ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

Geopolitical News Summary - July 10, 2024

1. NATO and Ukraine Conflict

NATO members are facing challenges in reaching an agreement on Sweden's membership due to Turkey's opposition. President Biden, currently in London, is discussing the war in Ukraine with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and plans to address environmental issues with King Charles III. President Biden has also been in discussions with Turkish President Erdoğan to resolve the Sweden membership issue (WORLD) (Global Issues).

2. Ukraine Marks 500 Days of War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commemorated the 500th day of the war, emphasizing Ukraine's global position as a defender of human rights and democracy. Zelenskyy made a symbolic appearance on Snake Island, a site of early resistance against Russian forces (WORLD).

3. Israel-Hamas Conflict

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has intensified, with new estimates revealing over 186,000 deaths in Gaza. This significant increase in casualties has led to renewed accusations of war crimes and genocide (Global Issues).

4. US-China Relations

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's recent trip to Beijing aimed to improve US-China relations. While no major breakthroughs were achieved, Yellen emphasized the importance of maintaining open channels of communication. Concurrently, China demonstrated military might near Taiwan, highlighting ongoing geopolitical tensions (WORLD) (Global Issues).

5. Economic Outlook

The global economic outlook remains uncertain, with the IMF projecting a slowdown in growth to 3.0% for both 2023 and 2024. Central banks' efforts to combat inflation continue to impact economic activities worldwide. However, recent resolutions of financial sector risks have mitigated some adverse effects (IMF).

6. Human Rights and Population Issues

The UAE is under scrutiny for its mass trials of human rights defenders, with at least 84 individuals facing severe penalties. Additionally, East Asia is experiencing significant demographic shifts, with declining birth rates posing long-term economic challenges. In Afghanistan, forced deportations from neighboring countries are leaving many women in dire poverty (Global Issues).

These highlights encapsulate the key geopolitical events shaping the world today, reflecting a complex interplay of conflict, diplomacy, and economic challenges

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Why States Still Use Barrel Bombs

Smoke ascends after a Syrian military helicopter allegedly dropped a barrel bomb over the city of Daraya on Jan. 31.(FADI DIRANI/AFP/Getty Images) Summary Barrel bombs are not especially effective weapons. They are often poorly constructed; they fail to detonate more often than other devices constructed for a similar purpose; and their lack of precision means they can have a disproportionate effect on civilian populations. However, combatants continue to use barrel bombs in conflicts, including in recent and ongoing conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, and they are ideally suited to the requirements of resource-poor states. Analysis Barrel bombs are improvised devices that contain explosive filling and shrapnel packed into a container, often in a cylindrical shape such as a barrel. The devices continue to be dropped on towns all over Syria . Indeed, there have been several documented cases of their use in Iraq over the past months, and residents of the city of Mosul, which was re

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LONDON POLICE INDIRECTLY ENCOURAGE CRIMINALS TO ATTACK RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC PROPERTY

ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE A few days ago an unknown perpetrator trespassed on the territory of the Russian Trade Delegation in London, causing damage to the property and the vehicles belonging to the trade delegation , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during the September 12 press briefing. The diplomat revealed the response by the London police was discouraging. Police told that the case does not have any prospects and is likely to be closed. This was made despite the fact that the British law enforcement was provided with video surveillance tapes and detailed information shedding light on the incident. By this byehavior, British law inforcements indirectly encourage criminals to continue attacks on Russian diplomatic property in the UK. Zakharova’s statement on “Trespassing on the Russian Trade Mission premises in London” ( source ): During our briefings, we have repeatedly discussed compliance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, specif