Open newsletter – April 16, 2022

AROUND THE WORLD

Finland – Sweden – NATO

• Going Nordic: What NATO membership would mean for Finland and Sweden, April 15. By Atlantic Council. As they watch Russia unleash total war against a European neighbor, Sweden and Finland seem to agree: It’s finally time to join NATO. (read more)

France

• Where does France’s presidential election stand after round one?, April 15. By Célia Belin, Agneska Bloch, Raman Preet Kaur, and Adrianna Pita, Brookings. The first round of France’s presidential election narrowed the field to current President Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen. Before the two face off in a second round of voting on April 24, Célia Belin and Agneska Bloch examine the issues motivating French voters, and what both candidates will try – and need – to do in the coming weeks to win in the runoff. (read more)

India

• BJP riding high on the road towards next national election, April 15. By Diego Maiorano, East Asia Forum. In March 2020, the Indian government announced one of the harshest COVID-19 lockdowns in the world with only four hours’ notice. The lockdown left tens of millions of workers without a job, savings or a roof over their heads. In May–June 2021, the country then went through a devastating wave of COVID-19, which, according to The Economist, resulted in 2.4 million deaths and was largely attributed to government mismanagement. (read more)

India – USA

• US and India launch talks about military AI, April 15. By  Colin Demarest, Defense News. The U.S. and India have agreed to engage in new talks about artificial intelligence and its use in matters of national security, an outgrowth of the nations’ deepening relationship at a time of sharpened Indo-Pacific focus. (read more)

Israel

• Israel successfully tests new laser missile defense system, April 15. By  Laurie Kellman, The Associated Press, Defense News. Israel’s new laser missile-defense system has successfully intercepted mortars, rockets and anti-tank missiles in recent tests, Israeli leaders said Thursday. The Israeli-made laser system, known as the “Iron Beam,” is designed to complement a series of aerial defense systems, including the more costly rocket-intercepting Iron Dome. (read more)

Nepal

• Nepal’s geopolitical stakes are as high as the Himalayas, April 14. By Gaurab Shumsher Thapa, East Asia Forum. Nepal occupies a crucial geostrategic location in South Asia. It is sandwiched between powerful and competing neighbours in India and China, outstripping the Himalayan nation in size, population, economy and military might. Yet it is one of the few countries that has remained independent throughout history. Maintaining that independence is now just that much more challenging. (read more)

Russia – Ukraine (impact, reactions, consequences)

• Russia’s Artificial Intelligence Boom May Not Survive the War, April 15. By Samuel Bendett, Defense One. The last year was a busy one for Russia’s military and civilian artificial intelligence efforts. Moscow poured money into research and development, and Russia’s civil society debated the country’s place in the larger AI ecosystem. But Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February and the resulting sanctions have brought several of those efforts  to a halt—and thrown into question just how many of its AI advancements Russia will be able to salvage and continue. (read more)

Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka’s human rights reform charm offensive, April 15. By Amresh Lavan Gunasingham, East Asia Forum. On 22 March 2022, Sri Lankan lawmakers have approved a range of reforms to the country’s controversial anti-terror law. Activist groups, some Western governments and international bodies continue to press the current government to improve its human rights record amid a worsening domestic economic crisis. (read more)

USA

• Defense Department Sets Out to Build Miniature Nuclear Reactor, Again, April 15. By Patrick Tucker, Defense One. Small, deployable nuclear reactors, an idea that the United States military has been experimenting with for decades, will receive new life under a program the Defense Department announced Thursday.  (read more)
• Navy, Marines integrating expeditionary forces into traditional amphibious operations, April 15. By  Megan Eckstein, Defense News.  The expeditionary warfare community is eyeing ways to use all its forces in future operations, with fleet experiments looping special operations forces, mine countermeasures sailors, Seabees and more into traditional naval operations. (read more)
• Pentagon to build nuclear microreactors to power far-flung bases, April 15. By Todd South, Defense News. Pentagon officials recently announced that the Defense Department will build a nuclear microreactor that can be flown to an austere site by a C-17 cargo plane and set up to power a military base. (read more)
• Time for a new digital regulatory authority, April 15. By Tom Wheeler, Brookings. “Microsoft president suggests digital regulatory agency” the headline announced. “It’s time to recognize reality,” Brad Smith observed. “The tech sector needs to mature, and we need to lean in to help make a new era of regulation work.”. (read more)
• Trump endorsements—no slam dunk so far, April 15. By Elaine Kamarck, Brookings. It should come as no surprise to observers of Donald Trump’s political career, that his endorsements in the 2022 midterms are chaotic and controversial, but they are also not nearly as decisive as he would like them to be. (read more)
• Donald Trump should be furious the RNC nixed presidential debates, April 15. By John Hudak, Brookings. On Thursday, the Republican National Committee voted to withdraw its party’s candidates from participation in the official presidential debates. Their unanimous vote to separate from the Commission on Presidential Debates is historic and comes after months of suggestions by the RNC and its chairperson Ronna McDaniel that the party would do so. While it is unclear whether such a move would bar a Republican standard bearer from participating if he or she chose to do so, such a move is a serious threat to the democratic process. It should also infuriate any potential 2024 Republican nominee who believes they could win a debate against President Joe Biden. (read more)

USA – China – Pacific

• US–China rivalry intensifies in the Pacific, April 16. By Denghua Zhang, East Asia Forum. US–China geostrategic competition is intensifying in the Pacific as both governments commit more resources to battle for influence. (read more)

HORIZONS

• The World Is on the Most Dangerous Eve, April 15. By Valdai Discussion Club.  More and more scholars estimate that the possibility of the outbreak of World War III is increasing, and have even concluded that this could lead to the outbreak of a nuclear war. The situation is moving in the direction of global disaster, writes Valdai Club expert Wang Wen. (read more)