Week In Review (WIRE) News 02.23.2026
- LJS Exec
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
Asia and the Pacific
Written by Jesse Vu
Australia Will Not Assist in Bringing Back Australian Refugees Held in Syrian Camp
On Tuesday, February 17th, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the federal government would not provide nor facilitate “assistance or repatriation” for the refugee group of 34 Australian women and children who had been released from the Kurdish-controlled Al Roj detention camp the day prior. Referring to the women as “ISIS brides”, Albanese stood firm and denied any possibility that his government would intervene to try bringing them home, citing their ties with ISIS fighters.
Since the fall of ISIS in 2019, Australian women and children with ties to ISIS fighters have taken refuge in northern Syrian camps, unless they were repatriated by their governments. It was not until this week that these refugees were released and attempted to make their way to Australia via Damascus, before being turned back by the Syrian government. Even though the Syrian government did not immediately make clear as to why the group’s release was halted, Australian media reported that it was due to a coordination failure between different governing factions in the region. After the unsuccessful escape was made aware to the public and international audiences, there was speculation as to whether the Australian government would repatriate its own citizens and bring these children and women home. Any speculation was then eliminated as the Prime Minister made clear that his government would not do so, stating that many of these Australian refugees chose to move abroad and marry ISIS fighters in order to “destroy our ways of life” and hence were guilty by association.
It should be noted that this is not the first instance in which the Australian government has refused to repatriate refugees. Back in 2023, the government refused to grant the request from Save the Children Australia advocates to bring back the 20 children and 11 women held in Syrian camps at the time. Nonetheless, PM Albanese’s comments in recent days came as a shock and disappointment to human rights groups who hoped the government would repatriate these citizens.
Central America and the Caribbean
Written by Gabriella Ramirez
Deadly U.S. Strikes in the Caribbean Kill 11 as Russia Asserts Support for Cuba
On Monday, U.S. forces launched assaults on three alleged drug-smuggling boats, which killed 11 in one of the deadliest days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign against drug trafficking. The number of fatalities caused by U.S. strikes since September has risen to 145, with 42 known strikes taking place in alleged drug-trafficking routes, such as the Caribbean Sea. U.S. Southern Command posted a video of the strike to social media, insisting the boats were transporting drug traffickers. However, the video does not appear to provide information confirming this. Many have questioned the legitimacy of these strikes due to legal experts stating the attacks are equivalent to extrajudicial military killings in the absence of an imminent threat of violence.
As a result, an organization in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is urging fishermen to take precautions after the U.S. government announced it carried out strikes on three boats, including one in the Caribbean Sea, without providing adequate evidence that they were transporting drugs. Former St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves criticized the strikes and urged President Trump to make a public statement, stating that, “Even if these persons were involved in drug trafficking, you can’t just kill them.” The fisherfolk organization notes the strikes come as the eastern Caribbean prepares for the busy season and urges fishermen to clearly identify their boats and monitor their surroundings.
Meanwhile, Russian top officials hosted the Cuban foreign minister for talks in Moscow, with Russia speaking out in support of the island as it suffers from blackouts and severe fuel shortages. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged the United States to refrain from blockading Cuba, which is currently struggling to import oil after President Trump threatened any nation that sold oil to Cuba with tariffs. Lavrov promised to continue supporting Cuba and its sovereignty, as the Russian Embassy in Havana reports Moscow is preparing to send a humanitarian fuel shipment to Havana in the near future.
Europe
Written by Ethan Joyce
What the U.S. Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Means for Future Trade Relations with Europe
Following a 6-3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are no longer in effect. This presents an interesting challenge for both the Trump administration and European nations who seek greater clarity on the U.S. government's response to the ruling. European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Olof Gill said in a statement: “Business… depend[s] on stability and predictability in the trading relationship”, and this ruling doesn’t do much to ease those nations' concerns following a tumultuous period of international negotiations.
While the ruling was certainly a setback for the Trump administration, it did not entirely prohibit the President from imposing further tariffs. Rather, the ruling prohibited him from imposing tariffs under the IEEPA exclusively. In response to the ruling, Trump announced he signed an executive order that would "impose a 10% global tariff under Section 122" of the Trade Act of 1974. No president has ever invoked Section 122 before.
It appears as though European leaders anticipated the imposition of these new tariffs, as one unnamed French diplomat stated before the 10% tariff announcement that they expected “the U.S. administration to use other legal instruments to reinstate its tariffs”. That being said, this ruling throws six months of negotiations into jeopardy. An initial trade agreement between the U.S. and the EU was reached in July, in which member nations agreed to a 15% general tariff, which has now seemingly been reduced to 10%. As recently as the 11th of this month, the European Parliament held a formal vote and affirmed the conditions of the July agreement, despite that agreement no longer having the same legal merit. Throughout February and March, parties were supposed to hold negotiations as they moved toward a final text for the agreement; however, this ruling has cast doubt on that process, as Trump has hinted at further tariff escalations.
Middle East and North Africa
Written by Ansley Hovater
The UN Addresses Migrant Concerns in Libya
On Tuesday, February 17, the United Nations released a report revealing the harrowing nature of refugee detainment in Libya, with state-sponsored actors subjecting migrants to kidnapping, rape, and even torture. Despite the morbid conditions, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and African refugees increasingly find routes through Libya appealing as they hope to reach Europe.
Libya is conveniently located 186 miles from the Italian Coast, making it an appealing waypoint for migrants hoping to reach Europe. The European Union, taking advantage of this proximity, began funding the Libyan Coast Guard to prevent refugees from taking the journey across the Mediterranean Sea. Since 2021, reports routinely detail aggressive forced returns of migrants already at sea and systematic abuse and exploitation of those in Libyan custody. Human trafficking networks flourish in Libya, abducting and holding migrants for ransom or enslavement and creating a UN-declared human rights crisis in North Africa.
The report, based on interviews of nearly 100 migrants between January 2024 and November 2025, revealed that Libyan authorities often held ties to the systematic abductions. Libyan authorities deny any connection to migrant abuse, and the UN has imposed a moratorium on migrant boats entering Libya until human rights are ensured.
North America
Written by Justin Cohen
Canada Confirms Commitment to Trilateral North American Trade Agreement
During a visit this week to Mexico City, Canadian Minister of International Trade Dominic LeBlanc confirmed his country’s desire to maintain a traditional trilateral US-Canada-Mexico trade agreement. The re-commitment comes amid fears that U.S. President Donald Trump may axe the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiated during his first term.
Minister LeBlanc, who led a group of over 370 delegates to the six-day trade mission, emphasized strategic co-operation between Mexico and Canada. He commented to reporters that “The Mexicans have very similar interests to Canada…We both remain absolutely committed to the trilateral free trade agreement and working together as this review process unfolds.” One of the Canadian delegates, Business Council of Canada CEO Goldy Hyder, was quoted as saying, “This is an opportunity to go well beyond where we have been…It’s a long time coming.”
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the current free-trade pact between the three countries, is scheduled for formal review this July. The agreement, which replaced the prior NAFTA, has shielded Mexico and Canada from many of the Trump administration's tariff efforts over the last year. Reports of President Trump’s thoughts on the review have included rumors of a possible American exit from the agreement or a new pact that excludes Canada.
South America
Written by Trinity De Lima
Peruvian President Jose Jeri to be Impeached
On Tuesday, Peru’s Congress voted to impeach interim President Jose Jeri from office. Jeri succeeded his predecessor Dina Boluarte following her impeachment on the citation of “permanent moral incapacity.” The final nail in Boluarte’s coffin was losing her right-wing backing in the legislature; with no vice president, Jeri, as Head of Congress, was her natural successor. The vote to impeach Jeri stems from allegations of influence peddling, and the most significant such scandal was known as “China-gate,” which garnered attention after Peruvian media released a video of Jeri attending a meeting with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang at Yang’s restaurant in Lima. Peruvian law requires meetings to be publicly included under the official presidential agenda; this was not. The video seemed to show Jeri trying to disguise himself with a hoodie that partially concealed his face. Subsequent photos released showed that Jeri visited another of Yang’s businesses wearing sunglasses instead.
These meetings raised questions and public suspicion, but Jeri continued to deny any wrongdoing, stating the meetings were held to discuss a Peruvian-Chinese friendship day, with others being casual shopping trips. Boluarte’s administration gave Yang a concession to build a hydroelectric plant, which has faced several delays, and many are now questioning the transparency of the project. At the congressional debate on Tuesday, Jeri faced questioning about relationships with women who later received government contracts, as well as other suspicious activities. A total of seven motions were raised to censure his presidency, and 75 members of Peru’s Congress backed the measure to remove him, with 24 voting against and three abstaining.
It is expected that another interim president will be chosen on Wednesday evening. The future of Peru’s executive will be determined by the April 12 general election, with at least 36 candidates competing for the presidency. There remains fear that the new president will be subject to the recent impeachment trend. Throughout the constant transition between presidents, observers noticed that Peru’s Congress has gained considerable power and passed legislation that threatens the independence of Peru’s judiciary, which could have troubling implications for the future of Peru’s democracy.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Written by Alex Whirley
Funding Collapse Threatens Millions in Somalia as WFP Sounds the Alarm
The United Nations warns it may be forced to halt all emergency food and nutrition assistance to Somalia by April 2026 unless international donors bridge a massive funding gap. According to a World Food Programme (WFP) report released Friday, Feb. 20, the agency requires $95 million to maintain operations through August. “The situation is deteriorating at an alarming rate,” says Ross Smith, WFP Director of Emergency Preparedness. “Families have lost everything… without immediate renewed support, conditions will worsen quickly.”
The WFP funding shortfall has forced it to reduce the number of people receiving emergency food assistance from 2.2 million in early 2025 to 600,000 in January 2026. In October 2025, the WFP assisted nearly 400,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children, but it was only able to assist 90,000 by December of last year.
Somalia is still reeling from its 2022 drought, which was the longest in recorded history and claimed an estimated 71,000 lives. With 4.4 million people currently facing crisis-level food insecurity, the withdrawal of aid could mirror the 2022 catastrophe, where children under five accounted for 40% of the mortality rate, or 28,400 lives.
Climate-induced catastrophes like the 2022 drought are becoming more common and severe as global average temperatures continue to rise. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows a significant rise in billion-dollar disasters over the last 40 years, and in 2024 alone, NOAA saw 27 separate weather/climate disasters, following a record-setting 28 events in 2023. Somalia exists as one case study of many that illustrates the very real and immediate human costs of inaction on climate policy and the slow distancing of support for international aid.
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