January 05, 2019

Early Days of 2019

Can United Nations' envoy in Somalia navigate regional tensions and challenges from President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS)? Serbian society at war with itself as thousands demonstrate in BelgradeKurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) withdraw to eastern bank of Euphrates at Manbij, with armed forces of Syria, Turkey and the United States poised and observant. Turkey will host 'Trilateral Summit' near end of March in hope of consolidating Afghan peace (1, 2, 3). Ukraine supplements maritime power in Sea of Azov dispute. Ukrainian Orthodox church asks and receives ecclesiastical independence from Moscow Patriarchate. Despite allies' targeting measures, numerous new reports indicate that Joint Task Force Operation Resolve in Syria and Northern Iraq is extremely costly in loss of life. An article on April 2017's U.S.-Syrian missile strike and lessons about responsible statecraft.