Week In Review (WIRE) News 03.23.2026

Edited by Mary Wahn, Grey Cohen, John Gooden, Emma Grace Jarvis, Ethan Joyce, Bianca Orfila-Molinet, and Meera Srinivasan

Asia and the Pacific

Written by Jesse Vu

Japan-led Coalition to Sign $57 Billion Oil Deal with U.S Companies

Weeks into the Iran conflict, tensions surrounding oil supplies are increasing all over the world, and so is the average price for an oil barrel. Since the start of the conflict, Iran has shut down the Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for the passage of roughly 20% of the world’s oil. Many countries, including those in Asia and the Pacific region, are looking for ways to compensate for this shortage of oil supply. On March 15, the U.S Interior Secretary announced that a coalition of Asian countries, led by Japan, had struck a $57 Billion deal with American oil companies, and the deal is a way for countries to lower this tension surrounding rising oil prices.

According to Secretary Burgum, this deal highlights the significance of expanding energy trade with American Allies who were greatly dependent on the oil coming through the Strait. Due to the Iran conflict, many Asian allies have no other options but to search for alternative oil supplies and ways to reduce their oil dependence on adversaries. As noted by the Secretary, Japan played a crucial role in orchestrating this deal, and this carried a symbolic significance as Japan’s PM visited the White House only days after the announcement. Additionally, while China does not produce a significant amount of oil and does not get impacted significantly by the deal, it serves as a counterweight to China’s growing influence, reinforcing the U.S.-led economic network in the region and highlighting Japan’s further shift toward a pro-West economic strategy.

Central America and the Caribbean

Written by Gabriella Ramirez

U.S.-Cuba Escalations, Reforms in El Salvador, and Hope for Haiti 

This week, Cuba was plunged into darkness by a blackout, a third failure of the island’s power grid since December. Cuba is struggling with its dwindling oil supply after the United States removed Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, halting petroleum shipments from the country, along with threats of tariffs from President Trump towards any country selling or supplying Cuba with oil. The island has resorted to relying on its natural gas, solar power, and its own oil, although none of these sufficiently meet the demand. President Trump's aggressive approach towards Cuba is an effort to motivate regime change, liberalization, and the release of political prisoners, causing devastating consequences for the civilian population. Comments made by President Trump imply Washington could take “imminent action” against the island’s government, as Trump states he can “do whatever he wants” with Cuba. 

El Salvador’s Congress approved a constitutional amendment pushed forward by President Nayib Bukele to permit life sentences in a nation that has imprisoned more than 1% of its population in its war against gangs. Bukele’s constitutional reforms are being criticized for eroding the nation’s checks and balances and democratic processes. In August, the government pushed a reform that went away with presidential term limits, allowing for Bukele to stay in power indefinitely. One reform, intended to be temporary, has been extended for nearly four years as it suspends key constitutional rights, leading to around 91,300 people being detained and causing frequent disappearances. According to Human Rights Watch, Salvadoran nationals who were deported from the U.S. have been arbitrarily detained in El Salvador and have disappeared in the prison system. Prisons have been accused of various human rights abuses, with documented cases of beatings by prison guards, sexual abuse, and overall deteriorating conditions. 

The United Nations’ expert on human rights in Haiti asserted that Haiti now has a chance to tackle pervasive gang violence with a U.S.-initiated international force. On September 30th, the U.N. The Security Council approved a plan aimed at transforming a Kenya-led multinational force into a “gang suppression” force with the power to arrest suspected gang members. The plan authorizes a 5,550-member force, and the first troops are expected to arrive in early April. 

Europe

Written by Ethan Joyce

Political Prisoners Released from Belarus Following U.S. Negotiations

On March 19, Belarusian authorities under the direction of President Lukashenka released 250 political prisoners. The release followed negotiations with United States and Lithuanian officials, who agreed to ease some sanctions aimed at Belarusian financial institutions and export sectors in exchange. Reports indicate that while most of the released prisoners have made the decision to stay in Belarus, 15 have been escorted to Lithuania for asylum.

President Lukashenka has won every election held in Belarus since 1994 and is widely regarded as an authoritarian despite the formal existence of electoral processes. In the 2020 Belarusian election, opposition candidates claimed a decisive victory against him, directly contradicting Lukashenko’s reported results. This dispute sparked mass protests, which were met with widespread force, including the arrests of opposition candidates. To date, more than 1,000 political prisoners remain detained in Belarus, most of whom were arrested during the 2020 protests and their aftermath.

The recent prisoner release is one of several that have occurred over the past few months as a result of negotiations largely spearheaded by U.S. envoy John Coale. Those freed include numerous prominent human rights advocates, as well as a Nobel laureate. 

Despite the prisoner releases, Lukashenka continues to deny the true nature of the arrests, and was quoted by state media as saying that despite the negotiations to release “so-called political prisoners”, they did not in actuality “have such a designation”. Thus, moderate dialogue and easing sanctions provide Lukashenka with benefits from U.S. rapprochement efforts, namely giving his regime further legitimacy and economic breathing room, while also providing him opportunities to reject their underlying purpose. The negotiated release of detainees in Belarus reflects a calculated use of limited concessions by an entrenched authoritarian to secure external economic and diplomatic advantages. Meanwhile, the detention of other prisoners has persisted, and human rights organizations warn that real justice is yet to be served. 

Middle East and North Africa

Written by Ansley Hovater

Executions in Iran and the Remaining Power of the Government

Against the backdrop of heavy fire exchanges with Israel, Iran’s Islamic Republic government is still operating, even if disjointed. Last week, Iran executed three anti-government protesters for participating in widespread demonstrations against the regime in January, and Swedish citizen Koroush Kivani, whom the regime accused of spying for Israel.

The three men, Mehdi Ghasemi, Saleh Mohammadi and Saeed Davvodi, were charged with the murder of police officers during the January anti-establishment protests in Iran, where the Islamic Regime detained thousands. The men also received charges for crimes against God, or “moharebeh,” a charge that the Islamic Republic commonly uses to incur the death penalty. All three received the death penalty early Thursday morning. Just a day prior, on Wednesday morning, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld Koroush Kivani’s death penalty, leading to a same-day execution. Human rights groups say that children are among the 30 people facing possible upcoming death sentences, and accuse Iran of terrorizing its citizens. Rights groups also claim that Iran did not grant any of the men a fair trial, forcing their confessions, followed by swift executions. 

Iran’s execution of protesters and foreign citizens further isolates the country during a time of strain and conflict, as condemnation from human rights organizations worldwide accompanies the heavy fire battering the country.

North America

Written by Justin Cohen

Oil Sector Reactions Pose Threats to President Trump and Prime Minister Carney

With oil prices on the rise as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, American and Canadian petroleum producers have differed in their reactions to the market changes. These private sector approaches pose threats to both countries' political leaders.

While United States President Donald Trump has long championed domestic oil production, experts predict the disruptions will not lead to significant increases in American drilling. While aware of the opportunity for additional international sales, sector leaders appear skeptical about whether the war-induced shortages will last long enough to justify additional investment. Dan Pickering, who serves as Chief Investment Officer at Pickering Energy Partners, highlighted the shift in industry behavior, saying “today’s public E&P companies are no longer cowboys willing to blast off billions in capex because of a ‘hunch.’”

In contrast, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has seen his private sector move away from ongoing negotiations over a new industrial carbon price policy as a result of the changes. With an April 1 deadline looming, oil companies have expressed excitement about selling more Canadian gas to Asia, shifting from their previously cooperative stance on the carbon price issue in the process. Prime Minister Carney’s leadership on climate issues, which has been under attack in recent months, would take an additional hit if a deal is not reached.

South America

Written by Trinity De Lima 

Petro Accuses Ecuador of Bombing Colombia 

Tensions have been rising between Ecuador and Colombia since January. It started when Ecuador launched a surprise trade war. President Daniel Noboa imposed a 30% tariff on Colombian imports and attributed it to “lack of reciprocity and firm action” on security. He stated that until there is a “real commitment” to counter drug trafficking and illegal mining on the border, the tariffs will continue. Colombia denied the accusations, and as the trade war escalates, both countries are still unable to reach an agreement. 

Recently, the tensions have risen to an all-time high as President Gustavo Petro of Colombia discovered 27 charred bodies on the Ecuadorian border. This news comes one day after a bombing on Colombian territory, for which Ecuador was accused. Noboa claims that all strikes are part of a U.S.-backed military campaign against armed groups within Ecuador’s territory. The dispute over the bombing began on Monday and is still under speculation. According to one of the deputy directors at the International Crisis Group, it is “very unclear if this came from Ecuador, what happened, or who exactly was hit”. 

Sub-Saharan Africa

Written by Alex Whirley

Africa Solidifies Position as Epicenter of Global Terrorism

On March 19, the Institute for Economics and Peace published the 2026 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), confirming that Sub-Saharan Africa remains the deadliest region in the world for terrorism. The new data starkly illustrates that the global epicenter of extremist violence has firmly calcified in the Sahel. According to the report, the region now accounts for more than 50 percent of all terrorism-related fatalities globally, dwarfing historical hotspots in the Middle East and South Asia.

From a tactical standpoint, the 2026 GTI data highlights an alarming evolution in the capabilities and coordination of regional militant groups. Organizations such as the Al-Qaeda-affiliated  Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State Sahel Province (IS-Sahel) have capitalized on porous borders and regional instability to expand their operational reach. For the Islamic State specifically, a notable shift occurred in the group’s regional focus: attacks in sub-Saharan Africa almost doubled in the past year, rising from 111 to 221 incidents, while attacks in the Middle East and North Africa fell 39 percent. This is a result of a variety of factors: by 2019, the Islamic State had lost its physical “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria due to relentless pressure from a U.S.-led coalition; simultaneously, military coups, geopolitical shifts, and a general Western withdrawal resulted in a massive security vacuum in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Index draws a direct, quantifiable line between the surge in terrorist fatalities and the ongoing security crises in Sub-Saharan Africa. Going forward, if Western actors continue to withdraw and the international community fails to fill the resulting gap in comprehensive stabilization efforts, the Sahel will remain a major source of instability for the broader African continent.