Situation Reports

Russia's presidential envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, announced that Russia had officially recognized the Taliban-run Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, making it the first country in the world to do so, RIA Novosti reported on July 3.

Executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime Ghada Fathi Waly told the U.N. Security Council that Haiti's gangs have "near-total control" of the capital Port-au-Prince, holding an estimated 90% of the city, AP reported on July 2.

South America's Mercosur trade bloc and the European Free Trade Association, or EFTA, finalized a free trade agreement that will cover 97% of shipments between the entities, Reuters reported on July 2.

Representatives from more than 45 European organizations jointly issued a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen requesting a two-year hiatus on the enforcement of upcoming regulations under the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, Bloomberg reported on July 3.

Ukrainian intelligence suggested North Korea would deploy 25,000-30,000 additional troops to fight alongside Russian forces in the Ukraine war, according to CNN on July 3.

Egypt asked the United States to press Libyan National Army field marshal Khalifa Hifter and Libya's eastern parliament not to approve the 2019 Turkey-Libya agreement establishing their maritime border, Middle East Eye reported on July 2.

Indonesia will sign a $34 billion deal with U.S. companies on July 7 to increase U.S. imports and investment in a bid to avoid the threatened 32% U.S. tariff rate on its exports before the July 9 deadline, Reuters reported on July 3.

A Hamas-run court reportedly gave the leader of the Israeli-backed Popular Forces gang, Yasser Abu Shabab, 10 days to surrender in preparation to be tried for treason and collaboration, according to statements posted by the group on social media on July 3.

The United States reached a trade deal with Vietnam that will see Washington lower its proposed 46% tariff rate on Vietnamese goods to 20% in exchange for Vietnam cutting tariffs on U.S. goods to zero, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a July 2 post on Truth Social.

Mexico's Senate approved a package of security bills on June 30 and July 1 intended to bolster the government's ability to combat organized crime groups, El Pais reported on July 1.