RH 6.11.26 | Iran and the Middle East | Strait Tensions, Frozen Funds, Escalating Strikes

What's coming Up Next Week In The World 2026.06.21 to 2026.06.27

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ [https://www.restrictedhandling.com/] What's coming up next week in global geopolitics, intelligence, and security? This episode breaks it all down in a clean, structured, no-noise briefing that walks you through the major scheduled events shaping the international system from Sunday through Saturday. From UN Security Council sessions on Ukraine and the Middle East, to high-level BRICS security meetings in New Delhi, to EU summits, NATO-aligned discussions, and North Korea's annual propaganda-heavy commemorations, this is the week where diplomacy, military signaling, and economic strategy all collide on the calendar at the same time. We walk through the key moments you need to track, including the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk where Western governments and institutions are expected to outline funding, reconstruction plans, and long-term commitments tied to Ukraine's future. This is one of those events where the headlines are only half the story, and the real weight sits in the side meetings, investment pledges, and carefully worded joint statements. At the same time, BRICS national security advisers gather in India, offering a rare window into how China, Russia, India, and others are coordinating (or not coordinating) on global security issues like maritime stability, sanctions pressure, and regional conflict spillover. These meetings rarely produce dramatic breakthroughs, but they often reveal subtle shifts in alignment that matter more than the headlines suggest. On the European side, the EU–Moldova summit continues the slow but steady integration track between Moldova and the European Union, a process deeply shaped by the ongoing war in Ukraine and broader tensions with Russia. Meanwhile, EU energy ministers meet to discuss supply resilience and crisis planning, especially as global energy markets remain sensitive to geopolitical shocks. In the Middle East track, the UN Security Council cycle continues with Syria briefings, thematic debates on children and armed conflict, and reporting under Resolution 2334. These are not flashy moments, but they are the institutional backbone of how global diplomacy processes ongoing conflicts. Think of it as the world's longest running group chat where nobody really agrees, but everyone keeps typing anyway. And then there is North Korea, marking the anniversary of the Korean War outbreak with its usual mix of ideological messaging and state-driven narrative reinforcement. These events consistently serve as a reminder that Pyongyang's political calendar is tightly bound to historical symbolism, often amplified through strong rhetoric aimed at external audiences. We also highlight the watchlist for the week: follow-through announcements from Ukraine recovery discussions, potential shifts in BRICS messaging cohesion, and any escalation in DPRK rhetoric tied to its annual commemorations. If you want a fast, clean, intelligence-focused breakdown of what the world's major power centers are already scheduled to do next week, this episode gives you the full map in under one sitting. No fluff, no speculation, just the geopolitical agenda laid out so you can stay ahead of the curve instead of reacting to it after the fact. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ [https://www.restrictedhandling.com/] Get the daily intelligence brief breaking down Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, and global security developments before they hit mainstream cycles.

RH 6.20.26 | Saturday Spy Stories Deep Dive

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ [https://www.restrictedhandling.com/] A weekly deep dive into the latest spy stories and intelligence updates from across the globe. We spotlight the hidden dynamics driving security crises, geopolitical maneuvering, and covert operations—all with a sharp, unvarnished perspective. From cyber threats to clandestine influence campaigns, this episode pulls together the week's most critical developments, cutting through the noise and spin. Join us as we uncover the storylines shaping tomorrow's conflicts, power plays, and intelligence battles. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ [https://www.restrictedhandling.com/] Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.

RH 6.20.26 | Economic & Sanctions Deep Dive: Russia & China

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ Step beyond the headlines and official spin to uncover the deeper realities inside Russia and China's economies. We take a close look at how Moscow and Beijing project power abroad while grappling with fragile foundations at home, from Russia's unsustainable wartime spending to China's faltering growth and anxious workforce. We cut through state narratives to reveal the costs of these economies, costs borne not by leaders, but by ordinary citizens facing higher prices and shrinking opportunities. With insights from data, policy shifts, and on-the-ground reports, we trace how these two authoritarian powers strain to maintain control, and how their choices reverberate across global markets, diplomacy, and the lives of millions. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.

RH 6.19.26 | Russia: Moscow Strikes, Fuel Squeeze, Drone War Deepens & EU Split Emerges

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ [https://www.restrictedhandling.com/] Welcome back to The Restricted Handling Podcast, where we break down the global security picture without the noise and get straight to what actually matters. Today's episode dives into a rapidly shifting Russia file that is starting to feel less like isolated events and more like a system under layered pressure. We are talking about Moscow itself being pulled directly into the war in a way that is impossible to ignore, with repeated drone activity disrupting key infrastructure in and around the capital. This is not just about explosions or air defense claims. It is about a major capital city dealing with repeated shocks to its energy supply, transport network, and day-to-day stability. We also get into what is happening underneath the surface in Russia's economy. Fuel shortages are starting to show up more clearly, and there are growing signs that Russia may need to import gasoline from external suppliers just to keep internal demand stable. That is a big shift for a country that normally exports energy at scale. Add in rising inflation pressure, cautious central bank moves, and a wartime budget that is stretching the system, and you start to see why economic strain is becoming part of the strategic picture. On top of that, Ukraine's long-range strike campaign continues to evolve. The focus is not just military targets, but the infrastructure that keeps Russia's domestic system running. Refineries, logistics hubs, and transport nodes are all increasingly part of the equation. The result is a kind of pressure that does not just show up at the front line, but in gas stations, supply chains, and even in how the Russian government manages information inside its own borders. Diplomatically, things are just as messy. Western support for Ukraine is expanding in scale and becoming more industrial, with new agreements on drones, air defense, and co-production. But Europe is not fully aligned on how to handle Russia going forward. Some leaders are quietly exploring communication channels, while others are pushing harder sanctions and deeper isolation. That split matters because it shapes how unified the West can remain over a long conflict. And then there is the bigger picture nobody can ignore anymore. Ukraine's drone and unmanned systems ecosystem is no longer just a wartime adaptation. It is becoming an exportable model. Countries in Asia, especially Japan and Taiwan, are actively studying and in some cases working with Ukrainian firms to understand how this style of warfare fits into their own security planning. That means the ripple effects of this war are already moving into the Indo-Pacific security environment. We also touch on internal Russian dynamics, including tightening security measures, increased pressure around mobilization, and efforts to manage identity and cohesion across a diverse federation under wartime stress. None of this exists in isolation. It is all feeding into a broader system that is under strain across multiple dimensions at once. So today's episode is really about convergence. Military pressure, economic friction, diplomatic fragmentation, and information control are all starting to overlap in ways that are reshaping how this war actually functions. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ [https://www.restrictedhandling.com/] Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.

RH 6.19.26 | China Coast Guard East of Taiwan, EU Trade Pressure, Ukraine Drone Push, Cyber Ops Surge

👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ [https://www.restrictedhandling.com/] Today's episode dives straight into the fast-moving pressure points shaping global security, and it is one of those days where everything feels connected in real time. We start in the Indo-Pacific, where China is steadily expanding its operational footprint around Taiwan in a way that is less about dramatic military escalation and more about normalizing presence. Coast guard vessels, maritime safety agencies, and survey ships are now operating in coordinated patterns east of Taiwan, interacting with civilian traffic and gathering data that has clear military applications. It is a quiet shift, but a meaningful one. The kind of change that does not look dramatic on a single day, but compounds over time into new realities on the water. At the same time, Taiwan is dealing with internal political friction over defense budgeting and modernization priorities. Funding delays and legislative resistance are slowing parts of its defense expansion, including drone development and key readiness programs. That internal drag matters just as much as external pressure, especially when paired with Beijing's steady push to shape the maritime environment around the island. Zooming out, the Indo-Pacific is also absorbing lessons from Ukraine's battlefield experience. Ukrainian drone companies are actively working with Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines to adapt combat-proven unmanned systems for Asian security needs. Japan in particular is scaling up drone production ambitions in a major way, signaling a shift toward mass unmanned systems as a core pillar of deterrence strategy. The battlefield of the future in this region is being shaped right now in procurement offices, not just military planning rooms. Over in Europe, the tone is shifting on China's economic role. The European Union is increasingly focused on trade imbalances, industrial dependence, and rare earth vulnerabilities tied to Beijing's export control leverage. There is growing agreement that something needs to change, but less agreement on how aggressive that response should be. Some countries are pushing for stronger trade defenses, while others are wary of disrupting economic ties that still matter to their domestic industries. Meanwhile, intelligence services across Europe and allied nations are tightening countermeasures against Chinese-linked covert activity. Recent cases in the UK and France highlight surveillance operations targeting dissidents and diaspora communities, alongside dismantled networks linked to unofficial overseas policing structures. These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader pattern of intelligence competition playing out below the surface of diplomacy and trade. In parallel, cyber and recruitment operations continue to evolve. US and allied agencies are disrupting online recruitment networks that pose as consulting firms or job opportunities but are designed to target individuals with access to sensitive defense, technology, and policy information. At the same time, cyber operations are targeting research institutions working on artificial intelligence, drones, and Indo-Pacific strategy. The focus is consistent: understanding and shaping the future battlefield before it fully arrives. The Middle East remains another key balancing act. China is supporting de-escalation efforts following US-Iran understandings around reduced hostilities and maritime stability in the Strait of Hormuz. But Beijing is also careful not to fully align itself with Tehran's push for a formal strategic bloc. Instead, it continues to emphasize regional frameworks and diplomatic flexibility while preserving its economic interests in the Gulf. Put together, today's episode shows a global system that is becoming more connected through pressure rather than coordination. Maritime law enforcement, trade leverage, intelligence operations, cyber activity, and defense technology are all interacting in real time across multiple regions. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ [https://www.restrictedhandling.com/] Get the daily intelligence brief Ryan and Glenn read covering Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, the Middle East, geopolitics, sanctions, military and intel operations. Save a few hours of your time getting ahead of the news cycle at restrictedhandling.com.