SOFREP Daily roundup for Friday, March 14. (Image grab via X)
Good morning! It’s Friday, March 14, 2025. Here’s your essential briefing on defense and global affairs to close out the week.
Pentagon Targets Fitness, Grooming in New Review
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a comprehensive review of military fitness and grooming standards, signaling a shift toward stricter regulations.
The review, led by Darin Selnick, may lead to the rollback of policies that accommodated women and minority service members, including exemptions for beards and diverse hairstyles.
Hegseth, emphasizing discipline and high standards, has publicly criticized perceived laxity in fitness and appearance, while Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot personally attacked former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley’s overweight standards.
However, critics argue that some grooming exemptions were essential for medical reasons, particularly for Black service members facing skin conditions caused by shaving.
“We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force,” Hegseth said in a statement released March 12.
“Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging. This review will illuminate how the Department has maintained the level of standards required over the recent past and the trajectory of any change in those standards.”
The move has sparked concerns over potential discrimination and retention issues.
Good morning! It’s Friday, March 14, 2025. Here’s your essential briefing on defense and global affairs to close out the week.
Pentagon Targets Fitness, Grooming in New Review
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a comprehensive review of military fitness and grooming standards, signaling a shift toward stricter regulations.
The review, led by Darin Selnick, may lead to the rollback of policies that accommodated women and minority service members, including exemptions for beards and diverse hairstyles.
Hegseth, emphasizing discipline and high standards, has publicly criticized perceived laxity in fitness and appearance, while Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot personally attacked former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley’s overweight standards.
However, critics argue that some grooming exemptions were essential for medical reasons, particularly for Black service members facing skin conditions caused by shaving.
“We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force,” Hegseth said in a statement released March 12.
“Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging. This review will illuminate how the Department has maintained the level of standards required over the recent past and the trajectory of any change in those standards.”
The move has sparked concerns over potential discrimination and retention issues.
The US Air Force’s recent push for stricter dress and grooming enforcement may indicate broader changes ahead across all military branches.
Rutte Praises Trump, Backs NATO Spending Push
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised President Donald Trump during their Oval Office meeting on Thursday, highlighting his push for increased defense spending among NATO allies.
Rutte pointed to the European Commission’s recent call for 800 billion euros ($874 billion) in new defense investments and commitments from the UK and Germany as signs of progress.
His remarks followed Trump’s criticism of NATO members for not meeting the two percent gross domestic product (GDP) defense spending target and his suggestion that the US might not uphold NATO’s mutual defense clause.
Trump took credit for the increased spending, citing his firm stance during his first term.
The meeting also covered a US-led proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, with Trump expressing cautious optimism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s openness to negotiations.
China, Russia Back Iran in Nuclear Standoff
China, Russia, and Iran jointly called for the US to lift sanctions on Iran and resume nuclear negotiations, urging diplomacy as the only viable solution.
The meeting comes as President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an attempt to restart talks while continuing his “maximum pressure” campaign, which includes new sanctions and the possibility of military action.
Despite Iran’s insistence that its nuclear program is peaceful, its uranium enrichment levels have reached near-weapons-grade at 60 percent, far exceeding the limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal, which the US abandoned in 2018.
#China, #Russia and #Iran jointly called for putting an end to all illegal unilateral sanctions, after senior diplomats from the three countries gathered in Beijing on Friday for talks on Iranian nuclear issues.
China and Russia, both close allies of Iran, seek to challenge US influence while maintaining energy and defense ties with Tehran.
Although Iran has resisted negotiations under pressure, its struggling economy and internal unrest may push it toward diplomatic engagement.
Turkey Sends Delegation, Presses Syria on SDF Deal
A high-level Turkish delegation, including Turkey’s foreign minister, defense minister, and intelligence chief, made an unexpected visit to Damascus Thursday following an agreement to integrate the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syria’s Army.
The deal comes after violent clashes between government security forces and Assad loyalists, which left hundreds dead, particularly among the Alawite minority.
Turkey, which considers the SDF a terrorist group, aims to assess the agreement’s impact and reiterates its demand for the removal of armed groups from Syria.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan honored Ragheed al-Tatari, a former Syrian fighter pilot imprisoned for 43 years under the Assad regime, for his perseverance and moral stance.
The visit signals shifting regional dynamics as Ankara navigates its stance on Syria’s evolving military and political landscape.
US, Israel Seek Nations to Resettle Gazans
The United States and Israel have reportedly approached officials in Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland about resettling Palestinians displaced from Gaza under former President Donald Trump’s proposed postwar plan.
The controversial plan, which envisions relocating over two million Gazans while the US takes control of the territory, has been widely condemned as legally and morally problematic.
Sudan has rejected the idea, while Somali and Somaliland officials claim they are unaware of any discussions, as The Associated Press reported on Friday.
Palestinians and Arab nations oppose the proposal, calling it forced displacement, while rights groups warn it could constitute a war crime.
Despite the backlash, Trump and Israeli officials continue to push the plan, offering financial and diplomatic incentives to potential host nations.
UNICEF Warns Millions of Sudanese Children at Risk
The war in Sudan has created the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis, with over 30 million people needing aid in 2025, including 16 million children.
UNICEF chief Catherine Russell recently told the UN Security Council that Sudanese children are enduring extreme suffering, with 1.3 million living in famine-stricken areas and over 770,000 facing life-threatening malnutrition.
Sexual violence is rampant, with a staggering rise in cases, including assaults on infants.
“Children in Sudan are enduring unimaginable suffering and horrific violence.”
Both warring factions—the military and paramilitary groups—are accused of war crimes, including indiscriminate bombings, mass killings, and blocking humanitarian aid.
The Security Council has condemned the violence but has failed to take effective action.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has cut foreign aid, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved emergency waivers for Sudanese relief efforts.
UNICEF estimates it will need $1 billion this year to support Sudanese children.
Sources: Associated Press, News Agencies, US Department of Defense
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