It’s Thursday, July 31, 2025, and here’s a quick rundown on today’s SOFREP Morning Brief: Canada joins the UK and France in backing Palestinian statehood at the United Nations. A US Navy F-35C goes down in California, with the pilot safely ejecting. The US Army advances autonomous warfare with a GPS-free resupply vehicle, while Trump’s new tariffs target India’s trade and Russian oil ties. Russia hits Kyiv hard yet again, China eyes ways to counter Starlink, and India teams up with the Philippines in the South China Sea. Here’s what you need to know.
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Canada to Recognize Palestinian State at UN in September, Joins Global Shift
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday that Canada will recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th UN General Assembly session in September 2025, joining France and the United Kingdom in escalating diplomatic pressure over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
The move follows high-level talks with British and French leaders and comes amid growing global outrage over the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.
Carney said Canada’s recognition is conditional on the Palestinian Authority holding general elections in 2026 that exclude Hamas and on the full demilitarization of a future Palestinian state. He acknowledged that such goals are not achievable in the near term but said the symbolic step aims to preserve the viability of a two-state solution.
Over 140 nations already recognize Palestinian statehood.
France, the first G7 member to declare such support, and the UK plan similar moves in September unless Israel takes concrete steps to halt the Gaza conflict.
Israel’s government continues to reject a two-state solution on national security grounds.
Israeli Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed criticized Ottawa’s decision, calling Canada an “estranged friend” and accusing it of ignoring the suffering of hostages still held by Hamas. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s administration reaffirmed its refusal to recognize Palestinian statehood, stating it would amount to “rewarding Hamas.”
The war, which began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,200 and resulted in 251 hostages, has seen over 60,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Malnutrition and starvation deaths have surged, with 89 children reported dead.
Israel denies there is famine and blames Hamas for prolonging the conflict.
US Navy F-35C Crashes Near NAS Lemoore, Pilot Ejects Safely
A US Navy F-35C Lightning II crashed Wednesday evening near Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, California.
The pilot, assigned to Fighter Attack Squadron 125, ejected safely and no injuries or property damage were reported, according to base officials.
The crash occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. local time in a field in Fresno County, local news station Fox26 reported.
NAS Lemoore, located about 30 miles south of Fresno, serves as the headquarters of the Navy’s Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and hosts 16 operational squadrons, including F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35C stealth fighters.
The F-35C is the Navy’s carrier-based variant of the fifth-generation multirole fighter.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
US Army Tests Fully Autonomous ULTRA Resupply Vehicle in Georgia
The US Army has successfully tested the Uncrewed Long-range Transport Autonomy (ULTRA) vehicle, a fully autonomous ground platform designed for frontline resupply missions without the need for Global Positioning System (GPS), drivers, or remote operators.
Developed by Overland AI, ULTRA integrates the company’s OverDrive autonomy software with a military-grade chassis and a sensor suite that includes stereo cameras, LiDAR, thermal imaging, and inertial measurement units.
The system allows the vehicle to operate in GPS-denied, jammed, or low-visibility environments by rerouting and navigating terrain in real time.
ULTRA features a modular payload bay capable of carrying up to 1,000 pounds, supporting missions such as supply delivery, sensor deployment, casualty evacuation, and explosive ordnance transport. It offers over eight hours of endurance and can be configured with either all-electric or hybrid drive systems. Cyber-hardened processors and tactical mesh networking enable secure operations and integration with Army command systems.
During Exercise Agile Spirit 25 in Krtsanisi, Georgia, soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment field-tested ULTRA across rugged terrain in the Vaziani Training Area. The platform completed autonomous convoying, obstacle avoidance, and cargo delivery tasks, demonstrating its potential to reduce troop exposure to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and ambushes.
More trials are planned for late 2025 and early 2026 as the Army advances autonomous logistics capabilities.
Trump Slaps Tariffs on India Over Russian Oil, Trade Imbalance
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the US will impose a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, along with an additional penalty targeting India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
The new tariffs, part of a broader overhaul of US trade policy, are set to take effect Friday.
Trump justified the move by citing India’s high tariffs on American products and its defense and energy ties with Moscow.
“India is our friend,” he said, “but their tariffs are far too high.”
The decision follows five rounds of trade negotiations between the US and India aimed at reaching a “fair and mutually beneficial” agreement.
India’s Trade Ministry said it is reviewing the impact of the announcement.
The White House also rolled out new trade actions: a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods, a 50 percent tax on copper imports, and a 15 percent tariff on South Korean imports, including autos.
Trump said South Korea agreed to $100 billion in US energy purchases and $350 billion in US-controlled investments. A separate agreement with Pakistan includes oil development.
Trump’s revised trade policy aims to reduce the US trade deficit and boost domestic manufacturing, though economists warn it may increase inflation and slow growth. A $45.8 billion trade imbalance with India was recorded last year, and the new tariffs could hinder New Delhi’s goal of doubling trade with the US to $500 billion by 2030.
The US also plans to tighten enforcement of “de minimis” exemptions on shipments under $800, largely used by Chinese sellers. Meanwhile, European leaders are pushing back on US tariffs, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling for greater European Union sovereignty and competitiveness.
Despite close ties between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the new tariffs risk straining relations and undercutting India’s competitiveness in the US market. Trade analysts warn that Indian exports may now lose ground to regional competitors like Vietnam and Bangladesh. Additional penalties tied to Russia-related sanctions are expected to be announced soon.
Russian Airstrikes Kill 6 in Kyiv as Ukraine Urges Global Response
Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Kyiv early Thursday, killing at least six civilians, including a six-year-old boy and his mother, and injuring 82 others, Ukrainian officials reported.
The attack marked one of the deadliest single nights in Ukraine’s capital since the war began.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 300 drones and eight missiles were launched, hitting 27 locations across the city, including homes, schools, and hospitals.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed nine children were wounded, more than on any prior night during the war.
Emergency crews battled fires and dug through rubble in search of survivors. The Ukrainian Air Force reported downing 288 drones and three cruise missiles, but five missiles and 21 drones hit their targets.
Zelenskyy condemned the attack as Russia’s answer to Ukraine’s pursuit of peace with Western allies.
“Peace without strength is impossible,” he stated.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko linked the strike to US President Donald Trump’s recent warning of new sanctions if Moscow fails to make progress toward ending the conflict by August 8.
“This is Putin’s response to Trump’s deadlines,” she said, calling for international tribunals and increased pressure on Moscow.
Russia has intensified long-range strikes on civilian infrastructure in recent months while denying it targets noncombatants. Ukrainian leaders are now urging global allies to respond forcefully to the escalating civilian toll.
China Develops Countermeasures to Target Elon Musk’s Starlink
Chinese military and government-backed scientists are actively researching ways to hunt, disable, and destroy Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, viewing it as a significant threat to national security and global strategic stability.
The Associated Press recently reviewed over 60 publicly available papers from Chinese journals detailing proposals ranging from space-based lasers and sabotage of supply chains to dedicated attack satellites.
Beijing sees Starlink, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, as deeply intertwined with US military and intelligence operations, especially after Ukraine’s use of the network for battlefield communications following Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Chinese academics warn Starlink could support US operations in nuclear, space, and cyber domains, and some propose targeting its satellites with kinetic or electronic attacks.
Though Starlink does not operate in China, its satellites still pass over Chinese territory.
Simulations by Chinese defense institutions show the network provides round-the-clock coverage over key areas, including Beijing and Taiwan. This has prompted Chinese engineers to call for the development of trailing satellites, space surveillance systems, and even the use of corrosive substances and ion thrusters to sabotage Starlink’s hardware in orbit.
Musk’s close ties to US defense agencies and his political entanglements, including heavy support for President Trump and control over sensitive battlefield access in Ukraine, have raised alarms globally.
Starlink currently controls about two-thirds of all active satellites, with more than 8,000 in orbit and plans to deploy tens of thousands more. No rival (Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Europe’s IRIS2, or China’s Guowang and Qianfan projects) has come close in scale.
China’s counter-SpaceX strategy also includes diplomatic and regulatory approaches alongside its military planning. Yet the overarching message from Chinese publications remains consistent: Starlink’s global dominance poses both strategic and technological risks that demand an urgent response.
India, Philippines to Launch First Joint Patrol in South China Sea
India will conduct its first-ever joint maritime patrol with the Philippines in the contested South China Sea, marking a significant step in defense cooperation between the two countries.
The Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet, comprising guided-missile destroyer INS Mysore (D-60), anti-submarine corvette INS Kiltan (D-30), and replenishment vessel INS Shakti (A-57), arrived in -Manila for goodwill engagements ahead of the planned maritime cooperative activity.
Philippine Navy officials confirmed to USNI News that the joint patrol will follow the port visit, with a focus on interoperability and support for Philippine maritime security amid rising tensions with China.
While India has previously participated in exercises in the region, this marks its first operational patrol alongside Philippine forces.
India joins the US, Japan, Australia, France, and Canada in partnering with Manila through such maritime activities. The timing aligns with an upcoming visit to India by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Defense ties between India and the Philippines have strengthened in recent years, highlighted by New Delhi’s 2022 sale of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippine Marine Corps and offers of defense loans and indigenous weapon systems. India has also toughened its position on the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, now calling for full adherence to the verdict.
Sources: News Agencies