The Expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool and South Africa's Response

 

South African ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool was expelled from the United States. The reasons for the expulsion are motivated by economics, the intolerance of the Trump administration, and an attempt to undermine BRICS. There is speculation that Elon Musk is having indirect influence over US policy regarding South Africa. Musk an Afrikaner benefited from the Apartheid regime. The Trump administration has also offered white South Africans to come to America. These proposals are a projection of white nationalist sentiment. The attacks on South Africa are also intended to dissolve the BRICS alliance. Prior to the diplomatic dispute, President Donald Trump warned various nations about abandoning the US dollar. The emergent economies are going to see growth and this shifts the geopolitical power balance. The blatant racism was apparent seeing as it is rare this happens to a senior official. Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was told he was no longer welcomed in the United States. When Rasool returned he was embraced by the South African Communist Party, ANC, and the South African public. The unprofessional conduct and discriminatory actions of the United States may have created more unity among South Africans. The government's response needs to be more forceful. Removal of US diplomats would be a proportional measure. If more criticisms about land reform come from the Trump administration, the ending of diplomatic ties should be considered. President Cyril Ramaphosa does have options, but if he does not act it will only harm South Africa's standing. Closing the embassy in the United States or imposing tariffs on American products are the more harsh  measures. South Africa could just request the US ambassador to leave. Regardless of what measure is taken, the expulsion of an ambassador for no reason demands retaliation.  

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan Enter A New Era of Diplomatic Relations

 

Border clashes between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have been taking place for over 30 years. These circumstances relate to how the Soviet Union divided Central Asia. When independence was granted as the result of the Soviet collapse in 1991, the new countries were in conflict. Between 2021 and 2022 the clashes between the two Central Asian states became more lethal. President Emomali Rahmon  and President Sadyr Japarov signed an agreement outlining what the defined borders would be. Since 2022, roads, railway, and air links were closed off. War or regional conflict only undermines the whole of Central Asia. This change in policy should be an example to all countries in the world. Conflict and war spreads while diplomacy is not given much consideration. The challenge is if Tajik and Kyrgyz  citizens will accept a peace settlement. Ethnic hatreds remain in particular areas. President Emomali Rahmon has ruled the country since 1994. Prior to this, he was Chairmen of the Supreme Assembly between 1992 to 1993. His power is immense being increased by constitutional referendums. President Rahmon has more power to maintain peace or disregard a peace settlement. President Sadyr Japarov does not have authoritarian power like other Central Asian leaders. Kyrgyzstan was during the 2000s rotating through various interim presidents. This was the result of the Tulip revolution. A change in administration could effect relations with Tajikistan. For now, the agreement to end hostilities remain intact.      

JFK Files Released

 

More documents related to the John F. Kennedy assassination have been released. A total of 80,000 documents. The release was done through executive order. Some are wondering why this took so long. The argument was that some documents had to be held for national security reasons. There was also speculation that the US government did not care about the assassination of a liberal head of state. At the time, Dallas Texas was rabidly anti-communist, anti-liberal, and supported racial segregation. Documents have been released before the recent executive order, but just add to the mystery. By law the government has to release all the documents. However, thousands of documents remain secret. This indicates that the criminal action had a much wider reach. Many Americans believe that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone. Others suspect that either the CIA itself or Cuban exiles who were part of the Bay of Pigs invasion were involved. Decades of scholarship, independent researchers, and historians have not been able to solve the case. The attempts to undermine the Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 is apparent. Withholding information just allows more conspiracy theories to develop. While making all the documents public might not provide answers, it ends one dispute. The Warren Commission was an inadequate investigation, which made the wrong conclusion. Oswald was not a sole culprit. He is charged as the assassin, but never was tried due to being killed by Jack Ruby. Seeing as Oswald was never tried or convicted this would make him an alleged assassin. The documents might not solve the criminal case, but are useful for the preservation of American history. 

Rwanda Severs Ties With Belgium

 

Rwanda has ended diplomatic relations with Belgium. The Rwandan government has instructed Belgian diplomatic staff to leave the country. The reason for the end of diplomatic relations stems from the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The criticisms related to Rwanda's connection to the M23 rebels has generated controversy. Rwanda claims it has no involvement, but the M23 rebels appear to target Hutus. Rwanda is not breaking diplomatic relations out of anti-colonial politics or for the assertion of national sovereignty. Belgium is attempting to take sides in a regional African conflict. The memories of the Rwandan Civil War and genocide remain fresh. The Second Congolese Civil War created many refugees and internally displaced persons. While ending relations with former colonial powers should be praised, this was not for the sake of Pan-African unity. President Paul Kagame wants to increase his political power. Belgium is an obstacle and a possible country that could induce possible regime change. Belgium has been vociferous in trying to get EU members to sanction Rwanda. Imposing sanctions without some type of dialogue, reveals another agenda. Rwanda's military commanders have EU sanctions placed on them. The UK and Germany are suspending aid.  Simultaneously, attempts at peace talks were being made. The United Nations has not made an attempt to help with peace negotiations. As President Paul Kagame faces pressure from the EU, he will look for other allies elsewhere. The DRC has tantalum, which is essential to the electronics and computer industry. Belgium only concern about the M23 rebels is their control of natural resources in the Eastern Congo. President Paul Kagame's involvement in the DRC is not just economic. The RPF is seeking vengeance for the past abuses of the Hutus. Rwanda's break with Belgium was inevitable consequence of war.        

The European Union Does Not Want Peace In Ukraine

 

The European Union does not want a peace settlement in Ukraine. Since the Russia-Ukraine War broke out military aid and arms have been given by EU members. As Ukraine's losses mount, the much obvious path would be to start negotiations. The motivation for the European Union to keep the war going is to change the political dynamics of Europe. For European liberals and conservatives the war is a crusade to reinvigorate western values. Europe is struggling with its identity and cohesion. The era of large empires and international dominance has been declining gradually. European integration has to be in this view forcibly imposed on Eastern Europe. The West and Eastern Europe differ by politics and culture. The Russian Federation has a more traditional culture and is more aligned with the Global South. The EU member states are oriented to liberal democratic values with globalist sentiments. Conflict in Eastern Europe can be a gateway for forcing European integration on countries that do not favor it. The European Union insisted that the current was was unprovoked, when it was the 2014 coup that resulted in a series of unfortunate events. The Russian Federation either being weakened or dismantled would mean Europe would not have to be reliant on the country for energy. While it is apparent that Ukraine is not going to win the war, EU states do not want it to stop. France suggested sending some its own soldiers to Ukraine. Chances of a ceasefire are out of reach, even though President Putin would be open to an arrangement. President Zelensky does not believe the offer is genuine. The concern now is that the EU member states could send troops to Ukraine. Such a decision could spark a large European war.  

Rodrigo Duterte Has Been Arrested

 

The former president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested. The ICC issued a warrant related to drug trafficking charges. The warrant also changes the former president with directing the Davao Death Squad. The ICC claims that a thousand people could have been killed. The International Criminal Court's motives are not entirely altruistic. Certain countries are exempt from punishment, when there is evidence for human rights violations and crimes against humanity. Particular leaders are targeted in Asia and Africa, European leaders rarely are charged.  The question of jurisdiction is another concern. The Philippines is no longer an ICC member. The country withdrew in 2019. This brings into question the legality of this arrest. The ICC asserts that crimes committed when membership was active can still be prosecuted.  The argument is that the crimes were committed when the Philippines were part of the ICC. The war on drugs in the Philippines continues to have devasting social effects. It enabled law enforcement to engage in various acts of abuse and violence. The Davao Death Squad remains notorious for multiple killings. The ICC accuses the former president of direct involvement of DDS operations. According to Vice President Sara Duterte the former president was forced onto a plane and sent to the Hague. The domestic motivation is clear. Elections are coming up in the Philippines and Duterte was involved in political campaigning. There is a dispute between the Duterte and the Marcos family who want to dominate the politics of the Philippines. This arrest of a former Asian head of state will probably cause other countries to leave the ICC. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will most likely not try to stop an ICC trial of Rodrigo Duterte, because he is a political rival.       

The Natural Resources of Greenland

 

Greenland has been a topic on interest. The reason is related to its natural resources. Greenland contains rare earth minerals. Not only does Greenland contain those commodities, but oil and natural gas. Drilling for oil or extracting natural gas is restricted. The reasons are related to environmental protection and concern for the indigenous population. The Greenlandic Inuit. would be negatively impacted by natural gas production and oil drilling. Greenland is semi-autonomous, but is a territory of Denmark. The extraction of natural resources remains untapped potential. Greenland contains copper, graphite, nickel, gold, titanium, vanadium, tungsten, uranium, and iron ore. Mining is an important part of Greenland's physical economy. Exploration licenses are required for mining companies to search the land for rare earth minerals. Denmark has not fully extracted Greenland's natural resource economic value. The reason the Trump administration wants to acquire Greenland is to get access to the rare earth minerals. China and Russia are major producers of rare earth minerals. Trying to purchase Greenland from Denmark could be a means of competing with Eurasia. The value of rare earth minerals will only go up as reserves decline from high consumption. The possibility of Greenland being sold could spark a movement to full independence. Greenland's economic significance is going to to increase in the following years. Mining, natural gas, and oil corporations are going to put pressure on Denmark to get access to Greenland's natural resources.