Blinken Visits Ethiopia to Shore Up Strained Ties, Voice Support for Peace |
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Ethiopia’s capital (Reuters), Addis Ababa, to support the country’s peace process and highlight the Joe Biden administration’s push to increase U.S. engagement with Africa. Blinken has met with Ethiopia’s prime minister and will next talk to ethnic Tigrayan fighters who had battled government forces until a peace deal was reached last November. U.S. criticism of alleged atrocities by the government and allied Eritrean forces have strained ties, with Addis Ababa accusing Washington of meddling in its affairs.
Ahead of the visit, Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen Hassen said he wanted to “move forward” with bilateral relations. The top U.S. diplomat to Africa, Molly Phee, said Ethiopia would need to take steps (AFP) to “break the cycle of ethnic political violence” for relations to advance. Blinken will travel to Niger tomorrow.
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“Even in the best-case scenario, in which the parties move toward lasting peace without a backward glance, the Biden administration should resist the urge to return to business as usual in its relationship with the Ethiopian government,” CFR’s Michelle Gavin writes for Foreign Affairs. “Going forward, U.S. and Ethiopian interests and objectives will align less frequently.”
“The Ethiopian government is keen on proposing a transitional justice process—on its terms. Although the world should rejoice at the prospect of transitional justice in the wake of a bloody civil war that claimed around 600,000 lives—according to Olusegun Obasanjo, Horn of Africa envoy for the African Union—Ethiopia is unfortunately unprepared to embark on this task,” Doshisha University’s Seifudein Adem and Harvard University’s Abadir M. Ibrahim write for Foreign Policy.
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U.S., Russia Clash Over Accounts of Downing of Black Sea Drone |
The Pentagon said Russian planes conducted unsafe maneuvers (WaPo) and struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone before it crashed, while Russia’s ambassador to Washington said there was no contact. The U.S. State Department has summoned him to Washington.
Sweden: Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Finland would likely join (AP) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ahead of Sweden due to Turkey’s continued opposition to Sweden’s membership. Both Finland and Sweden announced their intention to join NATO last May. This In Brief discusses how NATO will change if Finland and Sweden become members. |
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Samsung Announces Plans for Semiconductor Hub South of Seoul |
Samsung will build five semiconductor plants (Nikkei) in the city of Yongin, an investment that will amount to $230 billion over the next twenty years, according to South Korea’s government. For the Net Politics blog, Chris Miller and CFR’s David Sacks explain why semiconductors have become a major geopolitical issue.
Thailand: The cabinet approved a proposed amnesty (Bloomberg) for gun owners to turn in unregistered weapons without penalty. The measure comes after a gunman killed at least thirty-six people at a daycare center last year.
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World’s Largest Refugee Camp on Track to Receive Only Half the Funds Needed This Year |
UN and Bangladeshi officials attribute the drop in funding to donors directing money (WaPo) toward Ukraine and crises elsewhere instead of donating to the refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The camp houses some one million Rohingya refugees.
Pakistan: Police abandoned an attempt to arrest (Dawn) former Prime Minister Imran Khan after Khan’s supporters threw rocks at them.
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Middle East and North Africa |
Putin Hosts Talks Aimed at Syria-Turkey Rapprochement |
Russia is hosting envoys (Bloomberg) from Iran, Syria, and Turkey in Moscow today. The four-way talks will follow a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
This Backgrounder looks at Turkey’s growing foreign policy ambitions.
Lebanon: Bank workers resumed a strike today (AP) as Lebanon’s currency hit a new low of one hundred thousand Lebanese pounds to the U.S. dollar. The bankers oppose lawsuits that ruled in favor of depositors demanding savings that banks have been unable to provide.
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Malawi Records Nearly One Hundred Deaths in One Day From Cyclone Freddy |
The death toll from the cyclone jumped from 99 (Reuters) on Monday to 190 on Tuesday, Malawi’s government said. The toll could rise further as severe flooding hampers relief operations. |
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Honduras Announces Plans to Recognize China Instead of Taiwan |
President Xiomara Castro de Zelaya said Honduras will seek official relations (CNN) with China, a process that will sever its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Honduras is currently one of only fourteen countries that formally recognize Taiwan.
Argentina: Annual inflation in the country surpassed 100 percent (FT) last month, the highest level since Argentina emerged from a hyperinflation crisis in the 1990s.
This Backgrounder details Argentina’s long struggle for economic stability.
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Biden’s Executive Order Strengthens Gun Safety Measures |
The order seeks to strengthen background checks (NYT), improve reporting on lost and stolen guns, and bolster federal agencies’ ability to investigate gun crimes. President Biden has vowed to pass a total ban on assault weapons, but Congress has not signaled it will support one. |
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Council on Foreign Relations |
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