The Press Roundup

 

The Press Roundup

Curated Summary

February 7, 2024 (Wednesday)

Israel aid bill fails in US house as Ukraine impasse deepens (Bloomberg)

• The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass a $17.6 billion aid funding package for Israel, which has become embroiled in a protracted political battle over military aid to Ukraine and border policy. The bill, which required a two-thirds majority to pass, failed on a vote of 250 to 180.

• This demonstrates that Congress does not have a clear and quick path to approve aid to Israel. President Joe Biden threatened to veto the bill because of its lack of funds for Ukraine, leading most Democrats to oppose it. Many progressives also condemned the bill because it did not include humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

• House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul said the Senate's next move could be to try to pass an aid package for Ukraine and Israel without the border provisions. That would move the issue back to the House of Representatives, where ultraconservatives like Marjorie Taylor Green strongly oppose funding for Ukraine.

It's time to give Poland nuclear weapons (The Spectator)

• Even centrist EU politicians, such as the leader of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber, are thinking about nuclear deterrence as a possible response to the return of Donald Trump. Weber suggests that France, with its large nuclear capabilities, should lead European deterrence efforts. The UK may be included in his scheme with the aim of jointly turning the EU and its closest European partners into a nuclear power. The basic rationale is sound, regardless of whether Trump decides to remove American nuclear missiles from Germany, Belgium and Italy.

• But this does not mean that Europe, and especially Eastern Europe, is helpless. Firstly, there is a significant contingent of countries that trust each other, have a common opinion about Russia and can easily acquire and maintain their own nuclear deterrent forces — Poland, the Baltic States and Northern Europe. In fact, it would be enough for one of these countries to step forward and assume fixed costs, and then offer an agreement on the joint use of nuclear weapons to other parties that may be interested.

• Poland, which invests heavily in both its armed forces and nuclear energy, could be a pioneer. The cost may be surprisingly modest. The Trident system, acquired by the UK in the 1980s, was worth about 21 billion pounds ($26.5 billion) in today's prices. The costs were spread over more than a decade, and the annual maintenance was about 3 billion pounds (3.8 billion dollars). The mere announcement of such an intention could prompt France and/or the UK to offer Warsaw a bilateral nuclear arms exchange deal, which could also work. But ultimately, for deterrence to be convincing, the weapons must be under the control of the party that carries the greatest risk of a direct Russian attack — Poland itself.

• In the post-American world, a Polish nuclear umbrella could help secure Europe's eastern flank. It would also provide an alternative way to guarantee Ukraine's security after the cessation of hostilities, especially if NATO membership is no longer possible. However, in fact, a nuclear Poland would be the answer to the age—old problem of European geopolitics - how to prevent Germany and Russia from striving to dominate the Eurasian continent.

Hamas proposes 135-day Gaza truce with complete Israeli withdrawal (Reuters)

• Hamas has proposed a ceasefire plan that will stop fighting in Gaza for four and a half months, during which all hostages will be released, Israel will withdraw troops from the sector and an agreement will be reached to end the war. The Hamas plan is a response to a proposal sent last week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators and approved by Israel and the United States. Tel Aviv, which has said it will not withdraw troops from Gaza until Hamas is destroyed, has not yet given a public response.

• The Hamas counter-proposal provides for three phases of the truce, each of which will last 45 days. The militants will exchange the remaining Israeli hostages captured on October 7 for Palestinian prisoners. The reconstruction of Gaza will begin, Israeli troops will be completely withdrawn, and bodies and remains will be exchanged.

• A source close to the negotiations said that the Hamas counteroffer does not require guarantees of a permanent ceasefire from the very beginning, but the end of the war must be agreed before the last hostages are released. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is set to discuss the Hamas counteroffer with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Wednesday).

Saudi Arabia says there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel without an independent Palestinian state (Channel News Asia)

• Saudi Foreign Ministry states that they will not recognize Israel unless they retreat from the aggression in Gaza, and agree to a Palestinian state on 1967 borders

• White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said that the Biden administration has received positive feedback that Saudi Arabia and Israel are willing to continue to have normalisation discussions

China’s Diplomatic Pivot: Shaping Afghanistan’s Future Amidst Global Challenges (Pakistan Observer)

• Chinese President Xi Jinping formally acknowledged Mawlavi Asadullah as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, making China the first nation to extend formal recognition to the Taliban-led government.

• This move showcases China's pragmatic diplomacy and commitment to fostering a shared future with Afghanistan.

• The ceremony at the Great Hall of the People reflects the amicable relations between China and Afghanistan, highlighting China's steadfast commitment to strengthening friendship and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation.

• President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's unwavering support for Afghanistan's peace, stability, and development, rooted in respect for the nation's sovereignty and autonomy.

• China's recognition of the Taliban-led government opens a strategic avenue for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to expand into Afghanistan, a critical geopolitical sphere.

Pakistan’s election: Can the next government bring economic stability? (Aljazeera)

·       The upcoming election in Pakistan is considered to be highly significant, with high stakes for the country's future. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan is in jail, and there is a crackdown on his party, while former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is back to contest the vote along with other candidates from different political ideologies. The focus of this election is not only on addressing political instability but also on establishing a new government that can stabilize the economy, which is in crisis. The poverty rate is high, inflation is over 30%, and economic conditions are believed to be worsening by 70% of Pakistanis.

·       Pakistan faced the threat of default last year, with foreign reserves plummeting and the currency losing value. The previous government secured a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address the crisis. The current IMF program is set to conclude in March, and the winning party in the election will need to re-enter negotiations with the IMF to maintain stability.

The SIFC has a new plan to tackle circular debt. Will it work? (Pakistan Today)

• The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in Pakistan has been trying to stimulate the economy and attract foreign investment, but with limited success.

• One of the major issues the council is currently addressing is the circular debt in the country, which stood at Rs. 5.7 trillion at the end of January.

• The power sector accounts for Rs. 2.703 trillion of the circular debt, while the gas sector contributes Rs. 3.022 trillion.

• Despite previous measures, such as tariff increases, little progress has been made in addressing the circular debt issue.

• The IMF and Government of Pakistan are currently in talks, and the circular debt is expected to be a key topic of discussion.