Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios

• Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, author of Axios China

Once skeptical of America’s increasingly hostile stance toward China, the EU and its member states are adopting a cascade of new measures that bring their policies closer in line with those of the United States.

Why it matters: Beijing’s push for Europe to adopt “strategic autonomy” from the United States — in the hope the EU would maintain warmer ties with China — now looks like a moot point.

What’s happening: Last week, the European Commission unveiled a proposed ban on products made with forced labor, after intense pressure from lawmakers and human rights activists concerned about forced labor in Xinjiang.

Continue reading Europe turns on China →

Top of the Agenda Putin Escalates Russian War Efforts With New Troop Mobilization ” Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a new mobilization of troops (FT) to fight in Ukraine in a televised address today. Three hundred thousand reservists will be called up to fight, Russia’s defense minister said. Putin also hinted at his willingness to use nuclear weapons, saying Russia “will use all the means at its disposal” if its territorial integrity is threatened.  In addition, Putin voiced support for referendums that would let Russia illegally annex four occupied regions of Ukraine. The votes could happen as soon as this weekend. Yesterday, the Russian parliament increased penalties (RFE/RL) for soldiers who surrender or refuse to fight and used the words “mobilization” and “martial law” to describe the conflict in Ukraine for the first time.

Analysis “Mobilization…would radically upset the Kremlin’s careful management of the war at home. Dramatically increasing Russia’s manpower might seem a logical choice for a country with a population that is three times the size of Ukraine’s, but the war’s popularity has depended on it being far away,” the German Marshall Fund of the United States’ Liana Fix and Michael Kimmage write for Foreign Affairs.  “If the Kremlin’s annexation gambit fails to stop the fighting and support to Ukraine, the Kremlin will need to lash out to show it is serious. That means escalation that could come in different forms,” the RAND Corporation’s Dara Massicot tweets.

Continue reading Council on Foreign Relations – Daily news brief Sept. 21, 2022 →

Top of the Agenda UN General Assembly Weighs ‘Interconnected Crises’ World leaders begin their annual addresses (NYT) to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today amid what the United Nations has described (Al Jazeera) as time of “complex and interconnected crises.” This year’s session will focus on the war in Ukraine and climate change. In addition, Western governments are expected to urge Iran to commit to rejoining the 2015 nuclear deal. The leaders of China, India, Ethiopia, and Russia will not attend. U.S. President Joe Biden will speak tomorrow.  The United States, African Union, and European Union (EU) will hold a conference today to discuss food insecurity and rising prices. On Thursday, the UN Security Council is due to hold a session on the topic of Ukraine and impunity. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said last week that he doesn’t expect dialogue (NPR) between Russian and Ukrainian delegations.

Continue reading Council on Foreign Relations -Daily news brief Sept. 20, 2022 →

Top of the Agenda Biden Again Says U.S. Military Would Defend Taiwan In an interview with 60 Minutes that aired yesterday, U.S. President Joe Biden said that if China were to invade Taiwan, U.S. military forces would come to the island’s defense. It is at least the fourth time (NBC) that Biden has publicly made comments appearing to contradict the U.S. policy of “strategic ambiguity” toward Taiwan, though the White House later said U.S. policy has not changed. The long-standing policy deliberately leaves unanswered the question of whether the United States would defend the island.  China’s foreign ministry said it lodged a complaint (Reuters) with the United States. A ministry spokesperson said Beijing “will not tolerate any activities aimed at [Taiwan’s] secession.”

Continue reading Council on Foreign Relations: Daily news brief Sept. 19, 2022 →

The families of some 9/11 victims are still pursuing compensation from those complicit in the attacks – but is Sudan, already ravaged by years of US sanctions, really the right target?

the guardian – Mon 12 Sep 2022 05.00 BST

Written and read by Nesrine Malik, produced by Jessica Beck and Cheyanne Bryan. The executive producer was Danielle Stephens

This article was originally published in August 2021.

Archive: The Guardian, ITV news

• Read text version here
• Listen here

Continue reading ‘Is this justice?’: why Sudan is facing a multibillion-dollar bill for 9/11 – podcast →

Reuters

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Honour guards lower the Taiwan flag during sunset hours at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

BEIJING, Sept 15 (Reuters) – China said on Thursday that it had lodged “solemn representations” with the United States, after a U.S. Senate panel advanced legislation that would enhance U.S. military support for Taiwan.

If the bill continues to go forward, it would affect U.S.-China relations, Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said at a regular media briefing.

Continue reading China lodges complaint as U.S. Senate panel advances Taiwan bill →

Top of the Agenda EU’s Von der Leyen Proposes Energy Market Reforms to Address High CostsIn her annual state of the union address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged sweeping efforts (Politico) to reduce energy prices that have soared amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The proposed plan, which requires approval from European Union (EU) member states, includes new taxes on energy companies and “comprehensive reform” of the EU’s electricity market. Von der Leyen said she aims for the taxes on energy firms to raise $140 billion (Reuters) for European governments to disburse to citizens. She also pledged to work to ensure that Ukraine has “seamless access” to the EU’s single market. European leaders are scheduled to discuss the proposals at the end of the month.

Continue reading Council on Foreign Relations – Daily news brief Sept. 14, 2022 →

Top of the Agenda Ukrainian Forces Make Sweeping Gains in Country’s Northeast Ukraine’s military has recaptured (FT) 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 square miles) of Russia-held territories in the Kharkiv region this month following a weekend blitz. The new counteroffensive struck the military’s strongest blow to Russian forces since repelling them from Kyiv in March. Russia’s defense ministry acknowledged the losses (BBC) of several cities in the region. Kyiv warned of Russian retaliation, and Russian air strikes hit Ukraine’s second-largest thermal power plant last night. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the advances demonstrated the effect of Western military support in the war. Separately, the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was shut down (AP) yesterday to avoid the risk of a nuclear disaster.

Continue reading Council on Foreign Relations: Daily news brief Sept. 12, 2022 →

Top of the Agenda UK’s King Charles III to Address Nation as World Mourns Queen Elizabeth II The United Kingdom (UK) began a period of mourning (FT) after Queen Elizabeth II died yesterday. Preparations for her funeral have halted parts of British public life, including sports games and the Bank of England’s monetary policy meeting. Meanwhile, tributes from world leaders have poured in (The Guardian). U.S. President Joe Biden called the queen “a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons,” while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said she “personified dignity and decency in public life.”  Queen Elizabeth’s son King Charles III will address the UK today and is expected to hold an audience with Liz Truss, who became the country’s prime minister three days ago. His official accession to the throne and proclamation as a monarch are expected tomorrow.

Continue reading Council on Foreign Relations: Daily News Brief Sept. 9, 2022 →

The Conversation Global	3

Global Edition | 9 September 2022 The Conversation has published a range of content on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, from across our global academic network. A selection can be found below. In the hours and days to come we will of course carry many more articles on what her death means for the UK and the Commonwealth, and on the challenges that await King Charles III. Follow our extensive coverage here .Stephen Khan Queen Elizabeth II: the end of the ‘new Elizabethan age’ Laura Clancy, Lancaster UniversityBritain has gone through unimaginable change culturally and politically during Elizabeth’s 70-year reign.Elizabeth II: Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Sipa US/Alamy Stock Photo Continue reading Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) →

Top of the Agenda UK’s King Charles III to Address Nation as World Mourns Queen Elizabeth II The United Kingdom (UK) began a period of mourning (FT) after Queen Elizabeth II died yesterday. Preparations for her funeral have halted parts of British public life, including sports games and the Bank of England’s monetary policy meeting. Meanwhile, tributes from world leaders have poured in (The Guardian). U.S. President Joe Biden called the queen “a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons,” while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said she “personified dignity and decency in public life.”  Queen Elizabeth’s son King Charles III will address the UK today and is expected to hold an audience with Liz Truss, who became the country’s prime minister three days ago. His official accession to the throne and proclamation as a monarch are expected tomorrow.

Continue reading Council on Foreign Relations: Daily News Brief Sept. 9, 2022 →

Top of the Agenda

U.S. Officials Say Russia Seeks to Buy Weapons From North KoreaNew U.S. intelligence shows Russia is seeking to purchase artillery shells and rockets (Reuters) from North Korea, American officials said yesterday. While Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations denied the allegations, White House spokesperson John Kirby said Moscow’s inquiry shows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s desperation amid the war in Ukraine. 

UN sanctions currently bar North Korea (AP) from selling weapons to other countries. It has attempted to strengthen relations with Russia since the start of the war and also expressed interest in sending workers to rebuild Russia-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.

Analysis

“The only reason the Kremlin should have to buy artillery shells or rockets from North Korea or anyone is because Putin has been unwilling or unable to mobilize the Russian economy for war at even the most basic level,” the American Enterprise Institute’s Frederick W. Kagan tells the New York Times. 
Continue reading Council on Foreign Relations – Daily news brief Spet. 7, 2022 →

In July 2022, Iran provided the Russian military with training for using Iranian-produced weapons, including the Shahed-129 drone, displayed here at a 2019 military show in Tehran. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Published: August 30, 2022 1.20pm BST The Conversation

Author

1. Aaron PilkingtonUS Air Force Analyst of Middle East Affairs, PhD Student at Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver

Disclosure statement

Aaron Pilkington is a U.S. Air Force analyst of Middle East affairs now studying at the University of Denver, conducting research on Iranian national security strategy. He will later join the Military & Strategic Studies department at the U.S. Air Force Academy. The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force, the United States Air Force Academy, or any other organizational affiliation.

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The war in Ukraine is helping one country achieve its foreign policy and national security objectives, but it’s neither Russia nor Ukraine.

It’s Iran.

Iran is among Russia’s most vocal supporters in the war. This has little to do with Ukraine and everything to do with Iran’s long-term strategy vis-à-vis the United States.

Continue reading A winner is emerging from the war in Ukraine, but it’s not who you think →

Top of the Agenda Delayed UN Report Details China’s Human Rights Violations in XinjiangA UN human rights office report [PDF] issued yesterday said the Chinese government’s detentions of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim groups in the Xinjiang region could constitute “crimes against humanity.” The report noted (NYT) that two-thirds of former detainees interviewed described treatment “that would amount to torture and/or other forms of ill treatment.” The report stopped short of calling China’s actions “genocide,” as the United States has done.  Human rights groups have criticized UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet over a nearly yearlong delay in the report’s release. The report asks that Beijing (AP) release those who have been arbitrarily detained and disclose the whereabouts of individuals who are missing. Beijing denounced the report as a fabrication, while Uyghur activists celebrated its release.

Continue reading Council on Foreign Relations: Daily News Brief Sept. 1, 2022 →