Welcome back to Global Overview, where we feature Europe refuse Palacerequest for assistance, possible delays to a United States-China summit, with a small number of voters in the Republic of the Congo.
‘This Is Not Our War’
US President Donald Trump has spent most of his second term insulting the United States. A transatlantic partnershipthreats NATO membersand moved out international institutions. Now, the White House is asking those same allies for help—and so far, no one has come to Washington’s rescue.
Trump told them Financial Times Sunday that he has urged about half a dozen nations to send warships and minesweepers to the Middle East to help U.S. forces reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Since the Iran war began on February 28, Iran’s attacks have blocked the strategic waterway, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil normally flows. This has increased global energy flows, involved investors, and increased fuel costs around the world; Brent crude prices retreated above $100 a barrel on Monday.
American effort protect the stream so far they have failed, forcing Trump to seek help. “It’s only fair that the people who are the beneficiaries of that crisis will help make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump said Sunday. The White House has he is said to have asked China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom – as well as NATO, as a whole – join a “team effort” to reopen the choke point. Europe, in particular, has more miners than America, making the continent an important partner.
But Trump’s request has been largely rejected. Does Trump “expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz what the US Navy can’t do?” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius he said on Monday. “This is not our war. We did not start it.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz he repeated that position later Monday, saying, “NATO is a defensive alliance, not an interventionist one. And that’s why NATO has absolutely no place here.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer it said that London “will not be drawn into a greater war.” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain Jose Manuel Albares he warned that “we should not do anything that would increase the tension even more or cause the situation to worsen.” And Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani insisted that the European Union’s naval missions in the Red Sea will not be expanded to include the Strait of Hormuz.
Outside of Europe, the response has been similar. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian reiterated Beijing’s stance of neutrality on Monday, calling on “relevant parties to immediately cease military operations.” And the Australian Transport Minister Catherine King unexpectedly confirmed that Canberra will not be sending ships to Hormuz.
Denmark only he was clearly visible with possibility. “Even if we don’t like what’s going on, I think it’s wise to have an open mind about whether Europe … in some way can contribute, but with the intention of slowing down,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.
Trump on Monday criticized poor response from US allies, although he claimed that the US does not need their help. “We don’t need anybody. We are the most powerful nation in the world. We have the most powerful military in the world,” Trump said. “We don’t need them, but it’s interesting. I almost do it in some cases, not because we need them, but because I want to know how they react.”
About Tehran, Iran continued its strikes on critical infrastructure in the region on Monday, hitting a fuel tank at Dubai International Airport. “From our point of view, it is clear,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said of Hormuz. “It is confined only to our enemies, to those who committed unjust aggression against our country and to their allies.”
Today’s Most Read
The World This Week
Tuesday, March 17: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong begins a three-day visit to Japan.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb concludes a two-day trip to London.
Wednesday, March 18: The President of the European Union Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, hosted the United Nations Chief António Guterres.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu begins a two-day visit to England.
Thursday, March 19: The European Council is holding a meeting of leaders in Brussels.
Trump welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to the White House.
Saturday, March 21: The Association of Latin American and Caribbean Nations is holding a meeting of leaders in Colombia.
Sunday, March 22: Slovenia holds parliamentary elections.
France is organizing a repeat of the municipal elections.
Italy is holding a two-day referendum on judicial reform.
What we’re after
Possible delays. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent he suggested Monday that Trump may delay his trip to China later this month due to the Iran war. “The postponement, if it happens, will be because the commander-in-chief of the United States military believes that he should remain in the United States while this war is prosecuted,” Bessent said.
His comments come a day after Trump told reporters Financial Times that Washington is trying to pressure Beijing to help open the Strait of Hormuz. “I think China should help as well because China gets 90 percent of its oil from the crisis,” Trump said. However, Bessent insisted on Monday that the possible delay of the trip was not related to fuel concerns.
Trump planned to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping from March 31 to April 2 to discuss economic competition and high tariffs. According to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, that includes the possible creation of a US-China Trade Boardwhich would specify “what kinds of things we should be importing from China, what kinds of things we should be exporting to China, to make sure that we can focus on areas of mutual benefit.” Besent and Greer concluded two days of talks with Chinese Vice President He Lifeng in Paris on Monday to prepare for the meeting.
No big challenge. Republic of the Congo presidential election Sunday saw a low voter turnout, with many Congolese not believing that Brazzaville would witness a change of leadership. President Denis Sassou Nguesso, 82, is running for a fifth consecutive term, and despite six other candidates challenging him for the job, analysts predict that there is no serious threat. Results are expected later this month.
Nguesso has ruled the Republic of Congo for 42 years apart from a five-year hiatus in the 1990s; a constitutional referendum in 2015 he removed the presidential term and age limits, allowing him to run again. The administration of Nguesso has set several obstacles on the opposition to all but ensure its success. They include banning travel to vote for everyone except the incumbent, shutting down internet access on election day, and restricting traffic in Brazzaville. The two main opposition parties boycotted Sunday’s vote over allegations of unfair electoral practices.
“President Denis Sassou Nguesso has remained in power uninterrupted for more than 40 years by brutally suppressing the opposition,” according to Freedom House, which listed the Republic of Congo as “not free” in its 2025 year. Freedom on Earth index. Rights activists cite systemic corruption, political instability, and autocracy as the country’s toll. bad economic situation and high levels of poverty.
Constitutional referendum. Voters in Kazakhstan on Sunday approved the most comprehensive revision of their country’s constitution since it was adopted in 1995. The referendum is reshaping it. 80 percent of the previous system and strengthen the grip of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in power.
Under new constitutionthe two parliaments of the country will unite and become one; a new body appointed by the president, the Council of Citizens, will work together with parliament to establish laws; and the office of the vice president, abolished in 1996, will be restored. Both the old and new constitutions limit presidents to one seven-year term – a limit Tokayev himself instituted – but some analysts suggested he could try to use the new constitution to reset his term limit. to extend his rule beyond the end of his term in 2029.
Tokayev he said Sunday that the next presidential election will be held in 2029, dismissing rumors of an early withdrawal.
“Some experts suggest that competition for power in Kazakhstan is reportedly increasing, and that various trends that cause concern are increasing,” Tokayev said. “However, there are no reasons to be concerned that this will have a negative impact on society.” More than 87 percent of voters voted in favor of the referendum, while turnout exceeded 73 percent.
Odds and Ends
Foreign made films a big explosion at the Academy Awards on Sunday. After receiving nine Oscar nominations, the Norwegian drama Emotional value took home Best International Feature Film. South Korean music KPop Demon Hunters won the awards for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song. With Russian text Mr. Nobody Against Putin won Best Documentary Feature—a win that was especially impressive for American actor Sean Penn skip the party (and his Best Supporting Actor win for One Battle After Another) to meet with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Canada’s stop-motion masterpiece The Girl Who Cried Lulu won Best Animated Short, and French language film Two People Exchanging Spit tied for Best Live Action Short. Let the movie night rush begin!
