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Description: After the IRGC seized two cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the US responded by blocking and turning away the Majestic cargo ship bringing the number of blocked or seized ships to 33 since the start of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The standoff around the Strait of Hormuz continued as US president Trump stated that he instructed the US naval forces in the region to neutralize all and any ships suspected of laying mines in the Strait. He also indicated that the US was not in a rush to conclude a peace agreement with Iran as the costs of the blockade were primarily damaging the Iranian economy. Lebanon and Israel in a parallel diplomatic process, conc
Description: Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) have resorted towards resuming airstrikes using MiG fighter jets in the present strategic battlefield of Kordofan. Airstrikes were reportedly conducted in Al – Dulaymah, Al – Hujayrtat and Birno areas where crucial RSF positions were targeted. Kordofan is currently the major flashpoint in the conflict where significant oil reserves are present while control over key logistical routes could prove crucial for military prevalence in the short to mid – term. Recent ground confrontations have resulted in massive losses on both sides as neither the RSF nor the SAF possess the ability to overwhelm each other militarily. Impact:
Description: Militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army attacked a mine in southwestern Balochistan, killing ten people, wounding eight more and abducting a Turkish citizen. The militants attacked the mine pertaining to Pakistan’s National Resources Ltd which owns the mining rights in the Darigwan site in southwest Balochistan. Baloch separatists have increased attacks by the end of last year killing more than 190 civilians in the span of six months. The BLA is the largest militant separatist group in the region fighting a decades long insurgency against Pakistan over Balochistan’s independence which according to the BLA has been largely exploited to the detriment of its
Description: Terrorists pertaining to Boko Haram staged another attack on the civilian population in the northeastern Borno state, killing 11 civilians and setting a dozen homes on fire. The attack targeted a local village called Pubagu. The attack follows a rapid escalation in recent weeks, where Boko Haram continues to target northeastern Nigerian provinces unchallenged. Previously, more than 400 women had been kidnapped where Boko Haram outlined ransom demands as it held the women at an undisclosed location deep into the terrorist group-controlled territories. Impact: Nigeria’s security crisis continues to rapidly deteriorate, likely putting heavy pressu
Description: The UN reported that Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force (GSF) has received its first round of financing that exceeded any operation expectations. More than $200 million were pledged by 13 UN security council members of which $59 million have already been received by the Haitian interim government. Qatar additionally pledged $30 million to the operation while Chad has already dispatched the first contingent of around 1,500 troops. Haiti is set to hold its first election in more than five years by the end of this year as fundamental socio – economic services start gradually to return to normal. The national police force alongside private military contractors and forei
Description: Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, stated that Canada would not make any concessions to the US in the upcoming trade negotiations that endanger the country’s economic interests and stable standing on international markets. Carney’s statements arrive ahead of the expected revision of the USMCA trade agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico in Jul and after the SCOTUS declared Trump’s tariffs unconstitutional. Dominic Le Blanc, Canada’s trade minister, stated that although there were many points of confliction, Canada was still willing to compromise and resolve some of the major sticking points with the US. Steel, aluminum, automotive imports and exports, da
Description: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have captured two cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz using speedboats. The Liberian – flagged Epaminondas and the Panama – flagged MSC Francesca were rerouted to Iranian territorial waters for inspection. The attack arrives after the US also captured another Iranian ship on the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz and in the midst of a recently extended ceasefire. Conflicting reports showed that Trump flirted with the idea of cutting the ceasefire short on Sunday or within the next week if a concise response is not solicitated from the Iranians. The Strait of Hormuz remains an immediate point of confliction where either s
Description: Having repaired the Druzhba pipeline, Ukraine officials stated that oil should be flowing promptly from Russia to Slovakia and Hungary, ensuring the 90 billion euros EU loan goes forward. Hungary under Orban has been strongly opposed to the loan, blaming Ukraine of energy blackmail in cahoots with the European Union. Russia stated that it plans of cutting oil flow to Germany passing through the Druzhba pipeline from Kazakhstan from 01 May potentially as a sign of restraining Europe energetically in times of global energy crisis. Ukrainian officials have stated that two thirds of the 90 billion euros would be spent on defense while one third on other expenses rel
Description: According to the latest UN report on the civil war in Sudan, the Libyan National Army (LNA) under the command of General Khalifa Haftar as well as militias loyal to Haftar, such as the Subul al – Salam Battalion (SSB), supported the Sudanese paramilitary group, RSF, with weapons and equipment. LNA and SSB were also responsible for enabling Colombian mercenaries to enter Sudan via the air base located in Kufra in the tristate border area between Sudan, Libya and Egypt. The UAE was also mentioned to have provided direct financial support, equipment and weapons to the RSF in the UN report, which was already know, however, the UAE maintained its denial policy toward
Description: South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung met with Vietnamese leader, To Lam, in Hanoi, where they signed 12 memorandums of understanding for enhancing cooperation on nuclear energy, security and high – tech development. The leaders are aiming to expand industrial cooperation as South Korea is Vietnam’s largest foreign investor, having multiple manufacturing companies operating in the country. The leaders also discussed close cooperation in the semiconductor industry with South Korea’s Samsung potentially expanding its area of operations in Vietnam. Impact: South Korea and Vietnam are likely to expand their energy and technological partnership in a