26 February 2026
Denmark
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced snap parliamentary elections on March 24. Her party has seen a bump in the polls after standing up to Trump, and she wants to capitalize on the increased support. The last election was held on 1 November 2022, and resulted in a three-party coalition.
Iran-US
Iranian and American negotiators are meeting once again in Geneva to discuss a diplomatic solution to build up of tensions in the region. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi said that the two sides had expressed “unprecedented openness to new and creative ideas and solutions.” According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the director of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, was also likely to attend the talks.
Talks were paused and will resume at 1800 local time in Geneva. The Wall Street Journal reports that the United States wants Iran to dismantle key nuclear facilities and transfer enriched uranium to the US.
A Hezbollah official stated that Hezbollah will not intervene if US-Iran tensions turn to limited strikes. However, an attack against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be considered a “red line” for the group.
Iran loaded over 20 million barrels of oil in rapid pace, which indicates that the regime is preparing itself for potential US attacks. Iran has been loading over 3 million barrels a day onto tankers, far exceeding its normal output.
Germany
The Bundestag approved a drone deal initially worth 536 million Euros. There were concerns about the deal, given US investor Peter Thiel’s involvement with Stark Defence, based in Germany. Thiel has a history of funding far-right candidates. The deal will provide thousands of combat drones made in Germany, and it is believed that the German contingent in Lithuania will be outfitted with them in 2027.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The DRC military launched drone strikes on a key coltan mine in North Kivu, targeting M23 rebels. Local militias join DRC forces to push back the rebels. It is also believed that M23 military spokesperson Willy Ngoma was killed in the attack.
Canada
Canada signed a defence agreement with South Korea as Canada seeks to diversify its trade. South Korea’s Hanwha Oceans is a contender for Canada’s submarine replacement. Canada also seeks investment from South Korea’s automotive sector.
Social media wires
North Korean troops march with the Russian flag after the party congress.
Ben Hodges claiming the roof exploded on a train he was on in the Netherlands
Featured Photo: “Kushner and Witkoff at Kremlin” – Wikimedia Commons, 2026
The Wires Brief is a daily breaking news report incorporating wire service news and social media updates. DefRep cannot verify the authenticity of social media reporters nor the accuracy of social media updates. Feature photos are altered with grayscale.