FOCUS
Scrivono Valerie Insinna e Aaron Mehta per Breaking Defense: The Defense Department is updating its guidance on autonomous weapons to consider advances in artificial intelligence, with a revised directive slated for release later this year, the head of the Pentagon’s emerging capabilities policy office told Breaking Defense in an exclusive interview. Updated autonomous weapons rules coming for the Pentagon: Exclusive details
DIGITAL & TECH
- May 27, 2022. By Global Times. China will champion the overseas expansion of domestic big data firms while supporting the setup of big data research and development (R&D) centers by multinationals in the country, the minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Xiao Yaqing, said on Thursday at the opening of an annual big data expo in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China’s Guizhou Province. China to champion multinationals’ setup of domestic big data R&D centers
- May 26, 2022. By Alex Engler, Brookings. Earlier this month, in a critical step toward fighting algorithmic harms, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released technical guidance on how algorithmic hiring tools can be discriminatory against people with disabilities. The EEOC guidance is reasoned and well attuned in its underlying goal to meaningfully improve the market of artificial intelligence hiring software for people with disabilities, and other federal agencies should take notes. The EEOC wants to make AI hiring fairer for people with disabilities
AROUND THE WORLD
Africa
- May 26, 2022. By UN News. African countries are at the vanguard of a vital transformation of food systems to simultaneously address food security, nutrition, social and environmental protection – all while boosting resilience – said the UN chief on Thursday. African nations leading the way on ‘food systems transformation’: Guterres
Australia
- May 26, 2022. By Donna Weeks, The Interpreter. The staff at the neighbourhood convenience store here in Tokyo are always amused when I drop by to pick up four or five papers in the morning. That I have done it twice this week has led to some laughs at the cash register. Monday was to look at the reporting of the Australian election result, reading up knowing that the new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong were on the plane to Japan for their first significant international meeting, the “Quad” talks. That second batch of papers I bought on Wednesday, the day after the summit, offered up comprehensive coverage, and plenty of images of the four men, leaders of Australia, Japan, India and the United States, each looking quite relaxed in one other’s company. Albanese steps cautiously through the Quad wrangle
Australia – Pacific Island Region
- May 27, 2022. By Jessica Collins, The Interpreter. Penny Wong, Australia’s new Foreign Minister, has quickly headed to the Pacific Island region inside her first week in the role. Wong’s intentions appear twofold: a counterbalance to the eight-nation tour of the Pacific by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also occurring this week, and to prove to the region – from the outset – that the relationships with Pacific Island leaders are a priority for the Labor government. As she put it in a speech on Thursday in Suva, “we will work with you to make our Pacific Family even stronger”. Labor’s Pacific plan: ticking the economic box
Canada – Indo-Pacific
- May 27, 2022. By Stephen Nagy, The Strategist. On 3 May last year, Canada and Japan signed a joint vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. More recently, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and Defence Minister Anita Anand received mandate letters to develop a Canadian Indo-Pacific Strategy, or IPS. A Canadian Indo-Pacific strategy must link aspiration to pragmatism
China – Kiribati
- May 27, 2022. By Hu Yuwei and Bai Yunyi, Global Times. Kiribati sees China as an understanding, true and trusted friend, not a destabilizer in the Pacific as some have claimed, Ambassador of Kiribati to China David Teaabo (Teaabo) told the Global Times (GT) in an exclusive interview on Friday, the same day that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi embarks on his first official visit to Kiribati since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties in 2019. Kiribati to ink 10 MOUs with China – a true, trusted friend to South Pacific countries: ambassador
China – Solomon Islands
- May 27, 2022. By Global Times. China and the Solomon Islands have reached eight-point consensus including jointly cementing the bilateral political foundation and building the Belt and Road Initiative following productive communication to deepen bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. China and Solomon Islands reach consensuses in deepening bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation: Wang Yi
Europe – Indo-Pacific
- May 27, 2022. By David Camroux, East Asia Forum. Within two months of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has inadvertently achieved more for promoting European unity than the past two decades of efforts by EU leaders. The invasion has brought the fight between the ‘free world’ and authoritarianism to the fore, creating impetus for Europe’s Indo–Pacific pivot. Europe’s Indo-Pacific pivot
India – Singapore
- May 27, 2022. By Antara Chakraborthy, Pravin Prakash, The Interpreter. Singapore recently banned the controversial Indian film, The Kashmir Files, for its “provocative and one-sided portrayal” of Muslims, citing concerns over its “potential to cause enmity between different communities”. In India, however, the movie has won praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Hindu nationalist leaders and organisations. Critics have panned the film for blatant Islamophobia and a biased portrayal of history, with themes that align with the Hindu nationalist agenda of the country’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A tale of two countries: interpreting The Kashmir Files
Indo-Pacific – BIMSTEC
- May 26, 2022. By Nazia Hussain, East Asia Forum. After a two-year COVID-19 induced delay, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) concluded its fifth summit on 30 March 2022. The grouping — comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand — has gained renewed interest in recent years. Changing geopolitical realities make the strategic geography of the Bay of Bengal crucial to the wider concept of the Indo-Pacific. BIMSTEC searches for a bigger role in the Indo-Pacific
Israel – Palestine
- May 26, 2022. By UN News. Israelis and Palestinians must push beyond the paradigm of managing the conflict and move towards resolving it, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council on Thursday, as he expressed particular concern that dynamics in the occupied West Bank could spiral out of control “at any time”. Resolve the conflict, don’t just manage it, top envoy tells Israelis, Palestinians
Israel – Syria
- May 26, 2022. By Frederic C. Hof, Atlantic Council. In the summer and fall of 2010, American mediation aiming for peace between Israel and Syria was gaining momentum. Both sides had agreed that the United States could table a draft treaty and shuttle the text between Damascus and Jerusalem for comments and proposed revisions. I almost negotiated Israel-Syria peace. Here’s how it happened
Libya
- May 26, 2022. By UN News. Despite UN efforts, political, economic and security deadlock continues in Libya, the UN political affairs chief told the Security Council on Thursday, adding that human rights there have also deteriorated. ‘Protracted political impasse’ further polarizing Libya
Russia – Ukraine (on the ground, impact)
- May 27, 2022. By Melissa Conley Tyler, The Interpreter. This week I was in Warsaw listening to experts on regional strategy and security. It was clear that Poland sees itself as Ukraine’s champion. Beyond the immediate emergency response following Russia’s invasion, Poland is acting as Ukraine’s advocate in building support both across NATO and EU member states and, crucially, through its relationship with the United States. Ukraine: The view from Warsaw
- May 26, 2022. By Robert Wihtol, The Strategist. In the three months since its tanks rolled into Ukraine, Russia has caused massive death and destruction and triggered a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions. It has razed urban infrastructure and housing, laid waste to industrial facilities, impaired agricultural production and exports, and seriously damaged Ukraine’s transport and energy infrastructure. Making Russia pay to rebuild Ukraine won’t be easy
- May 26, 2022. By Scott R. Anderson, Chimène Keitner, Lawfare. As Russia’s unlawful war of aggression continues to inflict untold devastation on Ukraine and its people, policymakers have begun to search for ways to support Ukraine’s beleaguered economy and fund its eventual reconstruction. Their attention has increasingly turned to the billions of dollars in assets that countries have frozen as part of the unprecedented array of sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies. The largest tranche of these frozen Russia-related assets—estimated at almost $300 billion—consists of foreign exchange reserves owned by Russia’s central bank, including at least $38 billion in the United States. Substantial assets also belong to other Russian government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and private corporations and individuals that have been sanctioned as a result of Russia’s actions. The Legal Challenges Presented by Seizing Frozen Russian Assets
- May 26, 2022. By Gregory C. Allen, CSIS. In March, WIRED ran a story with the headline “Russia’s Killer Drone in Ukraine Raises Fears About AI in Warfare,” with the subtitle, “The maker of the lethal drone claims that it can identify targets using artificial intelligence.” The story focused on the KUB-BLA, a small kamikaze drone aircraft that smashes itself into enemy targets and detonates an onboard explosive. The KUB-BLA is made by ZALA Aero, a subsidiary of the Russian weapons manufacturer Kalashnikov (best known as the maker of the AK-47), which itself is partly owned by Rostec, a part of Russia’s government-owned defense-industrial complex. Russia Probably Has Not Used AI-Enabled Weapons in Ukraine, but That Could Change
- May 26, 2022. By Emanuele Scimia, The Jamestown Foundation. Russian journalists, pundits and government officials who support the Kremlin’s aggressive war against Ukraine are regular guests on Italy’s political talk shows. To justify their presence, Italian television hosts usually say they want to give people a different point of view on the conflict (Secolo d’Italia, May 26). But the country’s intelligence agencies and the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (COPASIR) think otherwise. They suspect the on-air participation of Russian public figures is directly linked to Moscow’s campaign of disinformation to influence public opinion abroad (Open, May 13). In this respect, the Russian guests on Italian TV are a “soft” alternative to the traditional job of spies and intelligence agents. Growing Scrutiny of Russian ‘Infowars’ in Italy
- May 26, 2022. By Andrii Ryzhenko, The Jamestown Foundation. From the beginning of the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war, the Russian Black Sea Fleet moved in to block or occupy all of Ukraine’s ports on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov (see EDM, April 6). In the first days of the massive re-invasion, Russian warships attacked several international civilian vessels entering or exiting Ukrainian seaports. On February 24, the opening day of the Kremlin’s so-called “special military operation” against Ukraine, a vessel belonging to the Turkish company YA-SA Shipping was bombed by Russian aircraft on its way from Odesa, 50 miles from the coast. The following day, Namura Queen, a ship operating under the Panamanian flag, was attacked by a Russian anti-ship missile on its approach to the port of Pivdenniy, where it was going to be loaded up with Ukrainian grain for export. Around the same time and nearby, the Moldovan-flagged Millennial Spirit was also hit and damaged, and several sailors onboard suffered injuries (Izbirkom.org.ua, February 25). Missiles and Escorts: Unblocking Ukraine’s Ports on the Black Sea
- May 26, 2022. By Paul Globe, The Jamestown Foundation. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov announced, on May 20, that Moscow is revising its naval doctrine and will be calling for a dramatic expansion in the use of the country’s civilian fleet to support Russian military actions abroad in wartime situations (Interfax, Profil, May 20). Like other states, Russia has long planned to use commercial vessels for military purposes, but Borisov’s announcement suggests Russian military planners have concluded that the only way to overcome current problems in the navy—the Military-Maritime Fleet (Voyenno-Morskoy Flot—VMF)—is to ensure that all Russian-flagged vessels, regardless of their ostensible purposes, are available for military tasks in the event of war. Clearly, this decision stems from the Russian VMF’s long-running difficulties in supporting the Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine (see EDM, April 25, 2019). Moscow to Expand Use of Russia’s Commercial Fleet for Military Purposes
- May 26, 2022. By Tara Copp, Defense One. There’s no way to verify that 29,600 Russian troops have died in the invasion, as Ukraine’s defense ministry claimed on Thursday, but what is known is that Russia is calling for more volunteers and raising the upper age limit of enlistees. Has Ukraine Broken the Russian Military?
- May 26, 2022. By Jacqueline Feldscher, Defense One. European leaders are preaching a measure of self-reliance after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine revealed how the global trade architecture can leave countries reliant on bad actors or unstable regions. World Leaders Tout Self-Reliance Amid Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
- May 26, 2022. By Kirsten Fontenrose, Defense One. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exposed several truths about its foreign policy, while the poor performance of its military has revealed facts about its defense policy. Both suggest that Gulf countries that have been seeking closer ties to Moscow as a hedge against a declining American commitment to the region are likely wasting their time. What Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Means for the Middle East
- May 26, 2022. By Atlantic Council. Relying on help from its allies and partners, Ukraine has proven itself remarkably resilient as Russia’s war enters its fourth month. But short-term military assistance is one matter—and long-term political backing is entirely another. With Kyiv holding off the Kremlin’s troops on the battlefield, the focus is increasingly falling on its bid for European Union (EU) candidacy, submitted just days after Russia’s invasion began. From May 30 to 31, a special meeting of the European Council will focus on issues related to the war, followed by a summit next month during which EU member states are expected to discuss Kyiv’s potential membership in the bloc. The buzz in Europe’s halls of power about Ukraine’s EU bid
- May 26, 2022. By Charles Lichfield, Atlantic Council. As the Russian ruble began its recovery in March from a sanctions-induced collapse following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, Western governments began arguing that the exchange rate shouldn’t be used as an indicator of the effectiveness of their sanctions. The Russian financial system may have withstood the initial shock—but a fall in gross domestic product (GDP) and crippling input shortages, they claimed, would force Moscow to eventually de-escalate as the war entered a grinding phase. Don’t ignore the exchange rate: How a strong ruble can shield Russia
- May 26, 2022. By Mathew Burrows and Robert A. Manning, Atlantic Council. It’s the war that was both eminently predictable and roundly unpredicted. If ever there has been a conflict that underscored the urgent need in the policy world for strategic foresight, it’s the one currently raging in Ukraine. For months our foresight experts have been projecting how the war could break out and, once it did, how it could unfold next. In this latest installment, Mathew Burrows and Robert Manning revisit their April forecasts in light of the conflict’s trajectory ever since. Three possible futures for a frozen conflict in Ukraine
- May 26, 2022. By Kaushik Deb, Abhi Rajendran, Columbia SIPA. Many countries have condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and have sought to impose sanctions against the country. Increasingly, these sanctions are targeting Russia’s revenue-producing energy sector. The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada are the only countries that have announced sanctions against Russian oil imports,[1] while Germany said it plans to eliminate such imports this year.[2] Although the European Union has not yet collectively included oil in its sanctions list (which includes coal), it has announced plans to reduce its reliance on Russian oil and gas.[3] The REPowerEU plan focuses on diversifying the European Union’s natural gas import portfolio, but no targets have been set for how much Russian oil to ban and by when. How Sanctions on Russian Crude Oil Could Impact Market Share for Major Regional Suppliers
- May 26, 2022. By Karolina Hird, Mason Clark, and George Barros, ISW. Russian forces have made steady, incremental gains in heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine in the past several days, though Ukrainian defenses remain effective overall.Deputy Ukrainian Defense Minister Hanna Malyar stated that the fighting is currently at its “maximum intensity” compared to previous Russian assaults and will likely continue to escalate.[1] Spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Oleksandr Motuzyanyk characterized Russian gains as “temporary success” and stated that Ukrainian forces are using a maneuver defense to put pressure on Russian advances in key areas.[2] Russian forces have now taken control of over 95% of Luhansk Oblast and will likely continue efforts to complete the capture of Severodonetsk in the coming days.[3] Russian forces have made several gains in the past week, but their offensive operations remain slow. Russian forces are heavily degraded and will struggle to replace further losses. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 26
Syria
- May 27, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. A “Safe-zone” for a million Syrian refugees to return to. That’s the plan Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan has promised to implement, only a year before the next Turkish general elections. In fact, and as the presence of more than 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey continues to cause controversy in the country, the promise of returning them safely to Syria is quite successful among the general public, especially since it would also push Kurdish groups 30 km away from the borders. Erdogan’s plan, however, requires the establishment of a safe zone with international guarantees. Recap: Regime and Kurds Threatened by Turkish “Safe Zone” Schemes
- May 27, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. Residents of a town in the eastern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria, found on Thursday the corpse of a militant of the National Defence Forces (NDF). Member of Pro-government Militia Found Dead in Deir-ez-Zor
- May 27, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, has affirmed that the U.S. occupation forces are plundering Syria’s natural and agricultural resources while working to prevent stability there. Moscow Says U.S. Plunders Syria’s Resources, Prevents Stability
- May 27, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. Syria’s permanent delegation to the United Nations confirmed that the investigations of the U.S. Department of Defense regarding the massacre committed by the American occupation forces against civilians in the village of Baghouz in the countryside of Deir-ez-Zor on March 18th, 2019 are biased and represent a clear attempt to exonerate these forces and absolve them of their direct responsibility for the killing of innocent people, under the pretext of fighting ISIS. Syria’s Permanent Delegation to UN: Results of American Investigations into Baghouz Massacre Biased and Misleading
- May 27, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. Exceptions to the Caesar Act sanctions, which were recently granted by President Joe Biden’s administration to opposition-controlled areas and the SDF, have faced numerous criticisms. Some Syrian critics said that the U.S. decision has enshrined “coercion” in a predominantly Arab region, amid fears that the move could divide Syria. U.S. Diplomacy to Syria TV: Sanctions Exceptions do not Support Territorial Autonomy
- May 27, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. A senior Pentagon official revealed that Russian forces began to gradually withdraw their troops from various parts of Syria — specifically from the Hemeimeem air base southeast of Lattakia. The forces withdrawn include thousands of infantry, aviation, and engineering units. Pentagon: Russia Gradually Withdraws from Syria
- May 27, 2022. By The Syrian Observer. Observers have downplayed the possibility that the Turkish regime will resort to imposing what it calls a “safe zone” within the Syrian border at a depth of 30 kilometres, as its president Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested a few days ago. This skepticism is due to the lack of appropriate regional and international conditions for the plan. They expected the Turkish army to carry out a limited-scale and rolling military operation if any decision is made. Al-Watan Observers: Potential Turkish Aggression is Limited, Goals far from Being Achieved
Tunisia
- May 26, 2022. By Sharan Grewal, Brookings. The next two months in Tunisia will be critical for determining whether President Kais Saied consolidates power, or yields to a renewed democracy. On July 25, 2022, on the one-year anniversary of Saied’s presidential coup, Tunisia will hold a referendum on a still-to-be-drafted new constitution that Saied is hailing will inaugurate a “new republic.” If that constitution enshrines the near-absolute powers Saied has enjoyed over the past year, Tunisian democracy as we know it will be over. Avoiding that fate will require not just ramping up domestic and international pressure on Saied, but also providing him an off-ramp. Restoring Tunisia’s democracy requires pressure — and an off-ramp for Kais Saied
USA
- May 26, 2022. By Elaine Kamarck, Brookings. Americans don’t agree about much these days, but most agree that their democracy is in danger. What most concerns us is not outright failure—after all we had an election in 2020, the votes were counted, the military did not intervene in the election, and the duly-elected winner is in the White House. What prompted the concern about our democracy was the stunningly rapid deterioration in democratic norms that began with Donald Trump’s candidacy, stretched into his presidency, reached a crescendo with his fight to stay in office after the 2020 election, and continues today as he and his supporters sow division, disinformation, and distrust. Four ways to save democracy from Trumpery
USA – China
- May 27, 2022. By Chen Qingqing, Cao Siqi and Leng Shumei, Global Times. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a speech on the country’s China strategy on Thursday, describing China as the “most serious long-term challenge to the international order” but stressed the US does not want a new Cold War. Blinken’s long-awaited China policy address ‘unexciting’
- May 26, 2022. By US Department of State. The Administration’s Approach to the People’s Republic of China
USA – Iran
- May 26, 2022. By Shayan Karbassi, Lawfare. Negotiations between the United States and Iran are reportedly at a stalemate over final terms of an agreement for the mutual return of the two countries to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The talks first began in early 2021 between the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, China and Iran. While they have reportedly resulted in a draft agreement, the recent impasse has made the future of any agreement more tenuous. Nuclear Brinkmanship: U.S. Sanctions Against Iran Explained
USA – Iraq – Israel
- May 26, 2022. By US Department of State. The United States is deeply disturbed by the Iraqi Parliament’s passage of legislation that criminalizes normalization of relations with Israel. The Iraqi Parliament’s Anti-Israel Normalization Law
USA – Spain – Central America
- May 26, 2022. By US Department of State. The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Spain on the occasion of the Meeting of the U.S.-Spain Working Group on Central America. Joint Statement on the Meeting of the U.S.-Spain Working Group on Central America
DEFENSE – MILITARY – SPACE
- May 27, 2022. By Naval News. Austal Limited announced the delivery of the 15th Guardian-class patrol boat (GCPB) to the Australian Department of Defence on May 26, 2022. Austal delivers 15th Guardian-class patrol boat
- May 27, 2022. By Naval News. India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) launched the second of four survey vessels, the Nirdeshak, in partnership with L&T Shipbuilding for the Indian Navy on May 26 in Kattupalli, Chennai. GRSE launches 2nd of 4 large survey vessels for the Indian Navy
- May 26, 2022. By Philip Citowicki, The Interpreter. At the first in-person leaders’ summit of the Quad in Washington in September last year, the four member countries came forward with an ambitious space agenda. A working group was giving the task of advancing a number of key strategic areas, including the exchange of satellite data with the ambition to “protect the earth and its waters”. “Black ships”, the Quad and space
- May 26, 2022. By Andrew Eversden, Breaking Defense. President Joe Biden’s nominee for Supreme Allied Commander Europe said today NATO members will need to increasingly share the burden of supplying military capabilities to defend the continent as the US shifts its defense resources toward the Indo-Pacific. NATO nations should invest more on air defense, fires, EUCOM nominee says
- May 26, 2022. By Theresa Hitches, Breaking Defense. Northrop Grumman is nearing the next ground test of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s far-out space-based solar power project, including wireless transfer of energy harvested from the suns rays — energy that could be gathered as electricity on the ground, a key company official said. Next step for AFRL’s space-based solar power quest: energy beaming
- May 26, 2022. By Justin Katz, Breaking Defense. The US Navy has spent much of its time this budget cycle defending its choice to retire nine Littoral Combat Ships, and today the service’s top admiral floated another option that would keep the ships on active duty, just not for the US: Give them to allies and partners. Gilday: Navy could offer retired Littoral Combat Ships to South American nations
- May 26, 2022. By Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One. If readiness is so important to the U.S. Navy, why are some spare parts on the service’s unfunded priorities list? Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., pressed the Navy’s top officer on that point Tuesday. The chair of the Senate’s defense appropriations subcommittee brought up last August’s deadly crash of an MH-60S helicopter, which was caused by the failure of a damaged damper hose, which the senator said costs about $100,000. Why Are Spare Parts on the Unfunded List? Senator Asks Navy’s Top Officer
- May 26, 2022. By Marcus Weisgerber, Defense One. Wreathed in catapult steam and 1980s guitar riffs, the opening montage of “Top Gun: Maverick” puts the star front and center—no, not Tom Cruise, Jon Hamm, or Jennifer Connelly, but a jet that, like Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, hasn’t been the new hotness for at least a decade. Yep, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet stole the show. Boeing’s F/A-18 Outshines Lockheed’s Flashy Hypersonic Jet in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
- May 26, 2022. By Jacqueline Fedlscher, Defense One. Finland and Sweden’s accession into NATO would immediately enable the alliance to better deter Russia, the Biden administration’s nominee to be NATO’s supreme allied commander told Congress on Thursday. Finland, Sweden Would Contribute Militarily to NATO on ‘Day One,’ General Says
- May 26, 2022. By
- May 26, 2022. By Sweden and Finland succeed in their bids to join NATO, it’s likely that the landscape of U.S. troops in Europe could shift accordingly. But that probably won’t involve more land forces, the Army general nominated to be U.S. European Command’s next leader told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing Thursday. European Command nominee doesn’t foresee more troops there under expanded NATO If
- May 26, 2022. By Colin Demarest, Defense News. A leader of the Department of Defense’s artificial intelligence efforts said discussions about the technology are less focused on futuristic death machines and more about upgrading the department and helping maintain the U.S. competitive edge. AI less about ‘killer robots,’ more about Pentagon transformation, Groen says
- May 26, 2022. By
- May 26, 2022. By
- May 26, 2022. By
HORIZONS
- May 26, 2022. By Juliette McIntyre and Adam Simpson, East Asia Forum. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is dealing with two very different cases under the Genocide Convention — one against Myanmar and one against Russia. The way that the defendant states have responded to the cases reveals much about the strengths and limits of international justice mechanisms in addressing global atrocities. A tale of two genocide cases: International justice in Ukraine and Myanmar
- May 26, 2022. By UN News. Every day, United Nations peacekeepers work to protect millions of vulnerable people in increasingly dangerous places in the world’s most fragile political contexts. 5 ways UN Peacekeeping partnerships drive peace and development
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
- May 25, 2022. By Ani Dasgupta, Gustavo Montezano, Dina Ercilia Boluarte, Ricardo Hausmann, Mario Mesquita, Ivan Duque, WEF. With global leaders promising to end deforestation by 2030, the Amazon has the potential to become the world’s largest bioeconomy, strengthening local livelihoods while restoring and conserving ecosystems. How can governments from across the region further pathways for collaboration with scientists, ecopreneurs and businesses to contribute to the Amazon’s sustainable development? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Samir Saran, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chuck Robbins, Brad Smith, Josephine Teo, WEF. In 2023, the United Nations aims to agree a Global Digital Compact, a multistakeholder understanding between states, the private sector and civil society on how to achieve the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. In the broader context, digital cooperation spans topics such as connectivity, artificial intelligence, Internet governance, safety and security, and data governance; all of which mandate the involvement of all stakeholders, not only governments. Will digital cooperation change the way we think about governing? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Rana Foroohar, Gina Raimondo, WEF. In 2022 hundreds of companies have been drawn into the geopolitical fray, starting with the unprecedented response to the invasion of Ukraine. COVID has also forced companies to recognize how the workforce has changed and the vulnerability of supply chains. What ways can companies help their bottom line while also contributing to the broader societal good? And is there scope for an even closer collaboration between government and business and what would that look like? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By David Rhodes, Clare Akamanzi, Hanneke Faber, Theo De Jager, Rajiv Shah, WEF. The Ukraine-Russia war has piled pressure on global food systems in addition to the impact of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic on food supply chains. What can be done to mitigate the impact of the food security and price crisis and build more resilient food systems for the long term? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Børge Brende, Eduard Heger, Christine Lagarde, Mark Rutte, Roberta Metsola, Micheál Martin, WEF. The European Union surprised the world with the speed, scale and unity of its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Coming after a unified approach to the pandemic, is adversity forcing the EU to adopt a more assertive role as a global economic and geopolitical actor? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Adrian Monck, Thomas L. Friedman, Rana Foroohar, WEF. COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine are the latest in a series of shocks shaking the foundations of globalization as we know it. As economic decoupling, techno-nationalism and the onshoring of supply chains accelerate, is a new era of self-sufficiency and regionalization set to replace what came before it? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Margery Kraus, Abdullah AlSwaha, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Faisal Alibrahim, Haifa Bint Mohammed Al Saud, Khalid Al-Falih, WEF. As the largest economy in the Middle East, with ties to both China and the United States, Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to use its strategic relationships and hydrocarbon resources to stabilize volatile energy markets and advance economic recovery. As the kingdom embarks on a new reform agenda, what are its priorities – national, regional and global – and how is it responding to today’s turbulent geopolitical context? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Alar Karis, Irakli Garibashvili, Alexander Schallenberg, Natalia Gavrilița, WEF. Russia’s military aggression has thrown a spotlight on the European Union’s relations with its continental neighbours, with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova swiftly applying for membership and efforts under way in the Western Balkans to accelerate their pathway into the bloc. How can the EU transform its neighbourhood and enlargement policies to meet the needs of this unprecedented moment? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Shefali Rekhi, Roland Busch, Enrique Lores, Martin Lundstedt, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, WEF. Companies are rapidly raising their commitments to build net-zero, environmentally conscious and socially responsible value chains. However, meeting these new targets means addressing significant implementation challenges and requires strengthened collaboration across sectors and geographies to make a real impact. What strategies, policies and partnerships can help manufacturing companies accelerate the transition to sustainable value chains? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Anne McElvoy, Dina Ercilia Boluarte, Jean Daniel LaRock, Dipu Moni, WEF. Facing multiple challenges in the midst of the pandemic and a green transition, government budgets have not prioritized investment in education in recent years, with two thirds of lower-income countries having cut their public education budgets. What steps are needed to ensure that government and business prioritize education as a critical enabler of an equitable economic recovery? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Moisés Naím, Wolfgang Ischinger, Alona Shkrum, Karin von Hippel, Rafael Mariano Grossi, WEF. War in Ukraine has reignited a debate on how to deal with states and leaders in breach of international norms. When is continued engagement through diplomacy and commerce desirable, and when is isolation or even confrontation necessary? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Ilona Szabó de Carvalho, Cassidy Miligruak Kramer, Taylor Hawkins, Vanessa Nakate, Helena Gualinga, Jeremy Antoine Raguain. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) landmark report warns humanity that “it’s now or never” to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. What is needed from world leaders in 2022 to deliver meaningful action to reduce emissions and rejuvenate the natural world? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Gideon Rachman, Scott Minerd, Heizo Takenaka, Keiko Tashiro, Erik Brynjolfsson, WEF. From shaping the concrete plan and implementing “New Capitalism” to leveraging the commitment to net zero by 2050 while alleviating regional tensions, Japan faces major domestic and global challenges to ensure its continued competitiveness and economic growth. What opportunities and challenges must the world’s third-largest economy prioritize to ensure new growth with sustainability and inclusiveness? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Magdalena Skipper, Megan Palmer, Gianrico Farrugia, Werner Baumann, Dimitri de Vreeze, WEF. For decades, strategists and futurists mentioned a technology revolution occurring in the 21st century based on biological and health technologies, which was broadly overshadowed by the digital revolution. With advances during the pandemic, are biotechnologies finally getting the attention they deserve – and what do we need to discuss now regarding governance? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Tom Keene, Jim Hagemann Snabe, Mariana Mazzucato, Gita Gopinath, WEF. The recovery from the COVID-19 crisis has been deeply uneven within and between countries, depending on their access to fiscal resources and vaccines. Food, fuel and resource crises now risk further derailing an equitable recovery. How can a broader set of foundations for growth ensure long-term economic prosperity and a return to international convergence? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Karen Harris, Mark Rutte, Poul Due Jensen, Elizabeth Wathuti, James Quincey, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, WEF. The poor health and disruption of water systems has compromised our ability to weather the deadly droughts, heatwaves and floods that have become the norm and are expected to worsen in the future. What bold ideas can be taken forward to the United Nations 2023 Water Conference for a water-resilient economy? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
- May 25, 2022. By Martin Wolf, Anne Richards, Dr Celine Herweijer, Makhtar Diop, Mark Carney, David Schwimmer, WEF. The announcement of net-zero and sustainability pledges over the past year means these commitments now cover over 90% of the global economy. However, they have yet to deliver the surge in investment required. How can we ensure the whole financial system aligns to move from commitment to action? World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos
Le interviste di The Science of Where Magazine