Category: Politics

On Tuesday, Thai cabinet approved a plan to restructure the Senate and remove its ability to select the prime minister. The appointed Senate, which was first imposed by the military following the coup in 2014, has essentially served as a veto for the military when it comes to selecting the nation’s leader.

The selection of the next 200 senators will now take place through a complex procedure involving numerous professional fields. However, they will not be involved in the formation of the government.

After the current Senate prevented the anti-establishment Move Forward party from forming a government in 2023, criticism of the body grew. After a standoff, the military-backed proxy parties and the Pheu Thai party, which came in second, established an extraordinary alliance to create the government. Now in opposition, Move Forward faces dissolution for opposing laws upholding the monarchy.

Twenty professional groups are involved in the selection process for the new senators, shortlisting candidates who will face off provincially. However, unlike in parliamentary elections, regular voters have no direct voice.

The upper chamber will still have the right to appoint members of independent bodies and to conduct legislative oversight when its reforms take effect in July. The lower chamber, which is elected, will nevertheless have the last say in legislation.

On Tuesday, South Korea and Romania committed to strengthening defence sector cooperation to secure Seoul’s standing as the fourth-largest arms exporter globally.

During their summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Romanian colleague Klaus Iohannis talked about cooperative military production. Furthermore, Polish Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Bejda and South Korea’s Shin Won-sik met, intending to conclude a major contract with Hanwha Aerospace for more weaponry.

South Korea has landed significant defence contracts in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Remarkably, Romania is apparently in the process of signing its first defence contract with South Korea, worth one trillion won, with Hanwha Aerospace for the supply of K9 howitzers.

Poland has previously committed to a $22 billion arms agreement with South Korea, which includes the purchase of 70 Chunmoo rocket artillery units costing $1.6 billion, to strengthen its defence capabilities. The parliament of South Korea voted to loosen export financing regulations, marking the beginning of efforts to increase the funding options available for such transactions.

These changes highlight the defence industry’s expanding worldwide reach and the strategic alliances that South Korea has formed within the framework of the international weapons trade.

Emirati and Omani companies recently sealed deals totaling 129 billion dirhams ($35.12 billion) during Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq’s visit to the United Arab Emirates this week. These agreements cover several industries, including transport and energy, with a primary emphasis on an industrial and energy megaproject valued at 117 billion dirhams.

The involvement of such significant players as TAQA, Masdar, EGA, ESA, OQ Alternative Energy, and Oman Electrical Transmission Co. indicates a concentrated effort towards sustainable energy and industrial development.

The Oman Investment Authority and ADQ, the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi, also agreed to establish a 660 million dirham technology-focused fund. Another big agreement, valued at 11 billion dirhams, is to build rail infrastructure to link Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, the minister of investments, highlighted the significance of these agreements in encouraging reciprocal advancement and fortifying bilateral relations. He regarded them as a crucial step in achieving a common goal of progress and prosperity.

The recent joint ventures between Omani and Emirati organisations highlight a strategic alliance meant to promote sustainability, innovation, and economic expansion throughout the region.

The G7 summit in Capri saw major powers pledging to boost Ukraine’s air defences against Russian attacks and calling on China to cease support for Moscow’s military. The Middle East and Ukrainian crises were the main topics of discussion at the summit, which was attended by foreign ministers from the US, Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the UK.

The ministers emphasised the importance of further support for Ukraine, which is up against more powerful Russian forces, while simultaneously advocating for de-escalation in the Middle East to avert a more extensive regional confrontation, acknowledging the interdependence of the two crises.

Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, emphasised the connection between the wars and asked the G7 allies for more assistance.

In return, the G7 promised to strengthen Kyiv’s air defence capabilities to save vital infrastructure and prevent fatalities. They warned that China’s support of Russia’s defence sector goes against its stated goal of improving relations with the West and criticised Beijing for it.

A G7 summit in June is scheduled to make decisions on utilising Russian asset gains to support Ukraine, despite ammunition shortages among European allies and stalled U.S. funding in Congress.

The Philippines’ foreign ministry described the country’s recent decision to strengthen its relations with Japan and the United States—which was brought up at a summit presided over by the U.S.

President Joe Biden—as a “sovereign choice” made in response to China’s complaints. The purpose of the trilateral meeting between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines was to discuss common worries over China’s actions in the South China Sea.

The foreign ministry of the Philippines emphasised that this cooperation should not be seen as a threat but rather as a means of promoting economic development and peace in the Indo-Pacific region. On the other hand, it blamed regional tension for China’s moves in the South China Sea.

China responded by saying it was against the creation of exclusive alliances and charging that the United States was still thinking like it was the Cold War. Manila disputed these assertions, claiming that trilateral collaboration serves a peaceful purpose.

Due to maritime conflicts resulting from China’s expanded territorial claims clashing with those of neighbouring countries, relations between the Philippines and China have deteriorated. China rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 decision, which declared China’s claims to be invalid.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, in a recent meeting, highlighted the importance of deepening defence cooperation between their nations. Their discussions highlighted serious concerns over the situation in the South China Sea, where tensions between the Philippines and China have been notable.

China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea have been a source of contention, as it asserts almost total control over the region, which serves as a crucial maritime route for global commerce, amounting to over $3 trillion annually. However, other countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei also lay claim to various parts of the area, leading to maritime disputes and geopolitical tensions.

In addition to their focus on the South China Sea, Marcos, and Luxon emphasised the significance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, a crucial maritime passage in the region.

Moreover, the leaders announced plans to elevate bilateral relations to a “comprehensive partnership” by 2026. As part of this initiative, the Philippines and New Zealand are set to finalise a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, facilitating joint military exercises and humanitarian missions, thereby enhancing their defence capabilities and fostering closer ties between the two nations.

A Eurobarometer survey indicates that 60% of Europeans are very or somewhat interested in the forthcoming European Parliament election, up from 49% in 2019. This represents a significant increase in interest compared to five years ago. During elections, talk about jobs, health, poverty, and defence is frequent. Remarkably, 81% of participants believe that international problems like the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have made voting more important.

In a video statement, President Roberta Metsola of the European Parliament highlighted the serious consequences. France, on the other hand, displayed apathetic attitudes towards the European Parliament, with the lowest percentage of any member state—just 27%.

Even though the Eurobarometer focuses more on public opinion than party support, recent surveys indicate that among the 720 parliamentarians, nationalist and EU-sceptic parties—especially those on the far right—are making gains. The top campaign issues were public health (32%) and poverty (33%), followed by the economy, job development, defence, and security (all at 31%).

Concern over climate change dropped to fifth place, according to 27% of respondents. Although 71% of Europeans say they would vote, up from 61% in 2019, historically, actual turnout has lagged behind intentions. 50.66% of voters turned out for the 2019 election, the highest percentage since 1994.

According to sources close to the African oil sector and Reuters, Namibia is being considered for membership in OPEC+, an alliance that is facing withdrawals from countries such as Angola. If it succeeds, Namibia may become the continent’s fourth-largest oil exporter by 2030.

With estimates of 2.6 billion barrels, recent findings made by TotalEnergies and Shell might pave the way for production by 2030.

OPEC+’s initial goal is for Namibia to accede to its Charter of Cooperation so that it can have longer-term negotiations about energy markets. The African Energy Chamber’s executive chairman, NJ Ayuk, says Namibia would eventually like to be a full member of OPEC. But OPEC’s position is still unknown, and questions have not received a prompt answer.

Namibia showed interest in joining OPEC last year, but Minister Alweendo said in March that it wasn’t a top priority at the time. Discussions are anticipated to continue when OPEC is scheduled to address an energy meeting in Namibia in April. Namibia’s discovered reserves could yield 700,000 bpd by the next decade.

However, the possibility of more research implies that there is an opportunity for improvement. Disagreements on the output curbs implemented by OPEC+ led to Angola’s exit from the organisation in December.

India and the UK recently discussed accelerating mutual legal aid treaty actions and giving fugitive extradition requests a top priority. Notable targets for extradition by Indian agencies include Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Sanjay Bhandari, Punjabi separatists, and wanted terrorist sympathisers hiding in the UK.

Stephen Kavanagh headed a UK delegation that visited the CBI Headquarters and talked about strengthening operational cooperation. Sharing criminal intelligence, fighting financial crimes, organised crime, cybercrime, terrorism, and international threats were among the subjects covered.

Future exchanges and a deeper level of cooperation were the goals of the discussions. The delegation, which included individuals such as Christina Scott and Robert Holness, emphasised their dedication to stepping up intelligence cooperation and supporting one another in combating international criminal threats via Interpol channels.

The visit is a critical step in strengthening both countries’ international collaboration in the fight against transnational crime. A shared resolve to fortify relations and work closely together to tackle shared security issues was expressed, with a focus on how urgent it is to advance extradition and mutual legal help for runaways.

While Praveen Sood welcomed the visit and praised the commitment to cooperation, Stephen Kavanagh expressed gratitude for the partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to improving collaboration.

Singapore’s long-time Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will transfer power to his successor, Lawrence Wong, on May 15, preceding an upcoming election.

The 51-year-old Wong became the prime minister-in-waiting in April 2022 after the initial successor withdrew unexpectedly. This move has disrupted the carefully planned leadership transition in the affluent Asian financial hub.

As co-leader of the government’s COVID-19 task committee, Wong rose to fame and received recognition for his leadership during the pandemic. He served in the government in many key areas, including deputy prime minister and minister of finance. Announcing the handover on Facebook, Lee, 72, the eldest son of Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, described the transition as a “significant moment.”

Wong, in a video statement on Facebook, expressed humility and a sense of duty in accepting the role. Besides his political roles, he also holds positions in the financial sector, overseeing the country’s sovereign wealth fund and central bank.

Despite Wong’s accomplishments, political analysts are uncertain about his leadership style and vision for Singapore’s future. Some suggest that in today’s uncertain global landscape, maintaining the status quo may not suffice, hinting at potential challenges ahead for Wong’s leadership.