Morning Brief: USS Stockdale Joins Naval Build-Up in Caribbean, Syrian President Meets Rubio, Drones Disrupt Copenhagen Airport

· Guy D. McCardle

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa meets with Secretary Rubio in New York. (@SecRubio/X)

Good morning. Here’s your Tuesday, September 23, 2025 brief. At a glance: The US Navy steps up counter-drug operations in the Caribbean, Trump heads to the UN facing pressure on Gaza, and the Army pivots away from manned aviation. Trump stirred controversy with false autism claims, while a deportation case highlights human rights concerns. In Gaza, Israeli forces push deeper as France recognizes Palestine, and Syria makes a rare return to the UN stage. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger exit the ICC, a ship comes under attack off Yemen, and drones disrupt Copenhagen Airport. On the war front, Russia presses in Donetsk as Ukraine shifts toward self-reliance. Meanwhile, the UK’s carrier strike group nears full operational readiness after its Indo-Pacific mission.

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USS Stockdale Joins US Naval Build-Up in Caribbean for Counter-Drug Mission

USS Stockdale (DDG-106) has joined seven other US Navy warships operating in the Caribbean as part of the Trump administration’s expanded homeland security and counter-narcotics mission.

The deployment includes guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) and USS Gravely (DDG-107), the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70), and Littoral Combat Ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS-21), with at least one nuclear submarine also reported in the region.

The buildup supports efforts to disrupt drug shipments, often working in tandem with Coast Guard law enforcement teams.

Since August, the Coast Guard has intercepted 75,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific under Operation Pacific Viper.

The US has also conducted at least three lethal strikes on suspected Venezuelan cartel boats, raising questions in Congress about legality under international law.

 

Trump to Address UN General Assembly Amid Global Crises and Rising Calls for Palestinian State

President Donald Trump will address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, with world leaders questioning whether the US under his “America First” agenda remains committed to global leadership.

Since beginning his second term, Trump has cut foreign aid, imposed tariffs, and maintained a skeptical stance on multilateralism while pursuing limited progress on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Planning documents suggest his administration will propose narrowing asylum rights, requiring claims in the first country entered.

The assembly convenes as the Gaza war nears its second anniversary, with dozens of leaders endorsing a Palestinian state despite firm opposition from Israel and US backing for Netanyahu’s government.

Other key speakers include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Trump is also set to meet Zelenskyy, Argentine President Javier Milei, and leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.

 

US Army to Cut 6,500 Aviation Jobs as Focus Shifts to Drones and Autonomous Systems

The US Army will eliminate 6,500 active-duty aviation positions in 2026 and 2027, cutting more than 20 percent of its pilots, flight crews, and maintainers as it pivots toward drones and autonomous systems.

Army spokesman Major Montrell Russell said crewed aircraft will remain in service but emphasized growing reliance on drone technology, influenced by lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war.

The restructuring is part of Secretary Dan Driscoll’s Army Transformation Initiative, which aims to modernize warfighting and streamline force composition.

Beginning in October, “talent panels” will review junior officers in Black Hawk and Apache units to determine retention or reassignment based on future service potential. While experienced warrant officers will not be eligible for transition, the Army plans to explore similar review panels for enlisted personnel.

The initiative seeks to integrate drones alongside manned aviation and redeploy qualified personnel into new roles.

 

Trump Promotes Disputed Autism Links as Administration Launches New Research Effort

President Donald Trump on Monday used a White House news conference to promote unproven links between Tylenol, vaccines, and autism while unveiling a new federal effort to study the disorder’s causes.

Trump repeatedly urged pregnant women and mothers not to use Tylenol and suggested vaccine timing could contribute to autism, echoing long-discredited claims.

Medical experts condemned the remarks as dangerous and unsupported by evidence. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it would notify doctors about possible risks of acetaminophen use in pregnancy, while also exploring folate-based treatments such as leucovorin for some patients with autism.

The autism initiative, backed by Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again coalition, reflects the administration’s growing influence from anti-vaccine activists.

Tylenol maker Kenvue rejected Trump’s claims, warning of health risks if women avoid the drug, and saw its stock drop 7.5 percent after the announcement.

Scientists stress decades of research show no link between vaccines and autism, with rising diagnoses attributed to broader definitions and improved detection.

 

Jamaican Man Deported to Eswatini Returned Home After Two Months in Prison

A Jamaican man, Orville Etoria, who was deported by the US to Eswatini under a third-country deportation program, has been repatriated to Jamaica, Eswatini officials said Monday.

Etoria had been held for more than two months in a maximum-security prison without charges or legal access, which his lawyers called unlawful, noting Jamaica had been willing to take him back.

The US Department of Homeland Security said Etoria and four others from Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and Yemen were dangerous criminals whose home countries refused them, while lawyers argued they had completed their sentences and were denied due process.

Eswatini said the men were only in transit and would be sent to their home countries.

The program, which has sent deportees to at least four African nations, has drawn criticism from lawyers and human rights groups for placing migrants in countries where they have no ties and limited legal protections.

The UN’s International Organization for Migration assisted in Etoria’s return.

 

Israeli Forces Push Deeper Into Gaza City as Global Recognition of Palestinian State Grows

Israeli tanks advanced further into Gaza City on Tuesday, intensifying the offensive a day after dozens of world leaders at the UN backed recognition of a Palestinian state.

At least four people were killed in an airstrike on a residential building, while Israeli forces detonated explosive-laden vehicles in Sabra and Tel Al-Hawa, destroying homes and roads. Three hospitals have shut down due to the ground assault, straining Gaza’s health system.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron formally recognized Palestinian statehood, but Israel rejected the move, insisting its campaign against Hamas will continue until the group is eliminated.

More than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023, according to local health authorities.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is set to meet with Muslim-majority leaders on Tuesday to discuss Gaza and will present a proposal for peace and post-war governance, though his earlier plans for a US-led takeover and displacement of Palestinians drew strong international criticism.

 

Syrian President Al-Sharaa Meets Rubio, Marks First UN Visit by Syrian Leader in 60 Years

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday, signaling a major step in ending Syria’s decades-long isolation.

Al-Sharaa, who ousted Bashar Assad last December and ended nearly 14 years of civil war, is the first Syrian leader to attend the UN General Assembly since 1967. The meeting follows the Trump administration’s removal of US terrorist designations and easing of sanctions on Syria to support its reintegration.

Talks focused on counterterrorism, missing Americans, and Israel-Syria relations, though al-Sharaa ruled out joining the Abraham Accords, instead seeking negotiations to restore the 1974 truce with Israel.

At a separate forum, al-Sharaa called Trump’s sanctions relief a “bold decision” and urged full lifting of remaining penalties to aid Syria’s recovery. He also pledged accountability for wartime abuses and said international fact-finding teams have been allowed into Syria for the first time in six decades.

 

Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Announce Withdrawal from International Criminal Court

The military juntas ruling Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger said Monday they are pulling out of the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of selective justice and calling it an “instrument of neocolonial repression.”

The decision follows recent coups in all three countries, which have distanced themselves from Western partners and built closer ties with Russia, whose president is under an ICC arrest warrant.

The juntas framed the move as part of efforts to assert sovereignty and suggested exploring regional alternatives to the court.

The withdrawal process will take at least one year to complete.

Hungary also announced plans to leave the ICC earlier this year.

 

Ship Attacked Off Yemen’s Coast in Gulf of Aden, Crew Safe

A commercial vessel traveling about 225 kilometers (140 miles) off the coast of Aden came under attack early Tuesday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations center said.

The ship’s captain reported a splash and explosion near the vessel, but no injuries or damage were reported, and the ship continued to its next port.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, though Yemen’s Houthi rebels have frequently targeted ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in recent years as part of their campaign linked to the war in Gaza.

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Israel intensifying its ground offensive in Gaza and U.N. sanctions set to be reimposed on Iran over its nuclear program.

 

Drones Disrupt Copenhagen Airport, Authorities Probe Possible Hybrid Attack

Unidentified drones flew over Copenhagen Airport Monday night, forcing hours-long airspace closure and widespread flight delays, Danish police said Tuesday.

Officials described the pilot as highly skilled and likely “showing off” rather than attempting an attack, noting the drones displayed lights and varied flight patterns before disappearing.

Authorities chose not to shoot them down due to risks posed by nearby aircraft and fuel depots. While no harm was reported, investigators are exploring whether the incident could be linked to Russian hybrid activity.

Flights resumed early Tuesday, though disruptions continued.

A similar drone incident briefly affected Oslo Airport the same evening, though no connection has yet been established.

The events come amid heightened security concerns in northern Europe following recent Russian provocations and past airport drone disruptions.

 

Ukraine Faces Mounting Strain as Russia Presses Offensive in Donetsk

Ukraine’s military is bracing for a difficult autumn as Russia intensifies efforts to seize the Donetsk region, now about 70 percent under Moscow’s control.

Ukrainian forces are holding a “fortress belt” of four cities but face shortages of troops, supplies, and effective management.

Russia is avoiding costly urban battles by targeting flanks, using infiltration tactics, drones, and glide bombs to cut supply lines and weaken defenses.

Fighting has escalated around Lyman in the north and Pokrovsk in the south, raising concerns that Russian advances could eventually encircle Ukrainian strongholds.

Analysts warn Ukraine’s exhausted units, thin rotations, and organizational problems make its defenses increasingly fragile, despite continued reliance on technology and volunteer support.

Experts caution that if Russia captures the entire region, it is unlikely to stop its offensive, prolonging the war and deepening Ukraine’s economic and humanitarian crisis.

 

Zelenskiy Seeks Support at UN but Prepares Ukraine for Greater Self-Reliance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in New York this week to meet US President Donald Trump and address the UN General Assembly, aiming to secure more support and sanctions against Russia while adjusting to reduced foreign assistance.

Kyiv has accepted that hopes for tougher US sanctions are fading and is shifting toward greater self-reliance, including targeting Russian infrastructure with long-range drones.

Only 18 percent of Ukrainians believe the war could end this year, as Russia continues pressing in eastern Ukraine and demands territorial concessions before any talks. While US intelligence sharing and arms financing remain critical, Ukraine is increasingly relying on its own strategy to weaken Russian forces.

Diplomats and officials describe Zelenskyy’s visit as pragmatic rather than decisive, reflecting a broader recognition that the conflict will continue without quick solutions.

 

UK Carrier Strike Group Nears Full Operational Capability After Indo-Pacific Deployment

The UK’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by HMS Prince of Wales (R09), is close to achieving full operational capability following an eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment under Operation Highmast, officials said Monday.

The group has conducted multilateral exercises with US, Japanese, Australian, South Korean, and Canadian forces, including large-scale drills such as Talisman Sabre in Australia and joint carrier operations with the US Navy’s George Washington (CVN-73) and Japan’s JS Kaga.

During the deployment, the UK demonstrated F-35B cross-deck operations, enhanced interoperability, and conducted a first transit of the South China Sea, shadowed by Chinese naval ships.

The mission also strengthened political and trade ties through port visits and joint events.

The group will next join the Five Power Defence Arrangements’ Bersama Lima exercise before moving to India for joint carrier drills, then transition to NATO operations in the Mediterranean.

Full operating capability is expected in November when the air wing expands to 24 F-35Bs, with the deployment concluding in December.

 

US Delegation in Beijing Warns of Miscommunication, Calls for More Dialogue with China

A bipartisan US congressional delegation led by Representative Adam Smith met Chinese officials in Beijing this week, marking the first House visit to China since 2019.

Smith said the US and China are “talking past each other” on critical issues, including trade, technology, and global conflicts, and urged deeper dialogue to reduce risks, particularly between the two militaries. He expressed concern over unsafe encounters between US and Chinese aircraft and ships, citing a 2023 incident when a Chinese jet came within 10 feet of a US bomber.

The delegation pressed Beijing on fentanyl trafficking and restrictions on rare earth exports, while also meeting with Defense Minister Dong Jun, Vice Premier He Lifeng, and Premier Li Qiang.

Military-to-military communications were only recently restored after being suspended in 2022 following Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, but their frequency remains unclear.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Xi Jinping at a summit in South Korea next month before visiting China in early 2026.

 

Sources: News Agencies