Naftali Bennett became the first Israeli prime minister to pay an official visit (Times of Israel) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). After meeting with Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, Bennett said Israel-UAE relations have “strengthened in all fields” (Al Jazeera) following last year’s normalization of ties.
 
The meeting was set to focus on addressing threats posed by Iran, as well as boosting economic ties. Israel has been pushing world powers not to make concessions (Bloomberg) in ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, while the UAE has aimed to strengthen business relations in the region in an effort to cool tensions. A top Emirati official met with Iran’s president last week.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Indonesia (Nikkei) for a trip focused on strengthening U.S. ties in the Indo-Pacific region. He will also visit Malaysia and Thailand.
 
South Korea: The country’s finance minister said South Korea started the process (Yonhap) of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade pact for Pacific-Rim countries.
 
This Backgrounder explores what’s in store for the CPTPP.

The National Unity Government, established in the wake of Myanmar’s military coup, recognized the cryptocurrency Tether (Bloomberg) as part of fundraising efforts. The country’s central bank declared cryptocurrencies illegal last year.
 
Afghanistan: Donors to the World Bank–administered Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, which was frozen after the Taliban’s takeover in August, agreed to transfer (Reuters) a combined $280 million to the World Food Program and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support food security and health care in Afghanistan.

The UN-backed effort to hold the election on December 24 could be in jeopardy (Guardian) due to the delay.

Interim President Assimi Goita made the pledge (AFP) to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The bloc suspended Mali’s membership after a coup in May and has threatened additional sanctions if elections are not held in February.
 
Ethiopia: Tigrayan rebels reportedly recaptured (AFP) the town of Lalibela, home to a UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site, less than two weeks after federal government forces said they seized it.

Foreign ministers from Group of Seven (G7) countries and the European Union’s foreign affairs chief issued a joint statement (AP) urging de-escalation after they met yesterday.
 
For Foreign Affairs, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba argues that the West needs a strong response to Russia.
 
France: In a referendum, the South Pacific island of New Caledonia rejected a proposal (NYT) for independence from France. Most of the pro-independence bloc boycotted the vote.

Writing to U.S. senators, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said that if the United States goes ahead with a proposed tax credit for U.S.-built electric vehicles (EVs), Canada could suspend (CBC) parts of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.
 
Haiti: President Jovenel Moise was investigating officials with possible links to the drug trade before he was killed in July, Moise’s wife told the New York Times.
 
CFR’s Paul J. Angelo discusses Moise’s assassination.

U.S. President Joe Biden also asked the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate (Guardian) how climate change could have played a role in the disaster.