THE WORLD TODAY #272, 09 MARCH 2026, MONDAY
Adwitiyo Das, Glynnis Winona Beschi, Lekshmi MK, Siddhi Halyur, Tonica Sharon C, Yesasvi Koganti

The US-Iran War, Day 10
Mojtaba Khamenei named Iran’s new supreme leader; The G7 deliberate the release of oil stockpiles worth USD 300 million as prices shoot; Turkey announces that a second Iranian ballistic missile was intercepted by NATO
On 09 March, Iran’s Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed at the onset of the war, as the new supreme leader. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have pledged allegiance to the new leader, stating that they are “ready for complete obedience and self-sacrifice.” Hezbollah has also welcomed the selection, announcing that the group “renews our pledge of loyalty.” President Trump had previously declared Mojtaba as an unacceptable choice and had demanded Iran’s surrender.

On the same day, the G7 finance ministers convened an emergency meeting to discuss releasing emergency stockpiles as oil prices spiralled to USD 115 a barrel. The USD 300 million barrel release, one-third of the stockpile, will be coordinated by the International Energy Agency. Such a release would mark more than double the record previous intervention made in April 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Simultaneously, Turkey announced that a second Iranian ballistic missile that had entered its airspace was shot down by the NATO air ‌defences, and warned of action against such attacks in the future. "We once again emphasise that all necessary measures will be taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country's territory and airspace," the Turkish Defence Ministry stated, adding there had been no casualties in the incident. Ankara had previously stated that it did not intend to invoke NATO’s Article 4, which calls for the allies to be consulted if a member is threatened, leading to Article 5, which demands that NATO to defend its attacked ally.

Guinea: Government dissolves 40 political parties, consolidating President Doumbouya’s position
On 09 March, Reuters reported that Guinea’s government dissolved 40 political parties, consolidating President Mamady Doumbouya's position. Doumbouya, a former special forces commander who seized power in 2021, secured a contested seven-year presidential term in December 2025. In a decree issued on 06 March, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization ordered the closure of the parties’ headquarters and local offices and prohibited the use of their logos, acronyms and other distinct signatures. This move comes in the backdrop of the upcoming legislative elections expected in May. Authorities stated that the parties failed to meet their legal obligations, including filing financial statements. However, several dissolved parties rejected the claim, stating they had complied with legal requirements. On 08 March, opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, currently in exile, stated that “war has been ‌openly ?declared” against Doumbouya’s challengers and called for “direct resistance.” He put forth that President Doumbouya seeks to eliminate political rivals and establish a one-party state in Guinea.

NATO: Begins its drills in the Arctic with a focus on civilian preparedness
On 09 March, NATO began its biennial drills in the Arctic, emphasising the role of civilians in supporting the military efforts amid tensions over the US push to take over Greenland. The drill, now part of Arctic Sentry, called Cold Response, focuses on defending the alliance in the European Arctic, where Norway and Finland share a border with Russia. Almost 25,000 troops from 14 countries, including 4,000 troops from the US and troops from Denmark, will take part in the drill, mostly across Norway and Finland. Norway has declared 2026 the year of “total defence.”

The US and China: President Trump's visit to Beijing unlikely to bring a major reset in bilateral economic relations; aims to maintain stability
On 09 March, Reuters reported that a planned summit between President Trump and Xi Jinping in March is unlikely to bring a major reset in bilateral economic relations. According to officials involved in preparations, both sides primarily aim to maintain stability amid US tariffs and China’s restrictions on rare-earth exports. President Trump is expected to visit China from 31 March to 02 April, although Beijing has not formally confirmed the trip. Preparations remain limited, and uncertainties remain over Chinese investment protections, tariffs, and the composition of a US business (CEO) delegation. As per media reports, while discussions include export of rare earths, possible Chinese purchases of US agricultural products and Boeing aircraft, broader breakthroughs appear unlikely. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated the summit’s purpose is “not to fight about trade,” instead to “maintain stability.” Ryan Hass (Director, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution) noted that: “the ambition for what this trip will accomplish seems to be getting smaller by the day.”