Foreign Digest Updates: United Kingdom, NATO, Italy, Algeria, Venezuela, Sudan and Ukraine

United Kingdom

            A measure to prohibit the United Kingdom from leaving the European Union without a negotiated deal was approved by the British parliament after passing the House of Commons by one vote, with the vote transcending party lines.  Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May is asking the EU for a delay from April 12 to June 30, with the understanding that the UK will prepare for the May 22 EU parliamentary elections, if necessary.  She is considering a fourth vote on her deal with the EU, after various other measures failed.  May’s deal picked up a significant number of votes on the third attempt, compared to the first two.  She is attempting to negotiate a compromise with the opposition center-left.

The UK voted in June 2016 by referendum, subsequently ratified by Parliament, to leave the EU.  May negotiated a deal to leave on the most favorable terms possible by the two-year deadline, which the EU extended from March 29.  There is a major disagreement particularly among the British over the UK’s border with the Republic of Ireland.  Without a deal, the UK risks leaving the EU without any trade relations or customs arrangement, among other concerns, in addition to a lack of a border.

NATO

            The North Atlantic Treaty Organization celebrated its 70th anniversary this week.  Its Secretary General addressed a Joint Session of the United States Congress, the first time a leader of an organization has done so.  He observed that NATO was needed now more than ever before and hailed American leadership.  The speech was greeted most favorably by both Republicans and Democrats, despite the anti-NATO sentiment of Donald Trump, who was elected President with support from Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin.

Italy

            The United States National Security Agency warned Italy about incursions by Communist China, through its New Silk Road infrastructure initiative and the Russian Federation into Italian politics.  A pro-Putin party, the far-right League, is the junior party in the populist coalition Italian Government.

Algeria, Venezuela and Sudan

            There have been more protests in Algeria against the government that is transitioning after the resignation of the President, across Venezuela against the Socialist tyranny and in Sudan against the Islamist tyranny.

Ukraine

           It is the fifth anniversary of the invasion by the Russian Federation, led by tyrant Vladimir Putin, backing pro-Russian separatists in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.  Over ten thousand people have been killed.  Russia has seized Crimea, in violation of its treaty with Ukraine recognizing the former Soviet Republic’s sovereignty and independence, and, through its proxies, controls parts of eastern Ukraine.