Weekly News Digest for February 21st, 2025
Compiled by Lydia Wong, Trinity De Lima, Tobyn Smith, Nila Karunakaran, Layla Jeeth, Mary Wahn
Edited by John Gooden, Lydia Wong, Joey Quinn, Ryan Simmons, Sara Anis Ali
Asia and the Pacific
Tides Shift with the Cook Islands’ Bold Bet on China
China and the Cook Islands signed an action plan for a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries last week. This move comes on the heels of the Cook Islands’ Prime Minister Mark Brown saying the Pacific nations were actively looking for other countries to “fill the gap” after United States President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement. On Wednesday, February 18th, the Cook Islands government unveiled the details of the deal that will span areas from deep-sea mining to education scholarships but excludes security ties. Despite local resistance, Prime Minister Brown insists the agreement is an unprecedented chance to look beyond “big brother” New Zealand and offers the small Pacific nation big opportunities in trade, infrastructure, and ocean resources.
The Cook Islands, a self-governing nation in the South Pacific, has long maintained close ties with New Zealand. Since 1949, its 17,000 citizens have been recognized as New Zealand nationals, with Wellington providing budgeting support and defense commitments. Despite this relationship, the Cook Islands operates as an independent state in global affairs and the international community. In recent years, China has sought to grow its influence, heightening tensions across the Pacific. The Cook Islands’ decision to deepen economic ties with Beijing
The announcement of the initiative has ignited domestic controversy, with critics accusing the government of lacking transparency. Tuesday’s protest march to parliament signaled mounting public distrust, even as Prime Minister Brown insisted the bilateral cooperation initiative would not diminish long-standing alliances. While Brown maintains that the agreement is purely advantageous for trade, infrastructure, and ocean resources, New Zealand and other Western nations that traditionally held sway in the region remain wary of Beijing’s expanding footprint. Over the past three years, Beijing has signed multiple defense, trade, finance, and development deals across the South Pacific, fueling broader concerns over its strategic ambitions in the region.
For the Cook Islands, the agreement presents both opportunity and risk. It marks the government’s first attempt to diversify their source of economic survival beyond tourism– a lesson learned during the Covid-19 pandemic. China has also pledged support for climate resilience initiatives, a pressing concern for Pacific island nations battling rising sea levels. Yet, opposition parties have pushed back, calling for a no-confidence vote in Brown’s government, set for February 25. With China actively challenging the historical dominance of established regional players like the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, the Cook Islands’ pivot toward Beijing signals a looming geopolitical shift– one that is capable of redefining diplomatic, economic, and military alliances in the strategically important Pacific for years to come.
Central America and the Caribbean
Costa Rica Agrees to Temporarily Receive U.S. Deportees
On Thursday, a flight carrying 135 migrants from Central Asia and India arrived in Costa Rica. This makes it the second Central American country to accept deportees from the United States. Panama received three U.S. flights with deportees from countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa last week. These stopover flights are the Trump Administration’s method to make easier returns of migrants from farther countries as it ramps up deportations. It is also an alternative to keeping the migrants in overcrowded detention centers located at the U.S. Southern border. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently traveled through Central America and the Caribbean to meet with government officials there and affirm the region’s importance to President Trump’s foreign policy aspirations.
Costa Rica stated that its territory will “serve as a bridge” between the United States and the deportees’ home countries. The U.S. Government will fully fund the repatriation process which will be supervised by the International Organization for Migration. However, an agency of the United Nations stated that Costa Rica is responsible for the care of the migrants in the temporary period they are there. Those migrants that arrived in Costa Rica will be transported to a rural holding facility by the Panama border and detained for six weeks before returning to their origin countries. There are human rights concerns for the deportees in this process but Costa Rica stated that it is committed to upholding human rights and will guarantee the return of migrants to safe countries if they refuse to return to their original one.
Europe
EU Defense Stocks Surge
Stock prices of European defense companies have skyrocketed following talks between Russia and the United States on the uncertain future of a Ukraine peace deal. Companies such as Germany’s Rheinmetall and the United Kingdom’s BAE Systems reached record-high share climbs, indicating an urgency to invest in defense. This follows a series of ‘cracks’ in the US-Europe alliance as officials from Europe and Ukraine were left out of the peace talks, with only officials from the United States and Russia attending. United States Vice President JD Vance aimed at Europe over free speech and migration only last week.
As a result, the EU is debating activating the fiscal escape clause, which would allow EU member states to increase their defense regardless of budget limitations, or expenditure in times of emergency. The government last enacted this article during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK, which is not an EU member, said it would willingly join this pact. Europe has concluded that this ceasefire should end with a peace treaty–a stark contrast from the US perspective.
Middle East and North Africa
Bus Blasts Near Tel Aviv Prompt Security Crackdown
On Thursday, three buses exploded in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv in what Israeli authorities suspect to be a coordinated terrorist attack. No injuries were reported, as the buses were empty and parked at the time of the explosions. Two additional explosive devices were found on buses that were parked and safely defused. In a statement, Israeli police reported that all five bombs were of identical construction in their construction and were equipped with timers. An investigation is underway to determine whether this attack was conducted by a single individual or multiple suspects.
In response to the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an intensive military operation targeting “terror hubs” in the West Bank. The Israeli military imposed movement restrictions and have sealed off parts of the West Bank as part of ongoing security measures. The explosive attacks occurred on the same day that Hamas returned the bodies of four hostages from Gaza, as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire remains fragile amid ongoing tensions. Security measures continue to threaten its stability. While the hostage deal marks a significant step towards lasting peace, military operations continue and movement restrictions imposed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) threaten to undermine the truce.
The bus explosions have not only heightened security concerns in Israel, but also pose a serious threat to the already fragile ceasefire agreement. Investigations are ongoing, with no individual or group having claimed responsibility for the attack. Historically, similar attacks have escalated tensions leading to cycles of retaliation and disrupted peace efforts. If no resolution or deescalation is achieved, the ceasefire could collapse potentially sparking renewed violence. Amid ongoing military operations and movement restrictions by the Israeli Defense Forces, tensions continue to run high, keeping the situation unstable. This incidence fits into a broader pattern of unrest in the region, underscoring the delicate balance between security measure and maintaining peace.
North America
Trump Administration Layoffs May Impact Nuclear Weapons and International Alliances
Following layoffs conducted by the U.S.’s new ad-hoc Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) agency, the Trump Administration seeks to rehire several federal workers, including those who worked with the U.S.’s nuclear weapons program. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) employed some of the laid-off workers, many of whom managed the U.S.’s nuclear weapons arsenal. Officials sent employees an email during the work day on February 13 informing them of the layoffs, and workers were immediately escorted out of the NNSA building in Washington D.C. After the layoffs, the Trump Administration attempted to re-hire personnel directly involved with nuclear weapons, but struggled to get in contact with the already fired employees.
The layoffs sparked concern among the American public, specifically layoffs in federal agencies that DOGE handled. Officials in DOGE and the Trump administration were unaware that NNSA employees managed the U.S.’s nuclear weapons stockpile, and instead were likely fired based on their employment status, including how recently they were hired. However, the specific details of the layoffs are still unclear.
The NNSA is the federal agency that manages and tracks nuclear weapons around the world. Recent NNSA activities include collaboration with Ukraine to detect nuclear materials and suspected attackers using nuclear materials. With the NNSA layoffs, it is unclear where continued collaboration with Ukraine stands. Furthermore, as the U.S. and Russia continue peace negotiations without Ukraine, the global community is unsure of whether the U.S. will continue aiding other countries with national security. The NNSA layoffs, coupled with U.S.-Russia peace talks will impact Ukraine and the U.S.’s status in the international system as it relates to armed conflict and alliances.
South America
President Milei of Argentina Accused of Fraud Regarding Cryptocurrency
On Sunday, lawyers filed fraud complaints against Argentinian President Javier Milei and on Monday the case was assigned to Judge Maria Servini. The accusations resulted from Milei’s post on X which coincided with the launch of the crypto coin $LIBRA. $LIBRA rapidly rose in value before severely crashing which caused investors to take severe losses. Before the incident, Milei stated in the post that the currency was aimed at, “encouraging economic growth by funding small businesses and startups.” Additionally, the coin is accessed by a link that leads to a website called vivalibertadproject.com which refers to Milei’s use of the phrase “Viva la libertad!” at the end of posts and speeches. These posts raised suspicions and correlated Milei to the currency crash.
As the currency began dropping in value, Milei deleted the post. He denied the accusations stating that he didn’t know “the details of the project and after learning about it, I decided not to continue promoting it.” His office backed up these claims and announced that the Anti-Corruption Office would determine if the president is responsible for the scheme. There are claims that the new cryptocurrency may have been a “rug pull” which is where promoters bring in buyers only to stop all trading activity shortly after and get away with the money they raised from the sales.
Milei argued against angry buyers by stating “I didn’t promote it, I merely shared it” and by comparing their actions to gamblers to make the case that they knew the risks beforehand. Opposition politicians began to threaten Milei with impeachment proceedings but these threats are unlikely to come to fruition because there will not be enough votes unless a more compelling reason surfaces. However, political analysts state that the opposition knows that impeachment is implausible but continues to make threats to distract Milei from implementing more reforms.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Concern for Regional Conflict Rises in Central Africa
As the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) grows, UN aid officials express concerns for regional stability. The Rwandan-backed March 23 (M23) rebels continue to take cities throughout the eastern part of the nation, occasionally with the assistance of Rwandan troops. Similarly, Ugandan forces united with Congolese forces in the eastern city of Bunia to stop violence from local armed groups not affiliated with M23. Although Uganda is unlikely to involve itself in the conflict, the state’s escalated presence in the DRC spreads concern over instability in central Africa.
As the Rwandan-back March 23 (M23) rebels move rapidly through the east and grow closer to the capital Kinshasa, the rebels seize vital cities along the way. One of the cities includes Kamanyola, which lies on the border between Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC, as well as Bukavu, a provincial capital in the south. Although Rwanda claims it supports the rebels in defending against ethnic discrimination, the officials in the DRC assert the country is after the area because of its gold and coltan. These are highly valued minerals used for the production of most consumer electronics.
The civilian population in eastern DRC is under stress from the conflict as well. After the rebels took Goma, officials reported a death toll of 3,000, with thousands more injured. Doctors are struggling with the influx of patients. Humanitarian aid officials from the UN urge for the reopening of airports for humanitarian flights into affected areas.
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