Political in this week

Diplomatic Shifts and Global Tensions

The United States has initiated its first direct discussions with Russia regarding a potential resolution to the war in Ukraine. The meeting in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, brought together U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. However, Ukraine and the European Union were notably absent from the talks. The U.S. State Department described the meeting as laying "the groundwork for future cooperation." Former President Donald Trump’s push for rapprochement with Russia has unsettled European allies. An emergency summit in Paris exposed divisions among European leaders on the best course of action. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer proposed deploying British troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force.

U.S.-Ukraine Relations Worsen

Tensions between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have escalated. Trump controversially blamed Ukraine for initiating the war, prompting Zelensky to respond, "I would like to have more truth with the Trump team." The U.S. president then escalated rhetoric, labeling Zelensky a dictator and urging him to hold elections.

Strains in the Transatlantic Alliance

At the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a pointed critique of European policies, accusing the continent of suppressing free speech, enabling mass immigration, and silencing right-wing voices. The speech exacerbated divisions between the U.S. and its European allies.

Meanwhile, Germany is set to hold national elections on February 23rd, with polls favoring the Christian Democrats. However, forming a governing coalition could take months. Immigration remains a contentious issue, especially following violent incidents in Munich and Austria. In Germany, an Afghan asylum-seeker killed a mother and her daughter in a car attack near the Munich conference site. In Austria, a Syrian asylum-seeker fatally stabbed a 14-year-old boy.

Vatican and Middle East Developments

Pope Francis has been hospitalized with double pneumonia. The Vatican canceled all engagements for the 88-year-old pontiff, describing his condition as "complex."

In the Middle East, Israeli forces withdrew from most of southern Lebanon but remained in five strategic locations, drawing condemnation from the Lebanese government for allegedly violating a ceasefire agreement reached in November. Israel maintains that it will not withdraw entirely until the Lebanese army assumes control over areas currently dominated by Hezbollah.

In Gaza, more Israeli hostages have been released under a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The militant group also returned the bodies of four Israelis, including siblings who were just four years and nine months old when they were abducted.

Rising Global Conflicts and Political Unrest

In Iran, authorities have detained two British nationals on charges of espionage. The couple, who had been on a global motorbike tour, were arrested in January, but details of their detention were only recently made public. Iranian officials accused them of "gathering information in multiple provinces under the guise of tourism."

The situation in eastern Congo continues to deteriorate. Three weeks after seizing Goma, the M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda, has captured Bukavu, the region’s second-largest city. The Congolese army offered little resistance. With the government in Kinshasa, located 1,500km (930 miles) away, losing control of the region, the possibility of a full-scale war looms large.

In South Africa, the government of national unity postponed its budget presentation, originally scheduled for release last week, following disputes over proposed tax hikes. The rescheduled date is March 12th, marking the first such delay since the end of apartheid in 1994. The postponement underscores the growing tensions between the ruling African National Congress and its coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance.

Political Upheaval in the Americas

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has initiated discussions with political leaders on whether to remove Eric Adams as mayor of New York City. The Department of Justice recently directed federal prosecutors in New York to drop corruption charges against Adams in what appears to be a political quid pro quo for his support of Trump’s immigration policies. Adams has denied any wrongdoing, but the controversy has prompted multiple resignations among city prosecutors and officials. No New York City mayor has ever been removed by a governor.

Trump’s administration also moved to overturn New York City’s congestion-pricing program, which began on January 5th. The policy imposes a $9 fee on most drivers entering Manhattan’s central business district. Trump declared on social media, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” Despite this, data shows the program has successfully reduced traffic, shortened travel times, and increased public transit use.

The Trump administration further intensified its stance against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The Education Department issued a directive prohibiting schools from considering race in hiring, scholarships, or student policies, emphasizing that "educational institutions may neither separate nor segregate students based on race."

Asia and Africa: Legal and Political Turmoil

In South Korea, disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court to face insurrection charges related to his brief imposition of martial law in December. His legal team has petitioned for his release from detention. Meanwhile, Yoon’s impeachment trial is proceeding in the Constitutional Court, with a decision expected soon.

Mauritius’ former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has been arrested on money-laundering charges following his electoral defeat last November. Jugnauth was instrumental in negotiating a controversial deal with Britain last October, transferring control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The islands are home to a strategically significant military base in the Indian Ocean. Jugnauth denies all allegations.

Latin American and Canadian Political Shifts

In Brazil, Attorney General Jorge Messias has formally charged former President Jair Bolsonaro and 33 others with attempting to stage a coup in 2022 following Bolsonaro’s electoral defeat. Shortly after, Trump’s media company filed a lawsuit against a Brazilian Supreme Court judge, Alexandre de Moraes, alleging censorship. De Moraes is set to rule on whether Bolsonaro, a staunch Trump ally, will face imprisonment.

Argentina’s President Javier Milei is facing legal challenges, including fraud accusations and possible impeachment, after promoting a controversial cryptocurrency, $LIBRA. The token's value initially soared as Milei’s supporters invested heavily but later crashed amid allegations of insider trading. Meanwhile, Milei traveled to Washington to negotiate a loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In Canada, a new poll by the Angus Reid Institute suggests that if Mark Carney wins the Liberal Party leadership race, he could significantly narrow the gap with the Conservative Party. Carney, a former governor of the central banks of both Canada and Britain, is polling neck and neck with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on economic issues. However, the same poll indicates that the Liberals would perform worse under Chrystia Freeland, a former finance minister.

Conclusion

As global tensions rise, from U.S.-Russia negotiations to unrest in Africa and political turmoil across the Americas, the international landscape remains volatile. Shifts in leadership, policy, and alliances continue to shape an unpredictable geopolitical future.