Axios

Nvidia appears poised to tighten its ties with OpenAI as it reportedly explores a deal to backstop financing for a massive data center to power the ChatGPT maker's ambitions.

Why it matters: The potential deal underscores the swift pace of the AI economy, but it also renews concerns that the increasingly "circular" nature of AI deals could create systemic financial risks.

• Nvidia shares tumbled 4.5% in late morning trading.

Kuwait's government has signed a $16 billion crude oil pipeline deal with North American private equity firms Blackstone, Brookfield Asset Management, and KKR.

Why it matters: This comes amid attacks on Kuwait's energy infrastructure by Iran, in retaliation for U.S. strikes.

LONDON — It was national-security concerns, not commercial aircraft buys, driving the conversation at the Farnborough International Airshow this year.

Why it matters: It's a sign of the (increasingly prickly) times.

• Russia continues to bombard Ukraine. The U.S. and Iran are exchanging deadly salvos. NATO has pledged more spending and more munitions. And industrial players are elbows out on some of the flashiest contracts.

Driving the news: Several people Axios chatted with said this year's defense-contractor presence and announcement cadence were the most they had experienced at the airshow.

• "Based on the world right now and where the money's being spent, it's no surprise," Doug Martens with Honeywell Aerospace said.
• "The defense sector is booming right now."

Zoom in: Even the commute — by train or by car or by foot — was cluttered with defense-tech ads: drones at the train station, satellites at the bus stop, radars in the roundabout.

Follow the money: Here are some of the latest deals and technologies that have people talking:

BAE Systems revealed Brontanax, a loyal-wingman drone that's roughly the same size as the company's Hawk trainer aircraft. It's a product of FalconWorks and is expected to fly for the first time next year.

General Atomics and MBDA will work together to outfit the former's unmanned aircraft, like MQ-9B and Gambit 6, with the latter's miniature cruise missile, Spear.

Beta debuted its MV250, a hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. Others involved in the project include GE Aerospace (propulsion) and Sikorsky (autonomy).

QinetiQ said it's investing £20 million, or nearly $27 million, into the development of laser weapons and associated products. The company is part of the U.K.'s DragonFire consortium, alongside MBDA and Leonardo.

Venus Aerospace and Lockheed Martin are teaming up on rotating detonation rocket engines. The two are interested in applying RDREs to long-range precision fires.

Rolls-Royce, Avio Aero and IHI Corporation said they are one step closer to ground-testing an engine for the Global Combat Air Program, which Canada recently joined as an observer.

Tekever unveiled AR6, a line of heavy-lift drones. Both military and civilian markets are being targeted, the company said.

What's next: Many more defense bazaars and summits, including Paris Air Show in 2027.

More from Axios:

X-Bow's new drone killer costs less than $100,000

Boeing teases production of hundreds more Patriot seekers

Anduril uncloaks Thunder, an attack aircraft built alongside Archer

The U.S. and U.K. are planning to convene a high-level meeting in London next week that will focus on a potential international coalition to protect maritime shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, two European diplomats and two other sources with knowledge told Axios.

Why it matters: The reopening of the strait for commercial shipping is a key element of any U.S. exit strategy from the war with Iran and of efforts to stabilize global energy markets.

President Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, the Israeli Prime Minister's office said in a statement.

Why it matters: Netanyahu has met with Trump in the Oval Office six times since Trump returned to office a year-and-a-half ago — more than any other world leader. But Netanyahu is deeply unpopular in Washington these days, among Democrats, Trump's close circle and the MAGA base.

"Choke point" is having a moment.

Why it matters: The term is an increasingly popular shorthand for the bottlenecks tying up the oil market and the AI buildout — and sometimes the entire economy — as the old global economic order gives way to intensifying competition and outright war.

Are you one of the thousands of Americans who fell in love with the FIFA World Cup this summer and find yourself asking: How do I keep high-grade soccer in my life?

My answer: Choose the English Premier League.

• Why it matters: It's a glorious sports fan experience. Twenty teams provide 38 weeks of high-octane chaos and drama, plus they compete in the FA Cup — the oldest national soccer competition in the world! You'll get to see supporters in the U.K. live and die by each pass, and you'll likely connect with fan groups in the U.S.

The Trump administration announced a new round of tariffs up to 12.5% on 60 trading partners on Thursday, preventing a lapse in import taxes as a temporary tariff program nears expiration.

Why it matters: It shows the White House's determination to preserve its tariff agenda by turning to new trade laws as earlier authorities expire or face legal challenges.

President Trump claimed Thursday the new nuclear deal the U.S. signed with Saudi Arabia will not include uranium enrichment and requires the kingdom normalize its relations with Israel.

Why it matters: Trump is responding to two of the bigger criticisms of the deal: that it could open the door to nuclear enrichment and that Washington gave up leverage to push a peace deal with Israel.

President Trump told Axios on Thursday that he's seriously considering restarting major combat operations in Iran — including strikes that would be bigger than the ones carried out during Operation Epic Fury.

Why it matters: In a brief interview, Trump acknowledged that such a decision would have consequences and stressed he hasn't made a determination yet.