Key Reads
VP Joe Biden to give major speech on Iraq’s future
AP / Al Arabiya News
Vice President Joe Biden is planning to give a major speech Thursday about the progress that’s been made to strengthen Iraq’s government and beleaguered military.
Brazil to Build World’s Largest Floating Solar Farm Amidst Devastating Drought
Lorraine Chow / EcoWatch
With Brazil’s historic drought drying up its hydroelectric plants, the South American country is turning to solar power to help relieve its foreboding energy crisis.
American Competitiveness
Dollar Gains as Worries About U.S. Economy Ease
James Ramage / The Wall Street Journal
The dollar turned higher against the euro, yen and rival currencies in light trading Monday as investors started to view recent evidence of a slowdown in the U.S. economy as a temporary phenomenon.
Americans’ View on the Economy Hits 8-Year High
Steve Liesman / NBC News
Americans’ views on the state of the economy reached new heights in the latest CNBC All-America Economic survey with a record 27 percent judging the economy as excellent or good, the highest level in eight years.
National Security & Strategy
Carter Discusses U.S. Rebalance to Asia-Pacific Region
Jim Garamone / DoD News
U.S. re-emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region makes sense regionally and globally, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said at Arizona State University today.
Turkey, Iran agree on trade but steer clear of Yemen disagreements
Reuters
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani agreed to boost trade and signed a slew of deals at a meeting on Tuesday, but steered clear of directly addressing differences over Yemen.
Kuwait fund to lend Egypt $1.5 bln over next five years
Zawya
The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development plans to lend Egypt $1.5 billion over the next five years, extending $300 million each year, the fund’s director-general Abdulwahab al-Bader told Reuters on Tuesday.
Asymmetric Operations
Iraqi MPs: Baghdad-Erbil pact needed to free Mosul
Rudaw
Iraqi lawmakers have stressed the vital role of Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the upcoming campaign to liberate the ISIS-held city of Mosul, a range of Iraqi parliament members confirmed.
U.S. considers new ‘fusion cell’ to deal with overseas hostage situations
Adam Goldman / The Washington Post
The Obama administration is considering the creation of a “fusion cell” of law enforcement, intelligence and other officials to better coordinate its response to hostage situations. Its mission would be to focus exclusively on developing strategies to recover American captives being held overseas.
Yemen turmoil: Pakistan, Turkey to launch shuttle diplomacy
Kamran Yousaf / Tribune
Pakistan and Turkey are pushing for a diplomatic solution to the Yemen conundrum through mediation between the two hostile nations: Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Right Sector leader and MP Dmytro Yarosh appointed to Ukrainian government
Ukraine Today
Right Sector nationalist politician and volunteer battalion leader Dmytro Yarosh has been appointed to Ukraine’s Defence Ministry. Yarosh is to be an advisor to Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Viktor Muzhenko, according to the ministry.
Rebels kill eight Iran soldiers on Pakistan border
AFP / Tribune
Eight Iranian border guards have been killed in a clash with rebels who had allegedly infiltrated from neighbouring Pakistan, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
Climate Security
FACT SHEET: Administration Announces Actions To Protect Communities From The Impacts Of Climate Change
The White House
As part of the Administration’s overall effort to combat climate change and protect the American people, this week, the Administration is announcing a series of actions that will allow us to better understand, communicate, and reduce the health impacts of climate change on our communities…
White House to explore how climate change makes you sick
Juliet Eilperin / The Washington Post
President Obama is launching an initiative Tuesday aimed at highlight the connections between climate change and public health, bringing both medical and data experts to the White House this week.
Energy Security
Oil falls as Iran, China discuss more supply
Christopher Johnson / Reuters
Brent crude oil fell below $58 a barrel on Tuesday on signs of growing oversupply as Iranian officials visited Beijing to seek more oil sales following the framework nuclear deal that could lead to the lifting of sanctions.
Nuclear Security
Iran Revolutionary Guard chief backs nuclear deal
The Times of Israel
Iranian state television reported Tuesday that the chief of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard has offered his support to Iranian nuclear negotiators. The reported comments by General Mohammad Ali Jafari came as some 200 hard-liners protested Tuesday against the framework deal struck last week between Iran and six world powers.
China, Russia to closely cooperate on N. Korea nuclear talks
The Korea Herald
China and Russia will continue to work closely together to resume the long-stalled multilateral talks on North Korea’s nuclear program, China’s foreign minister said Tuesday ahead of talks in Moscow with his Russian counterpart.
Iran approved to join China-backed infrastructure bank
AFP / The Daily Star
Iran has been approved as a founding member of the Beijing-backed Asian Infrastructure Bank (AIIB), China’s finance ministry said Tuesday, just days after Tehran sealed a historic framework agreement on its nuclear program.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Obama, Biden, Kerry: Energy Security is Needed in the Caribbean
Andrew Holland
The attention to energy security issues in the Caribbean is very important as oil prices have dropped to lows not seen in five years. However, it is important for these countries to “fix the roof while the sun is shining” as Vice President Biden said at the Caribbean Energy Security Summit.
Critical Issues Facing Russia and the Former Soviet Union: Governance and Corruption
John Bugnacki
When it comes to Russia and the other post-Soviet states, corruption is the subject of constant academic, policy, and popular debate. According to many, persistent corruption is the major factor undermining post-Soviet states from achieving broad-based political, economic, and social development along liberal-democratic lines. However, most analyses of corruption in Russia and the other post-Soviet states do not actually detail what their corruption is, the way that it endangers their development, or how they can fix it.
The Geopolitics of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Speakers and Panelists
Hugo Grondel
A look at the line-up. Our expert panelists will examine TTIP’s potential to facilitate further trade liberalization on a global scale.
Upcoming Events
Discussion with Gov. Christine Todd Whitman: Climate Change Calls for Clean and Safe Energy
April 10 @ 10:00am – 11:00am
Join Governor Whitman at the World Affairs Council of Hilton Head Island as she discusses the important issue of climate change and its impact on clean, safe energy. She will recount her experience as governor as well as the Administrator of the EPA. Come join this exciting event.
Conference: Geopolitics of Energy Security in the Eastern Mediterranean
April 15 @ 12:00pm – 5:00pm
ASP will host a half day conference to examine the energy security challenges faced in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Conference: The Geopolitics of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
April 16 @ 12:00pm – 4:30pm
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has the potential to redefine transatlantic cooperation in the economic, security, and political spheres and provide the U.S. and the EU with a window of opportunity to advance core values that could help shape the international trading system in the 21st century. Our expert panelists will discuss these issues and attempt to examine TTIP’s potential to facilitate further trade liberalization on a global scale.
ASP Recently Published
Environmental Threats to Louisiana’s Future: Climate change
American Security Project
As one of the centers of energy production, transit, and storage, Louisiana is a hub for the whole country. This ensures that any problems in Louisiana are transferred throughout the country by energy price volatility and uncertainty.
Energy in Egypt: Background and Issues
American Security Project
The Egyptian government is making serious efforts to bring more investment into its oil and gas sector while seeking to diversify Egypt’s sources of energy. Given the country’s political, economic, and social challenges, whether the Egyptian government will be able to achieve its objectives remains to be seen.
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