Global Political Calendar: Eyes on escalating U.S.-Iran strains

World
Europe

Mounting tensions between the United States and Iran will be closely watched, Washington could impose auto tariffs on the European Union and Japan, both the Philippines and Australia go to the polls, and Beijing hosts the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations.

Washington-Tehran tensions

The world is watching simmering relations between the U.S. and Iran amid fears of further escalations. Tehran last week pulled back from some of its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which the U.S. exited one year ago, while Washington deployed further military assets to the Persian Gulf and imposed fresh sanctions.

President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday called for unity among Iran's political factions in the face of U.S. pressure, days after American counterpart Donald Trump suggested talks while refusing to rule out a military confrontation.

The issue is one of many likely to be on the agenda when U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo travels to Russia for rare face-to-face talks with counterpart Sergey Lavrov – and possibly President Vladimir Putin – at the start of the week.

U.S. tariffs to hit EU, Japan?

The Trump administration increased tariffs on Chinese goods – to the strong opposition of Chinese Vice Premier Liu He – and threatened further measures, as negotiations over a trade deal between Beijing and Washington continued.

Liu said he remained "cautiously optimistic" about talks, adding that discussions "have not broken down." An editorial published on the Taoranbiji official WeChat account argued that "one of the major differences between China and the United States may lie in their different perceptions of 'fairness'."

And it is not only China that the U.S. is targeting with tariffs. Trump, who hosts Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday, is due to decide by Saturday whether to place levies on auto imports from the EU and Japan.

The EU has already taken countermeasures on U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, and would do so again if Trump imposed tariffs on cars from the bloc. The U.S. president may yet decide to delay a decision and allow time for further negotiations.

Midterms in Philippines

The Philippines goes to the polls on Monday in congressional and local elections that come halfway through the six-year term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Twelve of the 24 Senate seats and nearly 300 seats in the lower house are among the posts up for election, with the milllenial vote potentially decisive. Duterte is not on the ballot, but his personal opinion ratings are high and public polls suggest his allies could win a majority in the powerful upper house.

According to CGTN's Barnaby Lo, the elections could boost the president's bid to switch from a unitary to federal form of government.

Tight polls in Australia

Federal elections will be held in Australia – which has changed its prime minister six times in the past 12 years – on Saturday. All 151 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 of the 76 seats in the Senate are up for grabs using preferential voting systems.

Incumbent Prime Minister Scott Morrison's center-right National-Liberal coalition is trailing Labor, led by Bill Shorten, in the polls, but only narrowly, in a campaign featuring clashes over tax, public spending and climate change.

The major parties are expected to dominate, but the role of smaller populists will be closely watched: Both the anti-immigration One Nation and mining magnate Clive Palmer's United Australia Party could make an electoral splash.

CDAC in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations on Wednesday in Beijing.

Representatives from 47 Asian countries and nations outside the region will participate in the conference, under the theme of "exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and a community with a shared future." The week-long event includes parades and a food festival in Beijing's Olympic Park.

Day-by-day

Monday: The Philippines votes in midterm elections, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi concludes an official visit to Russia, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos pays a state visit to China, and U.S. President Donald Trump hosts Hungary's PM Viktor Orban at the White House.

Tuesday: Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng travels to Kazakhstan for the 12th Astana Economic Forum and the second China-Kazakhstan Sub-national Cooperation Forum, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov – and possibly President Vladimir Putin – in Sochi.

Wednesday: The Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations begins in Beijing, the leaders of the EU's main political groups hold a debate ahead of European Parliament elections, and Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in Sochi.

Thursday: The Newfoundland and Labrador provincial election, a key indicator ahead of Canada's general election later this year, is held.

Friday: No major political events.

Saturday: Senate elections are held in Australia, and European nationalists meet in Milan.

Sunday: India votes in the seventh and final round of National Assembly elections, with results due on May 23, and Switzerland holds a referendum on firearm ownership.