Week In Review (WIRE) News 2.9.2026
- LJS Exec
- 11 minutes ago
- 9 min read
Asia and the Pacific
Written by Jesse Vu
Xi Discussed Trade and Taiwan with Trump Following Putin’s Call
Following a call with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping hopped on another call on Feb. 4 to discuss trade and Taiwan with U.S. President Donald Trump. The call took place two months before Trump’s expected visit to China and just a few days before the president embarked on his Asia trip. While there were mentions of Taiwan on the call, Trump described it as an “excellent call”, signaling a possible relief of trade tension between the two countries.
The call covered a wide range of topics, from soybean purchases and trade to Taiwan. Even though the two leaders neglected to discuss Taiwan when they met last year in South Korea, Beijing warned the Trump administration about its arms sales to Taiwan. Furthermore, in a social media post after the meeting, Trump stated that Xi would consider increasing the number of soybean purchases from the U.S from 12 million to 20 million. This increase in soybean purchases, if committed to, would be extremely beneficial for the U.S, given the fact that the soybean industry makes up $124 billion in value in 2023, according to the United Soybean Board. Additionally, were this commitment to occur, this would be a massive improvement in trading terms between China and the U.S, especially after it threatened to impose a total of 130% tariff on all Chinese goods last year.
Notably, this meeting came after Xi had a conversation with the Russian president earlier in the day. In a remark to state media, Putin stated that any season is “springtime” for Russia-China relations and praised Xi for allowing “visa-free entry” for Russians. This call came just weeks after visits from the Canadian and British Prime Ministers last month and right before the Chinese president had a talk with the American president, serving as a reminder to Western leaders that China and Russia still maintain deep ties.
Central America and the Caribbean
Written by Gabriella Ramirez
An Election in Costa Rica Amidst Strained U.S. Relations with Haiti and Cuba
Last Monday, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes paused the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 350,000 Haitians while a lawsuit challenging it proceeds. TPS can be granted if conditions in a country are deemed unsafe, allowing holders the right to live and work in the U.S., but it is not a legal pathway to citizenship. Haiti’s TPS status continues to be extended due to rates of gang violence and displacements. The Trump administration sought to remove this status, making Haitians a target for its anti-immigration agenda. Later that day, authorities in the Dominican Republic reported the bodies of at least four decapitated women were found along the border it shares with Haiti, a startling exemplar of the violence in the region.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump stated his administration is starting talks with Cuba after he threatened tariffs on any country providing oil to the island. A senior Cuban diplomat expressed that his government does not have a dialogue with the U.S., but is open to one. However, Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío stressed certain things are off the table for Cuba, including the country’s constitution, economy, and socialist government. Cuba is in the midst of an economic crisis, ongoing blackouts, and disruption in oil shipments following U.S. attacks on Venezuela.
In Costa Rica, conservative populist Laura Fernández won the presidency, promising to consolidate the nation's development to effectively face global challenges and bolster the economy. Fernández also vowed to continue the policies of her predecessor, Rodrigo Cháves, who attempted to address surges in crime and violence. Some voters believe Chávez failed to bring crime rates down, while others believe a continuation of his confrontational style will be best for Costa Rica to quell the violence. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Fernández, expressing confidence that Costa Rica will continue to advance shared priorities, including combating narcotrafficking, ending illegal immigration, and strengthening economic ties.
Europe
Written by Ethan Joyce
Tensions Flare Between Roma Supporter Base and Orbán's Government Ahead of Elections
With nearly two months remaining before Hungary holds parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces what may be his toughest political challenge yet. Tisza party leader Péter Magyar has mounted arguably the most successful opposition campaign against the long-dominant Fidesz party, capitalizing on a wave of corruption allegations and a succession of other political scandals.
Prime Minister Orbán rewrote the Hungarian constitution in 2010 and has since consolidated a supermajority in parliament for much of two decades. Through a combination of redistricting efforts, sustained pressure on media independence, and extensive patronage directed toward rural voters, his government has entrenched its political dominance. Organized opposition to Orbán's rule is therefore unsurprising. Still, Tisza represents a novel challenge to Orbán's government as Magyar is a former Fidesz partisan and, unlike other previously failed opposition groups, he has been able to coalesce support under the banner of one party (which is integral to gaining a majority in parliament).
One key electoral bloc that has historically supported Orbán's government is the Roma population, who make up ~10% of the total Hungarian population. In a recent incident on January 22nd, that relationship was strained when János Lázár, the Minister for Construction and Transport and one of Fidesz’s biggest campaigners, stated that Roma people are for “cleaning shit-filled toilets” and could functionally act as a labor “reserve” for the country.
In response, on the 31st, over 1,000 protestors gathered in Budapest to demand Lázár’s resignation. Fidesz subsequently alleged that those protestors possessed extensive criminal histories and were paidby Tisza party operatives. On Wednesday, February 4th, the police denied having ever checked the identities of protesters, confirming that the government lied about the criminal histories of the protestors (or used extrajudicial means to obtain their identities). Recent polling suggests Tisza has the potential to capture a majority of the vote in the upcoming election, but the question still remains as to whether both emergent and established opposition groups will maintain their momentum and whether institutional mechanisms will permit a genuine transfer of power should that be the case.
Middle East and North Africa
Written by Ansley Hovater
Saudi Arabia and Türkiye’s Recent Collaboration on Solar Power Plants
On Tuesday, February 3, President Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to negotiate a $2B agreement with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman concerning the establishment of solar power plants in Türkiye. The agreement between these two countries provides an opportunity for foreign investors to enter the scene and promises a cure to the historically strained relationship between the two Middle Eastern powers.
In May of 2022, President Erdogan first began his proactive plan to establish Türkiye as a connected Middle Eastern power. In doing so, he not only reinstated connections with the United Arab Emirates, forged communication with Israeli leaders, and prioritized discussions with Egypt, but he also adamantly pursued resolving tensions with Saudi Arabia. Previously to President Erdogan’s actions, Saudi Arabia had boycotted Turkish goods, Türkiye supported Qatar during the Saudi-led blockade, and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashuggi occurred, strengthening the tension between the two countries. However, since President Erdogan’s mission on reconciliation, the ties between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have only strengthened, resulting in this novel agreement to collaborate on green energy.
According to this recently developed agreement, signed on February 3, Saudi Arabia will invest $2B in establishing solar power plants in both the Sivas and Karaman regions of Türkiye. In return, the electricity produced at these locations will supply 2.1 million households in Türkiye with their electricity needs, eventually projected to total 5,000 MW of green energy. The signing of this agreement, according to Turkish energy minister Alparslam Bayraktar, simply marks another step in President Erdogan’s mission to reach 120,000 MW of solar and wind energy by 2035.
The arrangement between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia indicates a reshaping of foreign investment in the Middle East and international environmental policy. By instituting these solar energy plants, the two countries set a precedent for other countries to follow suit, utilizing green energy for the preservation of the environment. In addition, Türkiye will turn to international financial institutions to grant loans to fund the project, creating a collaborative effort between multiple countries to combat the issue of climate change.
North America
Written by Justin Cohen
Mexico Provides Humanitarian Aid to Cuba in Wake of U.S. Oil Blockade
This past Friday, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Mexico will provide additional humanitarian aid to Cuba. At a press conference in Michoacan, she stated “[w]e are planning to send this aid, if not this weekend, then on Monday at the latest,” adding that the shipment would contain “mainly food and some other supplies that they have requested.” The announcement comes as Cuba copes with American President Donald Trump's executive order threatening tariffs on any country that supplies Cuba with oil, a decision that strained the Cuban economy to the point of possible collapse.
In prior years, Venezuela was the largest supplier of crude oil to Cuba, but shipments ceased following the United States’ abduction of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro in early January. The second largest supplier is Mexico, whose oil and petroleum sales to the island totaled $496 million in 2025. President Sheinbaum told reporters during the announcement that she would continue “diplomatic efforts” with the US to restore oil access in Cuba, but clarified that “[o]bviously, we don’t want sanctions against Mexico.”
The Cuban government has vehemently opposed the oil blockade. In a formal declaration released near the end of January, the country characterized the action as “economic strangulation.” President Trump made his intention to initiate regime change on the island clear, saying Cuban leadership should “make a deal, before it is too late” and that “Cuba will be failing pretty soon.”
South America
Written by Trinity De Lima
President Trump and President Petro of Colombia Meet in the White House
On February 3, U.S. President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro met at the White House to discuss security, drug trafficking, and regional challenges. The meeting marked a shift in their relationship, following many public clashes in the past. Trump continued to accuse Petro and his administration of failing to prevent the flow of drugs to the United States. Following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in early January, Trump suggested the possibility of future strikes on Colombia. Petro criticized Trump for a wide array of issues, including domestic immigration policies and American strikes on alleged drug boats.
The pair left the meeting in positive spirits and described the meeting as constructive. Petro and Trump discussed Colombia potentially supporting Venezuela’s economic recovery by providing infrastructure for oil refinery and energy, as well as the possibility of joint Venezuela-Colombia military action against transnational criminal groups, with the added support of the United States. Petro also mentioned his current dispute with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa over a 30% tariff on Colombian goods imported into Ecuador, over Colombia’s alleged failure to stop illegal mining and cocaine trafficking. In another request, Petro asked that Trump step in as a mediator in initiating a trilateral counternarcotics effort, potentially setting a trend in the region. Petro stated that he is committed to presenting concrete details in the counternarcotics and urged Trump to work together to capture kingpins abroad.
Petro's shifting attitude is attributed to various threats from Trump, such as tariffs, sanctions, and visa suspensions. The January operation that culminated in Maduro’s ousting seems to loom over other leaders—including Petro, according to Trump. On Monday, Trump said regarding Petro, “He was certainly critical before that, but, somehow, after the Venezuelan raid, he became very nice. He changed his attitude very much.” Petro seems to be following the same playbook as fellow Latin American leaders Nayib Bukele of El Salvador and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico: give Trump what he wants rather than fight him.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Written by Alex Whirley
Sudanese Army Finally Breaks Blockade to Famine-Stricken Kadugli
On Tuesday, February 3rd, the Sudanese Military finally broke a blockade of the city of Kadugli after more than two years of brutal opposition occupation. Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, is a pivotal city in the Sudanese civil war due to its location as a strategic, logistical, and geographical chokepoint that connects Darfur to the rest of central Sudan. The SAF capture of the city was met with celebration as civilians came out of their houses to praise the Sudanese soldiers, flooding the streets with “indescribable joy,” as one firsthand account puts it.
The R.S.F. occupation of Kadugli led to mass displacement; roughly 80% of Kadugli’s population (approximately 147,000 people) fled due to the dire humanitarian situation and fighting. While many residents left, those who stayed suffered from severe starvation and were trapped under artillery and drone strikes. The devastation of the blockade of Kadugli is not an isolated incident of this war, as Sudan has become the greatest refugee crisis in recorded history, with a total displaced population of over 14 million as of this year.
As of now, the Sudanese civil war remains largely deadlocked with no end in sight. While the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) recently made territorial gains in Darfur and central Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) hold key cities in the north and east. Foreign actors are also muddying the situation by supporting both sides of the conflict. The UAE is supplying the RSF with weapons in exchange for greater regional influence, and Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey are supporting the Sudanese army. Last month, Sudan’s army received the latest truce proposal, presented by the United States and Saudi Arabia, but has not yet accepted it.