The Spectator’s Post

#uspoliticalcommentary #canadianpoliticalcommentary #usaforeignrelationscanada #usainternationalrelationscanada #canadaforeignrelationsusa #canadainternationalrelationsusa #2ndtrumpadministration #usaannexationcanada - No longer a joke: Ministers say Trump's threats to absorb Canada need to be taken seriously https://lnkd.in/grHThuFf

As Venezuelan dictator Nicolás #Maduro consolidates his third-term power grab, I outline the key challenges facing the democratic opposition in 2025. The regime will seek to exploit the cracks within parties and coalitions to promote further fracturing. Meanwhile, Maduro will continue his campaign of #repression both on the streets and online to dampen mobilization efforts. Going forward, the opposition will need to unite around a clear theory of change while creating a platform to resolve differences. Read my analysis here: https://lnkd.in/gCUUbNeT #Venezuela #MariaCorinaMachado #EdmundoGonzalez #democracy

"These are very shocking revelations and even if the number is not quite as high, it is no doubt that China is the number one source of espionage and foreign interference risk in this country," Paterson said. "We must be very robust in standing up for ourselves. We must provide our agencies with the resources and the powers that they need to defend our democracy because nothing less than that is at stake." Comment: A Police check doesn't review overseas contacts. A Baseline Clearance does not include an ASIO check. Implement #AS4811 #WorkforceScreening through #CleardLife. https://lnkd.in/guhSSrHa

"These are very shocking revelations and even if the number is not quite as high, it is no doubt that China is the number one source of espionage and foreign interference risk in this country," Paterson said. "We must be very robust in standing up for ourselves. We must provide our agencies with the resources and the powers that they need to defend our democracy because nothing less than that is at stake." Comment: A Police check doesn't review overseas contacts. A Baseline Clearance does not include an ASIO check. Implement #AS4811 #WorkforceScreening through #CleardLife. https://lnkd.in/guhSSrHa

TL;DR: Bolivia experienced an attempted coup by top army official Gen. Juan José Zúñiga, aiming to "restore democracy" amidst political and economic turmoil. President Luis Arce successfully resisted, ultimately leading to Zúñiga's arrest and troop withdrawal. The coup highlighted rifts between Arce and ex-president Evo Morales over the ruling party and escalated tensions in a struggling economy. International condemnation ensued, reinforcing the importance of upholding constitutional order. The incident marks a significant chapter in Bolivia's political unrest, with the nation unified against the threat to democracy. Read More: https://lnkd.in/ekiah9N9 #BoliviaCoupAttempt #PoliticalUnrest #BoliviaCrisis #DemocracyInBolivia #BolivianPolitics

Here's a round-up / guide to everything I wrote publicly in 2024 (part II of II). I learned a lot writing these pieces & hope you learned from reading them! JULY (Cont'd): - Two pieces for the LA Times on Venezuela's elections & the response of the Latin American left, here behind the paywall: https://lnkd.in/gmaMeGkS https://lnkd.in/gXzSb5Qs AUG: - “Peru’s Anti-Law Enforcement Turn Is a Threat to Regional Stability,” Americas Quarterly, https://lnkd.in/gPzYEgKs **Congress ongoing steps to dismantle the judiciary in Peru SEPT: - “‘Total Peace’ Is Dead. For Petro, Partial Peace Is the Best Remaining Option,” with Steven Holmes, CFR.org, https://lnkd.in/gSjbdKeT **How Petro's signature project came undone & what that means for security in Colombia OCT: - "How Organized Crime Threatens Latin America," with Javier Corrales, Journal of Democracy, https://lnkd.in/gWRswGmM **A long-read on how organized crime differs from past challenges to democracy (guerrillas, coups, oligarchs) & why it requires different solutions - “Drug Traffickers Launder Millions Through Remittances. Here’s How to Stop Them.” with Steven Holmes and Mariana Fernandez Rubach, CFR.org, https://lnkd.in/gc9UXykq **Practical steps for better controlling an overlooked laundering method - “Brazil’s Largest Mafia Is Entering Politics. The Government Must Act.,” New York Times, https://lnkd.in/g-rKxCVY **How & why the PCC silently became Latin America's newest biggest cartel - “Organised crime has taken on a different shape in Latin America, Financial Times, https://lnkd.in/gC3M4Sub **My quick take on how 2010s cocaine, gold, & human smuggling booms reorganized the region's criminal landscape NOV: “Illegal Gold Finances Latin America’s Dictators & Cartels. The United States Must Lead the Fight Against It,” with Steven Holmes, CFR.org, https://lnkd.in/ggi2JCrD **Steps the U.S. should take to curb the illegal gold business DEC: - “The Price of Neglecting Latin America,” Foreign Affairs, https://lnkd.in/gRQHrken **How illicit markets destabilized Latin America & entrenched its mafia states, giving us the era of mass migration that, in turn, contributed to Trump's rise & return to the White House

Link to screenshot article below. "The bill will require the Department of Justice to create a specialized task force to probe and prosecute offenses including 'fraud, duty evasion, and #transshipment which benefit the PRC’s non-market economy and severely harm U.S. companies and workers.'"  Said the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party: "Countless Americans have lost their jobs due to this criminal activity. Despite the large volume of trade crime-related cases, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has under-resourced its prosecution of these crimes" and we're going to do something about it. #FDI #tariffs #nationalsecurity #economicsecurity #competition #levelplayingfield #protectionism

Excerpt, Bloomberg News: //Hong Kong has become a centre for #financialcrime as Beijing tightened its grip on the city, US lawmakers said, highlighting the worsening ties between the former British colony and Washington. Since Beijing imposed a national #security law on Hong Kong in mid-2020, the heads of the House China Select Committee said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that the city “has shifted from a trusted global financial centre to a critical player in the deepening #authoritarian axis” of China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. The letter was signed by the committee chairman, Representative John Moolenaar of Michigan, and the panel’s top Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois. They added that the shift raised questions over “whether longstanding US policy towards Hong Kong, particularly towards its #financial and #banking sector, is appropriate.” The relationship between Hong Kong and the US has deteriorated over a crackdown on #dissent that American officials say has eroded the #ruleoflaw and #democratic rights. In their letter, Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi said Hong Kong had become a “global leader” in illicit practices such as: - Giving Russia access to prohibited Western #technology - Forming front companies for buying banned Iranian #oil - Helping with the #trade of #gold from Russia - Running ships that conduct #illegaltrade with North Korea The letter also cited research showing that some 40% of goods shipped to Russia from Hong Kong last year were on a “common high priority” list of items that the US and European Union use to enforce #sanctions. // #terrorismfinancing #CRINKS #geopolitics

THIS IS CCP/PRC: Can it help CCP to revive the economic growth? Of course not - it will destroy PRC economy. #donttrustcommunists https://lnkd.in/gC674prt

Markets welcome reduced political risk premium on UK assets after Labour win. Thomas Becket. Alastair Greenlees, CFA. Mark Nash. Huw Davies. James Novotny, CFA. The Labour Party’s landslide general election 🗳 win has been met with a calm response by the financial markets, with the outcome expected to reduce the political uncertainty risk that has dogged UK assets since Brexit. Check out Valeria Martinez's latest article 👇 https://incm.pub/3xJwtoi #investing #assetmanagement #wealthmanagement #finance