Biden to Talk North Korea, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework on Asia Trip

U.S. President Joe Biden sets off today (AP) to visit South Korea and Japan. In Seoul, he and new South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will discuss issues including North Korea’s nuclear tests. In Tokyo, Biden is set to announce details of an economic initiative for the Indo-Pacific region and meet with leaders of countries in the so-called Quad.

The economic framework is designed to strengthen U.S. influence (Nikkei) in the Indo-Pacific by boosting cooperation on issues such as supply-chain resilience and labor standards. Countries including Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Singapore expressed interest in joining, while Vietnam and other countries in the region have called for more clarity on the plan.

Analysis

“You’re seeing a lot of the countries in the region say to [the United States], ‘If you want in the game in geopolitics in Asia, it’s great that you bring hard power, and your security relationships are fundamental to peace and stability, but we also need you in the trade game,’” CFR’s Sheila A. Smith says on The President’s Inbox podcast.

“If the United States can prioritize economic statecraft oriented toward stability and peace, help Asian economies reduce inequality and adapt to climate change, and give up its effort to sustain a hegemony it no longer has, it will help Asia create a stability that is not only greater, but better and more just,” Victoria University of Wellington’s Van Jackson writes for Foreign Policy.

For Foreign Affairs, the German Marshall Fund of the United States’ Kristi Govella and Bonnie S. Glaser discuss how Biden’s trip could help improve Japan-South Korea relations.

Pacific Rim

China Reportedly Seeks Russian Oil for Strategic Reserves

Beijing and Moscow have held talks about replenishing China’s strategic oil reserves with supplies from Russia, unidentified sources told Bloomberg.

South and Central Asia

Pakistani Army, Militant Group Extend Cease-Fire

The Afghan Taliban brokered talks (PTI) between Pakistan’s army and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. The two sides will maintain their cease-fire until at least May 30.

India: At least half a million people were affected (Hindustan Times) and nearly fifty thousand were displaced by flooding in Assam State.

Middle East and North Africa

Amnesty International Accuses Qatar of Human Rights Violations Linked to World Cup

The human rights organization called for Qatar to spend $440 million (Reuters) to compensate migrant workers for alleged labor violations, including withholding salaries, during preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. That amount is equal to the World Cup prize money.

This Backgrounder unpacks the kafala migrant labor system used by Qatar and several other countries.

Israel: Lawmaker Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi resigned (Haaretz) from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s coalition over objections to its hard-line positions on relations with Arabs. The move leaves the coalition with only 59 out of 120 seats in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Mozambique Declares Polio Outbreak

After polio paralyzed a child in Mozambique’s northeast, authorities in the country, as well as in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, are increasing disease surveillance (AP).

Equatorial Guinea/Saudi Arabia: Saudi energy firm Aramco sold its first shipment (Bloomberg) of West African crude oil, assigning a million-barrel shipment of crude from Equatorial Guinea to Exxon Mobil. Aramco has started selling oil from the region as buyers seek replacements for Russian oil.

Europe

U.S., Development Banks Announce Plans for Relief From Global Food Crisis

The U.S. government and banks such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank will spend tens of billions of dollars (AP) to address the global fertilizer supply crisis and develop additional land for food production amid disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine.

This In Brief discusses how the war has amplified food insecurity in the Middle East.

U.S./Ukraine: The U.S. Senate confirmed Bridget Brink (WaPo) as the new U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, and the United States reopened its embassy in Kyiv.

Americas

U.S. First Lady Begins Latin America Tour

First Lady Jill Biden is visiting (WaPo) Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama to encourage countries to attend next month’s Summit of the Americas, a meeting of Western Hemisphere leaders that the United States will host in Los Angeles.

U.S./Mexico: The United States asked for an investigation (Reuters) into whether workers at a Panasonic plant in Mexico were denied collective bargaining rights.

United States

Biden Invokes Defense Production Act Over Baby Formula Shortage

Biden directed suppliers (Axios) to prioritize sending resources to formula factories and ordered government agencies to facilitate overseas purchases in response to a nationwide formula shortage, which is expected to last months.

This In Brief explains the Defense Production Act.

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