Good morning, everyone!
Today, we will look at the unfolding situation in the Middle East, U.S. politics, and other news spanning each continent.
Let’s get to it.
Africa
-Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Mali’s military government leader—Colonel Assimi Goita—in Moscow on Monday, where the two leaders pledged to ramp up energy and trade cooperation.
Moscow has backed military regimes in the West African country in successive coups since 2020.
-The Democratic Republic of Congo extended a ban on the export of cobalt by three months on Saturday. The Central African country is the world’s top supplier of the mineral—a critical component in electric vehicle batteries.
In February, Kinshasa imposed a four-month ban on exports after prices hit a nine-year low due to global oversupply.
-The United Nations Security Council will hold a meeting on Libya today.
Other Links:
A confidential brief urges the ICC to investigate Wagner’s promotion of atrocities in West Africa - AP
Nigerian group criticizes Iran strikes - Semafor
Kenya to charge police officers with murder over blogger's death in custody - Reuters
Tunisia sentences ex-President Marzouki to 22 years in absentia - Reuters
Joyful Ethiopians and Eritreans embrace at rare border reopening - BBC
Americas and the Caribbean
-Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he would withdraw his proposal for a labor referendum after lawmakers passed a modified reform package last week.
Separately, Petro said he would call for a referendum that would establish a National Constituent Assembly in next year’s legislative elections.
-Colombia’s military said 57 soldiers had been kidnapped in the country’s southwestern Micay Canyon area.
-Argentina and Paraguay have expressed support for Israel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Iran is slated to send a delegation to the annual BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) leaders’ summit next month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tehran was officially inducted into the bloc of developing nations last year.
-Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said homicides declined by 25% in her first eight months in office.
-Panama’s government declared an emergency and suspended some constitutional rights in the western province of Bocas del Toro after businesses and government offices were stormed. The development comes after a month of large protests in opposition to a pension reform law.
-Bolivian Labor Minister Erland Rodriguez Lafuente died on Saturday. In response, authorities said they would open an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Other Links:
Brazil to push for corporate, local government climate targets at COP30 - Reuters
Argentina's ex-President Kirchner, under house arrest, plots political fight-back - from her balcony - Reuters
Caribbean delegation to travel to Brussels, London to discuss slavery reparations - Reuters
Mexican authorities seize 110,000 fentanyl pills and arrest 3, including 1 American - CBS
50% chance of a tropical depression forming off the coast of Central America within 7 days - AP
Asia/Indo-Pacific
-The Chinese government condemned U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend and called for de-escalation in the Middle East.
Iranian oil accounts for approximately 16% of China’s seaborne crude oil imports, which are purchased at a discounted rate.
-Japan canceled the annual 2+2 security dialogue with the United States as the Trump administration ramps up its demand that Tokyo increase its defense spending, according to the Financial Times.
-Defense ministers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will meet in Qingdao, China, today for three days of talks.
The SCO—which was founded in 2001—is composed of nine member states: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran.
Separately, South Korean lawmakers will hold a confirmation hearing on President Lee Jae-myung’s nominee for prime minister.
In Beijing, China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee—the country’s highest legislative body—will convene. The body is largely ceremonial, serving as a rubber stamp for the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Other Links:
Asia-Pacific markets mostly decline as U.S. bombing of Iran escalates Middle East crisis - CNBC
US asks China to stop Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz - BBC
China’s shipments of hi-tech goods to EU surge as its exports to US plunge - South China Morning Post
China Solar Additions Surge to Record in May Ahead of Deadline - Bloomberg
Okinawa marks 80 years since end of one of harshest WWII battles with pledge to share tragic history - AP
Europe
-Leaders from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will meet today in The Hague, the Netherlands. The heads of state are expected to discuss the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and defense spending targets.
The 32-member bloc was founded in April 1949 to serve as a bulwark against the Soviet Union.
Last year, the alliance celebrated its 75th anniversary in Washington, D.C.
-British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a new defense production initiative in London yesterday.
-Romania’s broad coalition government won a confidence vote yesterday, ending months of political gridlock.
Other Links:
Russian air attack kills nine and injures dozens in Kyiv - BBC
Putin says Russia is ramping up production of Oreshnik missile - Reuters
Hungary Pride march wins backing of some foreign embassies, but not US - Reuters
Greek island of Chios declares emergency as wildfires rage for second day - Reuters
Pope Leo XIV says there should be no tolerance for abuse of any kind in Catholic Church - AP
Middle East
-President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday afternoon, just after Tehran launched missiles on a U.S. military base in Qatar. The cessation deal comes after over a week of missile strikes exchanged by the two countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later confirmed his country’s acceptance of the deal.
Before the announcement of the agreement, Iran launched missile attacks on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The attack came in response to U.S. strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend. After launching the strikes, Trump warned Tehran against taking any retaliatory measures targeting U.S. forces stationed in the region in a White House address.
The U.S. 5th Fleet—which is headquartered in Bahrain—suspended flights in its airspace shortly after Iran’s missile attack.
The Pentagon said there were no casualties from the Iranian strikes.
Analysts said the Iranian attack signaled a desire to de-escalate the conflict by Iranian leaders, since Tehran gave advance warning of the strikes and that the U.S. base in Qatar is the most secure within Iran’s striking distance.
Washington has 19 military installations in the Middle East, with eight of them considered by analysts as permanent bases.
-International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said the U.S. bombing of Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility likely caused “very significant” damage despite contrary Iranian claims.
Iran’s parliament is currently considering legislation to suspend its cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog.
-Russian leader Vladimir Putin hosted Araghchi in Moscow yesterday.
-Global oil prices fell slightly yesterday after hitting a five-month high amid the ongoing conflict in the region.
Other Links:
Qatar closes airspace, US and UK tell citizens to shelter in place - Reuters
Succession plans for Iran's Khamenei hit top gear - Reuters
Israel recovers the remains of 3 more hostages from Gaza - AP
Israeli-backed group seeks at least $30 million from US for aid distribution in Gaza - AP
Death toll in Damascus church attack rises to 25, says health ministry - Reuters
United States
-Lawmakers returned to Washington, D.C., yesterday after a week-long recess.
-House Speaker Mike Johnson said he opposed bringing a war powers resolution to the floor of the chamber. The measure—introduced by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California—would require congressional authorization for U.S. military action against Iran.
President Donald Trump scorned Massie for his criticism of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilites over the weekend, saying he should face a primary challenge.
Massie said yesterday that he would withdraw the measure if the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran announced by Trump holds.
-House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter to his Democratic colleagues that he would meet with Johnson to discuss member security.
-The House Democratic Caucus will vote by secret ballot today to select the next ranking member to serve on the House Oversight Committee. Four members are seeking the post which was vacated by the death of Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly.
Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, the panel’s acting ranking member, is seeking the position, along with Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Robert Garcia of California, and Kweisi Mfume of Maryland.
-Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he would keep lawmakers in session until the upper chamber passed Trump’s domestic policy bill.
-The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution urging TV providers and streaming services to make C-SPAN available to their subscribers.
-Former President Joe Biden delivered remarks on Thursday night in Galveston, Texas, to commemorate the Juneteenth federal holiday.
-New York City will hold mayoral primary elections today.
Other Links:
Supreme Court allows Trump to swiftly deport certain immigrants to 'third countries' - NBC
Trump demands higher oil production as prices remain volatile - AP
Democrats demand halt to Medicaid data transfer to immigration officials - AP
Former astronaut Terry Virts launches Democratic bid for U.S. Senate in Texas - The Texas Tribune
Ohio House Democrats expected to pick Cincinnati lawmaker as next leader - Cincinnati Enquirer
That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.
Notes:
https://scowcroft.substack.com/p/tsg-weekly-calendar-june-23-29
I like that you “buried the lede” (the Iran bombing) to show the world limps on despite all that Trumpian nonsense.
Thank you for bringing some clarity to this mess we are in