War-crimes court exit, Iran strikes · July 26

U.S. urges all countries to quit war-crimes court.

Today's events

Criminal court exit.
The State Department welcomed Venezuela's withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, called the court “neither credible, independent, nor legitimate,” and urged every remaining member to quit the Rome Statute.¹Jul 25 · State
Thirteenth night of strikes.
Central Command struck Iranian command centers, drone storage, communications networks and coastal surveillance sites on July 23; the Strait of Hormuz stays open, with more than 50,000 U.S. troops in the region.²Jul 23 · CENTCOM
Four reactors go critical.
The Energy Department said four advanced test reactors — from Antares, Valar Atomics, Deployable Energy and Aalo Atomics — reached criticality by its July 4 target, one more than the three it had promised.³Jul 25 · DOE
Cybersecurity directive.
A National Security Presidential Memorandum signed by the President sets national policy for the cybersecurity of national security systems; it entered the official record of presidential documents July 24.⁴Jul 24 · WH
Undersea cable rules.
The Federal Communications Commission filed an 83-page rule and an 18-page companion proposal rewriting submarine-cable landing licenses to weigh national-security, law-enforcement, foreign-policy and trade risks; both publish July 27.⁵Jul 24 · FCC
North American trade talks.
Trade Representative Greer met Mexico's President Sheinbaum in Mexico City for the third round of the North American trade pact review, covering steel, autos, agriculture and payments; round four convenes in Washington in September.⁶Jul 24 · USTR
Smithsonian signage order.
An executive order directs the Interior Department to post signs along park walkways outside the National Museum of American History warning visitors of what a White House review calls ideological capture.⁷Jul 24 · WH
Mine-hunting exercise.
Naval forces from fifteen countries plus NATO's maritime command ran mine-countermeasure drills at Portland in the United Kingdom, July 13–24, using unmanned underwater and surface vessels, divers and disposal teams.⁸Jul 13–24 · Navy
Prisoner-abuse indictment.
A federal grand jury in Idaho indicted Miran Kostic, 66, a former Bosnian official accused of beating prisoners, for hiding that record and the war-crimes charges filed against him in Bosnia while seeking U.S. citizenship.⁹Jul 24 · DOJ

Allied Governments

Army spy drones.
Britain will buy Tekever AR5 surveillance drones under a deal worth up to £400 million over ten years — six initially, up to 24 by 2029 — replacing the Watchkeeper fleet in service since 2014.^aJul 25 · UK MoD
Gulf reassurance visit.
NATO's special representative for the southern neighbourhood met Qatar's armed-forces chief of staff on July 23, condemned Iranian attacks and reviewed four Gulf partnership projects launched at this month's Ankara summit.^bJul 24 · NATO
A second Downing Street.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham opened No 10 North in Manchester, a second seat of government he described as “putting power in every postcode,” with his new chancellor and first secretary of state present.^cJul 24 · UK No.10

Voices

“This is blatant overreach, political bias and selective enforcement. The ICC is neither credible, independent, nor legitimate.”
U.S. Dept. of State, Office of the Spokesperson · July 25¹

“The international waterway remains open for transit despite recent attacks from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
U.S. Central Command · July 23²

“After decades of stagnation and regulatory paralysis, America's nuclear power industry is roaring back thanks to President Trump.”
U.S. Dept. of Energy fact sheet · July 25³

“Individuals who commit atrocities abroad and lie to immigration authorities to seek safe haven in the United States will be investigated and prosecuted.”
AAG A. Tysen Duva, DOJ Criminal Division · July 24⁹

“[C]urrent leadership of both the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum cannot be trusted to tell America's story with honesty and gratitude.”
Executive order, Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution · July 24⁷

“Every evolution we conduct together strengthens the readiness and lethality of our combined force, ensuring we are prepared to defend our shared interests…”
Vice Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet · July 13⁸

Sources

U.S. Dept. of State, “Venezuela Withdraws from the ICC,” July 25, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/venezuela-withdraws-from-the-icc
U.S. Central Command, “U.S. Concludes 13th Night of Strikes on Iranian Military Targets,” July 23, 2026. centcom.mil/MEDIA/…/13th-night-of-strikes
U.S. Dept. of Energy, “FACT SHEET: The Golden Era of American Nuclear Energy Has Arrived,” July 25, 2026. energy.gov/articles/…/golden-era-american-nuclear-energy
GovInfo — Presidential Documents, “National Security Presidential Memorandum on National Policy for the Cybersecurity of National Security Systems” (DCPD-202600402), July 24, 2026. govinfo.gov/app/details/…/DCPD-202600402
Federal Communications Commission, “Review of Submarine Cable Landing License Rules and Procedures to Assess Evolving National Security, Law Enforcement, Foreign Policy, and Trade Policy Risks,” filed July 24, 2026 (publication July 27, 2026). federalregister.gov/…/submarine-cable-landing-license-rules
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, “Joint Statement from Ambassador Jamieson Greer and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard,” July 24, 2026. ustr.gov/press-releases/…/greer-ebrard-joint-statement
White House, “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution,” July 24, 2026. whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/…/restoring-trust-in-the-smithsonian
U.S. Navy, “Exercise Sea Breeze 26-2 Opens with Focus on Interoperability as a Combat Capability,” July 2026. navy.mil/Press-Office/…/exercise-sea-breeze-26-2
U.S. Dept. of Justice, “National of Bosnia and Herzegovina Charged with Attempting to Fraudulently Obtain U.S. Citizenship by Failing to Disclose Role in Abuse of Prisoners,” July 24, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/bosnia-herzegovina-naturalization-fraud

UK Ministry of Defence, “Fleet of spy drones to equip British soldiers and back jobs in South West England and Wales,” July 25, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/fleet-of-spy-drones
NATO News, “NATO Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood visits Qatar, reaffirms NATO's solidarity with Gulf partners,” July 24, 2026. nato.int/news/…/special-representative-visits-qatar
UK Prime Minister's Office (No.10), “Prime Minister's opening remarks to staff following his arrival at No 10 North: 24 July 2026,” July 24, 2026. gov.uk/government/speeches/…/no-10-north-24-july-2026