Updates | The Week of January 22, 2018
Derek Reinbold // 1/28/18 //
President Trump threatened to take aid away from Palestine if Palestinian leadership remained unwilling to negotiate with Israel (WaPo, WSJ, LA Times)
Vice President Mike Pence announced that the new embassy in Jerusalem would open in 2019 (WSJ).
The United States introduced new sanctions on individuals and companies suspected of facilitating North Korea’s weapons programs by smuggling goods to the regime (WaPo).
President Trump expressed willingness to reenter the Trans-Pacific Partnership if the deal were restructured (Politico).
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson blamed Russia for recent gas attacks in Syria (WaPo, WSJ).
The White House reportedly named Nadia Schadlow as Dina Powell’s replacement as deputy national security advisor on the National Security Council (The Hill).
CIA Director Mike Pompeo warned that North Korea is rapidly developing weapons for coercive purposes (WaPo).
An investigation found that the Department of Defense has continued to train, equip, and assist Afghan security forces that have committed gross violations of human rights(WaPo, The Hill).
The Trump administration’s position towards Israel reflects American identity politics(NYTimes).
- Vice President Pence met with King Abdullah II of Jordan, where the two agreed to disagree around the decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis pushed for a closer security relationship with Indonesia, out of concern for Chinese influence in the region (WSJ, WaPo).
The Trump administration has imposed new tariffs on solar panels and washing machines, designed to protect domestic production from Chinese competition (WSJ, LA Times).