Monday Briefing | September 27
September 27, 2021 headlines include the announcement of AUKUS, important developments between world leaders at the UN, and the 59th New York Film Festival.
DARWIN, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 05: In this handout image provided by the Australian Defence Force, Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Rankin is seen during AUSINDEX 21, a biennial maritime exercise between the Royal Australian Navy and the Indian Navy on September 5, 2021 in Darwin, Australia. Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have announced a new strategic defence partnership - known as AUKUS - to build a class of nuclear-propelled submarines and work together in the Indo-Pacific region. The new submarines will replace the Royal Australian Navy's existing Collins submarine fleet. (Photo by POIS Yuri Ramsey/Australian Defence Force via Getty Images)
Photo courtesy of foreignpolicy.com
Stories to follow:
US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia announced AUKUS (shorthand for the trilateral security agreement among the three countries) on September 15. The deal continues to dominate conversation and analysis among international relations scholars and practitioners, and with good reason. The implications of the agreement are far-reaching for the international community, but especially for French-US relations, NATO, and China. Some argue that China’s military expansion made an agreement of this nature inevitable. Others have used this deal to make the case that while administrations in Washington may have changed, US foreign policy remains substantively the same. Whatever its implications, this story remains one to watch closely.
Following a week full of important developments and key addresses by US President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping of China, the United Nations General Assembly will continue through September 30th. More than 100 heads of state and other high-ranking officials intend to deliver speeches in-person. World leaders will continue to debate the climate crisis, Covid-19, and a spate of humanitarian crises. Live coverage here.
Happening this week:
The 59th New York Film Festival kicked off September 24th and runs through October 10th. Screenings are taking place at various Lincoln Center venues as well as local arthouse theaters in the East Village and Brooklyn. Tickets are as low as $10 and there is a student discount. Some filmmakers are also offering free talks, lectures, and roundtable discussions. More information is available at the NYFF website.
In your free time:
Need a break from the city? The Alpinist, a film chronicling the life and climbs of Canadian alpine climber Marc-André Leclerc, is screening at theaters in Union Square and in Brooklyn. With breathtaking footage of some of the most gorgeous mountains in the world, an examination of the most committed brand of outdoor adventurist, and commentary by Alex Honnold, it’s sure to deliver your outdoor fix.
Trailer and ticket information available here.
And if the film inspires you to try your own hand at climbing, you can give it a shot for $12 (for a day pass) inside Brooklyn Bridge Park. More info here.
This week’s Monday Briefing was brought to you by Neal Caldwell.
Neal Caldwell (he/him) is a second-year MA candidate in NYU’s International Relations program. He received a BA in Philosophy from Duquesne University in 2013. He has worked in the United States Senate, for a Manhattan based social media marketing tech startup, and on government contracts at a DC conflict resolution and consulting firm. His academic interests include security studies, US foreign policy, the Middle East, East Asia, and legacies of the Cold War. He plans to pursue a PhD in political science upon graduation. Outside of work, Neal enjoys backcountry skiing, multi-day river expeditions, and reading mystery novels.
