• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to coordinate support for Ukraine with President Joe Biden during their meeting at the White House today, but the trickier agenda item will be negotiations over U.S. clean energy subsidies included in Biden’s signature climate legislation. (The New York Times) As Biden and von der Leyen meet, U.S. and E.U. officials plan to launch new negotiations on trade in critical minerals, which E.U. officials hope will give European companies increased access to America’s green subsidies. (Financial Times)
• Mexican authorities are probing the possibility that the four Americans kidnapped last week in the border city of Matamoros were targeted by cartels thinking they were rival drug traffickers, despite plentiful evidence that the group had entered Mexico seeking medical services. (Reuters) President Andrés Manuel López Obrador lashed out at the United States following criticism of his approach to drug enforcement, claiming the distribution of fentanyl is a U.S. issue. (Los Angeles Times)
• U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin condemned recent attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, and urged Israeli officials to avoid “any acts that could trigger more insecurity” during a visit to the country. (The Guardian) Austin’s trip was partially disrupted by massive demonstrations across Israel against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed judicial overhaul that blocked access to Tel Aviv’s main airport. (The New York Times)

Happening today:

• 2 p.m. Biden meets with von der Leyen at the White House. 

How many Russians have been killed in Ukraine?

The Economist

UN Says It Needs $876 Million for Rohingya Refugee Crisis

Sebastian Strangio, The Diplomat 

The request comes after the World Food Program was forced to cut its food aid to the refugee camps in Bangladesh due to funding shortfalls.

Australia to Buy U.S. Nuclear-Powered Submarines in Deal to Counter China

Damien Cave and Edward Wong, The New York Times 

The arrangement also involves submarine construction by Britain and deepens a strategic partnership that the three countries have formed as China continues to build up its military.

U.S. eyes trilateral deterrence talks with Japan and South Korea 

Yukihiro Sakaguchi and Junnosuke Kobara, Nikkei Asia 

Washington sees warmer Tokyo-Seoul ties as chance to bring allies closer.

Japan weighs weapon exports to nations under invasion

Ryo Nemoto, Nikkei Asia 

Push comes as PM Kishida prepares to flex diplomatic muscle while hosting G-7 summit.

Xi Jinping confirmed for unprecedented third term as China’s president

Joe Leahy, Financial Times 

Most powerful leader since Mao sworn in as tensions with US and economic challenges at home deepen.

Xi Jinping Picks Team to Work Under Him for the Next Five Years 

Vivian Wang, The New York Times 

As Xi Jinping starts his third term as president, he is pushing sweeping changes to the rest of the country’s leadership to elevate his allies.

As the Conflict Worsens, Myanmar’s Junta Arms the Populace

Lian Bawi Thang, The Diplomat 

The military administration’s recent decision to permit civilian ownership of firearms will generate further political chaos and instability.

Myanmar’s NUG Rebel Government Needs Money

David Hutt, The Diplomat 

Western financial aid to the opposition movement could help unify the anti-junta resistance, and even tip the balance in its favor.

Pacific’s Micronesia in talks to switch ties from Beijing to Taiwan- letter

Kirsty Needham, Reuters 

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) held talks with Taiwan in February about switching diplomatic ties for $50 million in assistance after frustrations with China, the outgoing president of the Pacific island nation has said in a letter.

EU plans joint navy patrols to combat Russian spy ships

Andy Bounds, Financial Times 

Attack on Nord Stream pipeline shows need to increase maritime security, says commissioner.

Georgia protests: Parliament formally revokes ‘foreign influence’ bill that sparked outcry

Katya Krebs and Jorge Engels, CNN 

Georgia’s parliament on Friday formally revoked a “foreign influence” bill that sparked major protests this week and an international outcry, according to the country’s public broadcaster First Channel.

Eager to cut China dependence, EU eyes processing 40 per cent of its strategic raw materials by 2030

Finbarr Bermingham, South China Morning Post 

Bloc does not want to rely on third countries for more than 70 per cent of any of 30 critical minerals, according to leaked proposal seen by Post.

Anti-Russia guerrillas in Belarus take on ‘two-headed enemy’

The Associated Press 

After Russia invaded Ukraine, guerrillas from Belarus began carrying out acts of sabotage on their country’s railways, including blowing up track equipment to paralyze the rails that Russian forces used to get troops and weapons into Ukraine.

French, British leaders meet in efforts to mend relations

Sylvie Corbet and Jill Lawless, The Associated Press 

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was meeting Friday in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron in efforts to mend relations following post-Brexit tensions, as well as improving military and business ties and toughening efforts against Channel migrant crossings.

‘War scene’: MSF temporarily shutters hospital in Haiti’s capital

Al Jazeera 

Doctors Without Borders says patients and staff at Cite Soleil hospital at risk as violence rages between armed groups.

Mexican Drug Gang Turns In Members It Blames for Americans’ Deaths

Juan Montés and José de Córdoba, The Wall Street Journal 

Gulf Cartel faction left five men tied up in downtown Matamoros with a sign apologizing to victims and their families.

U.S. Weighs Offering Economic Lifeline to Ethiopia Despite War Atrocities

Robbie Gramer, Foreign Policy 

The internal administration debate comes ahead of Blinken’s plans to visit Africa.

Nigeria election commission delays polls for governors by a week

AFP via Al Jazeera 

INEC says it needs more time to reconfigure BVAS machines at the centre of last month’s disputed presidential vote.

At least 36 people killed by extremists in eastern Congo

Justin Kabumba, The Associated Press 

At least 36 people were killed by extremists in conflict-riddled eastern Congo, the military said on Thursday. The Allied Democratic Forces, a rebel militia with links to the Islamic State group, killed civilians in Mukondi village in North Kivu province, said Congo army spokesman in Beni town, Capt. Anthony Mwalushayi.

Egypt withdraws from UN grain treaty prompting sadness and concern

Aidan Lewis Sarah El Safty, Reuters 

Egypt, one of the world’s largest wheat importers, has given notice it will withdraw at the end of June from a decades-old U.N. grains treaty, causing consternation among some other signatories to the convention.

US trains West African militaries as jihadi threat spreads

Sam Mednick, The Associated Press

As extremist violence in West Africa’s Sahel region spreads south toward coastal states, the United States military has launched its annual military training exercise aimed at helping armies contain the jihadi threat.

Saudi Arabia Offers Its Price to Normalize Relations With Israel

Michael Crowley et al., The New York Times 

The Saudi crown prince is seeking a civilian nuclear program and security assurances from President Biden, a steep price for an agreement long sought by Israel.

Biden to visit Canada on March 23

Zi-ann Lum, Politico 

Ukraine, borders and critical minerals top the agenda of the long-awaited trip.

Biden Budget Stiffs the Indo-Pacific 

Jack Detsch, Foreign Policy

The Pentagon’s top military command charged with countering China believes it’s getting shortchanged—again.

Canada federal police probing new ‘rogue Chinese police stations’

AFP via South China Morning Post 

The 2 Montreal-area facilities are allegedly conducting harassment of Chinese-Canadians and overseas Chinese, as well as other illegal operations.

Joe Biden proposes big tax rises in budget to shave $3tn off US deficit

Lauren Fedor and Colby Smith, Financial Times 

White House plan includes trillions of dollars in spending on Democratic policy priorities including healthcare.