| Interfor’s Weekly Digest Global Security and Policy Insights |
| International Affairs → Over the weekend, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar, reverberating as far as Bangkok. Over 2,700 people have been confirmed dead and rescue operations remain underway. This earthquake was the deadliest natural disaster in Myanmar in nearly a century. Communication lines and infrastructure have been damaged in both Myanmar and Thailand, complicating rescue efforts. Several countries have already deployed relief forces and supplies to the region, including China, Russia, and the UK. ed federal records. National Security Advisor, Mike Walz, who set up the group and inadvertantly added Goldberg, says he takes responsibility for the error. → On Tuesday, China staged military drills off the Taiwanese coast. China’s ships appeared to be practicing a blockade of the island, a tactic many expect them to use in the event of a war with Taiwan. Following the drills, China also released a series of propaganda videos simulating a Chinese takeover of Taiwan. China carried out similar drills in May 2024. → President Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “trying to back out” of the minerals deal reached between Ukraine and the US. Trump claims that Zelenskyy is angling for NATO entry, but Zelenskyy maintains that the specifics of the deal are still uncertain and he cannot yet sign it. The deal would give the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for security guarantees, however the Ukrainians believe that the US is not holding up its end of the bargain. However, the deal reportedly does not yet contain sufficient language to ensure Ukrainian sovereignty in its ongoing war against Russia. → EU executive chief Ursula von der Leyen claimed that the EU has a “strong plan” to retaliate against US tariffs. She stated that while the EU seeks a negotiated solution, they are willing to take proactive measures to protect European consumers. The EU may also loosen barriers on intra-EU cross-border business, allowing European businesses to diversify their trade. The European Commission is expected to formulate proposals next month to enhance internal trade. Middle East → The IDF reportedly plans to expand its ground operations to cover 25% of Gaza by the end of April. The move is part of the IDF’s “maximum pressure” campaign, which it claims is aimed at dismantling Hamas’ governing and military capabilities and incentivizing the release of hostages. Since the IDF resumed operations in Gaza on March 17, over 400 Gazans have been killed in airstrikes which the IDF says have been targeting Hamas bureaucratic officials. Meanwhile, negotiations for a new ceasefire have not progressed, though several options (including an Egyptian proposal for a de facto return to Phase 1 and an American deal for the release of US citizen hostages) remain on the table. For the moment, the Netanyahu administration seems to have deprioritized ceasefire talks. Over the past several weeks, President Trump has both voiced support for Israeli resuming military operations against Hamas and moved more of his attention toward the war in Ukraine. With all of that in mind, Netanyahu is likely feeling relatively little from pressure from Trump to reach a diplomatic solution in Gaza. → Last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that he would fire the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, Ronen Bar. Netanyahu then nominated Eli Sharvit to replace Bar; however, on Monday, he rescinded his nomination. Netanyahu’s opposition reportedly suspects that he did so because Sharvit participated in protests against Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan in early 2023. Under Bar’s leadership, the Shin Bet carried out an investigation into what is now being called “Qatar-gate,” an agreement in which Netanyahu facilitated payments to Hamas, through Qatar, in exchange for quiet on the Gaza border. Bar’s probe alleges that these payments can be directly linked to the military capabilities that enabled the October 7th attack. Israel’s Supreme Court will likely hear petitions against Bar’s removal sometime next week. Notably Netanyahu has used Trump-like explanations for his firing of Bar, referring to an Israeli deep state that works to obstruct vital initiatives from the Prime Minister’s office. → The US continues to strike Houthi-held sites in Yemen. On Monday, a suspected US airstrike hit Sana’a, killing at least three. The Trump administration appears to be targeting high-ranking personnel as well as launch sites, in a departure from the Biden administration’s infrastructure-only strategy. Trump’s team has also reportedly given CENTCOM greater authority to strike as they see fit. |
| Resources: US Department of State Travel Advisories CISA: nation-state cybersecurity threats and other resources for cybersecurity matters. Check out our webinar about Misinformation and the Threat it poses to Democracies on our YouTube channel. Our latest blog posts discusses the sudden hubbub around the strategic value of Greenland. |
To find out more, please reach out to info@interforinternational.com
Related Blog
VIEW ALL
Geopolitics. Global Security, & Current Events
The New Climate Realism Initiative Seeks to Redirect US Efforts in Combating Climate Change
