{"id":66473,"date":"2026-08-13T11:38:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T15:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/geopolitical-tensions-and-tech-shifts-hegseth-defends-naval-blockade-as-amd-and-sandisk-outline-billion-dollar-growth-plans\/66473\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T11:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T15:38:16","slug":"geopolitical-tensions-and-tech-shifts-hegseth-defends-naval-blockade-as-amd-and-sandisk-outline-billion-dollar-growth-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/geopolitical-tensions-and-tech-shifts-hegseth-defends-naval-blockade-as-amd-and-sandisk-outline-billion-dollar-growth-plans\/66473\/","title":{"rendered":"Geopolitical Tensions and Tech Shifts: Hegseth Defends Naval Blockade as AMD and SanDisk Outline Billion-Dollar Growth Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/AMD\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"16\" title=\"stock: AMD\">AMD<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/AMD\">AMD<\/a>)<\/strong> is launching a <strong>$5 billion debt offering<\/strong> to fuel its aggressive expansion into the AI accelerator market and refinance upcoming obligations.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/SNDK\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"19\" title=\"Stock: SNDK\">SanDisk<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/SNDK\">SNDK<\/a>)<\/strong> shares surged as the company targeted an <strong>80% non-GAAP gross margin<\/strong> and a <strong>50% adjusted free cash flow margin<\/strong> for FY2028-FY2030.<\/li>\n<li><strong>U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth<\/strong> reaffirmed that the naval blockade on <strong>Iran<\/strong> will remain in place &quot;as long as necessary,&quot; despite reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the <strong>USS Abraham Lincoln<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Brent Crude<\/strong> futures recovered from earlier losses to trade near <strong>$85-$100 per barrel<\/strong> following a <strong>Houthi drone attack<\/strong> on a <strong>Saudi Aramco<\/strong> refinery in Jizan.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Alphabet (<a href=\"\/stock\/GOOGL\">GOOGL<\/a>)<\/strong> Chief Scientist <strong>Demis Hassabis<\/strong> reportedly proposed a new independent AI safety body, modeled after the IAEA, prior to a major leadership shake-up at <strong>Google DeepMind<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Tech Giants Tap Capital Markets for AI Dominance<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Advanced Micro Devices (<a href=\"\/stock\/AMD\">AMD<\/a>)<\/strong> is moving to raise up to <strong>$5 billion<\/strong> through a four-part investment-grade bond sale. The proceeds are earmarked for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of <strong>$875 million<\/strong> in debt due next month and funding massive capital expenditures required to compete in the AI hardware ecosystem. This move follows strategic agreements with <strong>Anthropic<\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/MSFT\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"18\" title=\"Stock: MSFT\">Microsoft<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/MSFT\">MSFT<\/a>)<\/strong>, signaling <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/AMD\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"16\" title=\"stock: AMD\">AMD<\/a>&#39;s intent to challenge industry leaders in AI compute.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock\/SNDK\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"19\" title=\"Stock: SNDK\">SanDisk<\/a> (<a href=\"\/stock\/SNDK\">SNDK<\/a>)<\/strong> unveiled a robust multi-year financial framework during its 2026 Investor Day, projecting <strong>mid-to-high teens revenue growth<\/strong> through 2030. The memory giant expects to collect <strong>$93.9 billion<\/strong> in total contract value from eight key customers under its &quot;New Business Model&quot; (NBM). Management committed to returning <strong>100% of excess cash<\/strong> to shareholders, bolstered by expectations that the flash memory market will swell to nearly <strong>$500 billion<\/strong> by 2027.<\/p>\n<h2>Middle East Volatility Rattles Energy Markets<\/h2>\n<p>Oil markets remain on edge as <strong>Brent Crude<\/strong> futures saw a volatile session, recovering some losses after reports confirmed a <strong>Houthi drone strike<\/strong> on a <strong>Saudi Aramco<\/strong> refinery in Jizan. The attack caused a fire at the 400,000-barrel-per-day facility, driving <strong>diesel cracks<\/strong> to record highs of <strong>$98 per barrel<\/strong> due to acute supply fears. Analysts warn that a structural supply premium will persist as long as the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong> remains a geopolitical flashpoint.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Defense Secretary <strong>Pete Hegseth<\/strong> maintained a hardline stance on Thursday, stating the U.S. can maintain its blockade on <strong>Iran<\/strong> indefinitely to force compliance with nuclear commitments. Hegseth also dismissed reports regarding poor conditions and low morale on the <strong>USS Abraham Lincoln<\/strong>, which has spent over <strong>250 consecutive days<\/strong> at sea. However, lawmakers continue to press the Pentagon for answers following allegations of a mental health crisis and supply shortages aboard the carrier.<\/p>\n<h2>Alphabet\u2019s AI Pivot and Safety Initiatives<\/h2>\n<p>Internal shifts at <strong>Alphabet (<a href=\"\/stock\/GOOGL\">GOOGL<\/a>)<\/strong> have come to light following a report that <strong>Demis Hassabis<\/strong> pitched an independent industry safety body before transitioning to his new role as Chief Scientist. The proposed body would set global standards for <strong>Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)<\/strong>, similar to how the <strong>IAEA<\/strong> oversees nuclear energy. This development comes amid a broader reorganization at <strong>Google DeepMind<\/strong>, where several veteran engineers recently departed to launch a new startup, <strong>Discovery Loop<\/strong>, with Alphabet&#39;s backing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways AMD (AMD) is launching a $5 billion debt offering to fuel its aggressive expansion into the AI accelerator 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