Abe Visits Ahead of Kim-Trump Summit | Afghan Cease-Fire | Iraq Election Recount

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. June 7, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA Abe to Press Trump Ahead of Singapore Summit Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet with U.S. President Donald J. Trump in Washington today to discuss Tokyo’s priorities regarding North Korean denuclearization and urge him to raise the issue of Japanese abductees in North Korea during a summit between the U.S. and North Korean leaders set for next week. A dozen Japanese citizens abducted in 1970s and 1980s (Bloomberg) are believed to be in North Korea, which claims that eight of the twelve have died and four never came into the country. Abe is also expected to ask Trump to reconsider newly imposed tariffs on Japan and other U.S. allies. The two leaders, who have met with each other eight times (Reuters) since Trump took office, will travel to Canada later today (AP) ahead of a weekend summit of the Group of Seven. ANALYSIS “Abe will come—and risk exposing that his personal diplomacy with Trump may be on its last legs—because the overriding concern is that Trump’s eagerness to call the June 12th meeting a historic success will result in a bad deal,” Mireya Solis said in an interview with Tokyo Business Today. “Abe has made the return of abductees a key political issue, and holds strong ties with the families involved. He has sought to strike a deal with North Korea since the 1980s, when he served as secretary for his father, then Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe,” Kurumi Mori and Emi Nobuhiro write for Bloomberg. “Abe praised the [Moon Jae-in–Kim Jong-un] summit as a success, but past efforts at negotiation with the North have not always been easy for Seoul and Tokyo. This time, the breakneck pace and unpredictability of recent summitry have been particularly surprising for Tokyo,” writes CFR’s Sheila A. Smith. PACIFIC RIM U.S. Personnel Evacuated Over Sonic Incidents in China The U.S. State Department returned personnel from its consulate in Guangzhou to the United States for screenings after they reported symptoms related to hearing and pressure. At least one U.S. government employee there suffered minor brain damage (CNN). TAIWAN: The military simulated repelling an invading force (Reuters) today as President Tsai Ing-wen hailed the armed forces as the “backup force for our values of democracy and freedom.” China’s air force has carried out drills near the island in recent months. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Afghanistan Announces Cease-Fire With Taliban President Ashraf Ghani’s government announced a weeklong, unilateral cease-fire (Tolo) with the Taliban to begin next Tuesday after religious scholars issued a fatwa against the ongoing conflict. Ghani called on the militants to realize “their violent campaign is not winning them hearts and minds.” INDIA: Monsoon rains expected in Mumbai this weekend (Quartz) could be the heaviest since 2005, when resulting catastrophic floods killed hundreds of people. The forecasted storms, however, are expected to be spread over several days with pauses. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Iraq’s Parliament Orders Election Recount Outgoing Iraqi lawmakers ordered a full recount (Al Jazeera) of a May 12 general election and replaced the independent electoral commission with a panel of judges. Last month’s election brought a surprise victory to a bloc backed by Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. SYRIA: The United States will release an American accused of belonging to the self-proclaimed Islamic State who was captured in Syria by a U.S.-backed militia (Reuters) in September, the Justice Department said. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Dozens of Ethiopians Drown off Yemen Coast At least forty-six migrants drowned after a boat that left Somalia earlier this week capsized off the coast of Yemen (Al Jazeera). More than seven thousand migrants make the journey across the Gulf of Aden each month, according to the International Organization for Migration. SUDAN: Ahead of a visit by a panel of UN experts probing North Korean sanctions violations (Sudan Tribune), the Sudanese foreign ministry said the defense sector had “cancelled all contracts signed” with Pyongyang, a rare admission that commercial ties existed (Reuters) between the countries. In Foreign Affairs, Bruce E. Bechtol, Jr. discusses North Korea’s illegal weapons trade. EUROPE EU Tariffs to Hit $3.3 Billion of U.S. Products The European Union will impose tariffs of up to 25 percent (FT) on dozens of U.S. products, including whiskey and playing cards. The move, which could take effect as early as next month, follows new U.S. duties on steel and aluminum. CFR’s Brad W. Setser writes that the Trump administration has not focused on the macroeconomic drivers of trade surpluses and deficits. SPAIN: New socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a cabinet (Guardian) of eleven women and six men, the first female-dominated government since the 1970s. Omar G. Encarnacion discusses former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s ouster in Foreign Affairs. AMERICAS Guatemalan Emergency Agency Accused of Negligence Opposition figures called on the head of the country’s emergency response agency to resign, saying the body did not heed early warnings (BBC) of a Sunday eruption of the Fuego volcano. Some two hundred people remained missing as the death toll reached ninety-nine people. ECUADOR: The UN General Assembly elected Ecuador's foreign minister, over her Honduran counterpart, as its next president. Country stances on the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem appear to have been a factor (TOI) in the vote. UNITED STATES Trump Hosts White House Iftar Some fifty guests took part in the traditional meal (Politico) of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, including ambassadors from Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: June 07, 2018 at 10:02PM