Global Geopolitical Series: Key updates from across the world

Here are some key events to keep a tab on,

• Russia-U.S. - Syria: Syrian military with the help of Russia is set to conquer the Southwest part of Syria. The major target is the town of Derra where the first uprising began against Syrian president Basher al Assad.        
   
• Korean Peninsula: The effect of the peace prospect continues. Amid economic discussions, North Korea and South Korea have opened communications’ channel. The U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo visited North Korea and held meetings to confirm the U.S. commitment to the agreement. Mr. Pompeo said that he suggested the Vietnamese model of success as North Korea’s path to future prosperity.
   
• Palestine - Israel: Donald Trump is moving closer to another victory as the global rating for PA President Mahmoud Abbas declining after PA’s violent crackdown of Palestinian protesters last month, who were protesting against cuts in their pay packages. President’s special envoy to Jared Kushner announced that the peace plan would go ahead with or without PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Amid tensions with the United States, PA continues to suffer credit crunch. In the latest blow, Australia ended its direct aid to Palestine citing concerns over the report that the money is used for terrorist funding. To counter U.S. pressure, the Palestinian leadership has now turned to Russia and will meet President Putin in next weeks.    
   
• Turkey-Israel-United States: Despite an agreement between Turkey and the United States over Syria, the relation continues to worsen. U.S. lawmakers approved a halt in selling advance U.S. fighter jets F35s to Turkey.  Turkey has also announced its unwavering support for the Palestinians. Turkey has also announced that its decision to purchase Russian made S-400 missile defense systems.
   
• Italy vs. EU: Italian government is at loggerheads with Brussels over immigration and others. The new Italian government used its veto to block joint agreements on defense unless the issue of immigration is solved with the fulfillment of Italy’s demands. Italy has also announced that the country could increase its budgetary expenditures, ditching EU rules.  
   
• Trade war: In response to President Trump’s announcement of tariffs, Europe, India, China, Mexico all have announced retaliatory tariffs. Majority of the retaliatory tariffs would go live this month. President Trump has threatened tariffs on imported cars and auto-parts, which could also be announced this month. Last Friday, U.S. and China imposed 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion goods from each other.
   
• Germany: Despite the fact that German Chancellor Angela Merkel struggled to find common grounds across Europe over immigration and instead of reaching a broad agreement on the EU level, reached bilateral agreements with 14 countries, which would take back refugees from Germany to the first acceptance country her coalition partner Horst Seehofer said that the feud is over as poll shows negative impact.
   
• Mexico: The new Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador could cooperate with President Trump over the building of the wall in a grand agreement that would see the United States in helping Mexico in reducing crime and countering drug cartels.