What's Up?
Blinken "Rockin' the Free World" in Ukraine, Slovakia's PM gunned down, Putin visits Xi in China, and Georgia's protests following the passage of the foreign agents bill.
Last week, I mentioned that Biden announced he would withhold sending arms to Israel, if Israel launched a ground invasion in Rafah. I noted that he would be the first US president to do so. That’s wrong. Ronald Reagan withheld arms after Israel invaded Lebanon, killing Palestinians. Reagan called it “a holocaust.” Thank you, Stephanie, for pointing that out. As they say in most publications, I regret the error.
There is a lot going on this week:
Antony Blinken’s surprise visit to Ukraine and his perhaps not well thought through rendition of Rockin’ the Free World (personally, I think What’s Up would have more on point…)
The assassination attempt of Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico
Violent protests in Georgia, the country, following the passage of the “foreign agents bill”
Vladimir Putin visits China
The conviction of the former Kazakh economics minister for gender based violence
And, sadly, Israel and Gaza as well as the on-going devastation in Sudan.
Team Interruptrr touches on all those headlines below. Today, I had written something that is very personal and important to me: the 80th anniversary of the expulsion of the Crimean Tatars. On May 18, 1944, then Soviet ruler Josef Stalin expelled Tatar Muslims, an indigenous people, from Crimea — in an effort to gain control of the only warm water port accessible. Under his direction, 200,000 Crimean Tatars were ethnically cleansed from the peninsula, forced onto cattle cars bound for Central Asia. Several thousand died. My father and his family were among the lucky Tatar Muslims who escaped into Europe and survived. Today, Vladimir Putin is trying to permanently erase the Crimean Tatars. In a last minute scramble, I pitched what I wrote to an editor and I’m working on getting it published. Expect to receive something in your inbox tomorrow.
In the meantime, we’ve summarized the key headlines below. As always, thanks for reading. — Elmira
I’m opening up my column to others. Please pitch me your op-ed idea/perspective. Let’s get more female perspectives. Email me on endeavoringe@gmail.com or respond to this post.
Elsewhere in the World.....
On our radar...
Slovakia Shooting
Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot on Wednesday. He is in critical condition but expected to survive the assassination attempt. Who is Fico? He’s widely described as an illiberal Viktor Orbán-like polarizing figure. Like other strongmen, he has designs to put the independent broadcaster, RTVS, under government control. He has also proposed a “foreign agents” law, similar to the one in Russia and just passed in Georgia this week, which would make it more difficult for civil society organizations to operate in the country.
Emily Rauhala, Loveday Morris, Ladka Bauerova and Niha Masih on Fico and his leadership. (Washington Post)
Georgia
Tensions boiled over this week in Georgia. As we noted a few weeks ago, at issue is a “foreign agents” bill. The proposed law would require organizations receiving 20 percent or more in funds outside the country to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power.” 👀It bears close resemblance to a law in Russia.
This week, the country’s parliament, dominated by the Georgian Dream party, voted to pass it. Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi erupted in protests. The EU has said the legislation would jeopardize the country’s application to the EU, as the law will quash civil society organizations. Georgia’s president, Salome Zurabishvilli, has said she would veto the law.
Watch: Images of the protests and interviews with the protestors. Ani Chkhikvadze reports. (VOA)
Putin in China
Vladimir Putin traveled to Beijing this week. And that’s a big deal, says Chels Michta. “As the Kremlin pushes to remake Europe’s great power relationships at a continental level, Beijing is pursuing a far more ambitious project aimed at changing the foundations of the global order, ending once and for all the era of worldwide Western dominion.” (Center for European Policy Analysis)
Israel-Gaza
So much for stopping arms to Israel. According to Congressional insiders, Biden is moving forward with a $1 billion sale of arms and ammunition to Israel. Sigh. Seung Min Kim, Ellen Knickmeye, and Zeke Miller report. (AP)
Israel’s invasion of Rafah and closure of the last crossing between Gaza and Egypt has only intensified the level of starvation in the Strip. Lubna Masarwa and Oscar Rickett survey the situation. (Middle East Eye)
Jordan is home to millions of Palestinians. It is also a country that has a peace agreement with Israel. The rage over what is happening in Gaza has reached a boiling point, writes Rania Abouzeid. Can King Abdullah keep things under control? (New Yorker)
What comes after Hamas? This is a question that the Biden administration has been asking. It’s one that Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says can’t be answered until Hamas is eliminated. That’s not an acceptable answer says Israel’s defense minister. AJ MacDougall on the rift in the Israeli government and the question of what happens the day after the war ends. (Daily Beast)
US
Once upon a time, Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump and his tariffs on China. This week, the US president announced $18 billion in tariffs on electric vehicles, semiconductors, solar equipment, and medical supplies. Selina Wong puts all of it into perspective. (ABC News)
So what will the real impact of the US tariffs be? Mandy Zuo considers how China may respond — and how the impact of the tariffs can extend beyond China. (South China Morning Post)
Africa
Listen: As the civil war in Sudan goes into its second year, what impact is it having on the region? Jehanne Henry, Mirette Mabrouk, and Alistair Taylor discuss and keep a necessary focus on this devastating war. (Middle East Institute)
The results are in: Chad’s military ruler, President Mahamat Idriss Déby, was declared the winner of Chad’s highly-disputed parliamentary elections. Ruth Maclean has all the details. (NYT)
Asia
In Kazakhstan, a court found the former economics minister, Kuandyk Bishimbayev, guilty of murdering his wife and sentenced him to 24 years in jail (which is too little time, if you ask us.) Will this help in the effort to end gender-based violence? Joy Neumeyer says there is hope, but there is also Russia and a leader who has made “conservative gender politics” central to his regime. (Foreign Policy)
Singapore got a new prime minister this week. After 20 years, Lee Hsien Loong stood down as Lawrence Wong was sworn in. Rebecca Ratcliff tells us more about Singapore’s new leader, who apparently can play the guitar. (The Guardian)
Maybe he and Antony Blinken can form a band. In fact, write in your suggestion for a band name.
The Americas
“Am not.” “Are too.”
Latin American leaders have been throwing around insults. Argentina’s new president has called Colombia’s leader a “terrorist murderer,” (which we’d like to point out is redundant, sort of like feta cheese.) He’s also said that Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador is an “ignoramus,” to which AMLO (as he is known) shot back, calling Milei a “fascist.” Yeah, they’re lame. But, as Frida Ghitis notes, they’re upending relations on the continent that have real consequences for all of Latin America. (WPR)
Grow up boys. 🙄
Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) is off to a rocky start. Emmanuela Douyon says the alliance is still hopeful that it can stabilize the country before elections in 2026. (Americas Quarterly)
The Dominican Republic heads to the polls on Sunday for presidential elections. Ana Piquer outlines the human rights concerns that should be at the forefront of candidates’ platforms. (Amnesty International)
Europe
Following his inauguration, Vladimir Putin shook up his cabinet. He appointed economist Andrei Belousov as defense minister. Tatiana Stanovaya says this move is about increasing the efficiency of Russia’s war machine, as the former defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, was increasingly unpopular. (Carnegie Europe)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise trip to Ukraine, where he announced $2 billion in aid and drew criticism for taking the stage to perform a Neil Young cover. Clarissa-Jan Lim politely asks, “What were you thinking?” (MSNBC) 🤔
Spain’s socialist party emerged victorious in regional elections in Catalonia this past weekend. Rachel Chaundler weighs in on the significance of these elections, noting this may be the first time in over a decade that the government in Catalonia will be led by a party opposed to independence. (NYT)
It appears that in preparation for the June 9th European Parliamentary elections, Hungary has been cracking down on civil society. Activists in the country expect things to get worse, especially as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party hopes to dominate the elections, explains Maya Fernandez-Powell. (Just Security)
Middle East
Where art thou Saudi Arabia? The Kingdom once aspired to be a regional leader. Yet, its de facto ruler, Mohammed Bin Salman, has failed to play any significant role in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Madawi al-Rasheed on the neutering of this little big man. (Middle East Eye)
Science & Climate Change
Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sol, has experienced the worst climate disaster in its recent history, reports Valentina Sader. The state was hit by five months’ worth of torrential rain in just two weeks, causing 147 deaths and hundreds missing. Sader suggests Brazil’s flooding should put climate adaptation at the top of the agendas of the G20 Leaders’ Summit and the next COP30 in 2025. (Atlantic Council)
Over 300 people have died as a result of flash flooding in Afghanistan. Hilary Whiteman, Anna Coren, and Abdul Basir Bina have the details on how Afghanistan is bearing the brunt of the climate crisis, from severe drought to flooding. (CNN)
Technology
How is the ruling party in India, the BJP, using WhatsApp to dominate the political narrative surrounding ongoing elections? Srishti Jaswal dives deep. (Rest of World)
Under the Radar
What’s the status of women’s rights in Tunisia? Faria Nasruddin discusses the barriers to women’s equality with Aseel Alayli. (Wilson Center)
Opportunities
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In DC, Lawfare is hiring for an Associate Editor.
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