South Korea and the United States have appointed envoys, Lee Tae-woo and Linda Specht, respectively, to initiate talks on cost-sharing for American troops stationed in South Korea. The action is unusually early for a contract that is scheduled to start in 2026; it could be an attempt to reach an agreement prior to Donald Trump's possible reelection as US president. Since the early 1990s, South Korea has been paying for local labour and military sites to offset the costs of 28,500 American troops stationed there as a deterrent to North Korea. Both nations aim to strengthen their defence
On Tuesday, presumed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto assured a smooth power transition and hinted at privatising state-run enterprises while keeping key sectors under government control. He foresees potential 8% annual economic growth over the next few years. Prabowo advocates for a balanced approach where the state regulates strategic areas but allows the private sector to thrive. Prabowo proposes rationalising and privatising state-owned enterprises, emphasising the need for private dominance in various sectors. He vows to continue Joko Widodo's infrastructure modernization and pla
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to address a joint U.S. Congress session on April 11 during his official visit to Washington, which marks the first address by a Japanese leader in nine years. Scheduled to meet President Joe Biden and attend a state dinner on April 10, Kishida aims to reaffirm Japan's alliance with the United States amidst challenges from China and North Korea. Kishida's visit highlights the commitment to peace, prosperity, and global democracy shared by both nations. The topics of discussion will include bolstering cooperation in economic security, outer sp
India and South Africa have officially lodged objections against an investment agreement during a World Trade Organisation (WTO) conference in Abu Dhabi, effectively stalling its adoption. On Wednesday, delegates and a document both confirmed this development. About 125 countries support the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement, which aims to improve the investment climate and encourage foreign direct investment. The document emphasised the absence of unanimous consensus, rendering the matter inappropriate for inclusion in the meeting's agenda. Negotiations geared tow
Qatar aims to strengthen its LNG exports, targeting a 25% global market share by 2030. Amidst the US's export approval pause, Qatar plans a new 16 million tons per year project by 2030. It further aims to increase annual capacity to 142 million tons. Qatar's dominance in LNG has been established by this growth, which is being fueled by 250 trillion cubic feet of additional gas in the North Field. Securing long-term contracts with significant players like China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Eni SpA, TotalEnergies SE, and Shell Plc is essential to its strategy. With demand expected to incr
TSMC, the leading Taiwanese chipmaker, inaugurated its inaugural Japanese plant, marking its crucial involvement in Tokyo's ambitious endeavour to revitalize its semiconductor manufacturing sector. Japan's reliance on TSMC emphasises its dominant position in the foundry business and concerns over China's technological advancement. TSMC's presence in Japan has catalyzed investment in a sector pivotal for economic security, complementing Japan's support for domestic ventures like Rapidus. By 2027, Taiwan is expected to control two-thirds of advanced foundry capacity, with Japan aiming for a
India emphasized the imperative of addressing geopolitical issues constructively and seeking common ground at a G20 ministerial meeting in Brazil amidst global conflicts. Brazil assumed the G20 Presidency from India on December 1, 2023, marking the first ministerial meeting under its helm. V Muraleedharan, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, highlighted India's stance on various conflicts: advocating for dialogue in the Russia-Ukraine war and supporting a two-state solution for Israel-Palestine. He condemned terrorism and stressed securing sea lanes amidst Red Sea vessel attack
Albania's Parliament approved a deal with Italy to establish migrant processing centres in Albania. Two centres—one inland for asylum processes and one at Shūngjin port for initial screening—are part of the plan. Together, they can accommodate 3,000 migrants, with a target of 36,000 processing cases annually. With more people seeking asylum as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, Italy hopes to use this agreement to fight human trafficking and unauthorised immigration. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International were among the critics who criticised the idea for allegedly breaking EU
Cho Tae-yul, the foreign minister of South Korea, is set to travel on a diplomatic mission that will start with his attendance at the G20 Summit in Brazil and end with a significant trip to the United States. According to the news agency, Cho will speak with Antony Blinken, his American counterpart, on Thursday, February 28. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Cho's impending trip highlighting its importance in strengthening bilateral relations. Following participating in the G20 Summit, Cho will head to the United States for his first visit since assuming office last month, accordi
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis agreed to enhance collaboration in defence manufacturing, space, and connectivity. They discussed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, emphasising cooperation in defence, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, and maritime security. A Working Group will enhance mutual coordination, fostering co-production and co-development opportunities in defence manufacturing. Both nations share concerns about terrorism, aiming to strengthen cooperation in this area. They explored bolstering connectivity,