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August 2, 2024

Wilson Weekly

Statement About Release of American Citizens From Russia

“The Wilson Center welcomes the release of US citizens Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, and US resident Vladimir Kara-Murza who were unjustly detained and held hostage in Russia by Putin and the Kremlin. Putin's use of taking hostages to further his own agenda is abhorrent. We must ensure that the international community does not reward such behavior and continues to hold Putin and the Kremlin accountable for their nefarious activities.” - Wilson Center President and CEO Ambassador (ret.) Mark A. Green.

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Points of Clarity

Why Are the US and Many Other Observers Disputing the Election Results in Venezuela?

“The results of the election of 28th of July are being questioned in Venezuela for a very basic reason. Because there was a landslide victory of Edmundo González and the results that were read at the end of the day of 28th of July by the CNE, the electoral board, were obviously fraudulent.” - Venezuelan opposition leader and Wilson Center Public Policy Fellow Leopoldo Lopez

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Article

The Life and Death of Ismail Haniyeh

“Iran said Washington shared responsibility for Haniyeh’s killing because of its military support for Israel before and during the Gaza War. From Singapore, Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied that the United States had been either forewarned or involved in the attack."

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Stubborn Things

And After Free Trade?

“President Biden will be the first US president since Jimmy Carter to neither negotiate nor sign a free trade agreement…It’s hard to overstate how dramatic a policy shift this is for the US. For more than three decades, the pursuit of freer trade has been on the to-do list of presidents and congressmen from both political parties.” Read more from Amb. Mark A. Green in his latest blog.

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Smart Take

Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian is Inaugurated as Iran’s New President

“As we all know from the studies of revolutions that lose their fervor and become totalitarian regimes, the more they are tempted to give up and grant rights and freedoms to people, the more at risk they are that the popular opinion will be expressed against them.” -Ambassador David Hale

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Event

AGOA Civil Society and Organized Labor Forum

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a key program in US economic engagement with Africa. As part of the 2024 AGOA Forum, the Africa Program hosted discussions with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, USAID’s Dr. Monde Muyangwa, and others, focused on how US and African civil society organizations, labor unions, and small business partners can better collaborate.

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The Plastic Pipeline: Exploring Policy Options Through a “Serious Game”

In this edition of Wilson Center NOW, we speak with Jennifer Turner, Director of the Wilson Center’s China Environment Forum, and Elizabeth M H Newbury, Director of the Serious Games Initiative. They discuss The Plastic Pipeline, a new “serious game” they created together with their colleagues to raise public awareness on the plastic product lifecycle and policies that can be enacted to help stem the tide of pollution going into our oceans.

The Plastic Pipeline: Exploring Policy Options Through a “Serious Game”

Upcoming Events

African Leadership Perspectives Series: A Conversation with H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Tuesday, August 6 // 10:30-11:30 am ET

Organized Crime & Violence in Mexico: Considerations for Future Nearshoring Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Tuesday, August 6 // 3-4:00 pm ET

Arab Barometer 2024 Gender Report Launch

Wednesday, August 7 // 10-11:15 am ET

One Year Later: The Path Forward for US-ROK-Japan Trilateral Relations

Thursday, August 8 // 3:30-4:30 pm ET

Wilson in the News

Understanding the Complexity of the US-Russia Prisoner Swap That Includes Gershkovich, Whelan (CBS News)

“It is a long process. For those of us who remember the Cold War, it was a very tricky process, and it always involved transitions and exchanges that place mainly in East Germany. So, we are just waiting to see how the swap takes place.” -William Pomeranz

Threat of Wider Middle East Conflict After Haniyeh Killing in Iran (CBS News)

“Of course this is a huge embarrassment for Iran, not so much for the newly elected president, but for the Revolutionary Guard, because it happened right on Iranian soil, in the capital where Haniyeh was at an Iran residence, and within hours after he was at the swearing-in ceremony of the new president.” -Merissa Khurma

Colombia’s Petro Has a Role to Play in Venezuela’s Election Crisis (World Politics Review)

“Standing firmly on the right side of Venezuela’s political conflict would be a way for Petro to burnish his legacy, which has so far been underwhelming.” -Benjamin Gedan

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