Global Geopolitical Series: Key updates from across the world

Here are some key events to keep a tab on,

• Russia-Israel- Syria: After reaching an agreement over Idlib, Turkey is now under pressure to act on it and drive the extremists out of the region. In the latest rise of tensions, Moscow is blaming Israel over its indirect rose in downing a Russian military jet. Iran has launched missile attacks in Syria targeting militants, in response to an attack on its revolutionary guard’s parade. In response to the downing of its jet in Syria, Russia has deployed S-300 missile defense systems in Syria. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be visiting Russia to talk the security situation in Syria.
   
• Korean Peninsula: In the latest move in the positive direction, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a visit to North Korea to meet Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un and after the meeting he hailed it as a success and declared that North Korea has promised to allow international inspectors to its nuclear facilities such as missile engine test facility and nuclear testing site.
   
• Palestine - Israel: After intense firefighting, airstrikes and rocket fires along the Gaza border, Israel was inching closer in forging a truce agreement with Hamas over the Gaza Strip, Palestinian Authority leaders have foiled the move and the focus has now turned to solve the West Bank issue first before any truce along Gaza. As the Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders heightened the harsh rhetoric, President Trump of the United States has called of as much as $200 million aid to PA.  President Trump has also reportedly revived the confederation idea between Jordan and West Bank, which was initially proposed by King Hussain of Jordan and Yasser Arafat, the PA President. The plan was abandoned by Jordan in 1988. President Trump is also negotiating with Arab leaders to provide citizenships to Palestinian refugees living in their country. Recently, Paraguay, which had said that it would follow the U.S. footsteps in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by moving its embassy, scrapped the move, angering Israel which has chosen to close its embassy in Paraguay. According to the latest reports, violence has once again erupted across West Bank. Israel is likely to go ahead with its planned but controversial demolition of a Bedouin village as it has given its residents 8 days to clear area earlier this week.  Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Palestine called on countries to recognize Israel as a state which fundamentally violates the rights of children. In the latest spark of violence, two Israelis were killed in West Bank by Palestinians.
   
• Turkey-United States: The relations have taken a turn for the worse, as President Trump has imposed sanctions against Turkey's justice and interior ministers due to the detention of an American pastor. In response to the U.S. sanctions, Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan ordered the authorities to freeze assets of America’s justice and interior minister. However, it is unclear who that would affect, due to differing Cabinet roles in the United States than in Turkey, or if the U.S. officials even have any holdings in Turkey. President Trump has doubled the metal tariffs on Turkey citing sharp currency declines. And Erdogan responded by increasing tariffs on several U.S. goods including iPhone. Turkey is trying to warm up to Russia, and the European Union amid diplomatic crisis with the United States. In the latest move, defiant Turkey has announced that it would move ahead with the decision to purchase Russian made S400 missile defense systems, despite being a NATO ally to the United States and despite NATO’s opposition. Turkey is now spearheading an effort to forge a global alliance against U.S. economic attacks. However, the crisis continues in Turkey. In the latest move, Turkish President Erdogan has taken control of the country’s $200 billion sovereign wealth fund and its central bank sold billions of dollars’ worth of gold to improve its liquidity position. Speaking at the UNGA, Turkish president Erdogan slammed the sanctions by the United States over the Pastor’s release. However, remains confident that the relationship would get over turbulent times. According to latest reports, the U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to add more sanctions on Turkey unless Pastor is released.
   
• Trade war: The U.S., Canada, and Mexico reached an agreement to reform the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The United States has imposed tariffs on $260 billion worth of trade. China has retaliated in response. President Trump remains determined to bring China to the negotiating table to accept a new much tougher trade policies. President Trump has now turned his focus on India to reach a new trade agreement by threatening tariffs.
   
• Saudi Arabia- Canada: Saudi Arabia has severed economic and diplomatic ties with Canada in response to Canada’s criticism of Saudi Arabia’s handling and capture of activists. Saudi Arabia ordered the expulsion of the Canadian ambassador and the halting of all new trade and investment deals between the two countries after Canada said it was gravely concerned about the recent arrests of Saudi civil society and women’s rights activists. It has also called back its diplomats from Canada. Saudi Arabia has suspended flights to Toronto as the escalation is showing no signs of abating. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last week that Canada is engaging diplomatically with Saudi Arabia to resolve the dispute, however, no reports of any breakthrough yet. Canada tried the UNGA meetings to resolve disputes, however, no breakthrough yet as Saudi Arabia speaking to UNGA demanded official apologies from Canada over the comments and called on the country to stop testing the kingdom as a banana republic.
   
• Brazil election: The right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro has won the first round of Brazil’s Presidential election. He would face left-wing Workers' Party candidate, Fernando Haddad on October 28th, as he failed to win 50 percent of the vote. Bolsonaro received 46 percent of the votes, while Mr. Haddad received 29 percent of the votes.
   
• U.S. - China: In addition to the trade tensions which has increased the diplomatic friction between the two countries reached new heights as the United States announced sanctions on a Chinese military organization for buying military equipment from Russia. The purchase deal included Russian Su-35 combat aircraft and equipment related to the S-400 surface-to-air missile system. The sanction bars the organization’s access to the dollar-based financial system. China summoned U.S. ambassador to announce its opposition in the harshest manner possible. In addition to that, there has been accusation that China has used spy chips to infiltrate U.S. companies like Intel, Google, Microsoft, as well as the United States military contractors.