Foreign ministers of countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) kicked off a two-day meeting in Brussels, their first in-person gathering (RFE/RL) since 2019. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed the Joe Biden administration’s commitment to revitalizing NATO (FT), which former President Donald J. Trump had lambasted. 

In a joint statement (NATO), the ministers affirmed that an attack on any member is considered an attack against the entire alliance and called actions by Russia “a threat to Euro-Atlantic security.” They did not make a decision (DW) about withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, but they did approve increasing focus on climate change. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed hope that alliance members would commit to making their militaries carbon neutral (WaPo) by 2050.

President Biden dismissed the idea (BBC) that North Korea’s launch of two short-range cruise missiles on Sunday was a provocation, saying that the Pentagon considered the move “business as usual.” It was North Korea’s first missile test since Biden took office.

This CFR Backgrounder looks at North Korea’s military capabilities.

China: Admiral John C. Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, told a Senate committee that the United States is the world’s leader in naval capabilities, but that China is gaining ground (VOA). He also said the possibility that China invades Taiwan is “much closer to us than most think.”

In this Council Special Report, CFR’s Robert D. Blackwill and the University of Virginia’s Philip Zelikow propose a strategy to prevent a war over Taiwan.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan a letter saying India wants “cordial relations” with Pakistan, news outlets reported. Dawn published a copy of the letter, which comes amid bilateral talks on water sharing (AP, Reuters). 

CFR’s Global Conflict Tracker looks at the tensions between India and Pakistan.

Myanmar: Authorities released hundreds of people (Guardian) arrested for protesting against the military junta, state-run television announced. Additionally, a court hearing for detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was postponed until April 1, her lawyer said.

With almost 90 percent of votes counted, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party leads (Haaretz) in parliamentary elections held yesterday. Still, whether he will gain enough seats to form a coalition government is unclear, raising the possibility of a fifth election. 

Egypt: A cargo ship ran aground (NYT) and blocked the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest waterways, leading to a buildup of more than one hundred vessels on each side. Authorities are working to refloat the ship and using an older part of the canal to allow traffic through.

Sudan’s transitional cabinet backed plans (Reuters) for the United Arab Emirates to mediate Sudan’s border dispute with Ethiopia, as well as a disagreement with Egypt and Ethiopia over a dam on the Blue Nile river. 

Republic of Congo: Interior Minister Raymond Zephirin Mboulou announced provisional results (Africa Report) that show President Denis Sassou-N’Guesso received nearly 90 percent of votes in Sunday’s election. Sassou-N’Guesso’s main challenger died on Sunday of COVID-19.

French President Emmanuel Macron said his country will reopen its embassy (Al Jazeera) in Tripoli next week after closing it in 2014 due to insecurity. He also pledged support for Libya’s recently installed unity government.

Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that former judge Sergio Moro exhibited bias (AFP) in his 2017 conviction of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for corruption. Lula’s convictions, part of a sweeping graft probe that ensnared officials across the region, were annulled this month.

Argentina: The country will observe a public holiday (Buenos Aires Times) to honor the victims of a military dictatorship that began forty-five years ago today and ruled until 1983. Large events are not expected because of the pandemic, but some groups plan to hold small gatherings.

Biden urged the Senate to pass legislation (NYT) banning assault weapons and closing background-check loopholes in the wake of Monday’s mass shooting at a Colorado grocery store, in which ten people were killed.