Hello, HI Friends! It’s hard to believe that November is already here. A new month brings new developments across the world. Throughout this week, various international events have unfolded, ranging from diplomatic relations and defense cooperation to historical issues and energy security. Before we move further into the new month, let’s take a look at seven international issues that shaped this week!
In Europe and East Asia, Switzerland has reopened its diplomatic office in North Korea after it had been closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During a two-day visit to Pyongyang, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis met with several North Korean officials to discuss the restoration of diplomatic relations, political dialogue, and security on the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, defense cooperation between the United States and Japan is set to strengthen through an agreement to establish a joint production facility for medium-range air-to-air missiles in Japan. The agreement was announced by Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi following his meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Philippines.
In the Middle East, Egypt’s Parliament approved the provision of military assistance to Saudi Arabia if requested, following Houthi attacks that threatened the kingdom’s territory and shipping routes in the Red Sea. The decision authorizes President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to take necessary defense measures.
Turning to Europe, a new wave of youth-led demonstrations took place in four countries: Germany, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands, on Saturday (October 31). The protests were driven by various concerns, including opposition to mandatory military service and demands for improvements in education in Germany, cost-of-living protests in France, and opposition to housing rental policies in Portugal. Meanwhile, demonstrations in The Hague, the Netherlands, resulted in the arrest of 34 people following clashes.
In Southeast Asia, relations between China and the Philippines once again came under the spotlight during the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu. China accused the Philippines of obstructing its participation in the meeting. China was represented only by its embassy’s defense attaché, while the Philippines denied the allegations and emphasized that Beijing’s views did not represent ASEAN’s position.
On another front, Japan and Germany have agreed to strengthen cooperation in security, advanced technology, and economic security. During a meeting in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also agreed to enhance cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.
Meanwhile, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, urged Indonesia to reconsider its membership in the Board of Peace (BoP). She argued that the absence of Palestinian representatives from the board’s main structure risks overlooking the voices of the Palestinian people. In response, the Indonesian government reaffirmed that its involvement aims to advance Palestinian independence and achieve a two-state solution.
Source:
“China says Philippines ‘erected obstacles’ to ASEAN attendance”. ABS CBN. 29 Oktober 2026. https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/10/29/china-says-philippines-erected-obstacles-to-asean-attendance-1632.
Elashi, Mohamed. “Egypt’s parliament approves military support for Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks”. Euro News. 27 Oktober 2026. https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/27/egypts-parliament-approves-military-support-for-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks.
“Japan, Germany agree to cooperate on supply chains, AI”. 28 Oktober 2026. NHK World Japan. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/news/20261028de67332/.
“Swiss foreign minister talks political ties on rare visit to North Korea”. Aljazeera. 30 Oktober 2026. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/30/swiss-foreign-minister-talks-political-ties-on-rare-visit-to-north-korea.
Tfa. “Pelapor PBB Tiba-Tiba Minta RI Keluar dari Board of Peace, Ada Apa?”. CNBC Indonesia. 30 Oktober 2026. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20261029184732-4-780730/pelapor-pbb-tiba-tiba-minta-ri-keluar-dari-board-of-peace-ada-apa.
“US and Japan agree to establish a Japanese facility for joint missile production”. NPR. 29 Oktober 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/10/29/g-s1-150666/us-and-japan-agree-to-establish-a-japanese-facility-for-joint-missile-production.
Zahra, Fatimah AZ., dan Inten Esti P. “ Demo Gen Z Menggema di 4 Negara Eropa, Ini Tuntutan dan Situasi yang Terjadi”. Kompas.com. 1 November 2026. https://www.kompas.com/tren/read/2026/11/01/090000165/demo-gen-z-menggema-di-4-negara-eropa-ini-tuntutan-dan-situasi-yang-terjadi?page=all.