US Threatens to Attack

Hi Global Recap readers,

I think I can summarize today’s newsletter with one word: war.

The US is now threatening Russia, the UK is proposing a mandatory national service for 18-year-olds, a “wall of drones” is being set up across 6 NATO nations, etc.

Personally: I believe a full-scale world war is unlikely in the near future. It seems we are currently in a phase of redefining boundaries and interests following years of promoting integration and assimilation of different cultures.

 However, if I ever saw a prelude to one, this could be it.

🇺🇦 Ukraine
US Threatens to Attack

🔘 Stance: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski revealed in an interview that the US has warned Russia of a conventional military response should nuclear weapons be deployed in Ukraine.

🔘 Deterrence: The international community, including China and India, has cautioned Russia against breaking the nuclear taboo, fearing a domino effect of nuclear armament in Japan and South Korea.

🔘 Russia: Meanwhile, Russia recently announced that it has started tactical nuclear weapons exercises near Ukraine.

• Additionally, Vladimir Solovyov, a propagandist and an ally of Putin, declared that a “nuclear war is inevitable.”

Are we walking into a new world war?

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🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Reviving National Military Service?

Speaking of war… The Conservative Party caused quite a buzz on Sunday, announcing that it will reintroduce mandatory national service.

🔘 Election Pledge: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to implement a year of mandatory military or civilian service for all 18-year-olds if his party wins the upcoming July 4 election.

• This initiative marks the first return to a form of national service in Britain in over six decades.

• Many are calling this “political suicide.” Just take a look at the comments section of the video above.

🔘 Plan Details: The proposed plan would see a select group of 18-year-olds, about 30,000 out of an estimated 700,000, serving 12 months in the military in roles such as logistics or cyber defense.

• The majority, however, would commit one weekend a month to work with charities, community groups, or public services like hospitals and the police.

🔘 Motivation: Sunak’s vision for the program is to foster "a shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country." The Conservatives estimate the cost at 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) annually.

🔘 Closing Thoughts: Remember our latest reporting regarding the UK government’s new website that urges citizens to stock up on emergency supplies?

• Are they really cooking up something?

• Or is this their idea of a successful election campaign strategy?

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🇪🇺 NATO
Drone Wall Defense

Nordic and Baltic countries are uniting to create a “drone wall” along their borders with Russia, aiming to bolster defenses against potential threats.

🔘 Countries: Six NATO countries, including Finland, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, have proposed a coordinated drone system to safeguard their borders from Russian provocations and smuggling activities.

🔘 Purpose: According to Lithuania’s interior minister, Agnė Bilotaitė, the initiative aims to utilize drones and other technologies for border protection against “unfriendly countries.”

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🇮🇱🇵🇸 Israel-Hamas
Hamas’ Missile Attack on Tel Aviv

🔘 Assault: Hamas fired missiles at Tel Aviv, triggering alarms in Israel’s financial hub for the first time in eight months.

• Hamas claims it fired more than 100 missiles.

• The Israel Defense Force (IDF) stated that “a number” of Hamas’ rockets were intercepted.

• There were no immediate reports of casualties.

• According to the IDF, rockets were fired from Rafah.

🔘 Hamas’s Statement: The missile launch is a direct reaction to “Zionist massacres against civilians,” according to a statement on Hamas’s Telegram channel.

🔘 Retaliation: In response, Israel’s military struck a Hamas compound in Rafah on Sunday, targeting terrorists but also raising concerns over civilian casualties near a refugee camp.

• Two Hamas terrorists were confirmed killed in the counterstrike.

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🇨🇳 China
Huge Chip Investment

China’s semiconductor industry received a huge boost from the Chinese government and several banks, with the establishment of the country’s largest investment fund dedicated to chip development.

🔘 Initiative: The National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, also known as Big Fund III, has amassed 344 billion yuan ($47.5 billion) to propel China’s domestic chip industry.

• This move is part of Beijing’s broader strategy to achieve self-sufficiency in semiconductor production.

• Currently, the US and its allies hold a strong grasp in the advanced semiconductor sector.

🔘 Tensions: The fund’s creation comes at a time when the US is tightening export controls on advanced chips and chipmaking equipment to China.

• The Biden administration is lobbying allies to join in these restrictions.

🔘 Stocks: Chinese chip stocks, including SMIC and Hua Hong Semiconductor, saw a jump in shares following the announcement.

🔘 What This Means: While China might face challenges in the immediate future, this could pave the way for greater autonomy from the US in the long run, provided they can match up to the competition.

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