France’s Macron to Talk Ukraine, Trade Policy During White House Visit
French President Emmanuel Macron begins the first state visit (NYT) of Joe Biden’s presidency today. The leaders are expected to discuss how to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and cope with its economic consequences. Macron is also expected to raise concerns about subsidies for green industries that were introduced in the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and could incentivize European companies to relocate to the United States. European officials have criticized the subsidies (Politico), arguing that the United States needs to show solidarity with Europe as it bears the brunt of the Ukraine war’s economic impacts.
The U.S.-France relationship has been on the mend after a diplomatic feud last year sparked by a defense pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Macron will be pushing for “more transatlantic unity,” his office said.
“Despite the closeness of the relationship and overarching agreement on top global issues, Macron has not been shy about carving out his own space on the global stage—including by pursuing and maintaining backchannel communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin—and publicly disagreeing with Biden at times,” CNN’s Jeremy Diamond writes.
Pacific Rim
Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin Dies
Jiang died of leukemia and organ failure (Nikkei) at age ninety-six. He became the leader of the Chinese Communist Party in the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. As China’s president between 1993 and 2003, he oversaw the country’s entry into the World Trade Organization.
China: The country’s stockpile of nuclear warheads doubled in only two years (CNN) and now exceeds four hundred, according to a Pentagon report. The United States projected in 2020 that China would reach this mark by 2030.
Afghanistan: A bomb blast at a religious school in northern Afghanistan killed at least fifteen people (TOLOnews), a local doctor said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Middle East and North Africa
U.S. Greenlights $1 Billion Arms Sale to Qatar
The U.S. State Department approved the potential sale (MEE) of a $1 billion anti-drone system to Qatar, calling the country an important force for stability in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia: Authorities executed twenty men (WaPo) for drug convictions this month, resuming the death penalty for drug crimes after a two-year pause.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Eritrean Troops Reportedly Continue Attacks in Ethiopia Despite Truce
Ethiopia’s government signed a peace deal with rebels from the Tigray region on November 3, but troops from Eritrea, which supported the government’s forces, have continued to attack civilians in Tigray, Bloomberg reported.
CAR: Authorities in the Central African Republic (CAR) are investigating an air attack (AP) on a base used by Russian mercenaries assisting the country’s military.
Europe
U.S. Announces $53 Million Plan to Support Ukraine’s Energy Grid
The new funding will go toward rebuilding the grid, at least a quarter of which has been damaged (WaPo) by Russian strikes.
Americas
Mexico’s Top Court Approves Extension of Military’s Role in Policing
The Supreme Court’s ruling allows the military to continue law enforcement duties (AP) until 2028. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has sought to maintain the military’s policing role since 2019, when lawmakers voted that civilian police should patrol the streets instead of the army.
The legislation would ensure that the federal government recognizes same-sex marriage (Politico) even if a couple moves to a state that does not. It is expected to pass the House of Representatives.
