Politics

On the 1,222nd day of Russia's invasion, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's exit from the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel landmines. Zelenskyy cited the "utmost cynicism" of Russian forces using these weapons and emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine's defenses. Concurrently, Russia executed its most extensive aerial attack since the war's start in February 2022, launching over 500 drones, decoys, and missiles overnight.

In May 2025, Australians voted with local issues in mind: housing costs, healthcare delays, and rising prices for groceries and petrol. However, late in the campaign, Donald Trump’s surprise “Liberation Day” tariffs on American imports disrupted domestic debates. Though experts thought these tariffs would barely affect Australia, the political reactions showed how global economics and Australian politics are now deeply connected.

In an era of shifting alliances and emerging power blocs, the age-old adage that “there are no permanent friends nor permanent foes, only permanent interests” has never felt more apt. Trade wars, strategic realignments, and titanic global challenges from Ukraine to Palestine test the durability of relationships once taken for granted. Yet they also underscore the capacity of sovereign states to recalibrate, cooperate, and—even after prolonged estrangement—find common ground when it serves their national interests.

In the charred aftermath of World War II, fifty nations gathered at San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House to sign the United Nations Charter on June 26, 1945. Their aim: “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” Drafted over four months by delegates from Allied powers and smaller states alike, the 19-chapter, 111-article document established fundamental principles of international conduct—sovereign equality, peaceful dispute resolution, collective security and the protection of human rights. It created the Security Council with five permanent veto-wielding members, the General Assembly, the Secretariat led by the secretary-general, and set up the International Court of Justice to adjudicate inter-state disputes.

On April 2, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration of universal “reciprocal” tariffs sent ripples through global markets, marking what many commentators have called the death knell of the post–World War II rules-based system. The 100 percent levies on imports from major trading partners—including Southeast Asia—underscored a turn toward unilateralism, protectionism, and economic nationalism under the banner of “Making America Great Again.”

For one intensive week in mid-June, a cohort of 25 senior professionals and policymakers from 21 countries gathered at Kämpasten, a serene retreat outside Sigtuna, Sweden, to participate in the in-person masterclass of the Executive Programme in International Politics and Diplomacy for Health. Jointly organized by Karolinska Institutet and the Stockholm School of Economics, this flagship programme equips health leaders with the political acumen and negotiation skills required to influence complex decision-making processes at both global and regional levels.

The United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. President Trump called this a strong move against Iran's nuclear goals, stating the U.S. is "fully aligned" with Israel to stop Iran from developing a bomb. However, experts caution that these strikes might not stop nuclear spread but could break international law norms and lead to a more unstable world where powerful countries act without restraint.

In a coordinated operation that represents a dramatic escalation in the Middle East conflict, the United States joined Israel in targeting key Iranian nuclear sites on June 22, 2025. U.S. B-2 stealth bombers struck facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, while Israeli jets hit additional sites. President Donald Trump proclaimed the strikes a success, warning Iran that “further peace is on our terms—or they will face more devastating consequences.” This unprecedented cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem raises profound questions about the future of international norms, the integrity of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, and the stability of the post-World War II global order.