South Korean President Talks Heightened Military Cooperation at White House
The United States will increase military deployments to South Korea (NBC) as part of a new deal to jointly respond to the nuclear threat posed by North Korea, U.S. officials told news outlets on the condition of anonymity. The agreement will see the United States deploy nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea for the first time in decades, and Washington will also increase joint military planning and information sharing with Seoul.
The U.S. and South Korean presidents are expected to announce the plan as they meet at the White House today. Officials in the Joe Biden administration will discuss U.S. export controls in the semiconductor sector with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and urge him (Politico) to make South Korean weapons available to Ukraine. Additionally, Yoon will affirm (Japan Times) that Seoul will not seek its own nuclear weapons, though polls show that a growing number of South Koreans believe their country should have them. Washington has opposed the possibility.
“While the threat from North Korea remains and concerns about China’s future have deepened U.S.-South Korea cohesion, the sustainability of the alliance will depend both on shared democratic values and on convergent economic interests that enable deeper integration of supply chains and technology,” CFR’s Scott A. Snyder writes.
Pacific Rim
Australia to Spend $2.7 Billion on Missiles in Military Build-Up
That money will be used to purchase long-range missiles and develop Australia’s domestic missile manufacturing industry. Officials said the plans will bring a more than twelvefold increase in Australia’s strike capabilities (Bloomberg).
South and Central Asia
India Hosts Talks on Reducing Myanmar Violence
Mid-level officials from Myanmar’s military regime attended the talks, which produced informal agreements (Nikkei) including pledges to reduce violence on “all sides” of the country’s civil war and speed up humanitarian aid to the country. The talks came days after meetings (AP) between military leadership and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Afghanistan: Taliban forces killed (CNN) a senior leader of the Islamic State in Khorasan, a group also known as ISIS-K, who had orchestrated the deadly 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul International Airport, a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson said. The spokesperson did not say when the killing occurred.
Middle East and North Africa
Iran’s Judiciary Says Prisoner Swap With Belgium Is Imminent
An Iranian diplomat who has been imprisoned in Belgium for twenty years will soon be freed (Reuters), Iran’s judiciary said. The diplomat is expected to be exchanged for a Belgian aid worker currently jailed in Iran.
Lebanon: Lebanese authorities and European investigators agreed to swap information (AP) about their ongoing corruption probes regarding Lebanon’s central bank governor. Critics have accused the official of precipitating the financial crisis that has plagued Lebanon since 2019.
Sub-Saharan Africa
South African President Walks Back Comments on Leaving the ICC
President Cyril Ramaphosa said yesterday that the ruling African National Congress party sought to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), of which South Africa is a member. His office later clarified (FT) that Pretoria remains a signatory to the court. The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is due to visit South Africa in August for a summit.
Sudan: Despite the partial observance of a U.S.-brokered cease-fire, there are no signs (Reuters) that Sudan’s warring military factions are ready to seriously negotiate, the UN special envoy for Sudan said.
Europe
Putin Seizes Some Western Energy Companies’ Russia-Based Assets
The decree signed by Russian President Putin grants temporary state control (Moscow Times) over the Russian divisions of German firm Uniper and Finnish firm Fortum. The decree called the moves a response to “unfriendly” actions by the United States and its partners.
Portugal: President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said Portugal should apologize and take responsibility (Reuters) for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. It is the first time a Portuguese leader has recommended a national apology for the country’s role in the enslavement of Africans.
Americas
Brazil’s President to Talk EU-Mercosur Trade Deal in Spain
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez today in Madrid, where they are expected to discuss prospects for finalizing a long-delayed free trade agreement (AP) between the European Union (EU) and the South American customs union known as Mercosur.
Argentina: To stem a collapse in Argentina’s unofficial exchange rate, the government plans to renegotiate the emergency measures (Bloomberg) it is permitted to use under its reform program with the International Monetary Fund, Economy Minister Sergio Massa said.
Senators to Present Bipartisan Bill on Ethics of Supreme Court Justices
The bill that Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) will introduce today follows news reports (WSJ) that questioned whether Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch have appropriately disclosed their financial activities.
