What We’re Watching: US-Australia unite against China, Historic shipment marks Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal, Washington tries to keep ceasefire alive

October 21, 2025

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sign an agreement on rare earth and critical minerals during a meeting in the Cabinet Room at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 20, 2025.

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

US and Australia make deals to counter China

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced new defense and economic agreements aimed at countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific during their meeting in Washington yesterday. The leaders unveiled an $8.5 billion rare-earth deal to boost US supplies after China placed export restrictions on Washington. Meanwhile, Trump reaffirmed strong US backing for AUKUS, pledging to move “full steam ahead” on helping Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Canberra, meanwhile, has been expanding its military capabilities and signing defense pacts with Pacific Island nations to push back against Beijing’s regional dominance.

Azerbaijan-Armenia peace progress gets granular, literally.

For the first time since the waning days of the USSR, a Kazakh grain shipment has crossed Azerbaijan en route to Armenia. It’s OK if you didn’t just leap out of your chair with delirious joy. But remember: Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at war for most of the past 40 years, largely over Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian separatist enclave within Azerbaijan. Two years ago, the Azeris retook the area. Two months ago, the Trump Administration brokered a peace deal. Obstacles remain – the Azeris still want Armenia to scrap constitutional references to Nagorno-Karabakh. But the grain train suggests peace is slowly taking root, in a way that could transform the South Caucasus more broadly.

Aiming to keep the peace, US deploys Vance to Israel

US officials are increasingly concerned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could end the ceasefire in Gaza, per a New York Times report. Seeking to firm up the deal, US Vice President JD Vance is in Israel today to meet with the country’s leaders, a rare foray to the Middle East for the man who has often focused on retaining the MAGA coalition rather than any specific policy areas. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump again warned Hamas against violating the agreement. Further complicating matters, the threat of clashes with Hamas is making countries reluctant to send soldiers to Gaza to act as peacekeeping forces, a crucial part of the ceasefire deal signed last week.

Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2025

Microsoft

Last week, Microsoft released its 2025 Digital Defense Report, highlighting the evolving cybersecurity landscape and Microsoft's commitment to defending against emerging threats. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the current threat environment, including identity and access threats, human-operated attacks, ransomware, fraud, social engineering, and nation-state adversary threats. It also outlines advancements in AI for cyber-attack and defense, as well as the emerging cybersecurity threat of quantum technology. The report emphasizes the need for international collaboration, proactive regulatory alignment, and the development of new tools and practices to enhance cybersecurity resilience. Explore the report here.

Hard Numbers: Japan elects first female prime minister, Former French president goes to jail, The Netherlands to start deporting migrants to Uganda, US army courts private equity

Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C, first row) poses during a photo session with members of her cabinet at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan October 21, 2025.

PHILIP FONG/Pool via REUTERS

1: As anticipated, Japan’s Parliament elected Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takichi to be the 104th prime minister – and the first female PM in the country’s history.

Fighting food waste and empowering women farmers

- YouTube

youtu.be

As the world faces rising food demand, social entrepreneur Nidhi Pant is tackling the challenge of food waste while empowering women farmers. Speaking with GZERO Media’s Tony Maciulis on the sidelines of the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings, Pant explains how her organization, Science for Society Technologies (S4S), is helping smallholder farmers process and preserve their produce reducing massive post-harvest losses.

What We’re Watching: US-Australia unite against China, Historic shipment marks Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal, Washington tries to keep ceasefire alive

US and Australia make deals to counter China

Azerbaijan-Armenia peace progress gets granular, literally.

Aiming to keep the peace, US deploys Vance to Israel

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What We’re Watching: US-Australia unite against China, Historic shipment marks Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal, Washington tries to keep ceasefire alive

US and Australia make deals to counter China

Azerbaijan-Armenia peace progress gets granular, literally.

Aiming to keep the peace, US deploys Vance to Israel

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Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

More from GZERO Media

At the 2025 GZERO Summit Japan in Tokyo, Ian Bremmer delivered his annual "State of the World" address, a stark assessment of our “post-American order.”

There are a lot of good vibes between the United States and Saudi Arabia right now. Whether that stretches to the Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel is another matter.

1: As anticipated, Japan’s Parliament elected Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takichi to be the 104th prime minister – and the first female PM in the country’s history.

A historic first in Japan: Sanae Takaichi has become the country’s first female prime minister.

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

Ian Bremmer delivered his annual State of the World address on October 21 in Tokyo. He surveys the year's defining geopolitical moments and offers a candid read on where we stand and where we’re headed next.

Americans frustrated with dysfunction in Congress want action-oriented leaders like President Trump, former GOP strategist Steven Law says on GZERO World. But the next political winner may be the one who can deliver for voters while lowering the political temperature.

A new set of forces is distorting the economy's response mechanisms and muting the traditional cycle. Listen to Strategic Alternatives, the RBC Capital Markets podcast, to hear Chief Economist Frances Donald break down what it means for companies, investors, and policymakers.