'God chose Trump' who says war going well, hasn't lasted as long as Vietnam, psyc's call him nuts; Ceasefire ends Sunday; Zionist settlers 'least violent people'; Gabbard next to go? - Iran war news 23-Apr-2026 (update 2)

UPDATE 2

The mandate to speak: Before the world goes dark - Middle East Monitor

In 2017, twenty-seven psychiatrists and mental health professionals broke their profession's long standing 'Goldwater rule' against diagnosing public figures from afar. They published a book titled The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, and in it, they wrote a sentence that should have stopped the world cold:

'Trump is now the most powerful head of state in the world, and one of the most impulsive , arrogant, ignorant, disorganised, chaotic, nihilistic , self-contradictory , self-important and self-serving. He has his finger on the triggers of a thousand or more of the most powerful thermonuclear weapons in the world. That means he could kill more people in a few seconds than any dictator in past history has been able to kill during his entire years in power'

That was nine years ago. Today, that warning is no longer prophecy, it is the reality.

The man who sits in the White House governs not by deliberation or diplomacy, but by impulsive digital barks fired into the atmosphere every few minutes, often forgetting what he himself said an hour earlier.

Trump pressed on nuclear strike against Iran (VIDEO) - RT World News

Donald Trump has lashed out at a reporter who asked whether his threats to destroy Iranian power plants, bridges, and the entire civilization meant he was ready to use a nuclear weapon, dismissing the question as "stupid."

12bytes: Is that right? Let us recall:

Was Donald Trump 'blocked' from using the nuclear codes against Iran? • FRANCE 24 English - YouTube

Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson alleged on a podcast this week that US President Donald Trump wanted to use the nuclear codes against Iran during an emergency White House meeting, but that he was stopped by General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Johnson described the interaction as "quite the blow up." It comes as concern mounts over the US president's unpredictable behaviour, as many lawmakers voice doubts about his mental state.

Trump says he is keeping Strait of Hormuz closed, not Iran | US-Israel war on Iran | Al Jazeera

Donald Trump said he is the one keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed, because opening it would enable Iran to make "$500 million a day". The president also asserted that the US-Israeli war on Iran is going well because it hasn't lasted for as long as the Vietnam War.

Iran war live: Lebanon truce extended; Trump says time not on Tehran's side | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

President Trump said he is under no pressure to end his war with Iran, though time is limited for Tehran. "I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn't - The clock is ticking!" Trump wrote on social media.

12bytes: Of course it is the opposite that is true. That's the nice thing about people and institutions that lie all the time; all you need to do is reverse what they tell us to get to the facts. If Trumpstein isn't under any pressure, then why did he demand that Iran 'open the fuckin' strait'? Trump wants a way out, but Israel is holding his reins and the Zionist parasites need more war.

Col. Macgregor: U.S. MAY ATTACK IRAN THIS WEEKEND

12bytes: Well, that is Trump's pattern; make nice later in the week to calm the markets and then attack on the weekend when the markets are closed, manipulating the markets and making him/his buddies richer in the process.

How Trump's Iran war is driving military dissent | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

As the US expands its war with Iran, opposition is growing - not just among the public, but inside the military itself. Some service members are questioning orders, exploring conscientious objection, and speaking out. What's driving this shift, and how far could it go?

Israel seeks 'green light' from US to kill remaining Khamenei family members | Middle East Eye

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has openly signalled plans to target Iran's leadership, saying Israel is waiting for US approval to strike members of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's family, including his son, the current supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Araghchi: Israeli terror assassinations collapse against Iran's iron unity and coordinated resistance

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that the Israeli regime's repeated terrorist assassinations have completely failed, instead revealing the unbreakable unity, purpose, and iron discipline of the Islamic Republic's state institutions.

In his statement on X on Thursday, Araghchi made it crystal clear that Israel's criminal campaign of assassinations and sabotage has achieved the exact opposite of its intended goal.

Skirmish In Hormuz

A skirmish is taking place in the Strait of Hormuz as the United States and Iran are both attempting to restrict navigation through the strategic waterway - responsible for up to 20 percent of global oil and liquid natural gas shipments.

Iran announced removing all restrictions on the passage through the Strait of Hormuz on April 17, in a goodwill initiative. Yet, the U.S. said that its blockade on Iranian ports will remain in place, forcing the Islamic Republic to reverse course.

Air defences activated in Tehran as 'hostile targets' reported | Middle East Eye

Air defence systems were activated in parts of Tehran on Thursday, with Iranian media reporting attempts to intercept what were described as "hostile targets".

Mehr News Agency said air defences engaged targets over the capital, while Nour News also reported that batteries had been activated in several areas.

Authorities did not provide details on the nature of the threat, and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions, with Iran's air defence systems placed on alert as the conflict continues to escalate.

Iran central bank confirms Strait of Hormuz fees received in cash

Iran's central bank has confirmed the successful deposit of revenue from newly established transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, ending media speculation about the currency involved, the Fars news agency reports.

Middle East war fallout hits consumers worldwide - RT Business News

The fallout from the US‑Israeli war on Iran is spreading across the global economy, driving up costs, disrupting supply chains, and leaving consumers to absorb the impact as trade flows shift. A growing number of companies have warned of higher costs and weaker demand as disruptions to energy supplies and shipping routes linked to the Hormuz chokepoint ripple through global markets.

IN OTHER NEWS...

The SPLC Indictment

On Tuesday, April 21st, a Grand Jury in Montgomery, Alabama indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for 11 counts of wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit money laundering based on FBI and IRS investigations. (See press release here.)

According to the indictment, between 2014 and 2023, the SPLC secretly paid more than $3 million to people affiliated with such Right-wing groups as:

• The Ku Klux Klan
• United Klans of America
• Unite the Right
• National Alliance
• National Socialist Movement
• Aryan Nations affiliated Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club
• National Socialist Party of America (American Nazi Party)
• American Front

These payments went beyond simply paying informants to collect information, which is what the SPLC's donors were supporting them to do. Instead, it is alleged that the SPLC was shaping the messaging of these groups and helping them to organize events-which the SPLC would then decry as "hate" and use as a basis to rush back to their donors to raise more funds.

12bytes: If you're surprised by this, don't be. This is the norm. God's Chosen Lunatics thrive on being hated because drives money and political power in their direction.

"When they asked me, couldn't you give money out of the United Jewish Appeal funds for the rescue of Jews in Europe, I said, 'NO!' and I say again 'NO!' ... one should resist this wave which pushes the Zionist activities to secondary importance." -- Yitzhak Greenbaum, Chairman of the Rescue Committee of the Jewish Agency, addressing the Zionist Executive Council in Tel Aviv, Feb. 18, 1943

Bilderberg 2026: The World Elite Gathered in D.C., and Media Refused to Cover It. Here's What to Know. - Vigilant Citizen

The 2026 Bilderberg meeting took place from April 9 to 12th at the Salamander Hotel in Washington, D.C., and exactly zero media outlets talked about it. Indeed, despite the magnitude of the event and its potential repercussions for the world, there was virtually no media coverage before, during, and after the meeting. Searching the web for information on Bilderberg 2026 is a harrowing experience because NOT A SINGLE mainstream media outlet has published anything about it, except for one article in The Guardian that is mainly about ... the media not covering Bilderberg 2026.

What's even more absurd is that the Bilderberg included high-level representatives from media outlets such as CNN, Bloomberg, The Atlantic, and The Economist. And none of them even mentioned the meeting's existence. It is almost as if there is "a secret agreement between two or more people" to commit this media blackout ... which happens to be the definition of a "conspiracy."

Despite Denials, AIPAC Is Now Funding Campaign of Ala Stanford In Philadelphia

AIPAC has been funneling money into the campaign of Dr. Ala Stanford in Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district, before the next slate of Democratic primaries, new federal campaign filings reveal.

Wired for War: Israel's Black Cube and the infiltration of Europe - RT World News

Political hit-jobs in Cyprus and Slovenia are just the tip of an election interference iceberg in Europe, involving a dark nexus of Israeli spies, defense chiefs, and tech companies. The threat is real, but the EU is staying silent

Pope decries migrants and refugees being treated 'worse than house pets' | Human Rights News | Al Jazeera

Pope Leo has previously criticised US President Donald Trump's immigration policies, calling for better treatment of refugees.

12bytes: Well, i'll tell ya what: fuck the (likely kiddy-fiddling) pope. We have far more than enough problems in the US without the migrant problem. If they're being treated badly then maybe they ought to go back and fix their own god damned country.

UPDATE 1

Alex Krainer: Trump Trapped Himself in the Persian Gulf - Iran's Comeback Just Changed Everything - YouTube

12bytes: Alex Krainer is a market analyst, author and former hedge fund manager. He's a very sharp and thoughtful guy.

Prof. Jiang: Trump is TRAPPED! His Iran Off Ramp is Closed | Redacted w Clayton Morris

Iran war ceasefire collapse, Strait of Hormuz blockade, global economic crisis, and Trump's exit strategy analyzed by Professor Young of Predictive History. Iran is threatening to cut undersea cables, destroy GCC energy infrastructure, and take one third of the world's oil offline. Trump's three-pillar long-term strategy involves ground forces, ethnic enclave destabilization, and strangulation of Tehran.

The « Escalation trap » and its « Four Stages» in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, by Alfredo Jalife-Rahme

The United States seems to have embarked on a new"endless war" in Iran. As the Pentagon has been unable to achieve a strategic victory and the Islamic Republic is proving extremely resilient, Washington has no other choice but to intensify its bombing and threats. This logic of escalation is similar to the one that led to the American defeat in Vietnam.

Trump Says Ordered US Navy to Triple Mine Clearing Activity in Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he is ordering the United States Navy to triple mine clearing activity in the Strait of Hormuz.

The US president said that he ordered the Navy to shoot any Iranian boat allegedly putting mines in the strait.

12bytes: Can't wait to see how the US Navy is going clear mines without being able to enter the strait. Since their F-35's don't fly very well, maybe they could work as submarines.

U.S. Intercepted Three Iranian Tankers In Asian Waters

The United States military has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters, Reuters reported on April 22.

The news agency cited two U.S. and Indian shipping sources, in addition to two separate Western maritime security sources.

Despite expanding the two-week ceasefire with Iran earlier in the week, President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military to keep a blockade on Iranian ports in place. The blockade in addition to Iran's own restriction on navigation via the Strait of Hormuz have very much brought traffic through the strategic waterway - responsible for up to 20 percent of global oil and liquid natural gas shipments - to a halt.

US extends sanctions waivers on Iran, Russia - Middle East Monitor

US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent announced a 30-day extension of sanctions waivers on Iranian and Russian oil exports transported by sea, in a move described as a reversal of his earlier position.

Inside an Iranian pro-gov't rally defying Trump's war

The Grayzone's Wyatt Reed travels to Tabriz, Iran on April 21 and attends one of the nightly rallies where Iranians of all ages condemn the US-Israeli war on their country and support their government's response.

Reed asks local youth as well as female first responders for their views on the war, and to respond to its deceptive framing by Western media and diaspora Persians.

Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 22 April - Middle East Monitor

MEMO spoke to Motasem A Dalloul, a survivor of Israel's genocide in Gaza, in the first of a new series of regular updates from the ground. Dalloul describes the daily struggle to survive: hunger, cold, the collapse of healthcare, and ongoing Israeli violations despite the so-called ceasefire.

END UPDATES

'God chose Trump': president reads Scripture at MAGA Bible marathon

The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal gained entrance to a gathering of evangelical Christian Trump supporters called America Reads The Bible.

Hosted at hosted at Washington DC's Museum of Bible, the week-long Bible-reading marathon featured members of Congress, cabinet secretaries and pastors reciting carefully curated sections of scripture before what's left of the MAGA faithful.

Despite not identifying as a Christian and his notorious past and present as a sinner, Trump was the star of the show, reading from Chronicles 7:11.

Blumenthal asked participants about the significance of Trump's reading, and whether they believed he was a divine instrument. He also probed their views about everything from the Iran war to Israel's destruction of Christian communities in southern Lebanon.

How the International Community Obtained a Nuclear Weapons-Free Agreement with Iran - and Lost It Thanks to Donald Trump - Antiwar.com

If the objective of the U.S. war upon Iran is to ensure that that country does not develop nuclear weapons, that goal was attained more than a decade ago through a far different approach than the one now being followed by the Trump administration.

Iran war: What's happening on day 55 after Trump extended ceasefire? | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

Here is what we know:

In Iran

• Reopening Hormuz 'not possible': Iran's parliament speaker said his country would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US naval blockade remained in place, calling the latter a "blatant violation" of the two countries' ceasefire.
• Naval incidents escalate: Iran's IRGC reported that they captured two foreign vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and opened fire on a third ship for violating their restrictions on ships passing through the waterway.

War diplomacy

• No deadline for Iran peace plan: Trump has not set a deadline by which Iran must submit a peace proposal, the White House said on Wednesday. "The president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I've seen today. Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander-in-chief," Leavitt told journalists.
• Lebanon-Israel talks face 'functional flaws': Mark Kimmitt, a retired US Army brigadier general and former assistant secretary of state, told Al Jazeera that Washington, DC talks aimed at reinforcing a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon are undermined by the absence of Hezbollah. "We have Israel, Lebanon and the United States there; we don't have Hezbollah," he said.

In the US

• Pentagon shake-up: Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon chief, fired Navy Secretary John Phelan, marking the 34th senior official removed under the Trump administration. Undersecretary Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy combat veteran, has been named acting head of the Navy.
• Senate rejects war powers resolution: The US Senate voted 55-46 to defeat a measure led by Tammy Baldwin, a Democratic senator from Wisconsin, to curb Trump's authority to wage war on Iran, marking the fifth such failed attempt; most Democrats backed it alongside Republican Rand Paul, while most Republicans opposed it along with Democrat John Fetterman, with three senators, including Democrat Mark Warner, not voting.
• US enforces Iran blockade: The US Central Command said it has turned back 31 vessels, mostly oil tankers, as part of a large-scale naval blockade involving at least 10,000 soldiers, 17 warships and more than 100 aircraft.
• Blockade 'pressuring' Iran: Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher said Trump believes the ongoing naval blockade is increasing economic pressure on Iran to push it back to talks.

In Israel

• 'Serious disagreements': Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel does not have any "serious disagreements" with Lebanon, calling Hezbollah "the obstacle to peace and normalisation".

In Lebanon and Gaza

• Journalist killed, colleague wounded in Israeli attack: Israeli air attacks in southern Lebanon killed at least five people, including Amal Khalil, a correspondent for Al Akhbar, and wounded freelance journalist Zeinab Faraj on Wednesday, despite an ongoing ceasefire.
• Reporters 'pursued', rescuers hit: Reporting from Tyre, Al Jazeera's Heidi Pett said the two reporters were attacked by follow-up Israeli strikes in al-Tayri, with Lebanon's Ministry of Health saying they were "pursued" as they sheltered; they were pinned down as access roads were hit, and a Lebanese Red Cross ambulance evacuating one came under a stun grenade and gunfire, forcing withdrawal, while the other was later found dead after hours-long recovery efforts.
• Israel hits Gaza, killing five: Three children were among the five Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on a group of civilians near Al-Qassam Mosque in Beit Lahiya, in the north, Gaza's Civil Defence agency said Wednesday.

'No time frame' for ending Iran war - Trump - RT World News

The US is not setting any deadlines for concluding the war against Iran, President Donald Trump has said.

The remarks contrast with Trump's earlier claim, made shortly after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, that the fighting would last "four to five weeks." He also repeatedly said over the past month that the war would be over "very soon."

The US president told Fox News on Wednesday that there is "no time frame" and no rush to end the conflict.

"People say I want to get it over because of the midterms, not true," Trump said.

Trump's approval rating on the economy has fallen to a new low of 30% as energy shortages caused by the Iran war continue to drive prices higher, according to an AP-NORC poll published earlier this week.

US tells Israel ceasefire with Iran set to end on Sunday, Israeli media reports | Middle East Eye

The US informed Israel that the ceasefire with Iran will expire on Sunday, Israeli media is reporting.

Iran continues crude exports despite US blockade: analysis | Middle East Eye

About 10.7 million barrels of Iranian crude exports crossed through the Strait of Hormuz and exited the area blockaded by the US Navy between 13 April and 21 April, data analytics firm Vortexa said.

The blockade, Vortexa said, "is not necessarily implemented close to Iranian ports nor within the Strait of Hormuz, but flexibly around an area about 300 miles to the west between the Pakistani-Iranian border and the most western 'corner' of Oman."

Vortexa recorded 35 total transits through the US blockade from 13 to 22 April, involving Iran-linked or sanctioned vessels for inbound and outbound journeys.

12bytes: Once again, US forces are unable to approach Iran without getting shot up, thus why it is perusing ships in other areas, with nearly no success.

Iran releases footage of IRGC seizing ships in Strait of Hormuz - Yemen Press Agency

TEHRAN, April 23 (YPA) - The Iranian TV published video footage showing the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy fighters seizing non-compliant container ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Matthew Hoh: US Missiles Are GONE - Here's What the Pentagon Isn't Telling You

12bytes: Nima is a wonderful young Iranian and his interviews are well worth listening to, but he does like to dramatize his video titles. There is no indication i'm aware of that the US is out of missiles, but they are certainly running low.

Analysis of the indefinite Iran-US ceasefire and the tacit modus vivendi emerging between regional powers. Examines depleted US missile stockpiles after weeks of conflict versus Iran's sustained drone/missile production capacity, and Israel's de facto occupation of southern Lebanon. Discusses Hezbollah's strategic patience, shifting US public opinion on Israel, and internal administration personnel changes. Considers implications for upcoming US-China diplomacy and American leverage in a multipolar world. Highlights Washington's struggle to reconcile imperial overstretch with economic realities as all sides claim victory while underlying tensions persist. Explores how media narratives shifted to acknowledge wartime limitations, and what this precarious balance means for regional stability heading into the next potential crisis.

US intelligence reports contradict Trump's claims on Iran's military capabilities - Middle East Monitor

The broadcaster cited US lawmakers as saying that American military intelligence believes Iran still possesses "significant military capabilities." The assessments reportedly contradict statements by US President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said the US had achieved full control of Iranian airspace and destroyed Iran's defence industry.

According to earlier testimony to Congress by Lieutenant General James Adams, director of the Pentagon's Defence Intelligence Agency, Iran still holds thousands of missiles and drones in its arsenal.

12bytes: 15,000 missiles and 45,000 drones are the numbers reported by Iran prior to the ceasefire and they are making more all the time, perhaps at a stunning rate given how incredibly efficient the Iranians are.

In Video: Hezbollah targets "Israeli" Merkava tank in southern Lebanon - Yemen Press Agency

BEIRUT, April 23 (YPA) - The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon (Hezbollah) released video footage showing its fighters targeting a "Merkava" tank belonging to the "Israeli" enemy army in the town of Al-Bayada in southern Lebanon with an attack drone.

Smotrich calls for new Israel borders, labels Palestinians "axis of evil" - Middle East Monitor

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said the country needs "wider and defensible borders" in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, describing Palestinians as part of what he called an "Iranian axis of evil".

[...]

He also claimed that Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank are "part of the Iranian axis of evil", dismissing criticism of settler violence as "misleading campaigns".

The minister said settlers were "among the least violent people", adding that all measures taken in the West Bank had been coordinated with the United States.

Dozens of Israeli settlers cross into Syria to demand settlement | Newsfeed | Al Jazeera

Dozens of Israeli settlers crossed into Syrian territory in the Golan Heights and barricaded themselves on a rooftop near the Druze village of Khader, demanding approval to establish a new settlement.

The Gallows Law: Israel Moves Toward Executing Palestinian Children - Antiwar.com

According to Israel's new death penalty law, Palestinian children, like adults, could, in practice, find themselves facing the gallows. This might take some by surprise, or even be dismissed as an exaggeration. Sadly, it is neither.

Israeli strike kills five in Gaza, including three children | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera

"Five Palestinians, including three children, were killed in an Israeli air strike that targeted a group of civilians near Al-Qassam mosque in Beit Lahia," local health officials said in a statement late on Wednesday.

Israel kills journalist and wounds another in south Lebanon targeted attack | Newsfeed | Al Jazeera

Israel has killed journalist Amal Khalil and injured her colleague Zeinab Faraj in a 'double-tap' attack in southern Lebanon. Repeated strikes on the reporters and paramedics delayed rescue efforts for hours, according to Lebanon's Al Akhbar News.

Israeli forces levelling Lebanese villages behind 'yellow line' | Israel attacks Lebanon | Al Jazeera

Israel has created a military zone several kilometres into southern Lebanon, behind a so-called 'Yellow Line'. Despite a ceasefire, Israeli forces' control of the area makes it highly dangerous, as Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports.

Israeli soldiers looting civilian property in southern Lebanon: Report | Middle East Eye

Israeli soldiers are looting large amounts of property from homes and businesses in southern Lebanon, Haaretz reported based on testimonies from sources stationed in the country.

Some of the items stolen include motorcycles, televisions, paintings, sofas, and carpets.

The report noted that "senior and junior command in the field aware of it but not taking disciplinary steps to eradicate it," despite the Israeli army saying it is taking disciplinary steps.

[...]

"It's on an insane scale," one soldier said. "Anyone who takes something - televisions, cigarettes, tools or whatever - immediately puts it in their vehicle or puts it aside, not inside the post, but it's not done in secret. Everyone sees and understands."

Protesters stabbed at London rally against war on Iran | Newsfeed | Al Jazeera

Videos show multiple individuals with what appear to be knife wounds, who were taking part in a protest in London opposing the US-Israeli war on Iran. Many attendees blame pro-Shah counter-protesters for the attacks.

New proof that Israel lobby writes EU script | The Electronic Intifada

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, served a cocktail of dishonesty and farce this week.

"Europe is the biggest supporter of the Palestinian people," she said on Monday.

The next day, the EU's governments demonstrated just how big their support is by once again declining to hold Israel accountable for its genocidal violence against the Palestinian people.

One million EU citizens have signed a call to withdraw trade privileges from Israel. Rather than take that basic step, the EU's governments have imposed more sanctions on Iran, the target of aggression by Israel and the United States.

IN OTHER NEWS...

He's EXPOSING Jared Kushner's Billion Dollar Middle East Empire | Redacted News

Jared Kushner billionaire corruption, Trump White House insider trading, Gaza real estate deal, Kushner conflict of interest, Board of Peace scandal, Trump family enrichment, Kushner billion dollar Gaza development, Middle East pay-to-play scheme, Trump administration stock market manipulation, MAGA betrayal 2025. Owen Shroyer joins Redacted to expose how Kushner became a billionaire during Trump's presidency

EU migrant population hits record 64.2 million - RT World News

The number of immigrants in the European Union reached a record 64.2 million in 2025, a study by the Berlin-based Center for Research and Analysis on Migration (RFBerlin) shows, citing Eurostat and UN data. Of this total, approximately 46.7 million were born outside the EU.

[...]

Meanwhile, the EU countries are increasing defense spending via Brussels' recently launched €800 billion ReArm Europe plan, citing the danger of Russian aggression.