Good morning, and welcome to the Global Situation Report for Wednesday, 16 August 2023.
- FIRST UP: Soros Foundation to end most European operations
- Open Society Foundations (OSF), founded by legendary globalist investor George Soros, is closing down most European operations.
- OSF also announced a 40% cut in employees and said the “radical shift of strategic direction” comes ahead of “a new operating model” that will shift focus to “other parts of the world” under George Soros’s son, Alexander.
Why It Matters: The Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes have decreased the amount of offshore dollars that normally flow to European banks, financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations. OSF’s sudden lack of dollar funding has forced the organization to prioritize the United States’ 2024 elections over European operations. OSF involvement in key swing states could determine control of the Presidency, Senate, and House of Representatives. – H.B.
- NATO CHIEF OF STAFF: Ukraine may cede territory for membership
- Stian Jenssen, chief of staff for NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, was quoted in the Norwegian press that Ukraine could give up some territory to Russia in return for membership in NATO.
- Jenssen said that Ukrainian cession of territory to end the war has been discussed among some NATO countries.
- Ukrainian officials strongly objected to the idea, saying the war could only end with a Russian defeat.
Why It Matters: Jenssen’s proposal includes offering Crimea to Russia in return for a Ukraine NATO membership but fails to take into account that Russia already annexed Crimea – with no credible threat that Ukraine could change that status quo. It is unlikely that Russia would accept Ukraine’s NATO membership without a significant buffer zone between it and the Russian-led Union State. The reality is NATO is likely looking for an appropriate negotiating agenda to bring the conflict to a close before Ukrainian forces are depleted, and Russia goes on the attack. Kiev cannot refuse NATO since it has no economy or military without daily support from its Western patrons. Expect NATO to refine Jenssen’s proposal into a more realistic and attainable negotiated settlement. – M.M.
- CHINA: MSS issues warning against internal Color Revolutions
- The Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) published a statement to a Chinese social media platform saying that political security is its primary national security concern and that their main focus was securing the country against color revolutions fomented by unspecified foreign countries.
Why It Matters: Chinese authorities have been preoccupied with the threat of color revolutions following a series of protests and alleged coup attempts in Central Asia. While the threat of color revolutions and U.S.-fomented unrest is undoubtedly a real concern, Chinese security services could also be increasing measures ahead of a 2008-esque financial crisis where the country’s youth unemployment rate, already at 21%, worsens the social and political security situation. – M.S.
- MORE REFUGEES: War in Sudan to exacerbate refugee crisis for Europe
- Fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in over 1 million refugees fleeing to neighboring countries and Europe.
- The United Nations warned that those remaining in the country are running out of food and dying due to a lack of healthcare.
- Large swaths of the country are suffering from increasingly common power blackouts, and farmers have yet to plant this year’s crops.
Why It Matters: Over 1 million Sudanese have fled the country, and an estimated 3.4 million internally displaced citizens are likely to leave in the coming months – if they can. Over the next year, the conflict in Sudan will likely create a new wave of African refugees to Europe, overwhelming immigration services in destination countries. Expect political ramifications for incumbent European governments already on the hot seat for tacitly supporting current rampant immigration inflows. – M.M.
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