Hi, I am Caroline Doyle, an associate editor at Horizon Engage. In our newsletter this week, I am looking at three spots of friction (current and potential) around the globe:
- Neighboring Presidents Lula and Milei can’t stand each other but do need each other.
- A potential second Trump administration could return to a more conservative approach to the Middle East (which you can learn more about in our upcoming webinar).
- Recent coups in the Sahel have seen Algerian influence and intervention rejected, making room for eager outside parties.
Our quote of the week comes from the CEO of a mining company that recently made a big discovery using a unique approach: AI. Read more below!
Lula Vs. Milei
Brazilian President Lula does not hold any favor for his Argentine counterpart, President Javier Milei. It goes both ways. Despite this, Argentina’s Energy Secretary, Eduardo Rodriguez Chirillo, is trying his best to export Vaca Muerta gas to Brazil. However, Bolivia’s natural gas deal with Brazil is making three a crowd and would require gas from … Argentina.
Even if Milei hates both Lula and Arce, he would be hard-pressed to turn away the cash. With Milei caught up in his feud, there is more room for private companies to fill the gap in Vaca Muerta. While some deals and tenders are already in the works, grumpy governments are causing delays.
Trump Vs. Middle East
Next week, Horizon Engage will host a webinar titled “Trump 2.0 and the Middle East: Isolationism or Peace Through Strength?” Our guest is Dr. Andrew Peek, a national security advisor for the US House of Representatives. Our speakers will discuss what may change — or not — in a second Trump term. Will the isolationists win out, or will the US’s traditional “peace through strength” strategy continue? Register here to learn more.
Algeria Vs. AES
One year after the coup in Niger, Algeria’s influence in the neighboring Sahel region has never been lower. Repeated missteps during and after the coups in Niger and Mali undermined attempts at intervention, further eroding its influence. Outside forces (cough cough, Russia) are all too eager to step in. Iran has already inked new commercial deals with Niger for uranium, and Turkey is looking to forge trade and security deals. Concerningly, Russia’s Wagner Group (rebranded as the Africa Corps) has made fast friends with the juntas in Mali and Niger.
Algeria has deployed some countermeasures, including a diplomatic reshuffle in its Sahel embassies. However, we do not expect Algeria to claw back much influence or diplomatic capital.
Quote of the Week
KoBold Metals made one of Zambia’s largest copper discoveries in recent memory using a unique approach: using AI to predict the location of mineral deposits and combining artificial and authentic intelligence to shorten the exploration cycle.
As CEO Kurt House said: “We don’t drill for metals, we drill for information.”
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About Horizon Engage
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