International
Blinken asks China not to “help” Russia with the supply of Defense components
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, asked Beijing this Friday not to “help Russia” and not to provide it with components that could be used in its war against Ukraine.
“I have made it clear in the meetings that China cannot help Russia by providing electronic, mechanical, electromechanical components and other types of Defense technology,” Blinken said at a press conference at the end of his visit to the Asian country, during which he met today with his counterpart, Wang Yi, and with the country’s president, Xi Jinping.
The diplomat told Russia “it will be difficult for him to maintain his military effort without the help of China and did not rule out with sanctions Chinese companies that provide equipment to Moscow.
Since the outset of the war in Ukraine, China has maintained an ambiguous position within which it has asked for respect for “the territorial integrity of all countries,” including Ukraine, and attention to the “legitimate concerns of all countries,” in reference to Russia.
Likewise, Beijing has denied that it has sold weapons to Russia and assures that it maintains a “normal” trade relationship with Moscow.
However, US officials have warned in recent weeks that Chinese companies are helping the Russian arms industry by selling equipment that could be used for the production of ballistic missiles.
“It’s about defending the security of Ukraine but also that of the whole of Europe,” Blinken said when referring to this issue, which threatens to tarnish relations between Washington and Beijing despite the fact that, according to the American, “relations have made progress in recent months.”
Thus, Blinken welcomed the re-establishment of communications between the military or in the fight against narcotics, and indicated that, in their meetings with Wang, both bet on “strengthening the lines of communication” to “address differences responsibly and thus avoid misperceptions or miscalculation.”
The American diplomat also pointed out that both countries will hold their first talks on Artificial Intelligence in the coming weeks “because of the security risks it entails” and that the two countries are willing to increase exchanges “to improve understanding.”
Blinken also referred to the South China Sea, and assured that the United States has to “guarantee freedom of navigation,” something that “is not only critical for countries such as the Philippines but for any other nation in the Pacific and the world.”
“We have shown our concern about China’s maneuvers in that sea. The United States seeks a de-escalation, but will maintain its security commitments,” he said in reference to the mutual defense treaty between Washington and Manila.
Blinken also said that he transferred Wang Yi that he hopes that China can “use its influence” in countries such as Iran or North Korea so that they show a willingness to dialogue on regional issues.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
International
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
The Colombian government stated on Thursday that it would have no reason to reject a potential asylum request from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should he leave office, as regional tensions persist over the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean since August.
“In the current climate of tension, negotiations are necessary, and if the United States demands a transition or political change, that is something to be assessed. If such a transition results in him (Maduro) needing to live elsewhere or seek protection, Colombia would have no reason to deny it,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio in an interview with Caracol Radio.
However, Villavicencio noted that it is unlikely Maduro would choose Colombia as a refuge. “I believe he would opt for someplace more distant and calmer,” she added.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also commented on Venezuela’s situation on Wednesday, arguing that the country needs a “democratic revolution” rather than “inefficient repression.” His remarks followed the recent detention and passport cancellation of Cardinal Baltazar Porras at the Caracas airport.
“The Maduro government must understand that responding to external aggression requires more than military preparations; it requires a democratic revolution. A country is defended with more democracy, not more inefficient repression,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), in a rare public criticism of the Venezuelan leader.
Petro also called for a general amnesty for political opponents and reiterated his call for forming a broad transitional government to address Venezuela’s prolonged crisis.
Since September, U.S. military forces have destroyed more than 20 vessels allegedly carrying drugs in Caribbean and Pacific waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in over 80 deaths.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that attacks “inside Venezuela” will begin “soon,” while Maduro has urged Venezuelans to prepare for what he describes as an impending external aggression.
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