Nancy Soderberg, a former United Nations ambassador and the director of the Public Service Leadership Program at UNF, joins Bruce Hamilton on Politics & Power this week to see if President Donald Trump is trying to gain the upper hand with China or even truly has an expansionist agenda.

Though the Israeli Cabinet has yet to officially approve it, word from senior officials is that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to terms of a ceasefire agreement to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

On Path to the Polls this week, News4JAX anchor Bruce Hamilton talks with Nancy Soderberg, a former UN Ambassador and expert on American foreign relations, about tensions in the Middle East, the U.S. policy on Ukraine and more.

Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israel’s campaign against Tehran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon.

Among the ships accompanying the USS Ford will be two ships from Naval Station Mayport: the USS Carney and the USS Thomas Hudner. Both are guided missile destroyers.

It is one of the worst security crises in Europe in decades. The US and its allies are stepping up sanctions to pressure Russia to keep troops from deploying further into Ukraine. Efforts are underway to keep this crisis from escalating into an all-out conflict.

The geopolitical chess game escalates and Russia continues to issue conflicting signals.

On this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” Nancy Soderberg, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and current director of the Public Service Leadership Program at the University of North Florida, and two retired military leaders with ties to Northeast Florida -- U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Joseph DiSalvo and Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges -- provide perspective on the chaos in Afghanistan.

The Taliban say they will be a new, moderate ruling group in Afghanistan. United Nations officials and international experts say that seems unlikely.

President Joe Biden is increasing the amount of U.S. troops headed into Afghanistan. Conditions continue to deteriorate with Taliban forces mounting further offensives aimed at taking control of the country.

It warns of the lingering potential for violence from people motivated by anti-government sentiment following the election. She served as the third-ranking official on the Clinton Administration’s National Security Council and now teaches at the University of North Florida. The department says it consulted with law enforcement and intelligence agencies before issuing the alert about the potential for homegrown violent extremism. She said the warning puts the American public “on notice,” and that most of all, it’s a warning against potential threats. Federal authorities have charged more than 150 people in the Capitol siege, including some with links to right-wing extremist groups.

Right now, FBI Jacksonville agents are tracking down tips and monitoring threats, just like their counterparts across the country, said spokeswoman Amanda Videll. In D.C., 25,000 Guard members are backing up thousands of police officers; approximately 600 soldiers and airmen are from Florida. Police officers from Florida agencies like the Miami Beach Police Department are also traveling to the capital to provide support. “This will be the most secure election inauguration ever,” said Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, who now teaches at the University of North Florida. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said he’s not aware of any direct threats to the Northeast Florida area, but his officers are monitoring the situation.

The Associated Press contributed to this reportJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Pentagon has reportedly sent commanders a “warning order” telling them to begin plans to reduce the number of troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Under the planned order, the troop cuts would be completed just five days before President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20. There are about 4,500 troops in Afghanistan and about 3,000 in Iraq. RELATED: AP sources: Trump to order troop cuts in Afghanistan, IraqNancy Soderberg was a deputy national security advisor and America’s ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton Administration. The accelerated withdrawal goes against the longstanding advice of Trump’s military leadership, including Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, top U.S. commander for the Middle East.

Thousands of mourners had surrounded the coffin of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in his hometown of Kerman when the crash occurred. With thousands of US troops recently deployed to the Middle East, some are asking if more military forces in the Jacksonville area could be mobilized in the conflict. She said it’s unclear the effect it could have on military personnel in Jacksonville, but she said if Iran retaliates that it’s likely a massive Naval presence in the Middle East would be necessary. “At the moment we aren’t sending massive Naval powers that would affect our local families but it is entirely possible," Soderberg told Ross. So if this goes really south, and this turns into a tit for tat, then Naval forces will certainly be affected.”

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi believed to have been killed in a US military raid, sources say. The world has spent the day reacting to the news that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead. President Trump then spoke to the nation Sunday morning. "I am grateful for the skill and courage of our special operations and intelligence professionals," she said. "So they naturally and rightfully will praise the military and special operations and the intelligence community.