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PDB Afternoon Bulletin | February 19th, 2026: Russia & China Move Warships Into Iranian Waters & Prince Andrew Arrested
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It's Thursday, the 19th of February. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First up, Russian, Chinese and Iranian warships launch what they refer to as surprise drills in the Strait of Hormuz, even as the US Surges carriers, destroyers and fighter jets into the region. I'll have the details later in the show. A bombshell out of Britain. Former Prince Andrew, now known as just Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of misconduct while in public office. It's more fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein case. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. This morning we reported that sources are saying a US Operation against Iran could be imminent, possibly a matter of weeks or even days. Now, in the category of nothing happens in a bubble, things are getting a bit more complicated. Russian, Chinese and Iranian warships are now conducting what's being described as a surprise joint naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategically sensitive waterways on the planet. According to regional and international reporting, vessels from all three countries have gathered near the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas ahead of coordinated drills. Now, admittedly, this three country gathering, or gaggle, isn't new. The exercises are part of what has previously been branded the Maritime Security Belt series, trilateral naval maneuvers that Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran have conducted in past years. But this latest round comes at a particularly tense moment. A bit of context here is always helpful. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Roughly 20% that would be one fifth of the world's traded oil passes through it each day. Any disruption there could have immediate implications for global energy markets. Iranian state media says the drills are focused on energy, enhancing maritime security, improving coordination among participating navies, and ensuring the safety of commercial shipping. The mullahs are all about ensuring the safety of commercial shipping. The drills include coordinated surface maneuvers and tactical exercises designed to improve interoperability between the three forces. Russian naval units have arrived in Bandar Abbas in recent days, while Chinese naval assets are also participating. Iranian naval forces, including elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, are operating in the exercise area. As we reported earlier this week, live fire drills temporarily shut down parts of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic. Again, while trilateral drills between the three countries are not unprecedented, the timing is again notable. The exercises are unfolding as the US Significantly increases its military footprint in the region. The US Presence now includes two aircraft carriers, roughly a dozen warships, hundreds of fighter aircraft, and multiple air defense systems positioned across the Middle East. Three additional destroyers, the USS Mitzer, the USS McFaul, and USS Pinckney, are operating in the Arabian Sea, having arrived in the region in recent days. Axios reports that more than 150 US military cargo flights in have transported weapon systems and ammunition into the theater in recent weeks. And in just the past 24 hours, another 50 fighter jets, including F35s, F22s, and F16s, have moved toward the region. At the same time, Washington continues to apply pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program, its ballistic missile program, and regional activities. Against that backdrop, the naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz carry strategic significance, even if framed as routine or defensive. The presence of Russian and Chinese warships operating alongside Iran in this narrow corridor is an attempt by Iran to send a message that they're not isolated. Although it's also hard to ignore the message that was sent when neither Russia nor China provided any support to Iran during last year's 12 day war. Conducting maritime drills is one thing. Getting involved in a direct military conflict in order to aid the mullahs, well, that may be a bridge too far. For Moscow, which remains engaged in this war in Ukraine, and for Beijing, which continues to expand its naval reach globally, participation in these exercises underscores a willingness to operate together in sensitive waters traditionally dominated by the US it goes without saying, although I am about to say it, that the proximity of multiple major powers conducting operations in and around the same confined maritime space increases the complexity of the environment. See, I told you. It goes without saying. The Strait of Hormuz has long been a flashpoint for US Iran tensions. It's seen tanker seizures and drone shootdowns and naval standoffs in recent years. Now, with US Forces building up across the region and Russian, Chinese, and Iranian ships maneuvering together in one of the world's most critical shipping lanes, well, the margin for error appears to be shrinking. Coming up next, authorities in Britain reportedly arrest Prince Andrew, or the individual formerly known as Prince Andrew, over alleged misconduct while acting as a UK Trade envoy, as King Charles publicly supports what he calls a full and proper legal process. And yes, it's all tied to the infamous Epstein files. More on that when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. Let me take just a moment to talk about something very important, and that's planning for the future. Look, no one wants to talk about dying, right? But the reality is creating an estate plan can provide you and your family with tremendous peace of mind. 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Hey PDB listeners, Mike Baker here with a quick recommendation for your podcast playlist look. If you like deep, insightful conversations with world class thinkers and who doesn't come on, check out the Jordan Harbinger Show. It's available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to. Jordan sits down with people who've been in the room at the highest levels, from national security leaders to thinkers reshaping how we understand the world. You'll hear ideas and stories that go way beyond the usual sound bites. Two episodes I'd recommend an interview with our friend Ryan Macbeth on Venezuela's collapse. That's a clear look at how a once wealthy oil state unraveled and what that means, of course, for regional stability. And also his conversation with Douglas Murray where they explore the pressures facing Western democracies and what those trends mean for long term stability. Download the Jordan Harbinger Show. That's H A R B I N G E R just like it sounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your shows. Or just go to jordanharbinger.com start to dive right in. It's one of those podcasts that makes you smarter, so give it a go. Welcome back to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. For centuries, Britain's royal family has endured scandal, exile, even abdication. And for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the disgraced former Prince Andrew, his ties to Jeffrey Epstein have lingered as the latest palace controversy. Today, that controversy crossed a new threshold when British police placed him under arrest. The Thames Valley police said they arrested a man in his 60s on suspicion of misconduct in public office. That's an offense that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under UK law. I want to point out that while authorities did not formally name him, which is standard practice in Britain, the investigation centers on Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly known again as Prince Andrew. He was stripped of his royal titles and duties last year amid mounting fallout from the Epstein scandal and his conduct while serving as a UK trade envoy in 2010. And that detail matters. It's no longer about reputational damage. It's about whether, while acting in an official government role, he may have improperly shared confidential government material with Jeffrey Epstein, of course, the disgraced financier at the center of a sprawling sex trafficking scandal involving underage girls. Police searched two properties today, one in Berkshire, where Mountbatten Windsor had been living, and another in Norfolk At a residence on the Sandringham Estate, photographers captured what appears to be unmarked police vehicles arriving at the Norfolk property. As for the arrest, well, it's historic. It marks the first time in centuries that a senior member of Britain's royal family has been taken into custody. It's a stunning break with modern precedent. King Charles, Andrew's older brother, responded personally and directly. In a verse statement signed Charles R. The king said he learned of the arrest with, quote, deepest concern, adding that the law must take its course now. Royal family stories often drift into tabloid territory. That's something we're not in the habit of covering here on the pdb. But this case carries potential national security implications for the uk, which is why we're paying attention. And to understand those implications, we should probably take a step back. In recent weeks, the U.S. justice Department released another batch of Epstein related materials, part of roughly 3 million pages of correspondence and documents and materials. Buried in those files is an email that appears to show Mountbatten Windsor forwarding Epstein a confidential report from a special advisor regarding an official visit to Southeast Asia. As for why he was in communication with Epstein, allegedly regarding private government documents, well, that's anyone's guess. But that potential breach of public trust underpins the suspicion of misconduct in public office. Now consider who Jeffrey Epstein was. He cultivated relationships with powerful political, financial and social figures, even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution. In 2019, he was arrested in New York on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls and later died in jail while awaiting trial, some say by suicide. Some dispute that version of events. Epstein's case exposed a vast network of elite associations and the ongoing investigation and document releases keep those connections in the spotlight. As for the timeline, Mountbatten Windsor said he first met Epstein in 1999 through Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's then girlfriend, a well connected British socialite and daughter of the late media tycoon Robert Maxwell. In 2000, Maxwell and Epstein attended a 40th birthday party for Mountbatten Windsor at Windsor Castle, hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. From there, the meetings continued. In 2010, Mountbatten Windsor was photographed walking with Epstein in New York Central Park. It's an image that later became emblematic of the connection. The controversy deepened after accusations from Virginia Giuffre, who alleged in U.S. court filings that she was trafficked by Epstein to powerful associates, including Mountbatten Windsor, and forced to have sex with him when she was just 17 years old. In 2022, Mountbatten Windsor reached an out of court settlement with the Giuffre in New York for an undisclosed amount without admitting liability. He has consistently denied her allegations and any wrongdoing tied to Epstein. Now, Jeffrey died by apparent suicide last year, but her family responded to the arrest saying, quote, today our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty, end quote. It's extraordinarily rare for a senior royal or someone who once held that status to face criminal proceedings, let alone arrest. While history buffs know members of the royal houses were imprisoned during the Tudor and Stuart eras, well, those cases were essentially political. Modern Britain offers no real comparison. And the actions in the UK are in contrast to any apparent fallout in the US from the Epstein case. British authorities have moved aggressively to assess potential criminal conduct emerging from the Epstein files. But in the US well, not so much. The disclosures have produced headlines and some resignations, but so far, no arrests. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Thursday 19th February. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb@the first tv.com and of course to listen to the show ad free. It's very easy to do. Just become a premium member of the President's Daily brief by visiting pdbpremium.com I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool. Hey, Mike Baker here with a message for dog lovers. Now, if you're like me and my family, dogs are an important part of family life. Look, we've got two of them. Our golden retriever, Hendrix, he's a good boy. He's now in his 14th year. And Monty, a very cute but somewhat dim witted King Charles spaniel. Now, as you probably know, when it comes to your dog food, there always seems to be a compromise, right? It's either fresh and healthy or. Or it's easy to store and serve. That's why we love Sundaes for Dogs. With the Sundaes for Dogs brand, you get both right fresh and healthy dog food that's easy to store and serve. There's no compromise. 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