The REM^INDER Audit #013

Verified by: Al-Monitor, Reuters

On February 23, 2026, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel stated that a recent surge in U.S. military aircraft activity at the Lajes Air Base in the Azores is covered by a decades-old bilateral treaty from 1951 and does not require authorization from the Portuguese government. Rangel confirmed there had been 'a more intensive use' of the base in recent weeks but asserted this did not breach the agreed rules. He emphasized that Portugal has always defended its alliance with the U.S. and its membership in NATO. The Lajes base is located in the Azores archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. Both Reuters and Al-Monitor reported these statements consistently.

Sources Audited: Reuters, Al-Monitor

Verified by: The Straits Times (Singapore), Reuters

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to the Pentagon on Tuesday, February 23, 2026, for a meeting expected to involve tough talks over military use of Anthropic's Claude AI tool. The Pentagon has been pushing major AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to make their tools available on classified networks without standard restrictions. Defense officials state the talks are on the verge of collapsing, with the Pentagon considering cutting ties over Anthropic's insistence on retaining usage restrictions. A senior Defense official characterized the meeting as not a 'get-to-know-you meeting.' While defense sources describe tense negotiations, an Anthropic spokesperson said the company is having 'productive conversations, in good faith' with the Pentagon.

Sources Audited: The Straits Times (Singapore), Reuters

Verified by: Le Monde, The Straits Times (Singapore), El País (Spain)

On February 19, 2026, Venezuela's congress approved an amnesty law, which came into force shortly after. In response, more than 200 political prisoners launched a hunger strike on February 22, 2026, demanding their release, with the protest beginning at the Rodeo I prison on the night of February 20. The law excludes cases involving the military and accusations of terrorism, and the NGO Foro Penal reports that nearly 400 people, including 185 military personnel and their relatives, are automatically excluded. While the government stated over 300 prisoners would be released the weekend of February 23, and 23 releases were reported on February 22, Foro Penal counted more than 600 people still in prison as of that date, with 448 freed since releases began on January 8. A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross visited the Rodeo I prison for the first time on February 22.

Sources Audited: Le Monde, The Straits Times (Singapore), El País (Spain)

Verified by: Washington Post, Associated Press

In late January and February 2026, clashes between Ethiopian federal troops and Tigrayan forces in the Tselemti district led Ethiopian Airlines to cancel flights to Tigray on January 29, resuming them on February 3. Tigrayan authorities accuse the Ethiopian federal government of breaching the November 2022 peace agreement by carrying out drone strikes, which they say killed one person and injured another. In response, Ethiopia's government accuses Eritrea of mobilizing and funding armed groups in Tigray and has begun calling up its reserve forces. The diplomatic rift widened when Eritrean government spokesperson Yemane Gebremeskel dismissed Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's stated ambition for Red Sea access, made earlier in February, as a 'delusional malaise'.

Sources Audited: Washington Post, Associated Press

Verified by: Bloomberg News, Reuters

In January 2026, U.S. diesel exports to the European Union reached an all-time high of 336,000 barrels per day following strengthened EU sanctions on Russian-derived fuel, while Indian diesel supplies to Europe dropped to a one-year low of 26,000 bpd. Russia's seaborne diesel and gasoil exports rose 19% to around 963,000 bpd in January, with Turkey and Brazil as largest buyers, and Russian diesel exports to Brazil averaged 205,000 bpd in December 2025-January 2026, displacing U.S. exports which fell to 51,000 bpd. On February 20, 2026, Russia's flagship Urals crude oil reached its deepest discount in almost three years, trading $30.62 below the global benchmark Dated Brent. The tanker Proteus Bohemia delivered the first Indian diesel cargo to Rotterdam's ARA hub on February 23, 2026 since EU sanctions took effect, loaded from Reliance Industries' Jamnagar facility which claims to use non-Russian crude. FGE NexantECA Chairman Emeritus Fereidun Fesharaki stated an open US-Iran conflict could push oil prices to $75-$90 per barrel depending on export disruptions.

Sources Audited: Reuters, Bloomberg News, Bloomberg News, Bloomberg News

Verified by: BBC World News, Al Jazeera English, Reuters

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the Mexican military launched a raid in Jalisco state targeting Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho,' the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), resulting in his death. The operation was conducted with intelligence support provided by the United States, and the U.S. State Department had previously offered a $15 million reward for his capture. In immediate retaliation, cartel loyalists set up more than 250 roadblocks and torched vehicles across 20 of Mexico's 32 states. The Mexican Defense Ministry confirmed the death and the U.S. role in the operation. The CJNG is widely reported as one of Mexico's largest and most violent cartels, rivaling the Sinaloa Cartel.

Sources Audited: Al Jazeera English, BBC World News, NHK World (Japan), Bloomberg News, Reuters, The Straits Times (Singapore)

Verified by: New York Times

In February 2026, President Trump stated on Friday that he might use American forces in a limited strike to pressure Iran to end its nuclear program. Trump has told advisers that if an initial strike fails to move Iran to end its nuclear program, he may mount a bigger attack to drive its leaders from power. Trump aides have mentioned a desire to protect protesters in Iran after the government killed thousands of them last month, and a wish to remove Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. American forces have taken positions across the Middle East, with two aircraft carrier groups and dozens of aircraft poised within striking distance of Iran. Iran has warned that if attacked, 'all bases, facilities and assets of the hostile force in the region would constitute legitimate targets.'

Sources Audited: New York Times

Verified by: NHK World (Japan)

A US delegation met with a Russian delegation on Monday, February 23, 2026, and will meet with a Chinese delegation on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The New START Treaty, the only nuclear arms reduction pact between the US and Russia, expired on February 5, 2026. US President Donald Trump has indicated any future nuclear arms control agreement should include China, but China has not embraced the idea of joining such an agreement. According to Reuters, the series of meetings was held for talks about forging a potential multilateral nuclear arms control treaty. The US delegation also held meetings with British and French counterparts.

Sources Audited: NHK World (Japan)

Verified by: Haaretz (Israel), Asharq Al-Awsat, TRT World (Turkey)

US and Iranian negotiators, mediated by Oman, are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Thursday, February 26, 2026, for a third round of indirect talks aimed at averting military conflict. This follows two previous rounds held in Muscat on February 6 and in Geneva on February 17. Concurrently, a significant US military buildup is underway, with open-source tracking data confirming two aircraft carrier groups and dozens of fighter jets, bombers, and refueling aircraft deployed within striking distance of Iran. According to a New York Times report cited by multiple sources, President Donald Trump is leaning toward launching a limited strike on Iran in the coming days to pressure it to abandon its nuclear weapons capability, with potential targets including Revolutionary Guard headquarters, nuclear sites, and ballistic missile facilities. Iran has vowed to retaliate 'ferociously' against any US attack, labeling it an act of aggression. Several countries, including India, Sweden, Serbia, Poland, and Australia, have advised their citizens to leave Iran.

Sources Audited: TRT World (Turkey), Asharq Al-Awsat, Haaretz (Israel), Global Times (China), Al-Monitor, Global Times (China)

Verified by: Bloomberg News, TRT World (Turkey), Al-Monitor

President Donald Trump is considering a targeted military strike against Iran, as reported by The New York Times on February 23, 2026, and has threatened significant attacks to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear program. US media, including Axios, report that General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has warned of risks such as the US becoming 'entangled in a prolonged conflict' from such strikes. US and Iranian negotiators are scheduled for last-ditch talks in Geneva on Thursday, February 26, 2026, to avert conflict. Military analysis outlines potential US options, including non-kinetic cyberattacks, limited strikes on military targets, or a larger-scale campaign. While Trump publicly denied that General Caine was against action, multiple outlets reported the military's warnings of munition shortages and potential casualties.

Sources Audited: Al-Monitor, TRT World (Turkey), Bloomberg News

Verified by: The Straits Times (Singapore), Al Jazeera English

On February 23, 2026, Hungary blocked the European Union's proposed 20th package of sanctions against Russia and a $106 billion loan for Ukraine, citing a dispute over the Druzhba pipeline. Shipments of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline have been severed since January 27, 2026, after Kyiv said a Russian drone hit pipeline equipment in Ukraine. Hungary and Slovakia, which have the EU's only two refineries still reliant on oil via Druzhba, blame Ukraine for the prolonged outage, while Kyiv says it is repairing damage from a Russian strike. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated EU countries were unlikely to reach agreement on the new sanctions package at their meeting that day. Separately, the EU imposed sanctions on eight Russian individuals for human rights violations, bringing the total to 72 individuals targeted under similar measures.

Sources Audited: The Straits Times (Singapore), Al Jazeera English

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