Kahl & Berengaut, WOTR
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a global public health disaster of almost biblical proportions. It is a once-in-a-century occurrence that threatens to destroy countless lives, ruin economies, and stress national and international institutions to their breaking point. And, even after the virus recedes, the geopolitical wreckage it leaves in its wake could be profound.
Mark Galeotti, Moscow Times
Having created a troll ecosystem it is hard for the Kremlin to direct its activities.
Frida Ghitis, World Politics Review
There is no shortage of wrenching details about the coronavirus pandemic so far. But few have been as shocking as the images coming out of Ecuador, where COVID-19 has already exacted a horrifying toll on impoverished residents and overwhelmed authorities.
R. Peston, Spect.
Thursday's meeting of the emergency Cobra committee that takes decisions on how to protect us from the ravages of Covid-19 was supposed to be a 15-minute formality, to rubber-stamp a decision, to make no decision at all on when and whether to ease these unprecedented on our freedoms.
Iain Martin, Times of London
By failing to construct the eurozone so that it can help its weakest members, leaders have put the whole union at risk
Ismael Lopez, Reuters
Now in his second stint as president, the 74-year-old leftist leader has disappeared from public view for nearly a month, raising questions about his health and whereabouts as the world reels from the spread of the coronavirus.
Steven Cook, Foreign Policy
Moscow spent years building influence in the region—and lost it all playing hardball with Riyadh.
Hussein Ibish, Bloomberg View
Tehran seeks military leverage, Washington wants to capitalize on overlapping crises
Helle Dale, Heritage
Undoubtedly, the autocratic government of China would like to take advantage of the global health crisis it has created.
A. Small et al, GMF
It is still unclear that China’s government is meaningfully capitalizing on the crisis. Even now, it is fighting a rearguard action to push back against the opprobrium that it has faced internally and externally over its handling of the critical early stages of the coronavirus’s spread. This has been a real legitimacy crisis for the Chinese Communist Party and for Xi Jinping’s entire governing model, and Beijing’s primary aim has been to counteract that narrative.
John Feffer, Responsible Statecraft
Europe should have been different. For decades, the European Union has built up institutional cooperation across economy, politics, and culture. Surely, it would take on an external threat like the coronavirus in a unified manner.
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D. Herszenhorn & S. Wheaton, Politico EU
Contagion’s spread is a story of complacency, overconfidence and lack of preparation
Robert Zaretsky, RealClearWorld
A leader steps up at time of war. Seen by many as the country’s savior, he is decried by others as the nation’s doom. The object of unquestioning devotion or unwavering hostility, he tends to be petulant and a prima donna. He depends on his family and suffers most everyone else. Easily angered at meetings, he listens carefully to his advisors, but usually ignores their advice. He also loves a parade — he loves being at its head even more — and directs the destiny of a hotel. Читать дальше...
J. Bradley, NYT
Developing nations in Latin America and Africa cannot find enough materials and equipment to test for coronavirus, partly because the United States and Europe are outspending them.
Matthew Petti, TNI
Iran’s trade union head Saeed Membini said that 75% of all union shops outside of Tehran will return to work on Saturday despite the lingering threat of the novel coronavirus.
Financial Times
Victor Davis Hanson, National Review
Lex Boon, Het Parool
Reporter Lex Boon ventures out of his house and wanders the streets of a city devoid of tourists, daytrippers, and workers. A sign on the front of the De Kleine Komedie theatre reads: Dear city, please be patient. In the Zuidas financial district, all is quiet.
C. Weafer, Russia Matters
Russia is in a relatively good position to survive the COVID-19 crisis and several months of low oil revenues. This is because of the changes it was forced to make to its monetary and fiscal management as a result of the sanctions and the previous oil price collapse in 2014. While the economy does look set to contract by between 0.5 and 1 percent, instead of the expected growth of 2 percent, Russia will avoid a financial crisis and the government has enough financial... Читать дальше...
Adam Tooze, Foreign Policy
The latest U.S. data proves the world is in its steepest freefall ever—and the old economic and political playbooks don’t apply.