Friday's global agenda: Deadline day at the UN for an arms trade treaty

Your morning global affairs speed-read

The United Nations has until close of business to reach agreement on an arms trade treaty. President Obama has come under pressure from advocates to strengthen a draft that was floated earlier this week, notably on the issue of ammunition and the fact that it only applies to commercial export but not the transfer of weapons through aid.

Meanwhile, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has managed to corral 50 senators against ratification if it includes provisions to regulate the sale of civilian arms, enough to kill it in the Senate. The draft does mention “small arms and light weapons.”

Romney at the Olympics: Mitt Romney attends the Olympics opening ceremony in London on the second day of a foreign trip that got off to a rough start Thursday. The Republican presidential candidate is also scheduled to meet with Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny and U.S. Olympic athletes.

Israel bill signed: President Obama signs the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act in the Oval Office this morning, taking some of the political bite out of Romney's visit there this weekend. The bill restates the U.S. commitment to supply Israel with arms to defend itself, pledges to fight anti-Israeli resolutions at the United Nations and calls on the United States to produce an "Iron Dome" defense system for Israel, to intercept short-range missiles and to study how the United States could speed the sale of F-35 fighter planes to that country.

Afghan plan: Later, Obama and Vice President Biden meet with outgoing Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker, who is stepping down after just one year in the position, followed by another meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. They're expected to talk about the security situation there and plans to withdraw the bulk of American troops by the end of 2014. 

In other news: 

The Obama administration's is weighing a more interventionist policy in Syria if rebels can first establish safe zones. [Associated Press]

In the Persian Gulf, meanwhile, the U.S. Navy is concerned about its vulnerability to attack as Iran expands its arsenal of fast-attack boats and submarines in the gulf. [The Washington Post]

Meanwhile in Mali, the Pentagon is considering direct action if Islamic militants who have taken over parts of the country become a threat to the United States. [The Wall Street Journal]

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sets the Financial Times on fire with her op-ed arguing that the “U.S. must recall it is not just any country.”

The breakthrough in reopening NATO supply routes through Pakistan was negotiated through an “unconventional back channel run by a low-key duo: Thomas R. Nides, a deputy to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Pakistan’s finance minister,” writes The New York Times.

What you might have missed on Global Affairs: 

Romney meets with British secret service chief

GOPers approve UN disabilities pact despite abortion concerns

New US travel warning for Congo singles out presence of rebels from Rwanda

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