Trump administration

Great Games

Great pandemics do not necessarily bring great power games to a halt. On the contrary, in the Balkans the coronavirus pandemic has only added fuel to the fire of these rivalries and competitions.

The Iranian people are suffering under U.S. sanctions at the time when the novel coronavirus caused damage to their country and these sanctions put a lot of obstacles for Iran's struggle against COVID-19, particularly in acquiring drugs and medical equipment, Iran's Ambassador to Ankara Mohammed Farazmand has told the Hürriyet Daily News.

Washington's unprecedented threat to cut $1 billion in Afghanistan funding a response to the refusal of rivals in Kabul to work together to advance peace comes at a time when the impoverished nation risks being overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The world's richest nations prepared more costly measures on March 17 to combat the global fallout of the coronavirus that has infected tens of thousands of people, triggered social restrictions unseen since World War Two and sent economies spinning toward recession.

Deaths, infections

At least 13 American journalists stand to be expelled from China in retaliation for a new limit imposed by the Trump administration on visas for Chinese state-owned media operating in the U.S.

Australian Interior Minister Peter Dutton has announced that he has been infected with the new coronavirus, world agencies have reported.

The United States has announced an additional $108 million assistance to the Syrian people amid a new refugee influx towards the Turkish borders due to intensified military operations by the Syrian regime backed by Russia.

Turkish foreign minister and NATO chief spoke over the phone to discuss the latest situation in Idlib, northwestern Syria, and issues pertaining to migrants, state-run Anadolu Agency said on March 2.

Jens Stoltenberg expressed his solidarity with Turkey during his phone talk with Mevlut Çavuşoğlu, the agency cited anonymous sources as saying. 

North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into its eastern sea on March 2 as it begins to resume weapons demonstrations after a months-long hiatus that could have been forced by the coronavirus crisis in Asia.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Feb. 25 the Syrian regime will not be able to achieve a military victory and the recent offensive in Idlib only heightens the risks of conflict with Turkey.