Daily News Brief

February 24, 2023

Top of the Agenda

For the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a new UN General Assembly resolution called for Russia to withdraw its troops (WaPo) from the country. The nonbinding resolution passed 141-7, with thirty-two countries abstaining, including China and India. China yesterday published a twelve-point position paper (NYT) for ending the war that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) chief Jens Stoltenberg criticized as lacking credibility. Ukraine’s envoy to China called the plan “a good sign,” but said Beijing was not currently supporting Kyiv in the war.

Additionally, the U.S. government announced $2 billion in new military aid (AP) for Ukraine, including ammunition and several types of drones. It also announced sanctions targeting more than two hundred individuals and entities it said have helped Moscow’s war effort.   

Analysis

“The map of Ukraine a year from now will most likely resemble nothing so much as the map as it appears today. The year ahead promises to be dismal, not decisive—more reminiscent of World War I than of World War II. It all adds up to a significant and sobering anniversary,” CFR President Richard Haass writes for Project Syndicate.

“[A] big geopolitical question posed by the war is whether the West can win the battle of international opinion. Only a third of the world’s population lives in countries that have condemned the invasion and also imposed sanctions on Russia, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, our sister organization. Most of them are close allies of America,” the Economist writes.  

Six charts break down U.S. aid to Ukraine. 

Sub-Saharan Africa

The election is seen as Nigeria’s most open, closely contested vote since the country’s return to democracy in 1999. Polls show third-party candidate Peter Obi is neck and neck (WaPo) with Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, candidates from the two major parties. 

For the Africa in Transition blog, CFR’s Michelle Gavin discusses the continental implications of Nigeria’s general elections.

France/Africa: A new French fund backed by private banks and international lenders announced it will invest over $92 million (Reuters) in solar projects across Africa.

Pacific Rim

The United States plans to deploy between one hundred and two hundred troops to Taiwan to train the island’s military, up from thirty troops a year ago, unnamed U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal.

North Korea/South Korea: Seoul said its defense ministry is analyzing U.S. and South Korean surveillance data after North Korea claimed to have test-fired four cruise missiles (AFP) yesterday. Seoul said its systems had detected something different.

South and Central Asia

The two men were sent back to Pakistan (NYT) from Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, reducing the population at the U.S. prison complex there to thirty-two.

This article looks at twenty years of counterterrorism and controversy at Guantánamo Bay.

India: Group of Twenty (G20) finance ministers and central bank chiefs gathered outside the city of Bengaluru, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged them to focus on the world’s most vulnerable citizens (Nikkei) during their two-day talks on debt relief. 

Middle East and North Africa

Organizations of settlement backers and opponents both said the government approved the homes (AP) in the occupied West Bank, appearing to contradict recent assurances of a settlement freeze. Earlier this week, the UN Security Council issued a statement condemning Israel’s settlement construction.

Syria/Brussels: The European Union temporarily adjusted its sanctions (AFP) on Syria to speed up deliveries of earthquake aid.

This article explains how this month’s quake compounds years of suffering in war-torn Syria.

Europe

Moldovan authorities called for calm (FT) after Russia said Ukraine was preparing to invade Transnistria, a Moscow-backed separatist region in Moldova. 

Americas

The indictment says thirteen high-ranking leaders of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) helped direct criminal activities (AP) in the United States, El Salvador, and Mexico in recent decades.

Argentina: Centrist Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta formally announced his candidacy (Bloomberg) in October’s presidential election.

United States

President Joe Biden praised Ajay Banga’s history (WaPo) of mobilizing public and private money. Some climate advocates have expressed disappointment over Banga’s inexperience on climate issues—outgoing World Bank head David Malpass resigned after facing criticism for his views dismissing climate change.

Friday Editor’s Pick

The Wall Street Journal looks at corruption and other domestic challenges facing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy while he leads a country at war.

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