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📰 Protests grip Georgia

📰 Protests grip Georgia

and Syria’s new rebel push

Ross Crabtree & Billy Robinson
December 02, 2024

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In Southeast Asia, Myanmar's navy reportedly opened fire on Thai fishing vessels, according to Thailand’s Defence Ministry. Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has issued threats against BRICS, adding uncertainty to global economic relations.

In the Middle East, tensions escalate as Ansarallah claims responsibility for a ballistic missile attack on central Israel, and civil war erupts anew in Syria—with strong involvement from both Russia and Turkiye.

More below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇸🇦 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 Riyadh scraps U.S. defence entente: Saudi Arabia has shifted its focus from pursuing a comprehensive defence treaty with the U.S. to seeking a more modest military cooperation agreement, officials reveal. Initially open to normalising ties with Israel in exchange for a two-state commitment, Riyadh has toughened its stance due to regional anger over Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, eager for Saudi normalisation, faces domestic resistance to concessions for Palestinians following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Despite these challenges, Riyadh and Washington hope to finalise a limited defence pact before President Biden's term concludes.

2️⃣ 🇬🇪 🇪🇺 Fourth night of protests in Georgia over EU suspension talks: Protests erupted across Georgia for a fourth night after the government suspended EU accession talks, citing "blackmail" from Brussels. Demonstrations, initially in Tbilisi, spread to cities like Poti and Khashuri, where ruling party offices were targeted. For months, tensions have been rising between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opponents who accuse it of pursuing increasingly authoritarian, anti-western and pro-Russian policies. The freeze follows EU concerns over Georgia’s democratic backslide, including a controversial "foreign influence" law and disputed election results. Opposition leaders and pro-EU demonstrators demand reforms, while clashes have left 44 injured, including police and media workers.

3️⃣ 🇺🇸 Trump threatens BRICS states with 100% tariff: President-elect Donald Trump has warned BRICS nations against abandoning the U.S. dollar as their reserve currency, threatening 100% tariffs if they pursue alternatives. Writing on Truth Social, Trump declared, “The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” demanding a commitment to retain the dollar's dominance. The BRICS bloc—recently expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE—has increasingly debated alternatives to the dollar, particularly after U.S. sanctions on Russia in 2022. Discussions on a potential BRICS currency gained momentum during the 2024 summit, intensifying economic tensions with Washington.

4️⃣ 🇪🇹 🇸🇴 Ethiopia–Somalia dispute to be mediated by Uganda, Kenya: Kenyan President William Ruto announced that he and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will mediate a growing dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia, which poses risks to regional stability. The rift stems from Ethiopia’s proposal to develop a port in Somaliland, a self-governing territory seeking international recognition, in exchange for supporting its sovereignty—an offer that has angered Mogadishu. Somalia’s alignment with Ethiopia’s rivals, Egypt and Eritrea, has further escalated tensions, complicating efforts for reconciliation. Ruto emphasised the importance of Somalia’s security for regional stability and economic growth, as previous talks in Ankara failed to yield results.

5️⃣ 🇹🇭 🇲🇲 Thai fisherman shot at, detained, by Myanmar navy: Myanmar’s navy opened fire on Thai fishing vessels, resulting in the death of one fisherman and the detention of 31 crew members, according to Thailand’s Defence Ministry. The incident occurred when two out of 15 Thai boats ventured 4-5.7 nautical miles into Myanmar’s waters, prompting Myanmar’s forces to act. Three fishermen leapt into the sea during the clash; one drowned, while the other two were rescued by the Thai navy. Thai authorities are negotiating the release of the detained crew, while Myanmar’s junta has yet to comment on the incident, which comes amid ongoing turmoil following the military’s 2021 seizure of power.

Major Story

🇸🇾 🇹🇷 🇷🇺 WAR IN SYRIA: WHERE THE UKRAINIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN CONFLICTS CONVERGE

The recent advance on Aleppo represents the first significant rebel push into the city since its recapture by Syrian regime forces in 2016. Within the first 48 hours, rebels seized over 50 villages and towns, as well as 31 tanks and 20 BMP armoured vehicles, indicating rapid and coordinated mobilisation. Rebel forces have also entered Hama. Questions remain regarding the strategic timing of this advance, especially following a bilateral meeting between Turkish President Erdoğan and Russian President Putin.

Northern Syria's Fragmented Governance

Northern Syria remains a complex tapestry of control. The region features two dominant de facto authorities: the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist faction with origins in al-Qaeda. Despite HTS’ attempts to rebrand and distance itself from its extremist roots, ideological ambiguity persists, creating an unpredictable landscape and complicating alliances and rivalries.

Geopolitical Implications

The influx of thousands of Hashd al-Shaabi militants from Iraq, aligned with Iran and Hizbollah, underscores the region’s volatile international dynamics. Turkiye seeks to curb Kurdish separatist ambitions and maintain a buffer zone—having lost faith in Assad’s Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) securitisation assurances—while Russia’s alliance with Damascus underscores its strategic foothold in the Middle East. Meanwhile, NATO-aligned powers—specifically the U.S. and Israel—may see this juncture as a pragmatic opportunity to counter Iran’s influence and disrupt supply lines to Hizbollah. This escalation risks further global entanglements, potentially distracting Russia from Ukraine and reshaping Middle Eastern alignments.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇮🇱 🇾🇪 Central Israel hit by ballistic missile attack, says Ansarallah: Yemen’s Ansarallah—or Houthi movement—claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike on a “vital target” in central Israel, according to Anadolu. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree announced the successful use of a hypersonic missile, though details about the target were not disclosed. Saree pledged continued missile and drone attacks until Israel halts its operations in Gaza and lifts the blockade.

2️⃣ 🇺🇳 🇵🇸 🇮🇱 UNRWA suspends aid for Gaza after Israeli attacks kill over 100 Palestinians: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has suspended aid deliveries through the Karem Abu Salem crossing (Kerem Shalom to Israelis) between Israel and Gaza due to security risks, as hunger and Israeli bombardments persist. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini cited ongoing safety concerns, noting, "The road out of this crossing has not been safe for months." He added that on 16 November, a large convoy of aid trucks was seized by armed gangs, further complicating humanitarian efforts.