2025 in motion | Top five international stories for the week
By Daramola Luke and Saheed Muheez
From Indonesia’s entry into the BRICS coalition to Netanyahu’s high-stakes mission in Qatar, focused on hostage negotiations and a possible Gaza ceasefire, here are the top five stories of the past week.
Indonesia completes admission into BRICS
In one of the first developments of 2025, Indonesia was finally admitted as the latest member nation of the BRICS bloc. The admission was announced January 6 by the Brazilian government, which holds the bloc’s presidency until December 31.
The push for Indonesia’s membership in the BRICS bloc began with an endorsement at the leaders’ meeting in August 2023. The initiative was originally championed by former President Joko Widodo, and there was initial uncertainty about whether the Prabowo Subianto administration would follow through on this path.
With Indonesia’s membership, the BRICS bloc now boasts 11 member nations, with further expansion potential on the horizon.
Justin Trudeau announces intent to resign as Canadian PM
Justin Trudeau’s 9-year administration as the Prime minister of Canada nears a turbulent end after he announced his intention on the morning of January 6 to step down from both the position of Prime Minister and as leader of the Liberal Party.
Back in November 2024, his tenure had looked steady but December came with a colossal problem of aligning the interest of the Canadian populace with his, especially after his closest ally and Deputy PM, Chrystia Freeland resigned from her role as Finance Minister citing differences over Trudeau’s reactions to Donald Trump’s pledge to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports on his first day as US president unless Ottawa ramps up security on the two countries shared border.
Trudeau also faced mounting challenges, including declining public support driven by Canada’s slowing economy, internal pressures within the Liberal Party, and Donald Trump’s provocative claims about making Canada America’s 51st state. With his resignation imminent, the Liberal Party is now focused on selecting a new leader ahead of the October 20 election for Canada’s next Prime Minister.
President John Mahama inaugurated as Ghana’s 13th President
Ghana’s John Mahama was sworn in as the nation’s 13th President January 7 at the Jubilee House in Accra. The inauguration completed the upturn in Mahama’s fortunes after he won in the November election to succeed former President Nana Akufo Addo, who had defeated him in 2017.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Black Star Square in Accra, Ghana’s capital, and was attended by several African leaders, including Nigeria’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Kenya’s William Ruto, South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, and Burkina Faso’s Junta Chief Ibrahim Traore. The event also saw the presence of presidential delegations and representatives from the United States and China.
President Mahama has much to contend with as Ghana’s leader, facing pressing challenges such as a cost-of-living crisis, rising inflation, and a heavily indebted energy sector.
Donald Trump’s comments spark scramble for Greenland
The Arctic region was thrown into a state of tension and disarray after Donald Trump’s controversial comments about imposing the US’s claims over Greenland and the Panama Canal for reasons of “economic security”.
During a press briefing at his Mar-a-Lago residence January 7, Donald Trump outlined his ambitions to purchase Greenland from Denmark, warning of potential economic or military actions should negotiations fail. He further declared his intent to impose US control over the Panama Canal, alleging that American ships were being overtaxed for its use. These remarks caused lots of concern for Denmark and the EU, with officials dismissing Trump’s statements as hypothetical and unfounded.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, is an overseas territory of Denmark and has been part of the European nation since the early 18th century. This island is becoming an area of interest for many countries like Russia, due to its strategic location in the Arctic and its vast deposits of oil, natural gas, and rare earth minerals. With the melting of the ice in the Arctic Ocean, Greenland’s position is also pivotal for emerging shipping routes and the future of global maritime trade.
Netanyahu’s delegation departs Israel to Qatar, to negotiate hostage release, others
In a significant diplomatic move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s appointed delegation departed Israel January 11 for Qatar to engage in negotiations concerning the release of hostages taken during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The talks are also expected to include discussions on a potential ceasefire, aimed at alleviating the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
The delegation’s visit is seen as part of broader international efforts to mediate between Israel, Hamas, and other regional actors. Qatar, which has maintained relations with Hamas over the years has emerged as a key intermediary in such negotiations. The timing of the mission is critical, as both the Israeli government and international leaders are under increasing pressure to find a peaceful resolution to the violence that has claimed thousands of lives on both sides, especially as there is growing international pressure for a halt due to the immense toll it has taken on Palestinian civilians.
