The World Next Week

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his last State of the Union address before elections to a polarized Congress; Iran holds its first parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections since the 2022 protests sparked by the death of activist Mahsa Amini; Bosnia and Herzegovina marks independence as ethnic divisions fester; and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) welcomes Sweden as its newest member state.

Mentioned on the Podcast

Arash Ghafouri and Alex Vatanka, “Five Key Takeaways From New Poll Ahead of Iran’s Parliamentary Elections,” Middle East Institute

Andrew Higgins, “A Land Once Emptied by War Now Faces a Peacetime Exodus,” New York Times

Andrew Osborn and Vladimir Soldatkin, “Putin Warns West of Risk of Nuclear War, Says Moscow can Strike Western Targets,” Reuters

Ukraine marks the second anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion; the World Trade Organization (WTO) holds its thirteenth ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi amid deep uncertainty about progress on dispute settlement system reform; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Argentina and Brazil to forge stronger U.S.-South America ties; and the World Health Organization raises alarm about the situation at the Gaza Strip’s Nasser Hospital.

Mentioned on the Podcast

“Is Anyone Still Afraid of the United States?: A Conversation With Robert Gates,” Foreign Affairs

Inu Manak and Manjari Chatterjee Miller, “Responsible Consensus at the WTO Can Save the Global Trading System,” CFR.org

Stephanie Nolen, “War and Illness Could Kill 85,000 Gazans in Six Months,” New York Times

“Year Three of the Ukraine War, With Miriam Elder and Carla Anne Robbins,” The President’s Inbox

Recommended Reading

Keith M. Rockwell, “A Moment of Truth for the WTO,” Hinrich Foundation

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/grim-ukraine-war-anniversary-wto-limbo-blinkens-lula-and-milei-tour-and-more 

World leaders gather for the sixtieth Munich Security Conference with growing concerns about a continued war in Ukraine and threats to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) cohesion; the African Union holds its annual summit as multiple crises mount, including armed conflict and democratic blacksliding; Kim Jong Un increases aggressive language and acts as North Korea prepares to celebrate the late father and leader Kim Jong Il’s birthday; and former Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is nominated to lead a coalition government as the new prime minister.

Mentioned on the Podcast

“Eight Priorities for the African Union in 2024,” International Crisis Group

“How We Have Portrayed North Korean Leaders on The Economist’s Covers,” Economist

Joshua Kurlantzick, “Pakistan’s Election Results: Imran Khan Claims Victory, But He’s Unlikely to Get It,” CFR.org

Munich Security Report 2024, Munich Security Conference 

Munich Security Index 2024, Munich Security Conference

Scott A. Snyder, “Why is North Korea Turning More Aggressive?” CFR.org

Uzair Younus, “Five Ways Imran Khan’s Party Used Technology to Outperform in Pakistan’s Elections,” Atlantic Council

Chile works to recover from the devastating wildfire in its central Valparaíso region; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) continues with its 2024 Steadfast Defender exercise, the largest since the Cold War, while uncertainty over members’ commitment grows; Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, holds vast general elections; and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attempts to reach a deal for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and hostage release.

Mentioned on the Podcast

Nicolas Camut and Jakob Hanke Vela, “As Trump Looms, Top EU Politician Calls for European Nuclear Deterrent,” Politico

Joshua Kurlantzick, “Indonesia’s Presidential Election: The Old Guard Faces the New,” CFR.org

Brad Setser, “Mobilizing Russia’s Immobilized Reserves,” CFR.org

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/chiles-inferno-nato-ramps-security-exercises-indonesias-presidential-election-and-more 

The Joe Biden administration contends with how to respond to a deadly attack on U.S. service members at a base in Jordan while also preventing a wider regional war; a faltering economy clouds festivities as millions of Chinese travel home for Lunar New Year; Pakistan will elect a new prime minister and National Assembly, but lackluster candidates, economic crisis, and unraveling security situation loom over the vote; and Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announce their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, increasing security concerns in western Africa.

Mentioned on the Podcast

Noah Berman and Clara Fong, “Pakistan Is on Edge Ahead of 2024 Elections,” CFR.org

Joshua Kurlantzick, “Pakistan’s Election Will Have One Major Winner: The Military,” CFR.org

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/biden-confronts-iran-chinas-lunar-new-year-economic-slowdown-pakistans-flawed-elections 

The Three Brotherhood Alliance and other armed ethnic groups in Myanmar pose a significant threat to regime control as the country enters its third year under junta rule; the European Union (EU) meets for a special summit on military aid for Ukraine, but concerns remain over Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán; Kenya’s high court will decide whether if it is constitutional for Kenya to lead a multinational peacekeeping mission to Haiti; and hundreds of thousands across Germany protest against the Alternative for Germany’s anti-immigration policies.

Mentioned on the Podcast

Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware, God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America

Ebenezer Obadare and Robert I. Rotberg, “1100 Kenyans Will Not Save Haiti,” CFR.org

Avinash Paliwal, “Could Myanmar Come Apart?,” Foreign Affairs

More than one hundred days into the war in the Gaza Strip, hostilities continue to escalate region-wide, marked by clashes between proxies of Iran and U.S. forces; Sudan’s civil war worsens as a new diplomatic initiative stalls; the Sundance Film Festival celebrates its fortieth anniversary; and the small island nation of Nauru cuts ties with Taiwan.

Mentioned on the Podcast

Films, Sundance Film Festival 2024

Joshua Kurlantzick, “Taiwan’s Presidential Election Elicits Strong Response in Indo-Pacific,” CFR.org

Kali Robinson, “Who Governs the Palestinians?,” CFR.org

Michelle Gavin, “New Deals Open Old Wounds in the Horn of Africa,” CFR.org

Taiwan holds its presidential and legislative elections, which have major geopolitical consequences for both the United States and China; tech giant Apple deals with patent infringement allegations while more governments consider regulations on tech; the fifty-fourth World Economic Forum Annual Meeting hosts global business and political leaders in Davos, Switzerland, to address multiple crises such as conflict, climate change, and misinformation; and France appoints Gabriel Attal, the country’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister.

Mentioned on the Podcast

Council on Foreign Relations, U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era: Responding to a More Assertive China, 2023

David McCabe and Tripp Mickle, “U.S. Moves Closer to Filing Sweeping Antitrust Case Against Apple,” New York Times

David Sacks, “Taiwan’s Status Quo Election,” Foreign Affairs

David Sacks, “Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential Election: Analyzing Hou Yu-ih’s Foreign Policy Positions,” CFR.org  

David Sacks, “Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential Election: Analyzing Ko Wen-je’s Foreign Policy Positions,” CFR.org

David Sacks, “Taiwan’s 2024 Presidential Election: Analyzing William Lai’s Foreign Policy Positions,” CFR.org

David Sacks, “Why China Would Struggle to Invade Taiwan,” CFR.org

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/taiwans-pivotal-elections-apple-battles-regulations-davos-addresses-world-risks-and-more 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returns to the Middle East as the region reacts to attacks in Iran, Lebanon, and the Red Sea; the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas previews new products and services equipped with artificial intelligence (AI); the U.S. Congress returns from its holiday recess with divisions over migration and defense aid; and the stabbing of South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung stirs fears ahead of elections.

Recommended Listening

“The Year of AI and Elections,” Why It Matters

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The World Next Week at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/mideast-tensions-grow-consumer-electronics-show-spotlights-ai-divided-us-congress-returns 

In this special, year-end episode, Nahal Toosi, Politico’s senior correspondent for foreign affairs and national security, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to review the biggest events of 2023 and the stories to keep an eye on in the coming year. They discuss instability caused by the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s war in Ukraine, the global push for a greener future, challenges to immigration policy, the numerous elections of 2024, U.S. global leadership, and more. 

Mentioned on the Podcast

Matthieu Favas, “The Green Transition Will Transform The Global Economic Order,” The Economist

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit us at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/world-next-year-stories-watch-2024