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The week in Global Affairs
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Russia intensified strikes on Kyiv, its power system, bridges, and other infrastructure while signaling no pause in the war. Ukraine answered by targeting Russian energy assets and threatening further refinery strikes, adding pressure on Moscow's war financing and logistics.
Talks remained stuck as Washington expanded forces around Iran, Tehran tied Hormuz access to concessions, and attacks and security incidents raised the risk of a wider confrontation. Britain became more directly exposed through the Fairford case, while the United States also targeted Russia-Iran financial channels.
Renewed fighting spread through Tigray, severed Ethiopia's ties with Eritrea, and culminated in federal forces taking Mekelle. The battlefield shift gives Addis Ababa an advantage but leaves displacement, insurgency, and wider regional escalation unresolved.
Fighting moved from fragile de-escalation toward a government reconquest offensive, with heavy clashes around Sanaa and Taiz. Houthi claims of attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure raised the risk of broader regional retaliation even as damage remained unclear.
Settler attacks and lethal incidents in Gaza and the West Bank continued despite the Gaza ceasefire. Earlier warnings about a Hamas attack also deepened political pressure on Israel's leadership, linking current violence to unresolved accountability for the October 7 failure.
Trade pressure expanded beyond the US-China tariff truce as China and the European Union opened or threatened reciprocal restrictions and Washington pressed Canada for concessions. Canada began reassessing its strategic dependence, while Japanese companies accelerated their retreat from China.
Taiwan-related material disrupted planned US-China diplomacy, Beijing intensified its warnings, and Washington's proposed arms package remained stalled. Taiwan's calls for delivery exposed the gap between US reassurance and practical deterrence.
Energy authorities moved toward emergency stock releases as Gulf conflict strained fuel supplies and shipping routes. The G7 announced a large diesel release, while European reserve discussions and rerouted Arctic traffic showed the disruption reaching beyond the immediate war zone.
Day’s Recap