Rwandan President Paul Kagame criticized the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), known as Monusco, for its failure to deliver despite a nearly three-decade presence and significant financial investment. He argued that the continued presence of the mission has not led to lasting solutions, but rather perpetuated problems, which is why Rwanda feels compelled to address the issue.
https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/africa/monusco-has-failed-kagame-says-as-he-lampoons-tshisekedi-4891626UK Labour leader Keir Starmer is set to visit Poland, where he will meet with business leaders from Polish firm InPost, which has announced a £1 billion investment in the UK over the next five years. The trip comes as the UK government seeks to reset its relationship with Europe and follows Prime Minister Boris Johnson's visit to Ukraine on Thursday, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky amid ongoing tensions with Russia. Starmer is also expected to discuss a potential peace deal in Ukraine with US officials, including Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who has suggested that both Ukraine and Russia must make concessions to end the war.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14296195/Keir-Starmer-closer-collaboration-Poland-Russia-Donald-Trump.htmlUK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer visited Ukraine to discuss a potential peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, following US President Donald Trump's return to the White House. The visit comes as European leaders weigh security guarantees for Ukraine in any future deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has spoken with several countries about a possible peacekeeping deployment to deter Russian aggression. Starmer urged Ukraine and the West not to lose focus on supporting Ukraine's military strength, particularly ahead of 2025 when it is expected to face Russia. The UK has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine since its invasion in 2022, and has announced a new partnership with Ukraine that includes £40 million for economic recovery and support for the country's technology sector.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1273081-starmer-pledges-more-work-on-security-guarantees-for-ukraineLabour Party leader Keir Starmer has expressed cautious optimism about the potential for a US-UK trade deal under President-elect Donald Trump's administration, despite concerns over the threat of tariffs. He emphasized that the UK values its relationship with the US and will continue to work closely with it on issues such as Ukraine. Starmer also downplayed the risk of new American tariffs, suggesting that talks about a potential trade agreement could begin in the coming weeks. He rejected the idea that there is a binary choice between a trade deal with the EU or the US, stating that decisions on this matter will be made in the future.
https://www.politico.eu/article/america-europe-donald-trump-keir-starmer-ukraine-russia-peace-initiative/Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government is facing concerns that it may be left out of a potential trade deal with the US, led by President Donald Trump. Others warn that Japan will be discarded in favor of other countries if it does not form an alliance with the US. Despite this, Japan is seen as well-positioned to secure a favorable agreement due to its strong economic ties and strategic location. The loss of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has left a power vacuum, making it uncertain whether Japan can maintain its position in trade negotiations.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/01/17/japan/japan-nothing-to-fear-from-trump/The city of Kursk is emerging as a strategic location that could influence not only the military control of the war, but also the diplomatic negotiations between international parties involved in the conflict.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/942453-the-hill-ukraine-s-control-of-kursk-region-will-play-a-crucial-role-in-negotiations-with-putinLabour has been accused of "capitulating" to China after signalling its support for a new Chinese mega-embassy in London, despite concerns over national security and human rights. The proposed embassy, which would be the largest in Europe, is set to be built on a site in the heart of the city, near key fibre-optic cables and sensitive communication lines. Labour's decision has been met with criticism from opposition MPs, who claim that the party is prioritising its relationship with China over concerns about the country's human rights record. The Chinese government has stated that it will change a "small element" of the design to address concerns, but critics argue that this does not go far enough.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14294323/Labour-China-mega-embassy-London.htmlThe UK's Labour government is collaborating with Elon Musk's companies, highlighting a convergence between politics and business that may become more pronounced under President Trump. This overlap has been noted by David Henig, director of the U.K. trade policy project at the European Centre for International Political Economy.
https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-british-carbon-credits-automakers-tesla-net-zero-policy-keir-starmer/Over the past two decades, the relationships between Latin America, China, and the US have undergone a significant shift. According to John Polga-Hecimovich, an associate professor of political science at the US Naval Academy, Latin American governments are increasingly viewing China as a viable economic alternative to the US. This change began in the early 2000s with the rise of left-wing governments, known as "the pink tide," which sought out Chinese investment and were subsequently courted by Beijing. As these governments' success became apparent, those from the center and right also turned to China for economic opportunities, altering the balance of power among the three regions.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/opinion/2025/01/17/trumps-tariffs-brought-china-and-mexico-closer