South Korean presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has signaled a "pragmatic" foreign policy pivot that could ease tensions with China and reverse his predecessor's hawkish stance on US-South Korea relations. During the first televised debate, Lee faced criticism from challenger Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP) for lacking commitment to the US alliance and the THAAD system, a contentious issue with China.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3310905/south-koreas-presidential-candidates-clash-over-china-and-us-pragmatic-policy?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionKeir Starmer and David Lammy met with Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa in London to discuss closer ties between the UK and EU, marking their first official summit since Brexit.
https://apnews.com/article/uk-eu-summit-brexit-trade-b9d85e58d07b9acb28167e45dcdfe134Tedros, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has expressed concern over sudden cuts to bilateral aid, which are causing severe disruptions in countries and threatening the health of millions. He argues that global health spending should increase, particularly when defense expenditure is rising. The WHO's budget for the next two years has been revised down to $4.2 billion, equivalent to global military expenditure every eight hours.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/605189-people-in-70-countries-are-missing-out-on-medical-care-amid-funding-cuts-says-whoUkraine and Russia have agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war, with Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov stating that the exchanges could happen as early as this week. US President Donald Trump said he will meet with Russian President Putin, calling it a "very interesting" situation, while also expressing confidence in finding a solution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with American officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to discuss negotiations in Turkey and the need for sanctions against Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French, British, and Italian leaders also spoke with Trump about the situation in Ukraine, with plans for a prisoner exchange to follow his call with Putin.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/russia-ukraine-war-ceasefire-trump-call-vladimir-putin-may-19-2025/article69594912.eceUK Prime Minister is hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other EU leaders in London for a UK-EU summit, aiming to reset ties and boost security cooperation. The meeting seeks to address trade barriers introduced by Brexit, marking the first such gathering since Britain's departure from the bloc.
https://channelnewsasia.com/watch/uk-hosts-eu-leaders-first-summit-brexit-5139801The UN is calling for a foundation of trust and peaceful coexistence to build a greener, more prosperous future. The 80th anniversary is a chance to implement international law principles, including those from the UN charter and Security Council resolutions, in the Kashmir conflict between China and Pakistan.
https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/05/19/brics-message-to-ring-hollow-if-pakistan-remains-blocked-by-india-envoy-khalil-hashmiThe US government's decision to cut funding to the United Nations has significant implications for global health, humanitarian efforts, and US influence at the UN. The cuts may inadvertently harm disease response systems, as a single supply chain or security contract shutdown could have far-reaching consequences. USAID experts must identify these potential unintended effects. The administration should leverage budget cuts to push for transparency and reform within the UN, particularly at the World Health Organization. Priority should be given to teams working on high-priority responses in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, where peacemaking efforts are underway. Retaining USAID officers with expertise in humanitarian diplomacy is crucial as the State Department merges its functions. The administration should also review upcoming UN elections and appointments for key leadership positions, prioritizing those who align with US interests.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/usaid-cuts-weaken-us-influence-united-nationsThe US is introducing legislation aimed at mitigating China's growing threat by requiring a comprehensive intelligence assessment of Chinese basing activities and creating an interagency task force to counteract future attempts to add military bases in strategic countries. The plan would identify effective practices to persuade foreign governments to terminate plans allowing the PRC to establish bases, and proactively engage with at-risk countries to undermine China's basing pursuits. Senator Kaine emphasizes the need for a US strategy to halt China's increase in military influence, citing recent sightings of Chinese scouting military bases in the Seychelles Islands and Singapore, where the US already has a presence.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/lawmakers-propose-legislation-to-prevent-chinas-global-military-expansion/article_21fce680-5b21-50a3-af9f-b4aa4f315acc.htmlEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen believes that this week will be crucial for creating conditions to end the war in Ukraine, as stated during a trilateral meeting in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US Vice President Kamala Harris.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/972057-ursula-von-der-leyen-this-week-will-be-decisive-for-the-war-in-ukraine