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Leaders In, Aid Out, Trouble Everywhere

Welcome to our newest edition - your gateway to the world’s defining moments. As 2025 unfolds, Canada’s political compass has shifted. Trudeau steps down, Mark Carney steps in, and the return of Trump to the White House signals a new era of elbows-up diplomacy. What does this mean for global alliances, liberal democracy, and international cooperation? 

Eastern DRC sees reneweed violence. M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, surge through South Kivu, displacing millions and exposing the failure of regional peace efforts. Meanwhile, Georgia teeters on the edge: post-election unrest, civil society backlash, and Russia’s lurking influence raise alarms for the country’s EU aspirations.

A seismic shock for global development aid: USAID is abruptly shut down. From health to humanitarian aid, no sector is spared. Trump’s 90-day freeze order has paralyzed 5,000 international projects, devastating communities and redefining the future of development.

Poland takes the EU helm with a mission: “Security, Europe!” From cyber defense to food stability, the focus is comprehensive - and urgent.

Also featured:
Han Una - a personal story of connection, nature, and strength
Former Minister Anurag Thakur Singh on India-Germany cooperation
Vietnam’s Nguyen Hong Long: Turning waste into energy, mentoring green startups, and shaping climate policy

Still feeling the post-Easter spirit? Share the joy - forward our newsletter to friends and family as a little gift of insight!

POLITICAL ANALYSIS

Elbows Up: Canada Enters a New Political Era

Elbows Up reflects Canada's transition to a new era of foreign policy. It stems from the resignation of Justin Trudeau, the return to power of Donald Trump, and the election of Mark Carney as the new Liberal Leader.

Read full analysis here

POLITICAL ANALYSIS

Unprecedented Escalation of Eastern DRC Conflict 

A brutal conflict reignites in eastern DRC, displacing millions as M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, seize territory - regional peace efforts falter amid rising instability and humanitarian crisis.

Read it here

Video: Georgia at Crossroads
Post-election turmoil, civil unrest, and global reactions - what’s next for the country’s EU path amid rising tensions and Russia’s looming influence?
 

SHORT ARTICLES

USAID shut down in the U.S.:
A prime example of the unprecedented

Since Truman’s creation of the Point Four Program, no decision rivals the closure of USAID - especially such an abrupt funding halt in humanitarian aid and health. Cuts of this scale, regardless of sector, have never occurred before.

2025 –  The International Cooperation Earthquake

President Trump's executive order to freeze U.S. aid for 90 days sent shockwaves through the global cooperation landscape. The suspension of 5000 projects left target groups neglected, led to jobs cuts and threatening closures. It has a profound impact on communities worldwide and prompts the international community to rethink international development cooperation.

SHORT ARTICLE

Information security during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

On January 1, 2025, Poland assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, succeeding Hungary. Given the deteriorating regional security architecture following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it is unsurprising that the slogan of the Polish Presidency is "Security, Europe!" Accordingly, Poland aims to "support activities strengthening European security in all its dimensions: external, internal, information, economic, energy, food, and health."

Read full analysis here

FROM OUR GALLERY

Shaping Europe's Future Budget

Revamping the EU Budget: Calls for Investment Union, Energy Reform, and Stronger Oversight Reform

At the renowned Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) Ideas Lab in Brussels, the HSS Chairman, Markus Ferber MEP, spoke about the "EU Budget 2.0" and called for more cross-border research, less bureaucracy, and better use of resources. He emphasized the need for an investment union, affordable energy, improved infrastructure, and an integrated internal market. He also warned that direct agreements with member states could undermine the EU Parliament's budgetary authority.

SHORT ARTICLE
Late To The Party: Finland and Sweden’s First Year(s) in NATO

As U.S. signals grow uncertain, Sweden and Finland’s NATO anniversaries highlight a deepening rift between transatlantic expectations and political reality. What was meant to symbolize unity now raises uneasy questions about trust, deterrence—and the future of Nordic security.

SHORT ARTICLE

Han Una

A bracelet, a blessing, and a jaguar’s gaze - Bricx Martillo Dumas’ “Han Una” unravels the deep threads of kinship, conservation, and the fuerza that binds us to nature.

Video: India & Germany A New Chapter of Cooperation

What should Germany’s new government prioritize in ties with India? Former Minister Anurag Thakur Singh breaks down economic lessons, opportunities, and the future of Indo-German relations.

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

HSS India
🇮🇳🤝🇩🇪 Bavaria & Karnataka deepen ties in AI, defense & aerospace. New deal signed despite Söder’s absence — a future-driven partnership! 🚀✍️🌍

HSS B&H
🚀 A three-day workshop brought together colleagues from 5 countries and key partners to reflect on the prospects for youth in Bosnia and future steps for the foundation. 🌍✨

HSS Italy
An evening full of inspiration with Florence Gaub ✨🔮 – the future isn’t a threat, but a chance 💡🌍 Let’s shape it together 🤝🚀

WHO IS...?

...Nguyen Hong Long?

Meet Nguyen Hong Long: a clean tech pioneer transforming Vietnam’s climate future by turning waste into energy, mentoring green startups, and shaping policies for a more sustainable tomorrow.
Get in touch with him.
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The articles in this newsletter reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.