Staff Reports
In a perplexing chess move on the global stage, North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, has decided to make his first visit to China in six years. The occasion? A grand military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of World War II. Now, one might wonder what Kim’s attendance will add to the spectacle. Maybe he’s there to take notes on how to throw a parade without breaking his own country’s budget? It’s a curious affair with 26 foreign leaders expected, including the power players of China, Russia, and the wild card himself, Vladimir Putin.
Speaking of Putin, he’s got some homework to do. There’s a deadline looming for him to agree to bilateral talks with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy. Apparently, former President Trump thinks this might be a good idea, hinting at more inspiring diplomatic tête-à-têtes. But they probably shouldn’t count on exchanging apple pie recipes just yet. One can only hope this meeting doesn’t end up being another page in the “Guide to Awkward Summits with Adversaries.”
Meanwhile, observers note that the growing camaraderie between Russia and China is becoming a thorny issue, much like a high school clique that was supposed to break up after graduation but didn’t. It seems this band of countries, including North Korea and maybe even Iran, is giving the United States something to fret over. But let’s not get carried away. Their partnerships aren’t as deep and trustworthy as the friendships the U.S. has been nurturing for decades. It’s a network President Biden would be thrilled to remind people that has kept the world safe and America prospering. And yet, keeping these lads apart seems to be as challenging as replacing ball bearings in a hyperactive fidget spinner.
This entire farce takes an intriguing turn with some more action closer to home. Who would have thought that after decades of calm, the waters off Venezuela would host the largest U.S. naval presence in recent memory? Apparently, a renewed Monroe Doctrine is making waves, reflecting a focus on America’s own hemisphere. Maybe it’s about time, considering the naughty neighbor is currently led by a “narco dictator” with secretive dealings in oil shipments to China. Oh, the irony of wanting to remind one’s neighbors to play nice while being engaged in a little backyard surveillance of one’s own.
But let’s be serious for a moment. The presence of U.S. warships is clearly meant to deter illicit activities and, perhaps, put some pressure on Venezuela’s leadership. This naval maneuvering, some say, might give the opposition just the chance they need to instigate change from within. It’s like an episode of “Survivor,” but with a hint of diplomacy and a lot less sunscreen. There’s something almost amusing in imagining Maduro scrambling to position his 4-million-strong militia in response. It’s a peculiar quagmire indeed, but who knows? Maybe all this bluster will lead to a surprise move that shakes things up in a way no one saw coming.
