.

He argued that a network of pipelines carrying Gulf energy overland to the Mediterranean, potentially through Israel, could reduce dependence on vulnerable shipping routes.

"We can make the Strait of Hormuz irrelevant," Goldberg said, describing potential energy links between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as routes connecting Qatar to the Mediterranean.

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But the threat to regional energy supplies now extends beyond Hormuz. The Houthis' offensive along Yemen's Red Sea coast has raised new concerns over the Bab el-Mandeb, another critical maritime chokepoint. Washington Institute analysts April Longley Alley and Allison Minor wrote in a Sept. 11 analysis that the offensive had "shattered the status quo" along Yemen's western coast.

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Gaza presents a separate diplomatic challenge, with Arab governments seeking a political settlement while differing with Israel over Palestinian statehood and the territory's future.

In a Sept. 6 joint statement , the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Indonesia and Pakistan rejected proposals to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza and reiterated support for a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They also warned that displacement proposals risk undermining Trump's Gaza peace plan.

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Qatar has simultaneously condemned renewed Iranian attacks against Arab states and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping, while insisting that the Palestinian issue remain a priority.

In a Sept. 8 joint statement , the leaders of France, Britain and Canada announced plans to ban imports from Israeli settlements and pursue targeted measures against settlements and those who facilitate them. They also said they would co-chair a meeting during UNGA to advance a two-state solution, one year after recognizing Palestinian statehood.

The diplomatic divisions will also be reflected in who can address the UN in person. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was denied a U.S. visa for the second consecutive year. The General Assembly voted Thursday to allow him to deliver his address by video.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, is expected to travel to New York weeks before Israel's Oct. 27 parliamentary elections, the country's first national vote since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, amid declining international support for Israel. A June 2026 Pew Research Center survey found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries held unfavorable views of Israel, compared with 25% who viewed it favorably.

For Washington, the challenge is balancing its regional security relationships with competing demands over Gaza and the future of relations with Israel.

TRUMP CALLS ON ARAB NATIONS TO SIGN ABRAHAM ACCORDS

Goldberg predicted that some of the most consequential discussions would take place away from the General Assembly podium, with Arab leaders delivering one message publicly and another in private meetings with Trump and senior U.S. officials.

"We may see the old propaganda of criticizing Israel and saying everybody wants a different future and they're going to support Gaza and the Palestinians, they demand a Palestinian state," Goldberg said.

Behind closed doors, he predicted, the discussions would focus on U.S. security guarantees, the next steps in confronting Iran and expanding regional energy infrastructure.

"What will be a pathway forward politically that the U.S. can provide to these leaders so that they can normalize with Israel alongside the necessary infrastructure upgrades that they need to make for their own energy securities and physical securities going forward?" Goldberg said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced plans Sept. 20 to introduce legislation capping the number of foreign students in Italian classrooms and banning face-covering garments, including burqas and niqabs, in schools.

The conservative leader said her proposed measures aim to foster integration, preserve Italian cultural identity and ensure that native children do not feel sidelined in the classroom.

"There’s no way that in an Italian classroom, the ones who feel marginalized are Italian children because they have become a minority," Meloni said during a speech to Gioventù Nazionale, the youth wing of her conservative Brothers of Italy party, in Rome, according to reports.

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Under the proposal, individual classrooms would have limits on non-Italian students to prevent heavy concentrations in specific districts.

Meloni did not specify the exact cap but said the government would also require mandatory Italian-language lessons for parents of foreign pupils who struggle to integrate.

"For us, anyone who comes to Italy and wants to build their future here must learn our language, understand our culture, and respect our rules," Meloni said, The Associated Press reported.

"It is the only serious way to welcome them."

Students who don't hold Italian citizenship account for around 11.6% of school enrollment nationwide, according to Italy’s Education Ministry cited by the ISMU ETS Foundation.

Under Italian law, children born to foreign parents also do not automatically gain citizenship at birth and must wait until age 18 before they can apply.

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Meloni argued that high concentrations of non-native speakers impact the learning process for everyone involved.

"If in a classroom there is only one child who doesn’t understand Italian, it is possible that that child will manage, with the help of his peers and teachers, to learn the language and integrate fast," she said.

"But if these children are many, or even the majority, that’s not integration anymore, that’s abandonment."

The proposed package also targets religious face coverings, explicitly prohibiting burqas and niqabs in educational institutions while permitting other forms of Islamic dress, such as the hijab.

In a series of posts on X on Monday, the Brothers of Italy party reinforced the prime minister’s message:

"Those who choose to build their future in Italy must learn our language, know our culture, and respect our rules.

"School is attended with one's face uncovered. No tradition can impose on a young woman the obligation to hide herself."

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A subsequent post added: "Limit on the number of foreign students in classrooms, obligation for parents of pupils with serious integration difficulties to learn Italian, and ban on burqas and niqabs in educational institutions.

"Integration comes through knowledge of our language, respect for our rules, and protection of our cultural identity."

Several European neighbors, including France and Belgium, have previously imposed bans on face-coverings in public places, though enforcement and legal frameworks differ.

The proposed Italian legislation is expected to be considered by Italy’s Council of Ministers before being sent to Parliament for consideration.

Meloni, who has led Brothers of Italy since 2014 and served as president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party from 2020 to 2025, has governed Italy since 2022.

Her administration recently surpassed previous records set by Silvio Berlusconi to become the longest-serving uninterrupted government in modern Italian history.

Beijing has transformed the Red Sea into a dangerous surveillance hub, a former Pentagon official warned Sunday, after a new report revealed upgrades to China’s military footprint just six miles from a key $66 million-a-year U.S. military base in Djibouti, Africa.

The report by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) cited new facilities which it said would likely enable the Chinese military to monitor activities of other militaries operating nearby, although it also clarified it was not possible to determine whether China was actively intercepting communications.

The developments, one defense expert told Fox News Digital, could also inject fresh tension into U.S.-China relations in the run-up to Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the White House on Sept. 24. Beijing's intelligence-gathering capabilities are already under renewed scrutiny.

"What China is clearly doing is building eavesdropping capabilities. That seems to be their aim," Morgan Murphy, former Trump White House official and press secretary for Mark Esper when he was secretary of defense during the first Trump administration.

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"Beijing has clearly wiretapped the Red Sea. When you build a 30-meter (100-foot-wide) satellite dish and cover it with a dome, so nobody can see where it's pointing, it's pretty clear you're up to no good," Murphy added while stating of the Washington-based think tank, that "the specificity here reflects the thorough research we expect out of CSIS."

The report pinpoints a large southeastern facility showing a control building, three 30-meter dipole antennas for high-frequency communications, two smaller antennas for very and "ultra-high frequencies", three mobile satellite dishes, four probable 5G towers and what CSIS said was a "radome" covering an unidentified asset.

CSIS also highlighted two new communications facilities that it says have emerged since 2024 that are likely to form part of a C4ISR command architecture, expanding China’s ability to intercept signals, track naval movements and communicate with Beijing while monitoring foreign militaries in the region.

The facilities would provide China with "a much more robust picture of the operating environment in the region," the report said.

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"This isn’t a supply depot — it’s a 50-yard line seat over America’s power projection and the U.S. Navy," Murphy said before stating that the USA has "128 bases in more than 51 countries — China has just one."

"But look at the location — a few miles from Camp Lemonnier, overlooking the chokepoint that moves roughly a sixth of global sea trade. Great powers don’t plant listening posts next to rival fleets for 'logistics,'" he warned.

"Britain held Gibraltar to see who entered the Med while Japan’s island radios came before the runways. The Soviets’ overseas sites were never just about fuel and Beijing is running that playbook on the Red Sea," Murphy added.

Although China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jian said China is "unaware of the specific situation" and framed the country as a "builder of international peace," the new facilities provide Beijing with a picture of regional operations, according to Reuters.

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"The new report is helpful in framing the conversation, and it comes at an awkward time for China because Xi Jinping is visiting the White House on the 24th of this month," Murphy said.

"I'd bet a box of donuts this issue comes up. There is going to be public exposure of this, which Chinese leadership isn't used to. They aren't used to being asked tough questions by the press," he said.

President Donald Trump recently addressed Chinese intelligence efforts aboard Air Force One, acknowledging that China "spies on us" just as "we spy on them."

Trump's comments followed a report by The Wall Street Journal linking support from a Chinese entity to high-resolution satellite imagery used by Iran prior to a deadly missile attack on U.S. troops in Jordan.

"They basically do what we do," Trump noted, adding that "Xi has behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well. ... You know what they say? That China spies on us. I say you're right, and we spy on them, too," he said, according to Reuters.

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Murphy noted, "Nations spy on each other — allies and adversaries alike."

"It is a very old playbook, and listening posts all over the world are typical of great powers, but where the metal hits the floorboard is when you try to use that information," he said before adding that China may "keep tabs on us, but they cannot project power like the United States can."

The proximity of China's facility to U.S. operations is a core concern. Located less than six miles from Camp Lemonnier — the primary U.S. counterterrorism hub in Africa — and near French, Italian and Japanese installations, the site has a history of friction with U.S. forces.

"We are just right around the corner from China, and yet it's not a cooperative relationship," Murphy explained.

"Back in 2018, they lasered two of our C-130 pilots' eyes who suffered lasting damage from that incident. Beijing denied it, of course, but we know the truth."

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During the 2018 incident, the Pentagon had formally complained to China after military-grade lasers were pointed at American pilots attempting to land at Camp Lemonnier, causing minor injuries.

While Beijing dismissed the allegations as "groundless accusations," the confrontation underscored the potential for friction between military forces operating from nearby bases.

"China has one overseas base. The United States has more than 128 — by some counts, over 700 installations around the world," Murphy said.

"So it's significant that China has chosen to place its only overseas base six miles from ours in Djibouti. It is hugely strategically important, which is why, of course, we're there."

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"It's our only base on the continent of Africa," he said, noting that it shares a "parking lot" with Japanese and Italian bases.

"At $66 million a year, it's the best money Americans spend on our defense budget, full stop."

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a chokepoint for nearly 16% of global maritime trade and, with significant crude shipments, Houthi attacks and pipeline disruptions have fueled a regional military buildup.

"Interference by China is in their strategic interest. They don't want to see the United States able to control their oil supply," Murphy said.

"China is far more reliant on Middle Eastern oil than the United States. China imports a huge portion — around 33% or more — of their daily oil needs and is highly reliant on long sea lines. You are seeing this muscle-flexing because they are far more reliant on Middle Eastern oil than we are."

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"Having intelligence is one thing, but you must have the ability to act on it. You need assets in the region," Murphy said.

"China doesn't have major combat assets outside their region because they lack a blue-water navy to project power outside the first island chain yet.

"That is coming, and they are working towards it quickly. Americans can take comfort in the fact that they don't have that capacity today, but we must stay alert because the only thing that subdues a threat is a ready posture," he concluded.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Chinese Embassy for comment.

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK — More than 100 presidents and prime ministers will descend on New York this week for one of the busiest gatherings on the diplomatic calendar, arriving at a United Nations confronting wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, economic pressure from disrupted energy markets and fresh questions about the institution’s ability to respond to an increasingly fractured world.

The U.N. expects 73 heads of state and 45 heads of government , alongside 49 ministers, 11 vice presidents and one crown prince, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters Friday. Member states have already submitted roughly 1,000 requests for bilateral meetings , while 168 events are scheduled during high-level week, according to Dujarric.

Asked Friday to characterize the atmosphere inside U.N. headquarters as the delegations prepare to arrive, Dujarric described it simply as "high stress."

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The General Debate of the 81st U.N. General Assembly begins Tuesday, Sept. 22, under the theme, "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all."

But beneath the speeches, motorcades and closed-door meetings across Manhattan is another competition: nearly every government represented in New York will be trying, in one way or another, to capture the attention of the United States.

"This is their moment to grab a piece of American mindshare for sure," Frank Ahrens, head of BGR Analytics, told Fox News Digital.

A new analysis released ahead of UNGA attempts to measure which countries already have it.

The 2026 BGR Impact Index , produced by BGR Analytics, the data practice of Washington-based BGR Group, ranks 197 countries and economies according to their overall footprint in the United States, combining economic, cultural, diplomatic, institutional and geopolitical measures. Japan holds the top position for a third consecutive year, followed by Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Korea.

That competition is especially consequential this year.

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President Donald Trump will return to the General Assembly on Tuesday with the US-Iran war entering its seventh month, while fighting involving the Iran-backed Houthis has placed new pressure on shipping through the Red Sea and raised fresh concerns among Gulf states about regional security. Reuters reported Sept. 18 that European and Asian allies have largely resisted U.S. calls to become more directly involved in the Iran conflict and that the prolonged war has strained Washington’s relationships with some partners.

The stakes extend well beyond Iran. The General Assembly agenda is expected to be dominated also by Russia’s war against Ukraine, Israeli-Palestinian tensions, Sudan, climate change and artificial intelligence. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are among the prominent leaders or representatives expected to speak.

That combination of military power, diplomatic access and public perception gets at the central question behind BGR’s index: what does influence actually mean?

BGR compiled more than 100 indicators, ranging from GDP, population and foreign investment to international students, cultural presence and lobbying activity in Washington.

But one of the most consequential variables in this year’s analysis came from a much newer arena: social media.

"We looked at 4.9 trillion pieces of data across an entire year because we know that a social media campaign can really move a country's perception in the U.S.," Ahrens said. "And that was really the big takeaway from this year's index."

Social-media sentiment accounts for 20% of the index , second only to cultural imprint at 24%. Institutional ties and outward orientation each make up 16%, geopolitical nexus accounts for 10%, economic size 8% and lobbying and Washington influence 6%. BGR says its underlying data comes from publicly available sources, primarily the U.N., U.S. government agencies and established research institutions, while its social-media data is supplied by Meltwater.

For smaller countries, the analysis suggests reputation can produce particularly large swings.

Bahrain was the biggest riser, climbing 22 places , from No. 97 in 2024 to No. 75 in 2026. BGR attributed much of that increase to improved US-facing online sentiment and increased visibility tied to Bahrain’s election to a rotating U.N. Security Council seat, its Arabian Gulf Cup victory and a USS Nimitz port call.

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Georgia moved in the opposite direction, falling 31 positions , from No. 73 to No. 104. BGR said its deteriorating US-facing online sentiment coincided with political unrest and arrests of journalists and opposition leaders.

Ahrens acknowledged that generating attention is not the same as wielding political influence. "Countries that make a lot of noise about themselves do get on the radar, but to stay on the radar, you have to have real accomplishments."

The index attempts to address that distinction by combining sentiment with harder measures such as economic links, institutional rankings, lobbying expenditure and participation in international organizations.

Perhaps BGR’s most unusual example of how national perception can change did not come from a president, diplomat or lobbying operation.

It came from a German soccer fan.

BGR calls it the "Freddy Effect," after a German World Cup visitor whose enthusiastic posts about traveling through the United States went viral this summer.

Ahrens said BGR found that positive sentiment toward Germany increased 13% over roughly three weeks during Freddy’s rise online. BGR links a substantial part of that increase to the reaction generated by his posts, although the data does not independently establish that he alone caused the change.

"Can you recreate a Freddy? I don't know if you can reverse engineer him to that effect," Ahrens said. "But what it shows you is how authentic communication really breaks through on social media."

It is a lesson that may resonate with delegations arriving in New York this week, where hundreds of leaders will have only a few days to secure meetings, shape headlines and make their country’s case.

President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are set to converge on New York City for the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) this week, setting up what former White House officials describe as a "dramatic" diplomatic moment, with Tehran’s delegation effectively "captive" under U.S. restrictions amid heightened Middle East tensions.

Pezeshkian, for one, is scheduled to address the assembly on Wednesday, Reuters and Iran's semi-official news agency, Mehr, reported Sunday, with Trump at the rostrum on Tuesday.

"The choreography here is going to make for a fairly dramatic moment," Theo Wold, former acting assistant attorney general and White House domestic policy adviser, told Fox News Digital.

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"For the Iranians, the limitation is going to be that there's going to be less access to the international press and less ability for them to essentially poke the Trump administration in the eye," Wold added before noting that it is "pretty sensible to allow them to participate in the international forum and to discuss whatever issues they think are pertinent to their regime and then tell them to go home."

The high-profile gathering also comes as Trump weighs renewed strikes on Iran amid the almost seven-month war. Tehran, meanwhile, has set seven conditions for talks with Washington, according to Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei.

Iran also warned on Sunday against any big new attack by the United States and its allies, saying it had information such a move was being prepared, Reuters reported.

While the U.S. approved visas for Iran’s delegation earlier this week, including Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the State Department has placed strict limits on Iranian movements while in Manhattan.

As the host country under a 1947 U.N. agreement, the United States generally must facilitate the entry and transit of foreign representatives traveling to U.N. headquarters, including officials from adversarial nations.

"While ordinary Iranians endure brutal repression, water and electricity shortages, and soaring inflation, the regime's officials want to go on shopping sprees in New York. Not on our watch," U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on X.

UN WATCHDOG SLAMS POTENTIAL ELECTION OF IRAN TO PANEL WITH HUMAN RIGHTS SWAY: 'LUNATICS RUNNING THE ASYLUM'

For Washington, Wold said the U.S. is not obligated to give them unrestricted access beyond diplomatic responsibilities.

"Here, the delegation will be restricted to their accommodation in New York City and the U.N. headquarters there in Manhattan," Wold clarified.

He characterized the move by Washington as a way of telling the delegation it could participate in official discussions but not "go and buy a bunch of microwaves or a small car at Costco or a dealership in the greater New York area."

"Some of the restrictions fully recognize that when Iran comes to New York for UNGA, really it's about them lining their pockets and going on shopping sprees to get household appliances and Rolex watches," Wold said. "They're not going to be going on shopping sprees. They're certainly not going to be hitting up Michelin-starred restaurants in greater Manhattan.

"They also go to Sam’s Club and Walmart and Costco. And that was one of the specific prohibitions issued by the State Department this week: to contact those big-box retailers that require a basic membership and say, ‘You’re not to transact or do any business with Iranians when they arrive, and you’re to notify us when they do.’"

KUSHNER TOUTS UNPRECEDENTED IRAN CONTACTS AS TEHRAN DENIES TRUMP BACKCHANNEL

Despite the restrictions, Wold said UNGA gives Washington the opportunity it has "wanted for quite some time to have a large enough audience, and a sort of captive Iranian delegation" to make some of the essential points for why the administration pursued the actions it did against the Iranian regime.

Iranian state media also reported Sept. 19 that Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said New York held "absolutely no charm" for the Iranian delegation.

Baghaei, Mehr News Agency reported, went on to accuse the U.S. of using every tool to block the delegation’s participation, asserting that Iran’s attendance is a legal right rather than a favor.

Wold went on to criticize the U.N. for hosting state representatives hostile to American interests while raising security concerns.

"It's going to be one of those things that's fairly perplexing to most Americans," Wold said. "How is it that the representatives of what we have long identified as a hostile regime, but now one that we're actually engaged in combat operations against, one that has killed American service members.

"Why is it that their diplomats get to come to the United Nations and exchange niceties with other kleptocrats or some of their other allies on the international scene."

TWO US SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN IRANIAN STRIKES ON JORDAN, CENTCOM SAYS

Wold also added that the United Nations wants to "lecture us about international climate change or the need to trans children, but the other is happy to sort of serve as a forum for obvious violators of human rights and obvious regimes that are contrary to any number of internationally agreed-upon protocols."

Amid the hostility between Washington and Tehran, Wold said the gathering could also provide an opening for diplomacy. Trump is also slated to hold bilateral and sideline meetings with leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to discuss regional security and the Strait of Hormuz.

"There's the hope that there'll be an opportunity for real discussion," Wold said of UNGA. "Everyone's hope, especially from State Department leadership, is that there'll be an opportunity to have a fulsome, sort of meaningful discussion with the Iranians, freed from some of the theatrics the Iranians have engaged in.

"There's a hope that there'll be an opportunity for closed-door private discussions between the United States and Iranians and really try to hammer out some kind of agreement about what a cessation of hostilities will look like."

Wold expressed confidence in Washington’s posture heading into the summit.

"The president is best equipped for these moments. This is really where he sort of shines as a natural leader," he said. "He's not one to bend or to break. It's a precarious time for President Trump, but I have no doubt at all that he'll rise to the moment."

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK: President Donald Trump will return to the United Nations this week seeking greater international cooperation in confronting Iran, even as his administration moves to reshape the global institution hosting world leaders, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview ahead of the gathering.

With the U.S.-Iran war entering its seventh month, Trump is expected to address the General Assembly on Tuesday and meet Gulf leaders whose countries have been directly affected by the conflict.

The gathering comes as Washington seeks to intensify economic pressure on Tehran, European allies confront Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and the administration faces questions about whether its push to reduce the U.N.'s size and spending risks diminishing the organization's ability to respond to international crises.

BESSENT WARNS IRAN'S OUTSIDE BACKERS TO 'STAY AWAY' AS TRUMP SEEKS TO 'ASPHYXIATE' TEHRAN'S ECONOMY

Waltz outlined what Washington expects from its partners on Iran: full enforcement of sanctions against Tehran, with consequences for countries that fail to comply.

"They will reinforce that message, but importantly, it's all of these countries actually enforcing the sanctions and what they're going to hear is there will be consequences for friend and foe," Waltz said. "The president is doing this for the future security of the world."

European and Asian allies have largely resisted Trump's requests for assistance in the Iran conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes in February, Reuters reported on on Sept. 18. The war has also disrupted energy markets, with Iran obstructing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and its Houthi allies tightening their grip on a critical Red Sea shipping corridor.

Waltz said the administration intends to make sanctions enforcement a central part of its diplomatic push during UNGA.

"The Iranian economy continues to crater," Waltz said, pointing to the country's currency, inflation and the U.S. naval blockade. "One way or another, the president has been crystal clear on our goals here that Iran cannot and will not have a nuclear weapon."

His remarks follow a Sept. 17 U.N. Security Council vote in which Russia and China blocked an effort to continue independent monitoring of international sanctions on Iran.

Trump is also expected to meet Gulf leaders to discuss the conflict and regional security. Waltz said that the administration wants to hear directly from its Gulf partners about their concerns, describing the collective meeting as an important diplomatic opportunity.

JEFF BARTOS SAYS UN REFORM IS NO LONGER AN 'OXYMORON' AFTER $570M IN CUTS

The Iran conflict is unfolding against a broader debate over the future of the United Nations, an institution Trump has repeatedly criticized and his administration has sought to substantially reform.

On Sept. 16, the United States paid $725 million toward the U.N.'s regular budget and another $102 million for peacekeeping operations. The payments reduced Washington's outstanding debt and averted the immediate risk of losing its General Assembly voting rights in 2027. However, the U.S. still owed approximately $1.312 billion to the organization's regular budget, according to the U.N.

Asked why American taxpayers should continue funding an organization the administration has repeatedly criticized for what it considers anti-American bias, Waltz pointed to efforts to reduce spending and redirect the institution toward its original mission.

"The president is clear about getting the U.N. back to basics and helping it realize its potential," Waltz told Fox News Digital.

He said the administration had secured more than $1 billion in budget reductions, with roughly 3,000 headquarters positions being cut and a reduction of approximately 25% in peacekeeping personnel.

"We have the U.N. on a diet," Waltz said.

But Waltz also made clear that the administration does not intend to abandon the United Nations.

"There's got to be one place in the world where everyone can come together and put diplomacy first and can actually talk," he said. "We don't ever want to see a U.N. in Beijing or Moscow or Brussels."

"If we just walked away, you'd have 192 countries talking without us," Waltz added.

Gaza offers one example of how the administration intends to use the U.N. while limiting direct American military involvement. Waltz pointed to the U.N.-endorsed Board of Peace and the planned International Stabilization Force, which is intended to support security and a postwar transition in Gaza. The ambassador said he does not want American troops deployed there, arguing that international security operations should allow other countries to share the burden. The U.N. Security Council endorsed the Gaza peace plan and authorized the stabilization force in November 2025.

The State Department said Sept. 18 that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be in New York from Sept. 20–23 to meet foreign counterparts, advance U.S. security and economic priorities and continue the administration's campaign for U.N. reform.

WALTZ CALLS OUT IRANIAN DIPLOMAT AT UN FOLLOWING DRONE STRIKES ON BAHRAIN AND KUWAIT

Trump arrives in New York days after announcing a new security agreement with Denmark and Greenland aimed at expanding the American military presence in the Arctic while restricting adversaries from establishing bases or making sensitive investments on the island.

The agreement falls short of Trump's earlier ambition to acquire Greenland, which remains an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Denmark and Greenland have stressed that the arrangement will not compromise the island's sovereignty or right to self-determination. Additional details of the agreement have yet to be made public.

Waltz told Fox News Digital that the deal reflects the Arctic's growing strategic importance as melting ice opens new shipping routes and increases access to energy and mineral resources.

"It's incredibly significant," Waltz said, pointing to Russia's Arctic military capabilities and the potential for new shipping routes to transform global trade.

"It took some tough tweets, maybe some tough language," he said. "We now have an agreement with our ally Denmark."

The agreement comes as European governments confront overlapping security challenges involving Russia's war in Ukraine, Arctic defense and uncertainty over transatlantic security arrangements, while Washington seeks greater allied cooperation in its campaign against Iran.

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The U.N. expects 73 heads of state and 45 heads of government, along with 49 ministers, 11 vice presidents and one crown prince, to attend High-Level Week, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters Friday.

Member states have submitted approximately 1,000 requests for bilateral meetings, while about 168 events are scheduled alongside the official proceedings.

The 81st General Assembly's General Debate begins Tuesday and runs through Sept. 28.

Beyond Iran, world leaders are expected to address Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the future of Gaza, international security and the U.N.'s ability to respond to emerging global challenges.

Waltz described the administration's approach with a slogan inspired by the president's political branding: "Make the U.N. great again."

But the immediate diplomatic questions facing Washington are more concrete: whether allies will increase pressure on Iran, whether Gulf leaders can agree on a path toward ending the conflict and whether the administration's push for a leaner U.N. can coexist with its efforts to use the organization to address international security challenges.

The German federal prosecutor’s office recently announced that it indicted seven people for allegedly securing weapons for the Hamas terrorist organization, with the goal of launching terrorist attacks on the second remembrance date of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.

The indictment has catapulted the danger of Hamas’ network in Europe to Israeli, American and European installations and citizens into the spotlight.

According to the prosecutor’s office, "All of the accused belong to the foreign terrorist organization Hamas. Some time ago, the organization’s military wing (the so-called Qassam Brigades) began establishing weapons depots in Europe. No later than July 2025, Hamas planned a concrete assassination in Germany or Austria targeting representatives of Israel, people of Jewish faith, or persons with pro-Israel views." The seven suspects were arrested between Oct. 2025 and May 2026.

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The statement added, "The attack was to take place in close temporal proximity to the second anniversary of Hamas’s assault on Israel on 7 October 2023 — i.e., in early October 2025."

The indictment listed the nationalities and first names and first letter of the last name of the suspects: German national Abed Al G., Danish national Yousif C., Lebanon-born Borhan El-K., Lebanon-born Wael F.M., German national Ahmad I., Lebanon-born Kamel M., Bulgarian national Mohammad S."

German law shields the last names of criminal suspects for privacy reasons.

The German prosecutors said the suspected Hamas terrorists "had already obtained a functional fully automatic rifle, 13 functional pistols and more than 700 rounds of ammunition. Mohammed A., who is being prosecuted separately, transported some of the weapons to Vienna and stored them there."

According to the German paper Die Welt, "One of the accused was working as a confidential informant for Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. The files show that the informant continued reporting to his intelligence handler while allegedly failing to disclose the full extent of his own involvement in obtaining ammunition for the group."

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Sascha Adamek, a German journalist and the author of the 2026 book "Infiltration: Political Islam Continues Its Advance" told Fox News Digital that "Now the policy of previous federal governments is coming back to haunt them: until 2023 they allowed Hamas and its front organizations to use Germany as a ‘safe haven’ for fundraising and recruitment and also for the radicalization of young people. This dirty deal — that Hamas does not use violence in this country and is therefore left to operate freely — has long been obsolete."

According to the most recent Federal German domestic intelligence report, Hamas could have had as many as 650 operatives in Germany during 2025, the last year of tracking. In 2024, 550 Hamas operatives were active and in 2023 the number totaled 450. The intelligence officials wrote in the report that "The figures refer to Germany and are partly estimated and rounded." According to the report, 1,250 Hezbollah operatives are active in Germany.

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When asked why Germany is allowing Hamas and Hezbollah operatives and members to conduct activities within its territory, the press office of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior told Fox News Digital in part, that, "Hamas, which has been banned from operating in Germany since 2023, has a network of supporters and followers; however, for many years they have tended to act with restraint in public and avoid any outward signs of connection to the organization."

The Interior Ministry’s press office added that "Hezbollah, which is also subject to a ban on its activities in Germany, is not organized under any nationwide umbrella organization or similar supraregional structure. Rather, its supporters are spread across various associations throughout Germany. The focus of the activities of these associations — which are classified as affiliated with Hezbollah —lies in the religious and cultural spheres, as well as in educational programs for children, youth and adults that promote conservative Islam and a Shi’ite identity. In isolated cases, Hezbollah supporters in Germany have been known to engage in specific acts of support for the organization in Lebanon."

When asked if the German government is lax, as critics argue, about eradicating Hamas and Hezbollah terrorism structures, the Interior Ministry said, "On November 2, 2023, the Federal Ministry of the Interior banned the activities of the terrorist organization Hamas in Germany, as these activities violate German criminal law and run counter to the principle of international understanding… Furthermore, its purpose or activities significantly harm the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany. In addition, the Federal Ministry of the Interior had already banned the activities of Hezbollah in Germany on April 30, 2020, as these activities also violate German criminal law and the organization is directed against the principle of international understanding."

The interior ministry noted that "Federal and state security authorities consistently investigate leads regarding possible extremist activities as well as acts subject to criminal prosecution and continuously examine all countermeasures available under the rule of law."

The statement also said, "The Hamas terrorist attack on the State of Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent military operation by Israeli defense forces in the Gaza Strip continue to have an impact on the security situation in Germany and Europe. In addition to the heightened abstract threat level, there continue to be intense pro-Palestinian protests as well as corresponding agitation on social media. Various extremist actors in Germany are inciting hatred and violence against Jews or the State of Israel, or denying its right to exist."

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The presence of indicted Lebanese men highlights the alliance between the two U.S-designated terrorist organizations, Hamas and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah.

The Iranian regime-backed Hezbollah joined Hamas a day after the Gaza-based terrorist movement invaded Israel in 2023 and slaughtered over 1,200 people.

Germany's Die Welt reported, "The prosecutors alleged the weapons operation was also coordinated from Lebanon, where a Hamas operative allegedly oversaw one of the procurement channels linking members of the network across Europe."

Israel’s Foreign Ministry seized on the report about the planned Hamas terror attacks in Germany and Austria, posting on X:" Palestinian Hamas was planning terror on the streets of Europe. German prosecutors say Hamas plotted attacks in Berlin and Vienna targeting Jewish communities and Israeli diplomats - part of a network allegedly using Turkey as a base for terror operations against European targets. The goal: mark October 7 with more blood."

Matthew Levitt, a leading scholar on Hezbollah and Hamas in Europe from the Washington Institute, told Fox News Digital that "I wrote the only long form, detailed expose on this a while back now in CTC Sentinel [Combating Terrorism Center}, based on court documents and extensive interviews." He added, "Hamas continues plotting in Europe, overseen by senior Qassam Brigades officials in Lebanon and with direct ties to senior Hamas leadership. One of the people arrested in Europe is the son of a senior Hamas leader, Basem Naim."

Levitt published his article titled "Hamas Plots in Europe: A Shift Toward External Operations?" in the Oct. 2025 issue of the West Point journal CTC.

Levitt cited a 2024 German prosecution indictment of alleged Hezbollah terrorists planning possible attacks against an American military base and Israel's embassy. Levitt wrote "The weapons, German officials concluded, ‘were intended to expand Hamas’ activities in Europe. ‘As the investigation progressed, German authorities determined — based on materials found on one of the defendants’ USB storage devices — that the Hamas operatives were considering specific targets in Germany, including the Israeli embassy in Berlin, the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate and the area around Berlin’s Tempelhof airport."

Israel’s Ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, warned that Hamas remains a serious security threat. He told the German media outlet, Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), that "Germany has gone from being a retreat for Hamas to an active terrorist target." He stressed Hamas’ ideology and terrorism affects "all of us" and a coordinated response is required.