CLAWS USA Newsletter | 01-15 February 2026

This edition of America Decoded captures a pivotal fortnight in U.S. domestic and foreign policy marked by intensifying executive assertiveness and strategic recalibration. At home, Washington ended a partial government shutdown, released millions of pages from the Epstein files, advanced controversial election reforms under the SAVE Act, and moved to freeze grants to select Democratic-led states — underscoring deepening partisan divides ahead of the 2026 midterms. Internationally, the U.S. unveiled “Project Vault” to secure critical mineral supply chains, signed a landmark interim trade deal with India, expanded its military footprint from Nigeria to the Middle East, and formalized new strategic frameworks with Azerbaijan and Japan. Meanwhile, the expiration of the New START treaty, renewed U.S.–Iran nuclear talks amid heightened military deployments, NATO’s Arctic security push, and Israel’s entry into the Board of Peace reflect a global order under strain. Together, these developments signal a United States pursuing industrial resilience, strategic deterrence, and geopolitical consolidation across multiple theaters.