Ukraine talks restart. High-level delegations from the United States and Ukraine are holding talks in Saudi Arabia today regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. Ahead of the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said he hoped the countries could “resolve” the pause in U.S. military aid to Ukraine. United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Trump to reverse the pause in a call yesterday. Ahead of the talks, Ukraine targeted the Moscow region with long-range drone attacks.
Duterte’s ICC arrest. Philippine authorities detained former President Rodrigo Duterte at a Manila airport, acting on a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the court in 2019 during his presidency, but the ICC continued to probe the portion of his anti-drug crackdown that came before the withdrawal. Duterte’s lawyer said the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines, which the court disputes. Duterte’s successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has cooperated with the ICC probe; Marcos was elected in 2022 in an alliance with Duterte’s daughter that has soured in recent months.
U.S. stock sell-off. Benchmark U.S. stock index the S&P 500 slid 2.7 percent yesterday—erasing its gains since Election Day—on the first day of trading since Trump in a weekend interview declined to rule out the possibility of a recession this year. In response to U.S. tariffs, the Canadian province of Ontario yesterday imposed a 25 percent levy on electricity exports to the United States. Trump is expected to impose new aluminum and steel tariffs on worldwide trading partners tomorrow.
Syria’s SDF reintegration deal. The U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to integrate with the new Syrian government by the end of this year. The SDF controls an area of northwestern Syria that includes oil and gas fields and had been a holdout as the interim government sought to bring the country’s multiple armed groups under its umbrella. The deal reiterated interim leaders’ pledges to build an inclusive government.
The OAS’s new leader. The Washington-based Organization of American States yesterday elected Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin as its next secretary-general through 2030. He will be the first Caribbean head of the regional multilateral body. In a speech, he urged increased regional unity and action to address climate change.
Collision and oil spill in North Sea. A Portugal-flagged cargo ship hit an anchored, U.S.-flagged oil tanker yesterday, causing an explosion and spill. A rescue operation brought all but one of the cargo ship’s crew to shore, and all of the tanker’s crew were safe. The UK government and environmental groups were still assessing the incident and damage yesterday.
Indonesia, Vietnam bolster ties. The countries are upgrading bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam said in Jakarta yesterday. The two countries pledged to strengthen economic, political, and defense ties, including through joint military production and patrols. Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast plans to establish a plant in Indonesia’s West Java, a senior Indonesian official said after the meeting.
South Sudan tensions. Uganda deployed military forces to South Sudan’s capital to “secure it,” Uganda’s military head said today. Tensions between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny have grown after the government detained senior Machar-aligned officials in recent days. A 2018 peace agreement ended a five-year civil war between groups aligned with Kiir and Machar; South Sudanese officials did not immediately answer calls seeking comment.
