Copy of Week In Review (WIRE) News 10.26.2026
Indo-Pacific Asia
Written by Caroline Connors
Indonesia Signs Defense Pact with Qatar, Pakistan, and Turkiye
On Wednesday, October 21, representatives from Indonesia, Qatar, Pakistan, and Turkiye met in Doha, Qatar’s capital, to sign a defense pact that promotes cooperation on each state’s defense industries, establishes a plan for countries to work together on projects, and increases their own defense production. The agreement, called the “Badr Memorandum of Understanding” (or Badr MoU), consists of an “executive” and “strategic board” that will compose technical plans for production and review those plans, respectively. The US-Iranian war triggered the Badr MoU, as the inability of both states to reach a peace agreement encouraged these states to strengthen their defense capabilities and relieve their “overreliance” on security from the US.
As a top priority for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the Badr MoU aligns with the trend of Indonesia taking major steps in the modernization of its defense industry, including its acquisition of its first aircraft carrier this September. Turkiye, which has the second-largest army of all NATO members, sold 48 fighter jets to Indonesia last year. In addition to these examples, Indonesia has also established agreements with India on transactions of “advanced weapons technologies”, a potential conflict as Indonesia strengthens relations with Pakistan, which could use its increased defense capabilities to strengthen ties with China.
South and Central Asia
Written by Uma Miskinyar
Rubio’s Uzbekistan Visit, Moscow’s Influence, and the Afghan Frontier
On October 18, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for meetings with all five Central Asian countries under the C5+1 diplomatic framework. The talks emphasized critical minerals, the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, investment, and regional security. The visit also saw Uzbekistan become the 77th signatory to the Artemis Accords. On Washington’s end, Rubio’s visit highlights the Trump administration’s broader strategy behind expanding its economic and diplomatic presence in a region where Russia and China maintain substantial influence.
In a separate development, on October 20, Russia and Uzbekistan launched military exercises near Afghanistan. These joint Russian-Uzbek exercises, known as Hamkorlik-2026, began at the Termez training ground near the Afghan border. Set to continue through October 27, these exercises include reconnaissance, drones, helicopters, and simulated operations against armed groups. These joint military exercises began days after Russia held high-level security meetings with both Pakistan and the Taliban. Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev met Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir in Rawalpindi, while Russian foreign intelligence director Sergey Naryshkin met the Taliban's intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq in Kabul. Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) published videos of their presence in the foothills of Badakhshan last Thursday, acting as a claim supported by released footage, rather than proof of sustained territorial control. The AFF's anti-Taliban agenda bears similarities to that of former Afghan general Sami Sadat's Afghanistan United Front (AUF), which launched its Operation Muharib campaign in August 2026.
In his address on October 20, Rubio stated that Washington needs to maintain relations with Pakistan, citing its nuclear weapons and strategic geographic location. Between the U.S. and Pakistan, managing ties requires difficult foreign policy choices, and draws a unique parallel between India’s engagement with Iran despite regional competing interests. He further suggested that continued American engagement with Islamabad could help Washington discourage activities that concern New Delhi. For Washington, maintaining strategic relationships such as this remain necessary to 21st-century grand strategy, weaving together the unparalleled tactical edges that administration priorities and diplomatic ties can provide across a volatile region.
Central America and the Caribbean
Written by Lily Trottier
Haitian Gang Attacks Leave Four Gang Suppression Force Soldiers Missing
Gangs in Haiti opened fire on an armored Gang Suppression Force (GSF) vehicle on October 18, leaving four soldiers from El Salvador unaccounted for after they escaped from the burning vehicle. The attack occurred in Croix-des-Bouquets, a once peaceful community in Haiti’s capital, and marks the first major attack since GSF began its operations in September 2025. In response, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele launched a military operation to rescue the four men, noting they are technicians and not combatants, and warned Haitian gang members that if they do not return the hostages alive, worse is yet to come. President Bukele did not specify what actions El Salvador would take, but stated, “We have already finished with the gangs in El Salvador, and we can finish you too.” President Bukele does not stand alone in this sentiment as United States ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz condemned the attacks, reiterating that GSF allies will bring the men home.
Since the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in 2021, gang violence has displaced nearly 1.5 million people, with more than 5,000 killed or injured. To combat the growing violence, the UN Security Council launched GSF. GSF’s goal is to counter gang operational capacity and territorial dominance to restore conditions in which Haitian law enforcement can protect public safety. GSF troops numbered only 1,500 until the force’s reauthorization in September 2026, which allowed for the deployment of 4,000 more troops in the coming months. The GSF has seen some success; according to the Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, gangs have come under pressure after GSF’s launch. However, many of those gangs want to prove they have the capacity to combat the GSF’s strength, which could pose a danger to the missing soldiers. The reauthorization of the GSF and the subsequent attack precedes Haiti’s general elections in December, the first held in decades. Despite Haitian gangs controlling over 70% of the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, over 35 parties and political groups and 3,500 candidates have registered to compete in general elections. Even in the face of attacks, the GSF, El Salvador, the United States, and other allies continue to fight to quell gang violence in Haiti.
Middle East and North Africa
Written by Emily Sawires
Libya Approves Maritime Deal with Turkiye, Sparking International Backlash
Libya approved a maritime deal with Turkiye this week, establishing an eastern border between the two countries across the Mediterranean Sea. Libya’s internationally recognized government, known as the Government of National Accord (GNA) and located in western Libya, first signed the agreement in 2019. After refusing to sign the deal for the past six years, Libya’s eastern parliament passed a vote to join the agreement on October 20. The alignment of Libya’s rival western and eastern governments is a result of increased military partnerships over the past year between Turkiye’s military and the Libyan National Army, based in eastern Libya. Through signing this deal, Turkiye gains increased access to gas-rich areas in the Mediterranean.
The deal prompted international backlash on the grounds of violating international maritime law and encroaching on the sovereignty of other Mediterranean nations. Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus have each rejected the deal. Greece issued a statement describing the deal as “illegal, null and void, contravenes international law of the sea, infringes upon the sovereign rights of states in the region.” The three countries rejected the deal when it was originally signed in 2019, with Egypt and Greece creating a retaliatory deal in 2020, establishing an overlapping border in the eastern Mediterranean. Leaders of the European Union are expected to reject the maritime deal between Turkiye and Libya at an upcoming summit in Brussels, demonstrating support for Mediterranean states opposing the agreement.
North America
Written by Chloe Bradley
Canadian Referendum Rejects Alberta Separation Amid Trump’s Calls for Canadian Annexation
Last week, Canada faced its own version of Brexit when Canadian citizens confronted the prospect of Alberta’s separation from the country through a referendum. Current Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, was the Governor of the Bank of England at the time of the original Brexit decision. He notably held a strong position against England’s separation from the European Union, and he indicated such separation would cause an economic downturn and recession.
Now, as Canada’s executive leader, he was again faced with a similar dilemma and continued his opposition to separatist ideals. Carney declared an Alberta separation would cause an economic crisis on both sides, especially with the current struggle against United States tariffs. Tariffs instituted by the United States and retaliatory tariffs on behalf of Canada have caused higher prices, decreased exports, and lower global demand for Canadian goods, therefore losing Alberta and its economic contributions will exacerbate economic pitfalls.
Last week, Carney’s worries were put at ease, however, when an overwhelming majority voted for Alberta to stay with the mother country, Canada. Reports indicate 75% of voters favored Alberta remaining a part of Canada, which was seen as a major win for Carney. While the dominant electoral performance paves the way towards furthering Canadian unity, there are deeper economic motivations behind keeping Alberta within the Canadian union. Alberta is home to the fourth-largest oil reserves in the world, and therefore represents a major asset to Canadian governance amid economic struggles.
The referendum comes just days after President Donald Trump’s rally in Arizona, where he stated that Canada will "end up being the 51st state, because it's the only way it works.” Carney has made statements alluding to the idea that Trump has used annexation threats and comments to sow further division into the Canadian population. However, the referendum outcome has upheld Carney’s statements, “In Canada, we are masters in our own home, from coast to coast to coast,” against undue American influence.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Written by Esha Dhungana
Quality of Life in Sudan Continues to Decline Amid Airstrikes and Worsening Humanitarian Conditions
In April 2023, Sudan's war began when fighting first broke out between Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group before spreading across the country. Since then, the conflict has displaced over 11.3 million people, and more than 40% of the Sudanese population now faces high levels of acute food insecurity. Although organizations such as Doctors Without Borders are making efforts to alleviate the situation, recent airstrikes by Egyptian forces, displacement, and the overcrowding of refugee camps highlight the conflict’s worsening consequences for civilians.
On October 12, Egyptian forces launched airstrikes that hit an open gold mine near the northern border of Sudan, killing at least 72 miners, most of whom were young, poor men from war-affected areas. The attack surprised much of the Sudanese population as it occurred in an army-controlled area largely untouched by fighting. Artisanal mining, specifically for gold, has become one of the few opportunities for Sudanese civilians to earn an income after the ongoing fighting led to a collapse in the national economy. While gold mining is notorious for dangers and human rights abuses like child labor, many miners interviewed after the bombing said that they had little choice but to continue mining in order to survive.
Meanwhile, for the millions of Sudanese people who have become displaced, worsening conditions from the overcrowding of displacement camps place additional pressure on already limited resources. Within the city of El Obeid, tens of thousands of internally displaced people are living within two main tented camps. Between August 4 and 25 of 2026, more than 800 tents appeared at one of the camps, in which an estimated 85% of new arrivals were women and children. Food insecurity is also expected to rise, with poor crop growth affecting 64% of the croplands in North Darfur and warnings of famine spreading to El Obeid and surrounding areas. Similar conditions appear in neighboring countries like South Sudan, where an estimated 3,000 Sudanese refugees now cross the border weekly. As humanitarian agencies face shrinking resources, more than one million vulnerable people could lose access to life-saving food and nutrition assistance by the end of October unless additional resources are secured. As the war persists, the growing humanitarian crisis will continue to overwhelm already strained resources and threaten to destabilize neighboring countries.
South America
Written by Gabriella Ramirez
The Presidential Election in Brazil Causes Unrest and Raises Questions
Earlier this month, Brazil’s presidential candidate Senator Flávio Bolsonaro bested incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by more than 2 million votes in the first round of the country’s election. The elections have shifted Congress towards the right-wing Liberal Party, which could reshape the nation’s Supreme Court, economy, human rights protections, and environmental policies. The increased probability of far-right Bolsonaro victory sparked unprecedented levels of digital activism and protests as the left mobilized to secure Lula the presidency. However, the left has been struggling to compete with the far-right’s quick domination of digital platforms. The left has been slower than the right to embrace digital activism due to a resistance to Big Tech platforms, said a professor at the University of Sao Paulo’s communications and arts school. This comes as tech giant Meta complies with an order from Brazil’s electoral court for it to give equal treatment in its platforms to both presidential candidates. The suit was triggered by Lula’s accusation that Meta, owning Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, was using biased algorithms and AI restrictions to favor Bolsonaro.
Additionally, a federal court in Brazil ordered the government to ensure Indigenous people nationwide can vote in the presidential runoff. The ruling declared that geographic distance and a lack of accessible transportation can make a formally recognized right almost impossible to execute in practice. The lawsuit cited accounts from indigenous communities across the country, including allegations of municipal governments denying transportation for political reasons and ranchers preventing workers from leaving farms to vote. The ruling granted a request which sought free transportation by river, land, or air, as well as funding for food, interpreters, and cultural facilitators at polling sites. Previously, the Amazonas state electoral court rejected the petition, citing it could not accommodate a request for aiding Indigenous populations in accessing polls due to vast distances and low river levels that would require slower boats, making it virtually impossible to arrange transportation in time.
Europe
Written by Daniel McHugh
Youth Led Protests Erupt Across Europe
Protests tore through the streets of Europe from France to Albania this week. The protesters' grievances ranged from rising fuel costs, discontent with school conditions, threats to social welfare, and the increase in the general cost of living.
In France, prolonged protests that originated from discontent with state school conditions have now grown to include demands related to raising living costs, public services, and police brutality. The protests spiraled out of control as looting broke out in the cities of Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux,leading to the destruction of historical monuments such as the historic Limoges City hall and resulted in over 2,400 arrests.
Similarly, the “Italia in Piazza” movement led initially peaceful demonstrations with demands for better employment, healthcare, education, and access to housing in Italy. Demonstrators also protested Italy’s growing inflation that reached 4.2% this September. Like France, riots also followed the initial wave of protests as demonstrators clashed with police in Bologna and Turin, while stores were looted and properties set ablaze in Milan. There were 271 arrests and 14 security officers reported injured in Milan alone this weekend.
On the Iberian peninsula, thousands of protesters took to the streets in Lisbon and Porto in Portugal calling for affordable housing. Portugal’s protests were inspired by the weeks-long housing protests that took place in Spain this month, and continue with protest encampments set up in Madrid and Lisbon. Meanwhile, in Albania, university and high school students have rallied behind the “Flamingo" movement calling for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama. The calls for his resignation come after allegations of government corruption, a floundering job market and poor education standards. Albanian police appeared to fire rubber bullets into the crowd of demonstrators as they clashed with police throughout the weekend. Nearly 400 protesters are facing legal prosecution in Albania as a result of the most recent outbreak of protests, with no clear resolution to be in sight.
The protests that have gripped Europe this month reflect a broad sense of economic insecurity, perceived low social mobility, and distrust in their bureaucratic systems, particularly among Gen Z. The far-right is pointing to immigration as the source of these troubles while the socialist leaning left is claiming that economic and housing reform has not been extreme enough. With important elections coming up in countries such as Italy, Germany, and Spain, mainstream political parties are scrambling to combat the growing political polarization exacerbated by these protests.
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