Weekly News Digest for January 31st, 2025
Compiled by Lydia Wong, Trinity De Lima, Tobyn Smith, Nila Karunakaran, Layla Jeeth, Mary Wahn
Edited by John Wilson, Lydia Wong, Joey Quinn, Ryan Simons, Sara Anis Ali
Asia and the Pacific
Trump’s Aid Freeze Wreaks Havoc on Thailand-Myanmar Border
United States President Donald Trump’s 90-day freeze on foreign assistance programs from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has resulted in severe cuts in services to asylum seekers from Myanmar, including the shutdown of hospital care in seven of nine camps across Thailand that house about 106,000 long-term refugees. The Border Consortium’s mid-year report revealed that the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration was the program’s largest donor, providing over 65 percent of its comprehensive funding. The suspension halted over 40 years of financial support on Tuesday as Trump continues to crack down on his campaign promise to fully-implement “America First” policies.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed to at least temporarily keep spending money on humanitarian aid programs that provide life-saving medicine, medical facilities, shelter, and subsistence assistance. This promise, however, did not explicitly address which programs, if any, affecting refugees from Myanmar would be included.
An estimated 80 percent of camp residents belong to the Karen ethnic minority, whose homeland in eastern Myanmar has been embroiled in conflict since a military coup in 2021. The coup revived a longstanding history of violence in the country. Myanmar’s junta has been accused of repeatedly bombing civilian sites, including schools and hospitals, torching villages, carrying out mass killings, and torturing its opponents in a last-ditch effort to cling to power. The junta’s reinforced targeting of local minorities has taken a major toll on several communities, including the Karen.
Members of the ethnic group have been fighting for greater autonomy from Myanmar’s central government for more than seven decades, but intensified fighting and escalated militarization have forced more than several thousand to flee across the border with Thailand. The future of the region remains uncertain as the junta promised elections this year but has not yet made clear its plans nor commitment given that large areas of the country are controlled by its opponents.
The spending freeze has forced medical staff to withdraw and patients to seek treatment elsewhere. Thailand’s Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, vowed his country wouldn’t let the refugees die as long as they could support them, “no matter how U.S. policy has changed.” Their fate, however, continues to look bleak as the International Refugee Committee has already discharged patients, withdrawn their equipment and medicine, and halted water distribution and garbage disposal efforts.
Central America and the Caribbean
Nicaragua Approves Presidential Constitutional Reforms: Controversial Responses Ensue
On Thursday, Nicaragua’s Congress unanimously passed constitutional reform that grants the power of “co-president” to the Vice President. President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, now face criticism for the reform as many claim it is a “consolidation of power.” While the addition of a “co-president” is the principal part of the reform, there are additional controversial changes such as the extension of the presidential term from five years to six years, and the ability for either co-president to choose any number of vice-presidents. Additionally, it grants further government oversight over the media.
Ortega proposed the constitutional reform himself although he is facing heavy criticism for human rights abuses. There are reports of police forces using excessive force, media control, and restrictions on the right to education. Many claim that these are attempts to oppress the power of civil society in Nicaragua under Ortega’s regime. Any critics of these actions are persecuted and stripped of legal status due to “undermining national integrity” and “propagating fake news.”
Some government officials also released statements to refute these accusations. The head of Nicaragua’s National Assembly, Gustavo Porras, stated “We have to go step by step and make it clear that Nicaragua’s government is a revolutionary government, even if that hurts some people’s feelings.” However these statements did not quell the complaints of the public, as there are 5,000 organizations protesting in opposition to Ortega’s regime.
Europe
European Union Supports Denmark over Greenland Threats
Following the United States President’s active bid for Greenland, the European Union has pledged its 'full support' to Denmark, the state that claims the territory. Trump’s vocality in demanding that Denmark turn its island to the U.S. is his administration’s first steps in fulfilling several pledges made during his campaign trail. Trump has explained, on multiple occasions, that the acquisition and control of Greenland is an “absolute necessity” for national security, even asserting that the island’s 57,000 citizens “want to be with us”. The President of the European Council, António Costa, warned the EU would unequivocally defend ‘national sovereignty’ and ‘territorial integrity’ in response to the Trump Administration’s determination.
Greenland has been a part of Denmark since the 1700s and gained autonomous status in the 1900s. While Greenland has its own government and does not have EU membership status, the autonomous Danish territory enjoys freedom of movement within the European Union and is protected by the mutual defense clause. A clause that would require all EU countries to assist Greenland in the event it was attacked.
In recent weeks, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has consulted her nation’s European allies who have affirmed their support. The Danish government just announced they will be investing $2 billion in Arctic security amidst increasing international conflicts and growing uneasiness.
Middle East and North Africa
Thai Hostages Freed After 15 Months of Captivity in Gaza
On January 30, 2025, after 15 months of captivity, Hamas released five Thai farm workers held captive in Gaza. Hamas initially abducted these individuals on October 7, 2024, when insurgents stormed parts of southern Israel and captured dozens of foreign laborers. While the group released 33 hostages in November 2024, Hamas freed the five Thai captives as part of an ongoing negotiation between Hamas, Israel, and various third parties. The International Committee of the Red Cross and Thai government mediated their release.
Thailand’s government took a leading diplomatic role in securing the freedom of Thai hostages, working tirelessly with Israeli officials and international mediators to bring their citizens home. With around 30,000 Thai workers in Israel's agricultural sector, this conflict deeply affects the country. During the initial attacks, Hamas fighters kidnapped 31 Thai workers, and killed over 40 others. Separate from the January 19 Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, Thailand and Hamas reached an agreement through weeks of negotiations.
The exchange also included three Israeli hostages and 110 Palestinian prisoners, adding complexity in the midst of ongoing negotiations. This release is part of border efforts to secure freedom for hostages taken during the October 7 attacks. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue in the effort to find a lasting resolution, with mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States working together for a more permanent ceasefire deal.
A proposed plan aims for a temporary pause in fighting by January 19, potentially leading to further hostage releases and easing humanitarian conditions in Gaza. However, challenges remain on both sides of the peace talks. Hamas seeks an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza and Israel has pushed for the return of all hostages before discussing a long-term ceasefire deal.
For the freed Thai workers and their families, this marks the end of a 15 month nightmare, as many relatives of the five Thai hostages spent over a year anxiously awaiting news and fearing the worst. This emotional reunion highlights the impact of geopolitical conflicts on foreign laborers, who take great risks in the pursuit of better opportunities. As the world watches the Israel-Gaza conflict, this moment serves as a reminder of the lives impacted beyond the headlines.
North America
U.S. President Donald Trump Makes Key Announcements on Immigration
This week, President Donald Trump announced that he will order the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon to arrange for a migrant detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, a U.S. military base in Cuba. Following the terror attacks on 9/11, the base housed terror suspects at a detention facility, which has drawn criticism for its history of human rights abuses and unlawful detainment practices. It is unknown whether Trump plans to house migrants at this same facility or use a different one. Still, with the UN’s previous condemnation of Guantanamo Bay as a detention facility for non-U.S. citizens, the Trump Administration is expected to receive major pushback from the international community
Trump announced these plans during his signing of the Laken Riley Act. The act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain non-U.S. nationals who have been arrested for crimes such as burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The act also allows states to sue the federal government for decisions or perceived failures relating to enforcing immigration rules. It is unclear how this policy will be carried out in the coming months.
South America
The United States and Colombia Engage in a Diplomatic Dispute Over Colombian Migrants
On Sunday, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro refused to authorize the landing of two deportation flights of Colombian migrants from the U.S. The Trump Administration viewed this as offensive and responded with the implementation of a travel ban on officials responsible for the refusal. Additionally, Trump’s Administration threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Columbian goods which would rise to 50 percent in a week if Colombia continued to refuse deportation flights. Initially, Colombia responded offensively as well and threatened to also impose tariffs. However, the two countries reached a deal later that day as Colombia conceded to all of Trump’s terms.
Under previous U.S. administrations, migrants that were sent back were accepted by Colombia. Petro’s main complaint with the migrant flights was not its occurrence but rather the way that the Trump Administration sent them back. Reportedly, migrants are sent back in handcuffs and in military planes. Petro commented on X, “A migrant is not a criminal and must be treated with the dignity that every human being deserves.” On Tuesday, the first two planes carrying migrants landed in Bogota. There were a total of 201 migrants on board in which 110 were from California and 90 were from Texas.
Previously, Petro offered to send his own presidential plane so that the deportees were brought back in a more “dignified” manner but he later canceled that request. Along with Colombia, Mexico and Brazil have similar requests regarding the treatment of deportees. Finally, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Trump carried out these demands so that America gains respect again on the international stage.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Junta-Led States Leave Regional Alliance in West Africa
West African states Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger withdrew from the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS). The military junta-led states left after ECOWAS began demands for the restoration of democratic rule, a move which they criticized as an impediment to state sovereignty.
ECOWAS is a regional bloc in West Africa with 15 member states that promotes cooperation to raise living standards for civilians and maintain regional economic stability. The alliance was considered the region’s top political authority as member states often work together to solve economic and security challenges. However, as coups continue to crop up in West Africa, the power of this regional force began to decline.
In an attempt to maintain the cooperative channel, ECOWAS decided to allow for continued membership privileges for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, allowing for continued free movement within the region with an ECOWAS passport. ECOWAS President Omar Alieu Touray announced this move in an attempt to ensure continued collaboration throughout West Africa in the face of wider challenges like violence from Islamist insurgent groups. Still, the withdrawal will weaken regional unity and cause ECOWAS to lose half its total geographical land area.
The exit from ECOWAS comes after Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger’s creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2023 following Niger’s coup. The AES was established in the name of ensuring the sovereignty and legitimacy of member states. Members of AES cut military ties with the U.S. and France, instead opting to work with Russia. The AES also launched its own regional passport and plans to create a shared information channel.
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