Merchant Ship Departs Ukrainian Black Sea Port, Testing Russia After Deal Withdrawal
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A container ship sailed out of the Ukrainian port city (FT) of Odesa yesterday for the first time since Russia withdrew last month from a deal to allow grain exports from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea and threatened to attack civilian ships in the area. Kyiv had announced a “new humanitarian corridor” (AFP) in the Black Sea in response, though Moscow did not state if it would respect the route. The ship, co-owned by German and Chinese companies, was detected today off the coast of Romania.
International grain prices have risen following Russia’s withdrawal from the deal, and Russia has repeatedly bombed Ukrainian grain silos since, destroying tens of thousands of tons of food. In recent weeks, Russia has also struck ports (BBC) on the Danube River where Ukraine has been trying to export grain as an alternative to the Black Sea route.
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“Moscow is seeing an opportunity where if you take the Ukrainian share off the market, there’s a lot more share for Russia to take,” CRU Group’s Anthony Rizzo tells the Financial Times. “I see it as a play for them to not only weaken Ukraine’s financing [through fewer grain exports], but also to boost their own.”
“Russia’s threats [regarding shipping in the Black Sea] pose a major test for the international community’s ability to safeguard shipping in the area and freedom of navigation, a cornerstone of maritime law that allows vessels to sail unimpeded through international waters. While Russia has waged war against Ukraine for over a year, an attack on a single commercial vessel could embroil several countries in one fell swoop,” Foreign Policy’s Christina Lu and Amy Mackinnon write.
On this episode of The President’s Inbox, the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Caitlin Welsh discusses how Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal threatens global food security.
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China Appears to Be Building Airstrip on Disputed Island |
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Mob Attacks Christian Churches, Homes in Pakistan |
Authorities are investigating attacks (Dawn) by hundreds of people on five churches and several residences in the province of Punjab. Police sources say that violence broke out when some locals claimed that some desecrated pages of the Quran were found near a Christian residence.
India: The government announced plans (Mint) to partially fund the deployment of around ten thousand new electric buses in 169 Indian cities. Private funders will also participate in the partnership.
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Middle East and North Africa |
U.S. Greenlights $3.5 Billion Israeli Arms Sale to Germany |
The sale of the air defense missile system is the biggest arms deal (WSJ) in Israel’s history and part of Germany’s efforts to protect Europe from ballistic missile threats in a collective defense initiative set up following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The missile system was jointly designed with Boeing, thus requiring Washington’s permission to sell.
Iran/Saudi Arabia: Iran’s foreign minister is visiting Saudi Arabia (AFP) today for his first visit since a China-brokered rapprochement between the two countries in March restored diplomatic ties after they were severed in 2016. During the visit, officials are expected to discuss bilateral ties and regional relations.
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ECOWAS Meets Over Response to Niger Coup |
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is meeting in Accra, Ghana, today (RFI) to discuss their response to the coup in Niger. The bloc had threatened military intervention if Niger’s junta did not reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, but some African countries disagree over the idea of using force. ECOWAS has said it favors a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
For the Africa in Transition blog, CFR expert Ebenezer Obadare discusses the prospect of military intervention in Niger and what that means for the Sahel.
Cape Verde: At least sixty-three migrants are thought to have died (The Guardian, AFP, Reuters) after a boat on which they were traveling was identified drifting off the coast of Cape Verde, the International Organization for Migration said yesterday. Thirty-eight people were found alive.
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Germany’s Cabinet Proposes Recreational Marijuana Bill to Parliament |
The three-party governing coalition’s cabinet endorsed the bill (NYT), which would allow adults to buy and possess up to twenty-five grams of recreational marijuana from approved sellers. It is still up to a congressional vote. |
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Leading Private Nicaraguan University to Close After Government Order |
Nicaragua’s government said the country’s Jesuit-run Central American University was a “center of terrorism” and ordered its property to be confiscated (WSJ) and its bank accounts frozen. It is the Daniel Ortega administration’s latest attack on the Catholic church, of which some leaders have supported pro-democracy activism in the country.
Canada: Authorities ordered nearly twenty-two thousand people in the city of Yellowknife to evacuate (CBC) yesterday due to approaching wildfires amid Canada’s worst fire season (CBC) on record.
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Georgia Prosecutor Proposes March Date for Trump Election Interference Trial |
After obtaining an indictment last week against former President Donald Trump for crimes related to a scheme to stay in power after losing the 2020 election, a Georgia prosecutor has requested (AP) it go to trial on March 4, amid the presidential primary election cycle. |
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