The most important foreign affairs events of the week

April 3, 2023

“For the first time since February 2022, when its military stormed across the borders of neighboring Ukraine and launched an all-encompassing war, Russia has taken over the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Despite the concerns, Russian ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said that ‘One thing is a national position. The second thing is the role of the presidency of the Security Council, which we cherish.’ At the same time, however limited the powers of the presidency, for many, the symbolism was beyond measure. The presiding country has no added influence on decisions or votes, generally planning and leading meetings and handling administrative work. But presiding members typically host a number of meetings on global topics they want to highlight, including the climate, women’s rights and peacekeeping operations.”

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The transitive verb storm means “to assault or capture suddenly; to attack violently; to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery.”

The transitive verb cherish means “to treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear.” 

The adverb however, in this context, does NOT mean but; it is rather an adverb of emphasis, meaning no matter how limited. In this use, then only precede the term with a comma.

April 4, 2023

“On Tuesday, Finland became the 31st member of NATO, doubling the length of member states' borders with Russia. Finland's accession is a setback for Vladimir Putin and Russia's geopolitics. The Russian President had repeatedly complained of NATO's expansion before the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that Russia would be ‘watching closely’ what happens in Finland, describing NATO's enlargement as a ‘violation of our security and our national interests.’ Finland shares a 1,340-km eastern frontier with Russia and, after the war in Ukraine broke out, Helsinki chose the protection of NATO's Article Five, which says an attack on one member is an attack on all.”

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The noun accession means “formal acceptance of a treaty or other agreement between states; the act of entering upon or attaining to an office, right, condition; access; admittance.”

The noun enlargement means “an act of enlarging or the state of being enlarged; an act of enlarging; increase, expansion, or amplification.”

April 5, 2023

“On Wednesday, the US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted a carefully choreographed series of meetings with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, underscoring the juggling act facing the United States as it tries to confront an increasingly aggressive China without precipitating a military crisis around the island. The meeting with Mr. McCarthy, whose position puts him second in line to the presidency, was the highest-level government reception a Taiwanese president has enjoyed on U.S. soil. Leaders in both capitals are trying to balance a desire to shore up Taiwan’s ties with the United States, its most powerful partner by far, against an interest in avoiding steps that might prompt aggressive military encroachments from Beijing.”

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The adjective juggling derives from the verb juggle, which means “to have difficulty holding; balance insecurely.” 

The noun encroachment means “an advance beyond proper or legal limits.” Close synonyms are “intrusion”, “invasion”, and “violation”.

April 6, 2023

“The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran held talks in Beijing on Thursday, in the highest-level meeting between the regional rivals since they cut ties seven years ago. This is an unmistakable sign that China would continue to host talks that could shift the geopolitics of the Middle East. In a joint statement, the two governments said that given their natural resources and economic potential, they saw ‘great opportunities to achieve shared benefits for their two peoples.’ They said the ministers discussed issues including the resumption of flights and the reopening of diplomatic missions. The recent thaw in bilateral relations between Riad and Teheran shows that Saudi Arabia, a longtime American ally, forges more independent foreign and economic policies.”

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The adjective unmistakable means “impossible to mistake or misinterpret; obvious.”

The noun thaw means “a relaxation of reserve, restraints, or tensions; an increase in relaxation or friendliness.”

April 7, 2023

“After a three-day summit between Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron in Beijing, China and France issued a joint statement supporting peace efforts and opposing attacks on nuclear facilities in Ukraine. The statement said that China and France ‘support all efforts to restore peace in Ukraine on the basis of international law and the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter.’ It also called on ‘all parties in the conflict to scrupulously observe international humanitarian law’ and ‘to provide safe, fast and unhindered access for humanitarian aid.’ Mr. Macron and Mr. Xi visited the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou on Friday, which highlights the importance of Mr. Macron’s visit as China’s relations with the United States worsen.”

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The adjective scrupulously means “having scruples; principled; with extreme conscientiousness.”

The adjective unhindered means “without hindrance; not slowed or blocked or interfered with; not subject to restraint.”