Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Concessions refusals block any hope for Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Russia announced a ban on oil exports to Western powers Wednesday even as Kremlin officials seemed to keep the door cracked open to ceasefire talks over Moscow's nearly yearlong military invasion of Ukraine. Published December 28, 2022
Threat Status: No end in sight
Washington is still abuzz about the pre-Christmas visit last week by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who traveled outside his country for the first time since Russia's February invasion and met with President Biden at the White House. Published December 28, 2022
Putin bans Russian oil exports to Western nations that imposed price cap
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced a ban on oil exports to the U.S. and other Western nations that recently imposed a price cap on Russian crude as punishment for Moscow's war in Ukraine. Published December 28, 2022
Threat Status: It’s a dangerous moment for mankind
We're keeping a close eye on the Chinese Communist Party's concerted effort to spread its message and influence around the world, from Japan to the U.S. Published December 21, 2022
Biden administration holding out hope North Korea won’t proceed with possibly imminent nuclear test
A new nuclear test by Pyongyang would send tensions soaring in the region, and likely force the U.S. and its South Korean and Japanese allies to respond. Published December 18, 2022
Threat Status: Russian war crisis amid ‘rapidly dwindling’ stockpile of weapons
The war in Ukraine grinds on in its 10th month, although U.S. military intelligence predicts that the Russian army can sustain its current rate of attack only through early next year. Published December 14, 2022
Biden announces Africa engagement council to include African Americans and immigrants
President Biden has created a new advisory council to enhance dialogue between the African diaspora living in the U.S. and community and political leaders across Africa, a move announced as the White House hosts nearly 50 leaders from the continent for a three-day summit this week. Published December 14, 2022
China swarms Taiwan’s defense zone with nuclear-capable bombers
Taiwanese military officials say China deployed a record 18 nuclear-capable H-6 bomber aircraft into Taiwan's air defense zone this week in a new escalation of Beijing's aggressive posturing toward the island democracy. Published December 14, 2022
Threat Status: How war in Ukraine derailed key U.S.-Russia nuclear negotiations
Welcome to Threat Status, a weekly roundup of the biggest news inside the Pentagon, on the border and around the world. Sign up to receive Threat Status each week from a national security reporting team headed by veteran Washington Times journalists Ben Wolfgang and Guy Taylor. Published December 11, 2022
Qatar was well known by Pentagon long before global soccer spotlight
The World Cup put Qatar's eye-popping architecture and economic achievements in the spotlight. However, the Middle Eastern nation's role in the U.S. military's strategy has gotten far less attention. Published December 10, 2022
Uninvited guest: China’s shadow looms over Biden’s African outreach summit
The Biden administration doesn't want to talk about it, but China's expanding military activities and economic influence in Africa loom large over a major three-day summit with African leaders the White House is hosting next week. Published December 9, 2022
Guy Taylor & Ben Wolfgang launch Threat Status, a new weekly newsletter from The Washington Times
Welcome to Threat Status, a weekly roundup of the biggest news inside the Pentagon, on the border and around the world. Sign up to receive Threat Status each week from a national security reporting team headed by veteran Washington Times journalists Ben Wolfgang and Guy Taylor. Published December 7, 2022
Soft on China: Top Republican says Biden administration weakening America on the world stage
President Biden's foreign policy fumbles have "weakened America on the world stage," a key Republican House Foreign Affairs Committee member said Tuesday. He warned that administration officials have moved to "coddle" China despite the regime's clear determination to "replace the United States as the globe's sole superpower." Published December 6, 2022
Two blasts reported at Russian bases for strategic bombers far from Ukraine border
The Ukrainian Air Force said Monday that it shot down more than 60 missiles from a major Russian barrage, while Moscow accused Kyiv of carrying out multiple drone strikes that damaged sensitive military sites deep inside Russia. Published December 5, 2022
Antony Blinken: Russia’s Putin ‘trying to weaponize winter’ in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin is "trying to weaponize winter" with the goal of making Ukrainian civilians suffer, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday. Published December 4, 2022
Clashes expected to escalate in Iran amid call for strike by merchants
Protests in Iran are expected to intensify, with demonstrators calling for a three-day strike ahead of a visit by hardline President Ebrahim Raisi to Tehran University. Published December 4, 2022
Protests in China put pressure on state to act, Western COVID vaccines proposed
China's failure to develop coronavirus vaccines that work has resulted in societal chaos gripping many Chinese cities amid draconian lockdowns. Published December 1, 2022
Iran threatens to torture its World Cup players’ families ahead of U.S. match
Operatives from Iran's military have threatened to imprison and torture the families of Iranian World Cup soccer players if the players don't "behave" during their highly anticipated match against the United States in Qatar on Tuesday, according to a report. Published November 29, 2022
Waiting game: North Korea nuclear test may be imminent
It's the shoe that all of East Asia is still waiting to drop. Published November 23, 2022
G-20 statement on Russia’s war sparks narrative debate with Beijing
Chinese President Xi Jinping went along with the Biden administration's push for the Group of 20 leading economies to deliver a declaration firmly condemning Russia's war in Ukraine, but Chinese media sharply criticized the way the declaration was presented as a diplomatic victory for Washington. Published November 16, 2022