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3 days ago | 
atalayar.com | Michael Walsh
One has already been fulfilled. Back in 2020, President Donald Trump officially recognized the sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara. The other has not. The U.S. Government has yet to open a U.S. consulate in Dakhla. In the second term of the Trump Administration, there are powerful reasons for the U.S. Government to finally follow through on that commitment: Reciprocity: The external environment of Morocco is highly ambiguous, turbulent, and uncertain.
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2 weeks ago | 
eurasiareview.com | Michael Walsh
Prior to the Senate confirmation hearing for Charles Kushner, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be wise to correct a longstanding oversight in U.S. foreign policy planning. Under the prior two administrations, the U.S. Mission to France and Monaco has tended to overlook the importance of Monegasque affairs when conducting mission strategic planning.
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3 weeks ago | 
mg.co.za | Michael Walsh
Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the appointment of Mcebisi Jonas as special envoy to the US, with the caveat that Jonas would retain his role as the MTN board chairperson alongside his new duties. Now, questions are being asked about the quality of the disclosures about US terrorism litigation that were made in recent MTN annual financial statements, authorised by the MTN board of directors under his watch.
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3 weeks ago | 
iol.co.za | Michael Walsh
DIPLOMACYMichael Walsh|Published 13 minutes agoIn Washington, there is already some opposition to the appointment of MTN board chairman Mcebisi Jonas as the South African Special Envoy to the United States. Any new concerns are likely to amplify that opposition.
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3 weeks ago | 
timeslive.co.za | Michael Walsh |Charles Ray
MICHAEL WALSH & CHARLES RAY | Zimbabwe’s pragmatic approach to US tariffs presents opportunity and risk Will Emmerson Mnangagwa’s move open the door to a future reset of US-Zimbabwe relations? 23 April 2025 - 04:30 By Michael Walsh and Charles Ray Earlier this month, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared that his regime would suspend tariffs on US goods entering the country.
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3 weeks ago | 
eurasiareview.com | Michael Walsh
The ongoing efforts to designate the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization should be taken seriously. There is a sort of logic behind what is happening. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a commitment to the Kingdom of Morocco. He promised that the Trump Administration would facilitate the adoption of the Autonomy Proposal. But, that will not be easy.
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4 weeks ago | 
mg.co.za | Des Erasmus |Michael Walsh
Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan foreign minister. At the meeting, Rubio reaffirmed the commitment of the Trump administration to negotiating “a mutually acceptable solution” for Western Sahara using the framework articulated in the Autonomy Proposal. The political status of Western Sahara remains the subject of considerable debate. Prior to 2020, the US recognised Western Sahara as a dependent state or area of special sovereignty.
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1 month ago | 
iol.co.za | Michael Walsh
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during the flight from Palm Beach to Miami aboard Air Force One on April 12, 2025. Image by: Mandel NGAN / AFPPublished 6m ago | Published 6m agoEarlier this month, US Congressman Rodney Jackson introduced a bill that would not only demand a full review of the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa.
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1 month ago | 
mg.co.za | Michael Walsh
Over the past few years, Western governments have demonstrated a willingness to impose Swift bans on the banks of states that severely violate international norms. These are extremely coercive measures since Swift is the secure financial messaging network that international banks rely on to facilitate cross-border transfers. Although workarounds have been attempted, prior Swift bans have severely affected the ability of banks in targeted independent states from accessing international markets.
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1 month ago | 
mg.co.za | Michael Walsh
The Trump administration is committed to restoring meritocracy and promoting individuality in the international system. Those principal-based strategic goals pose a serious risk to the future involvement of the government of South Africa in the G20. Among other things, one could imagine the Trump administration taking future actions that would affect the termination of the G20 membership of South Africa and the African Union.
