Mike Waltz

Stories

U.S. builds new blacklist to punish countries that hold Americans hostage

Challenged Taliban at UN Security Council

The United States has designated Afghanistan as a 'state sponsor of wrongful detention,' accusing the Taliban of holding Americans as bargaining chips. Afghanistan is the second country on the blacklist, created by a September 2025 executive order.

Updated May 30

Iran's regime faces its gravest challenge since 1979

Force in Play

Presented U.S. position at Security Council

Bazaar merchants bankrolled Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Now they're in the streets demanding its end.

Updated May 22

The US capture of Nicolás Maduro

Force in Play

Defended Venezuela operation at UN Security Council emergency session

Delta Force operators captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas at 2 a.m. on January 3 as explosions rocked the capital and helicopters evacuated them to the USS Iwo Jima, bound for New York. By Saturday afternoon, Maduro arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn—the first American military capture of a sitting head of state since Manuel Noriega in 1989.

Updated May 19

Doha draws the blueprint for a Gaza stabilization force—before anyone agrees to send troops

Force in Play

Arguing the mandate allows force to enforce demilitarization

A Gaza force is being designed like it's real, but the December 16 Doha conference exposed disagreements over mandate and composition—U.S. Central Command convened 40+ countries to plan command structure, basing, and rules of engagement, yet failed to achieve consensus. Italy is the only country to formally commit troops; 15 nations declined and Turkey was excluded at Israel's insistence.

Updated May 15

Israel deploys Iron Dome batteries to UAE amid Iran war

Force in Play

Made parallel remarks the night before Huckabee's disclosure

Israel and the United Arab Emirates kept any military cooperation hidden for decades. Now Israeli soldiers are operating air-defense radars and missile launchers on Emirati soil.

Updated May 12

Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan hits a critical test over who governs and who disarms

Force in Play

Led the U.S. push at the UN Security Council to endorse Trump’s Gaza plan and authorise the Board of Peace and International Stabilization Force

Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel triggered a war that lasted more than two years. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect October 10, 2025. At least 460 Palestinians have been killed and over 1,200 injured since the truce began.

Updated May 10

Notable Quotes

The Taliban's actions demonstrate bad faith and have made the U.S. deeply skeptical of their willingness to meet their international commitments or respect Afghanistan's international obligations. — UN Security Council remarks, March 9, 2026

from U.S. builds new blacklist to punish countries that hold Americans hostage · Updated May 30

"Everyone in the world needs to know that the regime is weaker than ever before. They are afraid. They're afraid of their own people."

from Iran's regime faces its gravest challenge since 1979 · Updated May 22

"Obviously that'll be a conversation with each country." (Mike Waltz, on rules of engagement)

from Doha draws the blueprint for a Gaza stabilization force—before anyone agrees to send troops · Updated May 15

Waltz described the Security Council resolution as 'historic and constructive', saying it would chart 'a new course in the Middle East' and extend the current truce. ([euronews.com](https://www.euronews.com/2025/11/18/un-security-council-approves-trumps-peace-plan-for-gaza?utm_source=openai))

from Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan hits a critical test over who governs and who disarms · Updated May 10