Putin Discusses Ukraine War, Russian Economy at Economic Forum |
At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, today, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Ukraine’s military counteroffensive has not made progress (The Guardian) and that up to 1,500 Russians were voluntarily joining the military each day. He also said that "there were no insurmountable challenges" that limited the ruble's volatility as the currency hit its strongest level (Reuters) against the U.S. dollar in six weeks. When asked, Putin did not confirm whether he would run for reelection in 2024.
The forum comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits Russia, where he is expected to discuss an arms deal with Putin. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military intelligence reported that Ukrainian troops have recaptured several offshore drilling platforms (The Guardian) near Russia-occupied Crimea that have been held by Russia since 2015 and used for military purposes. Russia did not immediately comment on the matter.
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“The symbolism behind Kim’s expected return to summitry with Putin in 2023 suggests Kim intends to navigate North Korean diplomacy in a geopolitical context of rising confrontation, rather than the climate of tension reduction that existed during his summitry in 2018 and 2019—though with the same aims of enhancing North Korea’s legitimacy and international standing,” CFR expert Scott A. Snyder writes.
“On the Russian side, we see plenty of evidence that they have lost a lot of artillery, their logistics, their headquarters, their own ability to move reserves, has been significantly degraded,” retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, the former top U.S. Army Commander in Europe, tells ABC News. “And I think that's in large part due to the Ukrainian adaptation to the environment to the situation on the ground.”
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Google Goes to Trial in Washington |
The largest antitrust trial in twenty-five years begins today (FT) against tech giant Google. The Department of Justice has accused the company of monopolizing online search to stave off competition. |
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New Cambodian Prime Minister’s First Visit to China |
Hun Manet will make a two-day trip (SCMP) to China this week to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing’s foreign ministry said. The two leaders are expected to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation to mark sixty-five years of diplomatic relations.
In this In Brief, CFR expert Joshua Kurlantzick explores Cambodia’s uncertain leadership future.
China/Taiwan: China is increasing its operations (Nikkei) in the South China Sea, according to a new report released today by Taiwan’s defense ministry. Taipei said the moves “escalate regional tensions” and challenge Taiwanese sovereignty.
For the Asia Unbound blog, CFR expert David Sacks analyzes whether Taiwan’s defense budget is enough to deter China.
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Pakistan Accuses Taliban of Building ‘Unlawful Structures’ Along Shared Border |
Pakistan called the structures (Al Jazeera) a violation of territorial sovereignty. The country’s foreign ministry said yesterday that it closed the Torkham border crossing in northwestern Pakistan last week following “unprovoked and indiscriminate firing” by neighboring Afghan forces. India/Russia: Russia will stop selling fertilizer to India at discounted prices, three industry sources told Reuters. The decision is likely to increase India’s import costs amid globally surging fertilizer prices.
This episode of the Why It Matters podcast explores the global fertilizer dilemma.
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Middle East and North Africa |
Death Toll in Morocco Continues to Climb |
Friday’s 6.8-magnitude earthquake has killed (Al Jazeera) more than 2,800 people. Some one hundred thousand children have been affected, the UN children’s agency said.
Libya: Up to three thousand people have died (Al Jazeera) and as many as ten thousand are missing after Storm Daniel caused catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya yesterday, a government official from the country’s eastern administration said.
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Malawi Launches Initiative to Boost Country’s Agricultural Economy |
President Lazarus Chakwera’s “mega farms” program aims to end persistent food shortages (VOA) in Malawi. According to a report last month by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, 22 percent of the country's population faces food shortages, with the rate of food insecurity set to worsen over the next several months.
DRC: Entire settlements of people were forcibly evicted (AFP) near the town of Kolwezi in southeastern Democratic of Congo (DRC) to make way for mine expansions, a new report by Amnesty International and Congolese rights group L'Initiative Bonne Gouvernance et Droits Humains (IBGDH) found.
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Ukraine to Make Changes to Minority Rights |
Kyiv is prepared to make “additional amendments” (FT) to its laws on minority rights to unlock European Union accession talks later this year, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said. Hungary has repeatedly threatened to veto the accession process, accusing Ukraine of “Hungarophobia.” |
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UN: Colombia Sets Cocaine Production Record |
The amount of cocaine produced in Colombia increased to 1,738 tons (WSJ) in 2022, a 24 percent increase from the previous year, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said in a new report. President Gustavo Petro has steered away from a punitive approach to fighting drugs. Much of the drug sector is controlled by armed groups.
Mexico: Mexico’s former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard denounced the ruling Morena party’s presidential primary process yesterday and threatened to leave the party (Reuters) to form his own political movement. Ebrard lost Morena’s presidential nomination to former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum.
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Council on Foreign Relations |
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