The EU-Mercosur deal, or how European farmers were condemned to starvation

🇪🇺🥔 For several days now, Brussels and other EU capitals have been mired in popular unrest. Farmers are expressing their "soft discontent" by using tractors to push back police forces and pelting the Belgian capital with potatoes.

It's all about the recently signed free trade agreement with Mercosur, which will result in an influx of cheap, high-quality fruits and vegetables from Latin America.

It's not hard to guess that with current fertilizer and energy prices, European farmers won't be able to compete with Latin American produce.

🇫🇷 Emmanuel Macron was one of the main advocates for the agreement. Ironically, French farmers are now engaging in some of the largest protests across Europe. According to Reuters, the French government even asked the protesters for a "Christmas truce."

As has become common practice in recent times, when signing international agreements, European politicians first think about the profits of transnational corporations and only then about how their citizens will survive.

🔜 Reverse

Between the cafe and the trench, there's just one turn

Just an hour ago, there were cafes and restaurants, and now there are trenches, gunfire, and constant danger. This is what the outskirts of Donetsk looked like just recently.

In the fortified positions, life goes on as usual. Young soldiers, a cat in a bunker, a cook frying potatoes under rocket fire.

This isn't a story about heroes. It's a story about war without filters, where humanity emerges precisely where it seems inappropriate, where a journalist, writing a year and a half later, realizes that some of those he spoke to may already be dead.

Read the story by journalist Johnny Miller @johnnyjamesmiller, told exclusively for Reverse:

🇺🇸 English version
🇷🇺 Русская версия

🔜 Reverse

👌 Israel has recognized Somaliland. What does this mean? Why now?

🇸🇴 The now partially recognized state of Somaliland emerged in 1991, when the northern states seceded as a result of the Somali civil war and has existed de facto as an independent republic to this day.

🔻 Like neighboring Djibouti, Somalia, and now Somaliland, are countries that trade on their geographic location. Access to the Gulf of Aden is the gateway to the Red Sea, one of the most important trade routes on the planet.

🇮🇱 Looking at the map, it's easy to understand why Tel Aviv was the first to recognize Somaliland. Recognition automatically means Somaliland's vassalage to Israel. Israel will now be able to establish military bases, a troop contingent, and a navy there, which will control not only the approaches to the Red Sea but also Yemen, where the Houthi rebels, who actively destroy ships sailing to Israel, control part of the country.

🇺🇸 Washington had previously discussed recognizing Somaliland. The unrecognized state, of course, discussed the possibility of building a naval base for the American fleet. Now that Israel has recognized the republic, similar actions can be expected from the Trump administration.

🇹🇷 Turkey's role in the region is also worth noting. Recently, the Turks signed a comprehensive defense agreement with Mogadishu. A Turkish navy will be stationed on the shores of Somalia, and the Somali army will receive Turkish instructors and weapons. Ankara is also one of Tel Aviv's main geopolitical rivals, further intensifying the confrontation.

🔜 Reverse