WORLD

In a reversal of previous policy, President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range US-made missiles on Russian soil as North Korean troops support the Russian war effort. After a surprise summer counteroffensive that saw Ukraine occupy parts of the Kursk Oblast, Russia has dedicated a significant amount of resources to retaking the region

On Nov. 5, former president Donald Trump emerged victorious from the hard-fought election of 2024. While the extent of Trump’s victory was certainly a surprise to many Americans, sweeping all of the 7 swing states, the win has been a greater shock for the rest of the world necessitating adaptation to the new administration — especially with regard to the overhaul Trump seeks of the status quo of America’s foreign relations and alliances.

During the last week of October, much of the talk was about the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. Now seen as a growing force that seeks to challenge Western economic and political dominance, many wondered what the newly expanded conference, which took place between Oct. 22-24, would pull out of the hat in this much-anticipated meeting. 

“Humanity must never again inflict nor suffer the sacrifice and torture we have experienced.” These impassioned words were spoken in 1956 by Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese organization awarded with 2024’s Nobel Peace Prize.

The EU has officially decided to increase tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles to as much as 45.3% after a controversial investigation that split Europe and prompted Chinese retaliation.

On Oct. 5, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters in Washington, D.C. gathered around the White House on the International Day of Palestinian Solidarity. Washington was one of the many cities worldwide where protesters marched demanding an end to Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, which has killed over 42,000 Palestinians according to the United Nations.

In late September, the Biden administration proposed a change to a rule that affects much of America’s imports from China. Although this is a fine policy on paper, it is flying under the radar. Did electoral politics make the Biden administration—like that of Trump—water down some ambitions and amplify others?

“Ukraine today is Asia tomorrow,” asserts Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Ishiba recently emphasized his support and proposal for the idea of an Asian NATO to ensure collective security in the region.

Roughly 7,000 judges in Mexico will now all be elected, rather than appointed, removing current judicial workers from their positions. In addition to the introduction of “faceless judges” – judges whose anonymity is preserved in certain criminal cases for their protection – and a judicial disciplinary tribunal, the popular election is one of many controversial reforms recently proposed by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico.

To most Americans, the Quad is a blur. A country that is a part of and the instigator of more alliances and strategic organizations than one can count, the United States often appears to pay little more than a quick glance outside of NATO and the G7. 

Beirut and other parts of Lebanon were thrown into chaos two weeks ago when pagers and other wireless devices used by the Shia militant group Hezbollah exploded, killing 32 and injuring several thousand.

Media headlines describe Iran’s missile attack on Israel as “unprecedented,” ending decades of “shadow wars” between the two nations. Yet, after Israel’s most recent retaliatory strike, it is clear these direct missile attacks are not a precursor to a conventional war, but rather a continuation of shadow war, centered on sending a message rather than inflicting physical damage.

— Alessia Coluccio

In El Salvador, order has emerged from an anti-democratic regime. The fact of the matter is that the Latin American country was rather lawless before, with gangs roaming the streets and bribery a norm. The U.S. must push for an order in accordance with law. There is a world where due process meets safety. 

— Michael Scime

Recently, former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner for the upcoming 2024 election, has commented on the United States’ commitment to NATO, leaving the other allied countries questioning their safety amid the War in Ukraine.

— Christina Tucholski

The finger guns to the head are more than a gesture or a political protest. It’s a way for the world to finally understand how dire the situation in Congo has been and continues to be. Whether it is the DR Congo, Gaza, Sudan, or Tigray, you can not just tune out what is distressing to you just because you don’t want to hear it.

— Kahwit Tela

In the face of the current climate crisis, developing nations must balance the pressure to transition to renewable energy sources with the need to provide affordable and stable energy to their population. Unfortunately for climate activists, the easiest way to overcome this is through the use of fossil fuels.

— Alessia Coluccio

While the United Nations (UN) is intended to provide a forum for such coordination, its effectiveness has been increasingly called into question by members of Congress and international leaders alike. While the UN remains an indispensable asset to diplomacy, it needs to be fixed to restore its credibility and strength to meet the unique challenges of the world today.

— Stephen Blinder

The recent conflict that has occurred within the Middle East have deeply shocked Georgetown students and the international community. It is crucial to condemn the innocent killing of civilians on both sides, and to stand with both the Jewish and Palestinian communities in empathizing with their suffering. 

— Peer Khan

The Filipino Coast Guard removed a floating barrier installed by China to prevent Filipino boats from fishing in a contested region of the South China Sea on September 25, 2023. A released video showed a Filipino diver cutting a 300 meter long string of buoys near Scarborough Shoal, a fertile fishing ground west of Luzon.

— Maggie Yang

Corruption investigations. Arrests of high-profile politicians. A political earthquake that fundamentally alters politics for one billion people while remaining a mystery to the rest of the world. 

— Peer Khan

When Orson Wells broadcast his “War of the Worlds” episode on the radio in 1938, people across the United States feared the world as they knew it was falling under attack. While that was proven to be a theatrical performance, increased relations between Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have left the world wondering if their relationship will also be a ruse, or if it will become a true War of the Worlds.

— Emily Beaman

Advocates for women’s rights throughout the world felt the victory and progress being made when the Mexican Supreme Court recently federally decriminalized abortion. 

— Anna Wice

As enticing as the idea of two warring states pursuing peace may seem, peace simply for peace’s sake is not necessarily a virtue. One must understand what is at stake and consider whether diplomacy will in fact maximize international security and prosperity in the long-term. Considering the historical and geopolitical context surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, exerting pressure on President Zelensky to accept Putin’s demands would be a grave mistake. 

— Zach Fontiadis

Speaking in the Lohrfink Auditorium at an event sponsored by Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo praised the “incredible opportunity we have as a nation to unleash the next generation of American innovation, protect our national security, and preserve our global economic competitiveness.” She was, of course, speaking of the recent, under-the-radar passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, along with new Biden administration trade rules. 

— Asher Maxwell

Liz Truss resigned on the morning of October 20. In her mere 44 days as Prime Minister (the shortest of any Prime Minister in British history), Truss managed to crash the British economy, create yet another political crisis for Britain, and then promptly resign.

— Andrew Wong

On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered what will likely be regarded as among the most notorious speeches in modern history. His very first grievance in the address was perhaps the most critical, as he parroted a line long professed by ardent Russian foreign policy apologists: preventing NATO expansion.

— Zach Fotiadis

Tying countries together economically intended to construct a system for automatic and discretionary consequences for aggressive action. However, through the decades of relative international peace we have yet to see a successful, full-scale test of this ideology. Russia’s war on Ukraine highlights the failures of economically bonded world peace.

— Elizabeth Johnson

Invoking the legacy of colonialism, the Kenyan delegation excoriated President Putin for his exploitation of ethnic tensions and irredentist visions to justify his bombardment of a sovereign power.

— Zach Fotiadis

In a political climate that has facilitated the rise of authoritarianism and amplified public mistrust of the media, the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa comes at a critical moment.

— Ethan Johanson

U.S. humanitarian aid to Lebanon is a step in the right direction to helping the nation get back on it’s feet , but Lebanon’s recovery from economic crisis, Beirut blast, and COVID-19 will be slow.

— Rajaa Bint Talal