Air Force Investigates Officer After Capitol Protest Calling for Trump, Vance Impeachment 
Russian Attacks Kill Three in Eastern Ukraine as Civilian Casualties Mount 
US Envoy Urges Taiwan to Build ‘Hornet’s Nest’ Drone Defense Against China 
US Resumes Dollar Shipments to Iraq After Months-Long Suspension 
U.S. Military Expands Venezuela Earthquake Relief Mission as Troop Presence Tops 900 
Trump Administration Declines USMCA Renewal, Opens Talks on New Trade Changes 
Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros Unseats Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado Democratic Primary 
Ukraine War: Russian Drone Attack Sparks Hotel Fire in Central Kyiv 
Ukraine Preparing for Possible Russian Offensive From Bryansk, Military Chief Says 
Moody’s Says Peru’s President-Elect Keiko Fujimori Could Boost Investor Confidence 
Taiwan Simulates Chinese Blockade and Invasion in Major Civil Defense Drill 
EU Chip Industry Faces Growing Risks From China Export Controls and U.S. Technology Dependence: Report 
US Appeals Court Limits ICE Detention Without Bond Hearings After 90 Days 
Venezuela Interim President Defends Earthquake Response as Death Toll Climbs 
OpenAI Proposes 5% U.S. Government Stake Amid AI Policy Talks 
Trump Accounts Now Accept Stock Donations as Treasury Launches New Child Investment Program 
State of emergency in Crimea as Ukraine focuses pressure on ‘jewel in Putin’s crown’ 
The European Union and the ASEAN regional grouping of countries are set to hold their first full summit this year. The first full summit also comes at a time when security is emerging as a leading global issue.
According to officials, Reuters reports that the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are set to hold their first full-fledged conference this year. The first major summit between the two blocs appears to be a sign that the two regional groupings are looking to strengthen ties in the midst of concerns over China and Russia.
The summit has yet to be formally announced but will be taking place in Brussels on December 14. An EU official described the summit as a sign of “increasingly close relations in the current geopolitical context.”
The upcoming summit between the 27-member European Union and the 10-member ASEAN bloc is the first full-fledged gathering, as previous meetings between the two blocs were only held between the countries holding the temporary presidency of the groupings.
According to another EU official, the bloc is also looking to further engage with the region amidst concerns about the growing influence of China and the impact of Beijing’s tensions with Washington. Another EU official also confirmed that security issues would be on the agenda as Brussels is looking for a clearer position from the ASEAN countries over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This comes as, according to some diplomats, some EU countries, mostly from eastern Europe, are looking for assurances from the ASEAN countries that they would not help Moscow evade sanctions and clear references to Russia’s “aggression” over Ukraine.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the bloc could not afford to keep national vetoes on foreign policy if it wants to maintain a leading role in world politics.
In a piece for German news outlet Frankfurter Aligemeine Sunday, Scholz said the war Russia is waging on Ukraine reiterates the importance of unity in Europe and increases the pressure to end “selfish blockades” of European decisions by its member states.
“We simply can no longer afford national vetoes, for example in foreign policy, if we want to continue to be heard in a world of competing great powers,” said Scholz.
Scholz has come under fire from Ukraine and other allies in the West for not taking a leadership role in the current conflict.
