Trump State of the Union address, 4th anniversary of Ukraine war, German Chancellor Merz visits China

In the United States, President Trump delivered a record-length State of the Union address focusing on economic success and immigration reform amidst a deeply polarized Congress. Simultaneously, the world marked the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, noting staggering casualty figures and a battlefield now dominated by drone technology. International diplomacy is further strained as Germany attempts to rebalance trade with China, while Japan protests Chinese export bans on critical dual-use technologies. Regional tensions also manifest in the Caribbean due to American oil embargoes on Cuba and in Geneva, where officials hope to resolve the Iranian nuclear standoff through renewed dialogue.