Diplomacy 101: Undiplomatically Speaking
Where Beliefs Clash and Stories Flash
Ceasefires, Supply Chains, and the Silence of Allies
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas entered its second week, though violations on both sides threaten its stability. While humanitarian aid resumed in parts of northern Gaza, international monitors remain absent, raising concerns about the ceasefire’s long-term enforceability. Egypt and Qatar continue to play key mediation roles, though their influence appears increasingly transactional.
In East Asia, Taiwan’s semiconductor industry faced turbulence after new U.S. export restrictions targeting high-end chip tools. While officially framed as a “tech-national security” measure, the controls have sparked quiet frustration in Taipei, which sees itself squeezed between strategic partnership and economic vulnerability. Japan and the Netherlands, under pressure to align with Washington, offered lukewarm support.
Meanwhile, Brazil launched a regional supply-chain pact with Argentina, Chile, and Colombia aimed at insulating Latin American trade from dollar shocks and commodity bottlenecks. The pact is still embryonic, but its ambition reflects a growing desire for regional economic sovereignty—especially as global markets grow more unpredictable.