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📰 Sudan army retakes Khartoum

📰 Sudan army retakes Khartoum

and Trump hits car imports

Ross Crabtree & Billy Robinson
March 27, 2025

Hello and welcome back.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the U.S. and Russia are discussing reviving Nord Stream, raising EU concerns over energy dependence. Denmark, meanwhile, welcomed Washington’s decision to scale back an uninvited visit to Greenland.

Our top story examines the strategic calculus behind the U.S. military presence in Iraq and Syria amid shifting regional dynamics.

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇸🇩 Al-Burhan lands in Khartoum as SAF declare capital ‘liberated’: Sudan’s army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced that Khartoum state had been "liberated" from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking his first return to the capital’s international airport since the war began nearly two years ago. Earlier that day, the army launched its largest ground offensive in Khartoum, reclaiming key military and civilian sites as RSF fighters retreated westward. Drone footage showed RSF convoys jammed on the Jebel Aulia bridge, fleeing southern Khartoum, where locals welcomed the army’s arrival with celebrations in neighbourhoods like Sahafa, Kalakla, and Gereif. Burhan later visited the recaptured Presidential Palace, declaring, “Khartoum is free,” in a symbolic move following the army’s reclaiming of the city centre and Republican Palace on March 21.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇭🇹 🇯🇲 Rubio heads to the Caribbean, mulls new Haiti strategy: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname from March 26 to 27 to promote the Trump administration’s foreign policy objectives in the Caribbean, the State Department confirmed on Monday. The trip may also see a restrategising of its Haiti policy, taking a more hawkish approach to UN involvement in Port-au-Prince amid escalating insecurity and governance concerns. In Jamaica, Rubio will hold talks with leaders from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti, according to spokesperson Tammy Bruce. The visit will focus on boosting regional collaboration on priority issues such as curbing irregular migration, combating transnational crime, and expanding economic ties between the US and Caribbean nations.

3️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇯🇵 🇩🇪 White House announces 25% automobile tariffs: President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles, with the new levies set to take effect on April 2. The move, aimed at key exporters such as Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Japan, and Germany, marks a dramatic escalation in Trump’s protectionist trade policy. While Trump argues the tariffs will bolster domestic production and generate over $100 billion in annual revenue, economists warn they could raise car prices by up to $12,000 and trigger inflationary pressures. Investors and industry groups have voiced concern, citing potential harm to consumer spending and US market stability.

4️⃣ 🇪🇬 🇵🇸 Egypt’s Gaza plan gains traction amid diplomatic uncertainty: Egypt’s $53 billion proposal to rebuild Gaza—featuring a six-month transitional administration and eventual handover to the Palestinian Authority—is gaining backing from Arab states and European powers. It presents a direct challenge to earlier U.S. proposals under Donald Trump, which promoted forced displacement and a controversial “Middle East Riviera” vision. While praised by some U.S. officials as a constructive step, Egypt’s plan faces resistance from Washington and Israel, particularly over Hamas’s exclusion from the transitional body. Hamas has expressed conditional support for a consensus government but insists on retaining its weapons, complicating negotiations as Israel and the U.S. refuse to accept any role for the group without disarmament.

5️⃣ 🇦🇺 🇲🇲 🇺🇸 Australia to redirect $100m to Indo-Pacific, following U.S. development assistance cuts: Australia will reallocate over $100 million in foreign aid to the Indo-Pacific to address urgent funding shortfalls following the Trump administration’s decision to cancel approximately $54 billion in US development assistance. Despite the total aid budget rising to $5.1 billion in 2025–26, $119 million will be redirected to support economic recovery, healthcare, humanitarian needs, and climate resilience in the region. Foreign Minister Penny Wong described these as “hard strategic decisions” aimed at protecting regional stability amid escalating global uncertainty. Cuts will affect funding to the UN Development Program and global health partnerships, while new packages will prioritise Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and humanitarian support for Myanmar, compensating for critical gaps left by the US aid withdrawal.

Major Story

🇮🇶 🇸🇾 🇺🇸 STRATEGIC REPOSITIONING IN SYRIA AND IRAQ: U.S. INFLUENCE, ISIS THREATS, AND THE KRG BALANCE

The U.S. and Iraq have launched a two-phase plan to wind down coalition operations, but American troops will remain to counter ISIS in Syria and Iraq. While a full withdrawal is off the table, repositioning toward the Kurdistan Region enhances Erbil’s strategic role. This shift comes amid concerns over ISIS regrouping after Assad’s fall, the vulnerability of northeastern Syria, and Iran-aligned militia attacks.

Shifting Alliances and Geopolitical Risks

The drawdown coincides with evolving threats: U.S. bases face drone and rocket attacks, ISIS operations have surged, and Turkey continues pressuring the Kurdish-led SDF. U.S. airstrikes in Syria, particularly around Deir ez-Zor and central Syria, highlight ISIS’ continued activity. The Kurdistan Region now serves as a vital hub, but its increased importance risks provoking Iran and Baghdad unless offset by diplomatic engagement.

Preserving Coalition Gains and Regional Leverage

U.S. coordination with Erbil and Baghdad remains critical to avoiding perceptions of bias. Coalition forces continue advising and equipping Iraqi and Kurdish units, but these efforts hinge on future bilateral agreements as the coalition mission winds down. Multinational advisory support for peshmerga reforms remains key, with U.S. stipends likely to continue beyond 2026.

Conclusion

According to New Lines Institute, a continued U.S. military presence in both Baghdad and Erbil—with robust coordination and diplomatic outreach—will be essential to sustain gains, contain regional fallout, and balance interests between the Iraqi state, Kurdish authorities, and Washington’s strategic rivals.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇷🇺 🇺🇸 🇪🇺 U.S., Russia discuss restarting Nord Stream gas pipelines: Amid warming US-Russia relations following Donald Trump’s re-election, Moscow has confirmed ongoing talks with Washington to potentially revive the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov revealed that discussions include restoring gas flows to Europe, as the Kremlin seeks renewed influence over European energy markets in the context of possible ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine. While Berlin’s current leadership opposes reopening Nord Stream, some in Germany’s incoming coalition appear more open to the idea post-conflict—raising concerns among EU officials about a return to Russian energy dependence and increased US leverage. Brussels has reiterated its commitment to phasing out Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027, despite pressure from Moscow and signals of shifting US strategy.

2️⃣ 🇩🇰 🇬🇱 🇺🇸 Denmark welcomes U.S. plan to scale back unsolicited Greenland visit: U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife have modified their planned visit to Greenland, opting to visit the Pituffik Space Base rather than Sisimiut. The change has been cautiously welcomed by Denmark and Greenland, amid heightened tensions following President Trump’s renewed calls for U.S. control over the Arctic island. Trump’s annexation ambitions, long rejected by both Denmark and Greenland, have triggered local protests and raised diplomatic concerns. Analysts view the base visit as a signal that Washington still considers Greenland strategically important, despite official denials and public backlash from both Copenhagen and Nuuk.