Good morning, and welcome to the Global Situation Report for Wednesday, 19 June 2024
- Global Rollup
- Russia and North Korea’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement includes a vow for mutual aid in the event that either is attacked. The aid was undefined, but North Korean leader Kim Jong Un described the partnership as “a new, high level of alliance.” (War breaking out on the Korean peninsula could lead to a confrontation between American and Russian forces, triggering a wider war in the Pacific and potentially Europe. – J.V.)
- Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is a NATO Secretary General candidate to succeed Jens Stoltenberg, according to Dutch media. Hungary, Turkey, and Slovakia announced support for his ascension. (The Netherlands saw a sharp increase in Chinese gray zone warfare under Rutte, and he has also been a leading anti-Russia voice. Rutte’s familiarity with both missions favors a robust role for NATO in the future. – J.V.)
THAT’S A WRAP: This does it for today’s edition. Thank you for reading. If you know folks who would also like to receive this email, would you please forward it to them? We appreciate you spreading the word. – M.S.