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Does the United States need Europe? That question is currently under much debate in Washington policy circles, with some arguing that the U.S. should redeploy forces, materiel and military planning away from Europe and reallocate them toward countering China. The argument has some validity, but it is ultimately unsustainable.

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Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s appointment of Gen. Henry Sanabria as the national police chief last August was meant to start a new chapter in the country’s policing. Sanabria was tapped to help usher in an era of enlightened public safety under the progressive Petro. But the script didn’t unfold as expected.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

An opposition victory in Turkey’s elections on May 14 could open a window of opportunity to build a friendlier relationship between Turkey and its partners in NATO and the EU. Yet when it comes to Ankara’s relationship with the EU, there is another election this May that could prove as decisive: Greece’s elections on May 21.

The conflict in Sudan, exacerbated by economic and political crises, has led to the deployment of the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group accused of human rights violations, further complicating efforts to resolve the crisis.

Sudan has been gripped by violence since fighting broke out just over a week ago between rival military factions vying for control in Khartoum. With the situation deteriorating, the plight of civilians has been in the spotlight, but protective infrastructure is scarce. For Sudanese civilians, the only option has been “self-protection.”

The economies of Latin America are often influenced by the politics and policies of both the US and China, as their strategic interests and competition can have significant impacts on the region's economic development.

U.S. policy in Latin America is now strongly shaped by the question of China’s involvement and influence there. But while the U.S. will not convince countries to turn away from Beijing, it could help governments negotiate a better and more fair playing field, for China and other foreign powers operating in their countries.

A computer screen displays Open AI’s ChatGPT.

The pace of innovation when it comes to AI is leaving many outside observers, and even industry insiders, stunned. Some now worry about AI’s potential impact on the global economy and the role humans will play in it. The concerns are understandable, but we should not overreact. Humans will continue to thrive in the AI-driven economy.

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Powered by intense opposition to a law that would require Dutch farmers to severely cut their nitrogen emissions, the populist Farmer’s Citizens Movement has suddenly become the most popular party in the Netherlands. It’s a taste of things to come as democracies seek to enact measures to protect the environment.

Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

For years, Russia analysts have tried to make sense of President Vladimir Putin’s rule by reaching for comparisons with key moments in Russian history. Yet a more useful approach than looking to Russian history would be to compare the Putin regime with similar regimes over the past 70 years in Egypt, Pakistan and Yemen.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Could a coalition of non-Western countries find a pathway to peace between Russia and Ukraine? Brazilian President Lula da Silva talked up this prospect on a visit last weekend to Beijing. Along with China’s own 12-point “position paper” on ending the war, that has focused attention on non-Western powers’ potential to broker peace.

A currency exchange rate board in Santiago, Chile

Instead of the major economic crisis that was previously predicted, Latin America appears to be in a period of stagflation—growing too slowly to meet populations’ needs, with high but not crisis-level inflation. But several presidents are now questioning the independence of the central banks, a potential warning sign to the region.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley

Classified U.C. intelligence documents revealing secret plans related to the Ukrainian military were leaked across social media channels last week, taking U.S. government officials by surprise. While it will likely have no influence on the course of the war, the leak offers insights into how the war is playing out.

Nicaraguan Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes.

Friction between Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and the Catholic Church is not new. But tense relations reached boiling point during Easter celebrations last week with further arrests in Ortega’s latest brazen crackdown, putting the devout in the middle of a power struggle between two mighty forces.

Three Russian mercenaries in northern Mali.

Mali’s government is struggling to assert its authority as more communities fall to various Islamist groups. After a decade of faltering counterinsurgency efforts, it might be time to take a closer look at the biggest obstacle to stability —the Malian state’s chronic inability to counteract shadow governance structures.

In the aftermath of the civil war in South Sudan, the International Criminal Court has been investigating alleged human rights violations and war crimes committed by various parties, seeking to hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities.

A recent report from the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan documented terrible human rights violations taking place in the country, named individual perpetrators and called for prosecutions. But certain obstacles could prevent the International Criminal Court from being the venue for such a trial.

During his presidency, Lula da Silva was known for prioritizing diplomatic relations with Latin American countries, as well as forging partnerships with global powers such as Russia and China, while maintaining a complex relationship with the US.

One hundred days into his new term in office, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is returning to familiar policy approaches in an effort to restore Brazil’s regional and global leadership. But a difficult domestic political and economic environment may constrain his foreign policy ambitions.

The upcoming Summit for Democracy aims to address the growing threat of autocracy and authoritarianism around the world, with the US seeking to strengthen alliances and counter the influence of countries like China and Russia, while conflicts like the ongoing war in Ukraine underscore the urgency of the issue.

With everything that happened last week, one could easily have missed what is nevertheless an ostensibly central pillar of President Joe Biden’s foreign policy: the second Summit for Democracy. Some critics say the summit risks becoming an “inconsequential talk shop.” In fact, it has already crossed that line.

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has deepened under the leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, prompting the government to seek an IMF bailout, while political tensions continue to simmer amidst concerns about corruption and human rights abuses.

A year after mass protests forced the resignation of the government, Sri Lanka is making some progress on its economic and debt crises. But the country is not out of danger. Its humanitarian crisis is far from over, and some of the forces that helped create the catastrophe are still embedded in the country’s centers of power.

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