The Daily BriefPublished on EGF: 20.03.2018 Essential ReadingThe Weekly Rundown: After Rexit, the Russian Election and China's Rising Hostility Toward Taiwan — A review of the world's most pressing geopolitical events and insight into what the coming week will bring. Link Geopolitical Calendar: Week of March 19, 2018 — Stay informed about the most significant meetings and events planned for the week ahead. Link Saudi Arabia Goes Shopping for a Nuclear Deal — Eager to wean itself off oil, Riyadh is intent on developing atomic power. But as the crown prince comes to Washington for talks on a nuclear deal, U.S. authorities will have much to consider. Link Can Syria's Kurds Hold the Ground They've Gained? — The autonomy Kurdish forces thought they had attained may prove illusory as they find themselves again squeezed between Ankara and Damascus. Link Russia: The Putin Machine Rolls at the Polls — While the president easily won, this election was really about turnout and how that reflects on Putin's popularity. Link EU: New Tech Taxes Will Drive Divisive Decisions — The European Commission is preparing a plan to increase taxes on large technology companies such as Amazon and Google, but many smaller EU countries won't be happy with the proposal. Link Chile: Santiago Approves China's Latest Electricity Utility Purchase — With a recently approved acquisition of a Chilean electricity transmission system, Beijing is continuing to pursue purchases of South American energy infrastructure. Link Global PerspectivesThe Result of a Loyalist Victory in Syria's Eastern Ghouta? More Violence — Stratfor contributor Charles Glass writes that the outcome of the Syrian government's campaign against rebel forces outside Damascus is no longer in doubt. Another certainty: additional civilian suffering when the field of battle shifts elsewhere. Link Voting for a Russia Without Putin — Russia's presidential election is March 18, and the odds are stacked in the incumbent's favor. But in an interview with Stratfor contributor Linas Jegelevicius, one prominent opposition figure warns that no race can be predicted with utter certainty. Link The Russian Election: Putin and the Seven Dwarves — Dr. Dorothy Horsfield from Stratfor partner the Australian Institute of International Affairs says that many observers are turning to voter participation figures for an indication of the Russian public's dissatisfaction with the Kremlin — and so is Putin. Link Stratfor VoicesGeopolitics of Spain — In this episode of the podcast, we explore the geopolitics of Spain. From the invasion of the Moors to the secessionist movement in Catalonia, Stratfor analysts Mark Fleming-Williams and Emily Hawthorne discuss the history of constraints facing this southern European nation, how it has responded throughout time and what new opportunities the future holds for Spain. Link Stratfor GraphicIran will argue its need for a weapons program to friendly partners in Europe, such as France and Germany, as they work with the United States to draw up a supplemental agreement to the JCPOA aimed at discouraging some of Iran's more controversial activities. ForumsContribute to the conversation. Share your thoughts in our forum section to engage with our analysts, editors and fellow Stratfor Worldview subscribers. North Korea's foreign minister is currently in Stockholm for meetings with his Swedish counterpart, who recently told reporters that Sweden is ready to assist in dialogue between North Korea and the United States. Though U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by the end of May, details of the meeting have yet to be hammered out. And although Sweden has promised assistance, Trump has previously shown a preference for more direct diplomacy. Topic of the Week: The Saudi Survival StrategySaudi Arabia became rich on oil, but it also became dependent on it, and the most recent dip in global oil prices made the dangers of that all too apparent. The government in Riyadh has therefore embarked on an ambitious reform plan to diversify the Saudi economy. To help with that effort, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is taking a multi-city tour of the United States this week to court American investment into the technology, petrochemical and mining sectors. The kingdom is also looking to build up a civilian nuclear energy sector, but if it wants U.S. companies to participate, Riyadh must convince its Western partners that the program poses no danger of nuclear weapons proliferation. But if bin Salman hopes to convince the United States his nuclear program will be purely peaceful, he’s off to a bad start: The prince explicitly said in a televised interview March 18 that Saudi Arabia would build nuclear weapons if its regional foe Iran did. The comment may not matter, though; Washington and Saudi Arabia are strategically aligned when it comes to countering Iran’s reach in the Middle East. Link News You May Have MissedFor even more news, visit Stratfor's Situation Reports page.
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