Geo-Political News Round Up - February 2025
White Creek Opinion GEO Political News Round Up - February 2025
The EU at the Kids' Table
European leaders will have no voice in negotiating peace in Ukraine, which has prompted diplomatic trips to Washington, D.C. Macron and Starmer are among those seeking discussions, but they will likely be advised to wait and see. The focus is no longer on war, but on peace.
The Moscow Times , an independent Russian outlet, weighed in on the matter. History will ultimately decide the significance of Europe's exclusion. Following the Munich Security Conference , French President Emmanuel Macron convened an informal meeting with six EU leaders—Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark—along with the British Prime Minister, the President of the EU Commission, the President of the EU Council, and the NATO Secretary-General. Predictably, the meeting ended without any concrete decisions, once again highlighting Europe's lack of political influence in major international crises.
Pipedream or Reality?
Imagine a world with 8.2 billion people , where only 20% work while 80% are replaced by robots. Is this what Nouriel Roubini envisions? Universal basic income, no more work, just socializing, working out, and passing time. But who would control the AI-driven world? A self-serving, self-regulated committee of AI giants? If the system collapses, future historians will have much to document.
In earlier times, thinkers like Roubini might have been labeled charlatans. Meanwhile, China is shifting its focus from labor-intensive production to increasing its IQ output. This raises a question—will Elon Musk send humans or robots to Mars?
Did Anyone Notice the G20 Summit?
The G20 Summit in South Africa focused on global affairs in preparation for the official 2025 summit in November. However, major world leaders' absence has led to criticism of the event's effectiveness. Instead of producing meaningful resolutions, these meetings often result in little action, while those with real influence skip the discussions to focus on tangible problems.
Election Interference
Time will tell if investigations uncover all the funds allocated to questionable decisions. Some argue that these efforts are aimed at protecting democracy, while others view them as legal maneuvering by political coalitions.
European Politics
The influence of right-wing movements has grown, with parties like Austria’s ÖVP , Germany’s AfD , and France’s National Rally gaining significant support. Yet, despite their electoral success, they remain excluded from governance, prompting debates over democracy in Europe.
Pope Francis' Legacy
With reports of declining health, Pope Francis’ legacy comes into focus. His key achievements include:
- Writing the papal encyclical Laudato Si' , addressing climate change and environmental stewardship.
- Promoting unity among Catholics, non-Catholics, and non-Christians.
- Issuing historic apologies to survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
- Working to alleviate poverty in the slums of Buenos Aires during his time as archbishop.
- Introducing fiscal discipline in the Buenos Aires archdiocese.
- Protecting individuals persecuted under Argentine dictator Jorge Rafael Videla.
- Becoming the first Jesuit pope.
Elon Musk: Genius or Controversy?
Despite political and public criticism, Elon Musk remains a transformative figure in technology and business. Some see him as a genius , while others attempt to undermine his success.
Even as American manufacturing has been hollowed out by global competition, one entrepreneur has built and scaled world-leading high-tech manufacturing companies. That entrepreneur is Elon Musk.
Consider SpaceX. Without Musk, the U.S. would be lagging in the space race, but with SpaceX, it leads the world. The company has outpaced even China in space technology, launching so many Starlink satellites that its network outnumbers all other active satellites combined.
