Foreign Policy Update – USA Gov Policy

TAIWAN

Taiwan and the US are developing closer ties in the wake of recent Chinese CCP aggression and the Covid-19 virus. This week, after positive discussions on agriculture, President Tsai Ing-wen announced a major change in trade policy with the United States, which addresses outstanding issues in beef and pork imports. On August 27, the announcement from President Tsai’s office said it is removing obstacles to “pave the way for advancing the bilateral Taiwan-US trade relationship” by lifting several restrictions to provide US access to Taiwan’s domestic meat market.

Taiwan’s Representative to the United States Bi-khim Hsiao called the effort “timely” and said that it will “…create the infrastructure to fortify and deepen the already significant trade relationship between reliable and like-minded partners.” Taiwan is the United States’ 9^th largest trade partner and 7^th largest export market. Washington is taking a stronger stand against Chinese human rights abuses, military aggression, unfair trade practices and other transgressions among the community of nations. Taiwan appears ready to become a critical force in the realignment of global supply chains.

CHINA

The United States announced it is placing restrictions on Chinese state-owned companies and executives due to the dispute in the South China Seas which has been escalating in recent weeks. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that since 2013, China has “used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres on disputed features in the South China Sea, destabilizing the region, trampling on the sovereign rights of its neighbors, and causing untold environmental devastation.”

GREAT BRITAIN

The United States is dismayed to learn that the “Chinese Communist Party’s coercive bullying tactics against our friends in the United Kingdom continues,” according to the State Department. This week British bank HSBC has reportedly prevented Hong Kong-based executives at Next Media, a well-known publisher of pro-democracy publications, from accessing their credit cards and personal bank accounts.” It noted that the bank is thus maintaining accounts for individuals who have been sanctioned for denying freedom for Hong Kongers, while shutting accounts for those seeking freedom.

ISRAEL

Secretary Pompeo was in Israel this past week for discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. After the meeting in the Prime Minister’s office the two leaders spoke with the media. Pompeo reassured Israel that “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.” He committed to using every tool that the US has to ensure that Iran can’t get access to high-end weapon systems or air defense systems.

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“It’s time to publicly account for the fact that Iran is on the cusp on October 18th of having access to those weapons and the money that will come from their sale of those weapons that will be used to inflict real harm, not only in the Middle East but in Europe as well,” he added.

UKRAINE

During Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Beigun’s August 26-27 visit to Ukraine, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Shmyhal, Deputy Prime Minister Reznikov, and Foreign Minister Kuleba to discuss a broad range of multilateral and regional issues, including Ukraine’s reform agenda, the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and the situation in Belarus. He reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. According to the State Department, “The United States attaches great importance to the success of Ukraine as a free and democratic state with a flourishing market economy.” American policy is centered on supporting Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression as it advances reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, fight corruption, and promote conditions for economic growth and competition.

IRAQ

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq Joey Hood said that recent discussions with Iraqi officials reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a long-term strategic partnership with the country and respect for its sovereignty. Iraq pledged to protect US and other intentional guests from attacks by Iran-backed militias. Iraq and the US are expected to hold additional meetings in the near future covering a wide range of topics including Iraq’s preparations for credible elections, protecting civil society, helping its religious and ethnic components recover from ISIS atrocities.

The two countries signed nine Memorandums of Understanding on development, finance, health, and energy and the US announced a gift of $204 million more in humanitarian assistance and $10 million for UNAMI’s election support efforts in Iraq.

DARIA NOVAK served in the United States State Department during the Reagan Administration, and currently is on the Board of the American Analysis of News and Media Inc., which publishes usagovpolicy.com and the New York Analysis of Policy and Government. Each Saturday, she presents key updates on U.S. foreign policy from the State Department.

Illustration: Pixabay

Quick Analysis

Russia Expanding Aggression

President Putin is using more than one pathway to enter Europe and undermine the West. While most of the world watches the conflict he initiated in Ukraine, the Russian government is actively pursuing a second front in a little noticed campaign in Cyprus. Although the corrupt Cypriot government ended its issuance of “golden passports” in 2020, Russian intelligence is functioning quietly there to transform this EU country into a Russian beachhead of illicit economic activity aimed at penetrating the capitalist West, according to Paul Goble of the Jamestown Foundation. Cyprus is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nor does it receive as much attention as those countries who are member states. That adds to its allure as a prime location for Russia to attempt to gain a European foothold. Last week a NATO report, cited in the European Daily Monitor, noted that Russian intelligence agents have been plotting to destroy European infrastructure across the continent to disrupt states supporting Ukraine. It further suggests that Putin’s immediate goal is to lay the framework for a future move against the security organization’s members. Hungary, in particular, is another country garnering Moscow’s attention as it opposes the Western response to Russian aggression. Russia is focusing its intelligence efforts on other European, non-NATO member countries in addition to Cyprus, including Austria, Malta, and Ireland. The NATO report suggests that Moscow has had success in disseminating the Russian political narrative in these states to advance its campaign against the West. The island of Cyprus is proving to be a good target for Moscow as it is an ethnically divided island that is part of the EU since 2004. Northern Cyprus, officially called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), is a de facto state that is only recognized by Turkey. The division precludes it from joining NATO. As Goble suggests, “it offers Russia troubled waters in which to fish.” Over the last 20 years, he points out, Cyprus’ challenges have opened it to a massive influx of Russian citizens, who now comprise approximately 10 percent of the island state’s population. Over 2,900 residents are Russians who entered until the “golden passport” program that allowed wealthy or well-connected Russians to move to Cyprus. It also provided them with documentation to travel freely throughout Europe! Although less visible on the world’s radar than the war in Ukraine, Moscow is also being helped by Cyprus’ banks opposition to seizing Russian assets and its support in evading Western sanctions. Russia has placed tens of billions of US Dollars there for money laundering. It has been more than two years since a single Russian “diplomat” has been deported and, in fact, the Embassy has grown to over 300 staffers on this tiny island state of only 1.2 million people. The Russian embassy in Nicosia has advanced communications antennae on its roof and opened a consulate on the northern end of the island. Moscow’s Ambassador, Mura Zyazikov, is a lieutenant general in the FSB with no diplomatic experience. The FSB, SVR (Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service), and GRU are actively using the island as a base of operations against NATO Member states, Israel, and other Western allies. Moscow backs pro-Russian political parties who in turn influence Cypriot decisions on education, language, and other issues. “Dmitry Khmelnitsky of the Dossier Center says that its findings should be of concern not only to Cyprus but to the West as a whole. Those who ignore what Moscow is doing because Cyprus does not follow the EU sanctions regime are missing something critical,” says Goble. “Cyprus does not seek to get rid of Russian agents and does not interfere with their work,” Khmelnitsky concludes, “despite the fact that what the Kremlin is doing is so clearly visible.” This has an impact not only on the small island but on the EU, NATO, and the West in general. Earlier this year the Moscow Times reported that when the FBI became more interested in Russian business and oligarchs in Cyprus, at least 10 of the major Russian businesses operating there left. Despite the government of Cyprus’ vow to implement plans for new sanctions against Russia, it continues to ignore Putin’s atrocities in Ukraine and to shield the wealth of the 50,000 wealthy Russian citizens and oligarchs residing there. Daria Novak served in the U.S. State Dept. Illustration: Pixabay