Prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden formally applied (FT) to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). But Turkey blocked the opening of their accession processes over their refusal to extradite people Ankara has accused of terrorism. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is “determined to work through all issues and reach a rapid conclusion.”
Moscow said nearly seven hundred Ukrainians at Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant surrendered to Russian custody (NYT) in the last twenty-four hours. If confirmed, their surrenders would solidify Russia’s control over the city. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department launched a program (Reuters) that will analyze evidence of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine. A Kyiv court will hear the first indictment of a Russian soldier accused of war crimes today.
Analysis
“Although Russian officials have threatened unspecified military and diplomatic consequences if Finland and Sweden join NATO—even raising the specter of nuclear escalation—Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has clarified that Russia would not see such a step as an existential threat but rather a prod to rebalance Russian force positioning in its western regions,” Barnard College’s Kimberly Marten writes in Foreign Affairs.
“[Ukraine’s] successes on the battlefield, combined with anger over Russian atrocities, have the Ukrainian public less willing to accept a negotiated peace that would keep a significant amount of land in Russian hands,” the New York Times’ Anton Troianovski and Valerie Hopkins write.
Europe
EU Unveils Energy Plan to Decrease Dependence on Russia
The plan includes details on how the European Union (EU) can reduce purchases of Russian gas (Bloomberg) by two-thirds this year. It would cut red tape for wind and solar farms and find alternative sources of liquefied natural gas.
Pacific Rim
Philippine President-Elect Vows to Strengthen Ties With China
After a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Philippine President-Elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he will expand relations (Reuters) with Beijing in areas including trade and cooperation on education.
China: U.S. officials investigating the March 21 crash of a passenger jet in southern China obtained data that suggests someone in the cockpit intentionally crashed the plane, unnamed sources told the Wall Street Journal.
South and Central Asia
Sri Lanka Expected to Default on Foreign Debt
A grace period for missed interest payments on Sri Lanka’s foreign debt expires today (Nikkei). Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he plans to privatize the national airline to help improve the country’s finances.
Rival Libyan Prime Minister Plans to Set Up Government in Central City
Fathi Bashagha, the prime minister elected by parliament, said he plans to establish his government (Bloomberg) in the central city of Sirte. The announcement followed a day of clashes in the capital, Tripoli, between militias loyal to Bashagha and those loyal to Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who refuses to give up the premiership.
Study: African Countries Hit Hardest by Pollution-Related Deaths
The nonprofit Pure Earth found that around nine million people have died due to environmental contamination (Reuters) per year since 2015. Seven of the ten countries with the most pollution-related deaths are in Africa.
Mali: The country’s security forces said they arrested suspects (AP) following a coup attempt against junta leader and self-declared Malian President Assimi Goita.
Americas
U.S. to Ease Some Energy Sanctions on Venezuela
The move will allow U.S. oil company Chevron to continue operations in the country and is intended to encourage stalled talks between Venezuela’s government and its opposition, CNN reported.
Mexico: The southern state of Guerrero became the eighth Mexican region to decriminalize abortion (AFP). The procedure will now be allowed in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.
