These are some of the notable events relating to politics in 2018.
By region
Africa 8–9 July 2018 Eritrea–Ethiopia summit - A bilateral summit where Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed a joint declaration on 9 July, formally ending the border conflict between both countries. The joint statement was considered to close all chapters regarding the Eritrean–Ethiopian War (1998–2000) and the following Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict (2000–2018).
Asia 11 March China's National People's Congress approves a constitutional change that removes term limits for the President and Vice President, allowing Xi Jinping to be re-elected to the post indefinite times. Xi is also the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (paramount leader). 6 April Former President of South Korea Park Geun-hye was found guilty for her conviction over a political scandal in 2016, after a year since her impeachment in March last year. She was sentenced to a 25-year imprisonment following retrials, though she served for three years before being released after a pardon by current President Moon Jae-in in December 2021. October Prince MBS of Saudi Arabia sends a group of government agents to murder prominent critic, Jamal Khashoggi. His death is just a few days before his sixtieth birthday.
Europe 12 July 2018 Brussels summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held in Brussels, Belgium, on 11 and 12 July 2018.NATO announces that a new Cyber Operations Command will be established to coordinate efforts to protect cyber-security.Here's What NATO Achieved at Its Brussels Summit, BY David Wemer, atlanticcouncil.org, July 12, 2018. 25 October After the monthly meeting of the ECB Governing Council, the ECB announces that it will not change benchmark interest rates. It also states that it plans to end quantitative easing by the end of 2018.ECB keeps rates on hold but reaffirms stimulus exit plans, by Silvia Amaro, cnbc.com, 25 Oct 2018. 15 November United Kingdom Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigns, as does Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey and several other ministers because of disagreement with terms of a draft Brexit deal announced on November 14, 2018.Sterling plunges as key ministers quit in protest at Brexit deal, Spriha Srivastava, cnbc.com, November 15, 2018.
North America 6 November United States midterm elections, 2018
South America
20 May 2018 Venezuelan presidential election 9 December 2018 Venezuelan municipal electionsElecciones Municipales 2018 CNE
By topic General world affairs and international relations
12 June 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit – North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un and United States president Donald Trump convened a summit at the Capella Hotel in Sentosa, Singapore, marking their first such meeting between the two countries in history. 12 July 2018 Brussels summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held in Brussels, Belgium, on 11 and 12 July 2018.NATO announces that a new Cyber Operations Command will be established to coordinate efforts to protect cyber-security. 15 November United Kingdom Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigns, as does Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey and several other ministers because of disagreement with terms of a draft Brexit deal announced on November 14, 2018.
Politics 6 November United States midterm elections, 2018
Economics and banking 25 October After the monthly meeting of the ECB Governing Council, the ECB announces that it will not change benchmark interest rates. It also states that it plans to end quantitative easing by the end of 2018.
References