Trump's Congressional Address: Ukraine, Tariffs, and Territorial Ambitions Highlighted Amidst Rising Global Tensions

In his address to Congress on March 4th, Donald Trump lauded his administration's achievements, reiterated intentions to acquire Greenland and reclaim the Panama Canal, and threatened increased import tariffs against several countries, including Brazil. He also claimed Ukraine is ready to sign a minerals agreement and that Russia has signaled readiness for peace. China plans to increase its defense budget by 7.2% to approximately $231 billion in 2025, marking a consistent rise in military spending. This announcement was made during the 3rd session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing. Amidst these developments, Russia is reportedly mediating discussions between the U.S. and Iran regarding Iran's nuclear program and regional activities. Kremlin confirmed the topic was raised at a recent meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, involving Russian and U.S. foreign ministers. Meanwhile, Ukraine experienced a combined missile and drone attack, with air defense systems intercepting 55 drones across multiple regions.