The Wednesday Briefs 176 - 12 July 2023

THIS WEEK: NATO Worldwide?; Musk vs. Zuck; Return to the Office; Icon of the Seas; S&P Sectors Update.

NATO WORLDWIDE?

NATO expanded again this week with Sweden now on track to join the defense alliance. Finland had already joined a few months ago, and Ukraine is seen as a future member. NATO now includes 32 nations with a total population of nearly a billion and a combined GDP over $50 trillion, approximately half global GDP. On the other side, Russia has a population of 143 million and GDP of $2 trillion. Countries that are sympathetic to its efforts include China ($18 trillion) and Iran ($390 billion).

Ian Bremmer makes note of an important article in NATO's communiqué this week. Article23-25: “we remain open to constructive engagement with the people’s republic of china.”

Bremmer's interpretation: "read: nato isn’t just about the north atlantic, watch your step beijing."

If Bremmer is correct, NATO may one day grow into a global defense alliance.

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