WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - The State of the World: America First

Episode Date: February 6, 2025

The State of the World discusses the Trump Administration's negotiations with Benjamin Netanyahu, South Africa, and the Western Hemisphere. 

This is Aaron Osborne, and you're listening to the State of the World, where we discussed foreign policy and international news in the past week on WRFH 101.1.7 FM. Starting the week off in Moscow, an apartment explosion killed Armand Sarkisian, the head of the Arbutt Volunteer Battalion Parat Military Unit in eastern Ukraine. Russian media blames Ukrainian intelligence services, the SBU, for what it calls a targeted assassination. In Ukraine itself, President Trump has proposed a deal for weapons in exchange for rare earth mineral from Ukraine.

These rare earth mineral rules have implications for technological and defense production. The Ukrainian Geological Survey lists a number of rare earth minerals in Ukrainian territory, according to Radio Free Europe, some of which are in Russia occupied eastern Ukraine. The proposition sparks an anticipation of a more equal deal for long-criticized arms deals with the Ukrainian government. In Asia, President Trump announced a 10% tariff increase on Chinese goods due to China's role in fentanyl production and exportation to the United States. The Chinese responded with a 15% tariff on U.S. coal, liquefied natural gas, and agricultural equipment. China will also restrict high-tech mineral exports and is launching an antitrust investigation into Google. While neither side has declared a trade war, China has seen increasing competition.

from President Trump, who's demonstrated an interest in decreasing Chinese influence worldwide, including over the Panama Canal and the so-called China Belt and Road initiatives. China has also made headlines this week for an AI system known as DeepSeek, which is incredibly advanced and also pervasive on the market. The Middle East comes to America this week as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin, Netanyahu is the first foreign leader to meet with President Trump on February 4th. Natanyahu is in the country for a week to discuss Israel's pursuit of a lasting peace in Gaza as more hostages have been released from Hamas terrorist control.

A total of 18 Israelis, Asians, and a couple American citizens have been released thus far. The Trump administration also asked Congress to approve $1 billion approximately in bombs and military hardware to Israel, according to the Wall Street Journal. A lot of this comes out of already allocated money from Congress. In Syria, rebel leader Ahmed al-Shara of the HTS organization that took over Syria a couple months ago has been named the interim president of the country and his administration has canceled the Syrian 2012 constitution, raising human rights concerns. Capping off our coverage of the M23 Rebel Group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this Tutsi, movement has declared a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire in the eastern city of Goma, although M23

control will remain. M23 insists that humanitarian aims will be upheld after receiving UN criticism. However, many are concerned about instability rising in the eastern parts of the Congo regardless. In addition, President Trump has threatened to cut aid to South Africa if the government continues to confiscate land without compensation. This land confiscation bill, signed by the president in late January, purports to combat racism and give black South Africans more farmland while taking it from white South Africans without compensation. The South African president has publicly called on Trump advisor, Elon Musk,

to put an end to or mediate the situation. Last but not least, it's been a busy week in the Western Hemisphere as Secretary of State Marco Rubio finished his first trip to Panama where Panamanian officials agreed to restrict Chinese influence, especially regarding the Panama Canal and other Belt and Road projects in the country. In Mexico, President Claudia Scheinbaum agreed to send an additional 10,000 Mexican National Guardsmen to the U.S. border in exchange for a pause in tariffs. You may recall from last week, President Trump proposed up to 25% increase in tariffs to Mexico.

And last but not least, El Salvador's president, Buckele, has offered to have to have to have. American criminals in Salvadorian jails, an offer Rubio said the United States is grateful for. However, the agreement is certainly not formalized, but Buckele himself has been known for his harsh dealings with gangs in San Salvador and the country of El Salvador as a whole. I'm Aaron Osborne, and you've been listening to The State of the World on Radio Free Hillsdale, WRFH 101.7 FM.