Good Morning. 

India and Taliban held rare talks in Kabul to discuss humanitarian aid and trade relations through Iranian ports, hundreds of rebels in Central African Republic surrendered after Chad agreed to help secure their shared border, Chinese elite hackers expanded their targeting to include EU organizations while using legitimate VPN tools to hide their activities, Germany arrested a U.S. citizen who allegedly offered sensitive military intelligence to China while working for U.S. forces stationed in Germany, and Haitian activists urged countries to pause deportations as gang violence displaces thousands.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

Trump's Return: New Middle East Challenges Await

• Netanyahu and Israeli allies celebrated Trump's election win, but the Middle East landscape is drastically different from 2016, with Israel now fighting multiple fronts and requiring significant U.S. military support to counter Iranian threats.

• Trump's isolationist tendencies and antiwar stance could conflict with Israel's current needs for U.S. military involvement, while the absence of Jared Kushner (who previously steered pro-Israel policy) and lingering tension over Netanyahu's quick recognition of Biden's 2020 win add uncertainty.

• While Trump may give Israel more latitude in its military operations and settlement expansion than Biden, his unpredictable nature and desire to end current conflicts could force Netanyahu to be more cautious in defying U.S. pressure, especially regarding cease-fire negotiations.

Counterterrorism

• India and Taliban held rare talks in Kabul to discuss humanitarian aid and trade relations through Iranian ports. ➚

• A military judge upheld plea deals for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants. ➚

• Iran executed a Jewish man for murder without notifying his family, marking the first execution of an Iranian Jew in 30 years. ➚

• Iranian President Pezeshkian dismissed the significance of Trump's election victory, stating Iran's independence from U.S. politics. ➚

Military & Defense

• Hundreds of rebels in Central African Republic surrendered after Chad agreed to help secure their shared border, paving way for local elections. ➚

• Israel intensifies Gaza bombardment with new evacuation orders as Palestinians report civilian casualties. ➚

• NATO warns of growing threat from Russia-North Korea military cooperation. ➚

• Britain hits Russia with major sanctions targeting Ukraine war involvement and mercenary groups. ➚

• Taiwan and China react to Trump's win with mixed expectations for future relations. ➚

• Chinese anticipate trade tensions but possible negotiation opportunities under Trump presidency. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Chinese elite hackers have expanded their targeting to include EU organizations while using legitimate VPN tools to hide their activities. ➚

• The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warned employees to avoid using phones for work due to a major Chinese telecommunications hack. ➚

• A suspect named Connor Moucka was arrested in Canada for allegedly orchestrating data breaches affecting Snowflake customers including AT&T and Ticketmaster. ➚

• Multiple House committees are being briefed on Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon's breach of telecom companies that targeted Trump's campaign and U.S. officials. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Germany arrested a U.S. citizen who allegedly offered sensitive military intelligence to China while working for U.S. forces stationed in Germany. ➚

• China sentenced a former state agency employee to death for leaking "state secrets" after allegedly providing classified information to foreign intelligence agencies via USB drive. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• Haitian activists urged countries to pause deportations as gang violence displaces thousands, with Dominican Republic deporting over 61,000 migrants in the past month. ➚

• Mexican police found 11 bodies, including two minors, dumped by a highway in Guerrero state amid ongoing drug cartel violence. ➚

• Nigeria's human rights commission will present findings on allegations that the military ran illegal abortion programs and killed children during anti-insurgency operations. ➚

The America Builds podcast sits at the nexus of national security, technology, and venture capital. Hosts Will Allen and Hayley Menser interview the brilliant operators and investors pushing the boundaries of frontier technology.