The Press Roundup

 

The Press Roundup

Curated Summary

February 1, 2024 (Thursday)

What is ECOWAS and why have 3 coup-hit nations quit the West Africa bloc? (Associated Press)

• In a joint statement, the juntas of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso say that instead of helping their countries combat security threats, ECOWAS has imposed "illegal, inhumane and irresponsible sanctions."
• This is the first time in the nearly 50 years of the bloc's existence that its members have withdrawn in this way. Analysts say it is an unprecedented blow to the group and another threat to stability in the region.
• The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States regional bloc was created in 1975 with one goal - "to promote co-operation and integration ... to improve the living standards of the people and to maintain and strengthen economic stability."
• The ECOWAS treaty stipulates that member states wishing to leave the bloc must give a year's written notice, but the organisation's leadership has yet to receive notice from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.
• Ryan Cummings, director of Signal Risk, a consultancy specialising in security in Africa, says leaving ECOWAS could give Russia a new opportunity to expand its presence in Africa.
• Once friendly relations between Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and developed Western states soured after the coups. Russia, meanwhile, was more friendly and continued to play on anti-French sentiment, presenting itself to African countries as a power that never colonised the continent.
• Russia's PMC Wagner is present in Mali, where it is working with the army to fight armed rebels. Russian soldiers arrived in Burkina Faso last month to "strengthen military-strategic co-operation" between the two countries. Russian and Nigerian senior officials also met recently. "These countries have strengthened their partnership with Russia in recent months, from national security to the economy... How much more support they can get from Moscow remains to be seen," says Ryan Cummings.

 EU shifts spending focus from climate to defence (Financial Times)

• The military conflict in Ukraine and shrinking national budgets are forcing the EU to shift its funding priorities. The EU is shifting its spending focus from greening the economy to investing in defence. Faced with shrinking national budgets, member states have reduced a common fund designed to boost innovation in the bloc from €10bn to €1.5bn. EU members also decided that the fund could only be used for defence-related projects and not for green technology or other climate-related investments.
• According to Belgian Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem, after the COVID-19 pandemic, "there was a huge focus on green and digital technologies... Now we see that this focus is shifting a little bit."
• The executive director of industry group Cleantech for Europe, Jules Besnainou, believes the debate on how the EU finances its ambitious climate policy is a thing of the past.
• EU Climate Commissioner Vopke Hoekstra said areas requiring "significant investment" include defence, climate change and artificial intelligence. On defence, he said countries have "stepped up, and quite rightly so, and we don't see an end to that yet."

Iran praised security agreements reached with Pakistan (Caspian News)

• Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian praised the security agreements on "fighting terrorism" reached during his visit to Pakistan, following recent political tensions between the two countries.
• The two countries reached a good conclusion regarding the implementation of previous agreements, especially the security agreement signed between the authorities of Iran and Pakistan.
• The recent political tensions were triggered by Iran's missile strikes on the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl bases in Pakistani territory, which led to retaliatory strikes by Pakistan on separatist groups in Iran.
• As a result of the tensions, Pakistan recalled its ambassador to Tehran and cancelled high-level diplomatic and trade engagements, but the two countries fully restored ties on January 26.

How to end the Middle East’s agony (The Economist)

• Conflict has spread across the Middle East, involving ten countries, including Israel, Hamas, Hizbullah, and the Houthis in Yemen.
• Intense diplomacy, led by America and Saudi Arabia, is underway to reach a transformative deal.
• The proposed deal aims to use a hostage-release to reset Israeli politics, leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
• The deal also aims to facilitate a Saudi-Israeli agreement, with mutual recognition and American security guarantees.
• The odds of a hostage deal are estimated to be 50, and if successful, the odds of a Saudi-Israeli deal could also be 50.

Why NATO needs Ukraine (Foreign Affairs)

• Allies of Ukraine are struggling to articulate a common vision for the long-term security of Ukraine and Europe, two years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• The shock and awe prompted by Russia's aggression and Ukraine's resistance seem to have worn off, as evidenced by the shift in mood at the July 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius.
• The summit failed to offer Ukraine membership in NATO, settling instead on an ambiguously worded communique. This lack of a clear plan for Ukraine's NATO membership gives Putin more confidence and undermines Ukraine's ability to win.
• NATO's ambiguity creates a feedback loop where Kyiv's purported failures appear to offer evidence that further support, such as NATO membership, would be of little use or might backfire.
• Russia's ability to improve its logistics and fighting is partly a result of NATO's ambivalence.

US stalls delivery of drones to India over Sikh murder plot (Dawn)

• The US government has delayed the delivery of 31 MQ-9A Sea Guardian and Sky Guardian drones to India until a "meaningful investigation" is conducted into the conspiracy to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a New York-based Khalistan activist accused of terrorism by India.
• The proposed $3 billion purchase includes 15 Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy, while the Indian Air Force and Army are supposed to receive eight Sky Guardian drones each.
• In addition to the drone procurement, smaller Indian acquisitions, including a proposal to buy six Boeing P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft, have also been held back by the US.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt confirmed they are joining BRICS (Middle East Monitor)

• Five of the six countries invited to join the BRICS bloc of developing nations from 1 January have confirmed they are joining, South Africa announced today.
• Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran and Egypt have all agreed to join the bloc.
• The expansion of the group would add economic heft to BRICS, whose current members are China, Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa. It could also amplify its declared ambition to become a champion of the Global South.

E.U. reaches deal on fund for Ukraine (The New York Times)

• European Union leaders have reached an agreement to create a 50-billion-euro fund for Ukraine, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, who had been the primary obstacle to a deal, now onboard.
• The fund will provide long-term, predictable funding to support Ukraine's economy during the war with Russia.
• Mr. Orban had been demanding an annual chance to veto the disbursement of money to Ukraine, but that was rejected. Instead, E.U. leaders agreed to a regular review of the way the money was being spent.
• The European Commission will draft an annual report on how the Ukraine fund is being used, and E.U. leaders will have a chance to debate its performance and raise any concerns about it.
• The aid, to be dispensed in the form of loans and grants over the next four years, will help Ukraine cover immediate needs and plan its long-term budget.

The Russian Navy is trying to make the ultimate comeback (The National Interest)

• The Russian Navy is undergoing a resurgence, with plans to receive 12 surface warships and four submarines in 2024.
• Russia claims to have achieved 100% import substitution in the construction of these vessels, despite facing international sanctions.
• The commissioning of warships has become a regular development for the Russian Navy, with 2024 potentially seeing the largest number of vessels launched in decades.
• In the past 10 years, the Russian Navy received 40 surface ships and 24 submarines, indicating a significant increase compared to the previous decade.