Harris, Trump Spar Over Ukraine, Tariffs, and Immigration in Presidential Debate |
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump expressed their differences on foreign policy issues in last night’s presidential debate, the first since Harris became the Democratic nominee in November’s election. Trump pledged to “get the war settled” in Ukraine before taking office, but did not respond to the ABC moderator’s question of whether he would back a Ukrainian victory. Harris defended U.S. efforts to support Ukraine standing “as an independent and free country.” Trump reiterated his commitment to new tariffs on China and other countries, while denying that these costs would be passed onto consumers. Harris spoke against this, even as her administration has retained Trump-era tariffs on China. Trump affirmed his plan to carry out mass deportations of undocumented people to counter what he called a national security threat, while Harris highlighted her work on a bipartisan border security bill that Trump did not support.
Both candidates emphasized the need for energy security and U.S. leadership to be respected in the world, though each sharply criticized the other’s effect on U.S. stature abroad. Trump touted his relationship with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, while Harris cited her commitment to U.S. alliances, especially the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Both candidates said they strongly supported Israel, though Harris said she also wants a two-state solution with dignity for the Palestinians while Trump said he would get the war in the Middle East “settled, and fast.” Neither provided details on how to achieve those outcomes. The latest opinion polling indicates the race for the Oval Office could be a neck-and-neck competition between the two. (FP, ABC, NYT)
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U.S. Advances Bill That Could Remove Hong Kong Economic Offices |
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday that could remove the Hong Kong economic and trade offices in Washington, New York, and San Francisco if Hong Kong is not operating with a “high degree of autonomy” from China. Hong Kong’s government said it “strongly condemned” the move, which soared through the vote by 413–3. (Reuters)
This Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland and CFR’s Clara Fong looks at Hong Kong’s dwindling power against China.
Thailand: Just days after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took office, political activists and rivals have filed around a dozen complaints seeking her disqualification. Their claims against her ethics underscore Shinawatra’s governance challenges ahead, especially as Thailand rebounds from political upheaval of its previous leader over ethics violations. (Bloomberg)
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Red Cross Negotiates With Myanmar’s Warring Parties Over Potential Aid Corridor
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The International Committee of the Red Cross’s leader said it is in negotiations with the country’s military, rebels, and neighboring countries about opening a humanitarian corridor into the country. About a third of Myanmar’s 55 million people are in need of aid in the country’s conflict that has been raging since 2021. (Reuters)
India: Authorities in the region of Manipur revoked internet services for five days starting yesterday and imposed an indefinite curfew following student protests that called for a local leadership change in response to ethnic violence. (Reuters) |
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Middle East and North Africa |
Iran’s New President Begins Multi-Day Trip to Iraq |
On Masoud Pezeshkian’s first foreign trip as Iran’s president today, he pledged to deepen ties with Iraq as part of efforts to reduce Iran’s international isolation. Trade between the countries has nearly doubled since last year; Iraq is Iran’s second-largest trade partner behind China. (NYT, AFP)
This Expert Brief by CFR Senior Fellow Ray Takeyh considers what change will come from Iran’s new “reformist” president.
U.S./Israel/Palestinian territories: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for “fundamental changes” in the way Israeli forces operate in the West Bank after Israel said it was “highly likely” that its forces had “unintentionally” shot and killed an American in the West Bank. Blinken’s full remarks, made at a London press conference, were some of his most stern criticisms yet of Israeli actions in the area; Israel’s military is investigating the incident. (WaPo)
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Reuters: Veteran Wagner Fighters Were Among Those Killed in Mali in July |
Mali rebels are believed to have killed dozens of fighters from Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group in a July ambush. Among them were two former Russian veterans who had served in Libya, Syria, and Ukraine, Reuters reported. Multiple men had survived the siege of Bakhmut in Ukraine. Mali’s defeat of such experienced fighters reveals setbacks Russia is facing in its push in Africa. (Reuters)
This Backgrounder by CFR’s Mariel Ferragamo disentangles Moscow’s aims in African countries.
Kenya: Protests today by Nairobi airport workers opposing Indian firm Adani’s potential takeover led to flights being grounded and passengers stranded at the airport. On Monday, Kenya’s high court temporarily halted the takeover pending a ruling on a lawsuit that claims it would hurt local jobs. (AP, Bloomberg)
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U.S., Allies Announce Sanctions on Tehran For Sending Missiles to Russia |
The United States unveiled new sanctions on Iran’s main airline and France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (UK) said they would cancel air services to and from Iran. The countries said the actions were a response to Tehran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Moscow for use in Ukraine. (CNN)
U.S./UK/Ukraine: Secretary Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy are due to discuss Ukrainian requests to use long-range missiles from their countries to hit targets inside Russia on a visit to Kyiv today. Blinken said he would hear Ukraine’s “objectives and what we can do to support those needs.” Moscow said yesterday it would respond “appropriately” if Washington allowed such missile strike capabilities. (BBC)
On this episode of The President’s Inbox podcast, CFR expert Liana Fix details Ukraine’s latest counteroffensive push in Russia’s Kursk.
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Mexico’s Full Legislature Passes Controversial Judicial Overhaul Amid Demonstrations |
The Mexican Senate approved an overhaul of the country’s court system early today, sparking demonstrations that burst into the country’s legislative building as the senators were deliberating. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar has called the reform, which would see direct election of judges, “a major risk to the functioning of Mexico’s democracy.” (WaPo)
Nicaragua: The government announced it is stripping the citizenship and seizing the property of 135 political prisoners who were released to Guatemala last week as part of a deal brokered by the United States. Nicaragua has rescinded citizenship for 451 people since the beginning of 2023, the AFP reported. (AFP)
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Council on Foreign Relations |
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