ISSUE #318📅Saturday, 25 April 2026⏱5 min read📑5 stories · 1 deep dive
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The Briefing
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Here’s what’s happening in geopolitics today. French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments in Athens set a sharp tone, as he warned Europe faces pressure from all sides. At the same time, Iran is back in Islamabad testing the waters for renewed U.S. talks, while Washington makes a legal concession in Nicolás Maduro’s drug trafficking case.
Elsewhere, Russia and North Korea deepen ties with a wartime memorial visit, and Mali is rocked by coordinated insurgent attacks that forced the closure of its main airport.
As it is ANZAC day, we're doing a deep dive on Australia's $53 billion defence boost in the next decade. JNIM has also launched a new offensive in the Sahel region.
— The Basedment Editorial Team· 25 Apr 2026
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The Last 24 Hours in Geopolitics
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Macron bands Trump with Putin, Xi as ‘dead against’ Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron said during a visit to Athens that the United States, China and Russia are all acting in ways that are “dead against Europeans,” reflecting growing concern over Europe’s strategic position. He grouped Trump alongside leaders in Beijing and Moscow, arguing that their policies increasingly run counter to European interests and security. Macron continues to push for greater European autonomy in defence and foreign policy.
Iranian foreign minister arrives in Islamabad ahead of possible US talks
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad for meetings with Pakistani officials as efforts resume to revive negotiations with the United States. The visit comes after earlier talks in the Pakistani capital collapsed without agreement, with both sides now exploring the possibility of restarting discussions through indirect channels rather than face-to-face meetings. U.S. envoys are also expected in Islamabad, though no direct meeting between American and Iranian officials has been confirmed.
US to let Venezuela pay Maduro’s lawyer in drug trafficking case
The United States has agreed to ease sanctions on Venezuela to allow government funds to be used to pay legal fees for former president Nicolás Maduro, who is on trial in New York on drug trafficking charges. The decision follows legal challenges from Maduro’s defence team, who argued that blocking payment violated his constitutional right to legal representation, as neither he nor his wife can fund their own defence. U.S. officials said the adjustment ensures the case can proceed without breaching due process rights, while maintaining broader sanctions tied to national security concerns.
Russian parliament speaker in North Korea to honour soldiers killed in war
Russia’s parliament speaker, Vyacheslav Volodin, has arrived in North Korea for an official visit tied to a ceremony honouring soldiers killed in the Ukraine war. The visit includes the opening of a memorial complex dedicated to troops involved in overseas operations, including North Korean soldiers who supported Russian forces.
Mali insurgents hit military bases in ‘complex attacks’, airport shut
Armed insurgents launched coordinated “complex attacks” across Mali, targeting military bases and key infrastructure in multiple cities including the capital Bamako. Explosions and heavy gunfire were reported near major military installations and the international airport, which was temporarily shut as fighting unfolded. The Malian army said it had regained control in most areas by later in the day, though operations were ongoing, with no group immediately claiming responsibility for the attacks.
ANZAC Special: The $53 Billion Defence Boost in Australia's Military
As it is ANZAC day, we're doing a deep dive on Australia's $53 billion defence boost in the next decade. JNIM has also launched a new offensive in the Sahel region.
Basedment Analysis
Australia
Australia's 2026 National Defence Strategy, released on April 16, sets out a substantial increase in military spending with a target of 3% of GDP by 2033/34, rising to an allocation of around A$113 billion by 2036. That figure represents an increase of A$53 billion over previous projections. The scale is significant, but the more revealing question is where the money is going and whether the pace of delivery matches the urgency of the strategic environment.
The bulk of the investment is maritime-focused. Some 41% of the A$425 billion Integrated Investment Program goes to maritime capabilities, with submarines alone absorbing up to A$96 billion, the largest single defence allocation in Australian history. On top of that, between A$21 billion and A$30 billion is committed to layered air and missile defence, with a medium-range air defence program set to commence as a priority from 2026. Long-range strike, drones, surface ships and autonomous undersea systems round out the major spending areas.
On the HIMARS front, the first GMLRS missiles manufactured in South Australia were successfully test-fired at the Woomera Test Range in April, launched by soldiers from 14th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery. Australia is now the only country outside the United States producing the GMLRS missile, and the Port Wakefield facility is explicitly designed as a foundation for eventually manufacturing longer-range munitions, including the Precision Strike Missile and hypersonic systems.
On AUKUS, progress has been incremental but concrete. The US approved the first major submarine contract under the deal this week, a A$275 million agreement awarded to Electric Boat covering design, engineering support and technology transfer activities, funded by Australia. Australia has been promised at least three Virginia-class submarines from the US from the early 2030s, ahead of a locally built fleet planned for the 2040s. However, the US needs to significantly lift its pace of submarine production to meet its AUKUS obligations, and contract and construction delays remain an acknowledged concern.
Critics are not questioning the direction of the strategy so much as its tempo. Senior analysts at the Lowy Institute have described the spending increases as relatively modest compared to the scale of security challenges Australia now faces, noting that the strategic environment is deteriorating faster than the financial planning cycles are assuming.The practical concern is that capability delivery timelines, particularly for submarines and missile defence, may not align with the window in which they are most needed.
Sahel Africa
A major, coordinated offensive appears to be underway across Mali, with jihadist and separatist forces targeting both the capital and key northern cities. Fighters from Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda–linked coalition active across the Sahel, have reportedly advanced into Kati on the northwestern outskirts of Bamako. Heavy gunfire has been reported near the capital’s international airport, suggesting one of the most serious security breaches in the city in recent years.
Simultaneously, Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA), a Tuareg separatist force, has launched its own offensive in northern Mali. FLA fighters are reported to have entered and seized positions in Kidal and Gao, taking prisoners from Malian government forces and elements of Russia’s Africa Corps (alleged), which maintains a presence in the region. An unidentified helicopter has also reportedly been shot down.
The developments reflect a convergence of interests between jihadist and separatist actors, both opposed to Mali’s military junta. Kidal remains symbolically and strategically significant; under the Algiers Accords, it was meant to remain under Tuareg administration until the government retook it in 2023. If confirmed, the scale and coordination of these attacks mark a significant escalation in Mali’s already fragile security environment.
Map from(Wikipedia) November 2025, but will give you a good understanding of what is where.
TODAY IN HISTORY (April 25, 1915): The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed at Gallipoli in western Turkey during World War I. The losses these troops suffered during the Gallipoli Campaign were enormous, and in 1920 this day became a holiday, called ANZAC Day, to honor them. It has evolved over decades to honor all soldiers from New Zealand and Australia.
