Syria Strike Looms | Algerian Plane Crash | Sudan Prisoner Release

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. April 11, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA U.S.-Russia Tensions Escalate Over Syria U.S. President Donald J. Trump challenged Russia over its defense of the Syrian regime, writing on Twitter that missiles "will be coming" to Syria. The statement comes after the United States and Western allies vowed a military response to a suspected chemical weapons attack on an opposition-held town in Syria last week. Moscow in turn had warned of a possible counterattack (Guardian) if Russian personnel in Syria come under threat. Europe's air traffic control organization told airlines to exercise caution in the eastern Mediterranean (Al Jazeera) over the coming days. Rival U.S.- and Russia-backed UN resolutions to address the suspected chemical attack were both defeated at the Security Council (AP) on Tuesday. ANALYSIS "Trump's turnaround on Syria is a perfect case of an American politician doing what is in his best political interests, but with significant costs for the United States," CFR's Steven A. Cook writes for Foreign Policy. "Regardless of whether he follows through with a military attack or not, Trump's sabre rattling against Syria provides a convenient distraction from his domestic political woes," Ibrahim Al-Marashi writes for Middle East Eye. "Assad and Russia have used chemical weapons pretty regularly throughout the conflict. They tend to stick to chemicals like chlorine because it isn't counted as a nerve agent," writes Emma Beals. PACIFIC RIM Myanmar Soldiers Sentenced for Rohingya Massacre The Myanmar army announced that seven of its soldiers received ten-year prison sentences (Guardian) for the murder of ten Rohingya Muslim men last September. The massacre was the subject of an investigation by two Reuters journalists who are facing charges for acquiring confidential documents. MALAYSIA: The election commission announced a general election date (Star) of May 9, when Prime Minister Najib Razak's ruling coalition will seek reelection despite a major corruption scandal (WSJ) at the state investment fund. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA U.S. Diplomat in Pakistan to Face Trial A U.S. diplomat who killed a Pakistani motorist and injured another person (Dawn) when he hit them with his vehicle will face trial, according to a Pakistani police official. He said it is unclear whether the trial will take place in Pakistan or the United States. BANGLADESH: A Myanmar minister, while visiting Rohingya refugee camps (Dhaka Tribune) in the city of Cox's Bazar, said that Myanmar will take back Rohingya refugees whose residency in Myanmar can be verified. It was the first visit to camps in Bangladesh by a minister. CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick discusses the risks Rohingya refugees face in Bangladesh. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Hundreds Killed in Algerian Plane Crash At least 257 people were reported killed when a military plane carrying troops crashed at an air base (Al Jazeera) outside the capital city of Algiers. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Sudan to Free All Political Prisoners President Omar al-Bashir ordered all political prisoners in the country to be released, including ones recently arrested in demonstrations over new austerity measures (Sudan Tribune) that increased the prices of some basic necessities. Bashir said the move aims to spur dialogue between political parties (SUNA). NIGER: The United States began its annual Flintlock military exercises (VOA) with eight African nations and a dozen Western allies in the city of Agadez. They are the first such drills since an ambush by militants killed several U.S. troops and Nigerien soldiers there last year. In this CFR interview, Jason Warner of West Point's Combating Terrorism Center discusses U.S. policy in West Africa after the Niger attack. EUROPE Turkey's Currency Hits Record Low The Turkish lira reached an all-time low (Hurriyet) against the U.S. dollar amid investor fears that the country's economy is overheating (VOA) and concerns over rising political tensions in Russia and Syria. EUROPE: Democracy is on the decline in nineteen of twenty-nine Eastern European and Central Asian nations, according to a new report by Freedom House. AMERICAS Venezuela Makes $90 Million Bond Payment Investment bank Goldman Sachs received tens of millions of dollars in interest payments (WSJ) from the Venezuelan government, which is in default and had stopped making payments on its foreign debt months ago. Opposition leaders had denounced the bond deal (Reuters) made with the bank last year. HAITI: The UN Security Council voted to extend for another year (Miami Herald) a support mission in Haiti that was launched after UN peacekeepers, who had been in the the country for nearly fourteen years, left last year. UNITED STATES In Reversal, Trump Lauds Qatar on Counterterrorism U.S. President Trump hosted Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the White House on Tuesday, praising the Gulf nation's efforts to restrict funding to terrorist groups (VOA). Trump had earlier expressed support for a Saudi-led boycott of Qatar over its alleged close ties to Iran and funding of terrorism. The Department of Homeland Security announced that Chad, a major U.S. counterterrorism ally in recent years, will be removed from a U.S. travel ban list (AP) on Friday.         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. 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From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: April 11, 2018 at 10:10PM