China Expands Underwater Spy Network as US Strengthens Ties with Syria Amid Global Power Struggles
The recent death of Senator Lindsey Graham leaves a strategic void in Washington, particularly in managing security alliances. Graham was a key bipartisan supporter of Israel and a staunch advocate for military aid to Ukraine, and his absence may weaken Republican lobbying efforts and increase uncertainty over continued support against Russian aggression.
Last Friday, President Donald Trump formally notified Congress of a return to hostilities with Iran, initiating a 60-day window for potential military action. This move requires Trump to seek Congressional approval to continue any campaign, but the current Congress appears unsupportive, creating pressure for swift and decisive executive action before legislative hurdles arise.
In the United States, a severe heatwave has strained the PJM Interconnection power grid, which serves 13 states, forcing emergency measures to avoid widespread blackouts. Wholesale electricity prices surged above $2,000 per megawatt-hour in some areas. Experts highlight that rapid expansion of AI data centers is pushing electricity demand to historic highs, posing strategic challenges for grid stability and necessitating major infrastructure investments.
Meanwhile, China is developing an extensive and sophisticated underwater surveillance network across the Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. This "underwater Great Wall" integrates AI and sensor arrays, including biomimetic autonomous vessels resembling sea turtles and fish, to monitor strategic shipping routes and detect US nuclear submarine movements. This covert operation, often disguised as civilian research, shifts the geopolitical balance around Taiwan and the Malacca Strait.
In a significant diplomatic development, Syria is preparing to host its first US-Syrian business forum, signaling a thaw in economic relations after decades of sanctions. Organized by Syria's Ministry of Economy and the Syrian-American Business Council, the event in Damascus will bring officials and investors together to promote recovery and reforms. This follows regulatory changes in Washington, including General License 25 and exemptions under the Caesar Act, facilitating new business cooperation.
For Israel, this rapprochement poses a complex challenge. Trump has privately demanded that Syrian leadership, particularly President Ahmad al-Sharaa, curb Hezbollah's activities in Lebanon and other hostile groups operating from Syrian territory as a precondition for further US economic normalization. This message underscores the intertwined nature of regional security and economic diplomacy.
The article is part of "Global View," a geopolitical analysis distributed by Bank Hapoalim and published occasionally in Globes, authored by an expert on Israel-US relations.
