Brexit kicks off and tensions between Russia and the US flare
This week we look at the new wave of tensions between Russia and the United States. Over in Brussels, Brexit talks have started, and an EU summit was held.
Tensions flare between Russia and the US:
This week saw tensions rise between Russia and the West, especially the US. As the investigation into Russian meddling in the US election and links to the Trump administration rumbles on, Russia threatened to target US-led coalition aircraft flying over Syria after an American fighter jet downed a Syrian warplane. The Russian defense ministry said it was also pulling out of an agreement with the US intended to avoid mid-air clashes over the country.
Shortly afterwards, Russia cancelled a meeting between Washington and Kremlin officials designed to improve relations between the two countries.
On another issue, the US Senate decision to toughen sanctions on Moscow — to punish it for interference in the US election — has revived divisions among European countries. The sanctions target the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which Eastern European countries oppose but Germany supports. Austria and Germany publicly condemned the Senate vote.
Brexit talks kick off
With the UK Prime Minister still lacking a majority in parliament as the Tories’ deal with the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party founders, Brexit talks formally began in Brussels. The very first meeting took the shape of a lunch between David Davis, the British Cabinet secretary in charge of the United Kingdom’s exit, and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier.
During the meeting, Britain and the EU agreed to focus the first stages of negotiations on formalizing divorce proceedings from the bloc. The most urging issues to be negotiated include the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in EU countries, the final “exit bill” of financial obligations that the United Kingdom will have to pay to the union (the EU is expected to ask for as much as €100bn), and the border between Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, and the Irish Republic, an independent EU state.
Also this week, Theresa May promised to earn “the trust and confidence” of the British people with a legislative program of 27 bills intended to deliver Brexit, boost the fight against terrorism and help working families.
The meeting: EU Summit
As Belgian officials had just identified a 36-year-old Moroccan national who attempted to carry out an explosives attack at the Brussels Central Station, the leaders of EU countries met in the city. The gathering was the first such meeting for Emmanuel Macron and the first after the formal beginning of Brexit talks this week. Items on the agenda included extending sanctions against Russia (which were set to expire in July), terrorism, and migration policy. Theresa May presented her plans for the rights of EU citizens in Britain after Brexit.
Your Digest:
Confirmation:
French President Emmanuel Macron’s LREM Party won a landslide victory in the second round of legislative elections, winning an outright majority in Parliament that will enable his government to carry out his plans for the country. Macron reshuffled his government following the election and got rid of François Bayrou and two other ministers from his allied Modem Party who are under investigation for misusing EU funds.
A first, twice:
Anna Bambic — a gay woman — has been appointed prime minister of Serbia in a double first for the EU-candidate state.
No confidence:
Romania’s parliament approved a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, after his push to decriminalize some corruption offences triggered massive street protests in February. Romania’s ruling Social Democrats will now have to nominate a new prime minister.
Back-peddling:
Colombian opposition leader Alvaro Uribe of the Democratic Center party is maneuvering to block the presidential decrees needed to fully implement the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Terrorist hunt:
The Russian defense ministry claims it may have killed Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi in an air strike on Raqqa last month. Rumors of his death may be greatly exaggerated — Baghdadi, who formed ISIS four years ago, has been pronounced dead on repeated occasions, only to re-surface.
Influence game:
Panama leader Juan Carlos Varela will meet Donald Trump days after the small country established diplomatic relations with China and cut them with Taiwan in a diplomatic victory for Beijing.
Game of thrones:
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman promoted his son Mohammed bin Salman to crown prince, skipping over his eight older brothers.
Deal!
After months of negotiations, Greece and its creditors finally reached an agreement to release 8.5 billion euros ($9.5 billion) of the Hellenic country’s bailout program, which will allow it to pay debt maturing in July.
Number of the week:
65.6 million — That’s the number of people around the world who were forcibly displaced from their homes because of conflict or persecution by the end of 2016, according to figures published by the United Nations ahead of World Refugee Day.
Graph of the week:
The Economist has graphic details for our number of the week:
