Vera Bergengruen

2 weeks ago | wsj.com | Vera Bergengruen |Juan Forero

On a rare high-level visit to Panama, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth secured new commitments from the small Central American country but left some Panamanian officials wondering if they were enough to mollify President Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to “take back” the country’s canal. Under normal circumstances, the flurry of agreements and concessions announced over the two-day visit would be hailed as a high point in U.S.-Panama relations. Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

2 weeks ago | wsj.com | Dustin Volz |Vera Bergengruen |Alex Ward

At a time when Trump’s own national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has seen his standing in the White House deteriorate after initiating a Signal chat about airstrikes in Yemen, Trump, according to administration officials, is taking personnel advice from Loomer, a self-described “proud Islamophobe” who once called 9/11 an “inside job.‘’ In doing so, Trump has left his plans for NSA—by some measures the nation’s largest intelligence agency—in question.

3 weeks ago | wsj.com | Alex Ward |Michelle Hackman |Vera Bergengruen

Officials say they have asked several countries in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern EuropeWASHINGTON—The Trump administration is pursuing agreements with several more countries to take migrants deported from the U.S., according to officials familiar with the matter. Immigration officials are seeking more destinations where they can send immigrants the U.S. wants to deport, but whose countries are slow to take them back or refuse to.

3 weeks ago | wsj.com | Alex Ward |Michelle Hackman |Vera Bergengruen

The officials are in conversations with countries in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, but aren’t necessarily looking to sign formal agreements, the people said. What happens next to the deported migrants would depend on the specific host nation. The U.S. is agnostic, for example, whether the person would be permitted to ask for asylum or be deported to their own country, the people said.

3 weeks ago | wsj.com | Alex Ward |Michelle Hackman |Vera Bergengruen

The officials are in conversations with countries in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, but aren’t necessarily looking to sign formal agreements, the people said. What happens next to the deported migrants would depend on the specific host nation. The U.S. is agnostic, for example, whether the person would be permitted to ask for asylum or be deported to their own country, the people said.