MULTILATERAL: Food Aid across Sudan & more – 15th April 2025

Saluton from BA! This is the Rorshok Multilateral Update from the 15th of April twenty twenty-five. A summary of what's going down in the world's major multilateral institutions.

Kicking off this week, on Saturday the 12th, ​Friedrich Merz, Germany’s incoming chancellor, backed Ukraine’s future membership in both the EU and NATO - but only once the conflict with Russia is over. He believes that while Ukraine deserves a place in these alliances, now isn’t the right time. His stance reflects a cautious approach, aiming to avoid escalating tensions while still showing long-term support for Ukraine’s integration into Western institutions.​

While some European countries have been wholly supportive of Ukraine’s NATO membership, others, like Germany, have taken a different approach.

Ukraine’s membership in NATO has been a subject of debate for almost two decades.

Next up, on Friday the 11th, the UN’s World Food Program, or WFP, advocated for its ability to move food supplies across Sudan before seasonal rains make roads impassable. The ongoing war and deliberate blockades in Sudan are making it tough to reach people in need, and once the rains hit, many areas could become completely cut off.

The WFP warns that without immediate action, millions of people might be unreachable as hunger is getting worse. They’re calling on all parties in the conflict to stop interfering with aid efforts so they can get food where it’s needed most, before it’s too late.

​Since the conflict boiled over in twenty twenty-three, humanitarian aid efforts in Sudan have been difficult to implement, with both sides of the conflict obstructing access through checkpoints and denying entry to aid workers. Widespread violence, including attacks on aid convoys and workers, has made large regions inaccessible, leaving millions without crucial assistance.

​According to a press release by the Pan American Health Organization from Monday the 7th, South America is making significant strides toward eliminating foot-and-mouth disease. Currently, about two-thirds of the region's cattle are in areas recognized as free of the disease without the need for vaccination. This progress is a result of collaborative efforts between public and private sectors across many countries.

At a recent meeting in Bolivia, it was announced that the World Organization for Animal Health will grant Bolivia and Brazil official recognition as free of the disease, in countries where vaccination for the disease is not carried out. This milestone highlights the region's commitment to animal health and the positive impact of coordinated action.

Speaking of Brazil, on Thursday the 10th, the country took over the leadership of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States. Otávio Brandelli, the Brazilian Ambassador, now chairs the council, replacing Ambassador Ronald Sanders of Antigua and Barbuda.

The Permanent Council is a key body within the Organization of American States, handling matters related to democracy, human rights, security, and development across the Americas.

Meanwhile, in Asia, on Thursday the 10th, South Korea announced that it is stepping up its collaboration with the International Labor Organization by contributing an extra $2.8 million US dollars to their joint program, bringing the total to nearly $12 million US dollars for the period between twenty twenty-four and twenty twenty-six. This funding aims to support initiatives like job creation, youth employment, and the shift to greener economies, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

Officials from the organization and South Korea signed the agreement in Bangkok, highlighting South Korea's transition from aid recipient to donor. The International Labor Organization views this as a strong endorsement of its mission to promote fair labor practices and social justice worldwide.

In other news, on Friday the 11th, ​the UN's trade agency warned that recent U.S. tariffs could severely impact developing nations, potentially more than cuts in foreign aid. The agency's director emphasizes that these tariffs might exacerbate existing economic challenges, leading to higher costs for essential goods and services. She advocated for a balanced global economic system that supports all nations, particularly those with fewer resources. The agency calls for international cooperation to mitigate the adverse effects of these trade policies on vulnerable economies.

Speaking of the US tariffs, on Thursday the 10th, ​the economic ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian nations, or ASEAN, agreed not to retaliate against the tariffs. Instead, they aim to engage in open and constructive discussions with the U.S. to resolve trade concerns. This approach underscores their commitment to maintaining balanced and sustainable trade relations.

The ministers also reaffirmed their support for the World Trade Organization as the main forum for addressing trade issues and preventing further tensions.

On a somewhat related note, on Sunday the 13th, ​the UK Finance Minister advocated for stronger ties with the EU and a more balanced global trade system in response to recent U.S. tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump. These tariffs, including a 25% tax on goods like steel, aluminum, are expected to significantly impact both the UK and global economies. The Minister also plans to promote this agenda at an upcoming International Monetary Fund or IMF meeting.

Since we mentioned the IMF: on Tuesday the 8th, ​Argentina finalized a $20 billion US dollar agreement with the Fund to support President Javier Milei's economic reform agenda. The deal includes an immediate disbursement of $12 billion US dollars, with an additional $2 billion expected by June. These measures aim to attract investment and stabilize the economy.

While the IMF praised Milei's fiscal discipline, concerns remain about potential short-term instability and the social impact of austerity measures.

Also on Tuesday, the head of the African Union's diaspora division argued that the rise of right-wing populism shouldn't derail conversations about reparations for slavery and colonialism. Despite concerns from leaders like Cape Verde's President, who fears such talks might deepen political divides in European countries involved in these historical wrongs, the head of the diaspora division emphasized that now is the crucial time to address these issues.

She pointed out that while there is growing support for reparations globally, there's also notable opposition, including from the U.S. President Donald Trump and many European leaders.

For context, the African Union has launched a renewed campaign outlining potential reparations, which could range from financial compensation and formal apologies to policy reforms and legal actions.

On Saturday the 11th, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister met with Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset and the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE. They discussed advancing efforts to hold Russia accountable for international law violations in its war against Ukraine. The foreign minister also addressed Russia's breaches of energy ceasefires and the detention of several OSCE staff members who have been held illegally for over three years.

The OSCE has been involved in moderating conflict between the two countries for more than a decade. In twenty fourteen, it began a dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, through the Trilateral Contact Group, and deployed a mission to observe ceasefire violations and support efforts to de-escalate the conflict. The OSCE still tries to promote dialogue and mediation initiatives aimed at strengthening social cohesion and supporting Ukraine's recovery, though Russia’s lack of cooperation has made these tasks difficult to achieve.

Let’s wrap up this edition with development bank news as ​from Tuesday the 8th to Thursday the 10th the Inter-American Development Bank, or IDB, and Peru's Ministry of Economy and Finance hosted a big forum to draw private investment and address infrastructure deficits in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB's Executive Vice President highlighted that their strategy can improve access to essential services like water, energy, transportation, health, and education.

The forum underscored the region's leadership in attracting private infrastructure investment, with Latin America and the Caribbean receiving about $770 billion US dollars over the past three decades, surpassing East Asia and the Pacific by a quarter.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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