Diplomacy 101: Undiplomatically Speaking
Where Beliefs Clash and Stories Flash
Sanctions, Sovereignty, and the Stakes of Surveillance
The EU finalized its 14th sanctions package against Russia, targeting dual-use tech components and crypto-payment channels allegedly aiding Moscow’s military. The move, coordinated with the U.S. and Japan, extends financial surveillance frameworks and pressures Armenia, Georgia, and Turkey to crack down on transshipment. Moscow called the measures “economic warfare,” vowing countersanctions and judicial retaliation through its regional trade pacts.
In Africa, Burkina Faso and Niger formally suspended military cooperation with France, citing “disrespect for national sovereignty.” Russian advisors have reportedly expanded their footprint in Ouagadougou, though both governments deny offering bases to Wagner successors. Meanwhile, the AU remains silent—torn between non-interference doctrine and growing security vacuums across the Sahel.
Finally, Ecuador declared a state of emergency after cyberattacks knocked out half of Quito’s municipal grid. While attribution is still underway, officials hinted at foreign involvement, citing patterns resembling previous state-linked intrusions. Cyber norms may yet be the 21st century’s least enforceable frontier.