International
The Doha Agreement: The Pact that Handed Kabul to the Taliban and China
On the fourth anniversary of the Doha Agreement (2020), signed between the United States government and the Afghan Taliban, the pact continues to be viewed as one of Washington’s major mistakes in Afghanistan, resulting in the empowerment of the armed movement and the loss of influence in a territory now being reclaimed by China.
Earlier this month, when United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres convened a meeting in Doha with international representatives and the de facto Taliban government, the fundamentalists refused to participate, setting conditions and demonstrating their control over the negotiations.
“If this (the agreement and the outcome of Doha) is fine, then what were the last twenty years of war for? The United States intentionally handed Afghanistan over to an extremist group despite the presence of hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the national army and the sacrifices of the Afghan people,” questioned analyst Abdul Haleem Nasiri.
Void of Interests
The gap continues to widen between Western interests and Afghanistan, as the Doha Agreement not only hastened the downfall of the democratic government but also opened the door to a ‘de-Westernization’ of Central Asia.
For neighboring countries like China, with a 92-kilometer border with Afghanistan, communication with the new order in Kabul is essential for security and maintaining a connection with Central and Southern Asia.
“China has never rejected Afghanistan as a neighboring country and needs to have a close relationship as they did during the twenty years of the previous government,” said political expert Abdul Jabbar Akbari to EFE, adding that the growing relationship between Beijing and Kabul “could create a headache for US policies in Central Asia.”
China’s Reconquest
Since the return to power of the Taliban in August 2021, China has made several diplomatic gestures, and on January 31, its president, Xi Jinping, received credentials from Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi, who was until recently the group’s deputy spokesperson.
China thus became the first country to officially accredit an Afghan ambassador, despite the Taliban not having recognition from the international community.
“That China accepted the Taliban ambassador is both paradoxical and transactional, to safeguard its interest in Afghanistan’s mines and lithium and to keep the Taliban happy as potential future allies,” explained analyst Abdul Haleem Nasiri to EFE.
China is also “being cautious,” warns the analyst, referring to Beijing’s possible doubts that the Taliban have some discreet alliance with the US, so it would have to “handle both sides carefully,” Nasiri added.
Qian Feng, an academic researcher at the National Strategic Institute of Tsinghua University and the Taihe Institute, explained to EFE that for Beijing, the priority is “security” and that the Taliban take “decisive measures against all terrorist forces” and “ensure the viability of China’s projects.”
“Afghanistan cannot once again become a refuge and breeding ground for terrorism,” he asserted.
Beijing Bets on Stability
China, critical of the United States’ role, emphasizes its opposition to foreign intervention in Afghanistan and, according to Qian, seeks to develop “strong” relations based on cooperation that, in the medium term, lead to negotiations to establish diplomatic relations.
China is betting on economic prosperity and political stability to prevent “turbulence” and ensure a favorable external environment for trade, the expert considers.
“It must be said that since this Taliban government took power, violence has decreased, security has improved, and efforts have been made to combat the illegal cultivation, production, and trade of drugs. They are also improving in terms of building an open political structure and protecting minorities, at least compared to their previous mandate,” the academic affirmed.
Beijing also seeks to protect its investment projects in Central Asia and prevent the spread of regional terrorism following the withdrawal of US troops.
Analysts have also highlighted China’s interest in Afghanistan’s natural resources, including oil, lithium deposits, or rare earths – vital elements for the development and production of technologies like electric vehicle batteries – whose value is estimated at nearly a trillion dollars.
International
FBI Says It Disrupted Alleged Plot Targeting White House During UFC Event
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced Tuesday that it had disrupted an alleged plot to attack the White House during a major Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event held in Washington over the weekend.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the threat was identified on June 10 through a joint investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies. According to Patel, swift action by authorities led to the arrest of several suspects before the alleged plan could be carried out.
“On June 10, the FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat targeting UFC America 250 in Washington. Thanks to the rapid response of the FBI and our partners, multiple individuals are now in custody, and the alleged attack plans were stopped before they could be executed,” Patel said.
He emphasized that the operation demonstrated the ability of security agencies to detect and prevent potential threats at large public gatherings. Patel added that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional details will be released as court proceedings move forward.
According to reports from U.S. media outlets, five individuals have been arrested so far. The suspects were identified as Tycen Proper of Ohio, Daniel Eskridge of Missouri, Abraham Hermosillo Álvarez of Nebraska, and Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas, both from California. Authorities are also investigating the possible involvement of 18 additional individuals.
Investigators allege that the plot involved the use of drones equipped with explosives to target buildings near the sporting event. The plan reportedly sought to trigger a mass evacuation and direct attendees toward areas where snipers were allegedly positioned. Authorities further claim that a second phase of the operation included an attempted assault on the White House.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that it worked closely with the FBI throughout the operation. Secret Service Director Sean Curran stated that security teams conducted extensive efforts to identify those involved and eliminate any threat to attendees and protected facilities.
The investigation reportedly uncovered communications conducted through the messaging application Signal, where several suspects allegedly discussed details related to the planned attack. A forensic analysis of one of the seized mobile phones revealed at least 23 users participating in conversations connected to the alleged planning activities.
Court documents also indicate that some of the suspects allegedly intended to target U.S. political figures. Among the reported targets were members of Congress who had received contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Investigators further stated that one of the primary suspects had posted antisemitic messages and expressions of support for Adolf Hitler on social media, evidence that is now part of the ongoing judicial investigation.
International
Brazil helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro kills six, including pilots and international figures
The Rio de Janeiro Civil Police confirmed on Monday the identities of three of the six victims killed in a helicopter collision that occurred the previous morning in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood.
All three identified victims are Brazilian nationals: the pilots of the aircraft, Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza, and music producer Lucas Brito.
The identities of the three foreign victims have not yet been officially confirmed. They include U.S. singer Oliver Tree, Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim—known online as “Gaspi”—and Argentine producer Lucas Vignale, all of whom were listed on the flight manifest.
According to police, forensic experts from the Legal Medical Institute have already collected DNA samples in order to identify the foreign victims, whose bodies were severely burned.
One of the helicopters crashed into a private parking lot, triggering a fire that destroyed around twenty electric vehicles. That aircraft was carrying the pilot and four passengers, including the three foreign nationals.
The second helicopter, which had only the pilot on board, crashed approximately 100 meters away from the first impact site.
Rio de Janeiro’s deputy mayor, Eduardo Cavaliere, stated that both helicopters were operating transport flights toward Angra dos Reis on the Rio coastline and toward the mountainous region of the state.
Oliver Tree, 32, was in Brazil as part of an international tour. The artist, known for songs such as “Life Goes On” and “Miss You,” had performed to a large audience in São Paulo a week earlier and was scheduled to continue his tour in Europe.
Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim, 23, had built a following of more than two million on social media platforms, gaining popularity for humorous and often controversial video productions that had occasionally been removed by hosting platforms.
International
Mexico and U.S. Launch New Bilateral Security Group to Combat Fentanyl and Organized Crime
The governments of Mexico and the United States officially launched the Bilateral Implementation Group (BIG) on Friday, a new initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation on security issues and enhancing joint efforts against transnational crime.
In a statement, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson announced that he and Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco addressed officials from both countries who will lead what he described as a “new phase of bilateral cooperation.” The initiative seeks to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, illegal firearms, and human trafficking across the shared border.
Earlier this week, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that senior security officials from both nations would meet in Mexico City on June 12 to review and advance existing cooperation agreements.
Through social media, Ambassador Johnson explained that the new bilateral group is designed to improve coordination between the two governments by placing greater emphasis on implementation, accountability, and measurable results. The effort will also focus on combating transnational criminal organizations operating across North America.
“The participation of 15 U.S. government agencies, working alongside their Mexican counterparts, reflects the seriousness of this effort and our shared commitment to delivering measurable results,” Johnson said.
The ambassador also highlighted several achievements that he attributed to ongoing bilateral cooperation. According to Johnson, maritime drug trafficking into the United States has declined by more than 95 percent, while overdose deaths have fallen by 35 percent.
He further noted that Mexican authorities have seized more than 400 metric tons of illegal drugs and dismantled over 2,300 clandestine laboratories as part of their efforts to combat organized crime and narcotics production.
The launch of the Bilateral Implementation Group marks the latest step in the security partnership between Mexico and the United States, as both countries seek to address shared challenges related to drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and the activities of criminal networks operating across the region.
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