Things We Lost In The Mire - 15

This week’s international news agenda –

COMING UP

All eyes on the UN, White House, Downing St and the Elysee Palace as the fallout from the chemical weapons attack in Syria continues. President Trump already talking of a ‘big price’ to pay. Recently President Macron said France might take action if such weapons were used. There’s a sense in the Western international community that unless there is a swift and coordinated response the use of chemical weapons might become considered the norm. The Saudi Crown Prince is in France and will make his anti-Assad views known to President Macron.

John Bolton begins work as the U.S. national security advisor this week, and the CIA director Mike Pompeo is expected to have his Senate confirmation hearing. Both are ‘hawkish’ on foreign affairs.

The announcement in Moscow, in the Duma, of the foreign and domestic agenda for President Putin’s 4th term, is worth looking at. While we may not get detail such as ‘Weds – invade Estonia’ it should provide a framework for understanding the big picture.

Today we should be able to pick through the details of the Hungarian election. By what margin has Orban won? What was the turnout? How did the extreme right Jobbik party do? etc.

What’s in a name? The Greeks and Macedonians mee again this week to discuss the Macedonia name issue.

DIARY 

Mon – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on an official visit to France.

Mon – John Bolton begins new job as U.S. National Security Advisor.

Mon – UK PM May to discuss Brexit with Danish PM Rasmussen and Swedish PM Loven.

Mon – Philippine President Duterte in China to see President Xi Jinping. 2-day visit, then he goes on to Hong Kong.

Weds – Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg to testify to Congress regarding data privacy practices.

Sat –  South African state funeral for Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

Sun –  U.S. President Trump meets Colombian President Santos in Colombia.

Sun –   Delayed Arab League summit should take place in Riyadh.

Sun – Deadline for Russian Duma to submit National Goals, laying out domestic and foreign agenda for President Putin’s 4th term.

Sun – ‘Day of the Sun ‘also known as the birthday of North Korea’s founder Kim Il Sung.