Hello and welcome back. 

In Europe, the EU confronts its most severe accountability crisis in decades, while in Africa the UK withdraws backing for Mozambique’s flagship gas project and tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea reach fever pitch.

In the Caribbean, regional states and US territories navigate a tense balance between strategic cooperation, national sovereignty, and the weight of historical memory amid mounting US pressure on Venezuela.

This, and more, below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇮🇱 Netanyahu seeks presidential pardon: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a pardon from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, arguing that ending his corruption trial—where he faces charges of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust—would serve the “public interest” by easing societal tensions and promoting national unity.

2️⃣ 🇮🇩 🇱🇰 Indonesia, Sri Lanka deploy troops amid climate catastrophe: Sri Lanka and Indonesia have mobilised military units to support rescue efforts after catastrophic monsoon rains and tropical storms killed more than 1,100 people across four Asian countries and left hundreds missing. Indonesia’s Sumatra has suffered the heaviest toll, while Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency.

3️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇻🇪 US lawmakers press Hegseth over second Caribbean strike: Republican and Democratic lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny of the Trump administration after reports that a second US strike targeted survivors aboard an alleged Venezuelan drug-running boat, an order the Pentagon disputes. Analysts also highlight the illegal nature of the strikes, which took place in foreign waters.

4️⃣ 🇾🇪 🇦🇪 STC forces seize Seiyun as tensions spike in Yemen’s east: The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) has announced its capture of Seiyun in eastern Hadhramaut, escalating fears of a direct clash with Saudi-backed tribal groups as both sides mobilise forces across the oil-rich region. STC-aligned Hadrami Elite Forces accuse the Hadramout Tribes Alliance of serving “foreign agendas,” while tribal leaders warn that any non-local military presence will be met with armed resistance.

5️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇨🇩 🇷🇼 Trump hosts Rwanda–DRC peace accord in Washington: President Trump hosted the leaders of Rwanda and the DRC to formalise a peace deal aimed at defusing their escalating conflict in eastern Congo, despite ongoing fighting on the ground. Alongside the Accord’s pledge to respect territorial sovereignty, Trump announced forthcoming US rare-earth mining agreements with both countries, tying diplomacy to strategic resource access.

Major Story

🇩🇴 🇹🇹 🇵🇷 🇻🇮 🇬🇩 CARIBBEAN RESPONSES TO U.S. MILITARY PRESSURE ON VENEZUELA

Amid mounting U.S. military deployments in the Caribbean, ostensibly targeting drug trafficking networks but widely seen as preparing for operations against Venezuela, regional governments are responding with varying degrees of cooperation and caution. More than 80 people have been killed in U.S. strikes on alleged narcotics vessels, although Washington has provided no supporting evidence. The military escalation, paired with the Trump administration’s declaration of Venezuelan airspace as effectively closed, has intensified anxiety in Venezuela, where President Nicolás Maduro has mobilised troops and urged civilians to join defence militias.

Countries aligning with Washington

The Dominican Republic has emerged as Washington’s strongest Caribbean partner, granting access to restricted military zones at San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport. President Luis Abinader framed the agreement as temporary, technical, and focused on enhancing radar and surveillance to counter narcotrafficking, while also reaffirming the country’s close strategic bond with Washington.

Trinidad and Tobago has shown political support, with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar backing U.S. strikes and confirming Marine presence working on airport radar upgrades and surveillance infrastructure. While supportive of U.S. counter-narcotics goals, she insists Trinidad will not become a launchpad for any attack against Venezuela.

U.S. territories as regional hubs

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are playing increasingly prominent roles in logistical preparations. The reopening of facilities at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station and increased activity at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport suggest these locations are being reactivated as staging sites for aircraft and support operations.

Grenada’s cautious deliberation

Grenada remains undecided over a U.S. request to temporarily install radar equipment at Maurice Bishop International Airport, ironically named after the leader overthrown shortly before the U.S. invasion of 1983. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell noted the historical sensitivities surrounding U.S. military presence and said technical and safety reviews remain unresolved.

Outlook

As Washington seeks to consolidate a coalition to counter Venezuela, Caribbean states are weighing strategic cooperation, national sovereignty, and historical memory. While several governments are quietly expanding military links with the U.S., none have openly endorsed offensive action against Venezuela, highlighting the region’s delicate balancing act.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇭🇹 🇺🇳 Haiti sets 2026 election date: Haiti’s transitional authorities have announced plans for the country’s first elections in nearly ten years, scheduling the opening round for August 2026 but insisting that a nationwide return to security remains the essential precondition. With the council’s mandate expiring in early 2026, officials warn that stabilisation efforts must accelerate if Haiti is to regain democratic legitimacy after years of crisis.

2️⃣ 🇫🇷 🇨🇳 France recalibrates China policy as Macron arrives in China: Emmanuel Macron is attempting to project a firm European stance while avoiding a rupture with Beijing. Analysts argue he must signal that Europe will push back against coercive trade practices and security risks without triggering a full-scale confrontation, a delicate message he will carry into meetings with Xi Jinping in Beijing and Chengdu.

3️⃣ 🇷🇺 🇺🇦 🇺🇸 Kremlin highlights NATO dispute in stalled US–Russia talks: The Kremlin says Ukraine’s NATO ambitions were a central point of contention in President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, talks that again failed to produce movement on a peace deal. Moscow claims Washington is willing to consider some of its demands, yet insists no compromise exists on the territory Russia has seized. European ministers argue Putin’s battlefield posture shows he has no intention of ending the war.

4️⃣ 🇹🇷 PKK demands Ocalan release before further peace steps: Senior PKK commanders say the group will not take additional steps in the peace process until Turkey advances negotiations, frees Abdullah Ocalan, and formally recognises Kurdish rights in its constitution. Speaking from Qandil, leaders reiterated that while the PKK has renounced armed struggle and withdrawn fighters, genuine progress now depends on Ankara, as Ocalan cannot lead meaningful dialogue from solitary confinement.

5️⃣ 🇪🇺 EU braces for its most serious accountability crisis in decades: Ursula von der Leyen faces the gravest institutional test of her presidency after EU prosecutors detained former foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and senior diplomat Stefano Sannino in a widening fraud investigation linked to a 2021–22 procurement process. Officials warn that if the allegations are confirmed, the reputational damage could rival the Santer Commission’s 1999 collapse and further erode public trust in the bloc’s governance.

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Tips & Suggestions

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Book Shelf

Here are some books we recommend 📚:

Prisoners of Geography

The Revenge of Geography

The World: A Brief Introduction

The Shock Doctrine

Sea Power

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics

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