South Asia
Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to continue the two sides’ discussions on a $1 billion emergency financial support deal to help Colombo mitigate its spiralling financial crisis. India has already provided $1.4 billion in support to Sri Lanka since January, including a $400 million currency swap, a $500 million loan deferment, and a $500 million Line of Credit for fuel imports. [The Hindu, Indian Ministry of External Affairs]
China proposed a visit by State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India and a reciprocal visit by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. In addition, the Chinese government suggested the establishment of an “India-China Civilisation Dialogue” and forums to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, media, and entertainment. [Indian Express]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Wednesday that Armenia is committed to a “comprehensive and lasting settlement” of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute with Azerbaijan, and “ready for negotiations” on a peace treaty “without any preconditions.” [Armen Press]
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged allies of the organisation to increase their support for Georgia during an extraordinary meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Wednesday. “I think that the message for Georgia is that we should step up, provide more support and send the message that we support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia. Not only [through] words, but also in deeds,” Stoltenberg said. [Agenda.ge]
East and Southeast Asia
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Japan on Wednesday night, killing four and injuring over 100. Thousands of households were also left with no power for more than 10 hours. [The Straits Times]
China reported 1,860 new local symptomatic COVID-19 cases on March 15, recording over a thousand cases for a fourth consecutive day, official data showed on Wednesday. Most new cases remain clustered in the mainland’s northeast. China is currently battling its worst COVID-19 outbreak in two years. [Channel News Asia]
Europe
On Wednesday, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Nations (UN) hosted an international conference to discuss the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen. The conference aimed to mobilise support for the UN-led humanitarian mission in Yemen amid rising food and fuel prices due to the Ukraine war. More than 23 million Yemenis are in dire need of help and protection. [Government Offices of Sweden]
The UK said that it has repaid its “historic debt” worth $350 million to the Iranian International Military Services for military equipment “in full compliance” with British and global sanctions on the country. Iran confirmed the repayment but added that the decision to release two British-Iranian prisoners was unrelated. [Reuters]
On Wednesday, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis visited his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu in Chișinău. The leaders discussed how they were dealing with the influx of refugees from their shared neighbour Ukraine. Iohannis also affirmed his support for Moldova’s European Union (EU) aspirations. [Romania Insider]
Latin America and the Caribbean
During the debates period at the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Cuba celebrated how it was the first country to vaccinate all its citizens between the ages of 2 and 18 against COVID-19 with indigenous vaccines. Ambassador Antonion Quintanilla denounced the United States’ “criminal” economic blockade, which has been in place for more than 60 years, saying that Washington is using human rights concerns as a “political weapon.” [Prensa Latina]
An anonymous source from Brazil’s Economy Ministry has said that the government has revised its forecasted GDP growth for this year from 2.1% to 1.5%. Economy Minister Paulo Guedes has previously said that Brazil will experience a growth in private investment and an increase in jobs in order to combat inflation and the high interest rate (11.75%), which has been raised to its highest level since 2017. [Nasdaq, MercoPress]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday raised $1.3 billion to help alleviate Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. The amount fell short of the $4.3 billion the UN says is required to comprehensively address humanitarian issues in Yemen, including the growing hunger crisis. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths called the fundraiser “disappointing” and said that the situation in Yemen will remain “dire” unless there is a drastic increase in funding. [Associated Press, UN News]
The United Nations Security Council has extended the tenure of its peacekeeping force in South Sudan for a year amid reports of increased violence between ethnic groups in the world’s newest country. The resolution was adopted by 13 UNSC members, with Russia and China abstaining. [Associated Press]
North America
In the coming days, United States (US) Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to announce a new set of federal grants targeted towards bolstering security at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The move comes after a chain of bomb threats to 36 HBCUs in February, which is celebrated as Black History Month. The grants range from $50,000 to $150,000 per campus and will be provided based on each institution’s needs. [ABC News]
On Wednesday, White House National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan spoke with Secretary of the Russian Security Council, General Nikolay Patrushev, to reassert the United States’ (US) opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sullivan made it clear that theUS) will continue supporting Ukraine and urged Russia to cease bombing Ukrainian cities if it is “serious about diplomacy.” [The White House]
Oceania
While speaking at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA during his visit to Perth, Australian Prime Minister (PM) Scott Morrison urged businesses to expand and not solely rely on trading relationships with China. Morrison said, “Businesses needed to be resilient in a changing world, and there have been significant opportunities in the Chinese market in the past but the China we’re dealing with today is very different to the one that (former PM) John Howard dealt with.” [The Age]
Ukraine’s ambassador to New Zealand, Kateryna Zelenko, thanked New Zealand for supporting Ukraine and warned against Russia’s disinformation war. She said, “There is a non-military component to this invasion, namely the propaganda and fake news campaign by the Russian Federation.” In addition, ambassador of the European Union Nina Obermaier also warned against Russia’s disinformation campaign and misrepresentation of facts, adding, “New Zealand is also exposed to that.” [NZ Herald]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ghanaian President and Chair of the Economic Community of West African States Nana Akufo-Addo said at an African Union forum that the rise in coups across sub-Saharan Africa can be attributed to “foreign entities” using the continent as a “means of enhancing their ambition.” Over the past two years, coups have taken place in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Chad. Furthermore, 18 African leaders have either changed or removed constitutional term limits over the last two decades while a further 18 have refused to implement such limits in the first place. [Africanews]
Chinese Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Xue Bing is scheduled to visit Nairobi on Friday. Marking his first trip to Kenya since being appointed to the post in January, Xue will speak with President Uhuru Kenyatta, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo, and Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amb Macharia Kamau, among various other stakeholders. Xue has previously worked at the Chinese embassy in Nairobi. [The East African]