Geopolitical and Diplomatic Developments

A summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to take place in Alaska. This meeting is garnering significant international attention, especially regarding its potential impact on the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has also met with European leaders ahead of the summit and has stated that talks "about us, without us, will not work."

In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israel's Security Cabinet has approved a plan to capture Gaza City, with an expected ground offensive. This comes amid reports of heavy aerial bombardment and concerns from NGOs about the "weaponization" of aid, with more than 100 international organizations signing a letter stating that requests to bring in food and water were denied in July.

In the South China Sea, two Chinese ships, one a navy warship and the other a coast guard vessel, collided while chasing a Philippine patrol boat. U.S. warships have since been deployed to patrol the area.