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The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
As America silences its voice in Africa, China and Russia amplify theirs
After gutting our principal development, humanitarian and peacebuilding institutions, the Trump administration is now pushing to close another of our most powerful institutions on the frontlines of a growing global information war: the Voice of America. The timing for its closure could not be worse. Disinformation campaigns targeting African information systems have surged nearly fourfold since 2022, with Russia and China leading a systematic assault. According to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, 189 documented disinformation campaigns now target Africa — nearly quadruple the number reported in 2022. These campaigns have triggered 'destabilizing and antidemocratic consequences,' all of which undermine U.S. interests on the continent. At least 39 African countries have been targeted with foreign disinformation, with half facing three or more campaigns. Russia has emerged as the primary architect of this disinformation offensive, sponsoring 80 documented campaigns across more than 22 countries in Africa. Perhaps nowhere are the effects of these campaigns on American interests so visible as in Niger, a country then-Secretary of State Blinken praised as 'a model of resilience' on a first-ever visit to the Sahelian state. Only months later, an army coup would topple the country's democratically elected leader with the help of Russian networks. In the months following, content about Niger spiked by 6,645 percent on Russian state media and Wagner Telegram channels and included narratives about Western imperialist forces fomenting instability to exploit Niger's mineral resources and sovereignty. A year later, U.S. Defense officials blamed their forced abandonment of a $100 million drone base in the country's north on a Russian 'disinformation playbook,' bringing into full relief the scale and effectiveness of Russia's info war. But Russia's assault extends beyond crisis exploitation and into the quotidian. RT, the Russian state-controlled television network, has pivoted to training African journalists after being banned across the Western world, including online platforms like Meta, for spreading disinformation about Ukraine. More than 1,000 African journalists have reportedly completed these courses, creating a network of Moscow-trained journalists across 35 African nations. This Kremlin propaganda machine now broadcasts to more than 40 countries on the continent in six languages and recently launched services in Portuguese and Amharic. TASS, the Russian news service, recently announced plans to open six new African bureaus by next year. Meanwhile, China has adopted an even more comprehensive approach to media influence. Like Moscow, Beijing trains approximately 1,000 African journalists every year in China and Chinese-state news agencies are expanding their presence across the continent. Xinhua already maintains 37 news bureaus and counting across Africa, more than any other African or non-African news agency. China Global Television Network, CGTN, recently announced plans to increase its presence beyond Africa's five sub-regions, where it employs its locally-hired staff to 'paint a rosy picture' of Chinese engagement and investment in local languages like Hausa and Bambara. But its China's purchase of stakes in local African media, like South Africa's Independent Media, that also allows it to fly undetected on the continent and to 'tell China's story well,' a strategy proposed by then-Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping at the party's National Propaganda and Ideology Work Conference. With 300 million Africans coming online in the past seven years, authoritarian powers are systematically exploiting Africa's digital transformation to reshape the continent's information environment. Voice of America represents one of America's most effective responses to this assault. Unlike RT's propaganda masquerading as journalism or China's state-influenced messaging, VOA has operated uninterrupted since 1942 under a congressional charter mandating editorial independence and journalistic integrity. This credibility advantage is crucial in an environment where Africans are increasingly skeptical of obviously biased content. VOA's weekly audience is estimated at a little over 93 million, has been growing rapidly and is trusted in many of Africa's most important markets. This stands in stark contrast to European news organizations that have been banned in recent years in tens of African countries citing anti-government biases and growing anti-Western sentiment. In contrast, in the 48 African countries where VOA broadcasts, it plays an important role in countering extremist narratives pushed by terror groups like Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram and other ISIS affiliates, while equipping local populations with the information they need to resist extremist propaganda. These threats, according to the Defense Department, 'are the epicenter of terrorism around the globe…and therein lies the threat to the [U.S.] homeland.' More importantly, Voice of America has a unique mandate to tell America's story and explain U.S. policy to African audiences. Commercial media outlets, like the Associated Press, Reuters or CNN lack both the purpose and the incentive to systematically present American perspectives on global issues, particularly in languages and markets where profitability is limited. Voice of America also covers stories that no other commercial broadcaster prioritizes: African perspectives on American foreign policy, and in-depth coverage of African issues that matter to American policymakers. Africa's population will double by 2050, with 70 percent of the population under the age 35 — a demographic that still looks to the U.S. for leadership in governance and democratic values — but at a decreasing rate. Recent polling shows a widening gap among Africans, 60 percent of whom believe that China has a positive political and economic influence on their countries, versus a declining rate of only 53 percent for the U.S. Eliminating Voice of America would hand China and Russia unopposed control over narrative formation among the world's youngest and fastest-growing population. The response to authoritarian efforts to undermine American interests and African narratives is not retreat but reinforcement. At precisely the moment when Russia and China are investing billions in media operations designed to promote their influence operations and undermine American interests, silencing America's voice constitutes a unilateral disarmament in an information war that we cannot afford to lose. Cameron Hudson was National Security Council director for Africa in the administration of George W. Bush and is a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.
Saudi Gazette
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
US allies break with Trump to force diplomatic shift on Gaza
NEW YORK — As Canada joins France and the UK in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state, the US is standing firmly with Israel — but does Trump have a long-term plan for Gaza's future? Of all history's declarations about the Middle East, one that may be less prominent in the global collective memory was in Tokyo in November 2023. Then-US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken laid out a series of principles for the "day after" the war in Gaza at a meeting of the G7, a group of the world's most powerful countries. He travelled there from Tel Aviv, after meeting Israel's leadership a month after the Hamas attacks on October 7, during the ensuing Israeli offensive on Gaza. Blinken listed what amounted to US conditions for Israel's military objectives and the wider conflict: No forcible displacement of Palestinians. No Israeli re-occupation of Gaza after the war ends. No attempt to blockade or besiege Gaza. A future governance that must be Palestinian-led, involving the internationally backed Palestinian Authority. No role for Hamas. The principles were intended to generate support from America's allies in Europe and parts of the Arab world — even if Israel objected to many of them. Few probably remember Blinken declaring his Tokyo Principles — least of all the Trump administration, which immediately jettisoned them. But the ideas are still supported by many US allies, who travelled to the United Nations in New York this week for a French-Saudi-led conference calling for a rekindling of the two-state solution. The conference made headlines as France, then the UK, committed to recognising a Palestinian state later this year under certain conditions. On Wednesday afternoon, Canada followed suit. But the Trump administration boycotted the meeting, viewing it as anti-Israel. "The United States will not participate in this insult but will continue to lead real-world efforts to end the fighting and deliver a permanent peace," said US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, deriding the conference as a "publicity stunt". Now, a chasm has opened up between the US and its traditional allies on the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This raises a question: Does the Trump administration have a vision for the future governance of Gaza and longer-term permanent peace? It is becoming increasingly clear that it doesn't — at least not one of its own. Earlier this month, I asked Ms Bruce what the administration's vision was for the future governance of Gaza, beyond its requirement that Hamas cannot exist. She responded that "countries, our partners in the region" were working to implement "new ideas" the president had asked for. When I pressed her on what this involved she said: "I won't exactly tell you today." In February, President Trump declared that the US would take over the Gaza Strip and build a "riviera of the Middle East" in a plan that involved the forced displacement of Palestinians in the territory, which the US and Israel later tried to claim meant "voluntary" emigration. Whilst the idea was clearly unfeasible and would be in violation of international law, it appeared to be Trump's post-war plan. It would presumably have involved Israeli military occupation of the strip to facilitate it. It was not clear how any continuing insurgency by Hamas or aligned armed groups would have been defeated. Since then, the plan has been slowly, quietly dropped — at least in its fuller form. Asked on Tuesday about his plan to move Palestinians Trump described it as "a concept that was really embraced by a lot of people, but also some people didn't like it". The latter was probably a reference to rejection by Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, which Trump visited in May for a lavish trade tour to take in gilded palaces. The administration prefers to talk about the immediate issue: freeing hostages and getting a ceasefire. When Trump was again asked to look beyond that, during a recent White House visit from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he immediately deferred to the Israeli leader to answer. It amounts to a growing evidence that the Trump administration's strategy on Gaza increasingly parallels that of its Israeli ally. Netanyahu rejects any involvement of the Palestinian Authority in future governance of Gaza, where his forces now control some two-thirds of the territory. The far-right flank of his coalition demands permanent military occupation, the expulsion of Palestinians and the building of Jewish settlements. Israel and the US have attempted to take control of the food supply for Palestinians, within militarised zones, while Israel also arms Palestinian militiamen who rival Hamas. The international body that monitors famine, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), said there is mounting evidence of widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease in Gaza. Israel has blamed Hamas and the UN for the crisis, but said it is facilitating more aid. Many European nations have watched aghast. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy told me on Wednesday: "We have seen the most horrific scenes. The global community is deeply offended by children being shot and killed as they reach out for aid." Starvation appears to be an inflection point for European countries — a moral impetus to drive their divergent diplomacy. Domestic pressures in Britain and France also mounted to recognize a Palestinian state under certain conditions. Without a coherent, internationally backed plan for future governance, Gaza faces the prospect of increasing chaos. Blinken was aware of this risk from early in the war, and shuttled between Arab states trying to get them to sign up for a future plan involving parts of the Palestinians Authority and Arab countries providing security forces. He also intervened on at least three occasions, forcing Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, twice using the threat of restricting US weapons to make his point. There has been no such pressure by the Trump administration, which accelerated arms to Israel since January. The US has left what amounts to a strategic vacuum on Gaza's long-term plan. The Europeans, working with Gulf Arab counties, spent this week trying to fill it. For them, without effective aid, governance and a long-term peace plan, the impact on the ground will only deteriorate. They called this week for urgent aid intervention, backing the Palestinian Authority, and reviving work towards a two-state solution — even without the US signed up. It upends years of convention by which major Western powers would recognize a Palestinian state only at the end of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Importantly, their combined statement meant Saudi Arabia, a leader of the Arab and Muslim world, was joining the condemnation of Hamas and call for its disarmament. Now they're hoping their move, supported by Arab countries, pressures Trump back towards a more established diplomatic process. But their conference — which will meet again in September — is working against all odds. The superpower seat is empty. — BBC
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Antony Blinken: US, partners 85% done on Gaza ceasefire before Trump
Blinken noted that while he understood people's frustration and emotions after October 7, he believed more pressure should have been put on Hamas. Former secretary of state Antony Blinken stated that America and its partners in the Middle East were "85% of the way" to being done before the Trump administration took over. In an episode of "The Ex Files" with journalist Christiane Amanpour and Jamie Rubin, published on Wednesday, Blinken dove into talks for a ceasefire in Gaza, the Trump administration's handling of the war, and the Biden administration's plan for the "day after." Rubin went on to note that the Biden administration, in tandem with senior Israeli and Arab officials, came up with 'the only game in town' to replace Hamas with an Arab force that the Israeli government could trust in Gaza. Blinken claimed that for 'many, many months' Israeli representatives resisted speaking about the 'day after' plan for Gaza, but that the Biden administration had made it '85% of the way there.' 'The 'there' is having transitional arrangements with Arabs and others playing a full part in security and administration in reconstruction in partnership with Palestinians, and then ultimately handing over to Palestinians.' What did the Biden Administration plan for the day after? Blinken noted that there were differences as to which Palestinian faction it would be, and named the Palestinian Authority as an option. 'The Israelis, of course, were extremely reluctant, not to say opposed to anything that would hand off to the PA, because for years, of course, they've been trying to keep the PA down so that they wouldn't have anyone to negotiate with toward the realization of a Palestinian state.' However, Blinken said that he was confident that the previous administration was close to getting a deal completed. 'I believe that ultimately we could get over the finish line.' The former secretary of state noted that while eventually, a deal with a six-week period for further negotiations was reached, it fizzled out. 'It's not at all clear to me that the six weeks that we had were used in a way to really push the parties together to say, 'Okay, we agree. Here's what each of us is going to do. Here's how we're going to make the ceasefire enduring.'' 'I think we're actually back to that point right now. And now, six months later, so much suffering." When asked by Amanpour if he believed that Israel was committing war crimes in Gaza, Blinken noted that there was extreme trauma on every side of the equation, but that Hamas had embedded itself under civilian infrastructure in Gaza. 'The Israelis said that their objectives in Gaza were to make sure, first and foremost, that October 7 could never happen again. To do that, they wanted to dismantle the military organization of Hamas because that's what it was,' Blinken noted. 'It achieved that objective many, many months ago. 'The question now is if the Israelis are going to pull out, which they should, and I believe they must ultimately pull out of Gaza, what fills the vacuum? Because it's also understandable that they can't and won't simply leave a vacuum that Hamas could refill.' Blinken finally noted that while he understood people's frustration and emotions after October 7, he believed more pressure should have been put on Hamas. 'I wish that those who, understandably, have been moved and motivated by everything that's happened since October 7, if they'd spent maybe just 10% of their time, calling on Hamas, demanding Hamas put down its arms, give up the hostages, stop what it's doing, maybe if the world had done that, we'd be in a different place.'
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
McDonald's opens more outlets in Ukraine amidst war against Russia. Here's how American fast-food chain making profits in wartime economy
McDonald's had finally reached Ukraine's remote, alpine region of Transcarpathia, and the locals could not be happier. The much-acclaimed arrival of McDonald's in Transcarpathia signals an unexpected trend for the iconic American fast-food chain: In wartime Ukraine, business is booming. McDonald's stated it plans to open about 10 new outposts in Ukraine this year, pushing its total of operational restaurants to nearly 120, more than before Russia's invasion over three years ago. Across the country, city councils are vying to secure a McDonald's restaurant, knowing the chain will bring jobs and increase local tax revenues, as per a report. McDonald's in Ukraine It is also a testament to Ukraine's rebounding wartime economy. Having secured dozens of billions in financial aid from allies and having avoided runaway inflation, Ukraine is now drawing back Western companies that fled early in the war, including Swedish furniture giant Ikea and Spanish fashion brand Zara. Ukraine's economy is projected to grow by 2 per cent to 3 per cent this year, the third consecutive year of growth, although economic output remains below prewar levels, NYT News Service reported. This success builds on a long-running love affair between a post-Soviet country and an American brand, a reflection of Ukraine's growing embrace of Western lifestyle, as per the NYT News Service report. McDonald's in Kyiv Live Events McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, in 1997. The company's arrival was a major attraction in a country that had gained independence from the Soviet Union just six years earlier and was only beginning to open to the West. Crowds lined up for days to get a taste of the chain's storied burgers. As the company expanded its footprint, Ukrainians' enthusiasm only grew. In 2011, the McDonald's restaurant at Kyiv's central train station ranked as the second-busiest in the world. Ukrainian children love celebrating their birthdays at McDonald's, while students often grab Big Macs after late-night parties. McDonald's during Russia-Ukraine After Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine in early 2022, McDonald's closed all of its restaurants. Some establishments, in cities such as Kherson and Melitopol, were destroyed or fell under Russian occupation. Meanwhile, the brand exited the Russian market, joining a wave of departing Western companies. As Russia's initial invasion foundered and its troops pulled back to eastern Ukraine, life cautiously returned to Kyiv. Kuleba urged Blinken to encourage McDonald's to resume operations. "Life is coming back," he recalled telling him during a call. "I think it would send a powerful message if McDonald's came back, too." When the chain reopened in Kyiv in September 2022, people lined for hours -- a scene reminiscent of its post-Soviet debut. The reopenings have not come without risk. The same Kyiv outpost that first opened in 1997 has been damaged several times in Russian attacks, most recently during a January drone and missile strike that shattered its storefront, blowing out its windows. It has since reopened. FAQs Q1. What is capital of Ukraine? A1. The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv. Q2. When did McDonald's open first restaurant? A2. McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, in 1997.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Antony Blinken speaks in Utah about Ukraine, Trump's cuts to foreign aid and tariffs
Antony Blinken's stepfather was held in a Nazi death camp for two years during World War II. He escaped with a friend during a forced march in Bavaria, and as they ran for their lives they came upon a tank, Blinken said. The tank had a five-pointed star on it, and as the men approached an American G.I. poked his head out of the top. Blinken's stepfather then said the three English words he knew, 'God bless America.' Blinken, the first Jewish U.S. secretary of state, told the story during a conversation in Salt Lake City on Thursday with former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake, who is now chairman of the board at World Trade Center Utah. After serving for four years during the Biden administration, Blinken said he is now 'retired,' which means he's primarily spending time with his two young children, who are 6 and 5 years old. During his remarks to Utah's political and business leaders at the Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit, a two-day, invitation-only event sponsored by Zions Bank and World Trade Center Utah, Blinken called for the U.S. to remain the 'last, best hope' of the world by continuing to assert global leadership. He also spoke about why he felt it was important for the U.S. to back Ukraine after Russia invaded in 2022, and the war in Gaza, following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks. Blinken was among the many global leaders who were in Salt Lake City on Wednesday and Thursday to speak at the summit. Earlier on Thursday, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke with Harris Simmons, chairman and CEO of Zions Bancorporation. Her remarks were off the record. Simmons told the Deseret News that tariffs and supply chain issues are top of mind for people at the summit. 'Secretary Rice made the observation that we're not going back to a China where we have the kind of supply chain that has existed for the last two to three decades — that's a thing of the past," he said. That's different, he said, than what was expected after China joined the World Trade Organization, and will lead businesses to review their supply chains. 'We all hope that President (Donald) Trump is successful in negotiating trade deals that are in the mutual interest of the U.S. and our trading partners,' Simmons said. 'It is going to cause some disruption.' In addition to Blinken and Rice, Thursday's summit attendees also heard from former U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. At the beginning of their conversation, Flake joked about getting to question a 'tough boss.' As secretary of state, Blinken oversaw Flake during his time as ambassador to Turkey. Flake served during a tenuous time in the region, including during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan — which did not come up during his conversation with Blinken — and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, which they did discuss. Blinken had high praise for Flake and his service as ambassador. He called Flake 'the right person in the right place at the right time.' President Trump is taking a very different approach to foreign policy than the Biden administration did, asserting an 'America first' policy on the global stage that includes tariffs, a reduction in foreign aid and criticism of even close allies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also attempting to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, and he and special envoy Steven Witkoff are also trying to stop the fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Blinken said he hopes the U.S. will maintain its position as a leader in the world. 'The world doesn't organize itself,' he said. The lack of American leadership could lead to a vacuum that is filled by others looking to take its place. His second concern is related to the Trump administration's decision to cut funds for USAID and other foreign aid organizations. 'The return on that investment is extraordinary,' he said. Without those tools of soft power, the U.S. will need to find other ways to communicate and cooperate with others, he said. In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine for the second time in a decade, Blinken said the Biden administration believed strongly they had to help them. 'This was an aggression not just against Ukraine, but against the very principles that had been at the heart of the international system since the end of World War II,' he said. Blinken said if they had let that aggression go forward, others would think they could also get away with it, pointing specifically to China's ambitions with Taiwan. He said he believes if the ceasefire and peace deal the Trump administration is trying to negotiate moves forward, it will just give Russian President Vladimir Putin time to retrench and rebuild his forces. To stop that, he said, the U.S. should support Europe's aims to put troops along the demarcation line, or the U.S. should welcome Ukraine into NATO. The Trump administration says they want to stop the killing of troops and civilians on both sides of the border. While its tough to be sure, estimates are that more than half a million soldiers and civilians have been killed in the war. Trump is also staunchly opposed to inviting Ukraine to join NATO, and instead has signed a critical minerals agreement with Kyiv to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. Flake asked Blinken whether Trump's decisions to put additional tariffs on goods coming into the U.S. from China was a good decision. Blinken said he agreed with the tariffs Trump levied during his first four years in office, which were continued during the Biden administration, but said instead of additional tariffs President Joe Biden took a different approach with China. In order to counter some of China's trade practices, Biden wanted to 'invest in ourselves,' by spending money on infrastructure and to boost chip manufacturing. The administration also tried to align with European and other allies to counter China's dominance in manufacturing. China manufactures one-third of the goods consumed across the world, he said. Blinken said decoupling U.S. and Chinese markets is a 'fantasy,' and said instead the U.S. should engage in 'derisking.' On Trump's decision to levy 10% across the board tariffs, Blinken said the industrial tax increase will be a 'sea change' for the global economy. He said he hopes the tariffs will eventually be much more narrowly focused. Blinken called the Hamas attacks 'one of the most horrific events in my lifetime. The worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.' The 'deepest poison' in the world is dehumanization, Blinken said. When that sets in, everything bad is so much easier, and everything good is so much harder, he said. 'Nowhere is that more clear, evident, powerful than in the Middle East,' he said. Blinken said the Biden administration felt strongly they had to defend Israel after Hamas attacked, while also trying to contain the fighting so it didn't become a regional conflict. He also expressed concerns about the Palestinians and how they have suffered because of Hamas. A final agreement, Blinken said, should include a state for Palestinians — something Trump has said he doesn't support. At the end of his remarks, Blinken circled back to the anecdote he told about his stepfather at the beginning. He said he hopes the U.S. will maintain the trust of its allies so it can remain the world's 'last, best hope.'
